132 American Fisheries Society 



of the bill to such an extent that the enactment into law of 

 the amended form would have been an insult to anyone of 

 average intelligence. The original bill was not permitted 

 to become a law for the reason that there was not a strong 

 advocate battling for the people's rights nor anyone inter- 

 ested who could have aroused the necessary public sentiment. 



Today we are as far from the solution of this important 

 problem as ever. Ingenious devices for the catching of the 

 small fish are used in increased numbers, the number of small 

 fish taken annually increases with them, and the number of 

 mature fish caught decreases proportionately. As long as 

 those interested in the fishing industry are permitted to judge 

 for themselves as to what is right and what is wrong, just 

 so long will such conditions as now exist continue. There 

 is only one way, it seems to me, by which this tremendous 

 waste may be stopped, namely, as before suggested, by the 

 federal government's assuming control over the fishing in 

 boundary waters, thereby so conserving these valuable nat- 

 ural resources that not only we may enjoy a plentiful supply 

 of wholesome food fishes, but that like benefit may be in 

 store for those who are to follow us. 



No one realizes more clearly than myself the tremendous 

 benefit of artificial methods of propagating fish, but I be- 

 lieve that I do not err when I state that as equally important 

 as the artificial propagation of fish is the wise regulation 

 of the catching of the same. I believe that efforts exerted 

 along these lines are in the right direction and therefore take 

 the liberty to suggest that a committee be appointed by the 

 American Fisheries Society to investigate the present con- 

 dition of commercial fishing on the Great Lakes, and to sub- 

 mit a report of such investigation at the next annual meeting. 



