Fish Cidture in Inland Waters 241 



upset by failure to destroy the rockbass and sunfish. It does not 

 seem to be a good policy to destroy those fishes just because the 

 skilled angler catches more of them than he does of the fish he seeks. 

 It is possible that " Nature " is already somewhat out of " balance " 

 in Lake George, and that undue destruction of those fishes will effect 

 still greater derangement. It surely is not good conservation to 

 destroy one good food product because another is less plentiful or 

 declining, especially when it is not evident that the comparatively 

 smaller number of the one is even indirectly attributable to the other. 

 Considered from the sport fish standpoint, the question here arises : 

 Are not the " little folks " and " unskilled anglers " to have any con- 

 sideration ? Are they to be deprived of the pleasure of catching fish 

 because the "skilled angler " is not getting full satisfaction in his 

 pursuit or because he is annoyed in that pursuit by some fish which 

 he does not desire? The object of conservation of game fish is not 

 only to provide the present but the future generations of anglers 

 with game fish. If the " little folks " of the present generation can't 

 attend the school afforded by their favorite fish, who will compose 

 the future class of skilled anglers? We may go still further and 

 ask whether the man who is equipped with a split bamboo rod, artifi- 

 cial flies, wading boots, and a pocket flask, is more an angler than the 

 drowsy colored ge'man provided with a cane-pole and bob as he 

 awaits the bite of a " cat," or " brim " ? Or is the portly gentleman 

 trolling a line from the stern of a boat rowed by a sturdy guide, 

 more an angler than the barefoot boy with his alder pole, whose 

 sport is afforded by sunfish and minnows? 



" O what are the treasures we perish to win, 



" To the first little shiner we caught with a pin ?" 



Are the interests of one class more important than those of 

 another ? Moral philosophy says : " No." Actual practice says : 

 " Yes." Even so, in actual practice the problem always exists as to 

 where to draw the line between the two classes of fishers and fishes. 



The earliest biological examination of a stream in New York 

 State of which there appears to be any account is that of Caledonia 

 Creek, made over 45 years ago. A report upon it was made by 

 Dr. J. A. Lintner ('78), State Entomologist. In the same publica- 

 tion Professor Peck reported upon the plants of the creek. Thirty 

 years later, according to Dr. T. H. Bean, late State Fish Cul- 

 turist of New York ('08), an examination of two streams was 

 made concerning which he says : " At the request of Mr. F. C. 

 Westfall of Oneida, an examination was made of two streams in 

 the vicinity of Oneida, the Cowassalon and Skenandoa, with 

 reference to their capacity for sustaining trout. The Cowassalon 

 was found to be admirably adapted for brook trout and the Sken- 

 andoa for brown trout. Specimens of the natural food found under 

 the stones were taken to the office and identified." 



In 191 5 the State of New York began the work of studying the 

 streams of the state with the stated purpose of developing proper 

 working plans for their systematic stocking, on the ground that the 



