34 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



ing natural resources and showed what 

 the Forest Sei-vice and the Fish and 

 Game Commission are doing to perpetu- 

 ate California forests and California fish 

 and game. The educational value of 

 such an exhibit can not be overrated. 



THE COST OF RAISING PHEASANTS 

 AND DUCKS. 

 In that such game bii'ds as pheasants 

 and wild ducks are fast coming to find a 

 place in the market, and in that there is 

 increased interest in game farming, 

 attempts are being made to estimate the 

 cost of rearing such birds. Samuel 

 Evans, the largest commercial game 

 breeder in the United States, figures the 

 total cost of rearing a pheasant as some- 

 where between one dollar and a half and 

 two dollars. Mr. Dunn, of the Clove 

 Valley Rod and Gun Club, maintains 

 that one dollar and a half is close to the 

 correct figure for the rearing and main- 

 tenance of a pheasant for a full period of 

 twelve months. Mallard ducks can be 

 reared for a slightly less cost. 



THE ENABLING ACT OF THE FED- 

 ERAL MIGRATORY BIRD LAW. 

 The Federal Migratory Bird Law 

 became effective March 4, 1913. Because 

 it was claimed that this law was uncon- 

 stitutional, it has been difficult of enforce- 

 ment. While the case was still pending 

 before the Supreme Court, the United 

 States and Canada ratified a treaty pro- 

 tecting migratory birds, which in effect 

 made the Federal Migratory Bird Law 



apply over the greater part of North 

 America. It is still necessary that an 

 enabling act be passed to reinforce this 

 law. Such an act was introduced in the 

 House of Representatives, but failed to 

 come to a vote before the term of Con- 

 gress expired. The bill was reintroduced 

 in the next session and was passed by 

 the Senate on July 30, 1917, by a large 

 majority. Action by the House was pre- 

 vented owing to the pressure of war legis- 

 lation, but doubtless the bill will be 

 passed before the session closes. The 

 Canadian Government has already passed 

 its enabling act. 



SAVING DEER FOR FOOD. 



The United States Department of 

 Agriculture, along with other recommen- 

 dations, suggests the following ways of 

 more largely utilizing the deer kill. For- 

 tunately, some of the suggestions are 

 enforced by law in this state : 



"Do not kill a spike buck or doe when 

 you can obtain a full-grown buck. 



"Do not kill deer when weather con- 

 ditions or difficulties of transportation 

 prevent saving the meat. 



"Save every pound of meat. 



"Save the skin and the head also if 

 the antlers are in good condition. 



"Do not shoot deer at night, or in 

 the water, or unless you can clearly 

 see that the animal aimed at is a full- 

 grown buck. Failure to observe this 

 rule usually results in a violation of the 

 game laws and often in the loss of 

 human life." 



Fig. 29. The results of a hunt at the opening of the season in Mendocino County. 

 the nine men in the party secured a buck. 



Each of 



