90 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



A year later, July 1, 1927, the weekly report gives the following list 

 of birds: Ring-necked pheasants 7451, silvers 39, goldens 52, Reeves 

 11, Amherst 2, Hungarians 66, valley quail 128, wild geese 5, peafowl 

 11, native grouse 1, and mallard ducks 20. 



The report of June 22, 1928, the week this report is written, shows 

 a bird population as follows : Ring-necks 7185, silvers 71, goldens 62, 

 Reeves 19, Amherst 2, Hungarians 61, valley quail 284, mountain 

 quail 3, peafowl 10, versicolors 415, wild turkeys 235, bamboo par- 

 tridges 48, geese and ducks 45, South American tinamou 12, and 

 domestic poultry for hatching 1027. 



From the figures of these reports and the experiences of several 

 years we are naturally led to the conclusion that game bird farming is 



Fig. 27. 



Incubators at the Yountville Game Farm supplement hatching by hens. 

 A view in the incubator room. 



much like any other line of industry : You will get out of it just about 

 what you put in multiplied by personal knowledge, interest in the work, 

 and a careful attention to detail. Expressed in another way, game 

 bird farming is simply helping the work of nature in a scientific way. 

 Man has by his own acts created a condition that makes it impossible 

 for nature to carry on in the natural way, so it is necessary to lend 

 the helping hand of science and in a limited way make amends for 

 the havoc and disorder thus created. 



In many sections of the country we have seen the supply of native 

 game birds- gradually fade from the picture and in many instances 

 never to return. However, in some plac'es, due to natural topography, 



