American Fisheries Society 43 



Our state is now wakiiii^- up to the fact tliat the natural 

 resources which we possess in grccit (|uantitiv;s haxe l)een 

 sliamefuHy abused, ^fhis is the first year that we have e\'er 

 had any restraining hand upon our people, and some of them 

 don't like it. But nevertheless, the natural resources of the 

 State of Louisiana are ahiiost fabulous, and we want you to 

 come down and see them. 



As far as fish are concerned, with singular fatuity we have 

 turned over the conservation of the fish to the Dago, the 

 most undesirable citizen we have, a curse to any community. 

 He will eat anything from a mouse to a dog, and from a 

 mocking bird to a buzzard. He has seined the waters of 

 the Gulf with seines that will catch a moscjuito, and the fish- 

 ing industry of our state has been shamefully neglected. 



Now, we on the Gulf front have awakened to the fact 

 that something must be done, and we think it should be done 

 through the American Fisheries Society. 



If you come down there in 1911 our governor will invite 

 the governors of the other Gulf States to come themselves 

 and send representatives, and we vv^ill have a convention 

 worth while. I can assure you that we will give you all a 

 very excellent time. 



New Orleans is a beautiful city. It is not an American 

 city ; it is somewhat foreign. But nevertheless you ought to 

 see our city, ought to see our state, and I bespeak on the part 

 of the State of Louisiana the most cordial invitation to you 

 to come there to hold your convention in 1911. (Great 

 applause. ) 



President : Mr. Miller, I do not believe that the members 

 of this Society recjuire any argument to prove what you have 

 said to them, because they know from their ow^n personal 

 observations that the southern waters are richer today in the 

 fish which we love than are the northern waters. The finest 

 fish that take the hook or leap to the fly are in the southern 

 waters ; the best oysters that I ever ate I have eaten in New 

 Orleans; and I understand that the little-neck clam also is 

 found within the jurisdiction of the State of Louisiana; and 



