92 
bought experience. All these things should be taken 
into consideration before we reach conclusions, or advise 
legislative action, which may hamper the fisheries and 
prevent the successful continuance of industries of great 
importance to this country. Speaking for myself, I 
want to say that before I will do a single thing in this 
connection that my conscience would reprove me for, 
I will cut off my right hand. 
This is not my first appearance in public in connection 
with the fisheries. Nearly everyone here knows me; 
knows where I have been and what I have done. My 
feelings regarding these questions are the same to-day 
that they were when I was connected with the U. S. 
Fish Commission, and had the responsibility of gather- 
ing statistics and other data relating to the fisheries of 
the entire country. I am nota fanatic, as you might 
be led to believe, but now asthen am willing to abide 
by the truth. and am open to conviction. I think that 
every honest and fair-minded man should be willing. to 
meet these questions upon a basis of ascertained facts, 
and compromise on that basis if compromise is 
necessary. 
