Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-09-26
pnorEor rHE FISH
The Economio Value and Natural
preservation Of Fishes

The Economio Value and Natural
Preservation Of Fishes
Fishes have greater direct econom.
ic value than al other classes Of 80.
called "cold blooded" animals com
bined. They are beyond doubt the
best aesh food that mankind can eat,
and as consequence serve as food
for all nations. Statistics show that
those nations, like The Scotch and
South Sea Islanders, who eat fsh as
their chief flesh food and avoid beef,
are most exempt from tuberculosis
and other diseases and parasites that
are conveyed 70 man by infested beef.
Years ago nearly ever stream IN
this state yielded fresh Ash In abund-
ance for the masses, and this formed
common element for food Of the
working man. Today most Of the
streams are barren, and fresh fish is
delicacy found upon the table Of
the wealthy man only. Fishing as
an industry or for recreation Is stead
lily declining. The reduction Of our
native fishes is due to the combined
influence Of their natural enemies
and man, but the effects Of the latter
are by far the most destructive In
most places Among their natural
enemies are internal and external
parasites, aquatic insects, hags and
lampreys, other fishes, water dogs or
mud puppies, and other Amphiblans,
water snakes and turtles, certain
aquatic and semi-aquatic birds, such
as herons, divers, looms, mergansers,
kingnshers and espreps, and certain
mammals, like the otter, mink, rae
coon, muskrat, wild cat, etc.
The indirect effects Of the actions
Of maEdklnd have been by far more
destructive TO fish life than have the
effects Of his direct attacks upon the
iinny tribe. The mere taking of
fishes from the water would not ex-
terminate the race. Among the
agencies that are effecting their
wholesale destruction are the follow
ing: 1. The pollution ofstreams by
poisonous waters from mines, factor
les, sewers, etc. 2. Dumping into
water such material as sawdust,
ashes, screenings, etc, that cover the
fishes spawning beds and ill their
gills. 3. Clearing away forests and
natural vegetation, which causes the
water to be warmer and shallower or
less abundant and more intermittent
in flow than formerly. A. Draining
swamps, which not only reduces the
water supply, but also destroys the
minute food material for the young
fishes. 8. Clearing out streams and
clearing away debris that furnishes
natural places for their shade con-
cealment and reproduction. 6. Build
ing canals and irrigating bitches and
otherwise turning the water out Of
its natural channel. z. Building
dams, which prevent the migrations
Of the anadrOmous fishes, like the
salmon and-the herring. 8. Wanton
destruction in capturing fish, as by
dynamite, and the accidental and
careless killing Of great numbers Of
small individuals when hauling nets.
All these are causes over which
mankind has control to some extent
and their practical remedies are be-
ing sought and made known by our
state and United States fish commits
sions, which deserve the strongest
support Of every citizen and all pos
sible aid by legislators.
From the manuscript Of a book on
general biology, by Prof fl. Surface,
department Of zoology, the Pennsyl-
vania state college, State College, Pa.