18 American Fisheries Society 



masses unless we try to make them such. At first glance 

 it would seem that there are few subjects less interest- 

 ing than the cold, bare facts of geography, but by putting 

 these facts attractively, the National Geographic 

 Society has built up one of the most entertaining maga- 

 zines in the country, and has enrolled a membership of 

 thousands. We might do something of the same sort. 

 We might try to issue a magazine of popular ichthyology 

 that would cover the scientific, the commercial and the 

 sporting sides of our subject, and by having the articles 

 written simply, clearly and accurately, spread the in- 

 fluence of our Society throughout the land. We would 

 replace the ignorance and misinformation that now pre- 

 vails by clear, concise and accurate knowledge, before 

 which the obstinacies and prejudices that now oppose 

 us would disappear. We would enlist thousands of eager 

 students of all ages and sexes to battle for fish conserva- 

 tion, and we would make our Society a power in the land. 

 Many of our members are easy and graceful writers, 

 and I feel certain that enough of them would be willing 

 to contribute articles to such a journal that would make 

 it authoritative and valuable as well as interesting and 

 entertaining, and, should the experiment succeed, we 

 would have the consciousness of having performed a 

 valuable service to our country. 



