10 Thirtieth Annual Meeting 



great and powerful. We are the pioneers in a movement that 

 must inevitably exert a far-reaching influence and become an 

 ini])()rtant factor in the solution of the greatest economic prob- 

 lem that must sooner or later confront mankind, namely, that 

 of providing an abundant and unfailing source of food supply. 

 And whv ? In this and nearly all countries we find that prac- 

 tically all fertile lands, lands that yield their fullest fruitage 

 merely bv tickling the soil, are occupied. Increased food produc- 

 tion from this direction must come very largely through fertili- 

 zation, irrigation, and more thorough and scientific methods of 

 farming. 



But we have an immense area of inland and outlying 

 waters, constituting a water farm of such vast proportions and 

 possibilities, that it can Ije cultivated only by states and nations. 

 This great public farm, this vast public estate, is today very 

 largely in a state of nature, uncultivated, unexplored, unex- 

 ploited. True, great progress in the science and art of produc- 

 ing water life has been made in this country, greater, in fact, 

 than l)v all other nations eom1)ined, resulting in the creation of 

 millions of dollars in food wealth, yet we are only at the thresh- 

 old of the possil)ilities in this direction. And it is the mission 

 of this society collectively, as it should be of every member 

 individually, to aid in discovering and pointing out the way to 

 so cultivate and crop this vast water farm as to develop its 

 illimitable resources to the greatest practicable limit. We are 

 charged wiili a high responsibility, gentlemen, but we are 

 engaged in a noble cause, and if we are but true to our mission, 

 eneli conl i-il)uting his mile towards the solution of the complex 

 ])n)blein before us. we shall be true to humanity, and millions 

 vet uuboi-n will rise up to bless the name and the founders and 

 pioneers of the American Fisheries Society. 

 ( .\|t|ilause). 



We will vary our program as we have really less than two 

 days in which to do the work of three, and will therefore have to 

 rush matters with all ])ossibl(> speed. With the permission of 

 those present I will forego the appointment of connnittees until 

 this afternoon, as I understand there are more members to arrive 

 about noon. .lust exactly what tbe program is as regards the 

 desires of the Wisconsin 1^'isli ( 'oiniiiission, 1 am not fullv in- 



