372 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF ACiRK^ULTURE. 



A soil survev made of the lands about the borders of the lake durinjr 

 the siiniiiier ol 1919 by an expert from the Bureau of Soils developed 

 the fact that they are too strongly charged with alkali to have any 

 agricultural value other than the production of the natural forage 

 crop. 



Ilati^aiidii Is/ands Reservation. — RencAved requests have been re- 

 ceiA'ed for permission to establish fishing stations on some of the 

 islands of this reservation, but it is obvious that this would result in 

 the practical extermination of the bird life which this reservation 

 was established to protect. The bureau is strongly averse to any such 

 occupation of these islands. 



MIGRATORY-BIRD TREATY AND LACEY ACTS. 



PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY BIRDS. 



The constitutionality of the migratory-bird treaty and the act of 

 July 3, 1918, to give it effect was sustained on April 21, 1920, by 

 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of the 

 State of Missouri v. Ray P. Holland, United States game warden, an 

 action brought to restrain Federal wardens from enforcing the Fed- 

 eral law in Missouri. An application by the State of Missouri for a 

 rehearing was denied on June 7, 1920. Six Federal judges — in Ar- 

 kansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, and Texas — had 

 l^reviously upheld the validity of the act. 



During the year the number of United States game wardens was 

 increased from 15 to 31, but the warden force is still far below the 

 number needed for the effective enforcement of the law. At various 

 times during the year it became necessary to place on active duty 

 65 deputj?^ wardens, who rendered valuable services and greatly as- 

 sisted in reducing violations. Cooperation was also extended by 245 

 deputy wardens, who received a nominal salary of $1 per annum; 

 these Federal deputies in most instances occupy positions as State 

 deputy game wardens. 



Owing to the small number of wardens, it became necessary during 

 the spring migration to concentrate the force in the Middle Western 

 and South Atlantic Coast States, where violations were most numer- 

 ous, and as a result of these concerted efforts many violators, including 

 some who had for a long time successfully evaded detection, were 

 apprehended. 



United States game wardens and deputies reported 537 violations; 

 423 convictions were secured, in which fines were assessed ranging 

 from $1 to $500 and aggregating more than $8,900. In the large ma- 

 jority of cases the fines were supplemented by the imposition of 

 costs, which in most instances equaled, and in others exceeded, the 

 amount of the fines. Five cases were dismissed by Federal judges ; 56 

 cases were nolle prossed; grand juries returned no bills in 56 cases; 

 2 trials by juries resulted in acquittals; 2 prosecutions were termi- 

 nated by death of defendants ; and 8 prosecutions were abandoned by 

 United States attorneys because of insufficient evidence. Twenty- 

 eight cases of trivial or technical character were not reported by the 

 bureau for prosecution. 



Convictions were secured in Federal courts as follows : Alabama, 4 ; 

 Arizona, 2 ; Arkansas, 44 ; California, 1 ; Connecticut, 1 ; Delaware, 2 ; 



