292 



of those States, the necessity of an additional appropriation to be made early in 

 the present session of Congress, to enable the United States Fish Commissioner 

 to construct immediately, proper buildings with necessary appurtenance and 

 equipment for propagating and hatching fish to stock Lake Ontario and the St. 

 Lawrence river, with the whitefish, salmon trout and other fish of the best varie- 

 ties of food fish." 



The CHAIRMAN : The remarks of Mr. Whitaker suggests to my mind the 

 verses by the poet, Whittier. You have read of the dark day in Wyndham many 

 years ago, when people thought the end of the world had come, the fowls and 

 birds went to roost in the middle of the day, and everybody believed a very seri- 

 ous event was to happen. The law-making power of Connecticut was in session,, 

 and Abraham Davenport, of Stamford, was among them. When the darkness 

 was most appalling, and the storm was at its height, a timid man moved that 

 they adjourn. That did not suit Abraham, for he was not that sort of a man. 

 So the Poet Whittier says that Abraham opposed the motion, being not at all 

 afraid, and said : 



'* Let God do his work, we will see to ours. 

 Bring in the candles. And they brought them in. 

 Then by the flaring lights the Speaker read, 

 Albeit with husky voice and shaking hands 

 An act to amend, an act to regulate 

 The shad and ale wine fisheries. Whereupon 

 Wisely and well spake Abraham Davenport, 

 Straight to the question, with no figures of speech, 

 A Witness to the ages as they pass, 

 That simple duty has no place for fear." 



I commend that to the Legislature of Michigan. 



V 



Mr. SKINNER : The thought has occurred to me : Do you in Ontario consider 

 you have jurisdiction in the Bay of Quinte? 



Dr. MACCALLUM : I do not think so. It is a navigable water administered by 

 the Dominion. 



Secretary STEWART : While Mr. Whitaker is writing a resolution and as the 

 time is getting late, I would say just two things. In the first place, I regret 

 somewhat that your visit here to-day has been made at a time of the year which 

 is somewhat inclement, and forbids us showing you our very pretty little town,, 

 but instead of entertainment of that sort we have done ourselves the honour to 

 ask you to dine with us to-night and we hope as many of you as can stay with 

 us will do so. I regret that Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Amsden will be unable to stay. 



Mr. AMSDEN : No, I will stay with you. 



Secretary STEWART : Oh ! I am glad to hear it, but my regret remains poig- 

 nant with reference to the chairman. I hoped that he would have been with us 

 to-night, to speak with the same force that he has this afternoon. These facts, 

 sown broadcast throughout the country cannot fail to be a great help to the 

 cause for which we are working. I was going to say also, before we separate, 

 that I am very strongly of opinion now we have begun these conferences that 

 we should have an annual conference if possible. I believe it would do a great 

 deal of good next year, for instance, to compare notes. It brings the two 

 countries into friendly relations with one another. We get points of great value 

 from older Commissions, and I think altogether it is a most desirable thing. I 

 would be glad if somebody would move that this Conference meet again at some 

 convenient place, to be fixed, next year. 



