542 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENt OF AGRICULTURE. 



in the first half of the calendar year 1910 to 204 during the entire 

 fiscal year just past. 



Tiiore \vas a decrease of 23 per cent in the number of mammals 

 imported, as compared with last year. Among those entered especial 

 interest attaches to the importation of 6 musk oxen, brought from the 

 Arctic by Mr. Paul J. Raine}', for the New York Zoological Park. 



Late in 1910 information was received of a mongoose and two 

 flying foxes on exhibition at Kansas Cit}'. These were placed in 

 zoological parks. Three mongooses brought to New York from 

 Cienfuegos, Cuba, February 23, 1911, were not allowed to land, but 

 were killed on board ship. 



Notable progress was made on the card index of importations. 

 Entries of game birds Avere brought down to date and the importa- 

 tions of game birds during the first 10 years' operation of the law 

 requiring permits from this Department were tabulated. 



GAME PROTECTION. 



As the settlement of the countr}' progresses, the preservation of 

 its game becomes more and more difficult, not only because of the 

 increasing number of sportsmen, but because of the steady encroach- 

 ment by settlers upon the breeding places of wild game. It is be- 

 coming apparent that even should all the markets be closed and the 

 sale of game prevented, depletion must continue to follow the rapid 

 conversion of the wilderness. The question of preserves for game 

 and for birds — safe and suitable spots where they can multipTv in 

 security from the gun and under natural conditions — is therefore 

 becoming increasingly important. In this country it is gratifying 

 to note that game preserves, both public and private, have greatly 

 increased in numbers, while here and there tracts are beginning to 

 be devoted to nongame birds. 



BIRD RESERVATIONS. 



On April 11 a new bird reservation was set apart by Executive 

 order in northern California, on Clear Lake Reservoir site, a few 

 miles southeast of Klamath Lake, thus increasing the total number 

 of reservations to 52. An additional warden was appointed for the 

 Breton Island Reservation, and changes were made in the wardens 

 located at Malheur Lake, Pine Island, Dry Tortugas, and the three 

 reservations along the Washington coast. An inspector was ap- 

 pointed for the Cold Springs Reservation, in Oregon, and for Deer 

 Flat and Minidoka Reservations, in Idaho, and at the beginning 

 of next year another inspector will be chosen for the Flattery Rocks, 

 Quillayute Needles, and Copalis Rocks Reservations, in AVashington. 



The prosecution under the immigration laws of the employer of 

 the 23 Japanese poachers arrested on Laysan and Lisiansky Islands 

 m January, 1910, was concluded early in the fiscal A-ear, the court 

 holding that no sufficient case had been made against him. Despite 

 this decision, it is believed that the arrest of the poachers and the 

 seizure of the plumage will suffice to prevent recurrence of similar 

 acts of trespass on islands in the Hawaiian Reservation. In the tres- 

 pass case on the Mosquito Inlet Reservation the defendants pleaded 

 guilty and paid small fines. 



