Considera'ble work also ha.s 'oeen dono iii testing poisonous plants 

 and other organic conpounds in order to find su"bstitute poisons. The 

 Service's chenical la'boratory at Patuxent , which was csta"blishcd for 

 nutritional work, ha.s "been converted into a la'boratory for developing 

 organic control pcinons. • Cooperative studies on insecticides and 

 rodenticides have been worked out with the Bureau of Entomology and ' 

 Plant Qjiarantine of the Dopartncnt of Agriculture, 



Wartime needs for furs and fur products to provide warn clothing for 

 our arned forces in cold clirmtes has "been a najor investigative activity 

 of the Service during the past year, A Service expert was appointed as 

 fur consultant to the War Departrient , and cooperative work is now "being 

 done for the War Production Board and the Qp.arternaster Corps. Tests with 

 furs are under way to deternine their frost-re si stajit qualities and their 

 use in sleeping hags, and in certs.in types of clothing* 



The Service's fur res'.">urces progran is recognized "by the War and 

 Navy Departnents as the national authority on the procurcnent, grading, 

 and use of naterial for the protection of service nen stationed in Arctic 

 regions and operating under cold conditions. 



At the request of various wp.r agencies, conparisons arc being nade . 

 of furs and fabrics when used alone or' in conbination for war uses 

 under different v/eather conditions in cooperation with the Bureaus of 

 Hone Econonics and Aninal Industry in the United States Departnent of' 

 Agriculture, The objective has been to conserve fur and extend its use 

 for protection against co.ld, to deternine the value of fur fibers as 

 replacements for other fibers, and to develop the nost effective use 

 of byproducts which have hitherto been wasted. Additional laaowledge on 

 insulation value , resistrnce to abrasion, tearing strength, durability, 

 and weight is required to develop a wider use of fjurs. 



In order to copewith the shortage, of riiinal fibers and aninal-fiber 

 products, it is necessary to_ nake use of all aninal fibers available and 

 to allocate each type of fiber to the purpose for which it is best 

 e.da.pted. Aniua.1 fibers, because of their inherent vramth- retaining 

 qualities, are indispensable in cold clinates. Work is now in progress 

 with the Bureau of Aninal Industry and the defense agencies, including 

 the Salvage Branch of the . War Production |oard, to stop waste in the fxxr 

 and textile industries. ; ■■ ?> .^■■'>. ' .. 



In the fur farming field, wartime conditions have stressed the need 

 for raw neat substitutes' in feeding fur animals. This has been accomplished 

 through the use of fish meal, beef ncal, and tripe for aninal rations. 



. The use of rabbit fur in the felt and hatters trade has created a 

 national problen vrith usual sources of supply cut off from Europe and 

 Australia. Sources of domestic .fur arc being developed by the Service 

 and encouragenent is given to the tra-nping and utilization of v/ild Jack- 

 rabbit pelts in the West where the taking of millions of these animals 

 would further nrotect farm cro-os. 



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