CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENTS

Following is a copy of the original constitution, as drafted by Livingston Stone and Dr. W. M. Edmonds, together with the various amendments adopted from time to time; also notes on the general revision of the constitution in 1886:

ARTICLE I

Name and Objects

The name of this Society shall be "The American Fish Culturists' Association." Its objects shall be to promote the cause of fish culture; to gather and diffuse information bearing upon its practical success; the interchange of friendly feeling and intercourse among the members of the Association; the uniting and encouraging of the individual interests of fish culturists.

ARTICLE II
Members

All fish culturists shall, upon a two-thirds vote of the Society and a payment of three dollars, be considered members of the Association, after signing the constitution. The commissioners of the various states shall be honorary members of the Association, ex officio.

ARTICLE III

Officers

The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and shall be elected annually by a majority vote. Vacancies occurring during the year may be filled by the President.

ARTICLE IV

Meetings

The regular meetings of the Association shall be held once a year, the time and place being decided upon at the previous meeting.

ARTICLE V

Changing the Constitution

The constitution of the society may be amended, altered or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting.

AMENDMENTS

First Amendment

"On motion of Mr. Livingston Stone the constitution was amended by striking out the word 'and' after the word 'secretary' in Art. III, and inserting after the word 'treasurer' the words 'and an executive committee of three members.'" (1872, p. 10.)

Second Amendment

"On motion of Mr. A. S. Collins, it was resolved that the initiatory and annual assessment be increased to five dollars." (1872, p. 11.)

Third Amendment

"On motion of Mr. F. Mather, the constitution was so amended that the list of officers should include a Vice-President." (1874, p. 3.)

Fourth Amendment

"Mr. H. J. Reeder moved that the Constitution be amended by striking out the last paragraph of Art. II. Carried." The clause thus removed was the following: "The commissioners of the various states shall be honorary members of the Association, ex officio." (1874, p. 5.)

Fifth Amendment

"On motion of Mr. George Shepard Page the executive committee was made to consist of five." (1874, p. 5.)

Sixth Amendment

"Mr. George Shepard Page moved to amend Art. II by striking out the words 'all fish culturists,' and inserting the words 'any person.' Carried." (1874, p. 5.)

Seventh Amendment

"Mr. Page moved that Art. II of the Constitution be amended by making the annual dues $3. Carried." (1875, p. 4.)

Eighth Amendment

Mr. Barnet Phillips moved "That the name of the American Fish Culturists' Association be changed, and that of the American Fish Cultural Association be adopted."

It was urged by Mr. Phillips that the former title was a limited one, while the proposed change admitted of greater scope. The resolution was adopted. (1878, p. 76.)

Ninth Amendment

Mr. Phillips, the Secretary, proposed that the number of the Executive Committee be increased to seven members. Resolution adopted. (1878, p. 76.)

(A footnote at the end of the Transactions for 1878, page 118, says: "In changing the name of the Association from Fish Culturists' to Fish Cultural, the Secretary proposed that in the Constitution, after the final word fish culturists, the following be added: and the treatment of all questions regarding fish of a scientific and economic character.' This change and addition to the Constitution was adopted.")

Tenth Amendment

"Mr. Phillips moved for an amendment to Article III of the Constitution, so as to include a Recording Secretary, which was carried." (1879, p. 50.)

Eleventh Amendment

"Mr. Mather proposed an amendment to the Constitution to permit honorary members to be elected by a two-thirds vote, the same to be added to the Constitution as a part of Article II, relative to members, and to read as follows: 'Any person shall, upon a two-thirds vote of

the Society, be considered as an honorary member of the Association."" Adopted. (1881, p. 3.)

Twelfth Amendment

Mr. Evarts moved to amend Article III relating to the election of officers by making the offices of President and Vice-President, vacant after one year, and those holding them ineligible for the same office until after an interval of one year. Adopted. (1882, p. 4.)

Thirteenth Amendment

Upon motion of Professor Goode as amended by Mr. Roosevelt it was decided to change the name of the organization from the American Fish Cultural Association to the American Fisheries Society. (1884, p. 230-238.)

REVISION OF CONSTITUTION

On motion of Mr. Mather, recording secretary, a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Fred Mather, W. V. Cox and F. N. Clark, was appointed to revise the constitution and prepare by-laws. The committee offered a proposed constitution for consideration until the next meeting. This tentative form was printed in the proceedings for 1885, pages 3 to 7.

On motion of Mr. Bissell, duly seconded, at the meeting April 14, 1886, each article of the proposed constitution was taken up and separately acted upon. (1886, p. 24.)

Following is a copy of the revised and accepted constitution:

ARTICLE I

Name and Objects

The name of this Society shall be "The American Fisheries Society." Its object shall be 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; the uniting and encouraging of the interests of fish-culture and the fisheries; and the treatment of all questions regarding fish, of a scientific and economic character.

ARTICLE II

Members

Any person shall, upon a two-thirds vote and the payment of three dollars, become a member of this Society. In case members do not pay their fees which shall be three dollars per year after the first year, and are delinquent for two years, they shall be notified by the Treasurer, and if the amount due is not paid within a month thereafter, they shall be, without further notice, dropped from the roll of

Born August 2, 1833

Died February 14, 1900