Assistant Secretary of the Interior Frank P. Briggs today reported that Federal excise tax collections on certain types of hunting and fishing equipment from July 1 through September 30, 1962, increased considerably over a like period of 1961.
The big increase was in the sporting arms and ammunition excise tax receipts which totaled $4,769,000—an increase of 12.6 percent over the $4,235,000 collected for the same period of 1961. Excise tax receipts for sport fishing tackle were $1,727,000, an increase of 3.6 percent over the 1961 collection of $1,677,000.
The Federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition was authorized by Congress in 1937. Known as the Pittman-Robertson Act after its sponsors in Congress, this legislation calls for earmarking an 11 percent excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition for wildlife restoration projects.
The excise tax on sport fishing equipment is 10 percent. This tax was authorized in 1950 by the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act, known as the Dingell-Johnson Act, also after its sponsors in Congress.
Funds from these taxes are share by the States in proportion to paid license holders and State area. The money is used to establish public hunting areas, fishing access sites, fishing lakes, waterfowl marshes, research and other types of fish and wildlife restoration. The States bear the cost of approved projects and then are reimbursed by the Federal Government for up to 75 percent of the costs.
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P.N. 21024-63
