Milford chronicle., 1922-11-03
Copyright. Western NsWs1apsF Uaioa
Xxx.
HAPHAZARD EXTENSION
By EDWARD G.LowRY

The Department Of Agriculture Il
one instance Of how governmental es
adjustments grow and spread and ex
tend their activities, once they gel
started. The bureau of fisheries, II
the Department Of Commerce, is an
other. 1t had a modest beginning, anG
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
nsh 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. The first one
was for $1,000 and provided for q
commissioner Of fish and fisheries to
prosecute Investigations and inquiries
with the view Of ascertaining wheth-
or 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
:, Of ecautiOnary measures should be
R in the premises; and shall re-
b0qst on the same to congress-"
The Commissioner was to draw no
bay. for it was provided by congress
In ne same joint resolution that he
Fhdyid be q civil officer Of the govern
meTtf Of proved scientific and prac-
tiG1 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 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
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 $803,92O, and the bureau had
a permanent personnel Of 325. At
that time the land owned and occupied
by the bureau at it's fish cultural and
biological stations had an aggregate
area Of over 1900 acres, with a value
Of $240,000. The improvements and
equipment at these stations repre-
sented an investment of more than
81, 100000. 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
r0wbOats, which with equipment had
I value of 100000. Its six fish-trans-
Dortation cars were valued at $4,000.
Indeed, the total investment of the
in flshery-service property
ran to about $1,5s5,OOO. That was
pack in 1909.
Well, it hasn't stopped growing;
bigger and buster than ever, as the ad-
say. The appropriation by
congress for the fiscal year 1919 was
q, ,18S, S,14O, and for 1921, $1,2O7, ITO.
Besides what congress gave, the Pres
dent allotted In 1918 and 1919, out Of
Ifs private fund "for the national Sc
urity and Defense" 100000. With the I
ears Of its growth and increasing
unds the bureau had taken on many Q
ew functions and activities.
Until recently the bureau was ad. s
to the best Of its ability t
be- laws relating to the terrestrial and t
rbOreal fur bearers Of Alaska, but 0
he duty was incongruous to it's legiti- a
late functions. Congress finally con- /,
sded that the pursuit Of foxes does O
Ot constitute a fishery. The cultiva- d
on Of minks cannot be successfully o
,nducted in q fish hatchery. G
Apparently, as so many other estab- D
Ihments under the executive branch il
ave, the fisheries service had become o.
/ cluttered up with duties and Jobs b
Is not fitted or equipped to handle. s.
All Of which is q long, long way
ON an investigation Of the possible b,
minution Of food fish along the coast. t
don't pretend to say Of the fisheries CT
lreau that It has performed inefi- fe
entity either its proper work or the Of
ded activities that have been Inn OF
,sed upon it. For all I know Il NJ
~ be and is a great national bless pC
:, and managed with maximum skill, of
telligence and real economy. hope e1
is. =
[ cite it here only as an example Of u
,ranch of governmental activity that n
s grown up haphazard from a small
ginning to be a great, costly, far
reading enterprise that by its own
lfession is Overlaid With ,duties,
lctions and activities unrelated to =
legitimate and essential business W WNu
care, propagation and study Of all IIo ~,
nner of food fish. r,,