BlJIlEAU OF BIOLOGICAL, SURVEY. 375 



cable, a meeting of the board should be held anniiall}^ to consider 

 matters bearing on the maintenance of the supply of wild fowl and 

 a perpetuation of wild fowd hunting throughout the country. 



The Biological Survey continues to receive the friendly coopera- 

 tion of a great number of State and local organizations and individ- 

 uals, which adds immeasurably to the effectiveness of its work. It 

 is fortunate that this is so, for without the good will of the State 

 game and conservation commissioners and of organizations and in- 

 dividuals interested in- bird conservation, efforts to administer the 

 migratory-bird treaty act and to promote general conservation would 

 be seriously hampered. The assistance of such organizations as the 

 Boone and' Crockett Club, the American (xamc Protective Associa- 

 tion, and the National Association of Audubon Societies is invaluable 

 in this work. Lor years the last-named organization has contributed 

 annualh' considerable sums of money to aid the conservation work of 

 the bureau ; in the spring of 1920 it spent $1,600 in the payment of 

 warden service in Florida for the protection of egret colonies under 

 the supervision of Federal wardens. Through the cooperation of 

 these organizations and of State game commissioners and sportsmen, 

 a healthful sentiment for game conservation has been created in 

 many sections where formerly the people were not favorable to 

 Federal protection of migratory birds. 



INTERSTATE COMMERCE IN GAME. 



Interstate commerce in wild animals and parts thereof is regulated 

 by sections 242, 243, and 244 of the Penal Code, commonly referred 

 to as the Lacey Act. Special efforts have been made to complete 

 investigations of a large number of shipments uncovered during the 

 last fiscal year, in addition to investigating current shipments which 

 seemed to have greatly increased owing to the high prices of furs 

 now prevailing. 



Twenty-six violations have been reported to the solicitor of the 

 department, involving shipments of 233 beaver, 4 otter, 125 deer- 

 skins, 1,634 pounds of deerskins, a miscellaneous lot of moose and 

 deer hides, 1 deer, 568 quail, and quantities of aigrettes. 



During the year 22 con\ictions were secured, in Avhich fines 

 amounting to $1,070 were imposed; cases were dismissed because of 

 insufficient evidence; 3 were stricken from the docket; and 1 case 

 was terminated by death of defendant. 



The completion of investigations of a large number of other ship- 

 ments disclosed no violations of the Federal law, as they were not 

 made by conmion carrier or else involved animals or parts thereof 

 ship|)e(f in arrordance Avith State laws. Many cases of shipments 

 made in violation of State laws were turned over to appropriate 

 State authorities for prosecution when it was thought the best re- 

 sults could thereby be obtained. Through this cooperation the States 

 not only collected many thousands of dollars in fines and penalties, 

 but were better enabled to kee]) in close contact with shippers and 

 thus to discourage violations of the law. One hundred and thirty- 

 one shipments arc still under investigation. 



(^ases r('i)oi'ted for prosecution oi'iginntod in the following States: 

 Colorado, 2; Idaho, 1; Illinois, 2; Iowa, 1; .Minnesota, 2; Missouri, 



