112 PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



These records are checked and kept up to date by the 

 annual inventory which must show all non-expendable sup- 

 plies. When an article is lost, stolen, or worn out, the fact 

 is certified to the section on a prescribed form giving full 

 details. Articles which are no longer of any use may be 

 destroyed after being passed upon by a board of three offi- 

 cials named either from headquarters staff or from the field 

 force. Articles transferred to another bureau or depart- 

 ment are receipted for when received and thus removed 

 from the property files. 



Methods of Purchasing Supplies: Within the last few 

 years a new method of purchasing has been put into effect 

 in the Bureau. Prior to July i, 1932 the Property Section 

 handled all headquarters purchasing including certain sup- 

 plies needed in quantity for the field service. Since that 

 date the Bureau has entered the Department of Agriculture 

 purchasing system and now most, although not all, supplies 

 formerly bought through the Property Section are issued 

 through the Central Supply Section of the Department. 



There are still some articles purchased directly by the 

 Bureau. In which case the Property Section draws up the 

 specifications, calls for bids, and does the actual purchasing. 

 The tendency is to use the Central Supply Section as much 

 as possible and negotiations are now under way to transfer 

 the purchase of as many articles as possible to that section. 



For the men in the field requiring supplies not obtainable 

 from the Central Supply Section, the Regional Supply 

 Depots of the Forest Service are used for such articles as are 

 stocked by them. For the remaining supplies of special 

 nature that cannot be obtained from any of these supply 

 stations, or which it can be shown would be to the advan- 

 tage of the government to purchase locally, the field agent 

 is authorized to purchase direct. These latter include gas, 

 oil, and repairs on automobiles owned by the Survey. 



