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[[pre-printed]] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO [[/pre-printed]]
December 12th, 1917.
Mr. Alexander Wetmore, 
     Bureau of Biological Survey.
Dear Mr. Wetmore:
     In accordance with letter of authority No. 212-Bi. you are instructed to proceed on or about December 12th, 1917, to points in Arkansas and Texas to learn the extend of damage inflicted by birds on the rice crop.
     In Arkansas, you will get in touch with Mr. E. V. Visart, a representative of this Bureau located at Little Rock, and from him learn the localities where damage is being done in his vicinity. Ducks are reported to be tearing down the shocks in this region and in some cases are ruining entire fields. It is important that we verify these reports in order that we may know whether the waterfowl are actually to blame or whether there may be in some cases ulterior motives prompting the circulation of such reports. In Texas you will meet Mr. O. J. Winterman of the Lakeside Irrigation Company at Eagle Lake. Mr. Winterman has reported damage to rice by red winged black birds and jackdaws.
     The principle object in conducting this investigation is to familarize ourselves with the conditions in these localities in order that at such time when the passage of the Enabling Act will allow us to take aggressive measures against these birds, we will be in a position to do it intelligently. While in the field you will, of course, use