FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SPORT 

 FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE 



The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, by law 

 and by the authority delegated to it, is the Federal 

 agency primarily responsible for ensuring, at the 

 Federal level, the conservation and management of 

 the Nation's wild birds, mammals, and sport fishes, 

 both for their recreational and their economic values. 

 Its principal objectives are to conserve these re- 

 newable resources for the continued enjoyment of 

 hunters, anglers, and nature enthusiasts, and to 

 manage them so that their abundance is most com- 

 patible with the economic, social, and aesthetic 

 interests of all Americans. 



The Bureau has direct responsibility for migra- 

 tory birds, as the result of treaties with Canada 

 and Mexico, and indirect responsibility for resident 

 fish and other wildlife. The primary responsibility 

 for the management of resident wildlife species rests 

 with the States. 



National Fish Hatcheries 



In 1872, one year after the establishment of the 

 U. S. Fish Commission, the Congress appropriated 

 $15,000 to the Commission for the propagation offish 

 and thus laid the foundation of the national fish- 

 hatchery system. 



At present 100 national fish hatcheries are located 

 throughout the country, three of which are in various 

 stages of construction. Many of those still in operation 

 were built before 1900. 



The national fish-hatchery program is based on 

 a policy of supplying fish for stocking waters in areas 

 primarily under Federal control and of giving maxi- 

 mum assistance to States that are unable to meet their 

 stocking requirements. 



This program also recognizes that stocking and 

 fish management in reservoirs created by Federal 

 water-development projects, streams affected by 

 the construction of dams by Federal agencies, and 

 farm ponds constructed under Federal programs of 



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