400 Fortieth Annual Meeting 



righteously the chief aim of man, but be that as it may, no 

 one has yet found a better basis for general happiness than 

 sound, progressive, honorable, business activity and as- 

 suredly any health-giving, legitimate sport that contributes 

 as largely to those conditions as does angling is worthy of 

 being considered important, and with this in view I am 

 moved at this time to appeal for a more thoughtful con- 

 sideration for sport fishing, as such, on the part of those 

 who are engaged in the very honorable vocation of purely 

 commercial fishing. 



There has always seemed to be more or less friction be- 

 tween the differing interests. Never of a very serious 

 nature, as far as I have observed, except in isolated cases, 

 but a seeming lack of appreciation on the part of each for 

 the rights of the other. 



When the angler gives thought to the commercial side of 

 fishing, he must, and in most cases does, realize the vast 

 importance of this ancient and honorable business, one that 

 is positively mighty in its ramifications and which probably 

 contributes more toward the sustenance of the people than 

 any other one food-producing industry. 



Let it be asked of the commercial fisherman that he 

 realize as fully the importance of sport fishing. Not that 

 the latter is of such great proportions or of so great a 

 value to the world at large as commercial fishing, but that 

 it possesses in itself an importance that warrants its ex- 

 istence and the support of all those having the general wel- 

 fare of mankind at heart. 



Allowing that some considerable importance attaches to 

 sport fishing and that a maintenance of those conditions 

 which permit agreeable and successful participation in sport 

 fishing is much to be desired, it is therefore assuredly meet 

 that in the great and very general movement now going for- 

 ward toward the conservation of our natural resources, that 

 sport fishing should be considered. 



It is, of course, very gratifying to know that much has 

 been done and much is being done. There are many men in 



