The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-04
Preserve the
Upper Waters

with the diminishing area Of public lands
in the West, the vast herds OF cattle that fed
America and Europe a generation ago have
passed away When the ranch succeeded the
range, and the farm succeeded the ranch, the
opportunity FOR raising cattle at little or no cost
was lost forever. and the wheat helds that nave
taken the places Of the almost Statewide cattle
ranges fail to produce the abundance Of good,
cheap meat that made Chicago famous. The
condition is a permanent one. and q new era
was marked in the food history of the United
States when a few days ago, a large cargo of
meat was brought in from the Argentine Repub-
The day has come when we must look for
other sources OF foods, and one that has not been
exploited fully as 1t might have been, Is the
ample supply of fish, both in the fresh and salt
waters OF continent. The first explorers
made especial note of this and from the icy
streams of Alaska and Labrador TO the coral
reefs of the Caribbean sea, both the inland and
our land waters TEEN with edible fishes that in
quantity and quality surpass those Of a1y other
part of the world. The difficulties that the early
settlers had TO overcome were severe enough
as they were but without this ample supply
Of food 1t is doubtful If the settlements would
have been able to have survived at all.
AS the country has become more thickly set
tied, this supply of healthy nutritious food has
diminished directly on account Of the reckless
stream pollution that has been permitted. 1t is
not generally known that Virginia leads the
Union in the value OF its fisheries, but such is
the fact The streams and coast waters of Nir-
einia produce a harvest worth more than seven
millions of dollars a year. and under the skillful
and earnest care of Mr. w, Mcdonald Lee, our
State commissioner of fisheries, this promises
in the past Unless the criminal negligence Of
our officials lawmakers be checked and
steps be taken to stop the pollution of our wa
ters that is destroying fisheries peo-
pie viii reap q terrible result in the loss of
valuable food products.
A recent issue of the RoCkbridge County News
calls attention to the extensive destruction Of
fishs in Little river and the upper North river
by the refuse of tannery that has been allowed
10 drain into those streams. There is no excuse
for such action mandatory has no
more right to make a nuisance of itself and to
injure those living ii than an individual
would have to do the same thing and tannery
should not he permitted to save itself trouble
and money by disposing of its refuse as to
iniure others. BY enforcing laws now the
statute books by enacting law, If neces
sary, this source OF waste could be stopped.
The slaughter OF calves is another source of
waste. day so ago veal bringing thirty
FIVE pound our local market, and
there was but little be had at that price
II may not be long before horse flesh is
openly sold among II is In the markets CT
Paris, Berlin and Vienna, and though trife
tough, ii viii he found sweet and nutritious.
We have been talking and writing about the
high cost of living. This is way of putting
II, but may as well face the real problem
and call it the scarcity of food,-Staunton Daily
News