Ten management units-3 for deer, 4 for antelope, and 3 for elk-have been` blocked out in the district. Present plans of the State game and fish department call for an increase of 310 antelope, 1,630 elk, and 1,100 deer for which grazing capacity in the district has been provided. Game population and their forage requirements in this district are indicated as follows:

Excess antelope in this district is one of the outstanding game problems in the area. Plans for antelope control have been worked out cooperatively with all agencies and groups concerned. These plans include two hunting seasons in 1945 within the congested unit with a two-bag limit for the fall season. Seven management units have been blocked out-three for antelope, three for deer, and one for elk and moose.

Present and desired numbers of big game in the district and forage requirements in animal unit months are shown below:

An excess of about 3,000 antelope is present in this district. The situation in one unit is being relieved somewhat by the development of water to afford wider distribution. Also a two-bag limit for the fall season of 1945 and a two-season hunting period has been approved by the State game and fish department.

Five large reservoirs having a storage capacity of 38 acre-feet and costing $3,269.08 are to be constructed by the Grazing Service and the State game and fish department in the near future. Pittman-Robertson funds totaling $2,574.84 will be expended in these projects.

The 52 elk now present in this district were transplanted from the Jackson Hole herd during the late winter of 1944. These elk were established on Shirley Mountain under State supervision and are now in a thrifty condition.

Ten management units for big game have been defined within the district, four for antelope, four for deer, and two for elk. Present and desired game population and forage presently used in animal-unit months are shown below:

Green River district.

The big game population in this district is about right, according to all available data bearing on the matter. Of the total number of elk present 120 head were transplanted by the State from the Jackson Hole herd during 1944. Twelve management units for big game have been set up as follows-4 for antelope, 5 for deer, and 3 for elk. Game counts by airplane, supplemented by field trips, have given very accurate estimates of the numbers and location of these animals. Forage available for game and the numbers present are fairly close together as indicated below:

The present numbers of all classes of big game are below the desired numbers in this district. Plans for an increase of 250 antelope, 700 deer and 360 elk have been adopted by the Grazing Service after consultation and agreement reached with the advisory board, State game officials, and other interested groups. Sufficient grazing capacity has been provided for the desired numbers. ́Hunting seasons, protected areas, bag limits, and all other regulations governing the control of game are set by the State after consulting with the local district grazier and the advisory board.

During 1943 the district grazier assisted the State game officials in the transplanting of 228 elk to the winter ranges in the southern portion of the district. The elk were trucked from the Jackson Hole herd during the fall. This is the beginning of an experiment to induce elk herds to use the lower ranges within the grazing district as their winter feeding grounds and the adjacent forest lands for summer range in order to avoid heavy winter losses and costly feeding operations.

Sixteen game management units have been described in the district-4 for antelope, 6 for deer, and 6 for elk and moose.

The game numbers and forage available for them is tabulated below:

Mr. RICHARDS. Mr. Ryan will be called again, if the committee thinks it is required.

Mr. RYAN. That is perfectly satisfactory. We do not ask for or receive any appropriation from Congress to conduct wildlife management, as such. It is all done entirely in cooperation.

Mr. RICHARDS. Thank you very much, Mr. Ryan, for appearing, and the committee will stand adjourned until 2 o'clock tomorrow after

noon.

(Whereupon, at 12:30 p. m., the committee adjourned, to reconvene at 2 p. m., Wednesday, November 29, 1944.)

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CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1944

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SELECT COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION
OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES,
Washington, D. C.

The committee met at 2 p. m., in room C, Committee of Accounts, the Capitol, Representative A. Willis Robertson (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order.

We regret very much the illness of Dr. Carl P. Russell, chief naturalist of the National Park Service, who has been with us on previous occasions when we have received from the Park Service its report on conservation activities.

Director Drury of the National Park Service, has sent us a good substitute, however, in Mr. Victor H. Cahalane, acting chief naturalist, and it gives me pleasure to present Mr. Cahalane to the committee at this time.

STATEMENT OF VICTOR H. CAHALANE, ACTING CHIEF NATURALIST, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. CAHALANE. Mr. Chairman. Our report covers the year ending August 31, 1944.

Staff reductions resulting from the war emergency which were referred to in our last report have continued to prevent wholly efficient protection of wildlife in the national-park system. It is believed, however, that no serious failures have resulted.

Of considerably greater import to wildlife than disease, natural enemies, or poaching by hunters and trappers has been the threat to extend livestock grazing in the national parks and monuments. After considerable study of the possible effects of grazing, an increase of about 20 percent in the existing grazing use was authorized as reported to this committee in 1943, in order to advance the production of food to meet the war emergency. Additional allotments have been sought by certain interests, however, especially in the national parks in California. Furthermore, a bill (H. R. 5058) has been introduced in the Congress to open all national parks and monuments to grazing for the duration of the war and 6 months thereafter.

As a result of experience in World War I, when grazing was permitted as an emergency measure, the National Park Service believes that livestock should be excluded from the wilderness national parks and from other units of the national-park system where wildlife interests are paramount.