CHAPTER V 



THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE 

 BUREAU OF THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 



THE fundamental problem facing the Biological Survey 

 is not the control of predatory animals but the control of 

 predatory men. Wild animals are a natural resource of the 

 nation which may, in the long run, be as vital to its balanced 

 development as its mineral resources. Like other natural 

 resources, wild life is liable to be exploited for the benefit 

 of the " few " notwithstanding the rights of the " many." 

 The true function of the Biological Survey in broad out- 

 lines is the protection of the wild game and fur animals as 

 a natural resource in which the whole nation has certain 

 rights. 



How well the Biological Survey has carried out its true 

 functions can only be determined by a consideration of its 

 history as an organization, its present-day activities, its 

 administrative organization, its relation to other federal 

 bureaus and to the states, and the problems of policy that 

 face it today. That is what this chapter sets out to do. 



The Beginnings of the Biological Survey: 1 The Survey 

 had its beginnings in the American Ornithologists' Union 

 which was formally organized in New York City on Sep- 

 tember 26, 1883, thus becoming the first national associa- 

 tion of ornithologists in the United States. At the first 

 congress held during the three days following its organiza- 



1 For detailed history of the Biological Survey, see thorough and well- 

 written study by Cameron, Jenks, The Bureau of the Biological Survey 

 (1929), Institute for Government Research, Monograph Series. 



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