270 



from the fact that interest in fish culture is increasing. In an Eastern paper I 

 read lately that a New Haven physician had come to the conclusion that clams bred 

 typhoid fever. He concluded so from the fact that a patient had dined heartily 

 on raw clams taken from a place where the water was impure, and his conclusion 

 was based on facts which he deemed sufficient to prove that the clams thus fed 

 produced typhoid fever. Streams where food fish are taken should only contain 

 substances proper for fish food. I must apologize for detaining you witn these 

 desultory remarks. Being honoured with the position of Chairman, I thought I 

 might not have an opportunity to speak of them before the close of the meeting. 

 Secretary Stewart : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, I have here the report 

 of the meeting of the special committee appointed by this Convention, which was 

 held on the 10th of last month, in Rochester. I presume you all have copies 

 of this report, and it will be unnecessary to read it. But I might say that the 

 special committee duly met in Rochester, in the Chamber of Commerce, and I 

 have much pleasure in saying that the meeting was a thoroughly representative 

 and unanimous one, and I think good will come of it. Before reading to the 

 meeting the reports or motions which we offer for adoption, I have a report writ- 

 ten by Gen. Sherman, Chairman of the Special Committee, who is confined to his 

 house by illness, which is to be read to the meeting : 



REPORT : 



To the joint commission appointed to confer on the subject of Fish protection in 

 the International ivaters between the Canadian Provinces and the State of 

 New York : 



The committee appointed by the conference of representatives from the 

 respective commissions of Canada and the State of New York, to consider 

 and recommend measures looking to the adoption of uniform laws for the protec- 

 tion, preservation and multiplication of the food fish supply of the international 

 waters lying between these respective countries respectfully reports : 



That they have given to this subject careful consideration, and in the light 

 of facts have not deemed it practical to fix on such provisions in detail as would 

 be requisite to form a uniform code applicable to both countries. Special needs 

 depending upon geographical conditions, on climate, on diff'erent prevaihng modes 

 of legislation, and of administering laws, forbid such uniformity, but approxima- 

 tion in general features and leading measures, may be made to go far towards the 

 attainment of the practical ends desired. 



Falling Off of Food Fish Supply. 



That the food fish supply of the great lakes has been for the past thirty 

 years suffering rapid diminution, is too apparent to need statistical proof. On th3 

 New York side of Lake Ontario, where formerly salmon trout, whitefish, and 

 even the lordly salt water salmon were so abundant as to furnish all the near 

 markets with an abundant supply at prices within reach of the means of the day 

 labourer, the product now scarcely recompenses the netter, and these fish, once so 

 abundant and cheap, are no longer available for food to the multitude, but 

 have become table luxuries to be enjoyed only by people of ample means. On 

 the Ohio side of Lake Erie, there has been a nearly equal falling off of the higher 

 (Trades of fish, but there still remains, on account of the greater fecundity of 



