THIRTIETH BLKNNIAL REPORT 



19 



are proving ideal. The main enclosure, surrounded by a vermin-proof 

 fence, includes about 7 -J acres which is completely roofed by wire. 

 This is divided into 472 pens 24' x 24'. During the past year other 

 pens have been added. 



With its home for the superintendent and help, and other additions 

 which have been made, this farm is probably the largest and best 

 equipped game farm in the United States. 



Outstanding is the watering system, which, equipped with sprinklers, 

 keeps half of each pen with moist conditions sufficient to insure the 

 growth of plant life for food and cover. The presence of these grow- 

 ing plants attracts insect life, which is necessary as a food. 



Fig. 5. Entrance to Trinity County Game Refuge. During the past year nearly 

 half of the state's refuges have been surveyed and posted. 



A large number of bantam hens are used for incubating the eggs 

 and rearing the young. Emphasis has been placed on the rearing 

 of ring-necked and Mongolian pheasants. The first year about 3000 

 birds were reared and planted. The second year of operation totaled 

 close to 8000 birds. 



The distribution of birds reared on the game farm has been made 

 after attention to the following details: First, a suitable location is 

 chosen by the superintendent. Second, each plant is sponsored by 

 some sportsmen's club or group of responsible citizens, and the area 

 closed to hunting, and posted. Additional plants are made in succeed- 

 ing years in order to assure sufficient breeding stock. With such care 

 taken in distribution, good results are to be expected, and favorable 

 reports have been received from many localities throughout the state. 

 Where pheasant plants have been made the sportsmen and local people 

 have, on the whole, become quite enthusiastic. In Oregon, where there 

 now exists an open season on these introduced birds, it is considered one 



