> ============================================================
> BILLIONS AND BILLIONS SPENT: WILDLIFE-RELATED

Billions and billions! A belated ode to Carl...

> RECREATION CONTINUES TO BE NATIONAL ECONOMIC FORCE
>
> Hunting, fishing, bird watching, and other wildlife-related
> recreation continued to be a powerful economic engine in 1996,
> with participants spending $96.9 billion in pursuit of these
> pastimes and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, according
> to preliminary data from the Nation's most comprehensive survey
> on this subject, conducted every 5 years by the U.S. Fish and
> Wildlife Service.
>
> This represents more than a 59-percent increase in expenditures
> since 1991, when the Service last conducted its National Survey
> of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Related Recreation, and
> accounts for about 1.3 percent of the Nation's gross domestic
> product, which measures the size of the economy.
>
> "The survey confirms again that it is impossible to separate the
> well-being of our Nation's wildlife and wildlife habitat from the
> health of our economy," said Acting Service Director John Rogers.
> "Our fish and wildlife are not just a priceless treasure we hand
> down from one generation to another, they are the source of jobs
> and growth for both the national and local economy from coast to
> coast."
>
> The survey, which is conducted for the Service by the U.S. Census
> Bureau, showed that the number of hunters and anglers 16 years
> and older stayed relatively constant during the past 5 years.
> There were 35.2 million anglers in 1996 compared with 35.6
> million in 1991. Likewise, there were 14 million hunters
> compared with 14.1 million in 1991. Overall, the number of
> anglers and hunters fell slightly to 39.7 million from 40 million
> in 1991.
>
> Total expenditures by anglers and hunters rose 69 percent during
> the 5-year period to $67.9 billion. Spending by anglers rose 47
> percent to $36.2 billion from $24.6 billion in 1991 while hunters
> spent $17.7 billion, up 75 percent from $10.1 billion in 1991.
> The remaining expenditures could be attributed to whether hunting
> or fishing.
>
> Meanwhile, the number of bird watchers, wildlife photographers,
> and other nonconsumptive participants 16 years and older dropped
> 17 percent during the 5-year period to 63 million from 76 million
> in 1991. Even so, their expenditures rose 39 percent to $29
> billion.
>
> Twenty-four million Americans took trips for the specific purpose
> of observing, photographing, or feeding wildlife in 1996 while 61
> million enjoyed nonconsumptive wildlife-related recreation around
> their homes.
>
> In all, 18 percent of the population 16 and older fished during
> 1996, 7 percent hunted, and 31 percent participated in
> nonconsumptive wildlife-related recreation, the study showed.
>
> "Millions of Americans have made hunting, fishing, birdwatching,
> and other wildlife-related recreation an important part of their
> lives," Rogers said. "This year's survey confirms that Americans
> have a national love affair with wild places and wild creatures."
>
> As part of the survey, the Census Bureau initially screened
> 80,000 households. From this, the bureau chose 28,000 sportsmen
> and -women and 14,400 nonconsumptive participants 16 years and
> older for detailed surveys throughout the year.
>
> More complete preliminary data will be available this summer
> followed by a final national report in November. State-by-state
> reports will be released from November through March 1998.
>
> April 30, 1997 Hugh Vickery 202-208-1456

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, at (NEW) http://donb.photo.net