229 



B A,S.S. Ihc, 



SttvmfAnglaz — Advancing Emiaonmenal Aiaaraua 



Al Mills 



October 14, 1993 ENVisoNMENnL DmBCToa 



Xbe Honorable Dan Hamburg 

 House of Reprasen'ta'tJ.ves 

 114 Cannon BtrLLcUng 

 Washington, DC 205X5 



Dear Represen'tatilve Hamburg, 



The Bass Anglers Spor tsman Society (B.A.S.S., Inc.} -and Its 

 Bfifflfaersiiip approaching 600,000 is fully supportive of H.R- 2866, 

 the "Headwaters Forest Act," sponsored by Bepresentative Haaburg 

 et al. Although B.A.S.S. meanbers are primarily interested In 

 angling- for and scqjporting the future well being of black bass, 

 ve all have an understanding and respect for healthy watersheds 

 and the role they play in the future of our fisheries 

 resources- Healthy streams ajid watersheds are particularly 

 is^ortant where migratory (anadramous) species like coho salmon 

 are Involved. 



We have a powerful testimony for the economics Involved and the 

 iupujL tsuice of pro tecting habitat for the future of our fisheries 

 resources. Gamsfish species like salmon «"ri black bass gure 

 peurticalarly sensitive. The public readily identifies with frham 

 and their "indicator role" in alerting us to the health of our 

 watersheds and public waters. The fact that Increasing numbers 

 of species are threatened with extinction, or are often so 

 contaminated with chemicals they can not be safely consumed by 



the priblic, is a nT' ' *"'!""'*^ owhar-rragcqu onf- , 



We are only beginning to coz^rehend the long term costs the 

 public will bear when species appear on endangered and 

 threatened lists in the numbers we are beginning to see. H.R. 

 2866 provides an unosoal opportunity to begin reversing the 

 Lrwrid of mortgaging onr future for the extremely short sighted 

 motives so evident In timber and fisheries resource decisions we 

 have witnessed over the past century. . . 



Best wishes. 



Alvln D. Hills 

 Environmental Director 



AU/mc 



cc: Paul Brouha 

 Stan Hoberly 



5B45C3nnicfaaelRoad • MontigoaeiY, AL 36117 

 P.O. Box 17900 • MotitBDinei7, AL 36141-0900 • (205) 272-9530 ♦ FAX C205) 279-7148 



