REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BTJREATJ OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



U. S. Depart3Ient of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological Sur%tey, 

 Washington^ D. (7., August 24, 1912. 

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

 of the Biological Survey for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1912, 

 with an outline of the work for 1913. 



Respectfully, Henry W. Henshaw, 



Chief, Biological Survey. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WORK OF THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



During the year the work of the Bureau of Biological Survey as 

 usual was conducted along three lines: (1) Investigations of the food 

 habits of North American birds and mammals in relation to agri- 

 culture; (2) biological investigations with special reference to the 

 geographic distribution of native animals and plants; (3) super- 

 vision of national bird and mammal reservations, the preservation 

 of our wild game, and the enforcement of the Lacey Act 



rearing of fur bearers. 



The rearing of fur-bearing animals for their pelts continues to be 

 a subject of much interest, and during the year many inquiries were 

 received from various parts of the United States asking for publica- 

 tions on the subject and for information as to where to obtain breed- 

 ing stock. In Prince Edward Island the breeding of black foxes 

 appears to have passed the experimental stage and to have been 

 established on a i^ermanent commercial basis. The great demand 

 for breeding animals and the reluctance with which successful 

 breeders part with their stock, however, have caused very large prices 

 to be placed on mature animals in the best pelage, and it is stated 

 that as much as $8,000 has been paid for a pair of adult animals for 

 breeding purposes. It is evident that as long as stock is held at 

 such figures the business, even if remunerative, can not become gen- 

 eral, but must remain in the hands of a very few. There are 

 extensive regions in the United States, especially along our northern 

 border and in Alaska, well adapted to fox farming and kindred 

 industries, and wherever stock is obtainable at reasonable figures it 

 is believed that the business can be made profitable. 



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