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MAY SHOOT DUCKS TO PROTECT RICE

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Neale Says Ruling Against the Recommendation of Many Growers.

^[[Sacto Union 10/3/18]]

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2.—Wild ducks in the rice fields of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties may be shot when necessary to protect crops, according to an official telegram received from Washington by Carl Westerfeld, executive officer of the fish and game commission of California. The ruling holds good until the 15th of this month. Only rice farmers, members of their immediate 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 charitable institutions or hospitals.

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The communication was addressed to Carl Westerfeld, executive officer of fish and game commission at San Francisco, and comes from Henderson, assistant director of the biological survey, department of agriculture, at Washington. A copy of the permit reached the Sacramento office of the commission yesterday.

"MISTAKE," SAYS NEALE.

The order was not received with enthusiasm at the offices of the fish and game commission. "The ruling is against the recommendation of many reputable rice growers," said George R. Neale, deputy. "Ernest E. Behr, secretary of the Rice Growers' association, representing 75 per cent of the acreage, has an article in the Willows Journal, saying the reports of large damage from ducks are exaggerations; that no damage was reported from Yolo county last year, with 20,000 acres planted, and that on the Spalding ranch, with 2300 acres in rice, the total loss was not more than five acres. Blackbirds, he declares, do much more damage, but there is no demand for the privilege of shooting blackbirds for the reason that they are not good eating."

Behr also said in his communication that on personal investigation he found that several rice growers whose names appeared as signatures to protest lodged with Merritt against ducks denied having signed the dispatch or having authorized the use of their names in that connection.

"However," adds Neale, "I am glad the order has been issued, for it will bring the matter to a focus, and will prove whether honest desire for conservation or a selfish motive for the killing of ducks is back of the movement. It is my opinion that more damage will be done to both rice and ducks by this permission to hunt the birds, even though the permission is limited. It will be almost impossible to control the market hunter and to protect the rice fields from trespassers. This will be the duty of the federal migatory bird wardens, soon to be appointed. The state deputies will be able to assist by enforcing the regulations governing shipments."

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