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Felleman Ranch west of Gridley 20 cases of shells had been used in guarding 600 acres.  In the latter case half of these had been expended in driving out blackbirds and the rest on ducks.

Many exaggerated statements were made stating that duck herders in the rice fields were destroying ducks by the thousands and allowing them to rot in the rice fields. As a matter of fact these men in guarding the fields walked about on the checks or levees where they were in open sight so that pintails in passing over, almost invariably were out of range. Through careful observation I was certain that very few birds were killed. In fact it was doubtful if an average of twenty-five ducks a day were killed in the entire valley by these herders.

Because of this alleged waste of duckshunters wished the season thrown open on the birds under pretense of aiding the rice growers. As a matter of fact the men engaged in rice culture would not permit actual hunting of ducks in their rice fields as hunters in building blinds from which to shoot and in retreiving the birds killed would do many times more damage than the ducks could possibly accomplish. While again if hunting was permitted on areas outside the rice fields the ducks would be driven out from their natural resting grounds and having no secure place might return again to the rice. At the same time it was imperative that an arrangement could be made whereby the growers could guard their fields without infringement of the gamelaws.  Obviously the hunters had no true interest in the matter and their claims were disregarded.  After due consideration of the matter a form of permit under Regulation 10 of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act was recommended. With the concurrence of the State Fish and Game Commission this was issued and was found to fulfill all the needs of the situation, while it prevented hunting for sport.