10 
increase of those fish natural to our waters, rather than to 
attempt to solve unsolvable or difficult questions which 
have but little practical value. 
The probabilities of fishculture in America are great. 
With well-directed effort, every lake, stream and river 
can be made to produce a plentiful supply of fish, which 
are best suited to their condition, thus furnishing a large 
and important supply of food which will not require the 
hand of man to assist in its cultivation. To accomplish 
this purpose, it seems to me, is the enlarged field which 
every Commission is invited toenter. This is the field which 
modern fishculture, based on enlarged ideas of public 
work, may occupy with profit. The American Fisheries 
Society is the proper forum in which these and kindred 
questions should be mooted and discussed. Modern fish- 
culture needs to take another step in advance, and if it 
shall live up to its possibilities, the members of this So- 
ciety, at their annual gathering two decades hence, will 
point to a far greater advance in the work of fishculture 
than we have accomplished in the two decades that have 
just passed. 
Henry C. Ford, of Pennsylvania, the Treasurer of the 
Association, then presented his annual report, which, upon 
motion, was referred to an Auditing Committee of three, 
to be appointed by the Chair ; the Chair appointed as such 
Committee: Henry H. Cary, of Georgia, John Gay, of 
Pennsylvania, and J. E. Gunckel, of Ohio. The Recording 
Secretary then presented his annual report, which, upon 
motion, was ordered printed upon the minutes. The report 
was as follows: 
GENTLEMEN OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY : 
During the past year the Society lost six members by 
death and eight by resignation; forty-nine new members 
were elected; the present membership is, corresponding 
members 30; honorary members 6; active members 255. 
