The Relation of Shellfish to Fisli in Oneida Lake 33 



to consider the lives of the other inhabitants of the water in 

 which the Perch lives, as well as the whole physical and 

 plant environment, before we are able to understand the 

 natural history of this common fish thoroughly. 



The studies carried on at Oneida Lake and elsewhere have 

 shown that the group of animals known as mollusks or shell- 

 fish have a vital relation to the fish fauna as well as to many 

 other animals, some of which bear an intimate relation to 

 fish. Recognizing the value of shellfish, it is evident that 

 the time is not far distant when these, as well as other ani- 

 mals of value as a food supply, w r ill be artificially introduced 

 into waters where they were previously wanting or insufficient 

 in number. If the environment and other factors are favor- 

 able there will be 110 difficulties not surmountable that will 

 hinder this procedure. The day is evidently not far distant 

 when the fresh waters will be cultivated to the extent that 

 the land areas are now r worked, as has been the case in 

 France and Germany, where ponds have been made artifi- 

 cially and stocked with fishes and their food. Food in the 

 form of plants, shellfish, insects, crustaceans, etc., will be 

 introduced where needed before the fish are planted, paral- 

 leling in a way the preparation of the land before the crop 

 is sown. Given a species of fish whose life history and 

 natural history is known, it is comparatively easy to prepare 

 the right kind of a habitat and the natural and suitable food. 

 Thus in the course of time we may hope to have a flourish- 

 iiif water culture or aquaculture, so that the streams, lakes 

 and ponds of forest lands may be made as productive in their 

 way of food, recreation and income as the forests are of 

 lumber, game and recreation (Fig. 16). 



NOVEMBER 15, 1917. 

 Department of Forest Zoology. 



2 



