12 Thirty-Second Annual Meeting 



est acts of this Society was to aid in procuring increased appro- 

 priations for this purpose, and from that time to this the Ameri- 

 can Fisheries Society and the United States Fish Commission 

 have been in close and mutually profitable relations. 



It was fortunate for the Fish Commission that there was 

 available at the time of its inception a master mind whose 

 breadth, learning, and disinterestedness had the respect of all 

 interested in the work of rescuing the fisheries from the condi- 

 tions in which they were sinking. With a reputation already 

 world-wide, and securing and assuming as a labor of love the 

 burden of organizing and directing the new Commission, no 

 taint of self-seeking could be attributed to his efforts at that 

 time. Fish culture was not yet divested of its novelty and skep- 

 ticism was still unallayed. Scientific knowledge was less extend- 

 ed than now and but little accurate knowledge was attainable 

 concerning the fisheries and the conspicuous conditions upon 

 which they depended. To the acquirement of such information, 

 to the demonstration of the value of fish culture on a large scale, 

 the peculiar development and extension of improved methods, 

 Professor Baird devoted himself, and he was ably assisted by 

 this Society as a whole and by some of its members individually. 

 Professor Baird's administration was long and able, and under 

 him the Commission passed through infancy to advanced knowl- 

 edge and sturdy manhood which received the respect and admi- 

 ration of the world. 



Since the foundation of these two organizations the United 

 States has taken a conspicuous place in all matters relating to the 

 fisheries, and American methods and investigations are recognized 

 as criteria for foreign emulation, study and profit. Hatcheries 

 have multiplied and improved and tlie fisheries work of the Fed- 

 eral Government has grown beyond the hopes and expectations of 

 its projectors. Congress has pursued a liberal policy, and while 

 all that has been asked for has not been granted, the experience 

 of the past five years indicates that the work which is being car- 

 ried on meets with the approval of Congress and their confidence 

 is expressed in increased appropriations. President Eoosevelt's 

 interest in all that pertains to the work in which this Society 

 and the Bureau of Fisheries is engaged is well known and is a 

 stimulus to governmental activities in these lines. Secretary 



