5 



all tlie leading newspapers in New England and New York, and 

 to some farther west and south, and also to nearly 200 practical 

 fish culturists in various parts of the country. 



I am happy to say that the newspapers, in almost every instance, 

 printed the report in full, or noticed it in some way. 



The Agassiz Cikculaks. 



For some time previous to the meeting of organization I had 

 held a correspondence with Prof. Agassiz, on topics relating to fish 

 culture, in the course of which the professor mentioned a labor, in 

 which he is now engaged, of preparing an illustrated work of all the 

 salmonidEe of this continent, showing the variations of age, sex, 

 locality and the like ; and after the formation of the association, he 

 suggested that the association should use its influence in furnishing 

 material for this work. 



It appeared to me so desirable a thing to have a work which would 

 enable us to tell at a glance, at all seasons, the sex, age or locality of 

 any specimen of the salmonidse, and also so appropriate a matter for 

 the association to take up, that, exceeding the ordinary powers of my 

 oflice, I took the responsibility of having circulars printed in accord- 

 ance with Mr. Agassiz's suggestion, and very widely distributed 

 throughout the country. 



A copy was sent to all the fish culturists and fishermen, whose 

 names were accessible, and was published in most of the leading 

 papers in this section. 



In a subsequent interview with Professor Agassiz, at his museum 

 at Cambridge, I learned that he had been materially benefited by the 

 aid that this efibrt had called out, although he remarked that not 

 nearly so many fish had been sent in as he needed. 



I consequently take the liberty here to remind you that this is a 

 most valuable work which Prof. Agassiz is undertaking, and one 

 which will be unsurpassed by anything of its kind in the world, and 

 I warmly commend it to the attention and interest of the members 

 of this association. 



Mr. Agassiz cannot finish his work unless the requisite material is 

 furnished him, and the members of this association, and all interested, 

 cannot do the distinguished naturalist a greater kindness, nor the 

 cause of fish culture a better service, than by sending him, as oppor- 

 tunity permits, specimens of the various individuals of the salmon 

 family. 



The entire expense of printing and circulating the Agassiz circu- 



