Fifty-Third Annual Meeting. 19 



Pollution 



Whereas, The presence of oil from oil-burning steamships and of 

 trade wastes from various industries in the navigable waters and in 

 streams of this country is resulting in an increasing amount of damage 

 to the fish, oyster and game bird food supplies of our nation, to the sea 

 bathing, boating, fishing and hunting, recreational opportunities of our 

 people, to the purity of our water supplies, and is a fire menace in many 

 quai-ters and 



Whereas, There has recently been formed the National Coast Anti- 

 Pollution League, uniting in one program the various interests that wish 

 to end pollution of the waters and having these objects: 



"To foster and aid the enactment and enforcement of adequate re- 

 medies and legislation to prevent the pollution of navigable waters and 

 to secure the co-operation of those responsible for such pollution in 

 accomplishing its elimination by all lawful means." 



Therefore, he it i-esolved, That we, the American Fisheries Society, 

 in convention assembled, do hereby endorse the efforts of the National 

 Coast. Anti-Pollution League to end pollution of the coastal waters by 

 oil, and 



Further he it resolved, That the President of this Society is hereby 

 authorized and requested to appoint a committee of three to co-operate 

 in all matters relating to pollution of the waters with the National Coast 

 Anti-Pollution League to lend their fullest support to its efforts, and 

 to attend if possible the conference of that League in Atlantic City on 

 October 1, 2 and 3. 



Drainage Mississippi Bottoms 



Whereas, The maintenance of fish and other aquatic life is of great 

 importance to the people of the country, and is essential to their welfare 

 as a source of food supply and a means of recreation, and 



Whereas, Suitable areas for the breeding and life of the fresh water 

 fishes are constantly being encroached upon for the avowed purpose of 

 commerce and agriculture by m.eans of ill advised and unnecessary drain- 

 age, and 



Whereas, Under present agricultural conditions large increase in 

 agricultural products, owing to an apparent over production of such pro- 

 ducts in this country, is unnecessary and because many drainage pro- 

 jects are of doubtful value as aids to agriculture, therefore 



Be it resolved, That the American Fisheries Society is firmly op- 

 posed to the pending projects for dyking and drainage of the upper Mis- 

 sissippi River bottom lands, including that enterprise known as the 

 Winnesheik project is subversive of the best interests of the American 

 people, inasmuch as the culmination of these projects would obliterate 

 and destroy the greatest and most productive breeding grounds for warm 

 fresh water fishes on the Noi'th American Continent. 



