168 CALIFOHXIA FISH AND GAME 



states that a decided decrease in the number of the other species of 

 ducks visitiuf^' San Die<io County lakes was noted in 1933 over the 

 ])revious season witli the exception oi' redhead and rini^-neckcd ducks, 

 which latter species seemed to be more abundant tluni usual last year. 

 "With the exception of the three species named, he estimates a 50 per 

 cent decrease in tlie number of ducks visiting the San Diego County 

 lakes in 1933 over 1932. 



Game Wardens J. W. Harbuck and W. S. Talbott provided detailed 

 reports upon duck hunting success in the Salton Sea area. Ilarbuck's 

 report for the southern end of the Salton Sea indicated that ajiproxi- 

 mately the same number of birds were present and were bagged by 

 sportsmen last year over the previous one. In that area, he consid- 

 ered widgeon and sprig to be about even in abundance and these 

 species comprised 60 per cent of the duck po])ulation in that area. 

 The balance was made up approximately of 15 per cent shovellers, 

 10 per cent teal, 5 per cent redheads and 10 per cent other species. 



Game Warden Talbott reported on the Mecca section at the north- 

 ern end of Salton Sea where he states that private and commercial 

 duck clubs took more birds in the 1933 season than in the previous 

 year, but that unattached shooters had poor success in this area. Tlie 

 species bagged in this area in order of abundance were sprig, widgeon, 

 redhead and bluebill. Talbott believes that there were approximately 

 the same number of ducks in this area in 1933 as in the previous season. 



Later reports than those provided in our January issue fail to revise 

 the statements therein contained relative to waterfowl abundance at 

 Tule Lake and in the San Joaquin Valley, other than in the Delano- 

 Wasco area. — James Moffitt, March 6, 1934. 



ADDITION TO LIST OF TOTALLY EXCLUDED ANIMALS 

 STATE IMPORTATION LAW 



In accordance with the provisions of section 9 of Chapter 76, 

 Statutes of 1933, the Fish and Game Commission and the State Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture have added the rodent family OCTODONTIDAE to 

 the list of totally excluded species. Therefore, this rodent family is 

 hereby added to the list of totally excluded species listed under Regu- 

 lation 1, pages 3 and 4 of "Rules and Regulations Governing the 

 Importation of Wild Birds and Animals Into the State of California 

 and Conditions Under Which Same May Be Kept in Confinement." 



The family OCTODONTIDAE includes the subfamily Capromyinae 

 and the genus Myiocasfor in which the nutria or coypu, M\iocastor cor- 

 pus, is classified. Tliis South American fur-bearing rodent is the species 

 most likely to be offered for import into California and all applications 

 for its importation or that of other members of this rodent family will 

 be denied. — James Moffitt, Division of Fish and Game, San Francisco, 

 Cal, March 2, 1934. 



