NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 343 



It was the writer's privilege to carry on a delightful correspondence with Hen* von 

 Behr for several years. Dropping all official forms and, indeed, all formality whatever, 

 his letters were earnest, confidential, and full of enthusiasm. They expressed the same 

 love and admiration for Professor Baird that Americans felt for him at home, and 

 never lacked in expressions of his great admiration of American fish culture. They 

 also record his sad domestic bereavements, and told how, after the loss of his three 

 sons, he had resolved to devote the remainder of his life to the cause of fish-culture 

 in Germany. I am aware that much criticism has been expressed because Von Behr's 

 name has been given by Americans to a European trout since its introduction into 

 this country; but whatever may be said of the judiciousness of the act, no one can 

 deny that it was a fitting compliment to a man who richly deserved the honor, nor 

 can anyone deny that it reflects credit on the kindly feeling which sought in this 

 way to recognize America's indebtedness to Von Behr, and to perpetuate in America 

 the name of the distinguished German fish-culturist. 



The Count von Behr was a generous, warm-hearted, lovable man, and his con- 

 tributions in labor and in influence to the cause of fish-culture can never be measured. 

 He was one of those who formed the great triumvirate of the early history of practical 

 fish-culture Green, Baird, von Behr. Hopeful as we are of the future fish-cultural 

 work of the world, we nevertheless confess to feeling a presentiment that " we ne'er 

 shall look upon their like again." 



I regret that this disjointed and imperfect sketch must suffice for the present for 

 a subject that deserves better treatment. I would like to speak of Frank Buckland, 

 of England, who did so much to encourage fish-culture in Great Britain ; of Professor 

 Miluer, the zealous and conscientious colleague of the writer; of Robert B. Roose- 

 velt, who edited the first newspaper column in this country exclusively devoted to 

 fish-culture; of Theodore Lyman, of Massachusetts, the leading spirit in the first fish- 

 cultural movement in New England; of Judge Bellows, of New Hampshire, who took 

 the first steps in this country toward the public recognition of fish-culture; of Gov- 

 ernor Horatio Seymour, of New York, who gave his powerful influence to its support, 

 early in the seventies, and of many others who contributed more or less prominently 

 to its early development. But both time and space preclude the possibility of this, 

 and I can only congratulate my brother fish-culturists that there are so many devoted 

 workers in the cause still living to fill the places left vacant by their faithful prede- 

 cessors who have gone to their reward. 



