24 American Fisheries Society 



Mr. Titcomb, Mr. Median and others were ready to give 

 their share toward the publication of a proper index of sub- 

 jects as well as of authors, and it was decided that it should 

 be made on cards, and later published so that members might 

 have copies. Mr. Clark moved that a committee be ap- 

 pointed to report at the next meeting in regard to the proba- 

 ble cost of compiling such an index as was proposed. At 

 this point, knowing something of the need and uses of in- 

 dexes of reference, and having an almost complete set of the 

 Society's Transactions, I innocently offered to have the in- 

 dex made and have enough copies printed to send one to 

 each member of the Society. Upon a motion previously 

 before the Society, it was voted that Dr. Smith be made 

 chairman of a committee, the Secretary, Mr. Titcomb and 

 myself to make up the members, and my offer was accepted 

 with thanks. 



On going over my set of the Transactions I discovered 

 that I lacked Volume VIII as well as the first five volumes, 

 but these were kindly loaned to me by the Bureau of Fish- 

 eries. Since then I have obtained all except the first and 

 eighth, and once more I will say that I shall be very glad to 

 pay any price within reason for these two. 



The work of making an index of the Transactions of this 

 Society as full and as detailed as seems desirable has proved 

 to be a "big job." as Mr. Titcomb prophesied — and I can, 

 after the lapse of a year, only report progress, and not pro- 

 duce the finished product as I had hoped to be able to do. 



The Transactions, including those of the last meeting, 

 have been indexed fully by author, subject, and title, and be- 

 tween 800 and 1,000 entries made. Before compiling this 

 index, however, preparatory to its publication, a great many 

 questions and problems have arisen that it would seem well 

 to have the members themselves discuss and offer their own 

 answers and solutions for. 



My librarian, who has done the indexing, has made out 

 a list of questions which I will ask you to discuss as fully 



