The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-22
CONSERVE THE WILD LIFE

CONSERVE THE WILD LIFE
In recent issue of The Age-Her-
aid was published a letter addressed
to the editor by I. T. Quinn, commits
sioner of the state department of
conservation, urging the need for in
dividual, as we'll as organized, CO.
operation towards conserving the
states natural resources. What Com
missioner Quinn said about pollution
of the public streams of Jefferson
county from mines and industrial
plants, through which nlyriads of fish
are destroyed or driven out every
year, is well worth considering in the
light of the waste from that source
which has been going on for years in
this and many other counties of the
state. Of oven greater Importance is
the move to conserve the forestry in
terests which are rapidly being dc.
pleted through ruthless, wasteful and
short-sighted practice. Protection Of
the birds, too, which save the farm
ing interests of the state hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually by de-
stroying insects and in proportion to
their activities reduce the cost of
food products to every consumer in
the state, deserves support from all
the people.
| Fishing and hunting clubs organ
ized and in process of organization
in many parts of Alabama following
the formation of the Alabama Fish
ermen and Hunters Association in
jefferson county, are doing produc-
tive work in their influences and eff
forts for conservation. There is
mistaken idea among many people of
the state that these clubs have as
their sole purpose sport and amuse-
ment. Not so. Those are secondary
considerations, mere diversions in a
large and far-reaching task-protec-
ton of fish, game and wild life from
those who, without bad intent, are
contributing to the destruction of
these great assets through thought
lessness and failure to realize the in
jury they are inflicting. Propaga-
ton, as well as protection, of wild
life is the larger purpose of these
clubs. They are performing public
service which is already beginning to
bear fruit, but have still much to ac-
complish. Most states, for instance,
have a closed season for that noble
fish, the black bass. When either
a male or female is taken during the
spawning season, usually April and
May, thousands of prospective bass
are destroyed. At the rate this pro-
cess IS going on the bass will even
tually, and at no very distant day,
disappear from Alabama. In the
newspapers Of the state frequently
appear interviews from anglers boast
ing of having taken fifteen to twenty
bass in a days outing during the
spawning season. These anglers are
within their legal rights, whatever
may be said of their sportemanship or
thoughtlessness; for, unfortunately.
Alabama has no closed season for bass
and other splendid fish. The fault
lies with the legislature which so far
has neglected to enact the proper
laws. Efforts are being made by the
Alabama Fishermen and Hunters AS
soclation to have such statutes en-
acted and enforced, with encouraging
prospects of success. Every believer
IN conservation, every sportsman
worthy of the name, will doubtless CO.
operate in this move and support the
several practical efforts being made
for propagation and protection of the
states wild game, while contributing
their aid and influence towards the
whole conservation program.
1t is just as inexcusable in spirit,
even though it be within the law, to
take bass during the spawning Pc
riod as to kill quail during the
breeding season, so far as results are
concerned. Both are fragrant waste;
both are blows struck at the states
natural resources; both are as short
sighted as they are destructive. II
the people of Alabama are once
aroused to the Importance, the value,
the necessity OF conservation of the
states splendid wild life, the net re-
suits in material progress, as we'll as
in a larger contentment and happi-
ness, will soon have a conspicuous
place among Alabama's greatest as
sets. A little serious thinking on this
subject, little education in what
the movement means to posterity, i'm
mediate and afar, will do much to-
wards realization of this truly great
end. Every individual, no less than
every organized interest, can contri-
butte to the success of the task:
t---.