5G0 ANNUAL. KEPOKTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the present year twenty-four permits for the export of 

 specimens of birds and mamnials were issued by the Department. 

 Under these permits there were entered at Seattle two pairs of cari- 

 bou horns, and two caribou scalps for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Ex- 

 position, and the skull and hide of one brown bear for the Biological 

 Survey, while under permits issued previously there were entered two 

 moose heads, four live Emperor geese, and eight packages of speci- 

 mens of birds and mammals. Forty-eight trophies, chiefly moose 

 and brown bears, were entered under shipping licenses from the 

 governor, and one brown bear w\as entered without license or permit. 

 Nine trophies which were held up by the customs authorities were 

 afterwards released. 



IXFORMATION CONCERNING GAME. 



Much time has been devoted to satisfying the many demands for 

 information concerning game and bird protection and also in secur- 

 ing and systematizing data. Special attention has been given to 

 the abundance and present rate of destruction of big game, particu- 

 larly deer. 



Big game. — Statistics showing the abundance of big game and the 

 effect of protection on various species were gathered. Estimates of 

 the total kill of deer for the season were obtained from the game 

 commissioners of Maine, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Wis- 

 consin, Minnesota, and Louisiana, and from private observers in 

 Michigan, AVest Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, 

 Alabama, and Mississippi, It was found that the number of deer 

 killed east of the Mississippi was about 57,500, Although this total 

 was practically the same as last year's, yet owing to various local 

 reasons a few States showed important differences. Thus there were 

 increases of 2,000 in Vermont and 3.000 in New York, while Michigan 

 and Wisconsin showed respective decreases of 3,000 and 5,000. 



Personal examination was made of conditions in Michigan, Wis- 

 consin, and Minnesota, chiefly to ascertain the extent of the destruc- 

 tion of deer by wolves. The results of this investigation will form 

 the subject of a later report. Several of the deer farms of Iowa and 

 Missouri were visited by a representative of the Biological Survey. 

 From one of these farms the deer had escaped and were rapidly 

 stocking the neighboring land; in one or two instances the captive 

 deer had greatly decreased or had entirely died out. 



Progress was made in ascertaining the abundance and distribution 

 of other species of big game. Through the aid of private observers 

 different bands of antelope were located and approximate estimates 

 were olDtained of the size of each band. Similar information was 

 secured as regards mountain sheep, various bands of which were 

 located, particularly in southern California, 



Through the cooperation of the Forest Service much information 

 has been gained of the areas occupied by deer, antelope, mountain 

 sheep, bears, etc, in the national forests of Arizona, California, and 

 New Mexico. 



Game hirds. — Notes on the abundance of game birds and condi- 

 tions of the season were collated from sportsmen's journals in order 



