THIRTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



99 



middle of the long famous San Joaquin Valley duck center. Its 3000 

 acres are crossed by Mud Slough that carries a fair tlow of water at all 

 times of the year. Outside of the water in this slough, there was no 

 water on the property when it was acquired. By the end of the season, 

 however, nearly 1000 acres had been covered. This was done notwith- 

 standing the fact that there was a great scarcity of water on the west 

 side of the San Joaquin Valley, and no rain until about the first of the 

 year. This area is very well located and includes within its boundaries 

 a series of three sinks known to hunters as the Buttonwillow lakes. In 

 these sinks a depth of water up to 10 feet can be secured on an area of 

 nearly 200 acres. Under the water rights purchased with the property, 

 water can be secured, except when needed for agriculture, which will 

 be during the hot summer months. In order to hold water on the 

 refuge, it is necessary to have a depth that will take care of the heavy 

 summer evaporation of approximately three feet. 



On this area it will be possible to produce a considerable amount of 

 natural food. Unfortunately, the entire Los Banos area has been 

 heavily grazed during the past series of dry years and naturally feed 

 is short. It is believed, however, that by not pasturing for a period of 

 three or four years that natural cover will come back and it will not 

 be necessary to plant heavily with introduced duck foods. 



Fig. 39. Jay C. Bruce, state lion hunter, with a Uon kill, decorating his fully 

 equipped automobile. Lion Hunter Bruce, although handicapped with the 

 loss of one eye, is after lions again. 



On this area, and on all other areas that will be purchased, it is our 

 intention to do everything possible to improve duck conditions. It is 

 believed that in so doing we will improve the duck situation and provide 

 a constant crop tliat can be harvested without unduly damaging the 

 natural supply. The advisory committee that was provided for by the 

 hunting license act, has under consideration refuge areas in various 



