412 
Annual Report of the 
ranks of the states provided with fish-commissioners, and I have no 
doubt that by a careful consideration of the questions connected 
with the interior fisheries, measures will be adopted by which the 
food-resources of your state can be materially improved.” 
Thirteen states are already provided with commissioners, named 
respectively, as follows: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa¬ 
chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Penn¬ 
sylvania, Alabama, California, Michigan, and Wisconsin. 
Maine is the pioneer, having entered upon her ninth year. The 
seventh annual report of the commissioners of New York will soon 
be due. The other states followed in rapid succession, and before 
many years we have no doubt that the matter of fish-culture will 
engage the attention of every state in the Union. 
Many and various experiments have been made in New York in 
respect to acclimating to their waters different varieties of valuable 
fish. Under the skillful management of Hon. Seth Green, super¬ 
intendent, success has generally attended these experiments. In 
his labors he has received the encouragement and aid of Horatio 
Seymour, Geo. G. Cooper, and Robert B. Roosevelt, from the start, 
we believe, fish-commissioners of New York. These gentlemen 
enjoy national reputations, and their endorsement of fish-culture is 
worthy of consideration. In closing their fourth annual report, 
these gentlemen say: 
a We point with pride to what has been done during the past 
few years, and with the small sum at our disposal, we rely with con¬ 
fidence on a greater measure of success in the future.” 
Without enlarging, we may add that in all the reports of the 
commissioners of fish before us, they speak but one language, and 
that is of the most encouraging character. The fisheries of New 
York, Maine, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania are being largely in¬ 
creased, barren waters are becoming productive, and the people are 
beginning to reap the harvest of success in an increased supply of 
wholesome diet and at a greatly reduced cost. Considering that 
fish-culture by artificial means is not a dozen years old in this coun¬ 
try, with the success already attained, the future is full of promise. 
We have passed the day of experiment, and with the experience of 
the states named, we have only to go to work with the certainty of 
a highly remunerative return for our labor and expenditure. But 
to do this we must have money. 
