162 American Fisheries Society 



In the next place, and more important still, similar 

 action should be taken by all states regarding every state 

 reserve, park or other protected area within its borders 

 and under its control. The water bodies in such places 

 should be preserved as refuges for all kinds of aquatic 

 life, free from all sorts of attack. Stream pollution lead- 

 ing to the destruction of conditions favorable for aquatic 

 life should be rigorously suppressed. It certainly is not 

 too late in the newer states to stop this destruction of 

 the haunts of our native fish, and maintain in a virgin 

 condition the natural environment in some lakes and 

 streams. Already one of the older states has learned the 

 lesson that has been taught by a century or more of dis- 

 regard for the condition of its streams, and is now at- 

 tempting to restore natural conditions and to protect the 

 streams from pollution. 



In these state areas, definite steps should be taken to 

 protect all kinds of fish found in the waters of these re- 

 serves, to give them all possible facilities for living and 

 breeding and multiplying, to safeguard their continued 

 existence and to provide, so far as possible, for their in- 

 crease in number. 



Finally, and most important, perhaps, of all, there 

 should be the definite formation by national and state 

 governments of fish preserves or refuges. These pro- 

 tected areas should provide not only for the commercial 

 fish and their breeding grounds, but also for the other 

 types of fish which are important biologically, are of 

 interest to students of life, and are essential elements in 

 the biological chain of relations that bind the commercial 

 fish themselves back to the environment in which they 

 naturally live. Here each state has its own natural prob- 

 lem. Within its state parks or stream preserves Col- 

 orado, for example, should keep the aquatic life of the 

 mountains in its pure condition for future generations. 

 Illinois should maintain in their natural environment the 

 fish of the central prairie region, To Louisiana and Mis- 



