Game.— In the early days Middle Tennessee was termed by the Indians the °Happy Hunt ing Grounds.° Until some years after the war the whole State was blessed with an abundance of game of many species, deer, hear, wild tur key, grouse and quail. Among the migratory birds, ducks, geese, snipe and plover were found in great numbers during the winter and spring months. By the year 1900, however, conditions had been so changed through the activities of market hunters, egame hogs° and game dealers that it was difficult to find game sufficient to afford any sport. This fact im pressed upon conservatiomsts the necessity of some law to prevent extermination. The first general Game Law (chap. 169, Acts 1903) met with violent opposition in the general assembly and passed by a narrow margin. The act to protect non-game birds (chap. 118, Acts 1903) was also passed at this session. The benefits of the Game Law, however, were speedily made so manifest that by 1905 the legislature created the Department of Game, Fish and Forestry (chap. 455, Acts 1905) and added to the law of 1903 many important features (chap. 515, Acts 1905). By 1907 game had greatly increased, A close season on deer was established and several hundred deer in a private park near Nashville were purchased and freed. They soon scattered and under protection have greatly increased. Public sentiment now secured the passage of the first general Fish Law (chap. 489, Acts 1907) and Forestry Law (chap. 397, Acts 1907). Both of these measures had been ((side tracked° in the preceding legislature. In 1909 an attempt was made to legislate the State warden out of office. The Supreme Court de clared the measure unconstitutional (14 Cates, 43). In 1915 another like effort was made and again the Supreme Court sustained the incum bent of the office (Howser v. Fullton). Ten nessee is cursed with factional politics. Reel foot Lake, now the property of the State, can be made one of the finest game and fish pre serves in the country. It has long been an El Dorado for hunters and fishermen. Public senti ment now strongly favors game and fish laws. It is 'necessary for their enforcement. Without public sentiment back of it, any law is practi cally a edead letter.° With the establishment and operation of the game farm, the outlook for game in Tennessee is encouraging.
Fish.— Few States in the Union have as numerous streams so well adapted for fish as Tennessee. Many flowing into the rivers are fed by cold springs and are unexcelled for bass, trout, land-locked salmon and perch. Prior to the movement in 1903 for the protection of game and fish, little attention was given this valuable asset. Seining was frequent and dyna miting not uncommon. Little attention was ever paid to local laws. It was not until 1907 that the general Fish Law was passed (chap. 489, Acts 1907). This law was sought to be amended in 1915 (chap. 152, Acts 1915) and the State warden also removed from office. The Supreme Court held this could not be done, but did not pass upon the other features of the bill.
It has been a hard struggle to protect fish in Tennessee. The people have not been educated to the need of their protection. The fine waters,
and particularly Reelfoot Lake, should supply fish food in greatest abundance at reasonable cost. The introduction of German carp, like the English sparrow, has been a great misfortune. Eradication of either seems impossible. There has also been a decrease of fish from the pollu tion of streams. This is a common act, but most uncivilized practice. The agencies at work are too varied for enumeration. The develop ment of manufacturing industries with no re strictions upon disposal of waste is fast ruining many fine streams and the fish have become uneatable from the tainting of the water. The mountain streams of the eastern division, where the population is not sufficient to cause damage by sewage, are often affected by sawdust. Seining, dynamiting and pollution are combin ing to destroy the fish of the State. Drastic measures must be adopted. It is feasible to keep wastes out of the waters and it is pos sible to turn them into profit through valu able by-products. A campaign of education as well as law is essential to accomplish the needed results.
The soils of the Great Smoky Mountains are mostly rich clays and loarns. Those of the valley of East Tennessee are mainly red to brown clay and loam that are very productive, though there are narrow belts derived from certain formations that are poor. Those of the Cumberland Plateau are in parts sandy and in others clayey. The former are not productive and should never be cleared; the latter are not strong, but are susceptible of great improvement. Those of the Highland Rim are in parts fairly good, in others poor, but all can be improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Those of the Central Basin are very productive clays and foams, and most of the area is in a high state of cultivation. The soils of the western slope vary from those that are sandy and of little worth, through loarns and clays that are fairly good and sus ceptible of great improvement to the rich loess area near the Mississippi, and the rich though narrow alluvial bottoms of the Mississippi, Tennessee and smaller streams.
The area of Tennessee is 42,022 square miles, or 26,912,000 acres, of which 21,000,000 are farm lands and more than one half of this is improved.
Principal Crops and Stock.—Diversified farming is general throughout the State, al though specialization is practised in some sec tions. Corn, cotton and wheat are the great staples, leading in importance in the order - .
named. Clover, timothy, soy beans, cow peas, herd's grass, lespedeza, vetch and alfalfa are grown for hay.
The production of strawberries and toma toes has become one of the paying features, especially in Gibson and adjoining counties. From these and other points vast quantities of vegetables and fruits are shipped to the North ern markets. The entire State offers the conditions necessary to successful fruit culture.
Stock are fed and fattened on a large scale, and this industry is increasing in importance. Hogs are an important product. Poultry rais ing is extensive, and dairying is generally fol lowed near the larger cities and towns.