American Fisheries Society 189 



and certain potamogotons are good food producers, l)ul even that is not 

 enough in some instances for us ; and I should like to know whether 

 anything has been done along this line, or in the line of propagating 

 minnows, crayfish or anything else that would produce fish food. 



President: Are there any further remarks on the question of the 

 propagation of aquatic food for streams? 



Mk. IMeehan: Has tlie Federal Bureau done anything in tliis direc- 

 tion ? 



Mk. Tjtcomu : No, I think not. We are now collecting aquatic plants 

 from our trout stations, and propose to collect them from certain trout 

 streams, with a view of gaining further knowledge as to which plants 

 are best and which may be considered objectionable; also as to how to 

 regulate their growth, somewhat on the same order as the work which 

 resulted in a paper on aquatic plants in pond culture. 1 wisli to explain, 

 by the way, that this is a sul)ject that I know very little about, and made 

 bold to write on merely to bring out the fact that so little is known, and 

 in the hoi)e that some plant physiologist will take up the subject and go 

 on with it for two or three years or until we know definitely more 

 about it. 



Mr. Meehan : I would like to illustrate particularly what I am after 

 and where I need the assistance of the Society. We have, for instance, 

 among other streams in Pennsylvania, one known as the Clarion River, 

 which rises in Elk Comity and flows through that county for many 

 miles, and is for part of the distance quite a large stream. There is 

 today not a living thing in it from source to near tlie m<iuth. .Ml life 

 lias been destroyed by pollution from paper mills, tanneries, cheiiiieal 

 works and things of that sort. Xow, we hope to have this river clear 

 inside of the ne.xt twenty-four months, so that it may lie in a condition 

 to support fish life, which of course cannot be maintained unless food is 

 there. It is not a trout stream except in the extreme upper end: but 

 warm water fishes will live in the main river, and its possibilities are 

 very great given the absence of pollution. Looking forward to this 

 work, I am very anxious to have the advice of the Society as to methods of 

 food propagation, because it will be necessary for us to establish aquatic 

 life to support fish life in streams, particularly like the Clarion River. 

 Tt is a herculean task before us. but it is one tliat should arouse the 

 interest of everybody in the work. 



I\Ir. Frank M. Miller: flow are you going to stop the pollution? 



Mr. Meehan : By fining those who violate the law. 



Mr. Miller : What will you do with the pollution ? 



Mr. Meehan : Tt is not a question of dollars and cents, and l)esidcs. 

 it can be used at a profit; it is a question of aquatic food, ami that is 

 above dollars and cents. 



President: I suppose Mr. Meehan will agree tiiat insect life v. ill 

 come without help on the part of man, but the plant life will have to be 

 introduced, also some crustaceans and shells perhaps. 



Dr. Evermann : The best thing will be to provide as early as possible 

 certain places along the river where iilant life may be established — 



