IV-165 



SECTION 2. THE VALUES OF INDIVIDUAL USES 



FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT 



The value of the estuarine zone as fish and wildlife habitat both 

 depends on and augments Its value for other uses, particularly 

 recreation and commercial fishing. 



There is, 1n addition to these, the basic Incalculable value of 

 the estuarine habitat as a link in the essential energy-conversion 

 chain which permits man to survive at all. 



The trapping of fur bearers 1n the marshes of the Gulf and 

 Atlantic represents one of the few economic values directly attrib- 

 utable to estuarine habitat. Louisiana is the major producer; 1n 

 the 1965-1966 season total sales were 4.6 million dollars out of 

 the nation's 6 million-dollar total. These Included the pelts 

 and some meat from nutria, muskrat, raccoons, mink, and otter, 

 with much of the harvest coming from marshes managed specifically 

 for that purpose. 



The management of marshes for fur bearers requires periodic 

 burning over, means of controlling predators, and the control of 

 saline water intrusion. This makes the marshes so managed unsuita- 

 ble for some other forms of estuarine-dependent life such as 



