The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-22
Secretary StrauS Welcomes
Scientists on Behalf of
the Government.
OBJECT is TO SAVE
SUPPLY OF FOOD
Famed Men to Number of 200
Gather to Teach and Learn How
to Preserve Supply.


means 10 save the fast dwindling fish
supplies OF all countries.
The congress opened la .. National
Geographic Society at Sixteenth and NJ
streets northwest with United States
Fish Commissioner George NJ Bowers,
presiding For the first time since the
organized efforts Of al countries to
spread the propaganda Of fish culture.
the Old World came to the New World
70 study the question From Asia.
Europe, the Americas, and scattering
countries all over the globe, men OF
lasting scientific fame have come to
Washington to teach and to learn how
10 cultivate dsh for food.
Secretary Oscar s. Straus, Of the De
parment OF Commerce and Labor, well
coined the delegates for the United
States Government, at whose invitation
the congress was assembled. He praised
the work of the congress, not only be-
cause OF its ideals. but because OF the
vital Importance of guarding the fish as
food for the world. He regarded II not
only as a worthy cause because it aid
ed man, but also as 1.-THE one that
makes a popular appeal TO all men"
Vests Greeting
Hon. Henry /. West, Commissioner
Df the District OF Columbia, welcomed
the congress to Washington, and Presi-
dent Hugh L. Smith, of the American
Fisheries Society. greeted the delegates
on behalf Of the United States societies.
And 10 these addresses Of good will
end praise. the Old World responded
through Prof. 2. P. c. Hook, scientific
fishery adviser to Holland. He spoke
briefly. and. after these formalities. the
congress was put into active session by
President Hermon c. Bumpus taking
the chair. The ratification Of the new
officers followed, and the members OF
the congress left to attend the first
business meeting at the New Willard
Hotel this afternoon.
Che FIRST function of the session was
.he reception in the diplomatic room OF
Tie State Department at g:3e o'clock
this morning, when the members were
presented TO Assistant Secretary OF
State A. A. Adee. in the absence of Sec
rotary Root. Most of the foreign men,
bers were in attendance. Three repre-
sentatives Of China and two from Japan
we're present. and tho delegates from
most OF the far distant countries wer5
personally welcomed TO the first Inter
national Fishery Congress held in this
country
One Woman Delegate.
A single woman among all the men
OF science is here as an accredited del
egate TO solve the questions at hand.
She IS Miss Minnie p. FAIR, Of Denver.
daughter OF D. Z. Farr, Colorado com
missioner Of fish and game. and a
young woman who sees the problems OF
the congress not only from the scien-
tific standpoint but views them IN the
light of a sportswoman. to whom the
question OF fish preservation is more
Of an art than a science. But she is
not alone in her feminine interests. for
the wives and daughters OF other dele
gates have come to the congress. some
from afar. like Frauelein Z. Ziegler. OF
RegensDurg, Holland, who comes as the
guest Of Herr BOreel de MGuridnault
OF Alphen, Holland.
At the morning meeting OF welcoming
addresses there was an audible response
10 the practical talk Of Secretary
StraUs, who talked. he said, only to con
Ceal his ignorance Of fish science.
Straus' Address.
Secretary Straus said:
"Gentlemen Of the international Fishery
Congress:
1t is my high privilege as Secretary OF
the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor, Of which the Bureau of Fisheries
IS a part, to extend a hearty welcome on
behalf Of this Government TO this, the
four international fishery congress-.
From the earliest times water life
has been Of the greatest concern -
man, In that II supplied one Of the most
Important ana nedILfy articles or IOOQ
and the industry for the procuring OF
this great staple Of nOurishment was
one OF the leading occupations that the
Inhabitants OF the world, in all stages
of their development, have been engaged
in, and consequently the subject Of FISH
catching has been one of great national
and International concern.
The prophet Isaiah, in fOTeCaStinE
the downfall Of the Egyptians, says that
the fishers also shall mourn, and al
they that cast angle into the brooks
shall lament, and they that spread nets
upon the water shall anguish which
of itself Is evidence that the method OF
catching fish, both by hook and net
was, even in those times, an ancient
art.
Object Of Congress.
Last spring President Roosevelt fl
his wisdom and foresight, invited TIT
governors Of all the States and Terri
tories in this country to meet here fl
Washington and to discuss the question
of the conservation Of the nations nat
UraI resources-the land, the forests, tn,
waters. and the minerals. This interna
tional congress, which has for one OF it.
main objects the conservation and tn
culture OF fish life, is in. fun accor,
with that constructive craftsmanship
which today commands the attention o
the scientists, philosophers. and states
men OF al the enlightened nations o
the world. AS our civilization advance
and our needs become greater. an
science equips US with the power TO TAX
more and more from the natural re
sources that land and water produce
Il Is fortunate that science also is abb
10 point out the way in which these re
sources can be protected from exhaus
ton, and even replenished. BY wise US
and culture, so that the inheritanc
which We leave 70 the generations tina
follow US shall not be impoverished b.
our selhshnesS nor exhausted in GU
ignorance.
Value Of Fisheriesl
The fisheries have been to us in thi
country OF the highest Importance, no
only as an important article Of foo
supply, but as an Industry from tn
very beginning Of our history. 1t Is eve
claimed by some. with historical &C
curacy that I will not either affirm o
deny, that the discovery Of America wa
due to the Norsemen fishermen, and tn
Cabots. in noting their discoveries, O
shall say re-discoveries, dwelt wit
special importance upon the abundanc
OF Goldfish on the Newfoundland Coas-
It Is said that our Pilgrim Fathers. Q
whom we are very proud in this cOun