BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 555 



GAME PKOTECTION. 



Problems in the protection of birds and game continue to increase 

 in number and complexity. Kestrictions on export and sale, restric- 

 tions on the bag limit, introduction of different forms of hunting 

 licenses, and creation of warden systems have multiplied rapidly; 

 state and private preserves have become an important means of con- 

 serving and increasing game; experiments in the introduction and 

 propagation of exotic species have made notable advance in popular 

 favor ; and through a remarkable spread of interest in the study and 

 preservation of nongame birds numerous measures for protection and 

 increase of these birds occupy public attention. 



In direct proportion to this growth have the duties of the game 

 protection section of the Biological Survey increased and broadened. 

 So great are the present demands, in fact, that it is not possible to 

 keep pace with them Avith the force and funds at present provided. 

 Despite these limitations substantial advance has been made along 

 various lines. 



Numerous violations of the federal law regulating interstate com- 

 merce in birds and game have been acted on. The 51 bird reservations 

 have been divided into 6 districts to peraiit more systematic handling; 

 wardens on these reservations are required to report regularly, and 

 several of the reservations have been utilized for studying certain 

 problems relating to the migration or the food habits of birds. Addi- 

 tional data have been gathered concerning hunting licenses. Data 

 have been secured also on several other special topics, more particu- 

 larly civil-service requirements for game wardens, spring shooting 

 of waterfowl, and legislation for the protection of nongame birds. 

 Work has been pushed on the index of game legislation and nearly 

 all the state laws of the past decade have been indexed. 



Details of the work are given herewith under appropriate heads. 



IMPORTATIONS. 



As required by section 2-il of the Federal Criminal Code, careful 

 supervision of the importation of birds and animals has been main- 

 tained. Five hundred and nineteen permits have been issued, author- 

 izing the entry of 424,408 birds and 5,G44 animals. The birds entered 

 under permit"^ consisted of 34G,985 canaries, 7.199 pheasants, 18,931 

 partridges, and .51,293 miscellaneous birds. In addition to these, 

 27,333 birds and 1,016 mammals requiring no permit were admitted 

 to entry, making the total entries during the year 301,054 canaries, 

 30,003 game birds, 00,084 miscellaneous birds, and 0,000 mammals. 

 During the year 12 permits were issued at Honolulu, authorizing the 

 entry of 103 birds and 22 mammals. Of the canaries imported, 7,747 

 were the popular Norwich canaries, 18 were the long and slender 

 Yorkshire canaries, 24 were the large and heavy ISIanchester coppies, 

 and 4 were the high-shouldered Belgians. The pheasants included 

 many species imported for game preserve and aviary, 7,785 being 

 English ringnecks. Six cheer pheasants, a species often used in 

 England to cross with other game pheasants, were brought in. 

 Among those imported for ornamental jiurposes, the rarest were 11 

 Formosan pheasants and 8 Siamese firebacks. Other interesting im- 

 portations were 33 of the pure English, 10 true Mongolian, and 4 



