THIRTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 89 



numbers and complaint became so heavy in the spring of 1930 from 

 apple growers and vineyardists that it became necessary to employ 

 someone to study the problem. Gordon True, Jr., a student at the Uni- 

 versity of California, has undertaken a study of damage together with 

 studies of means of protecting crops. He has experimented with repel- 

 lents of various forms, most of them employed in the form of a spray. 

 A full report as to the outcome of experiments will be published. 



Along with these economic studies, Mr. True will investigate the 

 parasites of deer, A number of deer have been examined which showed 

 infection with lungworm. This sort of infection appears to be on the 

 increase and it is quite necessary that a scientific study be made of this 

 and other diseases of deer. 



Donald McLean completed a careful study of quail in San Mateo 

 County. He followed certain flocks of quail throughout the year, 

 taking censuses and following their seasonal movements. He actually 

 discovered a number of baby quail dead on a cold, foggy morning. It 

 mav be that weather conditions have a great deal to do with the sue- 

 cessful rearing of young birds. The findings of this study will be pub- 

 lished in a forthcoming bulletin. 



Mr. McLean's particular problem has been that of crop damage by 

 birds. Three types of damage have received most study : bud cutting 

 by small birds in Tulare County; blackbirds and mudhens in relation 

 to rice; and band-tailed pigeons in relation to cherries. In addition, 

 he has aided in field investigations relative to waterfowl refuges and 

 duck disease. 



Investigations of the present status and damage caused by elk have 

 also been made. Better knowledge through other field investigations 

 of the present status of the burro deer and mountain sheep has been 

 secured. 



In spite of the accomplishments reviewed the field is not adequately 

 covered; a satisfactory continuing program in the schools has not been 

 attained; the radio has possibilities not yet utilized; film distribution 

 is not continuous and stabilized ; the research staff has too many prob- 

 lems and too small a personnel for greatest effectiveness. A start has 

 been made, a foundation laid, but the field is still undeveloped. The 

 work is still too new ; it is still in an experimental stage ; contributions 

 to the cause are few instead of many, for less than a dozen states sup- 

 port work of this kind. Trial and error methods, however, are bringing 

 stabilization, and the future looks bright. 



"Bringing an appreciation of the importance of conservation to the 

 background of human consciousness is a work which can not be done 

 by one man or one organization in one year, or by many men and many 

 organizations in many years." Even though results may be incomplete 

 and rather intangible at the present, there is nothing which builds more 

 widely for the future than does an educational program. With an 

 enlightened public sentiment, we progress; without it, we mark time. 



