more frequently than in the past, for the purpose of harmo- 

 nizing the views of all. By fishery officers I do not mean 

 alone the Fish Commissioners, but include the wardens or 

 officers employed to enforce the laws, by whatever names 

 they may be known. And I believe that good results might 

 be obtained from conferences between the Fishery Committees 

 of the Legislatures of Michigan and Ohio, and Michigan and 

 Wisconsin, and Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. At least 

 this is worth consideration. 



A step in the right direction was taken by Michigan, in 

 1887, in the passage of an act for the appointment of a Game 

 and Fish Warden. The act was not as broad nor the powers 

 as extensive as the Commissioners urged upon the Legislature ; 

 but it was one point gained. The thorough, consistent and 

 intelligent course pursued by the gentleman selected by the 

 Governor as the State Warden will go far towards securing at 

 another session of our Legislature the required improvements 

 in the law, as it has already demonstrated the important 

 advantages of the proper enforcement of such laws as we have, 

 Wisconsin took the lead in this class of legislation, but from 

 all I have learned of its operation, I judge that the statute 

 needs amendments in some important points to make it 

 effective. Ohio, too, has started in the right direction. This 

 is all encouraging, because in each case it has been a move- 

 ment in the right direction. 



The fisheries, in my judgment, have reached a point where 

 no half-measure will answer. What is needed is to look the 

 necessities of the case squarely in the face and provide whole- 

 some and sufficient remedies, that will put a stop to the 

 destruction and marketing of immature fish of all valuable 

 kinds ; and while it gives nature a chance to help repair the 

 mischief already done, will likewise help to secure to the 

 States the benefits of the artificial propagation and planting. 



A third suggestion in the line of cooperation that I think 

 worthy of discussion is between the Fish Commissions and the 

 educational institutions of the State — as for instance, with 

 the instructors in Natural History in the State University, or 

 the Agricultural College. There are many ways in which the 



