Seal, — Suggestions of Possible Interest 193 



///. Argument in favor of co-ordination of fish culture 

 and protection, conservation of waters, and mosquito ex- 

 termination. 



There are three lines of public work which are at pres- 

 ent carried on independently, two of which are as yet 

 only in the first stages of development, which in due 

 course of time it will be found necessary to co-ordinate. 

 These are: 1, fish culture and fish protection; 2, conserva- 

 tion of water supply ; and 3, mosquito control, all of 

 which involve problems relating to control of the waters 

 of the country. 



President Wilson, when Governor of New Jersey, 

 called attention to the desirability of reducing the num- 

 ber of state boards and commissions in the interests of 

 economy and efficiency. As at present conducted, in many 

 cases, instead of co-operating they work at cross pur- 

 poses. 



Conservation of water supply certainly has a direct 

 bearing both on fish culture and on the mosquito prob- 

 lem, for whatever waters are restored or conserved 

 should be devoted as an economic consideration to the 

 breeding of food fishes. They should therefore be under 

 control of the fish commissions. Having control of the 

 waters, it should be their function to destroy or prevent 

 the breeding of mosquitoes in them. 



The basic idea in mosquito extermination is drainage, 

 in some cases, to destroy breeding places, and in others — 

 in tidal regions — to allow the ingress of schools of min- 

 now mosquito destroyers. All this is more or less effec- 

 tive. But it is a question in the mind of the writer 

 whether more consideration should not be given to the 

 possibilities of impounding waters wherever possible in- 

 stead of resorting to drainage. 



It must be apparent to anybody at all familiar with 

 any one of the water sheds in any part of the country 

 that there is an increasing diminution of the flow of 

 springs and small streams as the result of deforestation. 

 This is well understood and our conservation and fores- 

 try commissions are striving with all the power that is 



