30 
Annual Report of the 
information to the commission on subjects that may be referred to the board; to care 
for the interests of the state and of its citizens in matters relating to the exhibition; 
to receive and pronounce upon applications for space; to apportion the space placed 
at its disposal among the exhibitors from the state, and to supervise such other de¬ 
tails relating to the representation of citizens of Wisconsin in the exhibition as may 
from time to time be delegated to it by the United States Centennial Commission. 
I am much pleased to also state that the Legislature has judiciously 
and as I believe wisely, appropriated to the “Women’s Executive 
Committee,” of this state, one thousand dollars, to defra} T expenses 
incident to the part the women of the United States propose to 
take in this World’s Fair. Space has been allotted in this great 
exhibition, to be called the “women’s department,” and I doubt not 
it will be one of, if not the most instructive, attractive and profitable 
branches of the exhibition. 
No effort should be spared to place our noble state, rich in re¬ 
sources and possibilities, in a favorable light before the people of the 
world at this centennial gathering. 
The first annual report of the Commissioners of Fisheries of this 
state, 'will be found in this volume, and contains suggestions and 
recommendations of much interest, as it is intimately connected 
with the great food producing capacity of the state. The legisla¬ 
ture of 1875, made an appropriation of $2,000 to encourage and 
foster this branch of industry. I regret that the sum had not been 
larger, believing that with the proper effort, our numerous lakes 
and streams may be made to afford food resources of more value 
than double the area of the best cultivated farms in the state. The 
commissioners state “ that no state in the Union, disconnected from 
the seaboard, is better suited for fish culture than Wisconsin.” 
Fish culture is no longer an experiment. The state should give it 
an active and generous support. Private parties will also find it a 
pleasant and profitable branch of farming, if their water supply is 
plentiful, and the conditions and surroundings are favorable. 
