American Fisheries Society 325 



It must not be forgotten that the first authoritative suggestion of 

 the propriety and importance of federal action in regard to the stocking 

 of the common waters of the United States was made by this [The 

 American Fish Culturists' Association] body, a committee having been 

 appointed at the meeting of 1870 to memorialize Congress on the sub- 

 ject. The valuable counsel and advice of the officers and members of this 

 Association have always been at the service of the United States Fish 

 Commission, and have been made use of in many important instances. 



As an organization of practical men, progressive in spirit 

 and concerned with developing jfishery fields, the Society- 

 has given to its members the benefits of mutual inspiration, 

 encouragement and comparison of ideas. These benefits 

 have resulted not only in new ways and means of business 

 enterprise but in the spreading of information and doctrine 

 which has been a factor in all of this country's progress in 

 the development of its fisheries and their preservation. 



CHANGES OF NAME 



The name of American Fish Culturists' Association, the 

 first borne by the organization, was superseded in 1878 by 

 the modification "American Fish Cultural Association." 

 The suggestion was made by Barnet Phillips, the idea being 

 that the latter term seemed broader and better fitted to the 

 enlarged scope of the organization. This name had en- 

 dured for only six years, however, when in 1884 Professor 

 Goode proposed "American Fisheries Association" as a 

 name corresponding more precisely with similar organiza- 

 tions in Europe. There was some difference of opinion 

 among the members as to the significance and propriety of 

 the change, and Mr. Mather voiced a protesting regret of 

 the charter members by saying: "It is like exchanging a 

 tattered flag that we have fought under for one just out 

 of the shop. I can readily see how new members may 

 desire a change, but I cannot approve it." After some 

 debate, however, by Professor Goode, Mr. Roosevelt, Col- 

 onel McDonald. Dr. Hudson, and others, an amendment by 

 Mr. S. G. Worth substituting the word Society for Asso- 

 ciation was passed, and the organization became what it 

 has been ever since — the American Fisheries Society. 



