100 Thiriji-sl.rlh Ainiual JSIccliitg 



turn over the Society to you for the most i]n})ort:int meetinii' in 

 its history. 



Dr. Smith: I am ghxd yon did not adjourn before giving th.- 

 president-elect an opportunity to express his thanks for the un- 

 solicited honor you have conferred on liim. I assure you he ap- 

 preciates it, even if he did not deserve it, and that he will labor 

 for the best interests of the Society. If Commissioner Bower 

 were here I should take revenge for the trick he played on me 

 last night in calling on me to make my remarks. 



Gentlemen, I bespeak for the Society and for myself and for 

 the other officers for the ensuing term a continuation of your 

 cordial support and cooperation to the end that our Society may 

 be greatly increased in membership; that it may grow in in- 

 fluence, and that it may become a most potent factor both in 

 America and throughout the entire western hemisphere in pro- 

 moting the interests and controlling the destinies of our common 

 friends, the fishes. 



I hope that during the next year your mental gaze will be 

 directed to the goddess of liberty on the national capitol build- 

 ing, and that you will adopt as your slogan, "On to Washing- 

 ton !" 



Down in Washington we have no noble lake on which you can 

 keep your eye, and we cannot compete with Erie in other ways, 

 but we have at our door a river rich in historical associations, 

 and we have been blessed by the wealth of our beloved Uncle 

 Samuel with a number of strong cards about which it is perhaps 

 ])est to say nothing until the game is played. 



I thank you very much for this consideration and honor. 

 (Great applause.) 



President: Is there further business before the Society? 

 Mr. Meehan, have you something? 



Mr. Meehan : ! simjdy move to adjourn, that is all. 



President: Is it seconded that we adjourn to meet in ^^'ash 

 ington in 1908? 

 Motion second('(L 

 Motion carried unanimously. 

 President: We stand adjourned. 



