THE GUN CLUB IN CALIF OMNIA 25 



kept for retrieving. Blinds are chosen by lot, and a regular order 

 followed in rotation throughout the season. Each bag is recorded by 

 species in a ledger, so that the shoot for each year since the organiza- 

 tion of the club can be ascertained. It is of interest to note that in 

 the twelve years of this club's history there has been no marked dim- 

 inution in the total annual bag. There has, however, been a change in 

 the make-up of the bag in that certain larger ducks are now taken 

 in smaller numbers (see table 1, p. 10). 



This particular club is looking forw^ard to the complete reclama- 

 tion of its land in the more or less distant future ; in other words, 

 the property will sometime be sold for agricultural purposes, so that 

 the initial outlay is looked at in the light of an investment. It is to 

 be observed that the large sums of money now invested in duck pre- 

 serves, although primarily for sport, are secondarily for the purpose 

 of obtaining land capable of reclamation. Whenever the growth of 

 the country demands it, these lands will be available for agriculture. 



Differing but slightly in the method of operation is the preserve 

 owned by only one individual, or but two or three. Let us take as an 

 example that owned by Mr. W. W. Richards at Cygnus, Solano County, 

 one of twenty or more shooting preserves on the Suisun marshes. 

 The equipment is similar in a general way to that of the club-owned 

 grounds just described. The locality offers slightly different condi- 

 tions so that we find the ponds made both by excavation and by the 

 building of levees, the slightly brackish water being admitted by 

 means of head gates at high tide. A further step is taken to attract 

 ducks by flooding large areas which are diked off to afford loafing and 

 feeding gi'ounds. In addition to grain, "grit," or crushed quartz, is 

 put out. Useless vegetation is burned off and every favorable con- 

 dition maintained for the growth of those native plants which furnish 

 food for ducks. In the ponds thrives the California fennel pondweed 

 (Potamogeton pectinatus), sometimes locally known as "nutgrass," 

 which is the best of the natural food plants for many kinds of ducks, 

 both surface feeders and diving ducks. An attempt has been made 

 to introduce Yallisneria, the famous duck food of the Atlantic coast, 

 but this has proven unsuccessful. 



The blinds used on the preserves are usually of two kinds, the 

 barrel or box blind consisting of a large barrel or box sunk nearly 

 to the level of the ground, and the platform blind which is a wooden 

 platform surrounded by high brush or tules. These blinds may be 

 elaborately equipped to insure the comfort of the occupant as well 

 as to render his location invisible to the game. The hunter wears 

 inconspicuous clothing and is careful not to make quick movements or 

 to allow, the sun to shine on his face when ducks are flying overhead. 

 Calling the ducks in by imitating their call-note is a method considered 

 "unprofessional" on some preserves, but is in common use on others. 



