96 REPORT OF THE PISH AXD GAME COMMISSION. 



custom for three or four of these hunters to sneak along on the ground 

 in approaehing ducks and geese and tln'ii turn loose the bombardment. 



The difficulty of detecting sale transactions is evidenced by the fol- 

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

 Colusa where ducks were dispensed after the password had been given. 

 So notorious had the i)lace become for the distribution of ducks that 

 traveling men had no difficult\' in purchasing them at any time. It 

 was the custom of these men to keep a supply of ducks on hand in 

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

 Avlioiii these hunters took out at so much per day. The surplus ducks 

 were shipped to San Francisco and Sacramento under fictitious names 

 to be distributed by agents. 



The proprietor of tliis joint, witli three othei- well-known market 

 hunters, was detected on October 15, 1918, the day previous to the open- 

 ing of the season, with 226 ducks and one snipe in his possession. 

 Information was tiled against these four defendants, Charles Guernsey, 

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

 by the Federal Grand Jury and were tried by jury on February 4, 1919, 

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

 of guilty in eleven minutes, and the defendants were sentenced to pay 

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



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

 Deputy United States Game Warden E. S. Cattron and Assistant 

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

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

 Bird Treaty Act, Judge Van Fleet did not impose a maximum fine, ])ut 

 warned all future offenders to beware. 



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

 legislature put the ban on the possession of this murderous weapon it 

 will eradicate this class of market hunter, who is the twin of the "bull 

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



DUCKS VERSUS RICE. 



The difficult problem confronting, the Fisii and Game 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 and 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. Ileuser. 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 automatic flash gun or lantern, the use of bombs, and black 



