P.D. 123 15 



Cooperation with Other Agencies 



Complete coverage of Massachusetts farms and homes by an agricultural radio 

 news broadcast has been a regular service over WBZ station through the New 

 England radio market news service. Daily there are features that enable listeners 

 to understand what is happening to the consumption of food products, including 

 information on crop and market reporting, shipments of goods, and the best ways 

 of utilizing native products. 



Information on the condition of crops in Massachusetts, their size and quality, 

 is of fundamental value and this division works closely with and supports the New 

 England Crop Reporting Serv^ice, which issues such timety information. 



Sometimes emergencies arise in the selling of our local products when the Division 

 of Markets is called upon to furnish specific information. 



In cooperation with the Department of Public Works definite facts were fur- 

 nished the Boston Market Gardeners' organization regarding the possibility of 

 establishing a new market on land owned by the Commonwealth in South Boston, 

 as well as information relative to enlarging the present site. 



Other requests for assistance along more general fines were also received from 

 farm groups such as the fruit growers, poultry organizations, and information and 

 assistance were given. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF ORNITHOLOGY 



As in previous years, field studies of the movements and habits of the birds of 

 Massachusetts have been given considerable attention by the Director of Orni- 

 thology, and records of the same were submitted to the general public in the form 

 of a monthly bulletin entitled "Items of Interest." The Division has been suc- 

 cessful in interesting a large number of voluntary correspondents, who have fur- 

 nished much helpful information from their observation of bird habits within their 

 respective areas. The aggregate of such information covered the entire State 

 and much surrounding country. 



New Problems Continually Arising 



There is a wide field of research in which the Division needs to be constantly 

 alert in the collection of additional data on bird life as related to economic agri- 

 culture. This is evident from the many new problems that are constantly arising 

 with the invasion of such insect pests as the Japanese beetle, the Mediterranean 

 fruit fly, and others. Fortunately no serious outbreak of insect or animal pests 

 detrimental to man's interests occurred within the Commonwealth during the 

 year. Numerous complaints were received from various sources, of damage to 

 the shell-fish industry from gulls and other water-fowl, and these were investigated. 

 Additional progress was also made in furthering the study of the relations of birds 

 to the cranberry industry. There were surprisingly few reports of damage by 

 grouse to apple orchards, but all such reports were investigated in connection with 

 other conditions affecting our orchardists. The disappearance of eel-grass along 

 our coast, with its \vide-spreading consequences to water-fowl, fish and shell-fish 

 required considerable study and correspondence, but this study is still in its initial 

 stage. 



It has been claimed that predatory creatures, both feathered and furred, have 

 increased in Massachusetts, but it is also very evident that there is a decrease in 

 the numbers of certain beneficial hawks and owls. As a result of this there is a 

 movement, by several conservation organizations within the Commonwealth, to 

 secure legal protection for those species of hawks and owls that are beneficial to 

 the farmer, and the Director has been frequently consulted in this matter. 



Increasing Demands for Assistance 

 The Division has been in cooperation with other agencies working along similar 

 lines in the study of birds, has made numerous laboratorj^ examinations of speci- 

 mens collected and has assembled much data for general distribution. Many 

 requests have been received for ad\'ice regarding treatment of gardens, orchards 

 and woodlots, as well as proposed or existing bird sanctuaries, and as far as possible 

 personal visits have been made to such places and conditions studied at first hand 

 before recommendations were made. 



