The sun., 1918-07-21
WASTE NO FISH IS
UNCLE 'SPLEA
Sailing, Drying or Smoking
Surplus Catches Will Aid
Conservation.
By w. c. KENDALL.
Scientific Assistant, U. s. Bureau OF
Fisheries.
Man mark; the earth with ruin

Scientific Assistant, U. s. Bureau Of
Fisheries.
Man marks the earth with ruin
His control stops with the shore.
--Byron's "Apostrophe TO the Ocean"
OF the above quotation the first line
only is pertinent to present conditions
Mans ruin or control stops neither with
the shore Of the ocean nor that of inland
waters.
In the past. wastefulness of aquatic
resources has been so prodigal that In
many instances retribution in the shape
Of depleted waters has followed in its
path
Waters have been depleted not only
Of those species held in high esteem but
OF those forms which were formerly re-
garded as only At to be thrown away
There came n time, however, when
the necessity of protection and con-
servation OF food and game fishes was
recognized. Measures intended to eff
feet the desired end were provided
though oftentimes impossible of enforce
ment or inadequately observed. Present
conditions relating to food supply add
to the problems.
The demand for food exceeds the sup
ply. The slogan "eat more ASH" while
intended to conserve the meat supply.
involves a greater demand for Ash with
q consequent tendency to reduce the
supply of fish.
Need for Fish Conservation.
There is. therefore. still greater
necessity for protection and conserva-
ton. There always has been and prob
ably always will be more or less UNI
avoidable waste. but 1t is possible by
NJ
waste to minimum. Such regulations.
however. should. like charity, begin at
home. They must be from within as
we'll as from without.
In other words. there must be indi-
vidual voluntary effort to support the
protective and conservative measures
pertaining both to the Ash and fisheries
and the general food supply. From
many, and in many directions this has
been urged and forced upon public at
tention.
The object of this article is to Indicate
a line of individual effort which here
tofore has not been touched upon. This
Is the sea son when the call of the lakes
and streams irresistibly draws many
from their vocations. notwithstanding
the fact that man marks the earth with
ruin"
It Is well that II should be so, for
there is as much need Of protection OF
the health and conservation of the in
dividual energy as OF the food supply.
A disregard OF those factors in produc-
ton Is. in effect. aid to the enemy.
Health and energy, with increased pro-
duotiveness. are engendered by that
diversion from strenuosty known as
angling.
Notwithstanding restrictive laws and
the fact that all true sportsmen
endeavor to retain no more fish than the
law allows. the angler sometimes finds
himself legitimately possessed of more
fish than he can Immediately utilize or
keep fresh until his vacation ends. In
such instances the fish become a waste
and loss to the food supply.
Essential to Preserve Fish.
There is another kind OF waste almost
as indefensible as the unnecessary de-
struction OF an excess capture of game
fish. The reference Is to the destruction
OF coarse fishes" that are taken along
with the game.
There are many such fishes that have
been hitherto. and still are. regarded
with aversion and even actually de-
tested This aversion Is not usually
due to inedibillty of the hsh-there is
scarcely a fish that swims that IS not
eulule anu therefore eCOnOITlCalIy val
uable-but perhaps to the fact that they
annoy the angler by taking his lure, thus
preventing or hindering his capture OF
more desirable fishes
Or II may be the fishes are justly or
unjustly reputed to be destructive
enemies of those forms which the angler
esteem. There are no legal restrictions
appertaining to many OF these fishes.
but doubtless the time will come when
there will be.
Under present conditions waste of
these fish es is almost or quite as repre-
hensible as undue destruction OF those
regarded as superior.
There are some anglers whose list of
game fishes comprises only two or
three species, or II may be only one, and
who regard all others as coarse fishes"
and undesirable.
There are others whose lists include
some OF these very same coarse fishes
which may even be the favorites.
The suggestion to which the forego-
ing leads Is that each and every angler
waste no fish. whether salmon or carp,
trout or club. bass or bullhead. perch,
sunfish. sucker. bowfin. or any other.
1t is suggested that such waste can
be obviated by conservation measures,
which for present purposes are those
Of preservation by sailing. drying. or
smoking.