458 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



where wild ducks were possessed in cold storage during the close 

 season and a fine of $250 was imposed; 1 in Ohio, involving the 

 limiting of ducks in close season, in which a fine of $125 and costs 

 was assessed ; and 1 in Missouri, involving the killing of wood ducks 

 and resulting in a fine of $150. 



SCIENTIFIC-COLLECTING AND OTHER PERMITS. 



During the year 994 permits were issued authorizing the collecting 

 of migratory birds or their nests or eggs for scientific purposes. 

 This is an increase of 42 permits over the previous fiscal year. 

 About half the permits issued were limited in character, confining 

 the operations of the permittees to the collection of nongame birds 

 and of shorebirds during the open season for black-breasted and 

 golden plovers and greater and lesser yellowlegs. Permits authoriz- 

 ing the possession, purchase, sale, and transportation for scientific 

 purposes of migratory birds legally acquired, but not the collection 

 of such birds, were issued to 201 persons, most of whom were taxi- 

 dermists. 



Permits authorizing the possession and sale of migratory water- 

 fowl raised in captivity were issued to 3,538 persons, and permits 

 authorizing the taking of a limited number of waterfowl or their 

 eggs for propagating purposes were issued to 90. 



The bureau issued permits authorizing the trapping of migratory 

 birds alive for banding purposes to 847 persons, an increase over the 

 fiscal year ended June 30, 1922, of 357. These permits are issued 

 by the bureau in line with its investigations relative to the times and 

 lines of flight of migratory birds. 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. 



The number of cases reported for prosecution under the Lacey 

 Act has decreased steadily since the passage of the migratory-bird 

 treaty act. This is due partly to the fact that the illegal interstate 

 transportation of all wild birds now is a Federal offense under sec- 

 tion 4 of the migratory-bird treaty act, and partly to the fact that 

 wild animals or parts thereof are more frequently transported in 

 interstate commerce by means other than common carrier, thus 

 avoiding the Federal statute, although transported in violation of 

 State laws. The bureau, through its game-warden service, has been 

 able to render valuable cooperation in various States by unearthing 

 shipments involving interstate commerce in birds and animals made 

 in violation of State laws, and by collecting and reporting the evi- 

 dence to State game authorities. Many States have collected thou- 

 sands of dollars through fines resulting from evidence obtained by 

 Federal wardens. Furthermore, these Federal laws have a most 

 salutary effect in safeguarding wild life, as persons prone to violate 

 State laws laiow that the valuable assistance rendered the States by 

 United States game wardens materially lessens the chance of a vio- 

 lator escaping the jurisdiction of either Federal or State courts. 



Evidence of approximately 200 apparent violations of State 

 laws was turned over to State game officials during the year, and 

 145 State prosecutions based on information furnished by the bureau, 



