66 Thirtif-sereittJi Annua] Meeting 



you consider this matter very carefully. 1 uiay say in paren- 

 thesis, that I do not quite understand the precise steps which 

 have led up to the present position with regard to this particular 

 resolution; but on the principle of the matter, if you take any 

 action which would suggest that you favor the principle of un- 

 restricted fishing of spawning fish especially, and favor in the 

 place of nature the artificial propagation of fish, you will be 

 giving the greatest set-back to the true methods of fish protection 

 that ever was given to that important matter. 



Dr. Birge: I just wish to say a word and that is in objection 

 to tlie arguments which have Ijeen used attempting to commit 

 this body to the assertion of a policy in case of a negative vote 

 on a motion to reconsider. This society has voted in favor of the 

 protection of nest building fish. Xo deliverance of this body ha? 

 been made as to the In-st methods of protecting the whitefish, 

 whether it is by catching and taking the spawn or by protecting 

 them during the spawning season. No deliverance has been made 

 by this body on that question and none will be made, even though 

 this resolution to reconsider is defeated. The only significance 

 of that will be that this body does not choose to give a positive 

 deliverance on that question, one way or the other. Our friend 

 from Toronto thinks it \\ould Ijc -wise for this l)ody to go slow 

 in reaching a decision one way or the other, and I coincide with 

 him. 



Mr. Titcomb : The gentleman on my right has spoken about 

 the salmon of the Ehine in comparison with the whitefish, in 

 connection with this resolution. T think this society is thor- 

 oughly on record as favoring the protection of fishes during the 

 spawning season, but this resolution, if reconsidered, contem- 

 plates passing another resolution as I understand it, which in- 

 volves more particularly the whitefish than any other. At this 

 time and during this congress papers are to be read (and there 

 will be an award for the best paper) telling how to increase the 

 production of whitefish. Now, if we tonight act on this resolu- 

 tion or pass a resolution directly involving that question, it seems 

 to me that we are hasty, and that we ought just to hear these re- 

 ports that are to be read tomorrow. I happen to be on the com- 

 mittee of award, which will consider these three papers; so I am 



