The diamond drill., 1922-02-24
cssyrsht. wsss~rs ksvsp.psr un'ss
Xxx.
HAPHAZARD EXTENSION

The Department OF Agriculture Is
one instance Of how governmental es-
adjustments grow and spread and ex-
tend their activities, once they get
started. The bureau OF fisheries. In
the Department OF Commerce. is an
other. II had modest beginning, and
not so very long ago. Prior 10 1871
there was no branch OF the federal
government especially charged with
the consideration OF fishery affairs.
Several OF the states had established
fish commissions and these state au-
thorities, supported by private inter
ests, began 10 agitate for national
bureau devoted 10 fishery interests.
So il came about that by 1871 con-
gress was ready TO yield and begin 10
make appropriations. The first one
was for $4,000 and provided for
commissioner OF fish and fisheries TO
prosecute Investigations and inquiries
with the view of ascertaining wheth.
er any and what dimlnutlon In the
number of food fishes OF the coast
and In the lakes OF the United States
has taken place; and also whether
any and what protective. prohibitory
or precautionary measures should be
adopted IN the premises and shall re-
port upon the same to congress"
The commissioner was TO draw no
pay. for II was provided by congress
In the same joint resolution that he
chnuld Ia. a, civil nfst.ar Of tha oovarn
ment, OF proved scientific and prac-
teal acquaintance with the fishes OF
the coast. who should serve without
additional compensation. The then as
sistant secretary OF the Smithsonian In
stitution, by name Spencer Fullerton
Baird was chosen as the best man for
the job. and so he proved TO be. He
made the little acorn grow. lie was
industrious and competent and knew
how 10 get along with congress. He
was dlllgent and he stood before kings.
See what happened.
Remember, he started out with
$1,000 10 discover whether there had
been any dlmlnutlon OF the supply OF
food fishes along the coasts or I'm the
lakes. He was at the head OF an In
dependent investigation and reported
directly TO congress. The thing was
kept alive by annual appropriations
as an independent institution until
1903, when II was incorporated into
the newly formed Department OF Com
merce and Labor as the bureau Of
fisheries.
BY 1909 the annual appropriation had
grown 10 $SO3, $40. and the bureau had
permanent personnel OF 325. AT
that time the land owned and occupied
by the bureau AT its fish cultural and
biological stations had an aggregate
area of over 1900 acres, with value
OF $4,000. The Improvements and
equipment at these stations repre-
sented an investment OF more than
S1,0OO000. other property Of the bu-
reau at that time included four sea
going steam and sail vessels, 20 steam
launches and 100 small sail, power and
rowboats, which with equipment had
a value OF 100000. Its six hsh-trans.
pOrtation cars were valued at $4,000.
Indeed, the total investment OF the
government In fishery-seryice property
ran 10 about s1.5s5,O00 That was
back In 1909
Well, IL hasn't stopped growing
bigger and buster than ever. as the ad-
vertlsements say The appropriation by
congress for the fiscal year 1919 was
q 4 A pnT IN
Besides what congress gave, the Pres
ident allotted In 1918 and 1919, out of
his private fund "for the national Sc
curlty and defense" 100000. With the
years OF It's growth and increasing
funds the bureau had taken on many
new functions and activities.
Until recently the bureau was adj
minIsterlng 60 the best OF its ability
the laws relating 10 the terrestrial and
arboreal fur bearers Of Alaska, but
the duty was incongruous 10 it's leglti-
mate functions. Congress finally con
ceded that the pursuit OF foxes does
not constitute a fishery The cultiva-
ton OF minks cannot be successfully
conducted In a FISH hatchery.
Apparently. az so many other estab-
lishments under the executive branch
have. the fisheries service had become
all ciuttered up with duties and Jobs
II Is not fitted or equipped to handle.
All OF which Is a long, long way
from an investigation Of the possible
dIminution of food Ash along the coast.
don't pretend 10 say OF the fisheries
bureau that IL has performed inefii-
ciently either it's proper work or the
added activities that have been Inn
posed upon IL. For all | know IL
may he and Is great national bless
ing. and managed with maximum skin.
intelligence and real economy. hope
II is.
I cite II here only as an example OF
branch Of governmental activity that
has grown up haphazard from a small
beginning TO be a great, costly. far.
spreading enterprise that by Its own
confession IL overlald with duties.