BUKEAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 293 



On the HaAvaiian Islands Reservation a warden resident at Hono- 

 lulu has been appointed to keep the bureau informed regarding 

 conditions there. 



The reservations in Florida are very inadequate to preserve what 

 formerly was the most wonderful bird population of North America. 

 The time when effective action is practicable is rapidly passing. 

 AVith proper measures taken at once for establishing extensive 

 refuges in southern Florida, one of the most wonderful assets of the 

 State and of the Nation can be preserved from annihilation. 



Reservations about the Mississippi delta were utilized during the 

 year in securinjy material for a study of the effect of fish-eating birds 

 upon commercial fisheries. A representative of the bureau visited 

 the breeding colonies of Caspian terns and brown pelicans on the 

 Breton and Tern Islands reservations in June ; the latter reservation, 

 near the Pass a Loutre, is commonly known as the " Mud Lumps." 



Increased protected areas suitable for breeding places for the mi- 

 gratory wild geese, ducks, cranes, swans, curlew, and shore birds 

 should be provided. Additional wild-fowl refuges along the paths 

 of migration are needed in order to secure improved and equalized 

 opportunities for shooting wild fowl for food and for recreation, 

 particularly in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. All species of 

 grouse and quail are also peculiarly subject to unnecessary and un- 

 wise depletion, which can best be minimized through reservations 

 and provision of natural food supplies. The sage grouse requires 

 si^ecial and immediate consideration. 



There have been 28 convictions for violations of section 84 of the 

 United States Criminal Code, prohibiting trespass on Federal bird 

 reservations, with a number of cases still pending. Seven of these 

 were for illegal shooting on the Malheur Lake Reservation, 19 on 

 the Big Lake Reservation, and 2 on the Mosquito Inlet Reservation. 

 It is hoped that these convictions will greatly strengthen respect for 

 the law protecting the reservations. 



THE MIGRATORY-BIRD TREATY AND LACEY ACTS. 



The approval of the migratory -bird treaty act on July 3, 1918, 

 to give effect to the treaty between the United States and Great 

 Britain for the protection of migratory birds in the United States 

 and Canada, concluded August 16, 1916, made possible the adequate 

 protection of migratory birds in the United States. This act, which 

 supersedes the migratory-bird law of 1913, contains many important 

 provisions not found in the old law, especially those conferring on 

 employees of the department appointed to enforce its provisions the 

 powers of arrest, search, and seizure so necessary to its effective en- 

 forcement. Furthermore, the present act and the regulations there- 

 under contain many other new clauses covering the possession of 

 migratory birds and the means by which they may be taken. It also 

 provides for the collection and capture of birds for scientific and 

 propagating purposes, as well as for the issuance of appropriate per- 

 mits to kill any species of migratory bird found to be seriously 

 injurious to agricultural or other interests. 



The new law also supersedes the provisions of the Lacey Act with 

 respect to the interstate shipment by common carrier of the dead 

 bodies of wild birds and parts thereof, and adds new clauses pro- 



