NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 
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Her loving heart told her that Ortez would he safe in Mueoso’s keeping. At the dead hour of 
night she accompanied him beyond danger, and placed in his hands such tokens as Mucoso would 
recognize. She acted none too soon. As the sun rose over this spot its rays fell upon the maddened 
chief, calling in vain for the intended victim of his revenge. His rage was such that it dried up the 
wellsprings of parental affection, and he refused the marriage of his daughter unless Ortez was 
surrendered. But that Indian girl, although it broke the heartstrings of hope, sacrificed her 
love to humanity; and Mucoso sacrificed his bride upon the altar of honor. Ortez lived to welcome 
De Soto. 
Tell me, aye, tell the world, where a brighter example of noble virtue was ever recorded. Where 
in history do you find more genuine and more touching illustrations of “love, charity, and forgive- 
ness” — the very trinity of earthly virtues and the brightest jewels of the Christian heaven? What a 
captivating theme this Florida Pocahontas should present to the pen of imagination picturing this 
spot, then and to-day associated with romance rich in historic lore ! 
But I am here to welcome you to this National Fisheries Congress ; and what location more fitting 
for such a congress than the shores of this western Mediterranean, the Gulf of Mexico. 
Mathew Maury, that great intellect and writer on the currents of the oceans, that great map- 
maker of the air that circles above Old Ocean’s waves, states it as a physico-commercial fact that “ the 
area of all the valleys which are drained by the rivers of Europe that empty into the Atlantic, of all 
the valleys that are drained by the rivers of Asia that empty into the Indian Ocean, of all the valleys 
that are drained by the rivers of Africa and Europe that empty into the Mediterranean, does not cover 
an extent of territory as great or as fertile as that included in the valleys drained by the American 
rivers alone, which discharge themselves into this our central sea.” 
Those vast valleys furnish waste organic matter that is brought into this inland sea, furnishing 
abundant food for animal life. The temperature of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Carib- 
bean Sea is most favorable to the development of the lower orders of animal life; and the animalcula 
and small fish feed upon this abundant supply of food, and in turn become food for larger fish. The 
Gulf Stream, originating in the Caribbean Sea, sweeping through the Gulf of Mexico and around the 
entire coast of Florida, helps to bring to our very doors this vast food supply, and gives us the best 
of feeding-grounds, many times the area of our State. 
What State, then, more suitable in which to organize a national fishery congress than Florida? 
Stimulated by the erroneous sentiment that America’s fishery resources, on account of the great area 
and capabilities of her waters, are practically inexhaustible, improvidence has led, in many States, to 
useless and wasteful destruction that tends strongly to the depletion of their waters. 
The valleys drained into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea range through all the pro- 
ducing latitudes of the world and embrace every agricultural climate under the sun. Upon their 
green bosom rests the throne of the vegetable kingdom; and in the near future, when the waters of 
the Atlantic and Pacific shall be allowed to commingle through a canal across Central America, the 
commerce of the world will here hold its court. 
Public sentiment is becoming largely directed and educated up to a full comprehension of the 
importance of the industry, and the General Government is lending its powerful aid to the dissemina- 
tion of information and the propagation of valuable species of food-fish. With such earnest and 
intelligent workers as are now in the Government employ and at the head of this great work, with the 
various States cooperating, we may confidently look to a cessation of useless improvidence and an 
increase in the supply of desirable food-producing fish. And what efforts more commanding and 
deserving greater consideration than the suggesting of new fields of labor looking to increasing the 
food supply of mankind? And where can we look more confidently for such increase than in the 
water farms of America? 
This Congress is really in the interest of the highest civilization, for no questions are of more 
moment than the increase or diminution of a wholesome food supply for mankind. 
But, Mr. Chairman, I am not here to discuss any of the phases of the many questions that may 
be brought to the attention of this Congress. That will be the work of specialists and experts. I 
am here simply to give you a cordial welcome, and in the name and on behalf of the good people of 
Florida, 
“I will welcome thee and wish thee long.” 
