168 
ways and means of affording it protec- 
tion. New York has arisen to its re- 
sponsibilities and can well be a splendid 
example to most states. Mr. Pratt of 
the Conservation Commission of New 
York believes that the crux of the whole 
problem is to be found in haying laws, 
based on exact knowledge and biological 
investigation, carried out by an efficient 
game protective force, 
There is no doubt that the value of 
having an intelligent, efficient, ‘nonpo- 
litical body of men as game wardens can 
hardly be overestimated. But of what 
lasting value was the Prussian military 
system without the united support of the 
entire populace? Of what value is any 
system without cooperation? Of major 
importance is the development of moral 
force, and this is accomplished through 
the education of the people. If the state 
game wardens can stand as educators of 
the people then, indeed, they can be even 
more justly proud of their worth. Make 
it the people’s affair, the people’s inter- 
est, the people’s pride ‘to protect the wild 
life in the state, and the people, not a 
small struggling minority, will protect 
the wild life of the country. 
New York is visualizing the cause by 
an emblem designed for permanent use, 
a small celluloid card interpreting the 
emblem being given with each one. 
The cause is becoming popularized, and 
the creed is one which we should all 
stand for: 
“T believe that ‘God has lent us the 
earth for our life. It is a great entail. 
It belongs as much to those who are to 
come after us as to us, and we have no 
right, by anything we do or neglect, to 
involve them in any unnecessary pen- 
alties, or to deprive them of the benefit 
which was in our power to bequeath.’— 
Ruskin, | 
“That, in a great democracy of free 
people, the protection of wild life and 
the preservation of all other natural re- 
sources, which underlig national pros- 
perity and happiness, must depend, finally, 
as does the stability of the government 
itself, upon the support and willing sery- 
ice of every citizen. 
“T therefore declare my adherence to 
these principles, and have enrolled myself 
as an active Conservationist of the Em- 
pire State.” 
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 
When the people carry this creed in 
their hearts rather than on a celluloid 
card in their vest pockets, the conserya- 
tionist will have won his hard earned 
struggle. MSI: 
PRESERVATION OF INLAND 
MARSHES. 
Mr. E. W. Nelson, Chief of the United 
States Biological Survey, has recently 
pointed out the importance of furnishing 
migratory waterfowl with places where 
they can stop to rest and rear their 
young. Certainly one of the most im- 
portant factors in the decrease of water- 
fowl is the reclamation of swamp land, 
which has furnished a food supply and 
safe breeding place for these birds. In 
the propagation of domestic birds we all 
know that the most necessary things are 
food supply, shelter and safe breeding 
sites, and it is not hard to see that wild 
birds are dependent for their existence 
on these same three things. The desire 
of the American people to commercialize 
absolutely everything is leading to the 
reclamation of marshes which in reality 
are more valuable as breeders of water- 
fowl than as agricultural producing areas. 
As Mr. Nelson has pointed out, the 
marsh lands under intelligent management 
will yield abundant returns to the com- 
munity, as indicated in the following 
summary of their productiveness: 
1. Production of food and game fishes, 
2. Wild fowl, shot for sport and food. 
3. Furs, from such fur-bearers as the 
muskrats, skunks, and raccoons which 
frequent their borders. 
4. A natural ice supply. 
5. A definite and invaluable help in 
maintaining the underground water level 
in various parts of the state, and in help- 
ing to hold back the runoff of rainfall to 
prevent excessive erosion. 
6. Opportunities for healthful and in- 
teresting recreation for the citizens of the 
state. 
7. Where such water areas are in- 
cluded in state parks or reservations, they 
lend themselves admirably to educational 
uses, and help interest the people of the 
state in out-of-door life and in the natural 
resources of the state in the form of plant 
and animal life, 
That some states are becoming alert 
to the danger, arising from the demand 
to drain many bodies of water, is shown — 
by the facet that the Conservation Com- 
mission of Iowa is working out plans 
e 
