tweNty-NiNth biennial report. 29 



the rains have commenced and when the birds are no longer staying 

 in the vicinity of the watering places. The law has shown that quail 

 will respond very quickly to protective measures. Fortunately quail 

 are rather prolific breeders. It is not uncommon for them to have two 

 broods, and a second clutch will be laid in practically every instance 

 if the first clutch is destroyed. 



Due to the lack of rainfall throughout California, and in fact, 

 throughout the entire Pacific coast, there has been a scarcity of ducks 

 during the past two years. Last winter was particularly mild and 

 great numbers of ducks are reported to have remained in the north. 

 With the return of normal winters, duck hunting will improve and 

 those who find their pleasure in the duck marshes will have no cause 

 for complaint. Reports from other sections of the United. States indi- 

 cate that ducks have increased greatly since the federal law went into 

 effect in 1913 and since uniform legislation has been provided for the 

 entire country. The most urgently needed protective measure for 

 waterfowl is a treaty with Mexico, similar to the understanding exist- 

 ing between our government and Canada as a result of the treaty 

 made with Great Britain, with the proper means of enforcing the pro- 

 visions of the treaty on both sides of the line. At the present time 

 ducks are practically without protection as soon as they cross the 

 soutliern line of the United States. 



Tlie epidemic of foot and mouth disease that broke out in 1924 was 

 carried to the deer in Tuolumne County by cattle that were allowed 

 to go through the quarantine lines into the mountain areas. Feed was 

 so scarce in the valleys that it was deemed wise by the authorities to 

 allow grazing in the mountains. Unfortunately, very shortly after 

 the first lot of cattle went through the lines, the disease broke out. 

 After very strenuous measures were taken by the federal authorities 

 in charge of the control Avork, the disease was overcome but not until 

 tliousands of deer had been killed. The situation was so improved in 

 the spring of 1926 that it was considered safe by the authorities to 

 allow cattle from the valleys to again enter the restricted areas. It is 

 certainly to be hoped that there will not be another outbreak of foot 

 and mouth disease as it will not only endanger the deer of the state, 

 but the entire live stock industry. 



That deer will increase rapidly under favorable conditions is proved 

 )>y the experience of R. 0. Rampont of Ukiah. MY. Rampont in the 

 spring of 1921 secured a black-tailed doe fawn. In the fall of the same 

 .\ear, a buck was obtained and in the spring of 1922 another doe fawn. 

 These animals were kept on his property in Ukiah in an enclosure 

 covering somewhat less than half a city block. By the fall of 1925 

 from the start of two does and one buck, Mr. Rampont had a herd of 

 sixteen deer. One of the does at the age of 15 months gave birth to 

 a buck that was husky enough to grow forked horns instead of spikes 

 the first year. This is more remakable when it is considered tliat tlie 

 doe was only eight months old when mated. 



California is to be congratulated on the results of its deer conserva- 

 tion. For over twenty years we have killed deer under a liberal season 

 and limit. Many thousands of deer have been harvested each year. 

 Notwithstanding this heavy toll, in most sections of the state, deer are 

 as abundant as they were twenty-five years ago ; in fact, the residents 

 in many sections claim that they are even more abundant. The deer 



