Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-18
Conservation of Human RIGHTS?


In an appeal for broadening of the
conservation movement to include the
ocean solitudes the Christian Science
Monitor has this to say:
Facing apparent unalterable reduc-
ton of its meat supply and conse-
quent increase in price of such pork,
beef or lamb as still finds its way to
market, the American public is the
keener in its demand that there shall
be no waste of the cheap fish food
supply OF the oceans that rim the con-
tinent. The urgency is great, and may
Congress be alive to it! Methods of
trawling now in use, and gaining in
frequency of employment by capital
lists able to build properly equipped
boats are said to be steadily and sure
ly cutting off the supply of food fish
Machinery geared TO search and scour
the oceans depths is already is de-
structive in its undiscriminating en-
guIfment of marine life as mans
mechanisms used for terrestrial ends
have been i'm wiping out of existence
entire species of animal life
But the Monitor does not remember.
apparently. the most deplorable side of
this condition which it pictures.-that
after the depths have been swept to
furnish food for mankind. thousands of
tons of this splendid food are con-
verified into fertilizer at the hehest of
the meat trust. When the even tenor
and constant rise of prices ON the pro-
ducts of the millionaire packers are
interfered with. the sea foods are sac
the people are afraid
of cheap fish"
When the great salt sea store housa
has been robbed TO the taste of the
meat trust king, then cold storage and |
the boycott of dealers who buy indie
will do the rest, and We will |
be more at the mercy of the beef bar
ons than we are today. That is. we
shall be unless we take up eonserva
ton of human rights. as well as con-
of natural resources.
We agree again with the Monitor in
the following:
A widening of the conservation |
movement impends. Ocean soltudes |
as well as mountain erests must come |
under the protecting watch of govern |
mental agents. In this task Canada |
and Newfoundland have an equal duty |
with the United States. Just at the |
moment the practical duty of citizens |
of the United States seems to be to |
use such pressure at Washington with |
and congressman as will Sc |
cure appropriation of funds with which |
a federal investigation of the results |
Of trawl fishing can be carried on. |
Owners of the superbly equipped fleets |
that range up and down the seas deny |
that they do the damage they are said |
to do. Uncle Sam has experts who |
can soon pass upon this matter, if |
they are properly backed. OF course. |
there is no disputing the fact that sim |
liar kinds of wholesale fish gathering |
IN the North sea have diminished the |
food supply of northern Europe. Ali |
The more should the United States be |
alert to guard against prodigality and |
waste"
But let us demand of Congress an |
of the system of shipping |
meats into foreign markets at less
prices than Americans have to pay. It |
may be necessary to levy an export |
tax on food supplies to equal the diff
ferences between expense of marketing |
at home and abroad, and weekly pub
licity of prices charged everywhere.