NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
729 
gether with a plan for the management of our more valuable streams such as 
to compensate so far as practicable for the losses due to such reclamation. 
We have a problem of this kind on the lUinois River, the normal productivity 
of which has fallen off to about a third its former rate in consequence of dik- 
ing and drainage operations on its bottomlands; and I have been unable to 
find any agency, either state or national, in position to handle effectively the 
practical problem of the managment of the stream and the development of 
the resources remaining after this inevitable reclamation process has gone to 
its limit. It is primarily a fisheries problem and all aware of the facts admit 
that it should be worked out, but neither State nor United States fisheries 
commissions are able to undertake it. The consequence is a considerable and 
increasing loss of food to the country at large, since the product of this stream 
is disposed of chiefly in the principal cities of the eastern United States." 
6. Educational and Social Work. — {a) Thorough studies of human heredity 
as a necessary prehminary to any attempt to permanently improve our human 
stock and increase our national efficiency. 
{b) The teaching of zoology may be made an especially important means 
of promoting national intelligence, cooperation and welfare, for in many 
respects zoology comes nearer to man and his problems than does any other 
physical or natural science; it is indeed the foundation or background of 
human studies, since man also is an animal. There are many important 
lessons for mankind in the heredity, development, evolution and adaptations 
of animals as well as in the organization of animal states. 
{c) The laying of broad zoological foundations for medical education and 
research must always be an important part of the work of the zoologist. 
While the present demands on medical men continue zoologists would be well 
qualified to assist in the more fundamental subjects of medical education, 
especially in anatomy, histology, embryology and neurology. 
{d) The prosecution of research work, whether in pure or applied science, 
is a national duty of the first magnitude ; the continuance of research work in 
zoology, and especially of work already begun which cannot be interrupted 
without serious loss to science, is a real national service. 
7. Miscellaneous Problems. — In addition to these general lines of work the 
following special problems have been suggested: 
{a) The microscopical inspection of food, clothing and supplies. 
{b) Studies of the coat coverings of animals with a view to the utilization 
of nature's principles in making the clothing of soldiers light, warm, well- 
ventilated, impervious to water and protectively colored. 
{c) Studies of the mechanism of aquatic and aerial locomotion in animals 
with reference to its application to submarines and aeroplanes. 
{d) Utihzation of gulls and other aquatic birds in locating submarines. 
{e) Studies of the mechanisms of limbs and joints with a view to offering 
suggestions in the construction of artificial limbs. 
