I Inv« 0 tl£&ti• [-w ■ j it , r*. 1 V '*i * . began at onoe to work In the rice fields where the grain was still In the shook* Much additional damage was done by Blackbirds of four species* The grain was being harvested as rapidly as weather conditions •T . ? v \ - J * # - , M 4 * permitted but serious damgge from wild ducks was loninent as the birds were feeding at night in the fields* It was recommended therefore •« » **- •• " "• - S * ~ \ t.i » * ■ Y, i * ■* *.C I* ' . . *"• that permission be granted to kill ducks at night in fields where rloe ■ ■ ’ . •* " • ‘ V * \ 4. 1 * V* a m|T ' '■} * -* •* , , • »*. '► . C.’ was still standing or in the shock* under Begulatlon 10 of the federal 1 _ * “** i i ** . I "i ■ j • • 4' * . ^5|JP "j** Migratory Bird Treaty Act* Inhoeordanoe with this such permission ■ vT was granted* extending to and including December 31* 1910* Q, (JJifc&it ..*• Si V r ; ,* .VAv . . v \ >. v b «*.v V A;V . ' J jt.' o 'j4 1 v *r •vj- v/ r , "V , , , . - r . k*' .-if .. ■ ' : „ ■ esii . ♦ . _ • r» J| * • f »• J : s W . • * . • . * • , > * ' < r -‘ f.- *?JST ' V 5? ' ' .V* * - ' Sy VA ■ >'< ..s '1 . , ■ .* V'T y>JM ii. 1 r i < •> >t + V‘\ '* . Pi. ( | y sic * r . , T* i ' Vv T > •?; Oftwr i V s: „ jv •/; ssm »,* '•f* .4 1 •• *.; y‘-< *. • . .#v • :* •A / > r v \ \ August 27, 1919 H» hansom, U, S, Same harden, 708 V. 20th Ass, Spokane, ..’ash, Soar air. Hansom: ^ For poor Information wo inclose copy of an order of the Secretory dated July 30, 1919, authorizing rice growers, members of their irradiate families and boos fide employees to kill ducks when necessary to protect the rice orope from damage and also form of the permit valid only when countersigned and issued by one of the officials designated in the order to countersign and issue the permits, Messrs. J, H, Stephens and Chas, H, Marry, President and Ssoretary, respectfully, of the pacific Bios Growers* Association, Sacramento, and Mr, George Veals, D. S, Deputy Gams Warden, . 2100 L St. Sacramento, and Mr, Stonewall J, Carpenter, U, 3, Deputy Gaos warden, Maxwell, Calif,, have all been authorised to countersign and issue these permits, * 1 \ l j L ' For your farther information we inclose oopy of reports made by Hr, Alexander 7/etmore of this Bureau, who investigated Conditions in the rice belt of California last fall, we also inclose oopy of the Bureau*e Vetter dated August 7 to Mr, J, H« Stephens, eonoerning the issaanoe of the permits this year, and copies of letters Just received from Ur. Seale and Mr, hewbert of the California Fish and Game Commission. All of these InolO- eures are self-explanatory and should give you a fairly good idea of the situation as it has existed and now exists in the rice belt with respect to (the alleged depredations of wild ducks and the necessity of issuing per- mits allowing them to be killed, in this oanneotlon, we may say, however, confidentially, that the members of the state game o oasis a ion have always peon opposed to the iesuanoe of these permits, but somewhat reluctantly their consent to the iesuanoe of the Federal permits, operations undo: which are being carried on, notw ithstand lag the state law grants no such privileges., it being understood that the operations be carried on under the federal permits with the sanction of the stats game department which will not ' interfere. Share seems to be considerable uncertainty ana misunderstanding concerning the authority conferred by the order of the Secretary and the pexmlts, You will have in mind that under Section 2 of the Treaty Act, no person can kill, nossesa. etc., an migratory speaifioally uthorltv to by the Secretary of Agriculture, and that the only authority kill, possess, transport, or In fact do anything else with any aigratoj birds under this permit is contained in the permit itself, and that uml W.H*B. a apeeifio permission oan be found la tha permit to do a particular thing or by natural inference without • training the terms of tha permit* It oao ba assumed that a certain thing la author lead than tha doing of that thing is unlawful. Sr* Seale inf ones tha bureau that paraoaa with duck* may ba seam on tha streets of Sacramento at all tlaaa and that we hare no say of interfsriEg. Ha also eon tends that they hare no discretion to refuse a permit to a person who has applied for one and that there la no provision for an investigation to determine the necessity for Issuing permits. As a matter of fUet* Sr. Seale and Sr. Carpenter have been employed on a par diem basis by the Bureau for the very purpose of rooking investigations and determining the necessity for issuing permits* and we have advised Sr. Seale that no permits should be issued unless absolutely necessary to protect the rise erope from the depredations of due he. Further- more, that no dusks should be killed under permits unless absolutely necessary to protect the orope* and that if any penaitce abuses tno pri- vileges granted by hie permit it should be revoked luaedlatoly* So person whether be be a riot grower* member of a rice grower’s finally of a bena fide employee of the rloe grower oaa kill or possess ducks under the authority c onferred by these permits unless the person tha perrur killing possess leg the ducks hoe bad issued to him and holds an Individual permit properly counts reigned by a duly authorised agent of to# q« It is fur tiier contended that the Issuance of these permits opens the way to the shipment of ducks by permittees to their friends and for eomseroial purposes. Tou will observe that the permit specif ically 3tatae that the doom killed shall not be sold, offered for sale* or shipped for purposes of male, and that an permission is granted to transport the birds except to hospitals or charitable institutions in California for uss as food. It follows that no birds oaa be shipped or transported except to charitable institutions or hospitals in California for usa as food except that by natural inference a permittee hae tin right to carry or transport to hia Hrtwe for hia own use ducks that have been lawfully killed by him* He *ay uot even lawfully carry or transport birds that have been killed by some other permittee. Tou will also bear in mind that if any birds ara transported, o err led oar shipped In packages that the packages must be plainly marked* etc. as provided by Bsgulation 6 of the Treaty Act Regulations, and that no shipments can be node except to hospitals end aharitable.i I19tltut i0n9 * \ " _ j You should carefully study the provisions of the permit with respect to the manner in which duoka may be killed* with particular referenda to the prohibition against killing them from natural or artificial blinds, while j on the water ."In any field after the rioe baa been thrashed or from which it , has been removed. i . J * The Bureau it of the opinion that no groat amount of Aiff faulty vi 11 bo onetusterod in oooing that the authority conferred by those permits ie properly *>b served, provided, duo oaro is ezerolsod in issuing permits these permits knd seeing that the lav is properly observed, Tou should exercise extra caution not to antagonise the riot growers with whoa the bureau lo now nmintafaing friendly relatione but it oust be distinctly understood that V these permits are to be issued only when absolutely neeessary to Kill the duels) to prevent injury to the rioe or op and that no dinks can be Killed unleaeWbeolutely nscessary.to carry out the purpose and intent of the permits* in any event, permits can be issued only to rioe growers, token against any a|c all persons found violating the law or abasing the privileges conferred by the permits* Tou should Keep the Bureau fully Ve may add in Confidence, that politics is considerably mixed in affaire in California fad you will have to keep your eyes and ears open to avoid failing into any V it -falls. be extremely careful Sf what you say and do in order to avoid starring up any unnecessary strife* Whenever in doubt, vire the bureau fully in regard to the facts and await instructions. SAL: SC H ■ lilVfl I . I ia claimed that the ducks cannot do any damage to the rioe at this time of wear because it has not sufficiently ripened. Tou should r pains to observe the condition of the rioe orop and Kara ee of definiteness as to Just what time of year the rioe of being da.mged by the depredations of the duo kb • for April, 1919 I 1 DUCKS AND RICE By Dr. H. C. Bryant Game Expert of the California Fish and Game Commission Museum of Vertebrate Zoology University of California Editor's Note: We are pleased to acknowledge receipt of the following treatise from the offices of the Cali- fornia Nish and Game Commissioner. It has been submitted for exclusive use in the COURIER . This report comprises material gathered from various sources with the addition of facts gained first hand while investigating* conditions during* September and October, 1918. Nearly three weeks were spent near Willows and Maxwell on the west side in Glenn and Colusa Counties and four days on the east side in Sutter and Butte Counties. HISTORY The problem presented by the dam- age to rice caused by ducks is a relatively new one. Although rice has been grown in the Sacramento Valiev for some ten years yet complaint of damage by ducks has not come into prominence until the last two years. During the 1917 session of the legis- lature no mention of damage by ducks was made by rice growers when they attempted to remove protection from blackbirds because of their depreda- tions in the rice fields. Had severe damage been caused by ducks up to this time some complaint would cer- tainly have been made. In the fall of 1917 many news- paper accounts of damage caused to growing rice and rice in the shock appeared. Numerous complaints made to the Fish and Game Com- mission finally resulted in detailing Mr. George Neale to investigate con- ditions and discover some means of protecting rice from the depredations of ducks. Mr. Neale hit upon the idea of using tire-works as a means to frighten the birds, and demon- strated that this method was prac- ticable. The use of bombs thrown into the aii* from a mortar proved most effective. Mr. Cooper of Live Oak, Sutter County, reported that bombs furnished by the Rayeliff Sales Com- pany of San Francisco were very effective and that the explosion of these bombs drove the birds from the fields in such confusion that they did not return. Early in the fall of 1918 numerous newspaper articles again appeared exaggerating damage done and at- tacking the Fish and Game Commis- sion. The main point made in these articles was to the effect that rice growers should be allowed to slaughter ducks before the season opened and to market them as a conservation of food measure. No mention was made of means of protecting crops. Prom- inent among the rice growers men- tioned as accusing the ducks of great damage was Mr. W. D’Egilbert of the Western Rice Growers, Incorporated, a corporation, not an association, of rice growers, as the name would in- dicate. The attitude of Mr. D’Egilbert may be judged from the following quota- tions from letters. He was doubtless misquoted in the papers. “The reports of the damage by ducks to matured rice crops so far as mv interests are concerned are not ex- %•* aggerated unless you would say twenty-five acres off one tract of 160 acres dost roved in less than a week is exaggeration. The crop immediately contiguous to this destroyed crop will average from 38 to 40 sacks to the acre. Yon must bear in mind that tli is was only one specific instance on a twelve hundred acre plantation, and there were several more small patches eaten off.” y u\ Fig. 1. This rice injured by ducks. Fallamas Ranch , near Gridley, Cal. ‘‘For two weeks before the opening of the duck season I found it neces- sary to keep three men constantly employed with guns to kill or scare the pests, and used besides bird shot, rifle balls and skv rockets. Our am- munition bill would average, I should judge, about $3,00 per day and the men’s wages were $3.50 each per day. (Letter dated October 30, 1917.) ‘‘In view of the fact that I and mv associate have lost by as close an *-* *• approximate as possible four thous- and sacks of rice from duck depreda- tions, I am inviting prominent citizens of this section to visit our plantation for the purpose of assisting me in preparing the data necessary to con- vince vour Commission that the State % of California is losing a heavy food supply to say nothing of financial loss to the farmers.” (Letter of W. D’Egilbert, November 5, 1917.) “It is my desire to be helpful to your commission in remedying what amounts to an evil, for if the same damage has been done in other plan- tations as I have proved has been done in ours and other adjoining plantations, California has lost over 300,000 sacks of rice valued at. over $1,000,000, in the past eight week. (Letter November 10, 1917.) As possible solutions of the prob- lem Mr. D’Egilbert offered the fol- lowing: “1. A district to embrace the Coun- ties of Glenn, Butte, Sutter, Colusa and Yolo to be known as the “duck district” in which shooting of ducks could lawfully begin on September loth of each year. 2. The right for hunters to kill ducks without limit from September 15th to October 31st: in each vear in V said district. 3. Ducks killed in said season may be disposed of as the hunter desires, but not by selling in public markets.” (Letter dated November 16, 1917.) In an interview on September 17, 1918, Mr. D’Egilbert stated that lie did not wish to exterminate the ducks, but simply wished to protect his crops. He even suggested that bombs might prove to be the best means. He stated that his appearance so often in the newspapers was due to the oft-repeated expression by the Fish and Game Commission “alleged damage to rice.” He was anxious that every one understand that the damage was real. Several rice growers finally ap- pealed to the Food Administration with the result that the United States Biological Survey sent Mr. Alexander Wet more to make a thorough in- vestigation. Mr. Wetmore spent over two months investigating conditions, and his report brought about the so- lution of the problem, as indicated further on in this report. During September and the first part of Oc- tober, 1918, we worked with Mr. Wetmore. METHODS USED IN INVESTIGATION As it was important that the real facts regarding the controversy as to the damage caused by ducks be ob- tained, the problem was approached from several different angles. In the first place a large number of growers were interviewed and their point of view accurately recorded. The meth- ods of rice culture were investigated, numerous rice fields surveyed, and 12 Pacific Rice Courier careful investigation of actual damage in different localities was undertaken and the actual damage estimated. Furthermore, the habits of ducks and other birds in their relation to rice were studied. A large amount of territory both on the west side and the east side of the Sacramento River in Colusa, Glenn, Sutter and Butte Counties was investigated. Fig. 2. Open patch of water and damaged rice. Fallaman Ranch y near Gridley, Cal. RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION Interviews : In order that the point of view of the rice grower himself might he well understood, a large number of growers (about fifty) were interviewed. Furthermore, towns- people merely interested in the prob- lem were also interviewed. The farm adviser of Glenn County did not ap- pear to be greatly disturbed over the agitation. He simply suggested that some means of attacking- the problem should be worked out. The horticul- tural commissioner appeared to be more interested in being* able to shoot ducks than in the damage to crops. Mr. Ernest Behr, Secretary of the Pacific Rice Growers Association, min- imized the damage done and pointed out that the dead duck does not pro- tect any better than the scared duck. In a letter to Hon. Frank Newbert, President of the Fish and G ame Com- mission, dated August 8, 1919, Mr. Behr said : “It has come to my attention that various persons, some of whom in the past have been pecuniarily inter- ested in the killing and marketing of wildfowl, are now seeking to have the open season for taking such wildfowl extended by earlier opening, under the plea of saving the rice fields from destruction. Such a plea is wholly specious, having neither merit nor foundation in fact. I speak from the standpoint of a rice-grower. I do not desire to be understood as saying the wild ducks do not damage the rice in some instances, both in the stock and in the shock. I do say, however, that the extension of the open season is not the proper solu- tion of the problem. Once the restrictions under the protective season are removed, the rice grower will face a far graver menace — a more serious loss — than that caused by the presence of wild- fowl in their fields. Trespassing hunters will do more damage in trampling and shelling out the ripened and ripening* rice than the ducks will do. Likewise, it will cost more money to patrol the rice fields against the invasions of trespassing hunters than is represented by the amount of dam- age the ducks will do. The proponents of an earlier be- ginning of the open season assert that as the law of trespass obtains at all times, all a grower lias to do is to post notices warning hunters away and they will not enter his field. This is not true, as many growers can testify. But even granting that the law of trespass is observed and respected, the evil is not cured. There is nothing to prevent, hunters shooting from the highways and sending their dogs into the fields to retrieve the fallen game. A dog scurrying through a field of ripened rice will trample and shell as much rice as will a man similarlv •• engaged. in this connection it is my opinion and belief that those who shoot ducks and permit them to lie where they fall, without making use of them as food, are in these days when conser- vation of all resources means success or failure in the prosecution of the war, not good citizens. In fine, thei*e is really nothing to be said in advocacy of extending the open season on wild fowl as a means of ridding the rice fields of the ducks. In fact, employment of the shotgun as a means to this end is a failure. It is a very costly practice and fails utterly to keep the birds away. In this I speak from experience. On our holdings we have employed men, furnishing shotguns and am- munition, to scare the ducks away, it cost lots of money and gave no appreciable results. Last year we tried bombs, with pronounced success, and this year will use them entirely. It cost far less money and gave most excellent results. Out of this ex- perience and that of other growers who have used bombs, 1 am prepared to say that with their adoption, the problem of keeping wildfowl out of the rice fields is solved. I believe it would be most unwise to make a change in the game laws looking to an earlier open season. I recall that last vear when it was re- ported very generally over the coast that, the California game laws would be abrogated in the mistaken belief that the rice growers would be bene- fited thereby, hundreds of hunters rushed to the rice belt of the Sacra- mento Valley. They came from Van- couver on the north and from San Diego on the south. They came by train and by automobile, and auto- mobile parties camped at the road- side awaiting word of the hoped-for remission of the game laws, were a common sight. Fortunately, no change was made and the hunters returned to their re- spective localities — a most fortunate circumstance for the growers of rice/’ The concensus of opinion of the growers interviewed was that the grower should lawfully be allowed to protect his crops. Practically all were opposed to al- lowing indiscriminate hunting as the hunters and dogs would cause much more damage than the ducks. It was noticeable that exaggerated statements as to damage done invariably came from townspeople who were inter- ested in obtaining ducks to eat be- fore the season opened. Fig. 3. Rice damaged by ducks. Note heads stripped of kernels. Ranch of Bismarck Harden , near Maxwell , C o l us a C o u n t y, C a l. DAMAGE NOT WIDESPREAD As evidence that damage is not widespread, but limited to certain areas, we offer the following quota- tions from letters: “Wild ducks do absolutely no harm at any time, but blackbirds are verv »• destructive and a menace to the crow- ing rice. (B. P. English, Gridley, Cal.) “So far as I have observed they have never done any particular dam- age— in fact I know of none. (J. F. Garrette, President Biggs, Rice and Land Company, Biggs, Cal.) “ While this year's harvest is our fifth crop of rice I have never been able to discover any material damage that the ducks have done. In my opinion the rice which the ducks eat is that which has already been knocked out of the head by the blackbirds.” (T. W. K. Brown, Mgr. Moulton Irrigated Lands Co.) Apparently, blackbirds are more of a menace on the east side near Gridlev Bt and Biggs than are the ducks. Cer- tain it is, that hundreds of rice grow- ers have never had rice injured by ducks. Growers in the vicinity of Willows « and Maxwell and W. H. Mortimer with holdings at Dos Palos, Merced County, have sustained real loss as a result of the depredations of ducks. DUCKS EAT RICE Plenty of evidence was obtainable that ducks eat both the ripe growing rice and the harvested rice when it is in the shock. Green rice is not damaged. Certain conditions usually exist when the growing rice is attacked. A patch of open water or thin rice in the rice fields and a moonlight night is the usual combination. Damage is most apparent also beneath a regular fly-line followed by ducks leaving the loafing grounds for feeding grounds. A few birds drop into open water in a rice field or into thin rice and start feeding. They are soon joined by many others until thousands of birds are often congregated together in an area of two or three acres. Wherever the water is deep enough, the birds pull down the stalks and strip the ripened kernels from the head. When thus working, the splash- ing and gabbling of the birds makes a sound very much like running water. i' Afterwards the field has a whitened appearance easily recognized. Quan- tities of thick standing rice is often crushed down by the hungry birds encroaching from the thinner stand. An investigation of the place of Mr. Bismarck Harden near Maxwell, showed the following damage: 20 acres at 10 sacks 3 acres at 20 sacks 15 acres at 12 sacks 2 acres at 12 sacks 40 acres at 1 0 sacks 10 acres at 10 sacks 4 acres at 25 sacks 04 acres averaging 14 sacks per acre. Inspection of Haakim Kalin's place just west showed: 3 acres at 20 sacks 60 acres at 12 sacks On the Fallamon ranch near Grid- ley about thirty acres of thin rice along the sloughs had been destroyed by ducks up to the end of September in 1918. It is doubtful if any other rice growers suffered greater damage than these men in 1918. What the real damage was in 1917 is hard to de- termine because of exaggerated state- ments. Much rice reported as dam- aged by ducks would not have been harvested had the ducks not injured it owing to high water or other diffi- culties in harvesting. I’///. 4. A splendid stand of rice in- jured by trampling. The duel's began working in this rice , and then en- croached: on a thick stand causing considerable damage . Ranch of Bis- marck Harden , near Maxwell , Colusa County , Cal. Damage to rice in the shock is sometimes severe, the birds dropping into a field knocking down the shocks and stripping off the kernels. On moonlight nights damage is greatest. Gleaning in the fields cannot be con- sidered as an injury to the rice grower. The total damage by ducks to growing rice in 1918 in the Sac- ramento Valley could not have ex- ceeded 30 acres. A large part of this was thin rice hardly worth harvesting. One hundred and forty-five thousand acres were planted to rice in this section in 1918. KINDS OF DUCKS The pintail is the duck caus- ing most damage. Very few other species of ducks are to be seen in the rice fields and damage bv such ducks as the mallard and green- winged teal is negligible. The mud- hen, however, is to be found in con- siderable numbers and owing to its habits may prove to be a worse men- ace to rice crops than the pintail. The mudhen cannot he herded from the fields like a duck. Instead of flying it hides in the growing rice. Red-winged blackbirds are fond of rice in the milk and destroy large quantities on the east side where a growth of tides furnish suitable rest- ing sites and cover. In the newer lice fields of the west side blackbirds are not numerous. FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM The presence of ideal loafing grounds in the vicinity of the Marys- ville Buttes causes a concentration of a very large number of ducks in the rice-growing district. On the west side thousands of ducks loaf on what is locally termed “the trough” just cast of Colusa. These birds usually fly to t he westward to feed at night. Thus, rice fields lying beneath the fly-line naturally form an attraction for these birds. Rice farming is carried on in an extensive scale and one man often plants several hundred acres. hauler these circumstances either the damage done is largely overlooked, or the owner has to suffer considerable dam- age because unable to protect so large an area. IM PRACTICAL METHODS OF CONTROL Among the suggested means of con- trolling the situation have been an earlier open season, market hunting and sale of birds, and indiscriminate hunting by outsiders. Fairness to others outside of the rice growing district as well as the need of conforming to the Federal Migratory Bird Law brands an earlier opening of the season as an imprac- tical method of solving the problem. The throwing open of hunting to market men would not only be op- posed by most of the growers, but would be adverse to the general prin- ciple that the sale of game leads quickly to extermination. Further- more, the enforcement of the game laws in this district would become difficult because the market hunter is known as the worst of the game law violators. Fig . 5. Night bombing in the rice fields. The photograph shows the ex- plosion of a bomb in mid-air. Ranch of Bismarck Harden , near Maxwell, Colusa County, Cal. 14 Pacific Rice Courier The rice growers are unanimously opposed to the suggestion that the city sportsmen help in protecting the rice by shooting in the ricse fields. In practically every instance where the hunter has been allowed in the rice fields he has chosen a bit of open water and constructed a blind often at some distance from the growing rice. In shooting over such open water, the ducks are driven from the loafing places to the rice fields. \V. J. Mortimer of Dos Palos re- ports having experienced severe loss because of increased shooting on open water due to newspaper publicity. METHODS OK CONTROL Herding: Many rice growers have successfully prevented damage to their fields by herding the ducks. M en walk the levies with shotguns, and simply frighten the birds from the fields. Few or no birds are killed, as the gun is tired from the hip. The California Rice Company of Maxwell employed 12 herders during the fall of T018. Seven were kept busy at night and live in the day time. About one ease of black powder was used per day during the part of the month when the moon shone. The success of this method often de- pends upon a knowledge of the habits of ducks. A lack of success, there- fore, is often due to the lack of knowledge of the habits of the birds. Although shotgun shells when used in quantity are expensive, yet the cost of this method is usually less than the loss occasioned by the depre- dations of the birds where the field is situated beneath a Hy-line. Bombing: Bombs tired from a mor- tar, such as are used at 4th of duly celebrations, have, proved an effective means of driving birds from rice fields. The feeding birds are first located and bombs tired toward them. Other bombs from other parts of the field are then tired in the midst of the flying birds with the result that they are too frightened to soon return. The cost of this method of protection is probably less than that of herding for good bombs can be obtained for $5.00 a dozen, and smaller ones for even less. Elimination of open water: The intelligent grower can ofter prevent damage by eliminating open patches of water in the fields. If these areas cannot readily he drained, they can oftentimes be resown after the first planting has been drawn out. Note the following statement by TV. O. Jacobson of the Dodge Land Company, Chico: “Generally speaking where the stand of rice is as thick as it should normally be to produce an optimum crop it is virtually impossible for a duck to penetrate any distance into the paddy, but when the stand is scarce conditions are provided for enabling the birds to gather the grain, particularly when the water is of more than normal depth. When such conditions are found, it is probable that ducks will do considerable dam age. Also when rice is planted in lands which have previously been well known feeding grounds for ducks it is likelv that they would readilv take to rice as feed.” Harvesting: The grower may pre- vent damage to rice in the shock by planting his harvest during the dark of the moon and bv making his shocks stable enough so that the ducks cannot readily reach the heads. GOVERNMENT SOLUTION OF PROBLEM After a thorough investigation bv Mr. Alexander Wet more of the United States Biological Survey, the United States Department of Agriculture solved the problem as follows: 1. A federal game warden was sta- tioned in the rice growing districts with orders to prosecute violators of the Federal Game Laws. 2. A blanket permit was issued all rice growers, their immediate fam- ilies and bona tide employees to herd and kill such ducks as might be nec- essary in protecting the fields from damage previous to the opening* of the hunting season on October 15th. At the end of each period t lie rice grower was required to make a full report as to the number of birds so killed* 3. After the opening of the season special permits were issued growers to herd ducks from the rice fields during the night. This was made nec- essary because of the federal law prohibiting night shooting*. The rice growers seem satisfied with the means taken by the government to obviate the damage. Conditions existing dur- ing the month of October, also favored the stopping of agitation. SUMMARY 1. The consensus of opinion of rice growers obtained through interviews was that owners should legallv be allowed to protect crops but the un- restricted hunting would cause more damage to the rice than the ducks. Much of the agitation was started by townspeople who wanted a chance to hunt before the season opened. 2. Damage to rice caused by ducks is limited in extent, hundreds of growers never having sustained loss. The greatest damage in 1918 was found between Maxwell and Colusa, in Colusa County. 3. Thin rice or rice with open water is most often attacked by ducks. 4. The total acreage of growing rice destroyed in 1918 amounted to not more than 300 acres out of 145,000 planted in the Sacramento Valiev. 5* The pintail duck is the only duck causing appreciable damage. 6. Such suggested methods as an earlier open season, market hunting must be branded as impractical methods of solving the problem. 7. Such control measures as herd ing and bombing have been proved feasible and should be depended upon. Intelligent growers can outwit the ducks if they make the attempt. 8. The government solution of the urohlem has been successful and a growers appear satisfied. HUDSON TRADING CO. EXPORT - IMPORT RICE 18 East 41st Street NEW YORK Cable Address HUDTRACO Established 1877 Schwartz Bros. Rice Importers 310 Sansome Street San Francisco Cable Address “Schwartz” Dr. ‘Vet.uore. ghnuary 30, 1919. American Saliva/ Express Co., 65 Broadway, lev Tori, a. T. Ga nt loses t Referring to /our bill So. A/ 10/109, nboitttd In the Mount of #99.77, 1 would call attention to charges thereon on which payments have already been aado, as called to the attention of jour ooapany in our 'letters of August 29, 1916, and January 13, 1919, the latter quoting the fo raer in full, no reply thereto having been reeelved. Copy of the letter of January 13 is inclosed, the itews in question are as follovsi Wight Aaount Bate Charge Slip 2 lb. #0.49 11 lb. 1.60 Aug. 5 1697-11 Washington, D. 0. Hayward, Cal. Aug. . 5 1695-21 Washington, D. C. Hayward, Cal. 1.99 total These oharges were paid upon deaand by Alexander Vetaore, Assistant llologiet of this Bureau, then stationed at Hayward, California. In order to prevent duplicate payment it is requested that refund of #1.99, ashed for in our two letters, be wade by ohedh payable to fir. fflstaore, aailed la ears of this Bureau. Upon receipt of the Mount, your bill will be put in process of settlement. Tory truly yours. Chief Cloitc and 9210. Executive Assistant. F. M. NEWBERT m. J. Connell E. L. Bosoui EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld Fish and Game commission OF CALIFORNIA Museum of Vertebrate Zoology , Berkeley, Cal. Jap, 21, 1919. * Mr. Alexander Wetraore, Bureau of Biological Survey, Washington, D.C. W \ r. My dear Wetnore, I have just received a most interesting letter from a Japanese, K. Sunada ; of Colusa, California ( who offers a solution to the Ducks vs. Rice "problem. His statement seems plau- sible enough to warrant investigation. If you do not have aHn opportunity to try it out, I think we will next fall. l/J OCX- Very truly yours, e Education} Publicity and Research. » ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS “FISH AND GAME COMMISSION” Sir; Lki Colusa, Cal, Jnn. 12 , 1919 . . • i* t „. w *°°d *d«* about protecting the ricr fror. ooing ruined by ducks, so I would livt i ? 1 \ will describe tlont iVnul ? T uiZTf * UCC * 8Bfu1 ’ 1 £&&£- S^ 5 S ?V'P SWS down upon the fields tike about 5^3 Ion ,^0^00 and two gallons of tar and »ix very £*U S^SL^ • starts to destroy the ric* wh« . e the ducks empty it in the fiwSJ *T^\I hy * • * k ® this *!**“*• and ■imit. ♦>, / , , eld with tho rice and water. The * *** * d ; lclf » land in this water, they will arils ?*T, th4y h *‘° ‘hi* ituff Mr. t£* l S.*5^*s.3s!4*g„ if it do oe m „ f .il-'J voTwfn",* ' and SS iniV.: rl09 * Mdh 1 «** -Mu- , 3 ’ ' , Tours truly. x., Signed: K. Sunada, P. 0 . Box 16, Colusa, Cal. * 1 A « ,.1 ■yjt . V-v r . * ■*> January 13, 19X9. American Hal Iway Sxpress Co*, 1328 F Street, B. W. Washington, B. C. Gentlemen i Attention is invited to too following copy of & letter addressed to you August HQ, 1910, to which no repl; has been received. In view of the tine that has elapsed, "'© trust that you can give the natter prompt attention in order that hr. Alexander -Yetmore may he reimbursed in the mount due him. *’2h ere was siiipped from the Bureau of Biological Survey on August 5* 1918, two packagec addressed to Alex. hetraore , Hayward , Calif,, one covered by charge slip Jio. 1695-51 . , the other by charge slip ho. 1697- Bi. 9 As these contained Government property taey should have been forwarded prepaid, and charges on aatao in- cluded in you r monthly vouchers. However, the packages were sent "Collect* and hr. heteore was obliged to pay charges at Ids end before the packages were delivered to him. In order that the matter may be handled in the usual way, I would request that hr. BCtmore be reim- bursed tor the amount paid by him. and that you include these items in your monthly bill. As Hr. uetmore has left Hayward, refund should be sent him in onre of this office. Very truly yours. Chief Clerk end Executive Assistant. •? ( r» '5 IAJzZA CONSIGNEE’S RECEIPT w 17 KM U rn J 4^ f ft -M ? rr « Office, State of. AUfi; Form 694 8-17 191 M ft \ -: // / v l-/ •••V. Account Shipment of f 1 * /j From / r W/B No Shipperj/' To Wells Fargo Co Express Dr. X 6U^iu^ Advanced Charges . This Co’s Charges . War Tax . Weight. L/JU Amount of C. O. D. ■ C . ^_r_ i Tofcili It State of. ^ C Date__ i HrtiP' Received Payment, 4. -4^0* LX* \ J- Foi Welis KatKo & Co Express Wells- Fargo Money Ordm Are a convenience to both sender and receiver. You only have to put up the money and ask the derk to make out the order — to any person in any town in the United States, Canada, Alaska Central or South America, Cuba, K^vaii, Panama or the West Indies. The receiver may cash it, endorse it to any firm or individual, or deposit it in the bank. In case of loss or theft you hold a receipt which guarantees the prompt refunding of your money. Rates $ 2.50 5 5 ** 10 8 ** 20 10 “ 30 12 “ 40 15 “ 50 ....... 18 “ 60 20 “ 75 25 “ 100 30 “ OVei $100 at above rate* CONSIGNEE’S kECElPT. *? To Wells Fargo Co Hxpress Dr. , Advanced Charges Account Shipment of__ Fnru n /V 0 -*A ■Kw/ State of. .... l:., W./B No. Dal J .^Weigiht_2^ jr <5Jiipper__ LA&zdL ^ / This Co’s Charges _ War Tax Amount of C. O. D. * A — Total, & Received Payment, F«r Welhs Fare* & < n Express Fargo Money Orders % • . Are a convenience to both sender and receiver. You only have to put up the money and ask the clerk to make out the order — to any person in any town in the United States, Canada, Alaska, Central or South America, Cuba, Hawaii, Panama or the West Indies. The receiver may cash it, endorse v it to any firm or individual, or deposit it in the bank. / In case of loss or theft you hold a receipt which guarantees the prompt refunding of your money. i W * fZlh*** T . > / A L4* /Vtl&Laa * aj r ^ jft THoJwhu ; # i % / K*&**%/ <£U> chaJ( ifttuM* . tL> (ft ch»* IaS&& , - cf JAAjuJK Ol *Umt4 4i/ Uv. 6}- U) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO September 13, 1918 Dr. Alex Y.'etmore, 1011 Forum Building, Sacramento, Calif. In your reimbursement account for tiie period August 1 to 31, 1918, payable fror authorization IIo.70-3i. (Food Habits of Birds and Lanmals), it lias been necessary to suspend the follow- ing items : August 12. Express shipment, Washington, D.C., to Hayward, Cal., subvoucher Uo.7, August 12, Express shipment, Washington D.C., to Hayward, Cal., subvoucher Ho. 8, 1.50 August 28. Fee for license permitting purchase of explosive duck bomb. 25 The last item is suspended for the reason that there is no authority of law for the payment of license fees by the Gov- ernment. The express shipments should have been forwarded prepaid and charges included in the monthly vouchers of the American Railway Express Company. As they were sent collect and you were obliged to pay the charges, the express company has been request- ed to reimburse you for the amount of the two vouchers and include these items in their monthly bill. Kf Amount claimed, Amount suspended, Approved for. * 196.16 2.15 *96.05 Inclosure 7961 ■ ■ T •' COMMISSIONERS F. M. Newbert M. J. Connell E. L. Bosqui EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld SAN FRANCISCO December 23rd., 1918. Fish and Game commission OF CALIFORNIA Mr. Alexander Wetraore, Biological Survey, Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Wetmore;- I am just in receipt of your letter of December 16th with which you enclose list of specimens taken under authority of Scientific Permit #131. You must have been exceedingly busy when in this State to have taken the number of specimens that you did. Ordinarily collectors that are in the State for only the length of time that you were, get very few specimens. With best seasonal wishes, I beg to remain Yours very truly. COM MISSIO'NE R S F. M. NEW0ERT • M f J. Connell Bosqui — : EX ECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld Fish and Game commission OF CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO December 20,1918 Mr . A1 exand er V.'etmore , Bureau of Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Tetmore : - I received your letter of the 12th inst. and am pleased to know that you appreciated the v/ork of Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Ricketts. The rice growers in northern California have abused their privilege by extending invitations to their friends, etc., but we exuected this and I believe that next year the situation will be handled much better. One thing has been proven and that is that their reports have been greatly exaggerated . The market hunters are operating in and about Butte Creek. They have an organized delivery at this time. Mr. O’ Hair and Mr. Ellis are still using the ten shot automatics. I had. the Governor of the State of California out shooting with me yesterday on our Club and .he heard the shots of these market hunters. They sneak upon a great body of ducks and geese and discharge twenty shots in rapid succession. You can hear them shoot at least twenty- five shots to kill the cripples that are left on the water. There is no doubt in ray mind but that they kill at least one hundred birds every time they pull this kind of a shot. 7/e now have a number of wardens in that vicinity and hope that we will be able to catch these gentlemen at their work. There is one thing that I believe should be called to your attention and that is the pest ]mown at the blackbird and mudhen. The mudhen is siirely the coming pest to the rice grower. The duck can be easily scared away but the more you shoot at the mud- hen he dodges into the rice and it is impossible to scare him out. They are increasing in great numbers in the rice district and unless something is done to relieve the situation the rice grower is going to have considerable trouble next year. If we could start some sort of propaganda in California calling the at- tention of the public to the value of the mudhen as ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS “FISH AND GAME COMMISSION' food I believe it would relieve the situation, Ii you have any ideas as to how to control the mudhen and blade- bird I will he glad to hear from you. Any time you are in California dr ring the '.vinter months I will be pleased to tale you up to the Club for a day's outing. Give my kindest regards to Hr. ITelson and wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy Kew Year, I am - : f m. I v \ -■ r * • ^ »• ^ .-• i KU* December 5, 19L6. KS^OHAiffllSa FOR TffiS CHIiiF. Dear Hr. Saiiisn* iUvei »r oaii Jusc consisted. in drica&s&s snow teat owing to oru % le fa G&ti*ux wlioufc two t iirus of t:i& rioo o vo^ in t^iat sw, w i& st »11 xitidr . r ®3t oC# f lijlifc «.Ilu u»Uiw xroi: ia* U0i*to c-a&a Bt; r ;, ; *•' ; ’ t v- : L v yV 1 ^ • l i ' yV- '-, - £ 1 ^ ^ ,V ^ > jj r % ‘* . cV ^ v 7-.r:.v i' ibtut J:C7t -i - *r JO and t -w_ j i?i* io ticaliy stli Jaiioi/tis / uav9 w r o ( •• ; v ;. ? . . . . - . v r, ; : -.J •-.... ' *3| 1)9^931 10 ‘.1 .C tl) SuUO U*U£HUt ii. wJJ fi^lua Wa*i^V'%} t-UO ij Bti.il . In t:v- saoc^e The rice is tain*; izorvctt&d ns rapiaiy w#at.*ie? vili « pc rai ( ^ out stays ui-’v to prevent) anxious x i* aifi wild duties nay result at any tiaa* Fields wero ez&ninod iii Uiiiofr riuoics nad been v or icing at uij.it about tue snooks of rice. /f0 tuia situation* it is rccmnenaoi tuat biazmat por.iission 3^*nntad under tHe ji ci oysl ui L^jPatotj Ji*^ huz» wu nui -rroword in Arkansan County* Lricaasaa* to iiii wild uucku at ni^at in fields con- teining steading or uaocicsii rice until and including Deoonber 31, l^i6« Tory truly yosrs. *le2. .Votsiove. \ : ■<* -; t’ild Ducxs and other Birds in Relation to tbs Bice Crop in Arkansas in 1918. Introduction. 4 11 ?or the purpose of securing further inforaation in regard to the status of wild ducks in relation to the rloe crop in Arkansas I • * -V' ^ ' •'[ i • .*i * arrived in Little Book* Arkansas on November 24* 1918. Prom there - *» I continued to Delitt* Arkansas on the same day and using that town as a base worked through the surrounding rice district until Hot* ♦ * \ 29. £. V. 7isart of our warden force worked with me from Hot. 26 to 26 inclusive. On November 30 1 returned to Stuttgart where the work was finished. Travel in the country in southeastern Arkansas was difficult s % n f * • _ J '»* \ _ ^ because of heavy continued rains that had put the roads in bad condi- tion. Thus ong one occasion the Ford oar that 1 used was stuck in mud boles five times in a distance of eleven miles* trouble of thie sort was of daily ocoumnee. >. , * - ) \ • , . v « Condition of Bioe Crop. ♦ . - s b* , *. _ . ,» ! , * ’ ■ • , . • In 1918. about 173,000 acres was devoted to the culture of rice in Arkansas, Lonoke, St. Franods, Pulaski and Prairie Counties . • . . Arkansas. Complaint of damage by duoks has come mainly from Arkansas County. The dry summer here (of 1918) had caused a shortage of water for Irrigation which had retarded the growth of the rloe. The heavy fall rains that had followed had hindered the harvest so that on Nov- - ombsr 26 it was estimated by Mr. Kennedy in ot th# southern Rice Growers office in DdWitt that two-thirds of the orop was still in the field, a part of it in tb« shoo* and a part still uncut. (For general conditions regarding the growing of rio« in Arkansas see re- port by ^'etnore on damage to Rice in Arkansas in 1917). Although roach of this grain was lost still there ms hope of saving part of It with a obange to more favorable weather. Threshing was going on but bad roads made moving the threshing outfits a war* of great difficulty. Son* of Wild Duo*». ( #. a. At the time of this investigation the northern flight of ducks i was arriving and, as in 1917, the bulk of the birds were aaliards. 1 : Uj i In travelling through the country 1 saw occasional pintails and green- winged Teal but tease were few in number* The dac« began to wo r* in the rice about Hovembjr 22 . A. i). Jarrell. 6 miles euutheast of Dettitt had 315 acres in rice most of wnioh was still in the fild. jjuoks began to work here about November 23. On examining this tract Z foond that the birds had been feeding over about twenty acres out ae yet had done no serioue damage as they had oonfiued themselves to the bases of the shocks, • # | t aking fallen grain and stripping heads that hong down from the sheaves r* ■■■£ ■ ! ^^E|| v w- * * : , 1 estimated the damage on 20 cores at about $6 per aore. Duoks were j e» m still present here and between 2500 and 5000 were feeding in these fields at dusk. v. *■- ' , VI., ■ . . . ■ ■ f _ Ducks were working fields belonging to B. 6. Ohaney and u. £• The ilallards were using the Bayous and swamps near the Balters also. Mississippi as roosting places in large numbers, and wars reported as feeding in fields in various piaees that X was unable to reaoh because of the condition of the roads* In the bayous iiall&rds stood about in lines on logs floating in the water sleeping and preening* 1 examined numbers of these logs and found that though purt of the excrement on them was composed of acorns the bulk consisted of rice hulls* In addition ducks that were shot here had in -nany oases been eating rioe* The orop of aeorns on which ducks depend for part of their fall and winter food was scanty in the wooded areas that 1 visited* On Sovember 28 I watched the evening flight of Mallards in the swamps near Jacobs* Lake* ?be flight begun an hour before dusk and • • . » the birds were still flying over When it became too dark to see dis- tinctly* In this time I estimated that about 10*000 Mallards hud passed* All were driving toward the rioe fields lying to the north* Damage by Blackbirds* As in 1317* blackbirds were very numerous over the rioe fields and if anything were present now in greater numbers than on the previous year* Among them X identified the Bronsed Orackle, Gowbird* Busty Blackbird end Redwing listed in order of their abundance* the Bronsed Grackle probably equalled in number all of the other speeles combined* o Many very large flocks of them were observed and |n Bovember 27 I ee- . • tlmated the total individuals of this speoies seen at 20*000* „ . i 4 In the rioe fields the birds alighted in little groups of 6 or 8 on the shocks and began at once to hull out the rioe* At other times flocks spread out along the ground to pick up scattered grain* £aoh evening tfce birds passed over in a long line toward the east to sons roost in tbs swamps* This flight continued for nearly too hours and wMt nj r times their line stretched without a perceptible break: as far as I could see in either direction* The bulk of then* birds had been driven in here within the fast week by storms in the north* The damage accomplished will be distri- buted more than last ye ar beouuae of the large screaks of rice still out but will be evident never the less* These horde* of blackbirds when everything is considered, are the most serious avian pest with which the rice grower has to deal* Recommendations* The Investigation in hand revealed that although no heavy dam- age had resulted as yet, still the condition was serious &s the northern . > t A flight of duoice had arrived and the birds were working in the rice fields At it was the hunting: souson the bulk of the birds remained in the swamps during the day and came into toe fluids to fasd during the night* After » due cons ^deration of the matter and discussion with rice men it >as re- commended therefore that rice growers and their agents be permitted to ehoot wild duoka at night until and including December 31, 1918* It was considered that there was little hope of saving rice remaining In the field after that date but that with more favorable weather the crop could be harvested during December* in accordance with this recommendation the following blanket permission was issued* t De o, 6f 1918* OBDKB PLhAlTTISG THE TILLING OF 41QHAT0BT SOCKS WHICH HAVE BLOCKS • * S2B10USL? IHJUBIOUS TO BIOS CROPS IS ABEAM 813* Information having been furnished tha sec re tary of Agriculture ' that migratory ducks have become, under extraordinary conditions, seriously injurious to the rice crops in Arkansas and an investiga- tion having been made to date mine the nature and extend of the injury V, r f, * ' -,4 //■ ' • r 4 ' "-f', . .p" ’>'■ oomplained of and whether the birds alleged to be doing the damage should be killed, and if so, during what times and by what means; and ' * - */ _♦ * "^V** , I ' V , ■ -* *• *-*'»*” , • *■«.- * i -i r e • / , •. * *i 4 - * .* . it having been determined by the Secretary of Agriculture that migra- tory ducks have become, under extraordinary conditions, seriously •V . v ; ; i injurious to the rice crops in Arkansas Oounty, Arkansas, and that the migratory duoks doing the damage should be killed by shooting from sunset to hlf an hour before sunrise from December 5 to Dec- ember 31, inclusive, 1910 t ' l - , V A . * * » • .i • • # ' r -y ■ J ... . . . • Mow, therefore, X, D* F, Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, *♦ • * e pursuant to authority in me vested by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of July 3, 1918, and agreeably to regulation 10 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Regulations approved and proclaimed July 31, 1910, do hereby order that persons owning or leasing land in said Arkansas ' ,‘ a ‘ • - '4 * • .y ■■ t . County, State of Arkansas, on which rioe is being g r own or being . - 4 1 J. ‘ ** z: * « ',«*■' fc * harvested, or has been sheoksd, or their agents, may kill by shooting 2 migratory duoka from sunset to half an hour boforo sunrise from December 5 to December 31, inclusive, 1918, on said land when such migratory ducks are committing or are about to oomait serious In- jury to the rioa and it is necessary to kill such migratory ducks In • 4 .4 order to protect the rice from damage t but no such person or persons shall shoot at any such migratory ducks from any artificial or natural blinds; nor shall migratory duoks be killed or shot at from or in any % field after the rice grown therein baa been threshed or removed; nor shall migratory duoks so killed be sold* offered for sale or ahlppod for purposes of aalo* or bo wantonly waatad or dostroyod, but thoy may bo used for food purposes by the persons hereby permitted to kill them* and thsy may ba transported to hospitals and chart tabla institu- tions in Arkansas for use as food* U killed shall* on or before the 18th day of Jany&ry* 1919* submit to the Secretary of Agriculture* Washington* D* 0** a sworn statement of the number and kinds of migratory duoks killed aaoh night pursue** to this permit on suoh land so owned or leased by him* the disposition of the duoks so killed* and the ooat of the a. itlon used in killing or attesting to kill thorn* Secretary of Agriculture* * Form 1204 CLASS OF SERVICE SYMBOL Telegram Day Letter Blue Night Message Nite Night Letter jU- ,, If none of these three symbols appears after the chelk (number ftf words) this li a telegram. Other- wise its character is indicated by the symbol appearing after the check. - UNION AM NEWCOMB CARLTON, PRESIDENT RECEIVED AT //,■•'&■ .->V GEORGE W. E. ATKINS. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT vX - 7T A. CLASS OF SERVICE SYMBOL Telegram Day Letter Blue Night Message Nfte Night Letter N L If none of these three symbols appears after the check (number of words) this is a telegram. Other- wise its character is indicated by the symbol appearing after the check. y /. Oriciinal copied by Srn i t h s o n i a ri Archives RICE GROWERS OVER AND SHORT REPORT TION No._ Contract No, District Name Grader To Balance KV Short Total DELIVERY To Balance DATE NO. SAX or BUSHELS r KIND PRICE DATE NO. SACKS KIND PRICE COM. * « * - t 1 V — - — «■ ? ■ y r ^ - - - - i \ » * ;;; ♦ it ■ M. • iFi' y- f A 1 ■" ... • t -- ... Agent. 0. foovc ^ MRS. J. M. SPARKS, PROP. HOME FOR TRAVELING MEN JteTOitt, £rk., 191 1. /yocz {cjo h/uhlo AsryuOU' 6o< asC£v\ cLd^f (Xffrttc oAjIa*. ■ ^yxAAe d^cX \2tOyviS prX/xtAiXt^ M«~ tXXf - — C^y^euL,, sipXX , 77lcX&frJ iAJvX/ 1^VCA£4 l£x. ZAjt<3UkA+S^O *'■ ' «co {/J . -^n -4 + . UflM i t%+*s3- ’ * Dewitt, Ariumsae. •* r as soon as praotioublo wire opinion duck rioo situation. Sefore leaving Arkansas . a - 4 . j *• oliitac© parol ts nooesBary. i mm.mwwKTM V Henderson, Acting Chief of hnrens. . * • % ». ' I > * • ALEX WETMORE • r frett • * .> . .ft - . 1 H 15 rA"_ •*» jv * •*'; KLAMATHFALLS OREGON , » .< * MEET ME OFFICE COMMISSIONERS HOT I CULTURE WITH CATTRON WEDNESDAY MORNING NELSON . IIS . 1043AM TS*. ■ . * T . r >. • .*• ■ • t . ~ ^ . . . * . .. Y . Or • t -A>* t * # -jk, / -'f *f,JL £ r «H 4 *■ N r "f V- Vv., - * w ■ #" ♦ *i' i * * . x~ • r . 'r.- • V • §k *tr ' ■ ■$• ' ' K' * • -,f. >• * A It- * - *>>- .«»• r 7 evAi ? 1 Original copied by Smithsonian Archives UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 20,1918. Mr . A1 ex . We tmo r e, 320 Forum Building > Sacramento, California Dear Doc;- Yours of the 16th reached me yesterday, -at home nursing a light attack of grippe. I shall be here to meet you Nov.l to 5, barring the possibility that Dr. Fisher can be induced to extend his time on a field trip with Ligon and me. He informs us that he must be in D.C, by Nov. 5,- 8o it is likely that we shall be obliged to return to Albuquerque by Nov.l. I shall be much interested in your findings as regards quail. We are making preparation for beginning coyote-poisoning operations. Your visit should be just in time to help us with some good suggestions. We are just at the end of a very busy season of work,- and entering one that promises to be even more busy! You lucky scientists dont appreciate your enviabl e po si tions ! f Trusting that you will give us a good, long visit. Sincerely yours. % - - ^v. £>' . . J v; : ?£• • | 1 r r -I h wp w, j -* r - NL C wort*) Mo la 4 telegram. Oth«- «r J S f ♦ • -r*. • 1 , • **• -- * 1 7 - Form , , , 1 4 * ; ♦ ' • • * 4 • - * •> - ' ' ' S*/', ; «*.* 91 1 . ‘ ■ i: . * ' '.u «& -jf* A, NEWCOMB CARLTON, PRESIDENT ■!* - 1 , «* E OCOROKW. E. ATKINS. PlRST VICE-PRESIDENT ~ * _jasL Wi ght If none s f Drtaa flirac appear* after the check f~ wonb) Mo la t toil Ita character la li Hflsftarj^ — — ■ - . r v •r" 1 .‘ l ^!sLaCT i; * r <1 . V • V - •> :• / ’ •- i . - ■ - * - • * X • J V* f. • ’ I ft •< • • f WASH INGTONDC OCT 19 1918 V . r ALEX WETMORE !• \ ♦ ** # : > > % ■ 4* W At. r GARE J J" FURBER KLAMATH FALLSOREGON *- ' <» •* * , • ‘ A " s * . • * > 4 / . * \ • , , 4 BONDS PURCHASED. I r. • .. / ■ • .f: ' • - ». u »JvW t ■ . - ", - .1 . ' , k a * • *- 1 . .» • rr* fft*' ■ -- r*’ r - . -V* *4 / - I W I RF BUREAU. AMOUNT FOURTH LIBERTY . *. * i , • j . v »i-, j BELL i» * > ^ - 4 < 9 - 930A 20 »f\JI - - - ' %-r ' s » ** \ / * ;.;r .vv i- 4 ,.. - . , Ji ' > -- , "-ipyr*- * * ,>•. • »» . / r.- . • * y >:■ : v - v: V 4 * -• « /, v « T . * • ' 4 ' • •» J A. '*>C' JI 3 a 3 ’fttev*'** V »v * t f . A V • <- -•«.r ^ « .ft - Original copied by Smithsonian Archives Wild Ducks in Halation to Hieo Caltoro in California* Introduction. From August 16 to October 17, 1*18, 1 was engaged in studying the relation of wild ducks to rice culture in the Sacramento Valley in California* The California State Fi should Cams Commission were actively interested in the investigation and cooperated with the Department of Agriculture by placing the serwioee of the game wardens in whose dis- tricts the rice fields were located at my disposal. These men were equipped with automobiles operated at state expense and through their knowledge of the region rendered invaluable aid. Thanics are due es- pecially to Deputy Wardens 3. J. Carpenter of Maxwell and £• D. Bio- i ketts of Live Oak for their hearty cooperation in every possible way. Following is the itinerary followed during this investigation: dan Franoisoo, AUg. 16 Jac ramen to , IV 17 Maxwell, ft 16-21 Maxwell to Live Oak •« 22 Live Oak ft 23-26 Sacramento It 27 San Francisco N 26 Sacramento ft 29 Willows ft 30- Sept Maxwell 5*pt. 2-3 • Live Oak n 4 Maxwell ft 408 *4 Lire Oak Sept. 9-13 Oridley ft 14-18 San Franc i 800 ft 19 Sacramento It 20 Willows ft 21 Maxwell ft 22-24 Willows m y • ft 26 Maxwell It 26—28 Willows If 28-29 Maxwell ft 29- Oct Willows OOte 2 Maxwell ft 2-4 Stonyford ti fi Maxwell ft 6 Sacramento ft 7-8 San Francisco ft 9-10 Lire Oak •f 11-14 Hllews ft 16-17 From Willow and Maxwell 1 wo read la the region between woodland, Colusa, Orland and Hamilton City on the west aide of the Sacramento Hirer. ■ \ \ \ *• . ♦ /■ m •“ •' iMj T i, • | Jfipe.^-V* f From Lire Oak and Oridley 1 covered tbe area on the east side between £elson, Butte City and Biggs south to ilarysrille and Arboga. 'V, Observations on Bios Culture. In the Sacramento Valley* California in 1918* rice was grown in two nain areas* extending one on either side of the Sacramento Hirer* c* O from Sao reman to in the south to k&odltoa City and Hord on tho north. Only a few email tma of a&nor importance lay outside this region. Tbs Kiot districts on tha vast aids of tha stress vers tributary in tha main to Maxwell. Colusa and Willows, and on tha east aids centered in Marys- ville. Gridley and biggs. part of the land utilised waa of good quality and was suitable for other crops* She greater part of the acreage however was on low lying traota known aa tha "Alkali" lands or "Goose" lands that ^ * V not bean .••• * had in tha me in/ under cultivation previously. These tracts are not suit- ed for other oropa but with abundant water will produce two or three good orops of rloa before inroads of weeds, rising alkali or other factors cause them to be abandoned. Because of tha large profits made in rice culture due to .the high prloe of rioa extensive tracts of these lands bad oeen put under water* Uuoh of this was fanned by compani oe who con- trolled large bolding* Thus the Bodge Land Company below Ohioo had 4000 A sores of rice and it waa o canon to encounter traota of 500 to 1000 acres under one control. The total area in rioe in California in 1918 waa given by the agents of the Pacific nice Growers Assooiatlon in Sacramento * . as 130.000 acres. The most popular varieties of rioe grown here at this time were a long headed late maturing Japanese rioe known as bataribune. and an * * . # w » 4 early rioe oalled 1600 (a form established here by the 0. 3. Department ef Agrioultore ) . A bearded rioe oalled 156*1 with long heavy beards like barley was also common and a thin hulled early Japanese variety known me bus Hero that had been introduced recently was gaining in popularity. The heads of the early fonts began to fill about September 1. Cutting began in the earliest fields near Maxwell on September 22. out this C\ *, A | * • f» f f f\ T * work did not begin ower ox tonal arena until October 1* Threshing oomosnoed et onoe* Many fajjlldt of lut* rice were slow in maturing owing to Into sending, scarcity of water or for other reasons* ions of this weald not ripen at all while other fields would oome in during Koweaber* The balk of the harvest come in October and the first part of Hovember* In rice fields grown on the low lying alkali lands there wore many places that did not drain properly for-sori^ open lakes and ponds in the rice fields* Around and in these were abundant growths of weede « • known to the rice growers att "Water gross." The aost coarnon of these were the Barnyard grass ( Kehiaoohloa crus - gulll ) and Psatbor grass ■ ( Laptoohlos fasoioularis ). Joint grass ( Paspolum diatiohun ) was less i\ • \ - * f . *. , . & 4* > *■ L r • 1 ^ . •* *. • * . - .* > ».* ' ( r -> " *. , # .* t , • ■ . 11 I , | I abundant* In land used for rice for the first season those grasses were not abundant, bat unless carefully cut out greatly increased the following year* Land used for the thrl4 year v-as often so foul with these weede ■ that at tines they predominated over the growth of rioe* The seeds of • , ■*, * L / • * , , *-'ir • * i •”* 7 .• r , - . , f' ’ ’ , , » * ' I 4 '» these grasses began to mature by the first of September* Damage to Bios by Ducks. . Large Tracts of rice planted on tbs "alkali" or goose lands ad- ■ , •' • * • ,n. - ' ■- •' 2 ' "?• • : : Joined sloughs and swamps that are more or less permanent and that her- • \ <*• ‘ r V , ■ *• •*-,*- • • * •' • »4" \ • • V , • e •' ' * f />• I uW • I * • - > • • .« • * •s *» »■ : r - .• ♦ - .•*, .] v t* -i ij.- & ■ . * 1 is* ^ bor many duoke. Many ducks are reared in extensive marshes bordering * the Sacramento Biver and during late summer many more come in here after breeding elsewhere to rest and feed. The bulk of the latter ere Pin- . tails* In September from 16,000 to 20,000 pinteils wore to be found on a broad area of wster known as the "Though" six miles eeet of Maxoell, and a similar flook of perhaps 10,000 birds rested on the Butte Creek rshes west of Live 0 ak. Smaller flocks wars found elsewhere* Am majority of them wore Pintails* Toe as oirds shifted about to sons extent with tbs o hanging season Out as part moved on others cams In from slsswhsrs to tamo their plaoss* after the middle of September there was marked migration evident and from then until the middle of October large numbers of additional birds earns in* ' • '*i J< * » . r • •, " . • • m — 4 _ - ' - jT * . ^ ' b ► t » , • ""l i ' * — •* . After September l v the birds rested on these bodies of open water during the day* When the nights were dark they flew out to feed at daybreak and at dusk returning to the water for the night* On e af CL i ^ * , * * \ "\ . • J * * . . » ' • moonlit nights they fed at night coming out about an hour after the moan rose* O'* * ' «,* * .Xt- ,• Vj., t % . 1 , , , i ij* j * > *' , ** •' ,A ■ Many areas that are now in rioe were formerly sloughs or swaspy * 4 .* • gf /, f V'V V vj| * J *, V* ’ • * . 'A , \ *'• *♦- S * \ # t r **! \ * c - _ ,r. placet of waste land where wild ducks were accustomed to feed and rest •* I . - ", . V * - ... ‘ * ■ * \ a. .# * "WT|* I * , 1 i. , ' *• during the late suras or and fall* Utilization of these has resulted in J *v . ‘V n * '“Wi •* . V* •* ~'h 1! ? 1 LVSw-’ ’ '*■+' '■ . r, V e certain crowding of the duok population on reeaining areas* She grasses that grow the rioe produce abundant seeds that attract the ducks and they often feed in the rioe fields in open plaoes long before the 4 - * • '* 1 “ — . * - 1 Pvt * • . . * * rioe is maturs* Damage aft to the rioe itself from tits attaoxs of ducks began abont September 1 or as soon as the heads of ths early varieties began to fill* Ducks fed first about the open ponds in the rice fields or in areas where ths grain had failed to stool properly making a thin open stand* Pintails were the only abundant spool as though Mallards cams in fair numbers* A few green-winged Teal and Cinnamon Tsai were assn TT . ”7. *. P* • 7 L, > , r -. > but they wars not cannon. In thin stands ths dnoks stripped the heads of ths rioe from the water below. From these thin areas they o on tinned to walk oat into tho hoarier rioo at tbo oidoo and boro tbo grain woo traapled and bant oror by tbo bordoa of bird*. Tbo bauds of rite in which tbo duok* bad boon working driod and turned a light /allow oo 1 f * % that with praotisa thoy ooold bo diatingoiabad at * distanoo against tbo dark groan of tbo surrounding areas. If undiaturbad tbo birds re- turned each night to oontlnuo food in g whsro thoy bad otoppod on tbo * i preceding occasion. I watched fields in whieb tbo birds olaanad oat s tbo rico in an area 200 yards long by tan yards wide aaeb night for , ' 4 •lb* »r * several nights in suoosssion* Tbs early stands of thin rice suffered aosti tbo predilection of tbo duoics for tbo thin bailed early na taring v; vT duo Hero Variety was aspaoially noticeable. In many oaaaa the ducas ware attracted by bbondanoa of graas aoeda in foal rioo but oleaned oat both tbo grass and rioo* ' * s M ‘ , , -*■ > > ' ^ ‘ • £ f . , * , *' • • 1 • ... Duoics did not drop into dense full stands of rioo bat worked in :• v * ' ' to it froa tbs aarglns. Tbs first lino of birds penetrated tbo dense v • * ' ^ - . .4 ' r ** * ^ 1 a i | . J • growth of grain staking scattered narrow lanes while those that followed wallowed down tho bulb of tho stalks in feeding on tho beads. In food- ing in tho fields tho dusks showed o tendency to congregate in largo . ... , « t i f looks. Bunches oaao in and oi ruled ewer the fields until osm flook found a suitable place and alighted. Tbo others then decoyed in to tbea * -v r r ' s * -If .' ‘ . • $ • r, •• vuj and birds that oaoe later followed oo that it ana not unusual to find 6000 Pintails feeding in one spot. The deatruotioa wrought by tfaeoe birds nay bo imagined. Tbo ordinary low gabbling undo by one of these duoko in feeding woo oagilnf led in thooo f lookings until it fonaed a • , . oontinuoua rubbling roaring sound audible distinctly ot ©tar half a olio through which oaoe occasional high pitched quacking calls nads by 111- tempered dnfeM striking at their fallows* Baring these studies 1 ana able to looata the flooks at night by following these sounds* Other waa claimed whan tba grain was in the shoe*, when it oould not ba threshed quickly but no instanoaa of thia wera witnas- sad this fall* Their is no question but that hoary loss nay result at this tints without proper protection , (ms report by 'fetooro on an inv^s- * tlgatlon of daaags to Hina by dudes in Arkansas in 1917*' That the dudes wars actually destroying the rioa was prorad by obssrration of the birds feeding and by examination of the fields after /$■ . ... they had bean frightened out* Qo several occasions pintails and mallards that ware shot at daybreak fro® flocks on their way to their resting grounds from the rioa fields had the throat literally paokad with rioa r$S?jj .ifc* " 1 V.A. i.M\ '■ •• , ?r.p '.%£{* , / . from tha stomach forward almost to tha opening of the windpipe* some of these 'hfltt contained at laaat a pint of rice , taken from the stalk * Vl W® • r j r » • y as at thia time there had bean no rloe out* Stomachs and gullets intact taken from those birds ware sent in to the Biological surrey as specimens* Excrement of the birds examined on mud bare on their loafing ground con- sisted in large part of rioo bulla* In one tract of 6000 acres near kaxwell (under water as one pro- Jeot but farmed by aereral parties) by aotu&l estimate it waa found that 4 126 acres of rioa bad bean eaten by duoka* Thia grain would hare yielded * T '• 1 * ■ + from 10 to 25 cache of rloe per acre# Host of It would have run from 10 to 12 eaoha but occasionally arc* a of heavy vice that had been atUoiii were encountered* >, An actual tabulation of tha riot destroyed here made Sept* 26 and b 27 in oompany with H> G* Bryant of tha 3tate Fish sad Gama Oonelssian is as fellowat ’ 3^’r^'k -JM , ®;.- ;'♦ . ? - •»> A* • Table I Bio* destroyed by Books Beer Hazes 11. let luted yield* 10 sacks p r sere 20-25 " • * >■ '• W • 4‘ 10 ■ i 10 * V* n *** * X • *< 1 - . Ai,v * V .#• j #■ + • . J J* ♦ 129 Tbs total loss la this estimate was 1544 saoks of rloe wbioh at $4*60 per sack was worth $4946*00* In other areas near Willows and on ■ the east side of the riser the loss was fully as great so that at a V - . rxi. conservative satinets at least 250 sores of rloe were taken by docks* valued In money at about $18*600* ■ -jit k V Protective Heasores* Sv ft . m R - The fact that ducks were doing damage to rice was seised upon by market banters and others who desired to kill tbs birds as a pretext for demanding an open season on these waterfowl to begin September 1 * H * . ■ ~ j. ; I too A Jj , ' / ■* V and to cover the entire northern half of the stats* Certain newspapers m m m ■ _ H ^ ~ ^ « . ft took the matter up and aade it the basis of a vicious attack upon the •t» * *• State Fish and Qams Oonmlsslon and upon federal attempts to regulate I . P’s ♦j ‘ • £ iv { natters* Statements that rloe growers were slaughtering ducks by the tkouB&odi and allowing than to rot In tbs flildt c&usad danaada that tba i.w vq L/t ■ V > J . . > / , 1st *. * • , * ,4k . a w3T V9 . • restriction against their sale as gum ha removed* The nee of explosive devices known as "duok bombs'* to frighten ducks from the rice fields without injuring them was strongly advocated end two firms in dan Francisco, the haeliff dales °o., 146 Davis at.. and the California Fireworks Co*, 249 Front patting these on the manat* On examination 1 lound these "duck bomba” to be what is ooomonly called a*daylight salute*** They are fired from small mortars, tubes made of heavy paper or galvanised iron two inches ,*• ~ f ' i i tj^ • .» ,ij • in diameter and a foot long that are embedded in the earth for half their length, inolined in the direction toward which it was desired to throw ... i, ■ the bomb* When in position the bomb was placed in the mortar and a long V -V J i * ■ T _ *- ' * . T -*■ fuse ignited with a match. This set off a firing charge in the base of the bomb that threw the bomb itself owt into the air where it wae exploded through a time fuse in the base* 1 purchased a considerable number of these bombs (about C&O.OO worth in all) and gwve them a thorough trial* In audition to using the standard bombs 1 had a number made up specially in order to experiment with them in various ways* These bombs retailed at from $3*60 to $6*00 per domen* In using these bombs tbs operator worked out along the levees as near to the feeding duoks as possible, set the mortar and then threw a . • , 1 bomb out ovor the birds* It sms b*at to sot two or three mortars explode j, l » •»* ■ * ,# - rjl ‘ •. t — . v • . ■ Y| * ' * • » - one bomb to raise the birds, and light one or two others so that they * i *' * "w t • *’ *Aje 1 *,• ** -•»- * i/i’ * \ > • .* * + • i ^ would throw and explode among the flocks as they rose* The bombs con- tained the powder making the explosion, magnesium producing a flash. and antimony producing smoko* The amounts of all of tease could not be i *1 * * r> f' *- j 1 ■ !V* ' * | . - 11 ' r I * k * • * . i r - , « increased without making the bombs too expensive for use* By experiment be varied with good sbooo se • ftaoa for daylight on bombs containing i i moss antimony and loan magnesium produced a loud import and a ball of smoke that expanded rapidly, while for night worm the antimony was largely eliminated to be replaced by magnesium whioh produced a bright, startling flash* It was found too that e mortar 18 inches long nude of heavy gal- vanised iron pipe with an opening two inches in diameter gave better re- suits than the smaller lighter tubes, supplied by the bomb manufacturers as it threw the bombs much farther^, before they exploded* In addition • , , t • r ■ • — m' it waa considered safer to use as occasionally both the firing a barge and the bomb exploded in the mortar usually driving It deep in the mud, with • F • the heavy mortars it was possibls also to throw ths bombs with much more i aocuraoy* So long es the duoks were being shot at with shotguns ths bombs were a success and were an efficient aid In driving out the birds* Vith * • • the duo* bombs it was possibls to raise the ducks from large arses of i ' rice* Often I bad flooks laavs when bombs eers exploded at a distance of an eighth of n mile* 1 soon found however in areas where these was • • i no shooting that the duoJca soon became mors or lees aoouetomed te the ' . _ ■ j- ■ ’i • — bombs and would not rise unless the projao tiles were exploded very near 4 ^ . at hand* One night when lightening flashes oame at intervals from ston Nimr’ ♦ near the horison 1 found that the pintails paid little or no attention < to baatoft units* they foil almost among thorn* 1 . • In spite of the claims that had been made for them it was proved SO e _ that they were not successful in keeping ducks out of the rice fields where ^ M f f f there was no shooting. As an adjust t0 herding with shot guns they were of great aid as wbsn ducks were being shot at they were much frightened by tbs explosion of the bombs and shorn* d a tendency to avoid tboao pert* of the fields la which they bad encountered them. The use of) $umps throwing a ray of light for a considerable dia- tanca was advocated also* Auto lights with storage batteries were aug- gested by eons* The Dodge Land Company had an arrangement equipped with V r a searchlight that threw a ray for half a mile* Current was supplied to ■ N •' a >’■■■ > - ' ' ' • ' this by a generator operated by/ gasoline engine* Two of these outfits were on hand each costing about three hundred dollars* These had not been tried as yet* Although duoAs are afraid of a flashing light the method waa one difficult to handle* It was not practicable to move such outfits about readily and It was considered of doubtful value in the long run* It might aid in driving blrda out In connection with other methods y- out when used alone It was believed that the birds would soon be come aooustomed to the lights* The method of driving birds away from the rioe fields that was ■ m • V'A - ». * 1 , ' ,»•' universally successful was that of stationing men on watch to fire at the duchs and so keep them moving. For this purpose shells loadsd with ♦ * V . * . * > *000 while the number of ducks destroyed was only nominal* There was no waste as the few birds that were killed were picked up and utilised as food* Damage by ducks was always local and there were extensive areas where the birds gave no trouble whatever* there the ducks wers working in rice however there was danger of loss of the entire orop and it was necessary to take steps immediately to drive them out* Following is a copy of the perait that was issued, (after Ooti a * * » ^ ^ * * Id this was extended under the same restrictions to cover shooting by night* ) >.w- * . > - j mm September 30, 1918* \ OJtfEK THE XILLIBO OP ClGBATOBY DOCKS WHICH HiYS BECAME SEBIOUSLY IHJUBI003 TO THE KICK CROPS IS CALlPOitKU. Icfopafction having been furnished the Secretary of Agriculture that migratory ducks have become, under extraordinary conditions, seriously In- jurious to the rice crops in California and an investigation having been made to determine the nature and extent of the injury complained of and * ’ l whether the oirds alleged to be doing the damage should be killed, and, if eo, during what times and by what means; and it having been determined by the Secretary of Agriculture that migratory duces have beoome, under extra- , • • ordinary conditions, seriously injurious to the rice crops in the oounties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba in California and that the t ; ‘ J t, *; * #5 migratory dueled doing the d&tn&go should bo killed by shooting: Slow, therefore, I, £• F» Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to authority in me vested by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (Act of July 3, 1918) and agreeably to regulations under said Aot promulgated July 31, 1918, do hereby order that persons owning or leasing land in said oounties ,<* of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba, in tba State of California, on which rice is being grown or being harvested, and the members of their imnediate f. milies and their employees may hill by shooting migratory ducks from 30 to Ootober IS, inclusive, 1918, in the open fields o# rice on such lands so owned or leased, when suoh migratory ducks are committing or i are about to commit serious injury to the rloe and it is neoesssry to nil ' ■ • ; - ' ' "/*/ p ; ■SRI I . . r i* suoh migratory ducks la order to protect the rioa from damage; Oat no suoh parson shall shoot at say such migratory duoks from say artificial **# * • Rf*- , L ’ *\ '• * s ( , * • ' - r *'-*s \ ^ ^ / jt* * • ~ • sL • • or natural olindsi nor shall migratory ducks ba killed or shot at from - or in any fiald from which the rlca has bean harvested) nor shall mlgra- * ? tory ducks so killed be sold* offered for sale or shipped for purposes cu t. n ; ' /* of sale* or be wantonly wasted or destroyed* bat they may be used for t V ' ' , \ --** • * * , (L food purposes by the persons hereby permitted to kill them sad they may • *• L • , • be tr nspcrted to hospitals and oharitablo laatl tut loos in California for ~ !*' -VVj?> J jf 1 r • * *’ . £**! £ ^ | uas as food* "y • ... • ni ■ W'- m * # » *- Kaoh owner or lessee of land oa which migratory ducks are so killed shell* on or before the 25th day of October* 1916* submit to the Secretory of Agriculture* Washington* I). 0** a sworn otetement of the number and • I . kinds of migratory ducks killed each day pursuant to this permit cm suoh 3SSE land so owned or leased by bin* the manner in which the said ducks wsro rM disposed of* and the cost of the auaawitlon used in killing or attesting to kill tbsm. V - - <1 V ; t ’ >>/ ift* i y <• . D. F* Houston. flu Secretary of Agriculture. F A yjk. .. T* l ViV Z* 7&?i > ’ 7 iiiiT • 1 ^ r* V.',, . r; * k* ’ • ‘ r v / * jy j YV ■ • « Haring the period from August 16 to October 17, 1918 a cureful study of tbs relation of wild duoks to rioe oulture was node in the Sacramento Valley California* About 130,000 mores were devoted to 4 rice that year in the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tolo and Tuba* Rioe in this region was grown largely upon low lying lands, with alkaline soils, that have been un suited for other fonts of oul- i # " ♦ tivation, and hare not heretofore been utilised for agrioulture* Con- piderable numbers of Pintails and Mallards breed here in marshes and e sloughs and many more come here in late summer from other regions* These birds were attracted by the water and food found in the rioe 7 fields and when the rioe filled began to eat the grain* The birds fed on moonlit nights or at dusk and daybreak* The first damage was done in areas where the stand of rioe was thin but from thefts the duoks worked out into the heavier growth* In experimenting with methods of controlling this damage it was % found that while the use of aerial bombs that exploded among the birds with- out injuring them was a valuable means of driving the duoks out it soon V • * ' .¥ . .v . aCWB *y ■ v. i * lost its effioaoy unless aooompanied by actual shooting* As the duck's ^ I in question are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty lot it was necessary to grant permission to rioe growers to kill duoks under suitable restriction before the opening of the legal hunting season, and to allow these same men to shoot at night when the season opened* These measures were entirely successful* The rice destroyed by the birds was estimated to be worth about ft 13, 500 while had these steps W. J. PEARSON 5c CO. INCORPORATED REAL ESTATE INVE ST ME N TS & INSURANCE 310 HAAS BUILDING J. V. BIARD VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS F. M. NEWBERT M. J. Connell E. L. BOSQUI EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld Fish and Game Commission OF CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO Oct. 17, 1918, Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Biologist, Willows, Cal, Dear Dr. Wetmore: I have yours of October 16th and am pleased to receive the information as to your investigation. I called at the Sacramento Outing Club and learned from Mr. Ralston that he had a very interesting time with you. I am also pleased to know that they took good care of you. I had a nice little shoot while it lasted on sprig and teal. I did not see but very few dead or sick birds. I easily recognized two or three apparently crippled birds from the description you gave me of the symptons. Very truly yours GN/ES ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS “FISH AND GAME COMMISSION I&J CARL D. SHOEMAKER STATE GAME WARDEN R. E. CLANTON MASTER FISH WARDEN WILLIAM L. FINLEY STATE BIOLOOIST COMMISSIONERS Fish State of Oregon and Game Commission OREGON BUILDING FIFTH AND OAK STREETS PORTLAND 0 ctober 16, 1918 Mr, A. Wetmore, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Dear Sir: JAMES W1THYCOMBE C. F. STONE I. N. FLEISCHNER MARION JACK FRANK M. WARREN Agreeable to your wire, I enclose herewith permit to take all kinds of birds for scientific pur- poses. I trust that your investigation will be valuable to the Department. Very sincerely yours. 6 - State Game Warden. i HM . TV Uf RICE GROWERS •v Vi «-. ' , -.r ; .;r^Vv 1 * • « '.fyr-- ■■» - £f ^ • , ;jI' .* Federal Investigator Concludes That Farmer' Has Right To Use Any Commonsense Means To Protect Crop <*i\ •« •;* r> J r* 1 VI - r K» 1 U^> •►f 5T > 1 * ** — ‘i E. 1 r? 3T‘- After spending several days in the Sacramento Valley rice-growing belt, where he carefully looked into con- ditions as he found them, Dr. Alex- ander Wetmore, naturalist of the of the United States Biological Sur- vey, has about concluded that the rice grower is Justified in resorting to any common sense mear^s in pro- tecting his crop against the depre- dations of the wild duck. This much Dr. Wetmore to-day ad- mitted to a Bee reporter while stop- ping off here for a short while en route to Williams to proceed with his investigations. ' To Stay on Job. “The crop has not advanced to a ripening stage where' I have been, able to determine w r hereXl have been deuce just what destruction the ducks do in 'the rice fields,” said the Fed- eral official, “but I am going to stay on the job probably throughout the harvest season and I shall know what is going on.” When asked if the fanners would be justified in shooting the ducks, or resorting to other means necessary to protect their -rice crops, he could see no reason w T hy the grower has not got a good case against the in- vades. v ' ; . ~ * > • , < » . * k * ■ . Ho Recommendation. 9S Until he has proceeded .further, with his investigations, the official X , would inot suggest any recommenda- r • tions which he may, now have in — mind. ^He said there was & division ^ of opinion among some of the grow- tjj. ers as to the amount of damage the ducks do in the rice fields. Dr. .Wetmore was sent here from ZV; Washington, D. C., to Settle the ques- ts tion of whether - the State J'ish and '-Game Commission is right .in its. con - •Z: tentlons that the ducks should be Z V protected at all events, notwithstand- ing the world-wide ci*y for food and the policy of cpneeryation. Original copied by Smithsonian Archives STATE OF KANSAS. DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME. PERMIT FOR SCIENTIFIC OR PROPAGATING PURPOSES. I, the undersigned, Fish and Game Warden of the State of Kansas, do hereby grant a permit to Alexander Metmore, A.e l B ^ M.^olojioal Survey, rasi^on the fallowing purposes and upon the following conditions only, to wit : " j j ■ | »* L ■ ' • m ■, '* ,• The kind and number of specimens to be taken: To collect birds and rcammals for scientific 1 - * T * • * ...... ..... — purposes for the Bureau of Biological purvey, The manner of taking said specimens: The manner and means of transporting said specimens and the places to and between which said specimens may be transported shall be stated on special shipping cards, and no shipment shall be made unless goods shipped be at all times accompanied by such special shipping card, to be issued by this department over the signature of the State Fish and Game Warden. It is a condition of this permit, that any or all of the acts hereby allowed must be confined within the bor- ders of the State of Kansas, and must be confined strictly and exclusively to scientific and propagating purposes; and in case of any violation of any of the conditions of this Permit, or of any of the provisions of the laws of the State of Kansas relating to fish and game, then this Permit shall be void and of no effect. This Permit shall expire, unless forfeited for cause, on J anuary 1, 1919 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. :>at 0 bt*F 14 Vnahuigtan* ->. 0 * Aiex i»ett 3 ora, alio*, California. AuTuot. rXirber, Tlnmth Foil* vrutfon report# rover o duck nartellty. investigate t * : sf ► T • " • . , W. ■'•■i . • ‘ *' • ' • , 6 W ooanletin* rice work Md- before ro analog quail work, authority ntfoniteil. In- ■ tervlew /iper if can be uono route hone. > • Henderson. r P • - * 1 * . iV-v. • . ** • — • * -m • O 2 /** -* j v ; y • '"'T ill tti Jlattsas FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT W. C. TEGMEIER, WARDEN Address all Correspondence to Department of Fish and Game, Pratt, Kansas. Pratt, Kan Oct. 14, 1913 Mr. Alexander Wetmore Assistant Biologist, • 1833 Hass. St., Lawrence, Kansas, Dear Sir: I am enclosing herewith scientific permit for collecting birds and mammals in Kansas for the use of the Bureau of Biological Survey. Very truly yours, v.V<> C^iT^V^C. UK &£iJ u ^ ^•'.‘•v V Xla.<1»A^ . ,y £ iL^^u' cU^c ^ 9 £us£ {AS&s^clt^s *^rx fa*- c£/. (QcleU I te J / £ir*+*£n+/ tcv^ZZ. fy4£ Mt£ t^^z££i Jiou^j/fy TZ^ ^ 6 u 4 ^yi/ $A^j>(sVy dt^jf ^ lAATc* ■CJv£JZvvvQ &0 Z££_ ,-fa ' Hbo£ Tig. l < Lag | »*j « » £jy tifco x ■£/ 'J\JLL. c/jl 6 ^£a. CutiL t£o-^U. C-M^x, i^^Zv^vo 6>I \)LKrvx*d/~ r —-ft— PA Hv >£A/^ ^^7 //f/C**iy r^>LxCv^ ^4/ ^£^o£(^£ A-^t-c *y£^ , t ■■ ' "' - -* -/« 'a>j-t. / ^ ^VVnyicW/ • Pl •- • o x i< o^a+* 4 > ■ ; * ?1 / , ^ siMjd^o-'jLrp .? < 1 IN THE HEART OF THE SHOPPING DISTRICT JJariftr iStrp droiuers' Aasoriatum GENERAL OFFICES: THIRD FLOOR, FRUIT BUILDING SACRAMENTO, CAL. Buy More Liberty Bonds October 9th-1918 . Doctor Alexander ’Yet more , 1011 Forum Building, Or cram on to , California. My dear Doctor: ... , . 1 your favor of October 9th enclosing copy of the blanket regulation an^ rules relating to the shooting of ducks. I thank you very much for your courtesy in this matter and you may be assured that this association will do all in its nov«r to see that the provisions and requirements of this regulation are carried out to the letter. Sacramento, Cal*, Oct* 7, 1918* This will introduce Dr* Alexander Wetmore of the Department of Agriculture, Washington. Mr. Wetmore is - . .. ■; making some important investigations, and will remain at the club houae for some days. You will please give him every assistance possible while he remains with you. Yours very truly. President. 1 J • v ’ . COMMISSIONERS F. M. NEWBERT M. J. Connell E. L. Bosqui EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerpeld Fish and Game Commission OF CALIFORNIA FRANnacn Berkeley, Cal Oct. 7, 1918. Mr. Alexander Wetmore, Gridley, Butte Co. Cal. My dear Wetmore, When I reached Live Oak, I found that Ricketts had been detailed elsewhere so that I had to send for Birmingham. We visited the Fal laman Ranch, and I took several photographs. The damage is quite extensive , and is similar to that on the West side. We talked to a number of ranchers near Biggs, but invariably they re- ported no damage. However , it was stated that ducks had given trouble on the Browning ranch. On talking to the herder for a ”Mr. Mawhinney " , we decided that he had exaggerated the damage. The man in charge at the Rice Experiment Station had heard complaints from Mr. Mawhinney and from someone on the Browning ranch. Although we attempted to visit the Dodge /foldings, we were prevented by the roads which were impassable. Was very sorry not to have seen you again. Be sure to look me up the moment you reach Berkeley. Taylor has been in town for two or three days, but leaves Thursday. The Audubon Association of the Pacific still wantB you to talk on Thursday evening, Oct. 10 th. Thev meet in the "Development Board Room" of the Ferry Building. Sincerely yours, B/I ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS “FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Uh., M? . i »• • , « > • 1 iii » _ « i 1 1 lifi ' - \ - 1 ! 3 - -x- Oc to*ber 6 1 1918 HOTEL. UTAH SALT LAKE CITV UNDER THE MANAGEM ENT OF GEO.O.RELF Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Care State Horticultural Commission, Forum Building, Sacramento, Cal. Dear Wetmore, As you will note, I have been delayed in getting- to the Coast and it will probably be two '’Weeks yet before I reach Sacramento. I trust that you and Cattron wall be ready to meet me when I get there. I desire to have a conference with both of you concerning the duck situation before seeing the Game. Oom.aas ion. • I go from here to Malheur Lake and other points in Oregon and Washington and will let you knew later more definitely concerning the time of my arrival in Sacramento. Sincerely yours. Chief Biological Survey / 1" Jp ■ . *- V* 1 #. . • * * • ' . • CLASS OF SERVICE SYMBOL A Day Message s . Day Letter Blue Night Message Ntte Night Utter NL If none of these three symbols appears after the check (number of words) this Is a day messag e . Oth er - wise its character is indicated by the symbol appearing after the check. •T i. ^ V / * ♦ ' WESTE * •* {' ' NEWCOMB CARLTON. PR UNION AM E. ATKINS. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Form 1204 RECEIVED AT * i. CUSS OF SERVICE SYMBOL Day Message Day Utter Blue Night Message Nlte Night Utter NL If none of these three symbols appears after the check (number of words) this is a day message. Other- wise Its character is indicated by the symbol appearing after the check. fcr — pi ' • . ,4 ■Vi QaJU / **** rfe r i •- f l v .t ' *s- 4 \ : - *. >••• . I • . k.' . .•li-r-l - V.- V. - ' i rp Oriqinal copied by Smithsonian Archives Fish and Game Commission OF CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONERS F. M. NEWBERT M. J. CONNELL E. L. BOSQUI EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfelo SAN FRANCISCO October 3rd, 1918. Mr. Alexander Wetmore, Maxwell, Calif. Dear Mr. Wetmore I have just received your letter ad' dressed to Mr. Westerfeld. We had already received Mr. Henderson's telegram that you quoted and have given the information to all of the San Francisco newspapers. The telegram has not really aroused the necessity that I thought it would. George Neale, however, advises me that there are a number of’wild duck rice protective clubs" being organized. I hope the situation is very much relieved by the telegram, although I do not entirely approve of the wording. Mr. Westerfeld wrote a long letter to the Biological Survey in which he pointed out some of the difficulties that will arise from the fact that they gave a blanket permit to rice growers, their immediate families and employees. In all probability there will be a great many dollar a year men employed on some of the ranches. Says Ruling Against Recommendation of any Growers. 6AN •[ FRA&cmCO, Oot. t r i i ‘‘l! '■ i . •* ^ t 2. — Wild ten ok a in the rice fields of Butt*. Co- hu«m. Gleim, Sutter, Y^lo and ' Yuba icon red e« may be shot .When nece*sar> to protect crop*, according (to an oi- tflcial telegram received from Wash- ijurtoo by Car! Wedrt^ffefld, ex- ecutive officer of the fish and game komroissioa of California. The rut- ting holds good until the 15th of this | month. Only rice farmers, members j»of their irn mediate families and em- ployes, nowever, may shoot the ducks Und they mutrt shoot in open tiold. Another^’ restriction In the* ruling ‘'keep! farmers from selling: 9 these Njuoks. and provides thait they* must ^either eat them or send them to ufliar- £tabie institutions or hospitals. • The communication was addressed Ko Carl Westerfeld, executive officer rof the fish and fame commission at \&aji Francisco, and comes from Hen- derson, assistant director of the bio- logical burvey, department of agricul- ture, at Washington. A copy of the lipermit reached the Sacramento office k>t the comlnission yesterday. L v \ v -MISTAKE, 4 * SAYS NEALE. V The order Vas.V^ot received with if Vn the si asm at the, /offices of the fish land game commisd|jjn. “The ruling ; l jia against the' recommendation, of / Lrneany reputable rVse growers,” said WeorgJe R. Neals* deputy. , “Ernest E. feehr, secretary of the Rice Growers' jRssociation, representing 75 per cent i of the acreage, has an article in the {Willows Journal, saying the reports [of large damage frorrt ducks are ex- aggerations; that no damage was re- Vported from Yolo county lasU year, {with »,0<>0 acres planted, and that on Hhe Spalding ranch, with- 2300 acres in jrice; the total lots was J not more pthan five acres. Blackbirds, he de- rrotect the rice fields from trespass- ers. This will be the duty of the federal migatory bird wardens, soon do be appointed. The state deputies -Trill be able to assist by enforcing the rrturulaUons governing shipments.” S i ■V *7 Original copied by Smithsonian Archives UNI inn STATUS DUPARTIEITT OP AGRICULTURE ■ • BUJOAU OP BIOLOGICAL SURVEY LASHJjiGTCH, D--C . October 2, 1918. SPECIAL H3MORAHDUM FOR FULL 3.IPL0Y3BS . This is t. advise you that the regular appropriation bill for the Department of Agriculture, for the fiscal year 1919, has now passed both Houses of Congress and been signed by the President, and became a law on Ootober 1, 1918, Fr.m October 1, you will therefore be limited in making expenditures *nly by the amounts •overed by your letters cf authority and such instructions a 3 have been #r may be given you. Chief Cleric and Executive Assistant -: a - ■JSv * ■ * . i! SHOOT DOCKS Defeat State Fish and Same Commissioner in Long • . , Controversy ■. L • '•'if.’' * v * a -* . .1. V *v BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ISSUES PERMIT AND RESTRICTIONS Growers’ Employes Given Right To Shoot; Consumption To Be Permitted - ; • . • • v;4i I AN FRANCISCO (Cal.) ^' Oc- tober 2. — The rice growers w of the Sacramento Valley, who have waged a long fight for the right to protect their rice crops from the depredations of ducks by the use of guns, if necessary, .-have won a decisive victory over the State Fish and Game Commission. . . The news of the victory comes in an order issued -toy the Biological Survey at Washington, OD. C., " ting the rice growers to shoot ana kill ducks invading their rice fields. This was ‘granted oVer the opposition of "the State Fish and -Game Commiesion. xtfhich fought the request for pcniuj- sion to shoot ducks, holding the birds could be kept off the fields toy the/uae of yockets, bombs, etc. Growers and Merritt Win. A • I - . f , ■ $J- •> The authorisation from the Biologi- cal Survey is a direct result /of the appeal made by the rice growers to California Food Administrator Ralph Merritt. Growers t>f the Willows dis- trict appealed to him to aid them In saving the crop from destruction after the State Fish and Game Commission had announced the Biological Survey i was sending a Federal Game Warden into the district to arrest and prose- » cute any -grower hilling ducks before the season opened. * / * \ Merritt took up the matter With Herbert Hoover, National Food Ad- ministrator,. recommending that the growers be fclven permission to Bhoot the ducks and that the slain ducks be made use of as food by the families the growers and in charitable institu- tions. The order permitting shooting, }ust announced by /the State Fish apa Game Commission' as received from the Biological Survey, is believed the result of the stepii taken by the Glenn growers and Merritt. ... / Growers Only to Shoot. The telegrard announcing the per- * by Carl Wegterfeld, sr of the State Fish tisslon, and is as fol- j * t . M 'i. '.*-•* ‘V wit is given • . executive o and Game lows: , v Carl Weeterf Blanket Butter. tqber 11 it *1 * Washington. .October 1. Fish and Game Commls- from 1 ‘hie n’h^veStAl. killed not t6 be sold, offered for [pped for purposes of sale . ■ or h« i wasted or • destroyed, but mki . for food purposes by persons ktll- m and mav be transported to hoB- - * * Institute §£_ Due •giSta Sifed JSf^iT iSSSKiWiY £ call- lorn A for use as food. Most Mark Packages, y T>a.ckaj?e in which ducks are trans- ported must have name and •h jtooer and Of consignee and sr dement of number and kinds dusks chained therein clearly and consplc- iuslv marked on outside thereof- fEach owner or leasee of land on whloh pucks are killed must on or before Octo- ber 25th submit sworn statement of num- ber and° kinds of ducks killed each day on wuch land, manner of - disposition of ducks and cost of ammunition used. Make public foregoing. Full t*Xt_ per- mit by mail. • VOLTIKTEBR8 TO KILL DIMjKS. MARYSVILLE ("^ubg Co,). October '2. Mayor Mat Arooldy had received from E. Winters of the Motor Trahs* portatlon Corps, at the Rreaidlo. Ban Francisco, a letter volunteering to kfcltt ducks for the rice meh, )ln order to conserve meat tor Original copied by Smithsonian Archives Wild Ducks to Be Shot by Growers Official Permission Given . Rice Men, According to Official • ' Wild ducks in the rice fields of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties may be shot whenever necessary to protect the crops, ac- cording to an official telegram re- ceived 'yesterday from Washington by Carl Westerfeld, executive officer of the Fish and Game Commission of California. This ruling holds good until the 15th of this month. Ohly rice farmers, members of their imme- diate families and employes, however, may shoot the ducks, and they must shoot in open field. > Another restriction in the ruling keeps -farmers from selling these ducks, and provides that they must either eat them or send them to hos- pitals or Charitable institutions. This ruling is the result of six weeks investigation ' by Dr. H C. iBryant of the University of Califor- nia, who went up to the rice fields as economic ornithologist for the Fish and Game Commission, and Alexander Wetmore, of the Biological Survey. Carl Westerfeld also investigated the situation for several days and found that of the 144,000 acres planted in rice not more than seventy-five to 100 acres have been molested by ducks. Westerfeld said yesterday: "This ruling applies only to the counties named, and only to the peo- ple directly .concerned. Hunters may not ehoot ducks anywhere until the seajion opens about October 16.’ fi’om the Biological Survey office, itt Washington, 3D. C., farmers owning rice fields in Butter, Colusa, Glenn. Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties, will be permitted to shoot ducks that are destroying their rice. This Vuling was mad^ yesterday and will take effect immediately. However, this ruling has nothing to do with hunters. For sportsmep the regular season will open as usuel on October , 16. Farmers will not be allowed to hire extra ^help to kill the duckfi and all birds that cannot toe consumed by the farmers must be shipped to some charitable institu- INVESTIGATION HELD, The . Fish and Game Commission recently conducted an investigation to find just how badly the ducks have destroyed the rice fields and out of the 145,000 acres planted to rice only 100 aches have been molesetd. This is attributed to the fact that the dupks are nnable to get into hun- dreds of the fields on account of the height of the rice stalks. .. This investigation was made by H. C. Bryant, economical ornithol- ogist; Carl Westerfeld and a. repre- sentative of the Rice .Growers’ As- sociation. All agreed that the fields had been destroye din some places, but the majority were left untouched. However, ‘ after a thorough discus- sion of the problem, it was deemed absolutely necessary to make the ruling and a suggestion to that ef- fect was forwarded to Washington. ORDER FROM* WASHINGTON. Washington, October 1. ’ Carl Westerfeld, Fish and Game Commissioner, San Francisco: , Blanket federal permission granted rjce growers members and immediate families and employees dn Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Y'oflo and Yuba counties, California, to will ducks from September 30 to Oct rebol5 inclusive. 191, in open* fields of rice when necessary to protect i rice crops from damage by ducks. No ducks to be shot at from artificial or natural blinds or from fields from which rice bas been harvested. Ducks killed not to be sold, offered for sale, shipped for pur- poses of sal or be wantonly wasted or destroyed, but may be used for food purposes by persons killing them and may be transported to hospitals and charitable institu- tions in California for use as food. Any package in which ducks are transported must have name and adddress of shipper and of con- signee and accurate statement of t number and kinds of ducks con- tained therein clearly and conspic- uously marked on outside thereof. Each owner or lessee of lan$ on which ducks are killed must on or before October 25 submit sworn statement of number and kinds, of ducks killed each day on such land. Manner of dispostion of ducks and cost of' ammunition used. Make public foregoing. Full text nCrra it by mail. ' P ' HENDERSON. > Original copied by Smithsonian Archives Bf-108 July, iinfi. .Vo. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION Washington, D. C., October 1, 191G< Alex .etrspra. As al st ant . S iologia Your letter of authorization lio, 70-31., os amended. payable from the appropriation "General hxpensea , Bureau of Biologionl .urvoy, 1010 ' (Food Habits of Biwla and liacnals ) , ie hereby further anendod so aa to authorise you to Investigate the mortality among waterfowl about Klamath Lake, Oregon. liio amount which may bo emended under the above named appropriation is not hereby increased. Your permanent headquarters anil he ,,'e.cw ilngtOn, ] / “S ; H L ■ y// . - v . y : « * *d <2erk >. “ 173 Acting Chwfi Biological Survey. Q $ (3$ lAJx/ut/ % ^ Cy^fu^ (/aJ^ I 0 /Ujj/ *tS? 6* STATEMENT PHONE SUTTER 5307 RACLIFF SALES COMPANY, Sales Agents tor Willson's Fireworks Co. 146-148 DAVIS STREET San Francisco._ QXiJ . / TO BALANCE TO MDSE. /-2 so / o &-0 ♦ MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYABLE TO RACLIFF SALES COMPANY Form E 1 To Manager Telegraph Company: This message should be sent “Paid Gov't" Rate, and forwarded with your monthly re- port as voucher for your credit. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. OFFICIAL TELEGRAM. SrBVOrCHER No. Charge Bureau of __ , U. S. Department of Agriculture. ( Always insert name of Bureau chargeable with this expense.) 7 i j • . Send the following official message subject to the instructions on back Appropriation: 'jfriStl H<*AnJC<\ hereof and the agreement with the Postmaster General. Amount Paid: $0. Place: -CftAt- UalJL^ — -Qjy} i (p*j , ^ Date : J/, 191 f cm /<4} LAJ 4ZsY\d -(iafc • 8—1 •» INSTRUCTIONS. «* Th^ telegraph must be used sparingly. In a message from one official or employee to another official or employee titles should not he used , and in a great many cases the names of the parties in both address and signature may be limited to single words. Messages sent from or to the Department at Washington should not be paid for by the persons sending or receiving the same, except in cases where payment is demanded as a condition to the transmission or delivery of the messages, and the agent, operator, or messenger should be directed to have the same charged in the company’s monthly bill at Washington. # . The rates for the transmission 0 f official messages (except those for the Weath^i. Bureau) over the principal telegraph lines in the united States, including those of the Western Union Telegraph Company, are fixed annually by the Postmaster General, and all payments in excess of tho>se rates will be at the expense of the persons making the payments. Jg&yment for Government messages sent over telegraph lines owned or operated by bond-aided railroad companies is forbidden by law. Write numbers out when fewer words result than there are figures in the number, except in cablegrams, when figures should be used instead of the corresponding words. ^ . Do not abbreviate ordinal ntoffrers, such as 16th (three words), 3rd (two words), 22nd (three words); but write them sixteenth, third, and twenty-second . # * Telegrams, or any part thereof, relating to leave of absence are not official. Telegrams relating to salary or expense checks are only official when the funds are actually necessary to carry out official instructions; and such messages must be clearly explained. Telegrams between the several Departments of tho Government and their officers and agents, in their transmission oyer the lines of any telegraph company to which has been given the right of way, timber, or station lands from the public domain shall have priority over all other business, at such rates as the Postmaster General shall annually fix. And no part of any appropriation for the several Departments of the Government shall be paid to any company which neglects or refuses to transmit such telegrams in accordance with the provisions of thi3 section. — Rev. Slat., sec. 5266. 8-1 F# V* i U • _ • * *i » k j , f i V.^ -f j • i-A k 1 > ♦ l r p r ' jC Form 1204 3 a- A v.v - ' r - I, PRESIDENT GEORGE !W. E. ATKINS. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT CUBS OF SERVICE SYMBOL ^ I- S Day Uttar Hu. Night Mooaego Nlti Night Uttor If non« of thtso throe symbol* appoors after the cheek (number of werrie) thio It b do y meaaog e. Other- wise Its character U Indicated by the eytnbol appearing after the ehoek. lYv iP V, ivTwRV-** * C -TT,.^ ' r A #n\ • X / 1 “*». .Va RECEIVED AT*'*" »* •• ®* ** s ■ C l“- " f •• “ - t V<-‘. t ■ (f. -t /‘Wabhi noton. DC >327 PM OCT 1ST 1913 J .♦.,••* -1 1 _ • . . •«*./ , # - .»* , l • c \ ’ * ■ "** 1ST RICE CROPS FROM BAMABE BY BUCKO 8T0P* NO BUCKS Tt BE SHOT AT . t •■'■* - * V SR ; FROM SRTIFICIOMt NATURE BLINBS SR FRBM BR IN FIELBS FRBM WHICH RICE A8 BEEN ' * HARVESTER STOP BUCKS KILLEB NOT TO BE SOLO SFFEREB F8R SALE 8H| PPEB F8R PURPBSE BF BALE BR S&WANTONLY WA8TEB BR BESTRBYEB BUT MAY BE USES FBR FBBB PURPOSES BY PERSONS KILLING TKEMANB MAY BE TRANSPBRTEB TB HBSPI TALi a. . T r *, • : \ A * •' . j, ** , ' * . - * •. . v * • - ANl SHARI TABLE I NSTITUTISNt I N CALI FI RNI A FBR USE AS FBBB STBP ANY PACKAGE .'*>• , '• y S' v - -v • • X ,y \ ■'* w v - \\ ' ’ ’ - * IN WHICH BUCKS ARE TRANSPBRTEB MUST HAVE NAME ANB ABBRESS BF SHIPPER ANB V / 1 * y ' « « ' > - *" . 4 # ®*' ' ^ ~ 4 ' - * "" • ^ CONSIGNEE AN ACCURATE STATEMENT BF NUMBER ANB KINO OF BUCKS CONTAINER^ . XHSRSSSKSXRKY THEREIN CLEARLY ANB CONSPICUOUSLY MARKER ON OUTSI BE THEREOF U- f. ' jV ,y\< . u ; .v « •• ♦ • . /!> - ‘ Ax'** - - STBP EACH OWNER OR LESSEE BF LANS BN WHICH BUCKS ARE KILLEB MUST BN BR ' • • ' — . ' * • . i - * •' ; • v -v *. * , .r r ,v ** v J* • • ' ' > • , - .. . . •.* ; . - - ' / v v * --Vi /, f. .. ^ ' H r r I* * T - ' 1 — — * . » 1 ■v' "i . » ^ r - , . . L— ■ i > t ^ f “i ' J rv-. •* ” • . • .,>v > • * - v ‘, .r -e V ♦ i a i • • 'aV .. ^ • ir r *> »y ./ -4 ^ > * . ^ ^ * w .\> -* $r % . y % * -‘W^. j- - V, «*t ^ ^ *. Bt ^ » 4 .n % f »* a # * % 1V .* * * »A • > ♦ * ' j? r B, V * .-j * ♦ w l. ; 1 *.a * v v, *-* * r it a* , V V ■■ - *A- L ^ 4 >^- r — W^. - ^ w ■-£» — A — . — L 1 ^ V w» wV r V - •* -• 'TT 7 ^ Z . * ' « - * . f* : ... '. •■ J : - f • . - •.:• • ■ ■• ■ : ; - ? \ . .*> -3 , *. f •’ r .• * . i . * * 1 ; ^ ' ■* * , , Z , l . i u - \ - 4 * BEFORE SCTB BE R TWENTY FIFTH SUBMIT SWORN STATEMENT BF NUMBER ANB KIN08 - '» • L* A • . . * ’ » r vf • ♦ . « - . ‘ I . * . * * A ' BF BUCKS KILLEB EACH BAY BN SUCH LANB MANNER BS BF BISPBSITIBN BF BUCKS - « v ." i* - ' ' v ' ’ • *’• * ! ’ •• n - . .' • ** : 4 v AN* C*9T *F AMMUNITION USE* ST*P MAKE PU»L|C FONECO I N6 FULL TEXT PERM! T '4 ••a BY MAIL B* •* V * Henbersbn ! • r v> * -A « Orifjinal copied by Smithsonian Archives ^PtEr£jri « 3 g| * 1 ' it I’ s, > ,v-_ *t J ✓ , T • .4 >*" c . r u / y f »* . J ’ - k ^ 4 - > JjL JF . *1 ,y. j jfl " V' - • J Son^ r |/X 5 ^ V* Kr*- ,iw» : fSUM.aU* September 30, 19 Id* I- • TS^riGflAPK OWIOBi Kindly tend telegram given below to the following persons* JUT rfJSH. APPiiOPhUTIOKt I I W 8? Osrl *esterfeld. Fish and Qome Canal as ion Bev Call ju tiding, San Franoisoo, California Alexander Vetaors, tj, Maxwell, California* 3* 3* Cut '.ran. Willows, California* ( . v, ■ Blanks t Federal permission granted rloe growers, mashers irradiate tallies and employees in sutte. Column, Glenn, Sutter, Tola, and tuba oountlee California to kill wild ducks from September thirtieth to Ootober fifteenth inclusive nineteen eighteen in open field# of rloe When necessary to protect rloe crops from damage by docks stop* Ho ducks to bs shot at from artificial or natural blinds or from or In fislds from which rios has bsen harvested stop* Duo >^ritable Institutions In California for use as food stop* A117 pajknge in whiofe-due ka are transported mast have name and add ress of shipper fi fth submit sworn statement of ntatber and kinds of duoks killed e*oh day on sue h land, manner of dlspooition of duokt, and ooat of '"munition used*etop* Kax* public foregoing met* Full text penal t by mil CO/VF/RMATION . 0F telegram. (T?: 4 ps» 4 - S Ssptar&VDT 50 > 1°18 CHDSH P^RTITTEJO TIC KILLIES OF MIGRATORY DUCKS /HICH HAT5 BjjCCiL-i o .RIOUSLY i INJURIOUS’ TO Til j RIOR CROPS IN CAL IFCEJ IA . Infer nation having teen furnished the Soo rotary of Agriculture that migratory due 13 have become, under extraordinary conditions, seriously in- jurious to tne rice orops in California and an investigation having been made to determine the nature and extent ef the injury complained #f and whether the birds alleged to be doing the damage 3 hould be killed, and, if so, during what times and by what means; and it having been determined by the Secretary #f Agriculture that migratory ducks have beeorae, under extra- ordinary conditions, seriously injurious to the rice crops in the counties of Butte, Col usr.. Glenn, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba in Califernia and that the migratory duclcs doing the damage should be killed by shooting: How, therefore, I, 3 . V. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to authority in me vested by the Uigratory Bird Treaty Act (Aot of July 3, 1918) and agreeably to regulations under 3aid i-.ct promulgated July 31, 1918, do hereby order that persons owning or leasing land in said counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba, in the State of California, on which rice is being grown *r being harvested, and the members of tuoir immediate families and tneir employees may mill by shooting migratory euc.-.s from September 30 to October 15, inclusive, 1918, in the open fields of rice on such lands co r.med or leased, when 3U0h migiatory duoi.8 <- re commit#! E are about to commit serious injury to the rice and it is neoessary to kill suoh migratory ducks in order to protect the rice from damage; but no such person shall shoot at any such migratory ducks from any artificial or natural blinds; nor shall migratory ducks be killed or shot at from or in any field from which the rice has-been harvested; nor shall migra- tory ducks so killed be sold, offered foy sale or ship 'ad for purposes of sale, or be wantonly wasted or destroyed, but they ;na > be used for I food purposes by the persons hereby permitted to kill them and they may be transported to hospitals and. charitable institutions in California for use as food* Bach owner or lessee of land on which migratory ducks are so killed shall, on or before the 25th day of October, 1918,. submit to the Secretary of Agriculture, V7oah1.ngton, I). C., a sworn statement of the number and t kinds of migratory ducks killed each day pursuant to thi3 permit on 3 uoh land so earned or leased by him, the manner in which the 3 aid ducks were j t «, r disposed #f, and the -cost- of the ammunition used ill killing or attempting to kill them. " ~ P.THU -Tin 1 *. - ' Secretary of Agriculture. Form E L To Manager Telegraph Company, This message should be sent “Paid Gov’t" Rate, and forwarded with your monthly re- port as voucher for your credit. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICIAL TELEGRAM. SrBvorcHER No. . Charge Bureau of - , U. S. Department of Agriculture. (Always insert name of Bureau chargeable with this expense.) Send the following official message subject to the instructions on back Appropriation: hereof and the agreement with the Postmaster General. Time Filed: Place: Check: O. R.: Amount Paid: £ 0 Date: , 191 f . d ...Guo, z a— i * INSTRUCTIONS. The telegraph must he used 'Sparingly. ~In a -message from one official or employee to another official or employee titles should not he used , and in a great many cases the names of the parties in both address and signature may be limited to single words. Messages sent from or to the Department at Washington should not be paid for by the persons sending or receiving the same, except in cases where payment is demanded as a condition to the transmission or delivery of the messages, and the agent, operator, or messenger should be directed to havenhe same charged in the company’s monthly bill at Washington. * The rates for the transmission of official messages (except those for the Weather Bureau) over |the principal telegraph Ihies jn the JJnited States, including those of the Western Union Telegrapn Company, are fixed annually by the Postmaster General, and all foments in excess of those rates will be at the expense of the persons making the payments. * .. .. Pavment for Government messages sent over telegraph lines owned or operated by bond-aided railroad companies is forbidden by law. Write numbers out when fewer words result than there are figures in the number, except in cablegrams, when figures should be used instead of the corresponding words. * • \ Do not abbreviate ordinal numbers, such as 16th (three words), 3rd (two woods) , 22nd (three words); but write them sixteenth, third, and twenty-second. • • # Telegrams, or any part thereof, relating to leave of absence are not official. Telegrams relating to salary or expense checks are only official when the funds are actually necessary to carry out official instructions; and such messages must be clearly explained. Telegrams between the several Departments of the Government and their officers and agents, in their transmission oyer the lines of any telegraph company to which has been given the right of way, timber, or station lands from the public domain shall have priority over all other business, at such rates as the Postmaster General shall annually fix. And no part of any appropriation for the several Departments of the Government shall be paid to any company which neglects or refuses to transmit such telegrams in accordance with the provisions of this section. — Rev. Slat ., see. 5266. 8— l J 1 5.5 . *■ M > > ¥■ 'W 1 , ’ ■ >v : Say rush g*»l/fpo •a Stash lotftou # D.e. s»pt«£a«m8. . s . 1 Alsz&odsr Vst *»rs. 1 1 !► ” ■ * '▼f Jaxssll Cal l fora la* <3insrr*U sdriass ta* «m ooafsr with you at Jtosll. Bush o,cf«r'• • ' -V > ' ? i f f fjj tj M . * • c r «*k , jfcf < V* .V - '■-ir,r I vV# A £2® % .'*• 1852* M C '”V V •.•■/* -i; V ; ■ .v.Nv.-v: -U ft * ' i i t *' ^ ‘ < ■I • JL - 1 ;'• v % !JT ; * k ’ **JFi *f, r r1*a • r . V ^ «T -S •>^V . V .VA >< | n#h ^3lJp pP * \ ' c- (trowels have Administrator help. He in . SfoV.V ££& •>> * I I A j V . * - -• :AUf V / "I * -‘ ,• ■••VtWV *. V.. : . ' tj? '* i- mi - £ < • ' * ' ion 1 hieatening Ues MiW>*VS,< SfnWftar *8 V hiblte^ by W ',. game laws from «*mui»^ ) :s which arc. threatening*. ®*- undreds of acres of, ritt " to & ’■ ers, as a food ' be permitted to *hoot due- KtF&rSftFSSS* /SK'ArsAsv.'^ V. ment with Canada. *•; ^ r . The State Fish and Game Co minis } '^ipn has a game e: 'the situation, ^ ‘ ->* *•• ■»- . "i_ . - - - t - • Original copied by Smithsonian Archives Form E 1 *» lit* To Manager Telegraph Company! This message should be sent “Paid Gov't Rate, and forwarded with your monthly re- port as voucher for your credit. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Sub voucher No. OFFICIAL TELEGRAM. Charge Bureau of 1.-:. , U. S. Department of Agriculture. (Always insert name of Bureau chargeable with this expense.) j .j * / Send the following official message subject to the instructions on back Appropriation: 4 rrcrfi rJ Y/nyCo hereof and the agreement with the Postmaster General. Time Filed: Check: : G. R.: Amount Paid: $ 0 . Place: BP* 7 Date: i 2. 7 in f r U] .DC. -- - ^iLjt r{Thn»N<^A4ri\, M L..M£..cudhJL t .. QJ> S— ! •* * 4b INSTRUCTIONS. In a message from one official or employee to another official or employee titles should not he used , parties in both address and signature may be limited to single words. Messages sent from or to the Department at Washington, should not be paid for by the persons sending or receiving the same, except in cases where payment is demanded as a condition to the transmission or delivery of the messages, and the agent, operator, or messenger should be directed *to have the same charged in the company's monthly bill at Washington. . . The rates for the transmission of official messages (except those for the Weather Bureau) over the principal telegraph lines in the United States, including those of the Western Union Telegraph Company, are fixed annually by the Postmaster General, and all payments in excess of those rates will be at the expense of the persons making the payments. Payment for Government messages sent over telegraph lines owned or operated by bond-aided railroad companies is forbidden by law. Write numbers out when fewer words result than there are figures in the number, except in cablegrams, when figures should be used instead of the corresponding words. Do not abbreviate ordinal numbers, such as 16th (three words), 3rd (two words), 22nd (three words); but write them sixteenth, third, and twenty-second. Telegrams, or any part thereof, relating to leave of absence are not official. Telegrams relating to salary or expense checks are only official when the funds are actually necessary to carry out official instructions; and such messages must be clearly explained. Telegrams between the several Departments of the Government and their officers and agents, in their transmission oyer the lines of any telegraph company to which has been given the right of way, timber, or station lands from the public domaiu shall have priority over all other business, at such rates as the Postmaster General shall annually fix. And no part of any appropriation for the several Departments of the Government shall be paid to any company which neglects or refuses to transmit such telegrams in accordance with the provisions of this section. — Iiev. Stat., sec. 5266. 8—1 The telegraph must be used sparingly, and in a great many cases the names of the , *%. f! • » •* - * i « - '.iWm gal /fpc a jjgl 1 3 Cay r .iah W&ahin : toa,2*C • Sept *27,19 18 Ale3tar.de r ^etosore* >. 9m. da*.#e ll # Cull fen la. ^ , * Tour reoaoaan nation received* Coubtfal whether federal permit will be • • • • . . .. 'effective If State laws do not cover the emergency* Sere state authorities * r - i*.' * (* * ^ & ■ W , j| wl • - 1 interfered with rioe grower# hilling duohs ha ooaalttlng depredations* • ire reply* bureau ooasaunleating with state authorities* Henderson I i ’ *w * f * • . V K ' ■ •: i • ■ ■ I 1 Hk^i 4UR .K jf. £/■ - V- '>r : • '.r* ' i: ?.? ,, ®L .*S.*fV* > o! . \ - s* ■ ^ •♦ii.c* *« *- ' v / • -v • . - • . *> & ^ ; £,* •. . • V&- • V : > • v*kj, ' • '• jj ‘ "v . •“•-X, «*] J /V . ; ' I ;-'■■> C y jjjlj v- • : r 4 i ^ *~t\ -* Tj *C .VV. fyfi f V,- * •. El' j&r tv Jjtfr i* *,* I — • . »“r ' | i .. i’ ,i ■ 4 M a - . » - / .* iBjotel (Erafnforh B. C. WRIGHT. Pnor. * 4 ■ , , :-®l \ • V ‘ Willows, Cal., * / (Qyyyyd^r^^ '*y V. r»/ A ff P r r A A V ‘ J 5 TkV> i /A -nr 1 /X if X, ' trsJ-sJ-S* Q> v <2 , /? / ■ry i- Orfrv Ji^c v / *’i* tW )4 >_.£ 7 , ■ y, In wj I 4 VJ-l * v ; , ^ TJX ‘i / * * r ,' y . ■- ■#. - * • i w /Ao. ^ / &-M/* X X l 6 v y w - / , » lj , (frsjUo k .'j07\a^ _CdS 5 - /M i: X ^xwv w A / / K / II 5 ; 3 /ysjb'# ifi\ ji *^- 7 V-M. ^ oJ/LjO^Ua^ aJL 4 - ’•X T/ C” k yj ^ y y/ ' ' 1 4 ' ~ ‘" w Jra f. * 4^. / £Q € «-f_ £✓7 b y>up^Qot \JU%jL4SVK k % INSTRUCTION’S.— Requisitions for supplies should be made quprterly so far as p: forwarding Forms B i-200 a and Bi-200 b to the Bureau and retaining this form (Bi-200 c entries in columns 3 or 4 or in the space provided for number. Form Bi-200 b (invoice) will any changes in request on his retained copy. Articles of nonexpendable property should al (see paragraph 46, Property Regulations). 4 1 » Day rush Saaiiin^oa ,D.C. ,1*1 Alexander Vetaore , Horticultural * Corral aa ion , Korun *juildir,2, ' s Sucrsfiwnto , Cal if rani*. Wire tologr&phie addreoa asxt fiv-3 days yourael i and Cattron. r, H<3}id©raojii. | . i 1 5 !'-*r *ri - » *>„• •■ . a< i r X ■ > fc f v' >r • ; ->:*v if r* u . * 4d* . . . '.JCJ '/Vi 1 ' Jv ; • ' a '- ~v ' I • * m Hoover to Special : W} r, * to itch to VI 7 , er ti v to the appc mer. ■for protoctio 3k8, State Food lph P. Merritt has * ites Food AdminiS^ >ver a recommendation Hate drastic action be v 1 authorities in e 1 — — gge stv 111 ducks and :U«e ih< rherever nec rops * ^ 1 V William Durbrow. Coun linletrator,, has received ig telegram from r< William Pubr Administrator; W Sent following tele 'Regarding ki mers of rice fi_ — ising any method fo \elr own property iemed desirable and h Jested by State autho, t^roWerT are now ; wiring Federal game wardens he sent to rice fields for pt prosecuting owners or w^ho may kill ducks in pro .owners rice fields. V - ‘Rice growers regj tion as antagonistic to; tibn and ask that F« leAce be Withdrawn, conditions warrant < "Federal Government ^ ^itlons should be allowed, to * Bombs are being freely used night and day. These bombs cost $5 per dozen, and rice men declare their am- munition bills will make as sad havoc with their finances as do the ducks and geese with the rice. Farmers in the vicinity of the rice fields are kept awake nights by the V>a»vv cannonading. » ' - . * ■ ■ — COSTS LAND COMPANY g4,000 TO FIGHT, DUCKS CHICO (Butte Co.), September 23. — ."The Dodge Land Company is paying approximately $1 per acre to keep • ducks out of its rice fields. -We have invested $4,000 ift paraphernalia.” This is the statement made here by H. O. Jacobsen of the company in discussing the situation arising from the announcement by the State Fish and Game Commission that the Biological Survey is sending a Fed- eral Game Warden to Willows to ar- ' rest and prosecute any rice grower who shoots and kills ducks out >of season. “ Fears They Have Dyspepsia. "If the Federal Game Warden comes onto our property, we will ex- pect him to do his sworn duty and preserve the life of the - ducks by keeping them out of the rice fields. They may get dyspepsia from over- eating of rice,” says Jacobsen as a pleasantry. * f * ‘‘Our company is using bombs and searchlights. So far this season we have had no difficult^, but last^ year we had a terrible time. ‘‘Our men h4ve been given no or- ders to shoot ducks. They have guns and shells, but have been Instructed not to shoot ducks or game wardens. If a duck dies of fright, they are not supposed to pick It up. I have not ceen a dead duck this season. Game or * Food— Which T "We ask legal means to protect our property and be enabled at the same time to follow the , requests of t he Food Administration to the bfcat \of ©ur ability. Whether er pot the pro- tection of game is more vital thdn the protection of food is the question that must be determined.” * . * Original copied by Smithsonian Archives % y r* V* -T 1 ' 'rtf'* v' 1 M 0f BlolOffT i , 1 - - <" K „i V • ' • - , - - ' - A ■ Rice Growers Protest Against - Coming of Game Warden Tell Food Administrator More Than $500,000 Worth of. Damage Will Be Done ' yw ^ i ^ V t * \ uepannirei 0% BIOl**7 ha» * tn1t«d State* T>ep»ty Game Warden, to 'WillOWli «nthartae4 to nrre*t any person ohootla* «»<*■ In tfcelr ?ice • «Are we td allow tkese 4«cki to de- stroy the crop, or wfU you take »ome action In the matter? The situation la .very critical^* . T© Have Tteenty-flve Signer*. DQnohoe announces the following already have signed the telegram and that a total v Of twenty-five signers . . , . A , • A A/VVt * will be obtained this afternoon: closed season for ducks. ' ww . , “We are Informed that, the Federal Turman. Charles Jurgus, George Ellis, William Durbrow, T. W. Harlan, H. J. Barcelaux, A. H. -Quatman, L. H. Tweed and J. W. Pierson. - Original copied by Smithsonian Archives & f- m ♦ i * • - . * 4 p 9 ** • * r w • * ’ . H 'r* •*: .- • A • • .* GEORGE W. E. ATKINS, riRST VIC*-DR»*IDENT .1 . . i i ’uiLvinu, i iw ninin «Miui,mbnmicmO,CAL.*oTfN* faf* b* */ >7tf* •• > yV* ' ' V S/* S '■ > ‘ ** * v*,« .• * *-> \ ‘ > rT p £W MSlH OH QC VIA GRIDLEY CALIF TSEPT 19 1918 ^ j* E> . wu » •<*.,. LuWk D aui^. i ■ C ■ Nr -i ^ I &AS9 Of fERVtCC AVUBAI Taltgnm TM' Oty Letter rV Bh» '••• siuo Night MtMgt' f NKa M^it LatHr ML If none of Sttto throo oymtoU ftppmni after th* chock (Dumber «f word*) this It a tafogram. Othor- wlta Ita ehtraolar It Indioatad by th » ayvnbol apDoarlng altar tie ebook. v j V > ' , • • •"- ’ 4 /V- ‘ */’( - liB i Vi JK c pr ' c y •: V ■' - • */*>’ ? i - •A »l * •> ^ • i • t i. i £ > ."O’ \A^ji • / .»* •• r (K . ... ‘ ' } */ » * CALIF { <;.'V , i - > * 4 u • ' * > ' .r , : * * > TTR ON PROCEEDING SACRAMENTO FOR CONFERENCE CAUTION H4iU W*A '• •'<: •» '•• # »•/ ■. r : -. • •* 1 . - ' - i . .* » ’■•* » ' i • £ * £L i ..? ANOL INS SITUATION ARRRESTS INEXPEDIENT WEN DUCKS DESTROYING *v#* »i A 'El- - ^ - •• * (4 •*«-.. 4 . T • f.. ' ’ T- . • ^ . - i * * r ♦ J • 4 :p i‘^|i G0‘ > • . • T- !- V * * • » * • + ♦ ' . *, ^ y * • ..^....•..; Yi< j ULED FOREGOING CONFIDENTIAL YOURSELF CATTRON UflUW I VlirbU I IMM.WW - s^l '' % •-»*?£ ', nr. 4 ^ <•!?** * > •'«. y ' k ■ ■ Lowers killing ; (XTCKS large > numbers .must be stopped i . ccn*D4, or ou PENDING, DO CONDITIONS JUSTIFY ISSUAL FEDERAL PERMITS KILL WILD • j* . Ur j • • • ' . r . ' ' • ' i - • ■ • • <.*,■>.' rw J Covered ■: yr cT: a - rn«- v 5 v - A: y: R .. »<.c A. ■ .■, -a'v *:•*'' '•>• ~ •• • J. . rk J 5r. - v ‘ y ,vr i -f •. i ,- r j. r& V . ■■‘ -*'• •, )■• r-, •-> i;S *• “yr^; ' - 5 ^ 1* • Ov ■v wbw • f-tf/v » * VI, . % • V 4 >]. •’ * Aft - * r • f % t ft • t^^ 1 ' 1 .' ' v / » *' ! » tV " - . -Wj* ‘m' : ' j ^ = - • '• v» ►, *’ ,{&'■••• , - Mt-KV $_* «• .;•%.••• t *.• . / - :••' •V 1 't ^ L* • ' '•■• 17 ’• • * ' — ‘ - *-fl .. . . . v. «<5 u*fii4i^S*8A »»' ./*■$ n — A 1 • 'ftfl) .4 « 1 . • f|V Original copied by Smithsonian Archives * ♦ Form E 1 To Manager Telegraph Company! This message should be sent “Paid Gov’t" Rate, and forwarded with your monthly re- port as voucher for your credit. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SVB VOVC’H KR No. OFFICIAL TELEGRAM. Charge Bureau of f U. S. Department of Agriculture. (. Always insert name of Bureau chargeable with this expense.) Send the following official message subject to the instructions on back hereof and the agreement with the Postmaster General. Appropriation: iways insert. name 01 J 5 U ^ t rrJ lltXxh • Time Filed: Chech: C. R.: Place : Amount Paid: SO. Date: .. 191 _ A^Le i — iyt r . AtA.cL^/. • C Cdf.a-j INSTRUCTIONS. The telegraph must be used sparingly. In a message from one official or employee to another official or employee titles should not he used , and in a grea*t many cases the names of the parties in both address and signature may be limited to single words. Messages sent from or to the Department at Washington should not be paid for by the persons sending or receiving the same, except in cases where payment is demanded as a condition to the transmission or delivery of the messages, and the agent, operator, or messenger should be directed to have the same charged in the company’s monthly bill at Washington. t , ^ . _ . . . ,, i The rates for the transmission of official messages (except those for the Weather Bureau) over the principal telegraph lines in tne united States, including those of the Western Union Telegraph Company, are fixed annually by the Postmaster General, and all payments in excess cf those rates will be at the expense of the persons making the payments. . . Payment for Government messages sent over telegraph lines owned or operated by bond-aided railroad companies is forbidden by law. Write numbers out when fewer words result than there are figures in the number, except in cablegrams, when figures should be used instead of the corresponding words. - < . ^ A ^ i Do not abbreviate ordinal numbers, such as* 16th (three words), 3rd (two words), 22nd (three words); out write them sixteenth, third, and twenty-second. _ . _ , , . , , , , , „ . , Telegrams, or any part thereof, relating to leave of absence are not official. Telegrams relating to saiary or expense cnecKS are only official when the funds are actually necessary to carry out official instructions; and such messages must be clearly explained. Telegrams between the several Departments of the Government and their officers and agents, in their transmission oyer the lines of any telegraph company to which has been given the right ot way, timber, or station lands from the public domain, thali hav e priority over all othei business, at such rates as the Postmaster General shall annually fix. And no part of any appropriation for the seveiai Departments of the Government shall be paid to an) r company winch neglects or refuses tQ transmit such telegrams in accordance with the provisions oi this section. — Rev. Stat., sec. 5260. 8 * * -# ' i * 7 * ’ 8—1 , 1 HUSH , UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. Ale* i * u* "OfTilasloa ■ lox tl fl»2 VW * ■, < cw jy.Udln- « i&e tjjnento* California* •>< •' Bar® iafornatlon fcttktars violating iodawai ln»* etfroottap 4hK»*» s&rmt rioct leit*a, Ztllevs* Is this trwiV Are &ue-;» uoin; serious &nmco M.o* lm.m *t re repXj* > CONFlRfMT O:! or TELEGRAM. _ * • . • *• f I I I RICE MEN ANGRY * 9 l „ Sending of Federal Game Warden to Willows Condemned *• “It’s An Outrage,'’ Says C. L. Donohoe, Who Predicts Heavy Loss to Growers * I %'i “This Is an outrage. Some of the rice growers- can figure on losing one-half of -their crop/’ This is the way C. L. Donohoe, at- torney and ride grower of Willows, describes the announcement of the State Fish and Game Commission that the Biological Survey of the -De- partment of Agriculture, Washing- ton, D. C., is sending out a Federal Game Warden to Willows to arrest and prosecute any person who shoots and kills ducks before the opening of the season, October 16th- • I , 0 • , 1 f U 4 * \ * 4 , ‘ 4 S Inspector Was Shown. "I don’t understand this,” says Donohoe. “A Federal Inspector, A. Wetmore, has been in this district studying the situation. This man was in attendance at a recent meet- ing of rice growers here, at which time the growers explained the dam- age done by ducks. “A lot of the rice damaged by ducks will not be worth harvesting. Any man can come and in five min- utes see the damage done by ducka” • • - v ■*» \ ' * Notification Sent. The State Fish and Game Com- mission announces that it has re- ceived a letter from the San Fran- cisco office of the Commission, stat- ing, in effect:. “We have to-day received a tele- gram from B. W. Nelson, chief of the biological survey. United ' States De- partment of Agriculture, Washing- ton, D. C., that a United State! Game Warden Is belhg sent to Willows to arrest and prosecute all violators of the Federal laws for the protection of ducks.” * ’• * . 4 ; '' Deny Aslced Warden. At the local office of the Fish and Game Commission denial was made that the commission bad asked the Government to send the warden to Willows. _ ■’ t, , / May Be Test Cane. State Senator Claude F. Purkltt of Willows to-day expressed the belief that a test case would develop If ar- rests were made by the Federal War- den. The growers will lose their erops if they don’t keep the ’ducks out of their fields. ’ m i k * * * Original copied by Smithsonian Archives F. M. Newbert M. J. Connell E. L. Bosqui EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld Fish and Game Commission OF CALIFORNIA Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, Cal. September 14th, 1914. Mr*. Aleck Wetmore, Gri dley, Cal. My dear Wetmore: I informed Mr. Lastrato as you requested . I am off to the rice fields tonight, so I had to send a substitute for the Audubon Society's meeting Monday night, Hope to see you the first of next week. I will hare to return to Berkeley for a lecture on Thursday September 19th. Very truly yours, ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS “FISH AND GAME COMMISSION" , \ % t MIGRATORY BIRDS < ‘ — Devastating Habits Raise Great and International Questions T HE determination of the State and Federal author- ities to prevent rice growers from defending them- selves against the devastations of worthless ducks and geese is not only causing growing indignation in respect to the senseless destruction of property but is drawing more public attention than has hitherto been given to the legal foundations for the claim for the exercise of such tyranny. . . Considering, for convenience, only one phase of the matter, by Federal law the** sale of wild ducks and geese is prohibited within a state. Obviously, that is a local police regulation for which, under the Constitution, as yvritten, there is no shadow of Federal claim. We do not know that there is even under the Constitution as ‘‘interpreted. 0 At any rate. Congress could find no such power, and, therefore, resorted to the “treaty power,** treaties being declared to be “the supreme law of the land.’* If that be literally true, then the* President, Senate and Mexico, Canada or China can enact domestic law which the President, Senate and House of Representatives could not enact, and have done so. The Constitution says: “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States Which shall be made in pur- suance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land.** . ■ The question is whether the treaties which are to be the supreme law of the land are treaties enacted, like laws, “in pursuance of. the Constitution,** or treaties which may happen to be made in defiance of the Constitution. The legal argument for the former construction is familiar to all students and need not be stated here. If the duck question results in a thorough discussion of this fundamental question patriotic citizens can well afford to raise by subscription money to compensate the victims of Federal usurpation. But it has been cabled to our attention that penal laws are t& be construed strictly, the burden of proof being absolutely and completely upon the Government. Therefore, if one is accused, under the Federal law of unlawfully selling wild ducks and geese, the Govern- ment must prove that the particular birds sold were hatched outside the State of California before conviction can be had under the treaty power or any other power. And that cannot be done. There is no presumption against the accused in a criminal case. . „ Original copied by Smithsonian Archives COM M ISSIONERS F. M. NEWBERT m. J. Connell e. L. Bosqui EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld Fish and Game Commission OF CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO Sept. 13,1918. Dr. Alexander Betmore, Gridley , California , Dear Dr. Y'etmore:- \7e have received yours of September 12th. For a long time I have advocated investigation by someone who was not ’-mown or identified with gun clubs or any one really interested in duck shooting. I have induced the Commission to have Dr. Bryant of the University of California, make the investigation and file a report of his observation. I really think that a report from him will be of more value and will be looked upon with more consideration than it woxxlci coming from any deputy of the Fish and Came Commission, more especially so if it is possible to have your cooperation in compiling such a report. Dr. Bryant expected to leave for V'illows on Friday or Saturday. Mr. Hewbert expects to leave Saturday moiling, in company with Denuty Ricketts, for a trip extending into a week and I have placed at yours and Dr. Bryant's disposal our Deputy T. ’7. Birmingham of Red Bluff who will arrive in Billows Saturday night or Sunday morning. He has a five passenger Ford and this, with the assistance of Deputy Caprenter, will enable you and Dr. Bryant to change off and get over the ground wherever it may be necessary. I know you will give Dr. Bryant every assistance possible in making his investigation a success. Please advise me by 'phone or letter in the next Week as to your movements. Very truly yours, GlT*BJS ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS ‘ FISH AND GAME COMMISSION” Stars and stripes. esy Qf the board of trade, Mr Elliot, project man- ager and the Egyptian Cotton Growers’ Association, we secured 7,000 feet of negative illustrating the de- velopment of the long-fiber cotton industry in this valley This film is particularly valuable to the De- partment of Agriculture. After a short visit to Yuma to study the Mesa situation we went to Brawley Cal., the great cantaloupe producing center and filmed this industry while the thermometer ranged about 116° daily. This film is for the Bureau of Markets, and will be used to illustrate the best methods of ■v picking, packing, loading, and shipping. On the Truckee-Carson we secured some excellent and much needed still and moving pictures of crops and a lot of good film showing the big 1 caterpillar tractors levelling the rough lands. A close up shot at the cement gun placing cement in Lahontan dam was taken. On the Strawberry Valley project we secured a 0 number of excellent local views, but the principal photographic work was done on the eastern side of the Wasatch Mountains during a visit to the Castle , Peak project in Duchesne Valley. By reason of the generous support of the business men of Burley, Rupert, and Paul, we were able to secure a complete scenario of the Minidoka project. This big reel will show the huge storage reservoir UNION GEORGE W. E. ATKINS. FIMT V!C*-P*«OiD*NT RECEIVED AT CHECK RECEIVED BY NUMBER Original copied by Smithsonian Archives — - l' I * , r T ' ; 1 I UU'/M j r I VmB Dty Utl m Nkiht Mewai 4 Nrfe ‘ Ih NW Utter M l'.Vt w iiTlI USASVS! words) this Is ■ tetegrsi wise its shanstor Is bid In *ir2Swe? | symbol appearing alter 1 tl6 dlNw 1 CLASS OF SERVICE, SYMBOL Telegram • . Day Letter Blue Night Meassge Ntte Night Letter NL If none of these throe symbols appears attar the ebook (number of words) this Is t telegram. Other- wise its character is indicated by tbs symbol appearing after ttie check. '5 f 4 ♦ | * ’ * ] i t B *OM llkill UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, O. C. ' &ak iftgtnt, D* 3* 9<^nltr 11, 1910, a1»x r 'nsasr*. II t* d*it?0*ai&« Iw Ml Call t« <}lsU fc# soon ** oasfttt* V, *lU«ra, Sall/onia* StlMU Same wire sent to 10}1 Forum Building, Sacramento, California. ■ y* "! ‘ V f »• V *• - > Sr... 4^ (Ksyfl ONFIRMATION OF TELEGRAM. « ( -O’ GRAND EXHIBITION FIREWORKS FOR CITY DISPLAYS PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS, FAIRS CARNIVALS, ETC. TELEPHONE SUTTER 3420 SELLING AGENTS FOR California Fireworks Co. s Display Fireworks The Newton Fireworks Display Company CONTRACTORS FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS 249 FRONT STREET SOLD TO Mrj * Alexailder Wetmore, Live Oak, Calif. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. 10th, 191&. Doz. Ex. ^2 Duck Bombs "43 " * $ $0.60 License 41127962. DUPLICATE 00 B0 80 DR. JOSEPH GRiNNELL HONORARY PRESIDENT C. B. LASTRETO PRESIDENT DR. FREDERICK W. D'EVELYN VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE T. MARSH VICE-PRESIDENT HAROLD E, HANSEN RECORDING SECRETARY DR. R. M. LEGGETT CORRESPONDING SECRETARY A. S. KIBBE , TREASURER MISS ELFREDA SVENBERG SUPT. OP JUNIORS JOSEPH J. WEBB DIRECTOR C. R. SMITH - DIRECTOR FOR THE STUDY AND THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS SAN FRANCISCO ■ r. Alex Vetmore, * U. 3. Biological Survey, Live Oak, Sutter Co., Copy to Willows, Butte Co*, Calif. Dear Sir:- At the next meeting of the Audubon Association of "he Pacific to be held on Monday the lfth inst., Dr. Bryant and others will address us on the subject of ducks and the alleged damages, etc. that they are accuse! of doing in the California Rice fields. *«'e understand that it would be improper for us to ask you to give any information or make any comment on the subject while v ou are conducting an impartial and official investigation, but it was thought that it might be appropriate that on the occasion you mimht give us some idea of the general workings of the United States Biological Survey and a general ilea of the workings of the Nigratory Bird Treaty and the corresponding Enabling act. The audience could be left to understand horr the government and it's legislations are mutually affected by the subject, fhe effect on the audience, in addition to being instructive, might tend to inspire greater confidence in the decision, policies and acts o** the government through the Biological Purvey, and place our members in a ‘better position to defend them when in casual conversation the subject is brought up by such as are opposed to any government interference or protective legislation. Will you be good enough to accept our invitation to address us on that evening? I understand from Dr. Bryant that you will see each other in the meantime and he has full authority to arrange 7l th you and with anybody for the lecture and entertainment of the evening, end you may make all arrangements with him. Trusting that you will be sble to honor un with vour presence and address, I am v -ours very truly, AUDUBON OCIATI ON OF THE PACIFIC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO September 10, 1918. CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO Mr. Alex Tfetraore, 1011 Forum Building, Sacramento, California. iiy dear \7e tmore: . I notice in your official report and also in a personal letter to me that in one respect your investigation of the damage to rice by ducks is in the nature of a wild goose chase. It is natural that you should feel that your time is being wasted, but I believe that upon second thought you will admit this is not the case. I think it desirable that you should make a complete report for the official files which will carry all details as to false reports of damage you have been called upon to investigate. This will provide the office with a means of answering renewed criticisms inspired by the same sources . The field trip that I have just completed^ at least^has turned out this way, the claims of damage proving to be absolutely unfounded and I am sure that having a full report on the matter here in the office will make it impossible for similar claims to be made in the future. The movement to do away with the sale of game has been steadily growing for many years and now that such sale is entirely prohibited % by the regulations of the Migratory Treaty Act, the agitation on the part of the California market hunters and their friends will be with- out result. You are safe in assuring any one who inquires that the - 2 - Rederal regulations will now De enforced to the best of our ability within the limitations of the funds appropriated for the purpose. I regret very much that you will be unable to mak e the trip to Washington and hope that we can redeem ourselves another year. I made inquiries as to whether your letter of authorisation will cover the purchase of bombs and have been told that there is no doubt that it will. I will put in a request for an increase in your letter at once. I will try to find out the probable fate of your rooms and let you know the result in a personal letter. The plants you mentioned have been received and I will send you the identifications you desire as soon as they can be obtained. Many thanks for your notes on the bird bones 1 sent you. As little as I know about bird bones, I felt sure they belonged to a duck, but I will keep them until they may be definitely named by comparison when you return to Washing- ton. Blank itinerary reports and iiiemorandum books for traveling expenses have been sent to you. I am inclosing a copy of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Regulations. There are plenty of these on hand now and any one desiring a copy may obtain it by application. Best regards. Sincerely yours. Assistant Biologist Inclosure 6409 % * DR. JOSEPH GRINNELL HONORARY PRESIDENT C. 0. LASTRETO PRESIDENT DR. FREDERICK W. D-EVELYN VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE T. MARSH VICE-PRESIDENT HAROLD E. HANSEN RECORDING SECRETARY ,V >: •V& V. DR. R. M. LEGGETT CORRESPONDING SECRETARY A. S. KIBBE TREASURER MI5S ELFREDA SVENBERG 9UPT. Or JUNIORS JOSEPH J. WEBB. DIRECTOR C. R. SMITH ~ .DIRECTOR PJ* FOR THE STUDY AND THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS SAN FRANCISCO Sept. 10, 191?. Mr. Alex Wetmore, U. S. Biological Survey, Mve Oak, Sutter Co., Cony to Willows, Bi tte Co*, Calif. Dear Slrs- At the next meeting of the Audubon Association of the Pacific to be held or. V.onday the 16th inet., Dr. Bryant and others will address us on the subject of ducks and the alleged damages, etc. that they are accuse! of doing in the California Rice fields, Ke understand that it would be improper for ua to ask you to give any information or make any comment on the subject while you are conducting an impartial and official investigation, but it was thought that it might be appropriate that on the occasion you might give ua some idea of the general workings of the United, states Biological Survey and a general ilea of the workings of the ’■ igratory Bird Treaty and the corresponding. Enabling Act. The audience could be left to understand how the government and its legislations are mutually affepted by the subject. The effect on the audience, in addition to being instructive, might tend to inspire greater confidence in the decision, policies and acts of the government through the Biological Survey, and place our members in a better position to defend then when in casual conversation the subject is brought up by such as are opposed to any government interference or protective legislation. Will you be good enough to accept our invitation to address us on that evening? I understand from Ur. Bryant that you will see each other in the meantime and he has full authority to arrange ;ith you and with anybody for the lecture and entertainment of the evening, and you may make all arrangements with him. Trusting that you .-ill be able to honor ua with your presence and address, I am lours very truly, AUDUBON ASSOCIATION OF- .THE PACIFIC TsaFcfsrtfT TELEPHONE SUTTER 5307 DISTRIBUTERS OF 146-146 DAVIS STREET Sept. 10 18 LOS ANGELES OFFICE SAN FERNANDO BLDG Mr. A. Wetmore, Live Oak, Cal Dear Sir:- Replying to your favor of the 9th. we carefully note your disposition of the bombs sent you and have made notation accordingly. We are enclosing you invoice to cover the bombs for use by yourself, and are sending a bill to Mr. Bismark Harden for the ones he bought thru you. Relative to the voucher for bombs it is perfectly satisfactory to us to wait until the end of the month, as that would undoubt- edly be the most satisfactory way to take care of these invoices. Our Mr. Ralph E Flack reports the visit he had with you, and advises us that you wish 1 dozen with the heavy firing charge, also 1 dozen with a heavier detonation. We will have these sent to you at once. The writer wishes to personally thank you for your many courtesies, also for your in- tersfc in advising us the results you have obtaibned with our bombs. Do not hesitate at any time to call upon us if we can be of any assistance to you in mkking any special explosive or pyrotechaic product for your experiments, as we wish to co-operate with you when- ever we can be of any assistance. Very truly yours CJF/O RA CLIFF SALES CO 111-108 July, 1910. i. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION Washington, D. C., 'optOiatwr 9* 1218* h In 77* tenor®. Assistant diolOftiSt* tour letter of authority l-:o.7®-i3i, payable from tho appropriation "Gereral Sxpeneoa* Bureau of Biological Surrey* 19X9” (Food Habit* of Birds and ]lannals) 9 i* hereby anonded *o a* to Increase the aswait which nay be expended thereunder from #600 to #1000, the additional sen of t I *' *. r #400 to be paid from the appropriation above* X Your permanent headquarters will he "T f'”J I s-am rZ x . Vic C> Acting Chief , Biological Survey. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL 8URVEY, AND REFER TO September 7, 1^18* Dr# Alex Wetmore, 1011 Forum Building, Sacramento, California . Dear Dr. Wetmore: I am inclosing your permit for collection of birds under the United States-Cunadian Migratory Bird Treaty jict Very truly yours. Assistant Biologist RICE GROWERS TO OPEN DRIVE TO RID VALLEY OF DUCK PESTS Farmhouses Will Ser « - erve as Arsenals; Sharpshooters to Be Hired to Do Wholesale Killing j . iHICO, September 7. — Working through the food administra- tion and Secretary Franklin K. Lane, for the right to protect their crops from the inroads of game, rice growers of the Sacramento valley are not stinting themselves to bring the wild duck issue .before the Federal authorities. , , Following a meeting of 100 promi- nent rice growers of Yolo, Colusa, Glenn and Butte counties, a plan of campaign was outlined whereby ev- ery farmhouse in the rice fields will . . serve as an arsenal during the next three months and duck shooters will be hired at $4 per day to protect the rice cr^ps by killing wild ducks by the thousands. i % That the rice growers are relying on the Federal Government for sup- port in their new programme was evident from a series of questions asked by W. D’Egilbert, representing the food administration. D'Egilbert asked Dr. A. J. Wetmore of the biological survey if the Federal Gov- ernment could be depended upon for Immediate support and relief If the *• i ft the duck was doing extensive dam- age to the crops. v Wetmore answered by saying that he could not promise no relief, that he would report to his superior offi- cer on September 10 in Sacramento, and the question would then be put out of his hands. Wetmore expressed 'the belief that the rice men were entitled to pro- tect their crops from the inroads of wild ducks and upon this assertion the growers are now using rockets, bombs and shotguns to drive off the invaders. . >> ' * ~ ** The rice growers have appointed a committee to reach the food admin- istration and Secretary Lane, and to place before them the facts concern- ing duck depredations. The committee follows; Joseph L. Stevens of Sacra- mento, H. O. Jacobson of Chico, C. L. Donohue of Willows, W. Drubrow, Glenn county foc^d. administrator, and W. D'Egilbert of San Francisco. The committee plans to request the Federal Government to alter the game laws to permit rice growers to shoot and dispose of ducks on their own land before the State duck ■6UK>n findings of the Government were that opens. Original copied by Smithsonian Archives -AIRPLANE /TO SCARE DUCKS. Reader Says u>n£ Could Be Plotrn Over Yolo Rife Fields Each Night. To the Edirpr of The Bee — Sir: Considerable discussion has been go-j ,ing on lately! regarding the vast damage done by ducks to the rice fields. Over in Western ^olo County, and possibly twenty miles air line from ^Mather Field are about 4,000 acres U>f growing rice that could easily be protected by government assistance. One airplane sent over nightly to circle over the rice fifelds ‘ w'oulfl scare the feeding ducks away and save several thousands of dollars in foodstuffs. Very truly, A. A. POIRIER. Sacramento, September 3, 1918. Original copied by Smithsonian Archives fold Craftrforb B. C. WRICHT. Prop. $utel (Hrafuforii B. C. WRIGHT, prop. Willows, Cal., 191 /? ^ PH ... . / 24s* ^ /> ^ 2U ' ^7 Z-^‘ ,<•/..•* -■*“ ■' *>v«. PjP | K: c f y )* MhR wlw NEW VORK OFFICE OO HUDSON STREET g a e OUiUM SfREET 146-148 DAVIS STREET LOS ANGELES OFFICE SAN FERNANDO BLDG Sept. 4 18 Dr. A. Wetmore Genl. Delv. Live Oak Cal Dear Sir:- Thru an error in our shipping department at factory an extra dozen of the Duck 'Bombs were sent you. You will find the ones with the heavier firing charges marked with a tag, so if you cannot use the extra dozen of the regular bombs, please return same to us. Hoping that your tests will prove successful, we are ■ m very CJF. Very truly yours, RA CLIFF SALES CO. THE SACRAMENTO BEE JAMES McCLATCHY & CO.. PUBLISHERS. /■ SACRAMENTO. CAL. September 2, 3 93 8* II r • a! exand er Vwtmo re, J Assistant Biologist, Hotel Crawford, Willows, Califom is. Dear Sir: I have your note of August 30th ir which you say: "The rather malicious manner in which your reporter misquoted a simple statement made to him yesterday makes me a trifle doubtful of $uch assistance". Your note was in response to one of mine of date cf August 15th offs >ing you the assistance of The Bee in making your invest igation o** the rice-duck situation in this valley. I wish you would be specific in your statement. I enclose herewith cl ipping of the story publ i shed by The Fee. Will you be kind er ougji to mark the part of the story vherein you were mis- quoted! Sincerely yours,