BASIS AND BACKGROUND 



Our Federal and State governments, as well as 

 the various conservation organizations, have be- 

 come increasingly concerned with the dwindling 

 natural resources of our country. The factors 

 which have made us a rich and advanced indus- 

 trial Nation have also threatened our invaluable 

 fish and wildlife resources, even to the point of ex- 

 tinction in many areas. Urbanization and indus- 

 trialization, for instance, have led to water-pollu- 

 tion, which has killed fish and wildlife and re- 

 sulted in great losses of their natural habitat 

 Intensive planning for and management of our 

 fish and wildlife resources will be required to as- 

 sure opportunities for fishing and hunting for the 

 more than three-fold increase in the number of 

 fishermen and hunters expected by the close of 

 this century. Conservation agencies have struggled 

 to maintain and to improve these natural re- 

 sources. Maintenance and improvement of these 

 resources cost money, and the spending of money 

 for these purposes requires justification. One 

 measure of the importance of fish and wildlife re- 

 sources is personal expenditures on sport fishing 

 and hunting and the significance of their contri- 

 bution to our national economy. 



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As a Nation we have spent all too little to protect 

 our valuable fish and wildlife resources. One of the 

 primary sources of financing such protection comes 

 from taxes and fees paid by sport fishermen and 

 hunters for their part in these sport activities. 

 These include excise taxes on sport fishing tackle 

 and sporting arms and ammunition and state 

 license fees. In fiscal year 1960, excise taxes 

 amounted to $21 million and state license fees 

 amounted to $115 million. Excise taxes provide 

 the source of funds for the Federal Aid in Fish and 

 Wildlife Restoration programs. Under these pro- 

 grams, the funds are made available to the State 

 fish and game departments for fish and wildlife 

 management purposes. This survey is one of the 

 coordinated programs between our Federal and 

 State governments and is financed directly from 

 these Federal Aid funds. 



Conservation agencies need comprehensive infor- 

 mation provided by this survey for carrying out 

 their individual restoration, management, and 

 other fish and wildlife programs. The Interna- 

 tional Association of Game, Fish and Conservation 

 Commissioners, which includes the fish and game 

 commissioners and directors of the 50 States and 



