141 
Lakes. At the request of the Michigan Fish Commission, 
Mr. Otto Kirchner, then Attorney-General of the State, ex- 
amined the authorities and presented an able brief to the 
point that the Federal Government had no jurisdiction of 
the subject, and that such protection as we had must come 
from the authorities of the several States. This conference 
was productive of much good feeling, and undoubtedly 
helped on the work of uniform legislation of the several 
States bordering the Great Lakes for the protection of the 
fishing interests. 
In February, 1883, a Secretary of the Board was ap- 
pointed for the first time. Herschel Whitaker was ap- 
pointed and served until June 1, 1884, when he resigned 
and Andrew J. Kellogg succeeded him. Mr. Kellogg 
served until March 20, 1888, when he was succeeded by 
George D. Mussey, who has served ever since. On the 
resignation of Mr. Kellogg as Commissioner, to take the 
appointment as Secretary, Mr. Whitaker was appointed 
Commissioner in his place, and has continued in office to 
the present time. The combination of Mr. Whitaker, Mr. 
Bissell and Dr. Parker made a strong Board, and from 
this time on a new impetus was given to the work. The 
business was organized and the work classified and sys- 
tematized as it never had been before. Through their in- 
fluence larger appropriations were obtained and the work 
extended in every department. 
The Commission in 1884 obtained control of one of the 
fisheries on the Detroit river, and this policy has been ex- 
tended until now they control all the fisheries on the 
American side of the river. 
The Sixth Report sums up the condition of fishculture 
in 1884 as follows: ‘‘The present aspect of this subject 
is far different in many respects from what its advocates 
and promoters of ten or more years ago believed it would 
be at this time. The general enthusiasm of the early 
movement as it seized upon the naturalist and sportsman 
