BULLETIN NUMBER FOUR 159 



A western correspondent has placed in my hands a copy 

 of a letter recently written to the Secretary of Agriculture, 

 concerning attacks on the Biological Survey. Believing 

 that its publication here will be to the public interest, I 

 reproduce it, with the consent of the Secretary. I believe 

 that its pungent logic will appeal to every member of 

 Congress. 



BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY 



Western Reserve University 



albert college 



Cleveland, Ohio 



May 10, 1916. 

 The Hon. D. F. Houston, 

 Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Dear Sir: 



My attention has just been called to a petition addressed to mem- 

 bers of the Senate and House of Representatives at Washington, in 

 criticism of the acts and methods of the Biological Survey and certain 

 of its officers, at the same time calling for interference with Fed- 

 eral appropriations to that body, in case the petitioners' demands 

 are not granted. It is signed by members of the Interstate Sports- 

 men's Protective Association. 



As a biologist, who has known the work of the survey from the 

 the time of its inception and is personally acquainted with most of 

 its officers, permit me to express the hope that in this and all sim- 

 ilar questions you will give the Survey your unflinching support, and 

 that you will not permit any number of interested individuals to 

 influence your judgment. 



The Biological Survey is the judicial body which should decide all 

 such questions as that herein raised, — that of the open season for 

 migratory water-fowl in a particular section; the Survey is, and 

 should be, the court of final appeal, and to its impartial judgment 

 the people of every state should submit. Its facilities for learning 

 all the pertinent facts, on which a just judgment only can be based, 

 are an hundred-fold greater than those of any other body of men. 



If, on the other hand, the head of the Survey or any of its officers 

 are considered by the Department of Agriculture for any good 

 reason to be incompetent, let such charges be made, and let the 

 accused have an opportunity to speak; but while there is a Biological 

 Survey I trust that it will be supported without fear, favor or par- 

 tisanship. The present Survey has a splendid record for civic use- 

 fulness and efficiency, and I believe that today it possesses the 

 complete confidence of the biologists and other scientific men of the 

 nation. 



Very respectfully yours, 



Francis Ff. Herrick 



