A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 517 



Western States there are still many so-called barren lakes which are 

 capable of supporting large numbers of fish if properly stocked. Of 

 course, some of these lakes are for one reason or another not adapted 

 to fish production but this can be readily ascertained by investigation. 



(2) The value of artificial propagation in maintaining and increas- 

 ing pur supply of trout, bass, and other game fishes has been so con- 

 clusively demonstrated as to require no discussion at this time. 

 There is still, however, much to be done in the development of better 

 and more efficient methods of handling these fish in our hatcheries. 

 There are even greater possibilities for improvement in the methods 

 of disposing of the fish after they leave the hatchery. Undoubtedly 

 in the past a large part of the benefits to be expected from the use of 

 hatchery fish have been nullified by improper methods of stocking. 

 Too often the fish have been planted in waters to which they were not 

 adapted or under conditions where they would be overcrowded or 

 unduly exposed to the attacks of their natural enemies. The proper 

 utilization of artificially reared fish can only be accomplished through 

 the development of a scientific stocking policy directed by experts in 

 this field, which will take into consideration the species of fish best 

 adapted to each individual stream or lake, the number of fish it can 

 support, and the age at which they should be planted to produce best 

 results. These and other factors must be fully evaluated before a 

 definite policy is decided upon. 



In most cases artificial stocking should be considered as supple- 

 mentary to natural propagation and not as supplanting it. Some 

 fish culturists have assumed that artificial propagation is so superior 

 to the natural process that to all intents and purposes the latter may 

 be disregarded. It is believed that this is an entirely mistaken atti- 

 tude and that the proper function of artificial propagation is to 

 remedy the deficiencies of the natural process. 



In some waters it is no doubt true that for various reasons natural 

 propagation is no longer to be considered an important factor and in 

 such cases it is obvious that practically the entire burden must rest on 

 artificial propagation. Fortunately, for the present at least, this is 

 only true in a few localities near large centers of population where 

 anglers are exceptionally numerous or in waters where conditions are 

 no longer favorable for natural spawning. On the other hand, it is 

 evident that in heavily fished waters even though conditions may be 

 favorable for natural propagation the drain on the fish population is 

 so great that natural spawning alone can no longer be depended upon 

 to maintain it at its proper level. Consequently, this deficiency must 

 be made up by the addition of artificially reared fish. 



(3) Closely associated with the maintenance of natural propagation 

 is the necessity for various forms of legal protection such as limitation 

 of the daily catch, closure during the breeding season, the setting of 

 size limits to enable the fish to reach sexual maturity and the closure 

 of nursery streams. Unless this is done it is self-evident that in many 

 instances there will be little opportunity for the fish to reproduce 

 naturally. In some heavily fished waters it is becoming apparent 

 that a further curtailment must be made in the bag limit and in the 

 length of the open season if the fish are to continue to maintain 

 themselves. 



(4) In spite of these measures it is becoming more and more difficult 

 to maintain a supply of catchable fish, and it is apparent that in order 



