230 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



ests, while fur-bearing animals under protection show a remarkable 

 increase in most localities. 



As a second step in the development of game management plans, 

 97 State game refuges, involving approximately 11,000,000 acres, 

 have been established. Supplementing these are 4 Federal refuges, 

 containing approximately 773,925 acres, within the boundaries of 

 the national forests. In addition to these State and Federal refuges, 

 there is an almost equal acreage upon which the grazing of domestic 

 stock has been restricted so as to provide an ample supply of forage 

 for game. All State and Federal game refuges are natural breeding 

 grounds, and since all hunting on them is forbidden by wState or 

 Federal law, adjacent territory is being restocked by the overflow from 

 these refuges. 



To promote better cooperation and organization in game protec- 

 tion, informal agreements have been entered into with State game 

 officers in most of the national forest States. These agreements pro- 

 vide for the appointment of qualified forest officers as deputy State 

 game wardens. They also provide for the presentation of annual 

 reports to the governor or the State game commission wherein infor- 

 mation regarding game conditions is presented in detail, with specific 

 recommendations for changes in game laws or on other matters relat- 

 ing to the welfare of the game. Under this arrangement there is a 

 strict enforcement of the game laws by forest officers, who, in 1921, 

 made 170 arrests for violation of the game laws, with 94 convictions 

 resulting, and who reported to State officials 28 violations, with 13 

 convictions resulting. The findings and recommendations contained 

 in the annual reports have frequently been used by State officials in 

 recommending or shaping new legislation. 



Through the cooperation of the National Park Service, the Bio- 

 logical Survey, and the Montana Fish and Game Commission, the 

 Yellowstone herds of elk were given excellent protection, which, 

 coupled with rather favorable winter conditions, reduced the usual 

 loss to almost a minimum. However, the situation confronting 

 these herds during severe winters continues to be critical and can 

 only be ameliorated by the acquisition of winter-range lands as indi- 

 cated in the report for 1921. 



The many State and local fish and game protective associations are 

 most valuable agencies in the protection and development of the game 

 resources and are the media through which favorable public sentiment 

 toward adequate game protection is most effectively promoted. 

 Their membership includes the naturalist, the game enthusiast, the 

 stockman, and men engaged in business enterprises of .all kinds. 

 Many conflicting interests may be effectively reconciled through 

 such organizations. Their extension into all localities can not be too 

 strongly encouraged. As these many smaU organizations become 

 more closely affiliated with those of national importance the effective- 

 ness of their cooperation greatly increases. 



No greater stimulus for recreation can be found than a stream or 

 lake well stocked with game fish; but through increased use many 

 streams once plentifully stocked are becoming depleted. To meet 

 rapidly increasing use and maintain fish production, carefully pre- 

 pared plans for securing, transporting, and planting fry or fingerlings 

 must be executed. These plans show the species inhabiting the 



