REPORT OF CHIEF OF BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Unitkd States Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. 6'., August 20, 1917. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the work of 

 the Bureau of Biological Survey for the fiscal year ended June 30, 

 1917. 



Respectfully, 



E. W. Nelsox, 

 Chief, Biological Survey. 

 Hon. D. F. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WORK OF THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



The work of the Bureau of Biological Survey is conducted along 

 five principal lines: (1) Investigations of the food habits of North 

 American birds and mammals in relation to agriculture, in charge 

 of Dr. A. K. Fisher; (2) biological investigations with special ref- 

 erence to the geographic distribution of native animals and plants, in 

 charge of E. W. Nelson; (3) supervision of national mammal and 

 bird reservations, in charge of G. W. Field; (4) enforcement of the 

 Lacey Act regulating the importation of birds and interstate ship- 

 ment of game, in charge of W. F. Bancroft; (5) administration of 

 the Federal migratory-bird law, in charge of George A. Lawyer. 



ECONOMIC INVESTIGATIONS. 



PREDATORY ANIMALS AND RABIES. 



The larger part of the work of this section of the Bureau has a 

 direct practical bearing on the increased production and conser- 

 vation of the Nation's food supply. It is effective in decreasing the 

 great losses of live stock which occur through the ravages of pred- 

 atory animals and in the reduction of still greater losses of grain 

 and other crops due to noxious rodents. About $287,000 was avail- 

 able during the year for the destruction of wolves, coyotes, bobcats, 

 mountain lions, and other stock-killing predatory animals on the 

 public domain, and for the suppression of rabies widely prevalent in 

 several of the western and northwestern States. This work, already 

 in progress, was expanded and perfected under the original organi- 

 zation, by districts, as follows: (1) Arizona and New Mexico; (2) 

 California and Nevada ; (3) Oregon and Washington ; (4) Colorado; 

 /5) Idaho; (6) Montana; (7) Utah; (8) Wyoming; (9) Texas. 



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