REPORT OF CHIEF OF BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological Survey, 

 Washington^ D. 6'., September 4, 1920. 



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

 the Bureau of Biological Siirvev for the fiscal 3'ear ended June 30, 

 1920. 



Respectfully, 



E. W. Nelson, 

 Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. E, T. Meredith, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WORK OF THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



The activities of the Bureau of Biological Survey are conducted 

 under four divisions: (1) Investigations of the food habits of North 

 American birds and mammals in relation to agriculture, in charge of 

 Dr. A. K. Fisher; (2) biological investigations, with special reference 

 to the habits and geographic distribution of native animals and plants, 

 in charge of E. A. Goldman; (3) supervision of national mammal 

 and bird reservations, in charge of Dr. G. W. Field until December 6, 

 1919; in charge of H. F. Stone since July 1, 1920; (4) administration 

 of the migratory-bird treaty act and enforcement of the Lacey Act 

 regulating the importation of birds and wild mammals and the inter- 

 state shipment of game, in charge of George A. Lawyer. 



From the time of the organization of the Biological Survey its main 

 purpose has been to study the habits and distribution of our wild 

 birds and mammals, to assist in the conservation of the beneficial and 

 harmless species, and to devise pi-actical methods for the control of 

 those classed as injurious. The files of the bureau contain an un- 

 paralleled volume of information drawn from 35 years of field work 

 of its experts in all parts of North America and from thousands of 

 collaborators as Avell as from published sources. 



During recent years appreciation of the value of our Avild life has 

 grown rapidly, and constantly increasing demands are voiced for the 

 conservation of the useful and harmless forms. In this same time 

 changing conditions due to increased occupation of the country have 

 caused certain species both of birds and of nuimmals to become so 

 seriously injurious to crops, forestry, and stock growing that it has 

 become necessary to develoj) effective methods for controlling or de- 

 stroying them on a large scale. 



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