CONSERVATION AND ITS MEANING 



601 



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Biological Survey 



• Sfi^ Pefuge — 



Forest Service 



© Bira Refuse and Game /^eaerfc 

 Ottier Federal Agencies 



A Bird Pefu^e and 0-ifnf Preserve 



FederalBird Refuges anoGame Preserves 



APRIL IS. I3£a 







U . a. Bureau of Biul. Suney 



What are the differences between the bird refuges of the Biological Survey 

 and other F^ederal agencies? Why are dilVerent agencies administering these 

 refuges ? 



Already over one hundred wild life refuges have been set aside by the 

 Federal Government and these are augmented by many private bird 

 and game refuges and preserves, estimated at the present time to 

 include over 800,000 acres in this country and over 150,000 acres in 

 Canada. 



Much also has been done in the way of conservation of mammals. 

 Not many years ago the supply of American buffalo, or bison, was 

 thought to be inexhaustible, but today after nearly complete extermi- 

 nation, a few thousand exist protected by law. The Alaskan fur seal 

 is another valuable mammal that was almost exterminated by over- 

 hunting. Great herds were reduced from millions to a little over 

 200,000 in 1910. At that time the Federal government assumed 

 control, preventing hunting during the l^reeding season, with the 

 result that today the herd consists of over 600,000 head. 



Present Methods of Conservation 



Considering in more detail some of the methods used by the modern 

 conservationist, we find that the old hit or miss methods are giving 

 way to new ideas. One method centers about attempts to devise 

 ways of restoring the normal balance of nature, which has been upset 



