The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-26

conservation of one of the states greatest assets, and who are deter mined to sec that the states wild life gets sufficient protection to prevent its extinction in a few years.
 Up to few years ago Alabama was doing nothing to protect or con serve its game and fish. Yet there are few states in the union with so large an asset in this respect as Alabama. It's forests, fields, streams, lakes and coast tributaries wtre alive with game and fish of many varieties For years the wild life of the state has been on a marked decrease because no perfectly fair and reasonable laws and regulations were enacted or en- forced to protect this splendid asset from many vicious and wholly inde- fensible abuses. Under the leader ship and influence of the state con- servation department some of these abuses have been largely abolished A good start was made, and distinct benefits have been derived. But the work has just really commenced Much remains to be done.
 Quin Pledges Aid
 Commissioner of Conservation Quin is pledged to active efforts along these lines. Be realizes the pressing need for act lon, and has expressed himself as more than willing to do everything in his power toward the desired end. He appreciates the need for cooperation and support from just such an organization as the Alabama Fishermen's and Hunters association in constant educational effort And that Is just what he should have. 1t Is going to take time. Not only are laws of pro tection for the game and fish in the state needed; not only is 1t the duty of every member of the organization to help in the enactment and enforce ment of the needful laws, but sys- tematic campaign of replenishment is of vital importance. Montana, state with scarcely fourth of Alabama's population and with far less wealth. planted in it's streams and lakes last year more than 20,000.000 cold water trout The state maintains four or five well Nequipped hatcheries while the federal government operates one or more within the state for stock ing streams and lakes In the natlonai parks out there.
 What Others Have Done
 New York state planted more than 15.00O, 900 fish last year. Pennsylvania several million. The Great Lakes states plant millions of trout, bass, croppies and other fsh annually. Vir- gfnia, Maine, Maryland, North Caro- lima. Ohio, Indiana, Florida and many other states--in fact, most of them maintain hatcheries and stock their streams and lakes freely every year. It is a plain. practical economic, as well as sportsmen's proposition; a sensible, profitable investment in every state where 1t exists.
 . And yet Alabama. with it's splendid waterways, food and cover for many of the finest varieties of game hsn' has not single hatchery, permits the catching of any number or nsn every month in the year and has never done anything worth speaking of to protect and conserve this splen- did asset. Hundreds, thousands or bass are taken from Alabama waters every year during the spawning sea son. Every bass full of eggs taken means the destruction of several hundred (some hold several thou sand) bass.
 This is in principle just exactly what was done in the case of the goose that laid the golden egg. only It's worse.
 Isn't it about time the fish and game of Alabama were getting some real protection from those who would destroy this great asset in a few years?
 The Alabama Fishermen's and Hunters association has large field for real service to the state by get ting in behind the department of and giving Il, hearty co-operation and support in this big movement. It means much to the future wealth and happiness of the ytats and all its people,