Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-12-19

tural interests and is an excellent eV-
ample of government bureau which
conducts original scientific research
the findings Of which are Of much
practical utility. For more than TWEEN
ty years II has studied the food habits
of birds and mammals that are inlu-
rious or beneficial to agriculture. hor-
tlCulture and forestry. has distributed
Illustrated bulletins on the subject and
has labOrcd TO secure legislative pro-
lection for the beneficial species. The
cotton boil wecvil. which has recently
ovCrsprCud the cotton belt of Texas
and Is steadily extending its range, is
said TO cause an annual loss of about
S3.OOO,OOO. The biological survey has
asCerlancd and given wide publicity
20 the fact that at least forty-three
kinds of birds prey upon this dcstruc.
tive insect II has discovered that If
ty-scvcn species of birds feed upon
scale insects, dreaded enemies of the
fruit grower. 1t has shown that wood
pcckers as n class by destroying the
larvae of wood boring insects are so
essential to tree life that it is doubtful
If our forests could exist without them
II has shown that CuckoOs and orioles
nrc the natural enemies of the leaf
eating catcrpillars that destroy our
shade and fruit trees; that our quails
and sparrows consume annually hun
drcds Of tons of seeds of noXious
weeds: that hawks and owls as class
excepting tho few that kill poultry
and game BIRDS are markedly bencfl-
cial, spending their lives in catching
grasShoppers. mice and other pests
that prey upon the products Of hus-
bandry. 1t has conducted field expert
mcnts for the purpose of dcvising and
pcrfccting simple methods for holding
In check the horles of destructive ro-
dcntS-rats, mice, rabbits, gophcrS,
prairie dogs and ground squirrels
which annually destroy crops worth
many millions Of dollars. and Il has
published practical directions for the
destruction Of wolves and coyotes on
the stock ranges Of the west, resulting
during the past year in an estimated
saving Of cattle and shcep<valued at
upward OF n million dollars
II has inauguratcd n system Of In
spcction at the principal ports Of on.
try on both Atlantic and Pacific COASTS
by means of which the introduction of
noXlOus mammals and birds Is pre-
vented, thus keeping out the mongoosc
and certain birds which are as much
TO he dreaded rs the previously intro.
ductd English sparrow and the house
rats and mice
In the Interest of game protection It
has Co-opcratcd with local officials in
every state in the Union. has striven
to promote uniform legislation in the
several states, has rendered important
service in enforcing the federal law
regulating interstate traffic In game
and has shown how game protectioev
may be made TO yield large rcvenus
to the state, n revenue amounting In
the ease OF Illinois TO S12S,OOO In u
single year. ..'
The biological survey has explored
the faunas and flOrns of America with
reference TO the distribution of ami
mails and plants. II has defined and
mapped tile natural life areas-arcas
In which, by reason of prevailing eli
mntic conditions, certain kinds Of ami
mails and plants occur-and has point
ed out the ndaptabIlity of these areas
10 the cultivation of particular crops.
Thc results of these Investigations are
not only Of high educational value but
are worth each year To the progressive
farmers of the country many times the
cost Of maintaining the survey, which.
Il may be added, Ia exceedingly small.
| recommend TO congress that this bu-
rcau. whose usefulness IL seriously
handicapped by lack of funds. be
granted an appropriation in some de-
gree commensurate with the impor-
lance of the work 1t Is doing.
call your especial attention to the
unsatisfactory condition of 9ur foreign
mail service, which because of the
lack of American steamship lines Is
now largely done through foreign lines
and which, particularly so far MS South
and Central America are concerned. is
done in II manner which constitutes
serious barrier TO the extension of our
commerce.
The time has come, in my judgment,
TO set 10 work seriously to make our
ocean mail service correspond more
closely with our recent commercial and
political development. A beginning
was made by the ocean mail act Of
March 3, 1891, but even at that time
the act was known TO he inadequate IN
various particulars. Since that time
events have moved rapidly In our his.
tory. We have acquired Hawaii, the
Philippines and lesser islands In the
Pacific. We are steadily prosecuting
the great work of uniting ut the 18TH
mus the waters Of the Atlantic and
the Pacific. TO greater extent than
seemed probable even dozen years
ago we may look TO an American fu-
turc on the sea worthy of the tradl-
lions Of our past. AS the first step In
that direction and the step most feasl-
Ole ut the present time l recommend
the extension of the ocean mail act Of
1891. That act has stood for some years
free from successful criticism OF its
principle and purpose. 1t was based