Aiiu'ricaii /■'islwrics Sociiiy. 63 



Department of State, 



W'asliington, April jo, 1871. 

 Hon. E. A. llibbarcl, House of Representatives : 



Sir — In answer to your note referring to a etjnnnunicalion 

 from Air. Stone on tlie sul)iect of salmon fisheries in the tribu- 

 taries of the St. Lawrenee, J have the honor to say that Mr. 

 Stone's letter was one of many interesting eonmumications on 

 the same subject. 



As the obstacles to the free access of the salmon to these 

 rivers are matters within the control of local or provincial legis- 

 latures of the ]]ritish colonies, I have brought the sul)ject and 

 laid several of the letters informally before Sir John Macdonald, 

 from whom, 1 understand, that the obstructions complained of 

 are prohibited by the Canadian laws, and that the authorities 

 are constant in their efiforts to prevent them from being placed 

 in the river, and patrol the river for that ])urpose, but find it very 

 difiticult to prevent the violation of the laws on the subject. He 

 has taken the letters, and assures me that no efforts will be want- 

 ing to prevent or punish future violations. 



Very respectfully yours, 



HAMILTON FISH. 



"NEW MEMBERS. 



"In the course of the }ear I took occasion to write to most of 

 the practical tish culturists of this country, whose accjuaintance I 

 had made by correspondence or otherwise, to the number of 

 about 200, extending to them an invitation to join the Associa- 

 tion. These letters met with various replies, some few- were not 

 answered at all, but they were, on the whole, well received, and 

 the replies in most cases contained expressions of interest in the 

 prosperity of the Association. 



"The notification circular of the present meeting was sent to 

 all professional and amateur fish culturists whose names were in 

 my possession, and to the Fisheries Commissioners of the vari- 

 ous States, and was generally noticed in tlie newspapers and 

 agricultural periodicals. 



"In conclusion, T will merely add that in the course of the year 

 I have mailed 500 letters on business of the Association, and 

 nearly i.cxx3 circulars and papers. 



"LIVINGSTON STONE, 



"Secretary A. F. C. A. 



"Albany, February 7, 1872." 



