HEADWATERS 



By F. E. Hare, 

 Manchester, Iowa. 



I have always appreciated the opportunity of attending 

 meetings of the American Fisheries Society and the inspira- 

 tion derived from associating myself with men who have 

 reverence for the big out-of-doors, and the preservation of 

 our national resources. Men of this type, it seems to me, 

 are in the minority; consequently, many of nature's most 

 gracious gifts to mankind have been sadly neglected and dis- 

 gracefully abused. Such carelessness and disregard for the 

 future welfare of the coming generations is a clean cut case 

 of public neglect. However it is gratifying to know that 

 public sentiment is gradually awakening to the supreme im- 

 portance of this subject, and some very commendable 

 legislation has been, and is now being enacted with a view 

 toward better protection for these natural resources. 



A particular subject under the broad head of conserva- 

 tion which has interested and impressed me vividly during 

 the past few years has been what we commonly term, "Head- 

 waters", and it is toward a realization of the importance of 

 this phase of conservation that I would direct your atten- 

 tion, and then perhaps venture a few words suggestive of 

 remedial measures, which we as sportsmen and lovers of 

 wild life should consider. 



I know it has been the privilege of most fishermen to 

 visit the headwaters of a pure sparkling stream of water 

 amongst towering hills or in virgin forest, and as you noted 

 the rugged grandeur of the scene, were you not impressed 

 with the peaceful and sublime surroundings? 



I have in mind at this moment several mental pictures 

 of these sacred sanctuaries which I have visited during the 

 past few weeks, and I presume that many of you could con- 

 jure up in your mind's eye visions of similar beauty- 

 It was not without adequate sense of reason that the 

 Indian, the true American sportsman, frequently took as his 

 shrine the sparkling and apparently living waters of some 

 crystal spring, the source of a limpid brook and a mighty 

 river. For him the land of headwaters seemed symbolic of 

 an infant, who gradually grew greater and wiser, until he 



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