REPORT OF CHIEF OF BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological. Survey, 



Washington, D. C, September U, 1922. 



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

 the Bureau of Biological Survey for the fiscal year ended June 30, 

 1922. 



Respectfully, E. W. Nelson, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. Henrt C. Wallace, 



Secretarij of Agriculture. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU. 



The Biological Survey deals with the conservation and increase 

 of game, fur-bearing animals, and birds, and with the control of bird 

 and mammal pests. Recent investigations reveal the fact that in the 

 aggregate wild life resources, capitalized on the basis of a 6 per cent 

 annual income, represent an enormous sum, possibly exceeding 

 $1,000,000,000, and through intelligent management are capable of a 

 great increase. On the other hand, certain forms of wild life, as 

 the stock-killing wolves and other predatory species, with many ro- 

 dents, as the house rat, prairie dog, and others, annually destroy for- 

 age crops and other property exceeding $500,000,000 in value, a loss 

 which may be largely prevented by properly directed efforts. For 

 the purpose of handling the considerable number and variety of 

 problems involved in such activities the bureau is organized as 

 follows : 



1. Economic investigations. Dr. A. K. Fisher in charge. This 

 division handles the necessary investigations of injurious mammals 

 and provides the organization and leadership of campaigns for the 

 destruction of predatory animals and injurious rodents throughout 

 the country. It also maintains an experimental fur farm and inves- 

 tiirates all matters related to fur farming for' the benefit of this 

 new industry. 



2. Food habits research, W. L. McAtee in charge. By authority 

 of the Secretary, investigations of the economic relations of birds, 

 reptiles, and amphibians were separated from the division of eco- 

 nomic investigations in July, 1921, and made a separate division as 

 indicated. 



3. Biological investigations, E. A. Goldman in charge. Under 

 this division investigations are made of the distribution, niigration, 

 and other habits of birds and wild animals, and of the distribution 

 of plants and of wild life in relation to climate for the purpose 



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