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[[newspaper clipping]]

RICE GROWERS ARE JUSTIFIED IN FIGHTING DUCKS

Federal Investigator Concludes That Farmer Has Right To Use Any Commonsense Means to Protect Crop

After spending several days in the Sacramento Valley rice-growing belt, where he carefully looked into conditions as he found them, Dr. Alexander Wetmore, naturalist of the of the United States Biological Survey, has about concluded that the rice grower is justified in resorting to any common sense means in protecting his crop against the depredations of the wild duck.

This much Dr. Wetmore to-day admitted to a Bee reporter while stopping off here for a short while en route to Williams to proceed with his investigations.

[[bold]]To Stay on Job.[[/bold]]

"The crop has not advanced to a ripening stage where I have been able to determine were I have been dence just what destruction the ducks do in the rice fields," said the Federal 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 farmers would be justified in shooting the ducks, or resorting to other means necessary to protect their rice crops, he could see no reason why the grower has not got a good case against the invaders.

[[bold]]No Recommendation.[[/bold]]

Until he has proceeded further with his investigations, the official would not suggest any recommendations which he may now have in mind.  He said there was a division of opinion among some of the growers as to the amount of damage the ducks do in the rice fields.

Dr. Wetmore was sent here from Washington, D. C., to settle the question of whether the State Fish and Game Commission is right in its contentions that the ducks should be protected at all events, notwithstanding the world-wide cry for food and the policy of conservation.