THIRTY-SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT 35 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF GAME FARMS 



By August Bade, Chief 



During the past two years the production and distribution of game 

 birds from our two main farms has been increased over previous 

 bienuiums. 



The main factor in this increased production and distribution is 

 further development of the holding pen program. At the close of the 

 previous biennium we were serving 987 pens. During the present 

 biennium this number was increased to over 1400. Many more clubs 

 have become interested and have constructed units of rearing pens in 

 their particular locality. 



In order to meet the increased demand of young birds that are 

 raised in these sportsmen's pens our brooding units have been increased. 

 The Fresno brooding unit has been increased a third and a new brood- 

 ing unit has been installed at our Sacramento holding pens. 



Soon after the first of the year of 1940 Federal aid in tlie form of 

 labor by the National Youth Administration was offered. Bureau of 

 Game Farms took advantage of this labor and have increased the 

 facilities at Fresno, Sacramento and "Willows. These units are all 

 located in excellent game bird country and it is planned to keep these 

 units as well as our Redding unit open the year around. These four 

 units are spaced well in northern California and will give good results. 



In southern California two other brooding and holding pen units 

 are being constructed. One unit, of 12 double-colony houses and 48 

 rearing pens for Los Angeles County, is utilizing county labor, the 

 other unit of the same size for San Diego County is utilizing Federal 

 National Youth Administration labor. These two units will round out 

 the valley quail program in southern California. Still another unit of 

 20 rearing pens at the 22d Agricultural District Fair Grounds at Del 

 Mar has been built using Federal NYA labor. 



The State Legislature passed a Game Management Area Law 

 during the 1939 session. The law went into effect so late in 1939 that 

 it could not be used. However, in 1940 tlie Game Management Law 

 ha,s created quite a lot of interest. This law allows farmers or land- 

 owners to manage their lands and agricultural practices so that they 

 can raise game birds as a crop. "With restrictions under tlie Game 

 Management Law the farmer may then sell the privilege of harvesting 

 part of the crop of game birds. Part of the crop must be left for the 

 following spring nesting season. We hope that this program will help 

 the farmer-sportsmen's situation. 



This bureau realizes that our future upland game hunting and 

 recreation depends largely upon the fanner. "Witli this idea in mind 

 we are giving assistance to the farmer and landowner in helping them 

 raise game as a crop. 



