Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-27
ROD AND STREAM
BY PERRY MILLER

tn HE special committee on wild
lie conservation Of the Senate
submitted its report last week.
1t states that it found con-
vincins evidence of rapid disappear
ance Of wild life.
Happily for America, but contribut-
ing materially TO this disappearance Of
wild life, We find that the instinct or
call for hunting and fishing has not
decreased, but is constantly increasing.
1t Is a hereditary instinct transmitted
from pioneer ancestors" it states,
Outdoor recreation and camping
have everywhere increased as the result
OF the introduction Of the motor
vehicle, providing opportunity for whole
some recreation 10 millions of our
cltizens heretofore denied these bless
lngs, the report states.
During the last year, according to
estimates based Gil figures collected by
the Bureau OF Fisheries, approximately
100000 fishing Licenses were issued,
which included the combination licenses,
which number 100000. Estimates
based on figures collected by the
Biological Survey indicate that approx
.mate,y 1000 COZ persons took out hunt
ing licenses, including the 4,5OO ,0OO
comb nation licenses. Accol Aing to the
report conservative estimate of the
number Of people il the United States
Who either nShed or hunted during the
jtar 1929 would be l3,00O,OOO.
IN considering the place OF fish in the
L national food supply it is surprising TO
discover that it ranks third in total
quantity among meat products in the
United States, as shown by the follow
ing table OF the Bureau OF Fisheries:
PorE. .'.........,....... slsI.0oo,ooO pounds
FISH. ................... $500 000. 600 pounds
veal. '..-;,,.,.,...... S00000.0O0 pounds
Autton aud lamb. 643,000,0U0 pounds
This table does not include what
might be termed game fishes" The
annual yield OF Our commercial fish ries
exceeds 100000 GOO pounds, valued at
Sll6OO0,0O0.
THE larger part of a successful con-
l. SsrVatlon program in the preserva-
ton and replacement OF wild life
belongs TO the various States, but. with
Out active participation and the leader
ship CT the Federal Government the
In conclusion, the report says the Ma
tional Government, through its Depart
ments Of Agriculture and Commerce.
and through its bulletins, should ad-
vocate-
/. A complete understanding between
the farmer, the landowner and the
sportsman i'll relation to game and FISH.
2. An increase in the number Of State
experimental farms.
3. An increase in the number of State
Ash hatcherieS.
4. The systematic practice of game
management ON all publicly owned
lands.
3. They should conduct a scientific
research and investigation into the
causes Of disappearance of wild life, the
regional control Of predators, the causes
and prevention of stream pollution, bird,
fish and animal diseases and noxious
parasites and the subject Of proper food
and lack of cover.
6. A national game survey by States.
Z. Cultivate a close cooperation be-
tween national and State efforts in the
exchange OF information ard statistics
8. A report from the Bureau of Bio
logical Survey on the best methods of
breeding our native game birds.
8. A report from the Bureau of Fish
cries on the best methods of breeding
cur frssh-water game fishes.
EVIDENCE that certain species Of
- fish travel great distances from
their breeding areas is shown by q
Pacific salmon. After being marked
with metal tag by the United States
Bureau of Fisheries in Alaskan waters,
the salmon was caught 1900 miles
away ~ days later in Siberian stream
For more than a decade the United
States Bureau of Fisheries has been
carrying on Its marking experiments.
using metal tags. each of which bears
a serial number. Fishermen who re-
turn these tags to the bureau receive
from 25 cents TO 81, depending on the
species of fish.
Marking experiments had shown
that regardless of how much salmon
may indulge the wanderlust they always
return to the home waters for the
spawning season. Another way Of