I5 6 PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



life refuges is recognized. Such areas are patrolled by state 

 game wardens. State hunting and fishing licenses are re- 

 quired, although some states do show special consideration 

 for the reservoir areas by granting licenses to non-residents 

 to hunt and fish at the same cost as residents of the states. 



The General Land Office: When the Treasury Depart- 

 ment was created in 1789," the Secretary was required to 

 " execute such services relative to the sale of land belonging 

 to the United States " as might be required of him by law. 

 This act was followed by a series of others, increasing the 

 duties of the Secretary, providing for district land offices, 

 and for a Surveyor-General to complete the land survey. 

 Finally in 1812 28 Congress established the General Land 

 Office as a bureau in the Treasury Department. There it 

 remained until 1849 when it was transferred to the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior. 29 



The chief function of the General Land Office at the 

 present time is the proving of title to the public domain of 

 the nation. It has had no particular policy in regard to con- 

 servation of wild life in that vast area, although the Bio- 

 logical Survey has come in at its own request to aid in the 

 control of predatory animals found on public domain in a 

 number of specific instances. 



This general lack of policy in regard to the administration 

 of the public domain has left the General Land Office open 

 to attack, and finally in April 1930 Congress passed an act 30 

 authorizing the President to appoint a commission to study 

 the conservation and the administration of the public do- 

 main. The committee was appointed and reported in Jan- 

 uary of the following year. 31 



37 i Stat. L. 65. 28 2 Stat. L. 717. 



29 9 Stat. L. 393- 30 46 Stat. L. 153. 



81 Report of the Committee on the Conservation and Administration of 

 Public Lands, Jan. 16, 1031, Govt. Printing Office. 



