Wyoming to provide better distribution of game have been completed in cooperation with the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. The areas to which these transplants are made have been chosen because they are adaptable and because the forage resources are adequate to insure a reasonable stocking. A transplant of Rocky Mountain sheep was accomplished this year to the Fort Peck game range in Montana, one of the game ranges established in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Bureau is participating in a game management research study in Utah to determine, among other things, the extent of competition between big game and domestic livestock forage reserve requirements in problem areas and needed adjustments in the game population. I would like to make these two tables a part of the record. (Tables referred to are as follows:) TABLE I.-Acreage, permit, grazing capacity, and wildlife data for grazing districts TABLE II.—Grazing district range improvements directly beneficial to big game TABLE III.—Estimated big-game population, grazing districts, June 30, 1947 Mr. CLAWSON. I think there is nothing further to add to my statement. We have covered it there. I say primarily our Bureau handles administration of grazing lands. We have tried to give the fullest consideration to wildlife, particularly game animals and birds, as a corollary or as an adjunct to that range management. We do not have special funds for game management. It is part of our range-management program. Senator FERGUSON. In other words, on your grazing lands, if they do contain lands that are used either by upland game or ducks or waterfowl as the case may be, you do cooperate with the other departments. Mr. CLAWSON. That is correct. Senator FERGUSON. And you do keep in mind cover and such things as provision of special watering places for upland birds? Mr. CLAWSON. Yes. Senator FERGUSON. In other words, you do not destroy the watering places just to have a little more land? Mr. CLAWSON. Quite the contrary. We develop water resources. Senator ROBERTSON. The Taylor Grazing Act has been helpful to wildlife? Mr. CLAWSON. Yes, it has. Senator ROBERTSON. Isn't there a measure afoot to open up additional areas to grazing? Mr. CLAWSON. All the areas available to grazing are available for grazing by ranch operators under the Taylor Grazing Act. The land grazed is used by operators under some licensing system. Senator ROBERTSON. Isn't there a measure afoot to open up the Federal forest lands for grazing? Mr. CLAWSON. I am not aware of that. We have only the grazing districts, we don't have the National Forest Service under our jurisdiction and I am not familiar with any such measure. Senator FERGUSON. You have not put on any pressure trying to get additional grazing land in your district? Mr. CLAWSON. No. Senator FERGUSON. Mr. Day. STATEMENT OF ALBERT M. DAY,1 DIRECTOR, WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mr. DAY. If I may impose on the committee I would like to clear up some of the points that were made this morning. As Carl Shoemaker told you, our own studies indicate that the kill of waterfowl in Mexico is nowhere near as bad as it is reported. Much of the excessive killing is by American hunters who go down there to indulge their sadistic instincts. We had undercover agents in Mexico last year attempting to learn the answer to some of these problems. We also had a plane with two observers which made two trips down the west coast of Mexico to Central America and up the east coast observing waterfowl conditions. The Fish and Wildlife Service believes that there may be a chance to work with the Mexican officials and to increase their interest in waterfowl protection. With this in mind I may tell you that negotiations are now under way for officials of the Interior Department to go to Mexico City and to sit down with people in high places in Mexico and see if we can arouse their interest to do a better job of waterfowl protection. 1 Supra, p. 13. On the use of additional funds for enforcement, out of the increased duck-stamp money, I think I have told you before, that we would prefer to have it flexible so that additional moneys could be set aside as conditions warrant. If this new bill goes through for next year, we are not yet certain of the number of men of the kind we want that we can hire, or of the equipment that will be available. Nevertheless my own thinking is, that I would like to see a good share of the additional funds to result from the increase of duck-stamp money go into enforcement. I would also like to comment briefly on the research units which were closed last year. You have heard from Virginia and Ohio. The other closed unit was Alabama. The Bureau of the Budget permitted us to ask for the restoration of those units. We have argued the case before the House committee, but we have not yet had a report on the appropriation bill. Senator FERGUSON. Thank you very much. Senator ROBERTSON. I ask unanimous consent to have inserted in this record letters received by the clerk of the committee and received by me on S. 2482. Senator FERGUSON. They will be made a part of the record. (Letters referred to are as follows:) J. H. MACOMBER, Jr, CHEYENNE, Wyo., April 22, 1948. Chief Clerk, Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, Notice of hearing arrived too late for reply by letter. As head of Wyoming Game and Fish Department and president of International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners, I wish to endorse and recommend passage of S. 2482. LESTER BAGLEY, President, International Association of Game, STATEMENT CONCERNING S. 2482, INTRODUCED APRIL 12, 1948, BY SENATOR ROBERTSON OF VIRGINIA (By Seth Gordon, executive director, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and chairman of the executive committee, International Association of Game, Fish, and Conservation Commissioners) The purpose of his bill is to provide additional revenue for the restoration of migratory birds; the enforcement of the regulations relative thereto; and to permit the Department of the Interior to designate part of the lands and waters acquired for management purposes. Conservation officials generally are in favor of this measure. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has given the proposed increase of the migratory bird hunting stamp from $1 to $2 full consideration, and finds no reason for objecting thereto. The funds presently available from the $1 migratory bird hunting stamp are grossly inadequate to accomplish the desired objectives. Those who hunt waterfowl are the only persons affected by this increase in the cost of duck stamps; there is no reason to believe that any considerable percentage of them will object to the proposed increase. They want the United States Department of the Interior to do a good job in the administration of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929, and it cannot be done with inadequate funds. The proposed amendments in section 2 of this bill are most desirable. In many instances the Federal Government has been compelled to acquire practically all the waterfowl hunting grounds in a given area in order to establish adequate refuge facilities. Where no harm will be done to the refuge program, up to 25 percent of the lands so acquired can safely be made available for wildlife management and hunting purposes, in cooperation with the States where they are located. If this amendment is not included hunters of average means will soon have no place to enjoy waterfowl hunting. When that time arrives the large system of refuges established by the Federal Government will benefit primarily those who are fortunate enough to own private shooting grounds. State officials at a conference some few months ago agreed that the present limitation on the percentage that can be expended for general administration purposes, especially enforcement of the migratory bird regulations, is entirely too small. Enforcement of the migratory bird regulations is one of the most important jobs to be done. Most of us would be perfectly satisfied to let the Interior Department and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service determine what percentage of the income from the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act should be used for law enforcement. However, the executive committee of the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners, of which the writer happens to be chairman, is recommending that the bill be amended to provide that not more than 25 percent of the fund shall be available for purposes of law enforcement. Such an amendmeEt should definitely be included in the bill. We are not sure that the provisions of section 4 are necessary or desirable. We would prefer to be guided by the advice of the United States Wildlife Service relative thereto. HARRISBURG, PA., April 23, 1948. Hon. HOMER FERGUSON, STATE OF ILLINOIS, DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, Springfield, April 22, 1948. United States Senator, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR: Referring to your letter of April 17, 1948, written by Mr. Macomber, as chairman of the Legislative committee of the International Association of Fish, Game and Conservation Commissioners, and as director of conservation of the State of Illinois, I wish to express my concurrence in S. 2482, introduced by Senator Robertson of Virginia. I have talked to a great many people interested in conservation, hunting and fishing throughout the country on the subject of the increase of the duck stamp, and I have found no opposition. I am sure that the passing of this bill would do much to aid in wildlife conservation. Ohio will send one man, Mr. Johnson, to the hearing, and there may be some others. As soon as I receive the information, I will wire you. Sincerely yours, LIVINGSTON E. OSBORNE, Director. Senator HOMER FERGUSON, GAME AND FRESH WATER FISH COMMISSION, Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR FERGUSON: At the meeting of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners in Atlanta, Ga., Monday, April 26, a telegram was sent you signed by all members of the association, expressing their views on the .$2 duck-stamp bill. We do not know when your subcommittee will report, but we urge you to press this bill and earmark at least 75 percent of the funds of the extra dollar to be used for law enforcement on the flyways. I wish also to take this opportunity to endorse hunting on 25 percent of sanctuaries, if and when the duck population warrants same. With kindest regards, I am Very truly yours, BEN C. MORGAN, Director. ATLANTA, GA., April 26, 1948. Hon. HOMER FERGUSON, United States Senate, Washington, D. C.: The Southeastern Association of Game Conservation Officials representing the game commissions of 11 southern States in session assembled in Atlanta do unanimously request the following amendment to H. R. 3802 now being considered by your committee: That at least 75 percent of dollar added to duck-stamp fee be dedicated to enforcement of migratory bird laws along the flyways in the United States and that the balance be allotted for protection, promotion, and enforcement of migratory bird laws by the official game agencies in Mexico, Central America, Cuba, and the West Indies. T. A. McAmis, Arkansas; Major James Brown, Louisiana; R. M. Mr. J. H. MACOMBER, Jr., ARIZONA GAME AND FISH COMMISSION, Chief Clerk, Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, DEAR MR. MACOMBER: Reference is made to your letter of April 16 informing us of the testimony to be given to the Senate subcommittee relative to the budget reports submitted by the Fish and Wildlife Service and other Federal agencies performing functions in the field of wildlife conservation. I am sorry to inform you that a representative of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will not be able to testify at these hearings in person. We respectfully request, however, that our desires be considered by the subcommittee, regarding the following appropriations. 1. That the appropriation for the Predatory Animal and Rodent Control Division of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the Western States be doubled over last year. Here in Arizona, and also in the majority of the Western States, we have a serious predator-control problem which the Fish and Wildlife Service has not had adequate funds to control in the past. We would, therefore, invite the subcommittee's earnest consideration of an increased appropriation to this Division. 2. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has gone on record as favoring the passage of Senate bill 2482 which increases the price of the duck stamp from $1 to $2. 3. Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service last year requested approximately $200,000 to administer the fish and wildlife resources on the national forests throughout the United States. This appropriation was not given to the Forest Service last year. Here in Arizona we have approximately 11,000,000 acres of national forest lands upon which the major part of our wildlife resides. At the present time we have a very sincere cooperative working relationship with the Forest Service and we feel that such a small amount of money can mean little in our national economy and yet provide the Forest Service with the means for working with us in the management of this great natural resource. We would, therefore, respectfully request that the subcommittee consider restoring this appropriation to the Forest Service budget for this coming fiscal year. In concluding I might state that Arizona appreciates the opportunity of making her wishes known relative to the appropriation made to Federal agencies performing functions in the field of wildlife conservation. Yours very truly, Hon. HOMER FERGUSON, THOMAS L. KIMBALL, Director, Arizona Game and Fish Commission. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR FERGUSON: The California Fish and Game Commission wishes to endorse Senate bill 2482, introduced by Senator Robertson, in order that the added revenue that would be gained from a $2 duck stamp may be available to accomplish much-needed waterfowl restoration throughout the United States. Very truly yours, EMIL J. N. OTT, Jr., Executive Officer. |