Henshall. — Concerning the Protection of Fish 147 



little attention. If these things can be accomplished better in the 

 future than they have been in the past, and more care taken in 

 stocking waters with fry and fmgerlings by planting them in the 

 smallest tributaries, in shallow and protected places, with abundant 

 aquatic vegetation where there is a reasonable amount of food 

 suitable for them, we shall be on the road to a better state of 

 things. By the continual stocking of waters, intelligently, with 

 fish artificially propagated, a fair amount of fish life may still be 

 maintained in inland waters, even in the older states. 



It is manifestly the province and apparently the duty of this 

 Society to employ every means to educate the people to a proper 

 sense and appreciation of protective measures, not only for fish, 

 but for the waters as well, and to use its influence in shaping such 

 wise, adequate and effectual legislation as may be necessary to 

 that end. 



As the United States Department of Agriculture has begun the 

 good work of protecting and conserving our game-birds and 

 mammals, the question naturally arises, why should not federal 

 protection be extended to fishes in public waters? I can imagine 

 no good reason why the United States Bureau of Fisheries should 

 not take an active interest in preventing the pollution of public 

 waters, and in protecting the fishes that inhabit them. In anticipa- 

 tion of the extensive irrigation projects contemplated by the Gen- 

 eral Government in the western states, the influence and timely 

 action of the Bureau would prevent the almost total depletion of 

 the streams of fish life that would otherwise surely follow. 



The streams of the Rocky Mountain states are as yet com- 

 paratively pure and undefiled, to a great extent, and should be as 

 productive of fish life as when first viewed by Lewis and Clarke. 

 But unless the awful slaughter of the innocents by irrigation 

 ditches is stopped, and stopped now, the beautiful mountain 

 streams of the golden west will eventually become barren wastes , 

 void of fish life, for which, not the rancher, but the representatives 

 of the people, the Congress and the State Legislatures will be 

 to blame. 



