The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-04-06
BY EDWARD G. LOWRY
Copyright. Western Newspaper Union
HAPHAZARD EXTENSION

AAfAA AA<A&<AND En- ENSAOlN
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. 1t had modest beginning, and
not so very long ago. Prior to 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 to agitate for national
bureau devoted to fishery interests.
So it came about that by 1871 con-
gress was ready to yield and begin TO
make appropriations. The first one
was for 5000 and provided for a
commissioner of fish and fisheries to
prosecute investigations and inquiries
with the view of ascertaining wheth-
er any and what dlminution 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 it was provided by congress
In the same joint resolution that he
should be civil officer of the govern
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. He was
Industrious and competent and knew
how to get along with congress. He
was diligent and-he stood before kings.
See what happeIed.
Remember. lie started out with
| $1,000 to discover whether there had
been any diminution of the supply of
food fishes along the coasts or in 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 it was Incorporated into
| the newly formed Department of Com
merce and Labor as the bureau of
fisheries.
By 1909 the annual appropriation had
grown to $SO3, 3,92O, and the bureau had
permanent personnel of 1926. 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 $240,OOO. The improvements and
equipment at these stations repre-
sented an investment of more than
$1,O00,00O. Other property of the bu-
reau at that time included four sea-
going steam and sail vessels, 20 steam
launches and $50 small sail, power and
rowboats, which with equipment had
value of 100000. Its six fish-trans-
pOrtation cars were valued at $45, 600
Indeed, the total investment of the
government in fishery-service property
ran to about 81 1,5S5,OOO. That was
back In 1909.
Well, it hasn't stopped growing;
bigger and buster than ever, as the ad-
vertisements say. The appropriation by
congress. for the fiscal year 1918 was
$1,1S3,1 ,140, and for 1921, $1,2O7 .11O-
Besides what congress gave, the Pres
ident allotted in 1918 and 1919 out of
his private fund "fOr the national Sc
curity and Defense" 100000. with the
years of its growth and increasing
funds the bureau had taken on many
new functions an6 activities.
Until recently the bureau was ad-
ministering to the best of Its ability
the laws relating to the terrestrial and
arboreal fur bearers of Alaska. but
the duty was incongruous to its legiti-
mate functions. Congress finally con-
ceded that the pursuit of foxes does
not constitute fishery. The cultiya-
tion of minks cannot be successfully
conducted in fish hatchery.
Apparently. as so many other estab-
lishments under the executive branch
have, the fisheries service had become
all cluttered up with duties and Jobs
1t is not fitted or equipped to handle.
All of which is n long, long way
from an Investigation of the possible
diminution of food fish along the coast.
uoh pretenu 10 say OF the hsnerleS
bureau that 1t has performed ineffi-
ciently either its proper work or the
added activities that have been i'm
posed upon 1t. For all I know 1t
may be and is great national bless
Ing, and managed with maximum skill,
Intelligence and real economy. 1 hope
1t is.
l cite 1t here only rs an example of
n branch of governmental activity that
has grown up haphazard from small
beginning to be n great, costly far
sDrpadino enterprise that hv tic o,,,x