22 Conservation Reader 



Many of the birds that are valuable for food are, however, 

 nearly extinct. Now we have laws for their protection, 

 but these laws went into effect too late to save some species. 

 The passenger pigeon is one of our greatest losses. 



The cutting down of the vast forests that once covered 

 the Eastern states, and the cultivation of fields, has helped 

 to drive many of the wild creatures away. We are Just 

 beginning to learn how poor our country would be if we lost 

 them all. Refuges are being established in many places, 

 where those birds and animals most in danger of extinc- 

 tion may live safe from the hunter. 



The coast waters, lakes, and streams of our country were 

 once ahve with fish. The Indians made use of them, but 

 their rude traps did not catch enough to affect the number 

 seriously. We have fished with every kind of trap that the 

 brightest fisherman could think of. Many important food 

 fishes are now very much reduced in numbers. The fur 

 seal and sea otter are so nearly gone that only the most 

 watchful protection will save them from extinction. 



The land, as the Indian knew it, was beautiful, and was 

 filled with everything that one could wish. But the In- 

 dian did not know how to use it. He lived a poor hfe, suf- 

 fering from cold and hunger. 



We came into the possession of a land unspoiled by its 

 primitive inhabitants. It was just as Nature made it. In 

 a few short years we have almost exterminated the Indian. 

 We have swept away a large part of the forests. We have 

 almost destroyed many of the species of animals and birds. 

 We have robbed the soil and injured the flow of the rivers. 

 Some of this loss we could not help, for when many millions 

 of people occupy a land there must be many changes. But 



