A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 513 



The mere presence of silt in the water has a decidedly detrimental 

 effect on the smaller plants and animals. It has an especially dis- 

 astrous effect on the plankton which in lakes and quiet streams forms 

 such a large part of the basic fish food. Deposits of this material 

 also form a thin but continuous layer over all objects on the bottom 

 which smothers the smaller organisms and frequently kills large 

 numbers of fish eggs. 



In view of these facts there can be no question that the tendency 

 in some quarters to lay all the blame for the scarcity of fish in our 

 waters on oyerfishing is far from justified. That overfishing is largely 

 responsible is evident, but in all fairness we must concede that the 

 removal of forests and other cover that have such an important func- 

 tion in reducing floods and 'erosion have had an important part in 

 producing the deplorable conditions we find today. 



In order to obtain a proper appreciation of the importance of 

 forests in connection with the production of food and game fishes, it 

 is necessary to consider in some detail the extent and value of waters 

 in forested areas suitable for fish. 



ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VALUES OF FISH IN FOREST WATERS 

 EXTENT OF STREAMS AND LAKES SUITABLE FOR GAME AND FOOD FISHES 



There is no inclusive or complete tabulation of the mileage or 

 acreage of streams and lakes suitable for game and food fishes covering 

 the Nation as a whole. The only data are ^ fragmentary, covering a 

 single State, or, in most cases, limited portions of a single State, or 

 certain specified areas such as the national forests. It is immediately 

 evident that the Great Lakes and other large lakes, as well as the 

 larger river systems such as the Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, 

 Mississippi, Missouri, Potomac, etc., represent a tremendous extent 

 of potential fishing waters. However, it is the minor interior waters 

 which actually account for the largest areas for potential fish produc- 

 tion, particularly of game forms. When it is realized that small pond 

 farms and reservoirs down to one half acre in area, as well as insignifi- 

 cant streams and brooks throughout the country, can be and are 

 quite productive of some species of fish, it will be seen that a listing 

 of the potential fish habitats is in reality a complete summary of the 

 entire water resources of the United States. Pollution has, it is true, 

 eliminated some of these resources from consideration as fish habitats; 

 but on the other hand there are constantly being created new areas 

 by impounding waters for hydroelectric development, irrigation, 

 flood control, and other purposes. 



While it is not possible to make even a valid guess as to the exact 

 acreage or mileage of fishing waters in this country, some concrete 

 examples may be cited merely as an indication of the magnitude of the 

 problem. The United States Forest Service advises that in existing 

 national forests there are listed 58,194 miles of streams and 159,742 

 acres of lakes which may be considered as potential fishing waters, 

 whatever their value for this purpose at the present time. The 

 State of New York has been foremost in the scientific evaluation of its 

 water resources from a fisheries standpoint. Two watersheds alone in 

 New York State, including a typical forested area within the Adiron- 

 dacks, have an approximate area in lakes of 54,008 acres and an 

 approximate stream mileage of 6,402 miles. Even in arid and semi- 



