Afuerican Fisheries Society. 9 



same as they do. The consequences are that this year we will 

 have to crowd three days' work into two or desecrate the Sab- 

 l)ath ; so we must get right down to business and hurry along. 



I understand that we have two illustrated lectures which of 

 course will lie very interesting, and if it is possible to have both 

 of those tonight we will do so, inasmuch as it is desired to go to 

 the Bayfield Hatcliery tomorrow on the early evening train, and 

 therefore there will l)e no opportunity for any session tomorrow 

 night. 



I love to fisli as well as any man living. In fact, for me this 

 form of recreation ranks above all others and claims all of the 

 time I can possibly steal from a very busy life to devote to real 

 and unalloyed pleasure. I would like to be wading and whip- 

 ping a good trout stream this very moment; or be in camp near 

 the banks, under the inspiration of the woods and God's pure air, 

 and within sight of familiar pools and bends where the skillful 

 dropping of a fly would not pass unrewarded. In the midst of 

 such surroundings, gentlemen — and if any of you haven't been 

 right there, you have missed tlie best opportunity of your life — ■ 

 I might warm up and talk of fish and fishing by the hour, of the 

 big trout I have landed and of the still bigger ones that got 

 away, but time forl)ids. 



A word as to the growth of our society and the qualifications 

 for membership. It seems to me that our membership list should 

 increase far more rapidly. )A'e should have one hundred mem- 

 bers or even one thousand where we now have but one. It has 

 occurred to me that through lack of exam])le or proper encourage- 

 ment, we have unintentionally barred out a large class who are 

 eminently qualified for admission, and I hereby appoint every 

 member a committee of one to advertise the fact that all 

 amateur and professional fish liars are eligible to membership. 

 No convention luiU in the country wouhl hold the delegates if 

 we could but bring into the fold all wlio are gifted in this direc- 

 tion and practice the art. Indeed, from some things I have 

 heard since coming here, there is a lot of mighty good nuiterial 

 in Milwaukee, and we should at least doul)le our memliershi}) 

 right here. 



On my way over, the thought occurred to me that, altliough 

 we are now few in numbers, this organization is destined to grow 



