Show H HAPHAZARD EXTENSION I The Tho Department of t A Is Isone Isone Isone one Instance of ot how governmental establishments establishments es es- grow v and spread and extend extend extend ex ex- ex- ex tend their activities once th they y get et started The bureau of ot fisheries sherles In Inthe Inthe the D Department of Commerce Is la another an an- other It had a modest beginning and not so ver very long ago Prior to 1871 there was no branch of ot the t federal government especially charged with the tho consideration of ot fishery affairs Several of or the states had established fish ish commissions and these state au au- I supported by private Inter- Inter eats began to agitate for tor a national bureau devoted to fishery Interests So It came about that by 1871 conin con con- in gloss ass oss was ready to yield and begin to tomake tomake tomake make appropriations The first tint one oneas was as for tor and provided for a commissioner of ot fish tish and fisheries to prosecute ln investigations estimations and Inquiries s with the view of ct ascertaining wh whether heth hether th er any any and what diminution In the number of ot food tood fishes of ot the coast und and in the lakes lakel of ot the United States State l' l has bas bas' taken place and also whether Wan any and what protective prohibitory tory or of precautionary measures should be adopted in the premises and report report report re re- re- re port upon the s same me to cOn congress The commissioner was to draw no pay par for tor It was provided d by congress s sIn In tie the same joint resolution that he should hould be a civil officer of the government govern govern- government ment of ot proved scientific and practical practical acquaintance with the fishes fish of the coast cout who should serve sene without additional comI compensation The then a as- as secretary of the Smithsonian Inv In In Institution by name Spen Spencer r Fullerton Baird was as U ti tM best beet t man for forthe forthe tor the Job jib and BO so he be proved to te b be He Ile made the little acorn grow ITO H U He was pas J Industrious and competent tent and knew knewbow how bow to get along with con congress 5 He waa diligent and ho he stood b before re See Ilee what hat happened ber he started rut eat with to discover wb whether ther there had been any d diminution of ot the supply of food tood fishes a along the coasts couts or In the lakes He lie was at the head of an Independent independent In in- dependent investigation and re reported directly eUy to congress The thing was kt kept t alive aUn by annual appropriations as an nn independent institution until glint 1903 1003 when it was as Incorporated into the newly formed Department of ot Commerce Commerce Com Corn merce and Labor a a. a th the bureau ot of fisheries By 1000 1909 the annual I appropriation livid bud grown rown to and the bureau had hada a permanent personnel of At that hat time thus the land owned d and occupied 1 by 7 the bureau at et Its fish cultural and biological stations had an aggregate area of ot over acres acre with a value of ot The Improvements and equipment at these stations represented represented an Investment of morn more thin Other property of ot the bureau bu ha reau at that time Included four tour seagoing seagoing sea going steam and sail vessels 20 steam launches and small sail power and rowboats which with equipment had hada a value of ot Its six fish trans cars were valued at ot Indeed the total Investment of ot the government In service fishery property ran to about I That was wai back In la 1909 1900 Well It hasn't stopped growing gro bigger bagger and busier busler than ever as the advertisements advertisements ad nd say The appropriation bj by congress s for tor the fiscal year 1919 was wa 40 and for 1921 1 Besides what congress s gave ilu PresIdent President Pres Pres- ident allotted lu 1918 1018 and 1919 lOW out of or his private fund for tor the national security security se se- and defense With the years of or Its growth und nod increasing funds the bur bureau had taken on many new functions and activities Until recently the was administering ad ad- administering ministering to the best of ot its ability the laws relating to the terrestrial and arboreal fur tur bearers of ot Alaska but the duty was incongruous to its legitimate mate functions Con Congress finally con ceded cedell that the pursuit of ot foxes tona does doe not constitute a fishery The cultivation cultivation tion of ot minks cannot be successfully conducted in a IS fish hatchery a as BO so man many other establishments tab stab under the executive branch have bave the fisheries service bad bod become all aU cluttered up with duties duties- and fud cd Job Jobs It it is sot not fluted fitted or equipped to h handle bundle All AU of which is fa a Ion long loni leas bag w way y from an investigation of ot the p po ihl diminution of food tood fish lh along the Ua toast roast I J dont don't pretend to say BaY of or the bureau that it has performed either its prop roper proper r work or tt the added activities that have Gave been n II imposed Im Imposed posed upon it For all al I know v l 1 It may b be and is a n great national bl blessing bless lag ing and managed manna with maximum skill Intelligence and r real aJ economy I hopt hope hop it Is is 18 I cite it here only as xu hn u example of ofa a ft branch of ot governmental activity that thai has grown up haphazard from rom a small tl beginning to be a n great costly far tar spreading enterprise that by its own i confession is overlaid o with dut duties s functions and ond activities unrelated to Its legitimate and ond essential business business- the care tire propagation and study of ot a ai manner r of food rood fish b |