12 Thlrly-sixth Annual Meeting 



and every i)ublic work tliat goes on, and in every election that is 

 the question that is brought up, and these men talk about it in- 

 telligenth', and they are interested because of their pocketbook 

 being affected, if the rate goes up or the rate goes down. 



ISTow, gentlemen, I am authorized by the mayor to extend to 

 you tlie hospitality and the freedom of this city. The gates are 

 wide open, and we trust that you will have as good a time as you 

 have ever had at any place that you have met. You have our 

 best wishes, and anything we can do to further your interests 

 and your pleasure we are only too glad to do. 



I thank you, gentlemen, for your attention. 



(Great applause.) 



Mr. Hamberger : Mr. President, it was the aim of this com- 

 mittee to have the governor of the state of Pennsylvania present 

 at this convention, but a previous engagement kept him away. 

 However, we have with us to-day the second highest official of 

 the state of Pennsylvania in the person of the President of the 

 Senate, Senator E. A. Sisson, and I take great pleasure in in- 

 troducing him to you. He will extend to you the welcome of the 

 state. (x4.pplause.) 



Senator E. A. Sisson : Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of th^ 

 American Fisheries Society: Not the second highest officer. 

 We have a lieutenant-governor here. (Laughter.) To being 

 president pro tem. of the senate I will plead guilty. The gov- 

 ernor of the commionwealth, realizing the importance to the 

 people of the United States of this industry for which you gen- 

 tlemen speak, would have been very glad to be with you to-day, 

 and he regTetted exceedingly his inability to be here and to ex- 

 press to you his appreciation of the industry you represent and 

 of the possibilities that lie at its door. I was requested at a late 

 hour this morning to say a few words to impress upon you the 

 fact that we are very glad that you are here, and that the whole 

 commonwealth appreciates the honor you pay the state in coming 

 within its l^orders to deliberate upon the questions involved in 

 this industry. 



I represent in the senate a district that is interested in the 

 fishing industries of the state and nation, and, as sucli, I, too, 

 have eonie to realize llic iinportanec of tliis industry to the ]H'0i)]<> 



