The sad fact is that we not only continue to pour these wastes into our environ- 

 ment but we also continue to add new herbicidal and pesticidal chemicals without 

 their being properly tested to learn what long-range effects they will have upon life 

 on our planet. 



Sculthorpe, in 1967, has the following to say about the use of herbicides in 

 England: "The toxity of numerous herbicides necessitates stringent precautions 

 for their use in aquatic habitats. It is an appalling and terrifying truth that all 

 too many aquatic herbicides have come into general use despite colossal ignorance 

 of their toxicology and biological side-effects. Although the situation is not perhaps 

 quite as devastating as that created by the indiscriminate use of certain insecticides 

 in the U.S.A. and Europe, it is nevertheless deplorable. The principal dangers 

 inherent in the use of toxic herbicides for eradicating aquatic weeds are: (a) the 

 hazard, to the persons applying the chemical or to others in the vicinity, of oral 

 intake or cutaneous absorption; (b) the contamination of domestic water supplies; 

 (c) the poisoning of plankton, invertebrates, fish and animals living in or around 

 the water; and (d) the contamination of surrounding land bearing sensitive food 

 crops or grazing livestock." 



A useful bibliography of work on the harmful effects of herbicides and insecti- 

 cides on aquatic life has been compiled by Ingram and Tarzwell (1954). There is 

 no doubt that this bibliography could be greatly augmented if a revision were 

 published today. 



We have found literally appalling situations where herbicides of any and all 

 types are indiscriminately dumped directly into lakes, fish ponds and stock tanks. 

 We learned that in many such instances a fast-talking herbicide salesman was 

 usually dealing with a customer who was grossly uninformed, misinformed or 

 just totally ignorant of the possible damage that might be done to his water body. 

 Most customers could not even remember the name of the herbicide they used nor 

 its composition. They were merely assured by the glib salesman that "it" would 

 "kill" all plant life. Many sadly learned that "it" often also contributed to the 

 killing of their fish and possibly every other form of animal and plant life with 

 which "it" came in contact. 



In line with the indiscriminate direct and indirect dumping of chemicals into 

 our water bodies, we have often wondered what the eventual effect will be upon 

 man who persists in catching and eating those fish that "got away" from the 

 potentially deadly concentration of chemicals. Though we have asked this question 

 of many learned individuals none profess to know what may be the eventual long- 

 range effect upon man. They seem to think it is too soon to know the answer. 

 Meanwhile, man may be literally eating himself into oblivion. 



We have noted with dismay the perversion of some of our state as well as 

 national wildlife refuges from their original intent and purpose to preserve and 

 protect every aspect of nature and wildlife to the dictum of making available 

 to pillaging and irresponsible man facilities for his abuse at the expense of all 

 else. The prevailing philosophy of certain personnel that are responsible for the 

 management of wildlife preserves was dramatically demonstrated to us in 1968. 

 In 1967 we had examined the plant-life in several of the then beautiful lakes in 

 one of the fine national reservations in our area with the thought of continuing 

 over a several-year period the study of some ecological phases of our project. 

 Imagine our chagrin and disappointment when we returned in 1968 to find that 

 all of the lakes we were planning to study had only very recently been treated 

 with a potent herbicide — nothing but rotting plant remains with a few small 

 mammals floating here and there were to be found in and about the edges of 

 these once very beautiful and biologically balanced lakes. The chemical stench in 

 the air only added to our extreme displeasure. As taxpayers, we were angry and 

 appalled that a total disregard for the wildlife of these lakes should be so blatantly 



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