PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Forests.—When the state was first settled it was covered with a vast primeval forest, consisting of pine, oak, maple, chestnut, hickory, ash, walnut, tulip, poplar, and cedar. For many years lumbering was an important industry, but it ceased a long time ago, after the best timber had been cut down. In the northern part of the state, where agriculture is difficult or impossible, the mountains are still covered with forests which promise to be of great value in the future. In the southern part, thesection called "The Pines" is covered with stunted pines mingled with scrub oak. In all parts of the state are isolated forested areas of varied extent. About forty per cent of the total land surface of the state is covered with forest growth.
Until a very recent period no organized efforts were made to protect forest trees against forest fires or other destructive agencies, or to provide for reforestation. The state has, however, realized the commercial value of its forests and the importance of promoting their growth on lands that are not available for farming purposes. The state has also recognized the value of forests in preventing floods (Secs. 93, 136, 224). In recent years an additional reason for forest protection is the necessity of preserving the soils of the forested areas in the drainage basins from which the cities obtain their supply of water, so that by the storage of water in the soils and underlying rock strata the supply may at all times be constant and sufficient. The use of trees for shade and wind breaks and their natural beauty also justify their protection and care. For these reasons the state has adopted legislation which provides for the growth of trees and forests. It owns and maintains six forest reserves located in different parts of the state, containing nearly 14,000 acres, which are being devoted to forest culture. It has authorized the counties to create extensive parks and has provided for the diffusion of important information regarding the care of forests. It maintains lookout stations from which forest fires may be detected, and a force of firewardens to prevent or extinguish fires and to arrest those who cause them. This state and New York, acting together, have created the Palisades Interstate Park, which embraces thousands of acres of forest land in the latter state and the Palisades for a distance of twelve miles along the Hudson in New Jersey.
Shipping tomatoes, Swedesboro
Shipping tomatoes, Swedesboro
Animals.—The larger wild animals have practically disappeared, although the red deer is still frequently found in the northern and southern parts of the state because of the protection afforded this animal by the laws. Here are, also, still many of the smaller animals, such as the rabbit and squirrel. In many parts of the state wild ducks and quail are numerous.
The fresh-water streams and lakes abound in bass, trout, pickerel, and perch. In the spring the shad fisheries along the Delaware are very profitable. The catch of sturgeon is also very large. All these waters are constantly restocked by means of the hatcheries near Hackettstown which the state maintains. The shad fisheries of the Hudson were formerly extensive, but owing chiefly to destructive methods of fishing and to the pollution of the river this industry has practically disappeared.
The sheltered bays and inlets of the state and the nearness of the fisheries to the markets have made the salt water fisheries very successful. Bluefish and weakfish for food, and menhaden for oil and fertilizer are caught along the coast in large quantities, while in the bays and coves immense quantities of oysters and clams are gathered. Important centers of this industry are Keyport, Barnegat Bay, Tuckerton, Absecon, Maurice River Cove, and Bivalve.