The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-15

others I alludc TO the cortamina-
ton OF our bays. lakes, rivers and
streams.
try, from the Statistics made public by
the National City bank of New York.
March %, last which show: That the
United States now leads the world IN
It's fish output and that the waters or
Canada and the United States in COM
bination. supply over sl5o.ooo,ooo
worth of fish per anuum out OF
world recorded total o>slightly less
than 10000, 600 The recorded
total the bank points out includes
comparatively small proportion of
the globe or its population.
The total value OF the American
fish crop. including Alaska and the
insular possessions. is probably 8 5O.-
100000.
The worlds oyster crop, ii Is esti-
mated. amounts to. approximately,
s25. 900, 900 "A year in value. OF which
our-fifths are grown in the waters
of the United States, most of them
along the Atlantic frontage, the re-
mainder chiefly in the waters of
France. Belgium. the Netherlands
and Great Britain.
Fish forms a factor OF consider
able importance in the foreign trade
of the United States. the total ex-
ported in 1917 amounting to $4,000,
600, and the imports about $4,000
600. If we include the amount sent
from continental United States to its
non contiguous territorieA. fish and
fish products passing through the
ports of the United States in the cal
endar year 1917 would amount to, ap-
proximateiy, s50,ooo,ooo.
1T would seem to me advisable. II
there Is to be an increased produc-
ton, that this contamination of the
areas where the fish are produced
should be eliminated This is a oues-
ton OF the survival or the destruc-
ton OF our vast natural resource for
the production and growth Of our
fisheries. No doubt, there Is not n
state on the Atlantic coast but what
has lost from the contamination of
its rivers and lakes, and undoubtedly
there is not a state in the union but
what has had some OF its lakes or
rivers destroyed IN the same manner
The loss in revenue is but a small
part. even though II is $50. 600 per
year. as compared with the d. nc
ton of a great natural resource for
the production and growth OF food
When one of our bays, lakes or rivers
is destroyed for the production OF
food. by contamination. 1t is "A loss
not only TO the particular state in
which the same may be situated, but
IT Is n loss to the people of the entire
country.
Overcome Conditions
"f It IL deemed advisable To at
tempt to overcome these conditions
by state legislation rather than by
federal Intervention, in my opinion
il will have to be accom- plished by a
campaign OF education. II seems TO
me that II we would 70 10 the people
and show them that vast food pro
ducng areas, are being destroyed. in
many instances, by willful negligence
then they will demand remediciral
legislation.
Take the conta mination OF the
coastal waters, for instance. in many
instances. IL has been carried across
border lines and has caused injury
10 the industries OF other states than
the one whore the contamination orig
mated, but II such a condition did not
occur. the contamination is destroying
one of the nations great natural food
producing areas. and II thus Injuries
the people OF the entire country.
Such condition is intolerable and
SEiphtQ 0NL De allowed
They tell us that the federal gov
eminent cannot render any assistance
in eliminating this contamination, but
it would seem that II they can regu-
late the fisheries in one particular
they ought 10 be able 10 regulate il
in other particulars II the posi-
ton of the food administration is ten
able in setting aside state laws and
providing for increased catches OF fish
they ought TO be able 20 assist in pro-
VidIng for an increased production Of
FISH to catch.
7 particularly desire 70 cali the a.
tention OF this association 10 the nee
essity OF working together for the
elimination of this contamination and
for the building Of our fisheries
industry"
During the afternoon rapers OF
GLIDING Rescue of work relating 10
oyster culture during the past seventy
years" by Dr. e. r, Churchill. Of
Washington: What New York is do
ing to meet the demand for an in
creased consum ption OF food fisheries"
by John W. Titcomb, fish culturist to
the conservation comm ISIS on. OF New
YORK. Conservation and co-opera-
ton by II. l.. Gibbs. comm issioner
of fisheries, of North Carolina, an 4
last night. "Sardine industry" an IL
Illustrated lecture by DIR Weber. OF
Washington.
The delegates were entertained at
dinner at the Jefferson hotel last
night, and will be taken down the
James this afternoon on the city tug
as far as Dutch Gap. with drive
10 the Country club later in the day.
Show Pictures This Morning.
The moving pictures exhibiting the
sardine industries. which we're to have