THIRTY-NINTH BIENNIAL REPORT 57 



magpies and crows in Lassen County frequently become infected with 

 malaria before they are able to fly. This may be a significant finding in 

 view of the fact that the greatest losses that occur in wild game birds is 

 during their first few weeks of life. An extensive program is being 

 undertaken to study the epidemiology of bird malaria in the Bakersfield 

 area in collaboration with the University of California and the United 

 States Public Health Service to determine possible relationships to the 

 encephalitis of horses and man since both diseases are mosquito-borne. 



Observations at the state game farms have revealed frequent losses 

 from diseases such as pullorum, tuberculosis and gapeworm. Programs 

 are being developed with the aim toward eradication of these diseases. 

 A pullorum disease control program already has been instituted modeled 

 somewhat along the lines of the pullorum disease control program which 

 the State Department of Agriculture has in force for the domestic 

 poultry industry. 



Through the cooperation of game wardens and other field personnel 

 of the Division of Fish and Game and several hunters we have had 

 opportunity to examine a variety of animals for evidence of disease. 

 Further studies are in progress in an effort to learn more of the signifi- 

 cance of disease evident in such animals and their possible relationships 

 to the animals in nature. 



PUBLICATIONS AND PROGRAM 



A list of the publications prepared by members of the staff during 

 the biennium will be found in the -appendix, page 65. 



It is planned that the program of the Bureau of Game Conservation 

 will be greatly expanded in the next biennium thus permitting investiga- 

 tions on many problems in need of solution for the most efficient con- 

 servation of our mammals and birds. With the start of the next biennium, 

 investigations on the food habits of animals will be reestablished. The 

 Bureau of Game Farms will be incorporated into the Bureau of Game 

 Conservation and it is felt that this consolidation will greatly increase 

 the efficiency of the two programs of propagation and planting, and 

 conservation and management. 



