ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT 



Shortly after you did me the honor of electing me president 

 of the Society, I began to make preparations to leave the coun- 

 try ; and I was soon speeding to the remotest parts of the orient, 

 from which I returned only a couple of months ago. If it had 

 been the treasurer, this flight might have looked suspicious and 

 would doubtless have continued longer, but as it was only the 

 president, no special significance needs to be attached to it. 



The United States government has shown its interest in the 

 welfare and development of the fisheries of our most distant pos- 

 sessions by dispatching the fishery steamer Albatross to the 

 Philippines for the purpose of determining the aquatic resources 

 of the islands and pointing out the lines along which the fisheries 

 may be improved and the financial condition of the Filipino 

 fishermen bettered. This work is still in progress and will con- 

 tinue for a considerable time. On his way to the Philippines, 

 your president made a short stop in Japan and renewed acquaint- 

 ance with some of the interesting fisheries of that most interest- 

 ing country ; and he visited a national fishery exhibition at Na- 

 gasaki at which there were more than 28,000 special exhibits. 

 He also had an opportunity to see something of fishing in China, 

 and made a special inquiry regarding the celebrated pearl fish- 

 eries of Ceylon. About these foreign fisheries and the lessons 

 they afford us, something may be said at some future meeting. 



Matters of great importance connected with the fisheries have 

 come up since our last meeting. The year has, in fact, lieen 

 characterized by almost unprecedented activity in fishery work 

 and will be found to have left an enduring impress on the his- 

 tory of our fisheries. 



In view of the impetus this society gave to public fish culture 

 in America, it is a pleasure to note the steady growth of this 

 most important branch. All over the coimtry it is receiving 

 greater attention; new hatcheries are springing up everywhere 

 under private and public auspices; thousands of persons every 

 year are experiencing for the first time the benefits and delights 



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