98 



riSII AM) (!AME COMMISSION 



Tlio incrojiso in the pni)nl.'ili(iii of tlio st.'ilo each year hrinj^s added 

 difliculfit's. In soutlifrii California liniitinp; conditions and ro<:ulations 

 are beconiinjr more and moro of a probloni. Twonty years aj^o the 

 population of the six southern of)unti<'s was 70."). 225. Tofhiy it is 

 2.<s(>4,444; more by 426,80;') than the entire state poi>ulation of t^venty 

 years a<zo. In the six southern counties sinee 1880 tlie ])opulation has 

 increased from one person to oil acres, to one person for every nine 

 acres. 



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Fig. 38. Mallard with her duckling.s in a pond on the state waterfowl game 

 refuge near Los Banos. I'hoto by E. S. Cheney, May, 1930. 



To merely close an area to hunting and not provide adequate provi- 

 sions for enforcement of the law is poor conservation and unfair to the 

 law-abiding sportsmen. All refuges have been carefully posted on 

 nearly 2000 miles of boundary, but the best of signs become obi it (-rated 

 in time and, unfortunately, sometimes are torn down by careless 

 hunters. 



A resident guardian should be placed on each refuge. The duties 

 of such a guardian would be to see that the purposes for which the area 

 is set aside are carried out. A control of all factors that have any effect 

 on the increase of game is necessary. The guardian must be well 

 informed and capable of correctly interpreting all facts that are gath- 

 ered from observation carried on throughout the year. 



The first area purchased under the provisions of the new hunting 

 license act tliat provided for the setting aside of one-third of the 

 amount received for hunting licenses, was taken over at the beginning 

 of the duck season on October 1, 1929. This refuge is located about 

 four miles northeast of the city of Los Banos, in Merced County, in the 



