Mr. LINCOLN. In the Cheyenne Bottoms, near Ellinwood, Kans. Mr. CANNON. Bands have been returned from each of these points indicated on the map? Mr. LINCOLN. Yes, sir. At the end of each of these lines there is a number indicating the number of return records--bands that have been returned from the different States or provinces. Mr. CANNON. Then your cooperators not only include those who band the birds, but those who kill them? Mr. LINCOLN. We depend for the recovery of our banded birds on two methods: First, by the cooperation of sportsmen and others who may recover the bands and return or report them to us, and, second, by the retrapping activities of the original station operator. For example, as an illustration of the second class, we have an important duck-bending station at Lake Merritt, in Oakland, Calif. You are probably familiar with the way in which they have attracted the ducks right in the heart of that city. That station has been in operation for several years, and in addition to the many ducks banded there that are recaptured by sportsmen, every year some of those ducks come back to the station and are retrapped. So we get the records in two ways. Mr. CANNON. Have you made any study of the movements and supply of the quail or partridge native to the Middle West? MR. LINCOLN. To some extent. Those birds are not migratory, and while we have authorized our cooperators to put bands on any native birds, and they have banded a great many quail, because of the duties with which we are charged we have centered our investigations chiefly on the migratory birds; although I should add this that during the time that the big quail investigation was being carried on in southern Georgia and northern Florida, under Mr. McAtee's direction, large numbers of quail were banded and we obtained some very important information showing the distances that these birds will range. Mr. CANNON. Then you deal only with the range of the bird? You do not supply data as to the relative supply of the bird from year to year? Mr. LINCOLN. Yes; we do. In practically every problem that comes up in connection with our migratory waterfowl we find that the banding data will have a practical application. You were referring a moment ago to the causes for the decrease in our birds. We find that a study of the banding data will give us vital information on that very thing. For example, if from a certain lot of banded ducks, 12, 13, or 15 percent are reported to us as killed during the first shooting season after they are banded, and we find that those same figures apply to other batches of banded ducks and which are shot during the same season, is apparent that the percentage of all ducks that are being killed by hunters must be the same as the percentage they have killed of the banded ducks. In other words, banding data enable us to tell year after year the approximate percentage of our entire stock of waterfowl that are being taken by sportsmen. Mr. CANNON. And you can tabulate the percentage of birds of each age? Mr. LINCOLN. And of each species. Mr. CANNON. One, two, three, and four years old? Mr. LINCOLN. Yes, sir. Mr. CANNON. These bands are permanent? Mr. LINCOLN. We hope they are permanent for the life of the bird. Mr. HENDERSON. What is the oldest band that you have recovered? Mr. LINCOLN. The oldest band that we have recovered so far was carried by the bird 13 years. Rather strangely, that was a duck. Mr. REDINGTON. A lucky duck, too. Mr. LINCOLN. It was a pintail banded in the Bear River marshes of Utah, and it was killed in California 13 years later. It must have made its migration twice every year. The man who reported it claimed that it was a good table bird, but according to my own idea it must have been rather tough. From the beginning we have had excellent cooperation from the Canadian authorities. We have a complete system worked out with the Canadian National Parks Service whereby they keep us informed of the records from that country. Our cooperators in Canada send .their records through the office of the Commissioner of National Parks, to save postage. They use the Canadian frank in sending the records to Ottawa, and the Commissioner then transmits them to us. Mr. SINCLAIR. With whom will the Canadian cooperators cooperate when this appropriation is wiped out? There will not be anybody here to cooperate with, will there? Mr. LINCOLN. No, sir; there will not. It affects Canada as much as us. We furnish the bands, and the records are all centralized here in Washington, but Canada also maintains a copy of the records that pertain to Canada. I may add just a few additional practical uses of the data from banded birds and show how it applies to intelligent administration of our Federal and State laws for the protection of birds. sex. As a part of the record for each bird, our cooperators indicate the A preliminary study of this subject has shown that at the present time the males seriously outnumber the females among most species of game waterfowl. Since the sexes should be practically equal in numbers, the situation illustrated by the banding studies further indicates the unhealthy condition of our resource of waterfowl. Many sportsmen and conservationists have urged, as a relief measure, the restocking of our waterfowl marshes with ducks artifically propagated. Some have even advocated the establishment of Federal "duck hatcheries" citing as precedent, the many Federal fish hatcheries. What success might be expected from such operations is not known but since we have a normal "expectancy" from wildcaught banded ducks, bands placed on the hand-reared birds will show by the number subsequently recovered, how much success we might expect. Already some data for the mallard indicate that efforts to restock marshes with this species are doomed to failure, and at the present time this is almost the only duck that can be artifically raised in large numbers. It sometimes becomes necessary, because of local conditions, to institute control measures against some species that may be doing much damage to crops or other human activities. Intelligent control demands the fullest knowledge of the movements of the species not only en masse, but particularly of the particular flocks that may be guilty of the depredations. In no other way than by banding can this information be obtained. Mr. HENDERSON. Mr. Chairman, in connection with what Mr. Lincoln has said, I would like to point out how closely that investigation work is linked up with the enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is almost impossible for us to get along without it. EFFECT OF DECREASED FUNDS Mr. SINCLAIR. How will the decrease in funds under this appropriation affect the enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act? Mr. HENDERSON. The decrease in funds for enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act will compel us to discontinue the services of two more United States game protectors, thereby reducing the number of these employees to 20 for the entire country. The services of three men working in the States of North and South Dakota, New Mexico, and Kentucky and a portion of Tennessee, were discontinued as a result of reduced funds for the present fiscal year. In addition, the employment of deputies for short periods from time to time in areas where large waterfowl concentrations occur, had to be practically discontinued this year, and this curtailment of service must go on. The migratory waterfowl resource is of inestimable value to the country. It is dwindling fast. A Federal game protector organization is essential to protect this resource and educate the public to the necessity of game conservation. You have asked me regarding the effect of this proposed reduction. I tell you frankly that unless means can be found to maintain somewhere near an adequate gameprotective personnel, this will be one of the principal items resulting in the eventual disappearance of most species of American waterfowl. The birds are faced with many uncontrollable adverse factors, such as loss of natural breeding areas, drouth, increased population, and modern means of transportation. With these handicaps to overcome, it is all the more important that they should receive adequate protection while on their migrations, in their breeding areas, and in their winter habitats. I would like to point out that the efficient game protector is more than a police officer. In many instances that exercise of duty becomes a minor function. He fosters and maintains cooperative relations with State officials and wardens; he assists in the formation of local game-conservation clubs; he enlists the support of representative citizens in an effort to bring to the general public a realization of the danger confronting our waterfowl resource as a result of illegal and unethical practices. The salary and traveling expenses of a Federal game protector average about $3,800 a year; an additional $600 to $800 is necessary to hire local assistants, a total of say $4,500. No money is better spent in the interest of the conservation of the natural resources of the country than that for the maintenance of game protector personnel. It is my firm belief that the value of a game protector's services to the nation, year in and year out, in the conservation and perpetuation of our game resources, is many times the cost of this service to the taxpayer. There are so many things that we cannot do to bring about a return of an abundant waterfowl supply; the maintenance of an adequate game-protector personnel, which is so important in the general plan for restoration, is possible and for a very reasonable outlay of funds. ENFORCEMENT OF ALASKA GAME LAW Mr. SANDLIN. The next item is: Enforcement of Alaska game law: For the enforcement of the provisions of the Alaska game law, approved January 13, 1925 (U.S.C., title 48, secs. 192-211), and as amended by the Act of February 14, 1931 (46 Stat., pp. 1111-1115), $66,598. Mr. REDINGTON. The following statement is presented under this head: Increase, Budget 1935, compared with estimated obligations, 1934.... 2,598 The reduction of $23,402 in the estimate of $66,598 for 1935 below the appropriation of $90,000 for 1934 consists of: Impoundment of 6% percent of 15-percent pay cut. -$3, 461 -22, 539 +2, 598 -23, 402 WORK DONE UNDER THIS APPROPRIATION The enforcement of the Alaska game law of January 13, 1925 (U.S.C., title 48, secs. 192-211), as amended by the act of February 14, 1931 (46 Stat. 1111, U.S. C., supp., title 48, secs. 192-207), is committed to the Alaska Game Commission, which is composed of four resident members of Alaska, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, and the chief representative of the Biological Survey stationed in the Territory, who is the executive officer of the Commission. The duties of the Commission are to administer the law and to enforce its provisions and the regulations thereunder adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture. The work is administered through seven warden districts. Fifty percent of the receipts from licenses, fines, and forfeitures is covered into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts and the balance is turned over to the Treasury of the Territory for the Territorial school fund. The wild life of Alaska constitutes one of the Territory's major resources. Its conservation and perpetuation is of vital importance to Alaskans, particularly to the native Indians and Eskimos who are almost entirely dependent upon it, and is of great interest to conservationists and lovers of wild life, not only in various sections of continental United States but also in foreign countries, particularly Canada. P.W.A. FUNDS APPLICABLE UNDER THIS HEADING Allotments of $184,700 have been made for construction work under the National Industrial Recovery Act as follows: Construction of floats, docks, and storehouses - Total____ $10, 200 21, 000 153, 500 184, 700 This money was made available September 18, 1933, and is being expended during the fiscal year 1934. An allotment of $29,755 was approved by the Civil Works Administration December 14, 1933, for the transplanting of fur-bearing and game animals in Alaska to depleted areas to provide a means of future increase in the incomes of the natives from trapping and to provide additional game meat supplies to assist them in becoming self-supporting. Over $20,400 will be expended for wages (principally to natives) and the balance for supplies, camp equipment and transportation of workers, and captured animals. 35962-34-40 Mr. SANDLIN. With reference to these emergency funds, were these seven patrol boats for the Alaska Territory? Mr. REDINGTON. Yes, sir; to replace some worn-out equipment and to supplement badly needed water transportation facilities. Mr. SANDLIN. That gave you seven more patrol boats out there? Mr. REDINGTON. Yes, sir. The illegal taking and trafficking in valuable furs, particularly beaver, can be controlled only through the constant vigilance of an ample field force equipped with transportation facilities equal to these used by unscrupulous trappers and traders who would deplete this resource which means so much to the native people of the Territory. Mr. SANDLIN. What is the purpose of the headquarters buildings and the docks and floats which are to be constructed from the emergency funds? Mr. REDINGTON. The headquarters buildings are for use of wardens in outlying sections of the Territory where it is next to impossible to rent living quarters or office space. The docks and floats are to provide safe docking facilities for our floating patrol equipment. UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER REFUGE Mr. SANDLIN. The next item is for the Upper Mississippi River Refuge: For the acquisition of areas of land or land and water pursuant to the Act entitled "An Act to establish the Upper Mississippi River Wild Life and Fish Refuge", approved June 7, 1924 (U.S.C., title 16, secs. 721-731), as amended, and for all necessary expenses incident thereto, including the employment of persons and means in the city of Washington and elsewhere, $1,862, which shall be available until expended, being part of the sum of $1,500,000 authorized to be appropriated for such purpose by section 10 of said Act; and for all necessary expenses of the Secretary of Agriculture authorized by section 9 of said Act, $31,933; in all, $33,795. Mr. REDINGTON. The following statement is submitted to explain this item: Decrease, Budget 1935, compared with estimated obligations, 27, 807 The reduction of $56,660 in the 1935 estimate of $33,795 below the Curtailments in 1934 working funds. Further reduction in working funds for 1935. 5 percent salary restoration The reduction of $29,225 in working funds for 1935 for acquisition of land is due to the completion of many phases of acquisition work now in progress under this project, and no additional funds for the purchase of refuge land are being requested at this time under the authorization of $1,500,000. $888,533 has been appropriated up to and including the fiscal year 1934. |