ONT Capt ae ee ane prnguenn fraerune ga we | . onlin pee ht ; ce une eee presale pacaen eR DIRIe MME OT av smgihntae aA aT piven enaeen nen bapa 98 0 penret “ys " Pier ryt Bae ale od? she ao att ee =a mt prin Bette Ge Phd oie) pes GFN HE we gasn iv ipehditeles ayorenesese 6 Aad ; . as rhapnoaen act Thaw " aS aed paar a me parents ” sear used , OPEN PO aes dt i >" [ hin Ot a Su Ay nA Ae) H NG ) ha Rye Pare i iret i LOMA aA ti ith ral av Fe is), ee tag * ¥ t var % Sys ae 3 ‘=f ne ie . why P 7 hf i Livingston Stour PIONEER AMERICAN FISH CULTURIST Only Living Founder of the Society and its First Secretary Born October 21, 1836 : on TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY AT ITS FORTIETH ANNUAL MEETING wes SEPTEMBER 27, 28, AND 29, 1910 AT NEW YORK CITY See Ns 381” PUBL 1911 ve iey ak ab ® W. F. ROBERTS COMPANY WASHINGTON, D.c. Officers & 1909—1910 Elected at the Thirty-ninth Annual Meeting in Toledo, Ohio, July 27-28, 1909, for the ensuing year, including the Fortieth Anniversary Meeting held in New York City, Sep- tember 27, 28, and 29, 1910. PO SLEDE LYS io)! Do oe ets} Lith eens Seymour Bower, Detroit, Mich. PUGCBERESTUACHE) So iiiisetlcs) drncia se eta W. E. MEEHAN, Harrisburg, Pa. Recording Secretary: os.. s. 4 he esate GrorceE F. Peasopy, Appleton, Wis. Assistant Recording Secretary..... Warp T. Bower, Washington, D. C. Corresponding Secretary ...... CHARLES G. ATKINS, East Orland, Me. PP RMSUR Cin dats oh vie aie ies,ads kee See C. W. Wrirarp, Westerly, R. I. Executive Commitice S. F. Futierton, Chairman, St. Paul, Minn.; CHartes H. TowNseEnp, New York City; G. H. Lampson, Baird, Cal.; Geo. T. MaTHEWwsoN, Thompsonville, Conn.; FRANK MILLER, Put-in Bay, Ohio; Jase Atrorp, Madison, Wis.; C. H. Stevenson, Detroit, Mich. 1910—15911 Elected at the Fortieth Anniversary Meeting in New York City for the following year, including the meeting to be held in St. Louis, Mo., beginning October 3, 1911. PREIS S 0.) V8 Se 6R. 4 ohn 4 ard dew gaat wi W. E. Meewan, Harrisburg, Pa. MI RECEROESUICHE <5 o5'u sgt atharen'aading’s ee « S. F. Futierton, St. Paul, Minn. Recording Secretary... . ......... Warp T. Bower, Washington, D. C. Assistant Recording Secretary...EtTHEL M. SmitH, Washington, D. C. Corresponding Secretary........ Hue M. Situ, Washington, D. C. PRRTRER G1) 44 taidsidintsiats sia silane slamale C. W. Witarp, Westerly, R. I. Vire-Presidents of Divisions PASTE. OULU Esl aalerarsrael a baci Cuartes G. Atkins, East Orland, Me. Aquatic Biology and Physics. Barton W. EvERMANN, Washington, D. C. Commercial Fishing.............. Joun W. Titcoms, Lyndonville, Vt. APHIDS WS. aie ACE cue a a a ane tis Joun E. GuncKEL, Toledo, Ohio Protection and Legislation...THEODORE S. PALMER, Washington, D. C. Exerutiue Commnitter Cuar_Les H. TowNnsenp, Chairman, New York City; Geo. T. MaTHEWSON, Thompsonville, Conn.; Jase ALForD, Madison, Wis.; Henry B. Warp, Urbana, IIL; DanieL B, FEartnc, Newport, R. I.; D. H. Power, Suttons Bay, Mich.; Joun P. Bascock, San Francisco, Cal. Sai Wa Ag he pe OANA | at Uy Lay | ye RD RANT a Pte hoa AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY Organized 1870 The first meeting of the Society occurred December 20, 1870. The organization then effected continued until February, 1872, when the second meeting was held. Since that time there has been a meeting each year, as shown below. The respective presidents were elected at the meeting, at the place, and for the period shown opposite their names, but they presided at the subsequent meeting. PRESIDENTS, TERMS OF SERVICE, AND PLACES OF t. William: Clift... . fi Watiday Cute? ." a Willian CHES) 3... 6. 4. Robert B. Roosevelt. 5. Robert B. Roosevelt. 6. Robert B. Roosevelt. 7. Robert B. Roosevelt... 8. Robert B. Roosevelt. 9. Robert B. Roosevelt. 10. Robert B. Roosevelt. 11. Robert B. Roosevelt. 12. George Shepard Page. 13. James Benkard.. 14. Theodore sina ayy 15. Marshall McDonald.. 16. W. M. Hudson 17. William L. May 18. John H. Bissell . Eugene G. Blackford. . Eugene G. Blackford. 21. James A. Henshall.... . Herschel Whitaker... 23. Henry C. Ford . William L. May 25. L. D. Huntington . Herschel Whitaker.... . William L. May . George F. Peabody... . John W. Titcomb.... . F. B. Dickerson 31. E. E. Bryant . George M. Bowers.. 338) Prank: NS Clark). s2- 36. E. . Henry T. Root » Ce Ds, Joslyn A. Birge . Hugh M. Smith...... . Tarleton H. Bean . Seymour Bower . William E. Meehan.. eee nnn see eee see wee see eee ee sees 1889-1890. . 1890-1891.... 1891-1892... . 1892-1893... 1893-1894... 1894-1895... 1895-1896... 1896-1897... 1897-1898... 1898-1899... 1899-1900... 1900-1901... 1901-1902... . .1902-1903.... 1903-1904... 1904-1905... 1905-1906... 1906-1907. . 1907-1908... 1908-1909... 1909-1910... .1910-1911.... MEETING. . .1870-1872.... New York, N. Y. 1872-1873... . Albany, N. Y. 1873-1874.... New York, N. Y. .1874-1875....New York, N. Y. .1875-1876....New York, N. Y. .1876-1877*...New York, N. Y. 1877-1878....New York, N. Y. .1878-1879....New York, N. Y. .1879-1880....New York, N. Y. .1880-1881....New York, N. Y. .1881-1882....New York, N. Y. 1882-1883....New York, N. Y. . .1883-1884....New York, N. Y. ..1884-1885.... Washington, D. C. .1885-1886.... Washington, D. C. 1886-1887....Chicago, III. 1887-1888.... Washington, D. C. 1888-1889.... Detroit, Mich. .. Philadelphia, Pa. Put-in Bay, Ohio. . Washington, D. C. New York, N. Y. . Chicago, III. Philadelphia, Pa. New York, N. Y. -New York, N. Y. . Detroit, Mich. .Omaha, Nebr. .Niagara Falls, N. Y. Woods Hole, Mass. Milwaukee, Wis. Put-in Bay, Ohio. .Woods Hole, Mass. Atlantic City, N. J. . White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. ..Grand Rapids, Mich. .Erie, Pa. Washington, D. C. .. Toledo, Ohio. New York, N. Y. *A special meeting was held at the Centennial Grounds, Philadelphia, Pa., October 6 and 7, 1876 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY We, the undersigned, persons of full age and citizenship of the United States, and a majority being citizens of the District of Columbia, pursuant to and in conformity with sections 509 to 603, inclusive, of the Code of Law for the District of Columbia enacted March 3, root, as amended by the Acts approved January 31 and June 30, 1902, hereby associate ourselves together as a society or body corporate and certify in writing: 1. That the name of the Society is the AMERICAN FISHERIES SOGIEFY. 2. That the term for which it is organized is nine hundred and ninety- nine years. 3. That its particular business and objects are to promote the cause of fish culture; to gather and diffuse information bearing upon its practical success, and upon all matters relating to the fisheries; to unite and encourage all interests of fish culture and the fisheries; and to treat all questions of a scientific and economic character regarding fish; with power: a. To acquire, hold and convey real estate and other property, and to establish general and special funds. b. To hold meetings. c. To publish and distribute documents. d. To conduct lectures. e. To conduct, endow, or assist investigation in any department of fishery and fish-culture science. f. To acquire and maintain a library. g. And, in general, to transact any business pertinent to a learned society. 4. That the affairs, funds and property of the corporation shall be in general charge of a council, consisting of the officers and the execu- tive committee, the number of whose members for the first year shall be seventeen, all of whom shall be chosen from among the members of the Society. Witness our hands and seals this 16th day of December, Ig10. SEyMouR BowER (Seal) THEODORE GILL (Seal) Wr1raM E. MEEHAN (Seal) THEODORE S. PALMER’ (Seal) BERTRAND H. Roperts (Seal) HucH M. SmitTH (Seal) RICHARD SYLVESTER (Seal) CONTENTS BusINESS SESSION: Registered ‘Attendance () is Pe sea toes eee eee ee GSA aes 16 Dewy. WIDER oo). «de Tae ARNG Me eae hese ke wot elekhie base 18 Tucocporaion Of, the Society tne was «20s a2

54 Sale of Hatchery Fish in Close Season................--+- 58 Reminiseenees ot Seth: Green. ii..0.. 0s ce cnceesastcctecsanans 66 Letters from Abs@g@t Members ..........00 2.2000. c cle cewess 69 Early Work. of Charles G, Atkins ............-..--.00-00-- 72 Proceedings Relative to Livingston Stone ..............-..: 74 Papets Read By “Bithe® . fois). isid. jabea hee y)< <2 8 enticed 77 Closing ‘Proceeditigs. 41.1.1) of Dd ta lalelate'a'elals/atata'a'e clas C40. + 25a 78 DecEASED MEMBERS: Memorial of Frank Nelson Clark. By Seymour Bower ....... 85 PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS: Fishery Conservation. By Seymour Bower ..............+++- 95 The Conservation of Our Rivers and Lakes. By C. H. TYAWNSANE:, Cc be he ee ake ae REG Rte One he's ah eee eee 101 Fish-Culture Possibilities of the National Preserves. By D. C. BOGEELG yess ise 5 o's dt SL Riga Fe PORE TE OLE kk 0.0 d's ose eipieins 115 Conservation of Forest Life. By Richard E. Follett........ 119 Notes on Black Bass. By Tarleton H. Bean ............./.. 123 Observations on the Small-Mouth Black Bass in Pennsylvania During the Season of 1910. By W. E. Meehan .......... 129 Increasing and Insuring the Natural Food Supply of Small- mouth Black Bass Fry, and Notes on Combination of Breeding and Rearing Ponds. By Dwight Lydell ......... 133 Discussion on Small-MouthBlacksBassuecneneeneseeeeee ee ee 137 Observations Concerning the Natural Food of Small-Mouth Black Bass Fry at Mammoth Spring, Ark. By Stephen Ge Whontir (855406 ose oe cee tie wines mec ais aie he cre cee ane 145 Whe Supfish.) By John L. Geary yp iectsesces sie ee ee omen ere 149 Rescue Work—The Saving of Fish from Overflowed Lands. By? i hae> (Bartlett Vc 5.55.5 Cath Rakes hens Eni eam 153 Utilization of Sea Mussels for Food. By Irving A. Field..... 159 The Magnitude and Scope of the Work of the U. S. Bureau of ‘Pisberies, 1910, By RR: S..Jokmson) f). «sek cbewekes ees 169 Commercial Trout Hatcheries and Their Influence on Public Hatcheries. By Eben "W.'Gobb. cies. sceene sos malsne sien 173 The Investigation of a River System in the Interest of its Fisheries. ‘By Stephen jAs* Forbes. pues: sissies melee era's 179 Ecological Notes on the Fishes of Walnut Lake, Mich. By. Ts hg Sigesrean ee ic ameninsic s\otacs shee he beet eher 195 The Study of Marine Ecology and Its Importance to the Fisheries. By “Roy Waldo Miner ...........ecese.snee0 207 The Alaska Fisheries Service. By Barton W. Evermann...... 219 An Experiment in Fur-Seal Conservation. By Barton W. Fivermann’ J.ci geet Os 13. os pele eee eee REIL SD en Cea 227 Adaptive Changes of Color Among Fishes. By F. B. Sumner. 235 The Spoonbill Fishery of the Lower Mississippi. By Louis EMpssakot (od scsi se eeitte cele Sach ek oh eee RE Ee 245 Methods in Aquatic Photography. By William Alanson Boyan dss sscass oe abst eke eeeeh oaap eh tee LE ere nne 249 The American Museum’s Exhibit of Fishes. By John Tread- well: GNichols | )..0ij dase aide ects MeN SO ete eee EER EE SERIE 261 The Natural History of the Weakfish. By Theodore Gill.... 269 Papers AND Discussions—Continued. Some of the Difficulties Encountered in Collecting Pike-Perch Boge) By S: W.. Dowiti) 222 ca tasay ences aes sss esses 277 Pike-Perch Notes and Suggestions. By W. O. Buck........ 283 Some Observations in Frog Culture. By W. H. Safford...... 289 Work of Pennsylvania in Stopping Water Pollution. By Wo ES Week |. oes Sere eae od ca dae eee can cwee 293 The Practical Enforcement of Fishery Regulations. By Relig vag! ook side Saws eA Sede tikinlg sein aches a aise 299 Success in Causing the Pearl Oyster to Secrete Spherical Pearls,” By’ Bashford. Dirdates 0230) 200 6 nc dere ean cieeicine 309 Reminiscences of Forty-one Years’ Work in Fish Culture. By James Nevin) ...2 snakes eesti heads ae ds sa cen ed aalels 313 Personal Fish-Cultural Reminiscences. By Frank N. Clark... 319 History of the American Fisheries Society. By Ward T. PRR Led dchctci ats ot orale &, & AEs ae weit reer alet oeal alata dete aoa 5 323 Protecting the Lobster. By Francis H. Herrick ............ 359 The Season of 1910 at the Fisheries Experiment Station at Wickford, R. I. By Earnest W. Barnes ............-- 365 The Effects of Exposure on the Gill Filaments of Fishes. By Raymond C. Osburn ..........-. sees eee e cece eee eeees 371 Thyroid Tumors in Salmonoids. By M. C. Marsh ............ 377 Some Experiments in the Burial of Salmon Eggs—Suggesting a New Method of Hatching Salmon and Trout. By John Dead HCO CIE uot stare ye RU eet ao naimala sagas 393 Some General Remarks on Fishing for Sport. By H. Wheeler eae ie dup isu ta uae Rem contact a eae hice) iis tfieot al a Sa ae 397 The North Atlantic Fisheries Dispute and Its Arbitration at The Hague, 1910. By Hugh M. Smith ................-. 405 Five Years’ Progress in Fish Culture in Argentina. By. E. A. TE aRETTAU Ses ah ais ace eee te he oo eoe ma a.0 ocala ars qlee aeaiege 415 Notes on Foreign Fisheries and Fish Culture ............... 423 Marnuring POnds: ....... 0 .ce cc ce cce canoe nae renccinss 423 Commercial Fertilizers for Ponds ..............ceeeeeees 424 Carp Culture in France .......----2-seeeee cesses eeeees 426 The Artificial Culture and Hatching of Pike ............. 429 Bet Calture:in Geremaiey Ue talus gue soe aieaioS alae sia <") Fortieth Annual Meeting during the present year his fish hatcheries had put on ‘the New York market over 30 tons of trout running about three to the pound. This is an important matter which is now under discussion. Mr. E. W. Coss, St. Paul, Minn. : There is one point that has not been touched on. Many commercial fish culturists have to get their fry into the ponds in February, and if they cannot market their fish in the winter they will be at a disadvantage. That will make a difference in the supply of commercial trout eggs. I do not know whether you can exactly call that a matter of protection, but it has given us our supply for the public streams, as the fish we have in the public hatcheries are principally from commercial trout eggs. Mr. Hurizut: I think Mr. Cobb makes a mistake in that altogether. If we can have a market the year around we make preparations accordingly. Last year we put trout into the Boston market except for six weeks. This year we have overcome that difficulty and preparations have been made to put them in every week, because the people want them. We do not sell our female trout when the eggs are worth as much as the trout. You need not think the commercial man that gets his living out of his business will spoil his business by throwing away the eggs. I do not think any of us would do that. But it is a fact with us as commercial men that we have three females to every male in our ponds. That will be a fair average. If a man is careful and has his ponds adapted to it, and makes his preparations as in any other business, he will get along all right. As a matter of fact I can tell in advance our output in a year as well as in any business you can find. We have it down to that; and as I say, we make preparations. Of course unforeseen accidents may happen; but barring them, we put trout into the Boston market every week through the year. At my little place alone this open market makes a difference of from $500 to $1,000 a year. I am talking to you from experience. Mr. Titcomb knows American Fisheries Society 65 my place; Mr. Bower and some of these gentlemen are acquainted with me and know what I have to work from; and if it is worth what I say to that small hatchery consider the advantages to everybody of an open market in New York, that will not require us to put trout in here against the law. The New York market is probably the largest market in the world for trout, but Boston is a good second. Mr. FuLLERTON: We have a law in Minnesota allowing private hatcheries to market trout, but we have also a law, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court of our state, that the ownership of all game and fish is in the people, and that puts the burden on the man that has the trout. li we suspect a man he must show where the fish came from. I do not think Mr. Evans need be afraid in Ontario, if the burden is put on the other fellow. I believe this law is good and that the resolution should pass. Mr. LypDELL: I would like to ask some of the trout cul- _ turists what they would have to get per thousand for their eggs to make a living, provided they were not allowed to sell their trout; also if they were not allowed to sell their trout would the different state commissions or the United States Commission be able to get any trout eggs from them. Would it not be a fact that, if they were not allowed to sell trout, they would all discontinue operations, and thus put two-thirds of the fish commissions out of business as far as trout hatcheries are concerned? Mr. Fottett: That is a good point. My sympathies are with the private trout growers, and we all would like to offer them any assistance we can within reason. The resolution was then unanimously carried. PRESIDENT: The Secretary will now announce the next paper. ActiInG SEcrETARY: Dr. Bashford Dean, of Columbia University, New York City, will read an announcement of Dr. Nishikawa’s success in causing the pearl oyster to secrete perfect and spherical pearls. The paper was read and discussed. GO) Fortieth Annual Meeting A recess was then taken until 1.15 o’clock p.m., at which time the meeting was called to order by the President. PRESIDENT: The first paper this afternoon will be ‘““Remi- niscences of Forty-one Years’. Work in Fish Culture,” by James Nevin, Superintendent Wisconsin Fish Commission, Madison, Wis. Mr. Nevin then read his paper, which was discussed. PRESIDENT: Anyone who has had an experience of forty-one years in fish culture can certainly lay claim to be one of the earliest pioneers. There is, however, a gentle- man present whose experience antedates that even of Mr. Nevin. He has the distinction of being one of the first ten men in the United States, of whom only three or four are still living, who hatched fish by what is known as artificial propagation. For a great many years he has been very active in the affairs of this Society, one of its standbys and mainstays, and for more than thirty years he has been one of the most commanding and conspicuous figures in fish cul- ture in the United States. [I have the honor of introducing him in the person of Mr. Frank N. Clark, of Northville, Mich. (Applause. ) Mr. Clark then gave some extemporaneous “Personal Fish-Cultural Reminiscences,” which will be found in proper order in the second part of the Transactions. REMINISCENCES OF SETH GREEN PRESIDENT: We have a number of communications here along this line from old-time members. Some of these letters are quite lengthy. I do not know whether you want them read or not. Here is one from Chester K. Green, son of the famous Seth Green. Will you have it read or read by title? Mr. Meenan: I think it would be well to read it, being from the son of one of the pioneers of fish culture. The Acting Secretary then read the following letter: Seth Green PIONEER AMERICAN FISH CULTURIST Born March 19, 1817 Died August 20, 1888 American Fisheries Society 67 Cape VincENT, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1910. Mr. Seymour Bower, President American Fisheries Society, Detroit, Mich. Dear Mr. Bower:—In response to your letter of recent date, relative to something in the reminiscent line of the early days of fish culture and the American Fisheries Society, I well recall the correspondence that took place between Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, Mr. Livingston Stone, Mr. A. S. Collins and others with my father, Mr. Seth Green, relative to the organization of the Society and other important matters relating to it. I regret that I did not save some of the old letters, as they contained so many historical facts, and would have been of great interest on this occasion. Few of the younger members of this Society are familiar with the difficulties encountered by its founders, and the pioneers in the work of practical fish culture. Among the most serious problems to overcome, was the incredulity of the people and particularly the fishermen with whom it was necessary to come in contact in con- ducting the early experiments. Time will not permit relating many of these experiences, but a few will suffice. In looking over some of the articles written by my father in the early 70’s relative to his shad- hatching experience, I take the following excerpt: “I underwent all sorts of annoyances by overgrown boys and grown-up loafers, who broke my experiment boxes and hooted at me. I was obliged to stay, for if I went home it was a failure, no matter what the cause. It is true I had not been used to being hooted at much in Rochester, but I soon got used to it, and not many days were passed in which my ex- pectations were not realized.” When he had finally perfected his apparatus, and had his boxes filled with shad eggs in the process of incubation, he lay on the banks of the Connecticut River, revolver in hand, watching them. In the gray of the morning he discovered a man wading out to destroy them. He called to him to stop, at the same time leveling his weapon. It had the desired effect. The next day the boxes were filled with fry, and the victory was won. I can well remember talks I had personally with the fishermen on the Hudson River. They told me of the excitement that prevailed when he first made his appearance in the spring of 1868, at Mull’s fishery on the upper Hudson, when he announced that he had come to propagate shad artificially, and make them plentiful and cheap. It was soon noised about that a strange man had made his appearance and was talking about doing marvelous and incomprehensible things in the way of hatching shad. They concluded he must be insane, but his earnestness and apparent confidence led them to call a meeting of their wise men, and hold a consultation with him. After the meeting the knowing ones reported that he might possibly be crazy or a fool; but he evidently knew what he was talking about, and knew more about fish than all the rest of them put together. So it was decided to give this man with unheard of ideas a chance to make a practical demonstration, The result is history. BK Fortieth Annual Meeting My father and Mr. Roosevelt were very warm friends, both equally fond of fishing and field sports. Their practical experience and knowl- edge of matters pertaining to the disappearance of game and the decline of the fisheries, rendered them an ideal team in the inception and execu- tion of the work of the New York Fishery Commission, of which they were both charter members in connection with Hon. Horatio Seymour. Mr. Livingston Stone was so actively identified with the organization of this Society that I am sure a brief extract from his paper read before the National Fisheries Congress held at Tampa, Fla., in 1898, will be of interest, as it so beautifully expresses the conditions and feelings of the early experimenters: “In looking back over those early years and contrasting them with the present, when such an immense mass of information is available, one is forcibly struck by the almost universal ignorance on the subject that prevailed at that time. This was true not only of people generally, but of well informed men also, for even scientists who rightly deserved the name, and university graduates and accomplished scholars who prided themselves on the variety of their knowledge, and reading men who kept up with the magazines and newspapers, could tell you nothing of this art of fish culture. Yet this was not so very surprising, for books had not then been published in this country on the subject, magazine articles about it had not appeared, encyclopedias did not contain the information, or at most only the merest outlines of it, and there was no avenue open to the public by which more than a super- ficial knowledge of the subject could be reached. People generally were so utterly ignorant indeed of the whole subject that almost any story about fish eggs would pass unchallenged. How different the present day, when the minute fish life of the very bottom of the ocean is closely and thoroughly studied, and the fish food furnished by the microscopic life of fresh-water lakes is measured and classified. “To go back in memory to those early days is not only to lend the enchantment that distance brings, but it is also to return to what was real enchantment then. It seems as if we should never feel again—I know I am expressing the feelings of all the early experimenters in hatching fish—it seems as if we should never feel again, and we shall probably never feel again the thrill of excitement that tingled to our fingers’ ends when we first saw the little black speck in the unhatched embryo, which told us that the egg was alive. It was one of the dearest sights on earth to us then. And when the first little trout emerged from its shell and wriggled in the water, why were we so excited and elated? Was it because the little fish opened up to us a new world of promise, and because we had a dim vision of the countless multitudes of living creatures that this little embryo was the significant forerunner of? Was it because we unconsciously felt we were sharing with others in a great discovery? I suppose it was something of the sort, and now after those long years have passed and we coldly watch under a microscope, with half scientific interest, the development of this little black speck, American Fisheries S$ ociety 69 named by scientists the ‘choroid pigment,’ but which will always be dear to us as the ‘eye-spot,’ we can hardly believe that such a common- place matter-of-fact affair could ever have stirred our feelings and our imagination as it did once, when the sight and sensation were both new, and the world of promise before us was untried and unknown,” While there are many other interesting incidents that come to my mind in connection with the early work, I feel that I must not further encroach upon your valuable time. In closing permit me to extend my congratulations to the American Fisheries Society upon attaining its fortieth anniversary. The great good this Society has done in the past and is still doing, is incalculable, and that it may continue to expand and increase in usefulness and activity for many years to come, is the sincere wish of Very truly yours, CuHESTER K. Green. LETTERS FROM ABSENT MEMBERS PRESIDENT: I think this is a very valuable contribution from one of the old members. It js true that in America the first fish were hatched by Dr. Garlick, of Cleveland, but it was only in a very small and experimental way. The fact is that Seth Green is the real pioneer of fish culture in this country, so far as hatching fish in a practical way or as a business enterprise is concerned. I think there is no ques- tion about that. Here is an interesting letter from James Annin which I will ask the Secretary to read. The Acting Secretary then read the following letter: Cateponta, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1910, Mr. President and Members of the American Fisheries Society, Greet- ings: The President asked for a letter from members that had belonged to the Society for twenty-five years or more, and stated that with myself there were but fifteen left. I am getting white and the hair is a little thin, but I do not feel a day older than when I joined the American Fish Cultural Association in 1877 or 1878. The only thing that convinces me of my age is the way my wife looks after me on my return from a day spent on the stream or in the brush. I joined the association during R. B. Roosevelt’s administration. Since then the name has been changed to the present one, I shall always consider it a privilege to pay my yearly dues to this Society, For several years the annual meeting was held at New York in the Fishmongers’ Association assembly room over the market. Many inter- 7a) | Fortieth Annual Meeting esting matters came up for discussion, many pertaining to the future of fish culture and the widespread influence for its success the asso- ciation must have throughout the country and world. I wish that many of the old members were alive and present to see and hear how their hopes for the future of fish culture had been confirmed. Robert B. Roosevelt, George Shepard Page, Seth Green, Eugene G. Blackford, Fred Mather, Spencer F. Baird, G. Brown Goode, James Benkard, W. M. Hudson, Marshall McDonald, and a host of other eminent men were always present and took an active part in the discussions. Many of the early annual meetings were held the last days of March just before the trout season opened, when Mr. Blackford invited the members of the association and the public to inspect his display of live and dead trout from every available part of the country. No expense was spared to make it a success. It was always a splendid display, and anticipated by all with pleasure. On the occasion of one meeting, a dead whale had been towed in and anchored near the Fishmongers’ Market by some thrifty financier who enclosed it with a fence with steps in place from the pier, permitting those that paid the admission fee to walk on the whale’s back. Several members paid the price, but most of us thought after getting inside the fence and seeing the condition of the big monster that it was safer to look at and smell from above. I am sorry that I cannot have the pleasure of being with you at this, the fortieth annual meeting. Trusting that you have a pleasant and profitable gathering, I remain, Sincerely yours, JAMES ANNIN. PRESIDENT: I have a letter from Dr. Smith, who is un- avoidably absent from this meeting, which I am sure we all regret. Dr. Smith took a very active interest in trying to work up material for this meeting until he was unexpectedly called to the conference at The Hague. The letter reads: North Atlantic Coast Fisheries Arbitration at The Hague. Agency of the United States Sept. 12, 1910, Mr. Seymour Bower, President American Fisheries Society, New York City. My Dear Sir:—It is a matter of great regret that I am unable to be at the anniversary meeting of the Society, to which I had been looking with pleasant anticipation. I have prepared a little historical account of the great international fishery dispute between America and England that has just been settled by arbitration, and | hope you will find a place for this article in the printed record even if it is not read at the meeting. The case is note- American Fisheries Society . 71 worthy in being the first to come up under the convention for the settlement of international disputes concluded at the second peace con- ference at The Hague in 1907. Will you please convey to the members of the Society my greetings and best wishes for a most successful meeting. Sincerely yours, HucH M, Sir. PRESIDENT: Here is a short letter from an old-time hon- orary member that should be read. The Acting Secretary then read the following letter: HAARLEM, HoLianp, Sept. 16, 1910. Mr. Seymour Bower, President of the American Fisheries Society. S1r:—I have duly received the announcement of the fortieth anni- versary meeting of the American Fisheries Society and I am sorry not to be able to attend it. Yet it would have given me great pleasure to do so and to use the opportunity, personally, to express my feelings of sympathy with your Society. So I am now obliged to do this by letter: receive my hearty congratulations and my best wishes for the future on the occasion of the fortieth birthday of your Society. Having had the great honor, some years ago, to be elected an honor- ary member, having studied the proceedings on several occasions, and having had the advantage of making personal acquaintance with your Society, being present at the Washington meeting in September, 1908, I am, no doubt, permitted to say that your Society has already done excellent work in the interest of your fisheries, and that we are fully entitled to expect that it will, in future also, largely contribute to the maintenance and the development of this industry which so greatly interests us. With my best wishes for the success of your anniversary meeting and my respectful greetings for yourself and for many of your members, whom it would be for me a great pleasure to meet again, I have the honor to be, Sir, yours sincerely and respectfully, Pi PC, Houx:; Honorary Member. PRESIDENT: We have a short letter from Professor Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries of the Dominion of Canada, that I should like to have read. The Acting Secretary then read the following letter: Wynyarb, Sask., Sept. 16, 1910. The Secretary of the American Fisheries Society, New York Aquarium, New York City. Dear Sir:—I very much regret to find that I shall be away on an official trip over the northern waters of Alberta, Canada, at the time of rd Se Fortieth Annual Meeting the meeting of the American Fisheries Society. I had hoped to be present, along with my distinguished colleague on the International Fisheries Commission (Dr. David Starr Jordan) and to have con- tributed one or two papers. I shall be wholly unable to attend the meeting or aid in any way personally, but I wish it all success. Yours faithfully, Epwarp E. PRINCE. PRESIDENT: There are three other members who have be- longed to this Society for more than twenty-five years who have been in attendance at this meeting, but they are not present now, Dr. Bean, Dr. Gill, and Mr. May. Mr. Meenan: Dr. Bean is absent on account of the severe illness of his wife. PRESIDENT: I am advised that there is a member present, and yesterday reélected to membership, who first joined the Society in 1873. We shall be glad to hear a few words from Mr. Philip Neidlinger, of Sheepshead Bay, N. Y. Mr. NEIDLINGER: I have nothing to say just now except that many years ago at our meetings, when Mr. Roosevelt was president, and George Shepard Page and Seth Green, and others dead and gone, met with us, I attended the sessions and enjoyed them very much. But I lost track of the Society until I read about the meeting here, when [ at once took occasion to attend and renew my membership. EARLY WORK OF CHARLES G. ATKINS Mr. W. O. Buck, Neosho, Mo.: I would like to ask if there is anything from Mr. Atkins? PRESIDENT: I wrote to Mr. Atkins but he did not respond. There are some pictures here of a few old-time members, among them being one of Mr. Atkins, which I shall be glad to show you later. Mr. Buck: It seems to me that the Society owes it to itself to have Mr. Atkins’ name appear in this account of its early members, and if you will bear with me a minute I will try to state something of what I happen to know of the earlier part of his fish-cultural work. My having been asso- American Fisheries Society . 73 ciated with him for twenty years perhaps may furnish an excuse for my speaking in his behalf without other prepara- tion than those twenty years of familiar intercourse and knowledge of his work. Mr. Atkins was one of the two first commissioners of the State of Maine appointed in 1867, and he brought from Canada, in 1870, the first salmon eggs artificially hatched in Maine. There were 8,000 of these for which he paid forty dollars in gold per thousand, and he brought them home in a trunk. Although the result of this experiment was limited as to the total number of fish produced, they were of excellent quality, over 7,000 young fish being carried to the planting time the following winter. Later he made the first attempt to take salmon eggs in the United States, buying live adults of the fishermen in June and July, and impounding them in several places. The in- closure in Alamoosook Lake at the mouth of Craig Brook proved to be well adapted to the purpose, and the salmon there confined yielded 70,000 eggs, of which Mr. Atkins suc- ceeded in fecundating 96 per cent, using the dry method of applying the milt—the first time that method was ever used in America. Craig Brook is the place where Mr. Atkins has since had such great success in salmon culture, although he at first moved from there to a brook in Bucksport where he carried on operations for several years. During that time he organized an association of com- missions of the States of Maine, Massachussetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, for the purpose of propa- gating Atlantic and land-locked salmon. When the United States Fish Commission was established Professor Baird joined this association, each of the commissions contributing to the fund for carrying on the work and sharing in the out- put. As Maine commissioner, Mr. Atkins was the author of the first five reports—1867-1871—which cover a wide field. He entered the service of the United States Commission in 1872, and as we all know contributed many important articles to its early reports. Fo Fortieth Annual Meeting Prior to 1875 he had hatched eggs of Atlantic salmon, land-locked salmon, shad, whitefish, brook trout, lake trout, alewives, white perch, smelts, suckers and chubs. Perhaps this is enough to say at present, the idea being to refer briefly to some of the little known beginnings of Mr. Atkins’ work rather than attempt a summary of that for which he is so well and widely known. PROCEEDINGS RELATIVE TO LIVINGSTON STONE PRESIDENT: I have reserved for the last a letter from Mr. Chester K. Green concerning the only living charter member of the Society, Mr. Livingston Stene, whose con- dition seems good physically, but whose mental condition is very poor. He recognizes those around him, but his memory is gone and the past is a blank. I think some suit- able action should be taken in connection with our oldest living charter member. The Secretary will please read the letter. Mr. Green’s letter follows: Care Vincent, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1910. Mr. SEyMouR Bower, President American Fisheries Society, Detroit, Mich. My Dear Mr. Bower: ‘ I am in receipt of your letter asking for infomation concerning Mr. Livingston Stone. Mr. Stone’s son visited Cape Vincent a short time since, and from him I learned that his father’s condition is such that he is able to be about each day, and is in fairly good physical condition. His mental condition is somewhat peculiar, and, as I understand it, he lives almost entirely in the present—that is, he knows those about him, converses and plays games with them, but does not remember anything in the past. He may recognize an old friend who calls on him, but will forget all about him a short time after leaving. He does not remember anything about his fish-culture work at Cape Vincent or elsewhere, or his associates in the work. His case is in many respects a very pitiful one, but it will be a consolation to his friends to know that he is not suffering any physical pain, and that he has a nurse in constant attendance, and is being well cared for by his faithful wife and son. His address is 835 E. Hutchinson Avenue, Swissvale, Pittsburg, Pa. I trust that I have given you the desired information. Sincerely yours, CHESTER K. GREEN. American Fisheries Society 75 Mr. CLARK: I move that the Secretary at his conve- nience a little later write a letter to Mr. Stone, or his wife or his son, or all of them, expressing the sympathy of the American Fisheries Society as to his condition, saying that the members of the Society thought of him while holding this fortieth anniversary meeting. Mr. Titcoms: May I add to that message and have the motion that we make Mr. Livingston Stone an honorary member of this Society? Mr. Crark: I accept that amendment as part of the original motion. The motion was unanimously carried. ACTING SECRETARY: The Society took action of simi- lar nature three years ago when resolutions of sympathy were extended to the family regarding Mr. Stone’s con- dition, very much after the manner of the present occasion. PRESIDENT: I believe this closes the hour we were to devote to reminiscences, but I will say that you will perhaps want to see the pictures of five of the early members of the Society, Mr. Atkins, Mr. Seth Green, Mr. Fred Mather, Mr. Livingston Stone, and Mr. Robert B. Roosevelt. AcTING SECRETARY: These photographs were brought here at the request of Dr. H. M. Smith and are his property, PRESIDENT: Mr. August Christman, Secretary of the United Anglers’ League of New York, has a few remarks to make. Mr. CHRISTMAN: ‘The most detrimental thing to the sport of angling about Greater New York is the pollution of the waters. We have a law that prohibits pollution; but we find that New York City itself is the greatest offender against the law. We find another thing, that the menhaden fishermen on the coast come as close as a quarter or half a mile to shore after menhaden, but if they should chance to run into weakfish or the like they do not hesitate to take a seine and catch them. They may not bring them into market ; I cannot say that because I do not know it to be a ae Fortieth Annual Meeting fact, but I know that the individual angler can go alongside of those boats and procure the fish at a small sum. PRESIDENT: The Secretary will announce the next paper. ACTING SECRETARY: Prof. Francis H. Herrick, Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, sends a paper on “Protecting the Lobster,” with the suggestion that it be read in full or by title only, according to the exigencies of the occasion. Dr. OsBuRN: Professor Herrick’s paper is of such an excellent character that the committee thought it best to read the paper even though he is absent. Dr. Osburn then read Professor Herrick’s paper, which was discussed. The Acting Secretary then read a paper written by Mr. E. W. Barnes, of the Rhode Island Fisheries Commission, entitled “The Season of 1910 at. the Fisheries Ex- periment Station at Wickford, R. 1., which was discussed. PRESIDENT: The next paper will be read by a gentleman to whom we are under great obligations for his assistance in making this meeting a success. Dr. Raymond C. Osburn, of Columbia University, and Assistant Director of this Aquarium, will speak on “The Effects of Exposure on the Gill Filaments of Fishes.” Dr. Osburn’s paper was then read and discussed. PRESIDENT: The Secretary has started to prepare a history of the Society. He has merely the rough draft today, and will read only a small portion of it, as a great deal of it is necessarily statistical, but really should be put in the report when it is fully completed, because it will save some one else a lot of time in compiling the same set of facts. The Acting Secretary, Mr. Ward T. Bower, United States Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, D. C., then read a “His- tory of the American Fisheries Society.” Mr. Roy W. Miner, Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, then spoke American Fisheries Society 77 on “The Study of Marine Ecology and its Importance to the Fisheries.’ Discussion followed. PRESIDENT: Fish have diseases and consequently we must have fish doctors to diagnose and prescribe for those diseases. Our next paper will be by one of the fish doc- tors of the Bureau of Fisheries, Mr. M. C. Marsh, who will present a paper on “Thyroid Tumors in Salmonoids.”’ Mr. Marsh’s paper was then read and discussed. PAPERS READ BY TITLE PRESIDENT: We have about 15 more papers and if you think it is too late to read them, the Chair will entertain a motion that they be read by title and printed in the pro- ceedings. Mr. MEEHAN: I move that the papers remaining be read by title and published in the proceedings. The motion was seconded and unanimously carried. Papers were then read by title as follows: John P. Babcock, Chief Deputy California Fish and Game Commission, San Francisco, Cal.—‘*Some Experi- ments in the Burial of Salmon Eggs, Suggesting a New Method of Hatching Salmon and Trout.” Dr. S. P. Bartlett, U. S. Fisheries Station, Quincy, Il.— “Rescue Work—The Saving of Fishes from Overflowed Lands.” D. C. Booth, Superintendent U. S. Fisheries Station, Spearfish, S. D.—‘Fish-Cultural Possibilities of the Na- tional Preserves.”’ W. O. Buck, U. S. Fisheries Station, Neosho, Mo.— “Pike-Perch Notes.” Prof. T. L. Hankinson, Charleston, Ill. Notes on the Fishes of Walnut Lake.” John L. Leary, Superintendent U. S. Fisheries, San Marcos, Texas.—‘‘The Sunfish.” H. Wheeler Perce, President National Association of “Ecological TSH Fortieth Annual Meeting Scientific Angling Clubs.—“Some General Remarks on Fishing for Sport.” Dr. Hugh M. Smith, U. S. Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries, Washington, D. C.—‘*The North Atlantic Fish- eries Dispute and its Arbitration at The Hague.” EK. A. Tulian, New Orleans, La.—‘‘Five Years’ Progress in Fish Culture in Argentina.” S. G. Worth, Superintendent U. S. Fisheries Station, Mammoth Spring, Ark.—‘‘Observations on the Natural Food of Small-mouth Bass Fry at Mammoth Spring Sta- tion, Arkansas.” PRESIDENT: I am requested by an old member to bring the following to your attention: He desires to have pub- lished in the proceedings of this meeting the names of com- missioners and superintendents of all the states, the amount of money appropriated by Congress for the Bureau of Fish- eries and by the different states, the number of fish planted under the direction of the Bureau and the different states, these data to be incorporated in our next report. What action will you take on this request? It would be a good idea in some respects, although we are going to have an enormously large report, as it is. You know the discus- sions that have been had and the papers that have already been presented, and there are about 15 papers that have been read by title and are to be printed; but as this request is made by an ex-president and an old member, it is en- titled to consideration. Dr. TownsenD: It would involve a vast amount of work for an unpaid secretary. Mr. CLarK: I move the matter be laid on the table until our next annual meeting. The motion was seconded and carried. CLOSING PROCEEDINGS PRESIDENT: When you elected me as President a year ago, I felt a sense of honor and appreciation which I could not adequately express in words. I ama good deal in the American Fisheries Society 79 same embarrassing situation at the present moment with respect to the cordial and united support that has been accorded me during the year. I want to thank each mem- ber individually, and I want to thank you all collectively for what you have done to make my administration a success, and which has culminated, through your efforts and not my own, in making this one of the best meetings in the history of the Society. My only hope is that you will accord my successor, each and everyone of you, the same support that you have me, and that the next meeting will be a much better one than this, and much better attended. As the time is too short for any extended remarks, or any formalities, I will appoint Mr. Titcomb as a committee of one to escort the new President to the chair, and his term of office will begin upon his introduction. The President-elect, Mr. W. E. Meehan, was escorted to the chair by Mr. Titcomb. Mr. Titcoms: Gentlemen of the American Fisheries Society, I have just been called upon to introduce the in- coming President, and, as the retiring President has said, this is no time for extended remarks. Mr. Meehan is known to all of us; he has been a very earnest, hard-working member and has brought with him to these meetings, for a great number of years, 12 or 13 of the fish culturists at his hatcheries, all of whom seem to think they are getting much interesting and useful information here. I hope all the other commissioners will profit by this example here- after. Ihave great pleasure in introducing your new Presi- dent, Mr. Meehan. (Applause. ) Mr. Meehan took the chair. PRESIDENT W. E. MEEHAN: Ladies and gentlemen of the American Fisheries Society: It has been considered by me an honor and a privilege to be a member of the American Fisheries Society. I have been a member for nearly twenty years and have taken a very active part for nearly half that period, sometimes perhaps to the dissat- 80 Fortieth Annual Meeting isfaction of some of my friends. Thus esteeming the honor of membership, I appreciate the more deeply the honor of the office which you have conferred upon me. I feel that I have a big task before me on account of the splendid work of the preceding President. I shall do my best, however, to maintain his record. If my administra- tion is successful, or if it should turn out that there is a better and larger meeting next year than this, it will not be due to me, but to you, who should endeavor to achieve, if possible, greater success even than has my predecessor, Mr. Bower. (Applause. ) The Society has reached a point where it must be from this time forward a big factor in a wider field than it has hitherto occupied. I have watched it grow from the time when only a few members were here, to the time when we had a large membership, from the time when discussions were limited principally to trout and carp, to the broad field of taking in nearly all the valuable food fishes that we have in the country. We are going now to another and stronger position which we have been urged in this meeting to take, namely the purification of the waters, in order that the labors of fish culturists may bear greater fruit. Why should we attempt to propagate fish, if the waters are in such condi- tion that plankton will not successfully grow? It will be part of the province of this Society to work for the purifica- tion of our waters. Some of the states need legislation toward that end and I believe that we can do much in secur- ing such legislation. Gentlemen, I shall do the best I can in the coming year, and I again thank you for the honor which you have bestowed upon me. (Applause. ) I think we usually have a few words from other officers- elect, and I will appoint Dr. Townsend as a committee of one to escort the new Vice-President to the chair, to hear a few words from him. Dr. Townsend escorted Mr, Fullerton to the platform. American Fisheries Society 81 Mr. Futterton: I want.to thank you for electing me Vice-President. I deem it a great honor. In connection with my present visit to New York I would like to state that 37 years ago tomorrow I landed at Castle Garden on the site of the Aquarium. PRESIDENT: I will appoint Mr. Seymour Bower to escort the Secretary to the rostrum and introduce him, that we may have a few words from him. (Applause. ) Mr. Ward T. Bower, the Secretary-elect, was then es- corted to the platform. Mr. Warp T. Bower: Mr. President, ladies and gen- tlemen, I remember several years ago at a meeting of the Society when General Bryant was called upon suddenly for some remarks he said: “In the language of the young ladies when proposed to, ‘This is so sudden.” While ordinarily no little honor attaches to the office of Secretary, I believe you will agree with me that it not infrequently happens that the duties are rather arduous and irksome. How- ever, upon the present occasion I am happy to state that this condition does not at all alarm me, for the reason that you have very thoughtfully elected an Assistant Sec- retary in the person of a lady—the first lady to hold office in the American Fisheries Society. (Applause.) I am certain that Miss Smith will be an honor and a credit to the Society in that office. Permit me to express my thanks for the honor you have conferred upon me. Dr. TownsenpD: I think I should take occasion to state on behalf of the Zoological Society that it has given us great pleasure to have you meet under our roof at the Aquarium, and also to say that the Aquarium is always at the disposal of the American Fisheries Society. I am going to be vain enough to show you the picture of the new Aquarium that will be begun soon. If you come here in two or three years we will give you an elegant meeting place in the new building. (Applause. ) Mr. SEymMour Bower: I want to call attention to the aM Fortieth Annual Meeting fact that the publication of the proceedings of this meeting is entirely in the hands of the Special Anniversary Com- mittee. It was arranged at last year’s meeting and the action still stands, so that all papers relating to the forth- coming report should be placed in the hands of the chair- man, Dr. Townsend. PRESIDENT: Is there any other business? If not, we are ready for adjournment. Mr. SrymMour Bower: I move that we adjourn sine die. Motion seconded and carried. PRESIDENT: This meeting is adjourned sine die. In Svmoriam CHARLES P. BENNETT FRANK NELSON CLARK J. FRANK ELLIS CHARLES H. FERRY ENRICO H. GIGLIOLI A. J. KAVANAGH GEORGE FREDERICK PEABODY L. B. SPENCER US = — ; Sage oe ee tan SAX ee Senses ee a as ~l eee y — anit) hime |! , ue , Srank N. Clark PRESIDENT OF THE Soctety 1903-1904 Born February 2, 1849 Died December 19, 1910 MEMORIAL OF FRANK NELSON CLARK N THE nineteenth day of December, 1910, there passed from this life one of the most prominent and useful members of this Society. Attend- ing to his usual activities until the very day he was called, the end came with a suddenness that startles and shocks. With no note of warning there was struck from our rolls the name of one who for many years labored earnestly and conscientiously to build up this Society, one who was ever solicitous for its welfare, one who in every way wes a credit and honor to its membership. As a lifelong and intimate friend and associate it is to me a sacred privi- lege to be permitted to pay tribute to his memory. Frank Nelson Clark was born in Clarkston, Mich., a village that perpetuates the name of his immediate ancestry and relatives, who were its earliest pioneers and its foun- ders. Surrounded by lakes and nestling in the very heart of a noted lake region, it was most fitting that this beautiful village should be the birthplace of fish culture in Michigan. Moreover the pioneer fish-cultural enterprise was among the earliest of its kind on the American continent. The first man to propagate fish on a practical basis in this country was Seth Green, of New York. This was in the early sixties. He was soon followed by Samuel Wil- mot, of Ontario, and Nelson W. Clark, of Michigan, father of Frank N., who was identified with his father’s fish- cultural efforts almost from their earliest inception in the winter of 1866-67. Necessarily this pioneer work was car- ried on as a private business, for fish culture as a public enterprise was also in its infancy.