96 REPORT OF THE FiSIl AXU GAiME COMMISSION. 



custom foi- throe or four of tiifsc liimtcrs to sneak along on the groniul 

 in approaching' dncks anJ sj.'ust' aiul then tni'ii loose the h!)in])ar(linent. 



The (liflienlty of ileteetinu;' sale transaetions is evidenced l)y the fol- 

 lowing faets: One of the most notorious hunters maintained a joint in 

 Colusa where ducks wci'e dispensed after the pjisswurd IkkI been given. 

 So notoiioiis had the plaee beeome for the dist liluition of dueks that 

 traveling men had no dilifienlty in purchasing them at any time. It 

 was the custom of these nnm to keep a supply of dueks on hand in 

 order that they nught guarantee the limit to so-called city "sportsmen" 

 Avliom these hunters took out at so much i)er daw The surplus du;'ks 

 were shipped to San Franeisto and Saerameiito under tietitious names 

 to he (list I'ihuted hy agents. 



The |)i-.)pi'ietur of this joint, with three other well-known market 

 huntei's, was deteeted on (); tolx'i- lo, 1918, the day previous to the open- 

 ing of the season, with 220 ducks and one sni])e in his possession. 

 Infornudion was tiled against these four defendants, Charles Guernsey, 

 J. T. IMaley. Frank Chambers, and Joe P. Meyers. They were indicted 

 hy the Federal (rrand Jury and were tried hy jui'y on February 4, 1919. 

 at Saeramento, Judge Van Fleet presiding. The jury returned a verdict 

 of guilty in eleven minutes, and the defendants were sentenced to j)ay 

 $100 each or in default serve 60 days in jail. 



Much credit is due state and federal wardens Carpenter and Ludlum, 

 Deputy United States (lame Warden E. S. Cattron and Assistant 

 United States Attorney Johnson for the nuinner in which the ease was 

 handled. As this was tlu^ first case in California under the IMigratory 

 Bird Treaty Act, Judge Van Fleet did not impose a maximum fine, but 

 warned all future offenders to beware. 



The conviction of these men had a very beneficial effect. Shouhl the 

 legislature i)ut the ban on the {)ossession of this nuu'derous weapon it 

 wi'l eradicate tjiis class of market hunter, who is tlie twin of the "hull 

 hunter" and will not take a sporting chance with other weapons. 



: DUCKS VERSUS RICE. 



The diffieult problem confronting the Fish and Came Commission 

 regarding the alleged necessity of killing ducks in the rice fields, where 

 it was claimed they were destroying rice, is about solved. United States 

 Biological Survey has now assumed- control aiul custody of the migra- 

 tory waterfowl, and in order to cooperate with the rice growers in 

 affording protection to their crops has appointed a resident United 

 States Game Warden, Mr. C. F. lleuser. Stationed at Sacramento, Mr. 

 Heuser is in a position to investigate all complaints. When damage by 

 ducks is found efforts are made to frighten them from the fields by 

 means of the autonuitic fiawh gun or lantern, the use of bombs, and black 



