44 



brook and mountain fishes, all of which are valuable 

 food for either human beings, other fish, water birds or 

 lower animals. 



Perhaps it is too much to expect the States which 

 have not been subjected to a threatened insufficiency 

 to join with us in our protective work at present. But 

 this State and others which have taken up the important 

 matter, must make the propriety of their measures so 

 prominent, and the attention to every detail in legisla- 

 tion so consistent, that the result will redound to their 

 credit and provoke a spirit of emulation in those who 

 to-day are inclined to disparage the great commercial 

 and financial importance which, we are convinced, is 

 attached to the numerous fishing interests of the 

 United States, 



The objects and successes of the several com- 

 missions should be understood by the general public as 

 well as by those closely connected with the fishing 

 business, and with their knowledge will probably be 

 very valuable aids to the commission, aroused in dis- 

 tricts through which excellent streams pass. When 

 they are convinced that unclean and unhealthy matter 

 thrown into waters will probably produce disease- 

 breeding fish, they will not place it there, and every 

 individual eftort will have a good influence upon others. 

 My firm conviction is that even among the most care- 

 less people, ignorance is far more to blame than inten- 

 tional destructiveness. 



Let the consumer, and the man who obtains and 

 supplies, come together harmoniously on the common 

 ground of mutual advantage to remedy the wasteful 

 impoverishments to which I have referred, as well as 

 all others. 



