DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SUKVEY. 39 



protection of birds into closer touch with one another, a list of the 

 State officials, national organizations, State game associations, and 

 various Audubon societies was prepared for the Appendix of the 

 Yearbook of the Department for 1899. At present there are State 

 game commissions or wardens in 30 States, fish and game protective 

 associations in 22, divisions of the League of American Sportsmen in 

 25, and Audubon societies in 23. This list, containing the names and 

 addresses of the officers of the various organizaiions,^ was later issued 

 as a circular and distributed to all the commissions and associations 

 and to other persons interested. 



Still further to meet the demand for information regarding measures 

 for the protection of birds, a compilation was made of the laws now 

 in force in each State in the Union, so far as these relate to birds 

 other than game. This digest was prefaced by a general discussion 

 of bird laws and an historical resume of the efforts thus far made to 

 secure bird protection, from the early laws passed by New York in 

 1791 down to the latest laws enacted in that State and Rhode Island 

 during the present year. It also included a review of the proposed 

 federal legislation that has been considered by Congress during the 

 last three years. The report was comjjleted during the spring and 

 issued early in June as Bulletin Xo. 12. 



THE LACEY ACT. 



For nearly three years before its final passage last spring, a bill 

 introduced by Hon. John F. Lacey, of Iowa, having for its object 

 federal protection of game, was under consideration in Congress. 

 This bill, as introduced at the last session, was entitled "An act to 

 enlarge the powers of the Dej^artment of Agriculture, prohibit the 

 transportation by interstate commerce of game killed in violation of 

 local laws, and for other purposes." It attracted widespread atten- 

 tion and received support, not only from game and fish protective asso- 

 ciations and the League of American Sportsmen, but also from Audubon 

 societies and bird lovers in general. It was passed bj" the House on 

 April 30, b}^ the Senate on May LS, and was approved on Ma}' 25, 1900. 



This act gives the Department large powers and responsibilities. 

 (1) It places all measures for the preservation and distribution of 

 birds in charge of the Secretary of Agriculture, and authorizes him 

 to expend such amounts as Congress may appropriate for this pur- 

 pose. (2) It gives the Department control over the introduction of 

 all birds and animals from foreign countries, by providing that a per- 

 mit must be obtained from the Secretary of Agriculture before such 

 animals or birds can be imported. Moreover, it prohibits absolutely 

 the introduction of certain injurious species and such other species as 

 the Secretary may declare injurious to the interests of agriculture. 

 (3) It prohibits interstate commerce in birds or game killed in viola- 

 tion of State laws, prescribes certain regulations for the shipment of 

 game, and fixes penalties for evasions or violations of the act. (4) 

 It subjects song birds and game imported into a State to the restric- 

 tions of the laws of that State. 



PRESERVATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS. 



The object of the Lacey Act, as stated in section 1, is "to aid in the 

 restoration of such [game birds and other wild] birds in those parts 



' In the case of State societies only the addresses of presidents and secretaries 



