The Boone and Crockett Club 



legislation looking toward the purification of the 

 waters of the State. The economic importance of 

 this question of pure water, long ago recognized 

 by a few, is, curiously enough, as yet of no interest 

 whatever to the general public, though on it depend 

 vast economic interests the inland fisheries of the 

 State and, still more vital, the public health. 



In the Sixth Annual Report of the Forest, Fish 

 and Game Commission, Major Wadsworth recom- 

 mended that certain measures be taken to prevent 

 forest fires ; that the killing of does be prohibited 

 at all times ; and that spring duck shooting be for- 

 bidden. The Legislature's attention was especially 

 called to the difficulty of enforcing the law in 

 regard to the pollution of streams. "This is a 

 matter of vital importance and not to be dismissed 

 as affecting only the lives of some fishes, the 

 pleasures of some anglers or the dividends of some 

 pulp mills. We are a water-drinking people, and 

 we are allowing every brook to be defiled. Nature 

 provides that they should be kept pure. * * * 

 It is not necessary to destroy or hamper any in- 

 dustry in order to prevent the pollution of water- 

 courses. What is really needed is to check the 

 criminal selfishness of those who would rather 

 poison their fellow citizens with their offal than to 

 spend a few dollars to take care of it." 



497 



