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Following is a quotation from a letter by the party referred to in reply to the above communication:

"Willows, Nov. 5, 1917.

"Mr. Geo. Neale,
Sacramento, Cal.

Dear Sir: 
"Regarding the clipping referred to in the Willows Journal, I see no necessity for further entangling the controversy that existed. As a former newspaper proprietor and editor I have always known that one can never catch up with a story once published.
It ought to suffice for me to reiterate that I am not responsible for the story to which you take exception."

This is merely a sample of the reports when investigated in order to learn the truth so that we could arrive at a just conclusion.

I was accused in the press of making the statement that "Wild Ducks do not Eat Rice", which is untrue. I know now, as I knew in 1915, that under some conditions ducks do eat rice, whenever they can obtain it. I also know that the damage done to rice by blackbirds and mudhens is blamed to the ducks, and in order to minimize the amount of damage the Commission succeeded in passing a law permitting the killing of blackbirds at any time in Fish and Game Districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3, which districys comprised all the rice growing areas and much grain lands. The Fish and Game Commission also took the initiative in experimenting with bombs for use in ridding the rice fields of all species of birds. The Commission delegated Mr. Geo. Neale of the Sacramento District Office to visit the various fireworks companies in San Francisco and endeavor to have experimental bombs manufactured for the purpose. These bombs were manufactured by the Racliff Sales Company, 146 Davis Street, San Francisco. They were later improved and have proven very