154 DEPAKTMENTAL EEPOETS. 



Lacey Act has extended to all classes and to all sections of the coiintrj^ 

 Never before lias so much attention been given to game legislation, 

 and intelligent interest in the subject has been clearly exemplified in 

 the numerous improved game laws enacted at the recent sessions of 

 the State legislatures. Efforts have been made to place the subject 

 on a higher plane and to secure greater uniformity in the laws of 

 adjoining States. In several instances these efforts, in which national 

 organizations have cooperated with State legislatures and officials, 

 have met with marked success, as shown by the enactment of a 

 practically uniform law for the protection of insectivorous birds in 

 eight States and the District of Columbia. Greater uniformity con- 

 fers a twofold benefit : It makes the State laws far more effective and 

 it strengthens the Federal statute which rests upon these local laws 

 as a basis. Thus, it can safely be said that the Lacey Act has been 

 materially strengthened as a result of the legislation of 1901. 



ADDITIONAL GAME-PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION NECESSARY. 



The Federal statute has not only been the means of giving greater 

 efficiency to local laws, but it has brought to light manj^ weak points 

 in both Federal and State laws which should be remedied by further 

 legislation. Especially is this true of the Federal statutes relating to 

 Alaska, the Indian Territory, and the forest reserves. Alaska has 

 practically no game law; the Indian Territory is protected only by a 

 statute enacted in 1832 which fails to meet modern requirements; and 

 the forest reserves are greatly in need of a law which will either 

 make them game preserves or jjrovide for the establishment of game 

 refuges in certain parts of the reserves suitable for this purpose. 

 These Territories and reservations constitute the natural ranges of 

 most of the big game now remaining in the United States, and with 

 adequate legislation may be made the means of preserving certain 

 species indefinitely. 



IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN BIRDS AND ANIMALS. 



With the cordial cooperation of the Treasury Department a system 

 for keeping account of and exercising control over wild animals and 

 birds imported from foreign countries was devised and put into opera- 

 tion at the beginning of the fiscal year. Under this system, permits 

 issued by the Department of Agriculture must be presented to the 

 proper customs officers at the port of entry before the animals or birds 

 can be admitted. Large shipments and those containing species 

 whose identity is in doubt are subject to examination by special 

 inspectors, and quarterly reports of actual entries from customs offi- 

 cers, transmitted through the Treasury Department, furnish a check 

 on the operation of the law. 



In view of the fact that the law was unknown to many importers at 

 the time it went into effect, that the importations were often made at 

 remote ports of entry, and that in many cases a delay of a few hours 

 might have meant serious loss in the case of tropical animals arriving 

 at northern ports during the winter, it is gratifying to note that only 

 one or two complaints have been receiv<;d of losses -due to delay, and 

 that for these the Department was not responsible. Everything pos- 

 sible has been done to facilitate pi-ompt entiy. Arrangements have 

 been made by wliich permits may he liad on telegrapliic request, so 

 that within ail hour after the reeei I >t of llie request the collector of 



