American Fisheries Society. 17 



"be told bv the fishermen after the fish get big enough to be 

 caught. But a good commissioner does not care how much any- 

 body else lies as long as he is truly good and can tell the truth 

 himself. 



I hope that you will visit as much of the state as possible 

 hefore you go, you will find much good fishing and you will be- 

 come convinced that Wisconsin is as grand a state as there is in 

 the Union. AYe raise everything in Wisconsin that is raised any- 

 Avhere in the world, except h — 1. (Laughter and applause). 

 Some of you can do that better than we can. But Wisconsin has 

 got everything from tlie soutli line to Lake Superior that the 

 people need for a good living. We could build a fence around 

 the state of Wisconsin and never a citizen go outside of that 

 fence, and nobodv be allowed to come in from the outside, and 

 we would all get so fat and so happy that you would pay an 

 admission fee to come and look over the fence and see the good 

 people of the State of Wisconsin. (Laughter). We trust that 

 you may come often to see us, and I will say that I will detail 

 my Fish Commission which is here and which I am as proud of 

 as I am of the appointment of any individuals during my term 

 of office, to greet you and show you everything there is and give 

 you everything that vou need to be happy. (Applause). 



Mr. Bower : I move that Ex-Governor George W. Peck be 

 elected an honorary member of this society. Motion seconded 

 and unanimously carried. 



The President : We shall expect you to be present at our 

 next meeting. 



Ex-Governor Peck: I shall if I can. I shall be glad to ren- 

 der any assistance that I can, as long as T live, to the Fish Com- 

 mission of this country. 



The President: While at first it was thought best only to 

 have papers prepared by members present read, yet we have a 

 paper in the same line as that of the preceding ]>aper written by 

 one of the oldest employes of the United States Fish Commission, 

 and it seems to me that this is an opportune time to hear that 

 ]iarticular paper. So if there is no objection we will vary the rou- 

 tine a little and I will ask Mr. Bower to read Mr. Charles G. At- 

 iins' paper on the subject of the "Study of Fish Diseases." 



