March, 1918 
FOREST AND STREAM 
157 
a source of food supply will thus have been destroyed 
which cannot be replaced. Each good citizen should do 
his utmost to support the stand taken by the U. S. Food 
Commission, which is firmly opposed to these more or 
less insane propositions to kill off and eat up at once all 
our breeding stock of game and fish. 
We do not believe that the public will readily consent 
to the wholesale destruction of its game and fish. 
WHAT ARE “ESSENTIALS” 
r T' l HE question of essentials and non-essentials has 
perhaps never been more hotly discussed than at 
the present time; but even those who loudly maintain 
that “there is no such thing as a non-essential” as well 
as those who would do away with everything that 
smacks of luxury will agree on one thing as most 
essential, and that is HEALTH. The man who neg¬ 
lects his health to attend his business often finds that 
he has neither; the nation that neglects the health of 
its soldiers is sure to be rated among the conquered. 
It is odd that the latter fact should be so universally 
recognized, while the former is tossed aside as neg¬ 
ligible. There is no greater fallacy, especially at this 
time. Those welcome health-giving vacations should 
not be given up as useless luxuries. L T ncle Sam ex¬ 
pends as much money and energy in keeping his sol¬ 
diers fit as he does in getting them in fighting trim. 
The business man should do the same for himself. It 
is his patriotic duty and one way of “doing his bit.” 
No one should cut out rest and recreation as a “lux¬ 
ury,” for using one’s reserve force without rest is a 
sure way to lose that precious essential, Health. Noth¬ 
ing in these nerve-racking times will do more for jaded 
nerves and tired brain than an hour or two on lake or 
stream. In other words—go fishing. Even if you 
have never gone before, go this year. If fortune smiles, 
you will thus be able to obey the mandates of the Food 
Administration and “eat fish.” Anyway, you will re¬ 
turn a healthier man and a better citizen. 
FINDING EYES FOR THE NAVY 
ROM the Navy Department comes an appeal which 
we feel w r ill be answered by many of the readers 
of Forest and Stream —an appeal for “eyes,” spy¬ 
glasses, binoculars and telescopes. The use of the 
submarine has so changed naval warfare that a con¬ 
stant and efficient lookout must be maintained at all 
times. If by donating that pair of binoculars, which 
you use perhaps once a year, you can help our sailor 
boys to avert a peril which constantly threatens, we 
feel sure that you will consider giving it not as a duty 
but a privilege. 
All articles (including sextants and chronometers, 
which are also needed) should be tagged with the 
name and address of the donor and forwarded by mail 
or express to the Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt, 
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, care of Naval Ob¬ 
servatory, Washington, D. C. Each article will be ac¬ 
knowledged by him, and if not suitable for naval use 
will be returned to the sender. Those accepted will be 
keyed, so that the name and address of the donor will 
be permanently recorded at the Navy Department, and 
every effort will be made to return them at the end of 
the war, to serve as precious heirlooms for succeeding 
generations. As the Government cannot, under the 
law, accept service or material without giving com¬ 
pensation, one dollar will be paid for each article ac¬ 
cepted, which sum will constitute the rental, or, in 
case of loss, the purchase price, of such article. 
So please look over the outfits which are packed 
away and see if they will not yield more precious 
“eyes” for our boys who are helping to make the seas 
safe for democracy. 
A FORECAST FOR APRIL 
MONG the articles that will make the next issue 
of Forest and Stream of particular interest to 
all anglers will be the first of a series on Dry Fly Fish¬ 
ing by “R. L. M., California,” an angler of wide experi¬ 
ence who never fails the reader looking for practical 
information to apply to his own pursuit of the gentle 
art. Louis Rhead will contribute a careful study of 
insect life and suggestions for early stream fishing, 
written with all the clarity and illustrated with the 
charming drawings that distinguish this author-artist. 
Our old correspondent Widgeon, whose articles on 
Barnegat duck shooting have attracted such wide atten¬ 
tion, has sent us another delightful reminiscence of War¬ 
wick woodlands. In response to many inquiries as to 
the identity of Widgeon, we can simply say at this time 
that he is well-known citizen of an adjacent state who 
is still going shooting. 
From our Nessmuk’s Camp Fire correspondents we 
have gleaned a number of very timely hints for fisher¬ 
men, and finally the cover will be an absolutely accurate 
reproduction of the angler’s most useful flies in the four- 
color process. 
“SHEEP OR ELK?” 
HE article by Emerson Hough which appears in this 
issue of Forest and Stream, deals with a matter of 
great interest to all outdoor men and is worthy of full 
discussion. With Mr. Hough’s views on grazing of the 
sheep on or near the National Park, the Forest and 
Stream is wholly in agreement. With some of his other 
statements not all of the editors agree. Nevertheless, we 
are glad to open the matter for discussion to all those 
who have views on the subject which are based on knowl¬ 
edge. Mere criticism of existing conditions is not likely 
to be profitable. Constructive ideas are needed. The sit¬ 
uation of the elk of the Yellowstone Park has long been 
under consideration by some of our best informed con¬ 
servationists and we hope to hear from some of them 
sooner or later. 
THE BIRTH OF CLOSE SHOOTING 
PROPOS of Captain Tinney’s verses elsewhere in 
this issue, it should be brought to remembrance that 
as late as 1775 a strong movement was started to put a 
regiment in the field armed with the English long bow, as 
it would shoot farther and with much greater accuracy. 
This was suggested by such a noted man as Benjamin 
Franklin, who made a strong address to the Continental 
Congress to support his stand. Fortunately, however, 
for these United States, the small calibered, close shoot¬ 
ing Kentucky rifle had made its appearance; its adop¬ 
tion prevented the retrogression advocated by Mr. Frank¬ 
lin, and, as Captain Tinney succinctly phrases it, “so the 
map was changed.” 
A NOTICE TO OLD TIMERS 
HIS office is very desirous of procuring a copy of 
Seneca’s Canoe and Camp Cooking. It may be 
that some of our old-time readers have a copy among 
their books, and we will appreciate the favor of its 
loan for a short time, or will be glad to purchase it. 
