90 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



EEPORT OF THE BUREAU OF GAME FARMS 



By August Bade, in charge 



From a certain class of thinkers there has been opposition to any 

 program of artificial propagation of game birds. This resistance has, 

 probably from sentimental reasons, been directed more particularly 

 against introduced species such as ring-necked pheasants and Hunga- 

 rian partridges. One of the favorite arguments of the opposition was 

 the danger of introducing disease among the native species. But Avith 

 the importation of thousands of these exotic game birds, and no trouble 

 having sliowed up in the last twenty-five years, this argument has died 

 a natural death. 



Likewise the argument that introduced species would drive native 

 game birds from their natural habitat has fallen of its own weight. 

 On any game farm it is a common sight to see California valley quail 

 and ring-necked pheasants sharing the same pen. It is also common 

 knowledge among game breeders that if there is any "bossing" it 

 comes from the quail. Like other members of the partridge family 

 these quail will stand on their own and do battle for their rights. 



While all this resistance has been going on the opposition has not 

 suggested a program that seems likely to make the life of the sportsmen 

 more enjoyable. It has been more a question of talk and debate, with 

 considerable legislation thrown in for good measure, while the native 

 species have gradually faded from the picture. Sportsmen who are 

 paying the bills and have a riglit to sa}' how their money is to be spent 

 are wondering what it is all about. 



With the development of game farming along more or less practical 

 and scientific lines sportsmen are seeing a little ray of sunshine ahead. 

 In the past five or six years the idea has taken a firm hold and now 

 nearly every state of the Uuion has one or more farms. Not only have 

 the states and federal government taken a hand in the work, but indi- 

 viduals and organizations of men all over the country are taking a 

 hand and have active programs of propagation work going on. Until 

 something better is presented propagation work through the agency of 

 the game farm will grow and develop. 



The laboratory means as much to game bird farming as it has to 

 other lines of industry. Scientific knowledge is being applied to feeds 

 and general management in a way that has caused radical changes in 

 the past few years. For a long time it was thought the domestic hen 

 was a necessary factor in propagation. There is no doubt but the hen 

 has played an important part but we believe she was merely a stepping 

 stone to better things. While she has some excellent qualities, she at 

 the same time presents problems that are hard to deal with both by the 

 amateur as well as the experienced breeder. These good features are 

 more than balanced by her faults. 



DOMESTIC DISEASES 



The domestic hen when used as a foster mother may bring any one 

 of many diseases common to poultry that are fatal to game birds. In a 



