Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-04-28
Rv EDWARD G. LOWRY
Copyright. Western Newspaper Union
Xxx.


ADJUSTMENTS grow anu SpIedu anu ca
tend their activities, once they get
started. The bureau of fisheries, in
the Department Of Commerce, is an
other. 1t had a 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 a national
bureau devoted to fishery interests.
So it came about that by 1871 con-
gress was ready to yield and begin to
make appropriations. Phe first n
was for $1,000 and provided for a
commissioner of fish and fisheries to
prosecute Investigations and inquiries
with the view of ascertaining wheth-
err any and what diminution 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 a 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 happened.
Remember, he started put with
$4,000 to discover whether there had
been any diminutior 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 vas
kept alive by annual appropriations
as an Independent institution until
1908, 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 $803 800, and the bureau had
a permanent personnel of 800. At
that time the land owned and occupied
the bureau at its fish cultural and
biological stations had an aggregate
area of over 1900 acres, with a value
Of $240,00O. The improvements and
at these stations repre-
an investment of more than
81 100000. Other property of the bu-
reau at that time included four sea- |
steam and sail vessels, 20 steam
launches and $50 small sail, power and
rowboats, which with equipment had
a value of 100000. Its six fish-trans-
portation cars were valued at $4,000.
the total investment of the
government in fishery-service property
to about $1,585,0OO. That was
pack in 1909.
Well, it hasn't stopped growing;
and buster than ever, as the adj
vertisements say. TIE appropriation by
congress for the fiscal year 1919 was
81, 49,, 40, and for 1921, $1,207, ITO.
Besides what congress gave, the Pres
dent allotted in 1918 and 1919, out of
his private fund 'for the national Sc
curity and defense" $4,000. With the
years of its growth and increasing
funds the bureau had taken on many
new functions and activities.
Until recently the bureau was ad-
ministering to the best of it's ability
the laws relating to the terrestrial and
arboreal fur bearers of Alaska. but
he duty was incongruous to it's legiti-
mate functions. Congress finally con-
coded that the pursuit of foxes does
constitute a fishery. The cultiva-
ton of minks cannot be successfully
conducted in a fish hatchery.
Apparently, as so many other estab-
lishments under the executive branch
A~'O1 LIN SCINlGS ldU DecOInn |
cluttered up with duties n Jobs
it is not fitted or equipped to handle.
All of which is a long, long way
from an investigation of the possible
diminution Of food fish along the coast.
l don't pretend to say of the fisheries
bureau that it has performed inef6-
GENTLY either it's proper work mr. tho
added activities that have been i'm
posed upon it. For all 1 know If
may be and is a great national bless
ing, n managed with maximum skill
Intelligence and real economy. I hone
1t is.
cite 1t here only as an example of
branch OF governmental activity hat
has grown up haphazard from a small
beginning TO be a great, costly. far
spreading enterprise that by its own
is Oyerlaid with dr+,..