30 Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting 
President: The general promoter of the financial welfare 
of the society is called for—Mr. Willard. 
Mr. Willard: I did not hear any one call for me. 
President: I can speak louder. (Laughter. ) 
Mr. Willard: I deem it an honor to serve this society in any 
capacity and I thank you very much for this further evidence of 
your confidence and esteem, and I will try to serve you as faith- 
fully in the future as I have in the past. If there is a shortage 
IT will make it up. (Great applause.) If there is a superabun- 
dance of funds I will divide with you. (Laughter. ) 
President: That is very fair indeed. 
I am glad to see the society return to a course which I be- 
heve is the wisest it can pursue, in selecting for its president 
such a man as Dr. Birge. I have honestly felt that while I am 
identified somewhat with the fish cultural work of Michigan, 
am not a well-known scientist, and indeed not a scientist at all, 
and it has seemed to me during the entire time that I have held 
this office that the interests of the society would have been much 
better promoted had it then selected some well known scientist 
of international reputation as its president; and it is well for the 
society to return to the policy of selecting such men as Dr. Birge, 
and other men whom I hope in the future will follow, as chief 
executive officers of this society. I am glad to say to Dr. Birge 
that the society in honoring him, in my opinion, has still more 
honored itself. As my predecessor said to me, I am obliged to 
say to you, that | cannot at this moment yield up the gavel to 
you, but at the close of the meeting here I shall turn it over to 
you with the utmost pleasure. 
(Great applause. ) 
Dr. Birge: May I say just a word in reply to your kind 
words? I feel deeply the honor to science as well as the personal 
honor involyed in my election as president. Yet I should feel 
it a very great misfortune to this society if that policy which you 
indicate should be adopted and pursued regularly. The great 
charm of this society, to all of us who are members, Hes in the 
fact that it brings together not merely the scientists but all 
