448 



IKTIFICI 11. l'li()l'AGATI(>\ OF (;n<)LSE 



The comijaralive freedom fnim disi-asc thus gained provided the first real opporlunitv for 

 finding practical methods of raising the chicks, maintaining thoni as hrcedors and stncKing 

 the pnihlem of securing a large nuniher of fertile eggs. 



The prolileni \\as allac kcd on two fronts. 1 lie Iri\estigation established in 1931 a small 

 field station in the western tiatskills near the \ illage of Har\ard. There, as a result of the 

 confusion of methods emploxed by those then raising grouse, main of the earlier tech- 

 niques were rec lieeked. The major effort was concentrated, howexer. on de\elo|)ing and 

 testing new ideas for rearing grouse on wire in small artificially heated brooders. 



Coincidental with the work at tliis station, funds and equipment were provided Dr. Allen 

 by the Investigation so that lie might continue his ouii Icuig-tiiiie and promising experi- 

 ments at Ithaca*. 



liitrilitirr Hump 



MKI.l) STATION IN THE W KSTKHN (Alskll.l, AKil M \I>s W IIIIIK 1 III, IW I >l li, \ i ION's FIRST TESTS 

 OK REAKING GROUSE UNDER SEMI-NATUR.\L CONDITIONS. AS WELL AS IN HKOODERS. WERE 



CMUUEI) OUT 



By 19.33 interest in scientific game |irii(lncti:)n had increased In ihe pninl uliere an I'.xperi- 

 niental Game Farm was estaiilished at Dclmar not far from Albain. The grouse raising 

 |)roject. as one of the Deparliiieiit s major experimental acti\ities. accordingly was trans- 

 ferred to llie new station. l-]\ enlualK this unit lieeame tlie liiib of tile game research pro- 

 gram of the ('.onser\ation Department until, in I9II). all activities were combined at the Farm 

 |o form a lu'seanli ('enter. There grouse propagation became but one of the many projects. 



ihe details of tlie indi\l(hKd experiments carried on o\er the years are worth reading care- 

 fidlv if one is interested in raising grouse. A sununarv of these has accordingly been 

 included In the A|)pendix (p. cSTT). for space will peiniil here only a brief mention of the 

 more produetixe projects and results. 



For two \ears at the Catskill Station, some liird> were iiKiiiilained on the ground. This 

 amply confirmed Dr. Allen's conclnsion that the lii>t |)rolilem to (dri(|ner was to learn how 

 to control disease. A real start had been made b\ rearini; and carr\ ing grouse on wire. 



* Scr Annual Rcimrlii »i( iNfw Ytirk .Sinle Cunitrr\ntiun Dt- |uirlin<Mit iiml TranMii'lii>ni4 ol tl»' .North American C.nmr C«»n(rrcnco 

 l..r lOI.'U 



I 



