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Show HAPHAZARD EXTENSION HI Ball The Depnrtmeut of Agriculture Is one Instance of how governmental es-tubllsluuentH es-tubllsluuentH grow und spread and extend ex-tend their activities, once they get started. The burenu of fisheries, In the Department of Commerce, Is another. an-other. It had u modest beginning, and uo; so very long ugo. Prior to 1871 there wus no branch of Hie federal government especially charged with the consldeiotlou of fishery affairs. Several of the states had established flbh commissions and these stute authorities, au-thorities, supported by prlvutc interests, inter-ests, began to agitato for n national burenu devoted to fishery Interests. So It come ubout that by 1871 congress con-gress was ready to yield and begin to uiuke upproprlutlons. The first one wns for (5,000 ifnil provided for u commissioner of llsh and fisheries to prosecute Investigations und Inquiries "with the view of ascertaining whether wheth-er any nnd what diminution In the number of food fishes of the coast and lu the lakes of the United Stales has tnken place; und also whether any and what protective, prohibitory or precautionary meusurcs should be adopted lu the premises; und shnll report re-port upon the same to congress." The commissioner wus to draw no jlayj for it was provided by congress I lu the same Joint resolution that lie should be a civil officer of the government, govern-ment, of proved scientific and practical prac-tical ticquulntuuce with the llshes of the roust, who should serve without additional compensation. Tho then ns-slsttiut ns-slsttiut secretary of the Smithsonian In stitution, by inline Spencer I'ullertou llnlrd, was chosen us the best muti for the Job, nnd ho he proved to be. lie mndo the little ncoru grow. He wns Industrious and competent und knew linw to get nlong with congress. He was diligent ami ho stood before kings. Keo whal happened. Ilemeinber, he started out with (0,000 to discover whether there ha( been liny diminution of the supply of food fhhes nlong the roasts or In the lnl.es. Ho wns nt the head of un Independent In-dependent Uvestlgallon und reported directly to congress. The thing wni kept ullve by animal appropriations us an Independent institution until 1003, when It was Incorporated Into the newly formed Department of Cont-ineiee Cont-ineiee nnd Labor us the bureau nf fisheries. Ily lis?.) llietuinti.il appropriation hail , grow-ji to S03.itU mid the bureau Iind i a pernwrieni jtersnnnel of hl At ithnt time the hind owned and oceu.iml by the bureau at Its fish cultuial nnd nlologlcnl stutlmiH hnd nn nggrcgnl ssH urea of over 12,000 nctes, with it value) HI of (2-10.000. The tmpimcments und HI equipment ut these stations .repre- all sen ted uu Investment or more than HI (1,000.000. Other property of the bu- HI i-enu ut that lime Included four sen- HI going stcum und snll vessels, 20 steuui JaaaH launches and 100 small Mill, power and H rowhoats, which with equipment had H a value or (300,000. Its six llsh-traus- Bj port at I on cars were valued at (10,000. H Indeed, the tolul Investment of the HI government In llshery-servlce property HI ran to about (1,080.000 Thut was HI buck In 1009. ( Well, It hasn't stopped growing; HI bigger and busier than ever, un tliend- HI vertlscmentssay. The appropriation by HI congress lor the fiscal year 1010 was HI (1.183,140, nnd for 1021, (1.207,110. HI Ileslden whut congress gave, the I'rea- HI Ident allotted lu 1018 and 1010. out or HI his private fund "for the natlonul te HI curlly and defense," (100,000. Wth ttie years or Its growth und Increasing BJI funds the bureau hniMuken on many III new functions und activities. HI Until recently the bureau wns ad- Hjl ministering In the best or Its ability Hjl the Iiiwh relntltfg to tho terrestrial and Hfl arboreal fur bearers or Alaska, but ' A) the duty was Incongruous to Its legltt- H mate functions. Congress finally con- H ceded that the pursuit of foxes dees Hi not constitute n fishery. The cultlva- H tlon of minks cannot be successfully j conducted In a fish butchery. H Apparently, ns so many other cBtnb- jH llshments under the executive branch H have, the fisheries service had become H ull cluttered up with duties und Jobs H It Is not fitted ur t quipped to bundle. H All of which Is a long, long way Hja! from an Investigation or the possible MM diminution of food fish along lb 91 must. !HJ I dtAi'l pretend lo say or the fisheries jH burenu that It has performed lucftt ll clently either Us proper work or the ill ndded iietlvftlejt thnt have been lm- i posed upon It. for all I know It ;U may bo and Is n gren; national bless- flfl lug. and mnunged with maximum skill. HI intelligence nnd rent economy. 1 hop H II I cite It here only as nn example or II a brunch of governmental activity that 'BJ Iiiih grown up bnphazaril fnun t small 9 begliinlng m be n great, costly, fnr- BJ pr iifllitg urprlse thnt by Its own iaH confession Is overlaid wh ilutlets Mm runcllons und neilvltlet uurelitted la mL Its legltluinti' und eso'rilul huslness HI the cure pioiiii.-n'lifp hi0 -,lv ot ufl B'H luutilier or fund IIO flH 9aal ,;H |