76 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



As in the past, many eontribntions of specimens of birds and eggs 

 were made to schools and nature study departments. This department 

 of the Commission aims to act as a clearing house for information 

 relative to the teaching of nature study and conservation and also as a 

 source of material for objective teaching. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



Volume 8 of California Fish and Game, the quarterly magazine of 

 the Commission, contained 256 pages and 87 illustrations. Two special 

 numbers, a Game Refuge number containing maps of every game refuge 

 in the state and a description of each, and a Hatchery number of 80 

 pages containing a history of tish-cultural operations in California were 

 issued. Volume 9 contained 192 pages and 41 illustrations. No special 

 numbers were included. 



The edition of the magazine is now 7000 and the circulation very 

 close to 6500. Many applications from individuals and libraries for 

 early numbers of the periodical in order to complete sets have been 

 received. Unfortunately many early numbers are now so rare as to 

 preclude issuance to any but public libraries or libraries of public or 

 important institutions. There is continued evidence that the magazine 

 is read from cover to cover and numerous commendatory letters have 

 been received. 



A clean-up of the mailing list in the fall of 1922 resulted in the 

 elimination of only about 200 names. The mailing list grows at the 

 rate of about twenty names per month. 



One use which the magazine appears to fill regularly is that in the 

 classroom in our high schools where it is constantly used for reference 

 by biology classes. Articles taken from the quarterly often appear in 

 outdoor magazines and in newspapers. 



Numerous newspaper items have been sent to the more prominent 

 newspapers of the state. These appeared to be well received by editors 

 and nearly always appeared in print. Among the special series of 

 articles should be mentioned a number dealing with books for sportsmen 

 furnished the sporting editor of the San Francisco "E.xaminer," a 

 short series of items dealing with the restoration of Lower Klamath 

 Lake as a breeding ground and a long series of one item a week relative 

 to saving the Klamath River as a fish reserve sent newspapers during 

 the si)ring and sunnner of 1924. Material for several feature articles 

 was furnished. 



INVESTIGATIONS. 



Several investigations of importance have been made. They include 

 the destruction of steelhead trout in tbe Pajaro River due to pollution 

 and low water, investigation of the status of game liirds in the marshes 

 of Butte and Sutter counties, fish resources of the Klamath River, and 

 an investigation of the relation of birds and mammals to the foot-and- 

 mouth disease. Th(' latter was occasioned by the continued attempt to 

 place tlie liUime for the spread of the disease upon wild birds and 

 mammals. In the case of the Merced outbreak, ducks and sea gulls 

 were accused. Although many migratory ducks were found on infected 

 areas, yet the disease failed to develop along the line of flight and no 

 positive evidence eould be found, ('erhiin ennlrol measures involving 

 buzzards were advocated near Merced. 



