MERCED COUNTY. 



Merced City, its county seat and principal town, is 152 miles by rail 

 of Southern Pacific Company from San Francisco. Contiguous to it are 

 San Joaquin, Merced and Bear rivers and other streams, together with 

 large reservoirs and irrigating canals and laterals. There is considerable 

 acreage of low-lying land occasionally overflowed by superabundant irri- 

 gation. These conditions combine to form attractions for water fowl, 

 so much so that upon occasion market hunters find shooting over it to 



WOOD DUCK. 



Aix Sponsa. 



be profitable. Fine bags of geese and ducks are easily made, with 

 snipe and rail. Quail can also be obtained in the foothills and contig- 

 uous valley lands. Doves, larks and squirrels are plentiful, and deer 

 by no means wanting. The foothill streams, including the Merced and 

 its tributaries and branches, are well stocked with trout and the San 

 Joaquin with trout, salmon, striped bass and catfish. 



Reliance can be safely made on farm-house entertainment, but the 



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