WATER CONSERVATION 9 9 



is meager as bearing upon the questions raised. Few efforts for public 

 service would be so apt and so inexpensive in proportion to probable 

 return as the systematic dissemination of information bearing upon 

 fish farming : but the data must be based upon judicious and continued 

 experiment under conditions such as would confront the prospective fish 

 farmers. 



Doubtless a great deal of experience has been gained by private 

 persons with interest and initiative, but there has been lacking a clear- 

 ing house. There are valuable bits of information isolated or scat- 

 tered and wanting for complete fruitfulness the benefits of interchange 

 of experience, coordination and compilation. It would be practical 

 indeed if the persons interested in effective fishery development would 

 form themselves into associations, limited in territory by the similarity 

 of conditions and problems as well as by the requirements of distance. 

 The advantages to be gained would be palpable; there would be not 

 only a fruitful interchange of ideas and experience, but a more explicit 

 definition of difficulties and problems, so that the public department 

 whose responsibility is to serve would be enlightened as to the form of 

 service required. 



The present purpose is fulfilled if the meaning of fish conservation 

 is made clearer, and if the science of fisheries has been related in an 

 unmistakable way to the vital interests of our whole people. The fish 

 conservationist should orient himself with reference to some of the' 

 multitudinous phases of human interests and endeavors, and it is 

 equally desirable that his orientation should be understood. One may- 

 look far over a landscape with the feet yet firmly upon the ground. A. 

 distant goal is not usually to be reached except by a succession of well- 

 ordered steps, but perhaps it is also true that the farther the vision 

 extends, the more readily may the steps be well ordered to the desired 

 end. 



