American Fisheries Society. 39 
the most successful of parhamentarians, and I am certain a most 
excellent disciplinarian. (Applause.) 
So many encomiums have been passed upon the secretary 
from time to time that I am sure what I have said about the 
president applies also to him, (Applause) and under the cir- 
cumstances I hardly think it is necessary to throw additional 
bouquets at him. I do not feel that it should fall upon me to 
deliver the benediction if this is the wind up and the finish, but 
I desire to present further too for your consideration, a hope 
that it maybe the pleasure of this society to elect Hon. Victor H. 
Metcalf, the present secretary of the Department of Commerce 
and Labor, as an honorary member. 
I thank you gentlemen for your attention. (Applause.) 
Mr. Victor H. Metcalf was then unanimously elected hon- 
orary member of the society. 
Mr. Bowers: I deeply appreciate the fact that you selected 
White Sulphur Springs as the place of meeting for next year. 
I say this as a West Virginian. I hope that every individual 
present, may on that occasion come down into the mountains of 
that little mountain state, and I assure you that you will find 
some of that old time, genuine southern hospitality, for which 
we at least, to some extent have created the impression through- 
out the country that we can have and give; we want every mem- 
ber here, his friends, uncles, aunts and cousins to come down to 
White Sulphur Springs next year. (Applause. ) 
President: Gentlemen of the American Fisheries Society, 
I do not know but what it would be proper for me at this time 
to say a word or two, as our honorable commissioner and ex- 
president of this society has been so kind as to say what he did, 
throwing bouquets, ete. 
I have not tried, gentlemen, to distinguish myself at all. 
One year ago when you elected me president of this society, I cer- 
tainly considered it a very high honor, and I cannot help but 
feel still more that it is a very high honor indeed to have been 
president of the American Fisheries society. Gentlemen, our 
meeting at Woods Hole was certainly a grand one, and you will 
perhaps remember in my short talk at the opening of the meet- 
