18 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



sliould be adequate to offset losses from the submerged area and to 

 provide croi3 irrigation on the rest. 



The water cost would thus be $3.75 per acre per year for the entire 

 area. This is believed to approximate the maximum cost for gravity 

 water. If it is necessary to resort to pumping of subsurface water, this 

 figure will probably be exceeded. 



Crops 



In order to relieve crop depredation during the .entire time water- 

 fowl are in the State in numbers, and to hold them on the shooting grounds 

 during the hunting season, it will be necessary to grow as much food as 

 possible on these areas. Artificial feeding is barred by Federal regula- 

 tion on the shooting grounds. 



Suitable food crops include rice, wheat, barley, oats, rye, millets, 

 watergrass, nonsaccharine sorghums, corn alfalfa, clovers, and aquatic 

 plants. 



Numerous rice growers have expressed doubt of the ability of any 

 other grain crop to compete with rice as a waterfowl attractant. This 

 remains to be proven. The high cost of producing a rice crop argues 

 against its use on public shooting grounds, unless other and cheaper 

 crops fail to produce the desired result. It is believed that the common 

 small grains, particularly wheat and barley, properly handled, will 

 serve the desired purpose adequately. The millets (watergrass) are 

 very attractive to waterfowl and are commonly used by blackbirds. 



The small growing, nonsaccharine sorghums, such as doubledwarf 

 milo, are readily taken by waterfowl, are economical to produce, and 

 should be used, especially where late planting is necessary. 



Along the Mississippi flyway field corn constitutes one of the impor- 

 tant waterfowl foods. It should be experimented with here in suitable 

 locations. 



In certain locations on the areas under consideration it is reported 

 that "goose-grazing" effectively prevents the production of small grains. 

 In such locations alfalfa, Ladino clover, or perennial burnet should pro- 

 vide a solution to the food problem. 



Aquatic plants provide a considerable part of the food of many 

 waterfowl species. Much remains to be learned regarding the successful 

 management of aquatics under California conditions. Most of the native 

 varieties will appear naturally if water conditions are favorable. In 

 new water areas artificial planting will probably be justified. Fertiliza- 

 tion of pond waters is a new development and should be studied in this 

 connection. Exotic aquatic species should be tried on an experimental 

 basis. To date, the most favored eastern species, wild rice and "wild 

 celery, " have not proved successful in this State. 



Cropping Methods and Costs 



Three means of producing crops on the state-owned lands have been 

 suggested: (1) Share-cropping; (2) Contract planting; (3) Use of 

 State personnel and equipment. 



Share-cropping in this case does not appear to be a practical solu- 

 tion since the primary object in producing the crop is to feed waterfowl, 

 not humans or domestic stock. It would defeat the purpose of the proj- 

 ect to drive waterfowl away from the crop. The landowner's share is 

 commonlv only one-third. 



