Hare — Headwaters. 107 



was finally lost in that mystic unfathomable depths of the 

 ocean. 



Can it be that I am a fanatic on this subject, or will you 

 agree with me that the time is at hand when we shall come 

 to realize that headwaters are of vital importance. Not 

 only as places of surpassing beauty; but also as important 

 factors in the life of the waters below. Truly, it is as im- 

 practical to believe that a crystal stream could emanate 

 from putrid headwater as it is to believe that a golden 

 pheasant could hatch from the Q^g of a sparrow. 



It is true that many of our headwaters are not especially 

 beautiful or economically important, or suitable for fish 

 propagation ; but this fact makes it all the more necessary 

 that we should wrap the cloak of protection about those 

 which we recognize to be of specific importance. By the 

 most important headwaters, I refer to those streams which 

 originate in strong flowing springs back up in the hills, that 

 should be controlled and protected by state or national 

 supervision. 



Frequently, by the purchase of a comparatively small 

 portion of land, springs and headwaters of this nature 

 could be brought under the proper control, and be utilized 

 for the purpose of prolific breeding places for water life, 

 and incidentally, as ideal locations for parks. I would call 

 your consideration to these in particular, and proceed at 

 once to state my reasons for so doing. 



In the first place polluted water is one of the most 

 difficult problems with which we have to contend at this 

 time. Therefore, it is my conviction that every state in the 

 Union should employ a competent man to investigate head- 

 water conditions in each of the respective states, to de- 

 termine which are of most importance for fish propagation, 

 and take steps to place them under state control, as a means 

 of protecting them in their natural state of beauty and use- 

 fulness. 



In many instances these headwaters contain ideal con- 

 ditions for fish hatcheries, and in many other instances con- 

 ditions are suitable for at least rearing adult fish for brood 

 stock and qsK collecting purposes. 



In fact, I would call your attention to the Manchester, 

 Iowa, Fisheries Station as an example of such headwaters, 

 where successful fish propagation has been conducted for a 

 quarter of a century. It has served as a delightful public 

 pleasure resort throughout these years, where thousands of 

 visitors find pleasure and recreation. 



I have not traveled very extensively thru the rural dis- 

 tricts of my adopted state, Iowa, however, I could cite a 



