2 6 PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



The generation of pioneer investigators was succeeded by 

 more and more specialized workers. In the course of time 

 bureaus were set up in the federal government, each charged 

 with the duty of gathering scientific data in some special 

 field of activity. Their work has by no means been com- 

 pleted at the present day although a vast amount of scientific 

 information is available. 



It is most probable that our knowledge is less complete 

 regarding wild life than it is regarding any other single 

 physical factor. The Biological Survey, it is true, has a 

 great deal of information in its files dealing with wild life 

 but little of it is so organized as to be of value to the land 

 planner. 



What are the approximate quantities of the various 

 species of wild life in America? No one knows, nor has 

 any accurate technique been developed for answering this 

 baffling question. A few years ago the Biological Survey 

 undertook the so-called " duck census " by requesting volun- 

 teer observers scattered throughout the country to make 

 reports upon the number and species of ducks observed. 

 The results of that census were of very doubtful accuracy 

 chiefly because few observers were found really capable of 

 estimating the number and species of ducks seen flying over- 

 head. Some different technique must be developed if real 

 results are to be obtained. 



Food habits of wild animals are still incompletely known 

 for all species, and for that matter for the same species in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country, although a division of the 

 Survey has been at work on that phase of the subject for a 

 number of years. Ecological research still offers vast oppor- 

 tunities to the wild-life scientist. 



In every field of scientific knowledge regarding the phys- 

 ical nature of the land itself, the data available are inadequate. 

 Limitations of space do not permit a consideration of the 



