Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-05

said the law passed by Congress will
have been in vain If the features that
now make the area attractive to water
fowl are not preserved and forever
protected from destruction. He pointed
out that river Improvement" so called
has been carried on in this region
long enough for all of us to see what 1t
means to wild life and to natural
beauty. He said that all of our waters
are embraced in the bird scantuary,
but due to what are called improve
ments, part of them no longer are of
value to wild life. and pointed out that
River, once q veritable paradise for
blackbirds, reedbirds and rails. now is
confined between stone walls and
dredged out.
He said that the presence Of the
shoals and Of their water plants, mis-
called "seaweeds," have been objected
to on the grounds of bad smell. The
remedy for this, he said, Is to stop the
flow Of sewage, and not removal OF the
shoals.
McATEE said that no other city In
4'4 the country has such birds in its
limits, and that they are an ed
ucational and scenic asset" Of which
the District should not allow itself to
be robbed by any dredging project, no
matter upon what pretext 1t may be
urged. He said it may be necessary
from time to time to dredge the Wash
ington Harbor, but that this can, and
should be, done without disturbing the
large shoals Of the main Potomac River.
He said the deSirability of making the
Potomac River a sanctuary for the
whole length of the Mount Vernon
Highway was obvious. People ride over
it to see the country, the river and
beautiful natural objects along the way.
Shooting the wild fowl is utterly in
congruous with the other purposes of
this great parkway.
McAtee said that no more useful nor
interesting task beckons local members
Of the IZaak Walton League, the Au-
dubon Society and like organizations
than constantly to urge that all Of the
Potomac River that is to be bordered by
park projects be made a wild life refuge
and to be on guard at all times against
their despoilation.
To protect game birds and to curtail
illegal fishing and hunting, Col Z. H.
Schulz, commanding officer Of Fort
Humphreys, Va, has authorized the
formation Of the Fort Humphreys Rod
and Gun Club" The organization Is
made up of enlisted men at the fort,
but civilians in the surrounding country
and officers are allowed to join. And
again we say that the country Is get
ting conservation-minded
CPORTSMEN, nature lovers and farm
~ ers in this section of the country
are urged 20 set up feeding stations
where song and insectivorous as well
as game birds mSy obtain food to carry
them through pSriods when natural
foods are scarce. Ear corn, fastened
above the ground, or any grains scat
tered under evergreen or straw shelters
open on all sides and set UP in locali-
ties harboring birds, are the methods
recommended. Well fed birds can with
stand Winter weather, but with little
food they soon become weak and easy
prey for predators BY establishing
feeding stations now and scattering a
little grain internationally, the birds viii
learn their location and form the habit
of visiting them. Heavier feeding should
be practiced later when the demand is
greater.
Last Thursday Rod and Stream start
ed It's Winter programs Of broadcasting
Thursday Of each week at 4:45 O'Clock
1t will 60 on the air over Station
WMAL, giving what fishing reports it
receives, and presenting speaker well
known In conservation work. The Win
ter programs have been requested by
the leading conservationists Of WASH
| ington, including Commissioner Henry
OMalley Of the Bureau of Fisheries