American Fisheries Society. 63 
allowed on the market in any state less than.two pounds un- 
dressed. A sufficient number of boats owned by the government 
of both countries to look after the planting of the fry and see 
the young are placed in the most natural surroundings. ‘Those 
boats to patrol the lakes where fishing abounds and their duty to 
not only see that all fishermen are licensed and that their catch 
conforms to law but that the exact spawning grounds are located 
and no fishing allowed thereon, except for propagating purposes. 
That no fish be taken for their spawn except under the direct 
supervision of the proper authorities. That no gill nets be al- 
lowed during the time fish are taken for their eggs. That all 
fish not “ripe” or those already spawned be returned to the water 
with as little injury as possible. That the utmost care be exet- 
cised in the selection of the men in charge of those boats. They 
should be honest, fearless and with ability to enforce the law 
without fear or favor. 
This apples to the Great Lakes or to our commercial fishing 
but the problem in regard to our inland lakes is just as trying. 
Care is not taken. When the fry are planted, people are allowed 
to catch any and all kinds regardless of size. Even the spawn- 
ing seasons are encroached upon, but especially is this true in re- 
gard to our Great Lakes and our only salvation is federal control 
This Association ought to go on record, not simply pass reso- 
lutions (while good in themselves as far as they go) but each 
state representative should go to his home determined to get con- 
gressmen and senators at Washington committed to this proposi- 
tion. Show them how our fish are disappearing, not through any 
fault of the propagation but through the poor policy, or no 
policy, of the states bordering on the Great Lakes. Either put 
no fish whatever, in these waters, if they are not protected or else 
change our policy, for I firmly believe that we can never do any- 
thing with the individual states. So our only salvation, if we 
would save our fish, is by the Congress of the United States first 
making a treaty with Canada, for any scheme that leaves out 
Canada, as far as the Great Lakes are concerned, would not be 
feasible. Then after the treaty is made, let the United States, 
with the co-operation of the Dominion, assume control of not 
only the propagation but the protection and I predict here before 
this convention that we can have our old time fishing restored in 
