76 



require mention also of new descriptive monogTai)hs, of analytical 

 synopses, and of various other important helps to the determination of 

 species so necessary to our work. 



I have even omitted all notice of one import aut branch of economic 

 entomology, in which I take, myself, a strong special interest, which 

 calls loudly for continuous and active investigation, and which promises 

 a great body of fresh and valuable results. I allude to the study of 

 our American aquatic insects, especially in their relations to fish cul- 

 ture. Kow that it has become a fixed feature of the plan of work of the 

 United States Fish Commission to improve and increase the fish sup- 

 ply of our interior waters generally, aquatic entomology, and especially 

 the breeding, determination, description, and illustration of the aquatic 

 larvse and pupse of insects, with studies of their distribution, habits, 

 food, and bionomic relations generally, becomes a matter of first-class 

 economic interest. I need not say that the field is new and scarcely 

 occupied at all, or that, although it clearly belongs to us, it has not 

 even been recognized by ourselves hitherto as coming within our 

 sphere. 



From the little that I have been able to lay before you of the really 

 important mass of new matter contributed to knowledge during the 

 year by the economic entomologists of America, you may see — what, 

 indeed, no one of you needs to be told — that we are in the midst of a new 

 era of discovery in this field, a period of activity quite unexampled in 

 the history of this country and of the world. This present time is cer- 

 tain to become classic in the history of American entomology. The 

 establishment of the State universities and of the State experiment 

 stations throughout our country has had an effect on investigation in 

 those departments of knowledge which have most to do with the inter- 

 ests of the people, which may be compared, for that sphere, to the 

 effect of the revival of learning in the middle ages. We, as a body, 

 are but at the beginning of a career which cannot but influence greatly 

 the direction and development of applied biology in this country and 

 throughout the world, and must have at least a reflex and secondary 

 effect on pure biology as well. We have, therefore, not only every 

 reason for hopefulness, but for a substantial assurance of an eminent 

 future for this association. 1 trust that the present meeting may help 

 us forward notably, and that we may go up to the assembly of the 

 entomologists of the world to be held next year at the Columbian Ex- 

 position in Chicago, i^repared to represent worthily in our department 

 of activity the country and the institutions which have given us so 

 enviable an ox)portunity. 



On motion of Mr. South wick, seconded by Mr. Smith, the following 

 were appointed by the President a committee on Yice-president's ad- 

 dress: Mr. Southwick, chairman; Mr. Smith, Mr. Kellicott. Mr. M. Y. 

 Slingerland, of Ithaca, I^. Y., was proposed for active membership^ 



