May, 1913.] 
Control of Aquatic Resources. 
139 
acre as a source of fertilizing material for the years to come. 
This seems all the more desirable when it is reriiembered that 
this basin must collect quantities of the finest and most fertile 
parts of the soil washed from the higher ground. Moreover, I 
hope to show that there is good reason to expect that the acre 
can be made so productive over and above this function of con¬ 
serving fertility that it will be worth more in water than it could 
be as cultivated land. 
What is needed in the matter of utilization of our great tracts of marshy 
or swampy land is some such systematic study and the development of some 
such adapted system as is in progress of development in the systems of 
“dry farming" in the arid or semi-arid regions of the west—a system which 
will intelligently conserve and utilize our heritage of water, not throw it 
ignorantly away and reduce our uplands to a condition of sterility.”* 
There are certain resources among the natural inhabitants of 
aquatic areas, and a few of these may be enumerated to ad¬ 
vantage. First perhaps in general recognition is the fish industry 
which in many localities is a quite important matter. In large 
part, however, the fish industry is carried on without particular 
regard to the methods by which the largest available crop could 
be secured, and except as efforts are made to save and rear eggs 
of certain species and to regulate the capture for certain seasons, 
no systematic plan is in practice by which the crop may be regu¬ 
larly grown and harvested, so as to provide for perpetuation. In 
many localities, especially in swampy areas, the growing of frogs, 
turtles, ducks, geese and musk-rats is sufficiently recognized to 
indicate that these are all capable of a much greater cultivation, 
and there can be no question that a systematic study of the means 
of culture and adaption to the best localities would result in pro¬ 
ductive crops. Aside from these there are several species of fur¬ 
bearing animals, especially the beaver, otter and mink, which in 
wilder tracts might undoubtedly be grown with profit. In streams 
and ponds where the native species of clams used to abound, there 
unquestionably could be established a productive industry in the 
growth of these animals for pearls, and as a basis for the button 
industry. While not yet developed, there is, in all probability, 
a great latent resource in the aquatic plants which might be used 
for the manufacture of paper. Some of the species that are native 
here seem likely to furnish an excellent fibre, but if not, the in¬ 
troduction of other species, especially the Japanese paper plant, 
might establish a most important industry and serve to relieve 
in part the drain upon the forest areas which are being consumed 
in the manufacture of paper. Willows and other rapid growing 
semi-aquatic trees might also be utilized in this direction, as well 
as for their influence in checking the outflow of flood waters. 
*Osborn, Pop. Sci. Monthly, July, 1908, Vol. LXIII, p. 85-87. 
