366 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



lected less than five birds each and no nests or eggs. Permits author- 

 izing the possession, purchase, sale, and transportation, but not the 

 collection, of migratory birds lawfully taken for scientific purposes 

 were issued to 185 persons ; permits of this nature are issued usually 

 to taxidermists or others to whom it appears undesirable to give the 

 privilege of collecting specimens. 



Permits authorizing the possession and sale of migratory water- 

 fowl raised in captivity were issued to 4,765 persons, and permits 

 authorizing the taking of a limited number of waterfowl or their 

 eggs for propagating purposes were issued to 87. 



In its quest for information relative to the times and lines of 

 flight of migratory birds, the bureau issued permits authorizing the 

 trapping of migratory birds alive for banding purposes to 490 per- 

 sons. The holder of a bird-banding permit is allowed to possess a 

 migratory bird only a sufficient length of time for it to be properly 

 banded and liberated. 



INTERSTATE COMMERCE IN GAME. 



Ten new cases involving violations of the Lacey Act were reported 

 to the Solicitor for prosecution during the year. This reduction in 

 the number of cas?s from that of previous years is no doubt 6"cca- 

 sioned by the fact that shipments of birds, which Avere formerly cov- 

 ered by the Laccy Act, now come under the migratory-bird treaty 

 act. Thirty-two osses were disposed of in court, 4 of which were dis- 

 missed and 1 nol] ^ prossed ; the total fines collected in the remaining 

 27 cases amounted to $931.10. One hundred and fifteen investiga- 

 tions were closed for various reasons, a sufficient amount of evidence 

 not being secured to warrant prosecution, the shipments being found 

 to be legal, the o:^ense havijig occurred so long ago that it had ex- 

 pired under the st itute of limitations, or the nature of the olfense not 

 warranting prosev iition. Two hundred and twenty -two cases were 

 turned over to State officials for prosecution under State laws, 118 

 of which have already resulted in convictions netting the States a 

 total in fines and costs of approximately $5,000. At the present time 

 investigations are pending in the bureau in approximately 150 cases. 

 The enforcement of the Lacey Act has been particularly effective in 

 suppressing traffic in beaver skins illegally taken. 



IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN BIRDS AND MAMMALS. 



Following the war period of depression, the importation of birds 

 and mammals from foreign countries is gradually returning to nor- 

 mal. Although the 528 permits issued were 32 less than in 1921, the 

 number of individuals and species was greater and the number of 

 shipments inspected increased from 155 to 186. 



Canaries were imported in increased numbers, and the trade in 

 parrots with Mexico. South America, and Australia is being revived. 

 Traffic in game birds is increasing more slowly and is confined chiefly 

 to Mexican quail and Hungarian partridges. At Honolulu, Hawaii, 

 additional permits were issued for the entry of miscellaneous birds, 

 chiefly pigeons, quail, and ducks. Altogether there were entered 

 under permit 154,547 canaries. 37,953 Mexican quail, and various 

 other miscellaneous birds, making a total of 313,623, of which 274.997 

 were inspected. In addition, there were entered at the ports of New 



