406 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LIII. No. 1374 



in the human mind and though some may be 

 disposed to say this is notliing but another 

 ■word for original sin, I am sure most will 

 rather be disposed to believe that a very large 

 araount of the so-called plagiarism can be 

 traced to sources quite outside the volitions 

 and intentions of the transgressor. 



ISTotwithstanding this, some may consider, 

 extremely charitable view which we should all 

 take when confronted with evidence that 

 seems a little disconcerting at times, it be- 

 hooves us all, when we think we have a bright 

 new idea, or a brand new joke, or a bit of new 

 truth laboriously unearthed in research, to 

 search our inner consciousness as well as our 

 environment for the origin of it. At any rate 

 worldly wisdom should teach us not too 

 rashly to forget the precaution of leaving the 

 way open for the claims of others which we 

 may have unintentionally overlooked. 



Jonathan "Wright, M.D. 



CONSERVATION CONFERENCE ON RE- 

 SOURCES OF INTERIOR WATERS 



As indicated by a recent preliminary an- 

 nouncement, Hon. Herbert Hoover, secretary 

 of Commerce, has called a conference at the 

 Fisheries Biological Station, Fairport, Iowa, 

 June 8-10, 1921, for consideration of the 

 conservation of resources of interior waters. 



Acting under instructions from Mr. Hoover, 

 the Committee on Organization and Plans has 

 prepared the following outline of the scope 

 and character of the conference. 



It is assumed that our water courses, our 

 lakes and ponds not only should serve as 

 avenues of transportation, and channels for 

 removal or reservoirs for storage of surplus 

 surface drainage, but should also continue to 

 provide food and other necessities of life and 

 to furnish the means of essential recreation. 

 It is evident that, ^vith growth in population 

 and with progressive industrial development, 

 the public waters are becoming decreasingly 

 fit to serve these latter ends. It is important, 

 then, to ascertain if the decline in usefulness 

 of the waters is inevitable, and, if it is not, 

 to discover and apply the means of bringing 



about improvement. There is a certain com- 

 munity of interest among groups (anglers, 

 commercial fishermen, sanitary engineers and 

 others) that are commonly conscious only of 

 special interests, but as yet there has been no 

 unity of purpose, no concert of eilort to serve 

 a common interest. It is certain that the 

 accomplishment of the purpose of each group 

 is conditioned, not only upon public sympathy 

 and support, but upon the cooperative service 

 of scientists representing biology, chemistry 

 and physics, and engineers representing sani- 

 tation, hydrology and navigation. 



That the conference now called should be as 

 consti'uctive and practical as possible, it is 

 proposed to concentrate attention upon the 

 following principal topics: (1) the depletion 

 of fish and shellfish, its causes and possible 

 remedies; (2) the preservation, value and 

 appropriate utilization of swamp and shore 

 areas; (3) the organization of effort to secure 

 an early beginning upon a constructive pro- 

 gram of betterment. 



It is believed that the conference may be 

 most effective in accomplishing its ends if it 

 be the occasion, not for a few special ad- 

 dresses, but rather for informal and free dis- 

 cussion from every point of view. It is pro- 

 posed that on each day there shall be two 

 sessions, morning and afternoon, respectively, 

 with ample intervals between sessions for per- 

 sonal interviews, demonstrations or recreation. 

 Opportunity will be afforded in the evening 

 for special meetings to disclose topics of 

 interest to particular groups or to all. As no 

 talk is expected to exceed ten minutes, 

 opportunity is allowed for the most open dis- 

 cussion. Following is the outline of program : 



Wednesday, June 8. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 



Subject: Depletion of aquatic resources, 

 causes and remedial measures (including prin- 

 ciples rather tlian details of legislative pro- 

 tection). Discussion from the standpoint of 

 the sportsman, the commercial fisherman, the 

 dealer or manufacturer, the biologist, the fish- 

 culturist and the sanitary engineer. 



"Wednesday evening is left open for special 

 topics arising in course of the discussion of 

 the day. 



