The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-08-27
+ Observations
Expansion Seen
For Fish, Wild
Life Units
By EsTHER Y. NJ. TUFTY


By ESTHER V. w. TUFTY
Fondest postwar hope Of the
Fish and Wildlife Service is the
establishment of extension bureaus
in all As states where Ash. fowl.
and fur research could be broken
down in everyday language Tor the
fisherman, hunter, nature lover aad
all those others who must practice
what the service breaches.
At such centers, II created and
financed by Congress, federal and
state information will be made
easily available. SpOrtsmen could
drop in with their questions. (Hun-
dreds OF thousands Of requests for
information are sent every year 10
Washington or TO the war-located
national headquarters in Chicago)
Landowners would be encouraged
to improve wildlife conditions on
their own acres. Farmers would
be urged to stop practices destruc'
tive to wildlife. Seasonally, 1900
900 duck hunters could pick up
the new regulations there.
Besides state-located bureaus will
make 1t easier for the federal gov
eminent to assist states. For eX'
ample. the federal service has juris'
diction only over migratory game
birds, but II could help the state
officials with upland game bird
management.
Maybe so many more people will
learn how to conserve fish and
wildlife' that man will lose his
title OF "wildlife's worst enemy"
says DR.. Ira ". Gabrielson. chief
Of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Man cuts down trees where wood
birds nest He burns over his
fields according to the dictates Of
"clean.fleld" policy destroying
home and food for hundreds of diff
ferent birds and animals. He fills
in marshes where waterfowl breed.
And he has a mania 70. trapping
and shooting. both in and out OF
season.
But 10 years ago America, no
longer a game refuge, became
"wildlife conscious" And slowly
results are accommodating.
The Fish and Wildlife Service
intends TO make us still more
CONSCIOUS" :. In the peace days
TO come, Uncle Sam will acquire
great tract of land as the nesting
and feeding grounds Of birds. Feed
ing stations will be placed along
the flyways (bird highways and
in the gulf region where enormous
focks winter, taxing available re-
sources.
For that woman with a yen for
fur. coat, the government has bright
tidings. Were going 10 build up
the seal herd on the Prihilof Is
lands, near the Aleutians, from
2,750,000 to twice that number.
Well sell the hides for coats (it
takes II to make a coat, oil for
tanning feathers and lubricating
machine tools and meal for poul-
try and stock feed" says DR., Cab
rielson, envisioning a nice little
business for the government in
furs.
II prevailing prices continue, I'm
Gle Sam will take in a cool Si,-
$4,000 annually from skins alone.
And we do not have to shell out
Is per cent royalty any more to
Japan for exclusive rights to seal
ingi
Choice Arctic blue fox furs after
the war will also come from the
Pribilofs, where the service is now
improving the stock by importing
select specimens from the Ale'-
tians and by turning back the bet
ter animals for breeding stock.
In Saratoga Springs and Peters
burg. Alaska, the service is look
ing for feeding methods to improve
the fur OF mink under domestic and
semi-domestic conditions.
I'VE are also trying to build up
fur resources OF those animals not
ecomically destructive. like the
muskrat and the beaver" DR.. Cab
rielson reveals.
Wildlife deals IN less spectacular
animals, too. In Fontona, Calf,
scientists are developing better
ways to raise rabbits for fur, meat
and angora wool.