REPORT OF CHIEF OF BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological Sur^^y, 

 Washington^ D. 6'., August 31, 1915. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the work of 

 the Biological Survey for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1915, 

 Respectfully, 



Henry "\Y. Henshaw, 



Chief, Biological Survey. 

 Hon. D, F. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WORK OF THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



During the year the work of the Bureau of Biological Survey was 

 conducted along four principal lines: (1) Investigations of the food 

 habits of North American birds and mammals in relation to agri- 

 culture, in charge of Dr. A. K. Fisher; (2) biological investigations 

 with special reference to the geographic distribution of native 

 animals and plants, in charge of E. W. Nelson; (3) supervision of 

 national bird and mammal reservations, the preservation of native 

 wild game, and the enforcement of the Lacey Act regulating the im- 

 portation of birds and interstate shipment of game, in charge of 

 Dr. T. S. Palmer; (4) administration of the Federal migratory-bird 

 law, in charge of J. E. Mercer. 



ECONOMIC INVESTIGATIONS. 



fur-bearing animals. 



Considerable progress has been made in experiments in the do- 

 mestication of fur-bearing animals during the past year. The num- 

 bers of fur bearers continue steadily to diminish as their haunts are 

 opened up to agriculture and as they are hunted even in the most in- 

 accessible regions. Trappers are stimulated by the high prices pelts 

 usually command, and it becomes increasingly evident that, if the 

 more valuable furs are to continue to serve as wearing apparel, the 

 supply must be obtained chiefly through artificial propagation. 



Investigations of problems connected with the domestication of 

 minks and martens were continued at Prichard, Idaho ; Linden, Md. ; 

 and the National Zoological Park, and have been concerned chiefly 

 with types of inclosures, effects of different foods on the development 



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