58 FISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
sociation was so much interested as to change its place of meet- 
ing to the Aquarium in 1877; but a change in the management of 
the Aquarium so altered the tone of the institution that only 
one meeting was held there; and judging from the advertise- 
ments in the newspapers, the Aquarium in now almost wholly 
given up to shows of various kinds, with little or nothing to in- 
terest lovers of fishes. 
The fifth annual meeting, on February 8th, 1876, was also 
held at the office of Mr. Page, and the same officers elected, 
with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. E. G. 
Blackford taking the place of Mr. Bowles, and Dr. Edmonds 
‘that of Mr. Collins. At this meeting it was resolved to hold an 
extra session at Philadelphia during the Centennial Exhibition, 
and Prof. Baird was requested to obtain a place in the Ex- 
hibition Building for this purpose. Another step in advance 
was the resolution to employ a stenographer at future meetings, 
and report the discussions, as well as the papers read, as these 
were often of as much value as the latter. 
This brings the history down to the Centennial meeting, 
from which point the records have been kept in full, and re- 
ports of which are still in plentiful existence. 
Since the above was written, a reply to questions asking 
for information, on the history of the Association, and the ob- 
jects of its founders, has been received from Mr. Stone, as fol- 
lows : 
CoLtp SprING Trout Ponps. 
CHARLESTOWN, N. H., February 13, 1879. 
Mr. Frep. MATHER: 
Dear Sir: | cannot tell you how sorry I am that business of 
an important nature calls me away to Boston to-morrow, and 
that consequently I shall be obliged to give up writing any 
reminiscences of the organization of the A. F. C. A., which you 
have so kindly invited me to do. 
In regard to the primary object of the gathering at New 
York, in 1870, which you inquire about, I am inclined to think, 
as you suggest, that it was merely to form a union, like those of 
other branches of industry, to protect fish culturists in their 
