DIVISION OF BIOLOGIC A.L SITRVEY. 213 



imported for ])ropa,ii:atioii in captivity, and birds brought in to sup- 

 ply the trade in cage birds. Of these two classes, the latter greatly 

 exceeds the former in numbers. The consignments of cage birds are 

 often of considerable size, and to jjrevent any injurious species from 

 entering unnoticed amid a large number of harmless ones, arrange- 

 ments were made through the Secretary of the Treasury, in July, 

 1901, whereby all big consignments of cage birds arriving at New 

 York, the main port of entry for birds, were subjected to examination 

 by the inspectors of this Department. Approximatel}^ 200,000 birds, 

 including about 180,000 canaries, were entered at New York, most of 

 which were inspected. The new duties thus created necessitated the 

 appointment of an additional inspector at New York, making three in 

 all now on duty at that port. 



On January 1, 1902, the inspection service was extended to the Ter- 

 ritory of Hawaii and a special inspector appointed for Honolulu, 

 Owing to absence of cable communication with the islands this inspec- 

 tor has been authorized to issue permits subject to general instruc- 

 tions from the Department. In May, at the earnest request of the 

 Chamber of Commerce in Honolulu and of some of the sugar planters 

 of Hawaii, an order was issued requiring permits for all reptiles 

 imported into the Territory and prohibiting the entry of poisonous 

 species. 



Twelve foreign species of mammals and birds are now known to be 

 acclimated in Hawaii, four of which — the mongoose, the English spar- 

 row, the mina, and the Java ricebird {Munia nisoria) — are injurious. 

 In Porto Rico the mongoose is acclimated and also two species of 

 African weaver birds, whose exact economic status is not yet known. 

 A few specimens of the mongoose are still in captivity in the United 

 States, but these are, as a rule, in j)ublic zoological gardens where their 

 safe-keeping is assured. 



So far as known, no prohibited species have been brought into the 

 United States during the year. Entry has been refused in the case 

 of one mongoose at San Francisco and two fruit-eating bats and one 

 kohlmeise at New York. The principal importers of foreign birds and 

 animals have shown no disposition to attempt the importation of pro- 

 hibited species and have uniformly complied with the requirements 

 of the law. 



By an act of Congress approved June 3, 1902, the prohibition against 

 the entry of eggs of game birds which has existed since 1894 has been 

 removed, and these eggs can now be imported, under regulations of this 

 Department, for propagation. The regulations necessary to carry 

 out the law were promptly promulgated, and within a few weeks after 

 the bill was signed the first importation of eggs arrived at New York. 



INTERSTATE COMMERCE IN GAME. 



The provisions of the law regarding interstate commerce in game 

 have necessarily been carried out very largely through cooperation 

 with State officers. Special mention should be made of the services 

 rendered in this connection by the State game commissioner of Illinois 

 and the State gaDie wardens of Iowa, Michigan, and West Virginia. 

 Through the cordial cooperation of the Attorney-General, the cases 

 referred for action to the Department of Justice have been taken up 

 as promptly as possible and many of them prosecuted to a successful 

 termination. During the year 39 cases, involving the illegal shi[)ment 

 of about 5,000 birds, were reported to this Department, as against 57 



