294 ANNUAL. EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



liibiting the shipment or carriage of living as well as dead birds 

 migratory and nonmigratory out of a State by any means whatever 

 contrary to the laws of the State in which the birds were killed or 

 from which they were carried or shipped. The provisions of the 

 Lacey Act relating to the delivery to a common carrier for trans- 

 portation of foreign animals and birds, the interstate shipment of 

 wild animals and parts thereof, and the penalty for knowingly re- 

 ceiving illegal shipments still remain. 



Tlie first regulations under the treaty act adopted by the Secretary 

 of Agriculture became effective on approval by the President July 

 31, 1918. Amendments to these regulations were adopted and bo- 

 came effective October 25, 1918. 



The designation " district inspector," applied to those appointed to 

 enforce the migratory-bird law of 1913, was changed to "United 

 States game warden," and the office of chief United States game 

 warden for the administrative officer directly in charge of the ad- 

 ministration of the treat}^ act was created when the act became 

 effective. 



For the first year this act was administered with a force of only 

 15 full-salaried game wardens, and 45 deputy wardens paid when 

 actually employed. Much assistance and cooperation was rendered 

 by most of the State game departments, and about 150 United States 

 deputy game wardens were appointed from the deputy State game 

 wardens, who received only a nominal salary from the Federal Gov- 

 ernment. 



The wardens employed by the bureau reported for prosecution 531 

 violations of the law. Convictions have been secured in 116 cases, 

 in which fines were assessed ranging from $1 to $100 and costs, and 

 aggregating $2,580. Of the reiuainder, 216 cases have been reported 

 to the solicitor of the department for prosecution and are still pend- 

 ing; 5 cases liaA^e been dismissed by Federal judges; grand juries 

 refused to return true bills in 15 cases, which probably Avill be resub- 

 mitted to grand juries or prosecuted by information; 79 cases are 

 still under investigation; and prosecutions were abandoned in 100 

 cases, due mainly to the fact that the violations were of a trivial 

 character or the violators had already been convicted and adequately 

 lined in State courts. 



Convictions were secured in Federal courts as follows: Alabama, 

 28; Arkansas, 12; California, 4; Delaware, 1; Florida, 15; Georgia, 

 2 ; Idaho, ; Illinois, 9 ; Iowa, 4 : Louisiana. 1 ; Maine, 1 ; Maryland, 1 ; 

 Minnesota, 2 ; Missouri, 4; New York, 3 ; Ohio, 3 ; South Carolina, 11 ; 

 South Dakota, 1 ; Tennessee, 6; Texas,!; and Virginia, 1. 



Reports received to date show that 58 violators of both Federal and 

 State laws were apprehended by United States deputy game wardens 

 and were successfully prosecuted in State courts and fined an aggre- 

 gate of $1,918.75. The States in which these violations were prose- 

 cuted have thus benefited materially as a result of tlie cooperation of 

 United States game wardens with State game authorities. 



Wild ducks and other migratory birds of an approximate value of 

 $2,942.25 illegally killed or possessed, and aigrettes and plumes of 

 other migratory "birds of an estimated value of $6,857.55 illegally 

 possessed and trafficked in, have been seized. In most instances the 

 birds seized which were fit for food liave been released by the accused 

 persons and donated to charitable or other public institutions and 



