Evening star., 1939-02-01
Conservation Friends
Honor Bell for
Fi;heries Work
Retiring Commissioner
Praised at Banquet;
Achievements Cited

United States Commissioner Of
Fisheries Frank T. Bell, whose VOL
untary retirement goes into effect
March 21, will leave Office knowing
he has won the admiration and re-
spect of the country's Sportsmen and
conServationiStS.
Last night more than 400 members
of Congress, Sportsmen, conserva-
tionists and fAends held sports
mems dinner in honor of Commis-
sioner Bell at Hogate's Restaurant,
Ninth street and Maine avenue S.W.,
at which he was lauded for his work
In office. and received the good
wishes of those present for the pri-
vate life to which he will retire.
Mr.. Bell was appointed April Is,
1888. During his administration OF
the Bureau of Fisheries he has car
ried forward the fight for conser-
vation of both game and commercial
fish and has warred constantly, with
the aid of conservationists, against
the greatest predator of all-pollu-
ton" During his term of office the
number of fish propagated annually
by the Bureau of Fisheries rose to
S,00O00O,000 in 1887.
Recount Accomplishments.
Following an all-sea food dinner,
men prominent in the field of con-
servation spoke in turn on Commits
sioner Bells character and accom-
plishments. J. Bruce Kremer, WASH
ington ID. c. attorney, acted as
toastmaster.
Commissioner Bell was character
lied by DR.. M. darcy Magee, ma
tional vice president of the Izaak
Walton League of America, who
served as master of ceremonies, as
having won the admiration and
respect of every conservationist in
the country"
DR.. Magee went on to compliment
the retiring fisheries head for
"championing more and better pro-
lection laws, for fighting pollution,
and for establishing from 25 to 30
new Federal fish hatcheries.
In like vein former Senator Clar-
ence c. Dill of Washington, whose
private secretary Commissioner Bell
formerly was, said: He came to
his present post unknown and un-
heard of and has won the conf
dence of every sportsman in Amer
lea"
Bland Gives Credit to Bell.
Representative Schuyler Otis
Bland of Virginia. chairman OF the
House Merchant Marine and Fish
cries Committee, told the assem-
blage whatever service my COM
mittee has rendered the American
people in preserving their fisheries
resources has been due to the CO.
operation and direction of Commls-
sioner Bell"
Other speakers who praised Mr..
Bells career and evidenced their re-
gret over his retirement were Sen
ator Ernest Lundeen of Minnesota,
Representative Thomas S. Mcmillan
of South Carolina, of the House
Subcommittee on Appropriations;
Representative John j. Cochran of
Missouri, former Representative
James v. McClintic of Oklahoma
and Sol Haas, representing Senator
Homer T. Bone of Washington.
Following their remarks, Com
missioner Bell thanked his friends
and took occasion to credit his
associates - Deputy Commissioner
Charles E. Jackson, G. c. Leach,
chief of the division of fish culture;
Fred G. Orsinger, superintendent
of the Bureau of Fisheries Aquarium,
and others in the bureau - with
making possible whatever I have
accomplished during my six years Of
service
Thanks Members of Congress.
He also thanked those members
of Congress who have aided him in
his fight for more fish and for con-
servation of fish. He named former
Senator Dill, Senator Lundeen, Mr..
Bland and Mr.. Cochran as having
been ardent supporters and spon-
sors of conservation legislation.
The dinner also had its lighter
side. On display was the famous
bearing trout" which has re-
ceived widespread recent publicity.
The speakers table was decorated
with huge "dungaree" crabs from
California. Merriment was wide
spread as the dinner wore on.
The Metropolitan Police Depart
ment, represented by Detective 1t.
Clarence Talley, presented Com
missioner Bell with an enormous
bamboo pole and "reel' guaran-
teed to land any fish between
5000 and 5000 pounds"
Mock Trial Follows