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[[double line]] 14 Pacific Rice Courier [[line]] The rice growers are unanimously opposed to the suggestion that the city sportsmen help in protecting the rice by shooting in the rice 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. W. J. Mortimer of Dos Palos reports having experienced severe loss because of increased shooting on open water due to newspaper publicity. METHODS OF CONTROL Herding: Many rice growers have successfully prevented damage to their fields by herding the ducks. Mean walk the levies with shotguns, and simply frighten the birds from fields. Few or no birds are killed, as the gun is fired from the hip. The California Rice Company of Maxwell employed 12 herders during the fall of 1918. Seven were kept busy at night and five in the day. About one case of black powder was used per day during the part of the month when the moon shone. The success of this method often depends upon a knowledge of the habits of ducks. A lack of success, therefore, 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 depredations of the birds where the field is situated beneath a fly-line. Bombing: Bombs fired from a mortar, such as are used at 4th of July celebrations, have proved an effective means of driving birds from rice fields. The feeding birds are first located and bombs fired toward them. Other bombs from other parts of the field are then fired 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 be drained, they can oftentimes be resown after the first planting has been drawn out. Note the following statement by W. 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 damage. Also when rice is planted in lands which have previously been well known feeding grounds for ducks it is likely that they would readily take to rice as feed." Harvesting: The grower may prevent damage to rice in the shock by planting his harvest during the dark of the moon and by making his shocks stable enough so that the ducks cannot readily reach the heads. GOVERNMENT SOLUTION OF PROBLEM After a thorough investigation by Mr. Alexander Wetmore of the United States Biological Survey, the United States Department of Agriculture solved the problem as follows: 1. A federal game warden was stationed in the rice growing districts with orders to prosecute violators of the Federal Game Laws. 2. A blanket permit was issued to all rice growers, their immediate families and bona fide employees to herd and kill such ducks as might be necessary in protecting the fields from damage previous to the opening of the hunting season on October 15th. At the end of each period the 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 necessary 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 during 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 legally be allowed to protect crops but the unrestricted hunting would cause more damage to the rice than the ducks. Much 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 Valley. 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 herding 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 problem has been successful and growers appear satisfied. [[boxed advertisement]] HUDSON TRADING CO. EXPORT - IMPORT RICE 18 East 41st Street NEW YORK Cable Address HUDTRACO [[/advertisement]] [[line]] [[advertisement]] ESTABLISHED 1877 Schwartz Bros. 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