The Washington times., 1923-12-22

bank Of the river for a distance of
500 miles, lying between the States
OF Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri
on the West, and Wisconsin and
Illinois on the East.
These lands are completely sub
merged in the spring season and in
summer are intersected by many
small arms of the Mississippi. in
which the young fish are concen-
trated, and therefore are not suit.
able for agricultural purposes.
In this environment, nowhere
equaled in the world, the game
fish of the Mississippi raise their
young, particularly the black bass
the game fish of the people.
The Federal Bureau Of Fish
cries states that the proposed
refuge, in full operation, would
produce three or four times more
small bass, each spring, than the
combined output of both Federal
and State hatcheries now en-
gagged in artificiaIIy producing
small bass. Thus, hundreds of
thousands of small bass, from
four to six inches long, would
become available for shipment to
every State i'm the Union for re-
stocking purposes.
The refuge would also serve as
a great natural breeding ground
Tor ducks. geese, and other mi
gratory birds, and would restock
not only the Mississippi valley, but
many other States.
Advocates of the bill point out
that the great Mississippi valley
now has no national park or recrea-
tlon preserve of a similar sort, al
though its taxes go to support many
such projects in other sections OF
the country.
These three great benefits-the
propagation of game fish-the
propagation of game birds-and the
of playground FOR
millions of people in the Middle
West are set forth by the Izaak
Walton League as the basis for its
opinion that this Legislation will un-
doubtedly pass the present Con
gress.
The bill, in part, reads as fol-
lows: Be it enacted by the SEN
ate and House of Representatives
OF the United States of America
IN Congress assembled, That this
act may be cited as "The Upper
Mississippi River Wild Life and
Fish Refuge Act"
Section 2-The Secretary of Ag.
rlculture Is authorized and directed
10 acquire by purchase, gift, or
lease, such areas of land, or of land
and water. situated between Rock
Island. ILL.,. and Wabasha, MINI.
on either side of. or upon islands
in the Mississippi river. which are
subject 10 overflow by such river
and which are not used for agricul
tural purposes. as he determines
for the purposes of this
act.
Section 2-Any such area, when
acquired in accordance with the
provisions of this act. shall become
a part OF the Upper Mississippi
river Wild Life and Fish Refuge
hereinafter IN this act referred to
as the "RefuEe'1. The refuge shall
he established and maintained as a
refuge and hreedtns place for mi.
gratory birds included in the terms
If tho convention between the
United States and Great Britain for
tho protection Of migratory birds,
concluded August 16. 1916 and 10
such extent as the Secretary of
Agriculture may by regulations pre-
scribe, as a refuge and breeding
place FOR other Wild birds. game
animals, fur hearing animals, md
FOR the conservation of Wild flow.
nrH- and aquatic plartS. and tc
such extent as tho Secretary ot
.'0mmerCe may bN regulations pre-
srrihe as refuge and hreedinE
place to, fish and other aquatic
Animal tie