108 American Fisheries Society. 



number of headwaters in that state that should be thorough- 

 ly protected at this very moment. 



A short time ago I visited a number of the public parks of 

 Chicago. On inquiry I learned that some man or woman 

 with a future vision had donated land for the worthy pur- 

 pose of affording recreational grounds so long as time lasts. 

 These parks are now regarded as the lungs of the. city. 

 Similarly, we want these natural headwaters and the adja- 

 cent forests to become the safety zone for fishes and birds. 



Finally, we should not forget that many destructive 

 floods and the consequent loss of property are directly due 

 to the deforestation of our headwaters. This is but another 

 clinching proof of the need of headwater protection for the 

 man who prefers the alluring song of a whirring reel, to the 

 disastrous report of the woodmens' axe. 



If we were all living in the proper relationship to this 

 grand old world, corrective measures would speedily come 

 as a natural result; but how are we to intensify man's appre- 

 ciation toward mother nature and her children? 



I have been wonderfully impressed with the writings of 

 James Oliver Curwood, in the Isaac Walton League Jour- 

 nal. It is the voice of Curwood, and the still voice of 

 Roosevelt and Isaac Walton, in co-operation with such 

 organizations as the Audobon Society, American Fisheries 

 Society etc., that are most effective in agitating sane and 

 sensible methods of dealing with these important problems. 



In conclusion allow me to impress the importance of 

 headwaters upon your attention for the following reasons; 

 Namely, prevention of source water contamination : ideal 

 situations for fish propagation : suitable locations for public 

 parks, and prevention of destructive deforestation. 



As sportsmen with practical vision, I would be pleased to 

 have you discuss the merit of headwater protection and 

 suggest some plan relative to the most practical method of 

 encouraging proper legislative measures for protecting the 

 beauty and usefulness of our most valuable headwaters. 



Discussion. 

 Mr. Fearnow: Mr. Hare has brought up some very important 

 points bearing upon the necessity for protecting the headwaters of 

 streams. Many of these headwaters are difficult to reach and for that 

 reason afford excellent breeding places for fish. I think it advisable 

 that laws should be enacted which would close these headwaters or these 

 feeders of the main streams to fishing. The modern fisherman with his 

 automobile leaves the city and goes far into the mountains; he is able 

 to reach points that had been almost inaccessible in the past; he is 

 seeking the headwaters and the places where the fish naturally reproduce. 



