Skira. — State Legislation for Fresh-Water Mussels 41 



years, the details of the closing to be based primarily upon informa- 

 tion obtained by the Bureau of Fisheries for the purpose. 



With the action of these states as a guide, it is hoped and 

 confidently expected that other states such as Missouri, Arkansas, 

 Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, etc., which are so vitally 

 concerned with the preservation of mussels, will take a cor- 

 responding interest and action. 



The whole-hearted and co-operative action of the four states 

 above mentioned with reference to the preservation of mussels 

 presages a different policy in dealing with our natural resources 

 in the future. What has been and is being done for the mussels 

 can be made applicable to fishes as well. Concerted and uniform 

 action, when possible, should be the rule. Once problems are 

 thoroughly threshed out, obstacles to uniform action, that once 

 seemed to be insurmountable, slowly fade away. 



Efforts of the Bureau of Fisheries to develop' interest in the 

 conservation of mussels have met a cordial response from 

 state officials, button manufacturers and commercial shellers, 

 when they have once realized the seriousness of conditions 

 and the consequent loss to the country. 



