THIRTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 21 



nor, each member of the committee to serve at the pleasure of the 

 appointing power and without pay. On March 22, 1928, this com- 

 mittee was appointed, consisting of the following members: 



Jacob Baum, Los Angeles. 

 H. L. Betten, Alameda. 

 J. Dale Gentry, San Bernardino. 

 Manley S. Harris, San Francisco. 

 Nathan Moran, San Francisco (Chairman). 



Dr. K. F. Meyer, San Francisco (Director, Hooper Foundation). 

 Dr. Barton W. Evermann, San Francisco (Director, California Acad- 

 emy of Sciences). 



Since their appointment the members of this committee have held 

 meetings to consider the problems before them, and Mr. J. S. Hunter, 

 in charge of state refuges, was assigned as their special assistant. A 

 survey of the state was commenced and it is possible that a definite 

 program to cover the five years will be fully outlined and agreed upon 

 before any of the moneys are spent, this prevention being taken to avoid 

 hasty or ill-advised investment. As the funds for such purpose did 

 not accrue during the past biennium, it was impossible to take any 

 further action than as above noted. 



During the past biennium a special crew of surveyors under the 

 direction of Mr. J. S. Hunter has been engaged in making an accurate 

 survey and posting 34 state refuges, including 2,372,355 acres of land. 

 This is an important step, as in many instances these refuges had not 

 been accurately surveyed and prosecutions were difficult where ade- 

 quate postings were not made. 



Coincident with this work an effort has been made to take a census 

 and make a more accurate analysis of game conditions throughout the 

 state. The application of the deer tag license revealed that in 1927, 

 19,507 deer were legally killed in the state. The records show that a 

 surprising percentage of well antlered deer is killed, which reasonably 

 indicates that only the surplus is being taken. 



The greatest step forward in the protection of waterfowl was wdien 

 the federal law and later the state law stopped the sale of ducks. Geese 

 are in need of further protection. There should either be a closed sea- 

 son, or the shooting of geese over live decoys should be forbidden. 



The new legislation shortening the season during which quail can be 

 killed to the month of December, has been beneficial. Under this law 

 quail have increased in all parts of the state. 



Doves are holding their own under the present legislation, which 

 limits the hunting season to two months or less. Grouse in general 

 have been reduced, possibly due to the destruction of their nests by 

 sheep. 



Of the former great herds of elk that ranged in the interior valleys 

 only a few hundred head remain. With scarcely an exception attempts 

 to plant small herds have proved unsuccessful, as they destroy the culti- 

 vated crops when given free range. If they are to be permanently pre- 

 served it will be necessary to secure and fence refuges for them. 



Antelope, as the result of protection, are increasing in northwestern 

 California. The advance of agriculture has practically exterminated 

 them in other areas, where thev were formerly abundant, 



