Aiiuriiiiii I'islicrics Socicly. 117 



will increase to meet the jTrcater demand, and the northwestern 

 oyster fisheries may be looked upon to make up in a measure the 

 preat falling- off of the Atlantic jM-oduct. 



It was this fallin^;' off that letl Scth (jreen to open his eyes to 

 a stern necessity for replenishment, when, in i<S64, he hej^an ex- 

 perimentino; in artificial proi)af;;'ation i)f food fish. The good that 

 his work has done now extends from one state to another all 

 over the breadth of our land. The fish commission has become 

 an institution of the Govermnent, and to it the Pacific as well as 

 the Atlantic fisliernien and dealers look for supplies of some of 

 the most valuable denizens of river and ocean. Through the ef- 

 forts of the conniiission salmon has been restored to the east anfl 

 shad made known to the great west. From this we must be 

 assured that their every effort should be appreciated and their 

 millions of fishes protected from extermination. To do this 

 plans must be legislated to prevent the vast numbers of the pro- 

 ducts of the waters to be met with yearly increasing arrange- 

 ments for their destruction. I'ecause an innnense haul is ej^- 

 pected. greater facilities are greedily and hurriedly completed, 

 as if it were not wiser to permit this year's fish to insure as great 

 results for next year. 



Rut a short time ago we heard of the "sock-eye'' salmon, next 

 we hear of the millions that arc talcen and the great wealth that is 

 being expended upon new fisheries for their capture. Oysters are 

 becoming abundant, therefore, on rush the speculations regard- 

 ing them, the calculations of their value this year 1)y their lesser 

 value last, until in very little time there will be more deserted 

 canneries, more buildings to fall to decay, more men disappointed 

 in employment, more speculators mourning over financial loss. 



Another trouble appears at this present crisis, as the Atlantic 

 fishermen have decided to join with those of the Pacific in cod. 

 halibut and other fishing. The war is truly blamcable to an ex- 

 tent for this, but. indeed, the Atlantic fisheries have been in a 

 doubtful condition longer than the war can have been threatened, 

 taking even the first grumble ten years ago. f^nciuestionably. 

 the I'nited .States Fish Commission will find ample work on 

 either side of the Union to provide a large enough supply for 

 the dual demand. This cannot be done by propagation only, but 

 bv a judicious economy in the fishing ])ermits granted to com- 

 panies, or even individuals, as some are (|uite equal to carrying 

 on a large independent business. Therefore, the commission 

 should first extend the jurisdiction so as to embrace all the fish- 

 eries, even the sponge fisheries of Florida. Hut as T am par- 



