374 ANNUAL KEPOKTS OF 1)EPARTMP:NT OF AGRICULTURE. 



on tlie ground that the Federal hxvc was unconstitutional, but the 

 demurrer was overruled and a line assessed. 



Ver}^ gratif3'ing reports are still being received from nearly every 

 secticm of the country of the ever-increasing number of migratory 

 birds as a result of Federal protection. Sportsmen enjoyed the best 

 hunting season of many years, and in a hirge number of sections the 

 daily bag limit was easily secured. Tt is particularly gratifying, 

 especially to the sportsmen of the IMiddlc AVest, to know that sand- 

 bar shooting in the Mississippi Kiver, long since destroyed by hunt- 

 ers operating from motor boats, has been restored as a result of the 

 ban placed on motor-boat hunting. 



During the year 783 persons Avere authorized to collect and 92 

 persons were authorized to possess migratory birds for scientific pur- 

 poses, 58 persons were authorized to capture and 1,343 persons were 

 authorized to possess migratory waterfowl for propagating purposes. 

 Only a small percentage of the persons to whom propagating permits 

 were issued are engaged in breeding waterfoAvl for food purposes, 

 many of the birds possessed being held merely for use as decoys oi 

 for ornamental purposes. 



In New Jersey the game law was made to conform to the Federal 

 regulations, and in Kentucky laws were enacted in conformity with 

 the Federal regulations with respect to the open seasons for water- 

 fowl and Wilson snipe, the bag limits on all species of migratory 

 birds except plover and yellow-legs, and the provisions prohibiting 

 hunting between sunset and half an hour before sunrise. The seasons 

 for waterfowl and most other species of migratory birds now sub- 

 stantiallv conform to the Federal regulations in 30 States. 



On October 4, 1919, an order was issued by the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture permitting meadowlarks to be killed in South Carolina when 

 necessary to protect grain crops. Other orders were issued as follows : 

 On October 24, 1919, permitting certain species of birds to be killed 

 at fish hatcheries when found to be injurious to fish life; on July 30, 

 permitting rice growers and members of their immediate families 

 and bona fide employees in the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, 

 Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba, Calif., to kill wild ducks when necessary to 

 protect the rice crop from the depredations of such birds; and on 

 November 13, a similar order applying to the counties of Arkansas, 

 Lonoke, and Prairie, in Arkansas ; on JSIarch 30, 1920, relating to the 

 issuance of permits effective in New York when countersigned by the 

 State Conservation Commission, allowing the killing of robins when 

 necessary to protect the cherry crop ; on April 29, permitting the 

 killing or trapping by State game wardens in Michigan of certain 

 birds found to be injurious to valuable fish life: and on the same date 

 a similar order authorizing State game wardens of Ncav Hampshire 

 to kill or trap certain birds on streams closed to fishing. 



During the early ]iart of 1920 it became evident that certain 

 amendments of the migratory-bird treaty act regulations were 

 needed. These were formulated in the bureau, and together with 

 other matters relating to game conservation were considered by the 

 Migratorj'^-Bird Treaty Act Advisory Board which met in Wash- 

 ington on June 21 and 22. The opportunity for the personal ex- 

 change of ideas between officials of the bureau and the advisory board 

 proved to be so advantageous that it was planned that, if practi- 



