46 TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING 



other waters in competition with the Trust." Why did not 

 Booth & Company favor the same laws before the Trust was 

 formed that they do now? 



Mr. Stranahan: Last year the commission took one hun- 

 dred and eighty-five million white fish. We worked the ground 

 from the mouth of the river to below Kelly's Island. We 

 hatched one hundred and three million fry and turned them 

 into Lake Erie. We believe that is more fry than nature could 

 have possibly hatched. Of course, you cannot possibly prove 

 that, but in order to do any fishing on the plan Mr. Whitaker 

 proposes, we would have to fish hundreds of pound nets and 

 miles of gill nets, which, of course, would not be ])racticable. 



Mr. Whitaker: As I understand, that in effect is what our 

 legislature has done this year. 



Mr. Stranahan: It permits the commission to fish. 



Mr. AVhitaker: Yes. and it permits the United States Fish 

 Commission, also. 



Mr. Stranahan: They always could, but they had to get a 

 permit. We could do nothing catching our own fish. W^e would 

 get but few spawners out of many pounds of many kinds of 

 fish, and it would be imi)racticable for us. I am in favor of a 

 closed season, but I would make it October instead of Novem 

 ber. I would close the lake tight shut for six months, three 

 during the summer and three during the winter. 



Mr. Whitaker: But you never could get such a bill through. 



Mr. Stranahan: We had one. but it was not well enforced. 

 As a matter of fact, the Pennsylvania people, and, in fact, a 

 good many in Ohio fished 305 days of the year. It is only dur- 

 ing a cold snap, when they can not get out of the mouths of 

 the rivers, that they do not fish the season right straight 

 through. 



President Peabody: A committee was appointed to look up 

 the question of entertainment. A number wanted to see the 

 Falls and the various points of interest. Is it desirable that 

 we close our session and have that opportunity before supper? 



Mr. Willard: This question has been rather laid aside, ow- 

 ing to the prolongation of the session. The committee held a 

 little meeting this noon, went over the matter and ascertained 

 a few facts as to what we could see. (Mr. Willard here made 

 a statement as to the various points of interest to be visited 

 and the expense attending the same.) 



President Peabody called for a report of the committee on 

 nominations. 



The committee on nominations submitted its report, and 



