728 NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
5. Better 'Utilization of Wild Animals. — {a) Preservation, propagation and 
domestication of useful wild animals. The game resources of the country 
can be fostered and enormously increased with intelligent effort in the right 
direction, thus adding not only to the pleasure and health of a large number 
of people, but distinctly increasing the national wealth by enlarging the food 
supply. The fur trade could once more be made a great national industry. 
Some useful animals, now wild, could be brought into captivity or domesti- 
cated and by selective breeding could be greatly improved. Probably cer- 
tain useful birds and mammals of other countries might be imported under 
proper precautions. 
{b) Exploitation and propagation of usefui marine and fresh-water animals 
in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries. There is an unlimited supply of 
food in the oceans of the world and we have scarcely begun to reap the ''har- 
vest of the seas." Countless forms of fishes, Crustacea, mollusks and other 
types which are not now generally used as food are both wholesome and 
delicious when properly prepared. The Commissioner of Fisheries says: 
"Zoologists may perform a service by bringing to the attention of people, 
in the course of their conversations, lectures, etc., the reasons for looking to 
the fisheries for increased food supply, the wholesome character of the meat, 
the economy with which fish are produced without dependence upon agri- 
culture for their food. Many new fishes are being introduced into the mar- 
ket, — sharks, howfin, burbot, sable-fish and others, — and it is certain that 
zoologists can do a good service in helping to overcome popular inertia that 
will be encountered. The Bureau will gladly send circulars announcing new 
fishes to any who apply. 
''The biological problems of fish ponds are numerous. Recently a college 
zoologist in association with the Bureau began giving special attention to 
the relation of dragon flies and damsel flies to fish culture in ponds. Already 
he has gained results that were unexpected, but that are highly significant. 
The larvae of dragon flies were known to prey upon fish fry, but this investi- 
gator finds that they also prey in greater measure upon other insects that are 
more effective enemies of fish fry; various other interesting interrelations are 
discovered. This is only an illustration of what may be done with various 
groups of aquatic and semi-aquatic animals and plants. Results of value 
may, in some cases, be obtainable in a brief space of time. 
"We know very little about the parasites of fishes, their relative abundance 
under different conditions of environment, their life-histories and alternate 
hosts. Means of control can not be devised without more complete knowl- 
edge regarding particular species. 
"We should be glad to advise either directly or through you with any 
zoologist who is considering a particular problem related to fisheries." 
{c) Prof. S. A. Forbes suggests the following very important investiga- 
tion: "The effect on the productivity of streams and their dependent waters 
traceable to operations for the agricultural reclamation of bottomlands, to- 
