REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND MAMMALOGIST. 247 



ployed, hundreds of tlioiisaiids of pounds of gunpowder are burned, 

 and millions of birds are killed. Still the number of birds invading 

 the rice fields each year seems in no way diminished, and the aggre- 

 gate annual loss they occasion is about $3,000, OOO. 



The use of fire-arms has continued for more than a century, but has 

 proved an expensive and inefficient remedy. Hence it is clear that 

 some other means consistent with reasonable economy must be de- 

 vised for the relief of the enormous losses now sustained by rice- 

 growers from the depredations of birds. 



Statistics showing the total quantity of rice annually produced in 

 the United States are wanting, except for the year 1S79-18S0, when, 

 according to the Tenth Census, the crop amounted to 110,131,373 

 pounds, worth, at G cents per pound, $0,G07,883.38. In that year the 

 product by States was as follows: 



Mice produced in the United States in 187&-1880. 



Poiinds. 



Alabama 810, 889 



Floriaa 1, 294, 677 



Georgia 25, 369, 687 



Louisiana 23, 188, 311 



Mississippi 1, 718, 951 



North Carolina 5, 609, 191 



South Carolina 52, 077, 515 



Texas 62, 153 



110 131 373 

 Value, at 6 cents per pound, $6,607,882.38. 



Since 1880 the rice crop of Louisiana has more than doubled in 

 quantity and value, but that of the other States has not increased in 

 the same ratio. 



As a rule the annual consumi)tion of rice in the United States is 

 almost double the production, as shown by the following table: 



Table showing the quantities and values of the several hinds of rice imported, the 

 total value, and the duty, each year, from 1880 to 1886 inclusive. 



Years. 



1881.. 

 1882.. 

 1883.. 

 1884.. 

 1885. . 

 188G.. 



Dutiable. 



Cleaned. 



Pounds. 

 46,314,78.5 

 41,918,444 

 G3, 253, .521 

 63,009,474 

 64,098,827 

 58, 850, 662 

 43,497,923 



Dollars. 

 1,213, .508 .53 



995,098 01 

 1,417,467 84 

 1,301.741 9H 

 1,378,263 71 

 1,242,821 68 



870,262 93 



Uncleaned. 



Pounds. 

 359,668 

 »43,756 

 618, 633 



1,942,212 



y, 158, 943 

 10, 264, 604 



5,294,005 



Dollars. 



9,316 48 



5, 657 67 



9,994 ;% 



36,967 00 



174, 149 00 



309,773 00 



110,783 50 



Paddy. 



Pounds. 



249,0(56 



12, 309 



2, 651 



111,375 



8,112 



559,670 



144,330 



Dollars. 



4,707 00 



264 30 



45 00 



1,363 57 



146 00 



9,502 00 



3, 536 00 



Years. 



1880 



1881 



1882, 



1883 



1884, 



1885 



1886 



Dutiable. 



Kice flour.* 



Dollars. 



68,218 44 



67, 190 74 



2.39,001 .38 



403,335 24 



*517,851 77 



*672, 092 06 



627,003 28 



Pounds. 

 5, 0.'j2, <Mn 

 0,986,306 

 10,175,578 

 12,926,951 

 12,398,433 

 8,291,360 

 0,892,900 



Dollars. 

 294, 185 .59 

 389.010 80 

 499,835 77 

 610,323 fiO 



558.476 00 



404.477 50 

 361,507 00 



TotaJ. Total duties. 



Dollars. 

 1,586,9.30 04 

 1,457,227 52 

 2,16P,.3:i4 31 

 2,503,731 39 

 2,628,880 48 

 2, 538, 666 24 

 1,973,091 71 



Dollars. 

 1,1H2,442 71 

 1,009,329 07 

 1,608,131 21 

 1,753,907 30 

 1,683,365 94 

 1,619,570 25 

 1,184,256 81 



* Eice flour and meal. 



