DEPLETION OF WILD LIFE 311 



areas of North America, necessitating a radical 

 change in the primary and secondary divisions rec- 

 ognized." Thus began a scientific work which the 

 world has since gratefully recognized. 



In 1896, in recognition of the breadth, impor- 

 tance, and character of its work, the Division's title 

 was changed to the Division of Biological Survey. 

 President Roosevelt enthusiastically praised its work 

 in public reports, which brought attacks upon it 

 from his political enemies. Following its promotion 

 in 1906 to its present status of Bureau of Biological 

 Survey, an investigation by Congress resulted in 

 publication of an astonishing record of practical 

 achievement flowing from painstaking scientific in- 

 vestigation. 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam continued as director till 

 his retirement from government service in 1 9 1 o. The 

 Survey's scientific studies of birds, animals, insects, 

 forests and agricultural conditions, planned and 

 started by him, continue unceasingly. Merely to 

 enumerate them and their successful application to 

 concrete problems in every part of the country would 

 need pages. This part of its work, originally its 

 principal part, now secondary, will increase in scope 

 and importance with the growing years. 



The Survey's main objectives of later years be- 

 gan with passage of the Lacey Act in 1900, which 

 assigned it the duty of regulating interstate com- 

 merce in game and fur animals. Later, it was 

 charged with administering the Migratory Bird 



