FOREWORD 



On October 4, 1901, the "wetlands bill" became Public Law 87-383 and the Congress was authorized 

 to approiii-iate up to ?10ri million as a loan fund to accelerate the program of the Bureau of SiKirt Fisheries 

 and Wildlife to acquire by purchase or lease a nucleus of wetlands for waterfowl nuinagement purposes. 



In the face of increasdng demands on the lands and waters of our Nation, it has become apparent 

 that a vital nucleus of our most valuable habitat can be preserved for wildlife only through public owner- 

 ship or control. 



This acquisition program will involve all i)arts of the country and many types of wetlands. While 

 the loan fund is repayable from duck stamp sales and the primary goal is preservation of waterfowl habitat, 

 the maintenance of sufficient wetlands to supply the needs of the various species of waterfowl will also 

 contribute greatly to the requirements of most wetland-dwelling plaut.s and animals. It is truly a far- 

 reaching program in which we all have a stake. 



WHAT ARE WETLANDS? 



Lowlands covered even tenipoi-arily by water not more tlian 6 feet deep are wetlands. They are 

 classified into many types. Tlie water over all is shallow, but all hold water long enough to grow 

 moist-soil plants. The i)asture pond is a wetland. The vast coastal marshes are wetlands. The 

 moimtain beaver meadow is a wetland. The river bottoms of the south, the potholes of the northern 

 prairies, and the mai-shes around Great Salt Lake — all are wetlands. In l!)5(i, we had 74 million 

 acres of them. 



WHAT WETLANDS MEAN TO YOU 



"Wetlands are a part of our national resource estate. Tliey are important to — 

 The himter 

 The fisherman 

 The photographer 



All of us — for .spoil, hobby, rela.xation, and as a place just to get out of doors. This resource 

 estate yearly provides dividends to millions of us in the form of hunting and fishing alone. We cannot 

 estimate tlie numl)t'r of Americans who make withcb-awals from the estate in the form of intangible 

 recreation. 



Wetlands ai-c also important to — - 



The trapper The farmer 



The commercial fisherman The resort owner 



The oysterman The sporting goods storekeeper 



Tiie iiunting guide The gasoline serviceman 



For all or part of their income 



Some of tiiese people make llicii' li\ing from the wildlilV and fish of tiie wetlands. Some profit 

 from the nearly $4- billion spent annually foi- huntiiiii- aiul sport fisliing alone. 



