RETORT OF THE COMITTMT ON 131RD P-POTCflONs, 194.2 
 
       The Bird Protectioni Caittiee presents its 1942 Report, Abe first
in 
 
  an Aauria at war. This unfortunate couditi   is .in.ooassLng birds as 
 
  well as an in its disastrous embrs.o. For yeos  to *me "the War"
or it. 
 
  aftermath is likely to affect any species of American birds, Throughout

 
  this 1942 report, and perhaps through severl of its suoeessors, references

 
  to "he fRr' will form -a evevrpresint background. 
 
      This inolttee believe. that the job of winning the war is of primary

 
 imortne, not only to preservation of our oeuntry but to ultimate oonserva.

 
 tion of such resourcs as our bird life. In the process, losses are inevitable.

 
 Some losses will be necessar and therefor* worthwhile. Others will be un

 
 neelseary and wasteful. Conervationists mast try to differentiate betesen

 
 the two -- then strive to deflect the Jugsernat without hindering its ultimate

 
 arrival at victooryo 
 
     O~ne bastructive and needless stop, based on the excuse of wartime 
 emorgen* seems likely to have far-reaching eftfets on conservation, This

 
 is the rwoval of the Fis4 ad Wildlife Ser'i*e from Washington. The isolation

 
 of the toonical wildlife agaeny of the federal Coverzment at a distanee

 frm the seat of that govemnt and from the of fiaoe  of many related aotivltist

 
 prises little good, Alreay the loss of trained personnel is serious. 
 
 7speoially alaming is the prospeot that fwailities for research are likely
to 
 
 be reduoed to the vamnihinr point. Under the present onditions the small
amount 
 
 of space released in Washington will not have mry effect on "the war
effort.s' 
 
     The conservation wrk of the National Par  8e9rvoe and the Office of

 
Indian Affairs has also been interrupted and seriously hmpered by transfer#