Items of Interest February 24, 1917 Issue

Items of Interest

The United States fish hatchery at Havrede Grace, Md., has been closed. The report of the commissioner in reference to the situation said in part: "In annual reports, in special reports to members of the legislature, in communications to the governor, in press notices to the fishermen and the general public, and in personal statements and appeals, we have shown the necessity for a radical change of policy on the part of the state of Maryland in order that the further depletion of once valuable fisheries might be arrested and the abundance of important food fishes might be restored and maintained. Nothing has been done to improve the situation. The state continues to permit practices known to be inimical to the best interests of the fisheries and directly antagonistic to the efforts of the Bureau of Fisheries in behalf of the people of the state. The future expenditure of effort and money under the circumstances not only is inadvisable and unjustified, but is clearly forbidden by stipulations which Congress has wisely placed on our annual appropriations for the propagation of food fishes."

According to the plan announced by Secretary Houston, an increase of 25 per cent in the grazing fees on all national forests will be made for the season of 1917. Subsequent increases will be based on a study of the local conditions on the individual forests. "The timber, grazing, water power, and other resources of the national forests which are used for commercial purposes should be charged for at a rate which represents their fair value," said Secretary Houston. "If a charge only sufficient to cover the cost of administration were made, all of the profit from the commerical use of the national forests would go to a comparatively few individuals instead of to all the people to whom they belong and who are entitled to share their benefits. The charge for grazing should be based upon the real value of the forage on the national forest ranges, as determined by a careful survey of all the facts and not by competitive bids, as required in timber sales."

The Argentine administration has presented to Congress for consideration at a special session a colonization or land settlement law which embraces some of the most progressive features of the colonization plans followed in New Zealand and Australia. Under the proposed law the Argentine Goverment would offer colonists special facilities for acquiring land (up to 494 acres) and restricted cash advances to permit the building of houses and the purchase of animals and implements. The funds advanced would be secured by the property, and the property would be exempt from attachment by other creditors. Applicants for land would be required to work the land and to reside on it for at least five years, making payments from their annual profits in accordance with an equitable plan. This project calls for the expenditure of about thirty million dollars.

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