The weekly Iberian., 1911-08-26
NATURAL RESOURCES
A Plea For Conservation.

New Orleans, August %, 1911
Mr.. Editor.
Dear Sir: Attached herewith,
you will find short September
first message to the people about
the natural resources of the State
trust you may fnd space III your
paper to publish same.
Yours very truly,
PRANK Nj. MILLER,
President
The Natural Resources of the
State of Louisiana IN the way OF
game, fish, oysters, forests, wa
tels, aud soils have been so great
that many have come to look upon
the m AZ an inexhaustible mine Of
wealth that never could be de-
pleted.
But in recent years, it has
dawned upon us that these re-
sources are a great Public Asset
hicb must be carefully looked
after, or in other words they must
be Conserved.
OF the various sources of nnex-
plotted wealth in our state, atten-
tion is called TO our Fisheries. Al
present, they exist in embryo and
yet no equal area for the propaga
tiOn of fish is to be found in this
or any other country. Untold
wealth lies in our streams and only
awaits scientific development to
unlock the source of the wealth
which would willingly be given US
by the markets OF the world. a
fine beginning has been made and
we hope shortly to have black
bass fish hatchery in operation.
1t ls no secret that the Federal
is anxious 10 begin
the propagation of commercial
III our waters, but the
lack of a strong public sentiment
backing the efforts Of our Board
acts adversely against the inaugu
ration IF this movement.
In our Oyster Beds, we have an.
other source of great natural
We believe that the
present trend of public opinion
up the Game and Fish
Commission is auspicious for the
greatest kind of development in
that line, so much SO, that the
great markets Of the West and
North will soon be supplied by
the luscious bivalves which come
to their finest flavor in the waters
Of the Gulf. Controlling 400, 900
acres of the finest oyster bottoms
ia the world We can supply the
people of the North and West
with our ulTivalled product.
In order to preserve the present
species of game, birds inhabltlng
our marshes, fields and streams,
Game Preserves have been set
aside where this faunal life may
1Ourish and be sateguarded for all
line. Thanks to the muniicence
If one of our citizens aided by
gentleman of wealth from an
,ther state, as we'll as by legisla ,
i've enactment, we now boast of ::
.hree great preserves where con ::
work may he carried oat J
o its fullest development. We :
I'VE this to ourselves as we'll as to j:
,osterity and here we are giving IA ,
,Tand account of ourselves.
In bringing the Importance of this :
work to the people
t the State, one feature has been
lsed which has been eminently
uccessful and that is the Travel
ng Exhibit which has been
h0wn in many parishes to the
reat delight of many thousands
{ our people.
Every Boy and Girl in the state
hould be made acquainted with ]
be vast natural resources within
ur territory no that there may
row up within them that keen de
ght in the fatherIand and that
arnest belief that here the beme-
cent hand Of Providence has
treWn untold wealth for the
.eking and asking
One thing must be borne in
ind and that Is that all this vast
Ork has been conducted Witho, t
xp+nse to the State. The Game
nd Fish Commission il self sup.
DrtiDg, not q dollar being paid
1t of The s'ate treasury for its
alntenance. Its officers and EN-.
oyees are aid from the reye.
aes derived from licenses col
cted from those who get either
oft or enjoy meut thereby. !