118 DEPAETMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



received attention during the past biennium. Each project has been aimed 

 at ascertaining the facts relative to the sources of the diseases and the 

 practical methods of bringing these diseases under control through the 

 use of various management practices. 



Fowl Cholera: 



It was determined that the source of Fowl Cholera in waterfowl occur- 

 ring in south San Francisco Bay was directly traceable to a garbage 

 dump. Litigation subsequently abated the garbage dump as a nuisance. 



Several small outbreaks of fowl cholera occurring in the Suisun Delta 

 region were brought under control through elimination of all gulls in the 

 immediate vicinity, thereby preventing spread of the disease. 



Necropsy (Post Mortem Examinations): 



Each winter, losses of deer are apparent throughout most of California. 

 Laboratory examination reveals parasitism, hemorrhagic septicemia, 

 pyogenic infections, and terminal pneumonias as direct causes of mor- 

 tality. The majority of the deaths are the indirect result of undernutri- 

 tion. The laboratory has undertaken a study for determination of a 

 standard of condition in deer. With the knowledge of the condition of a 

 deer herd, the management of that herd may be more intelligently han- 

 dled. A few of the results of this study, involving complete examination 

 of 368 animals, includes the standard blood picture of deer, condition 

 factor evolved from measurement of adipose tissue, physical measure- 

 ments and parasitism. 



Stomach Worms: 



A survey of the north coastal counties was undertaken to obtain geo- 

 graphical distribution, species, and effect, and to determine possible 

 control measures that might be effective against stomach worm parasites 

 of deer. Total worm burdens of individual deer from several areas are 

 being ascertained. The results of the survey disclosed that those sheep 

 and cattle ranches practicing good range management have low levels of 

 parasitic infection. Correlations between parasites and livestock in rela- 

 tion to management practices should be similar to that correlation being 

 established between parasites and deer. 



Foot Rot: 



Research has been undertaken on the most serious bacterial disease 

 affecting deer, namely, foot rot. It constitutes a serious threat to the con- 

 tinued existence of deer in the Coastal Ranges of California. The Priest 

 Valley herd was seriously decimated by it during the late summer of 1951. 

 Cooperative effort by agricultural authorities as well as wildlife agencies 

 is needed for control of the disease in livestock and in deer. It has been 

 determined that the source of this entity is related to seeps and muddy 

 waterholes. The only known methods of control that have been practiced 

 have been spring development, or eradication of mudholes through bull- 

 dozing or fencing. 



Botulism: 



Positive control of botulism in pheasants at State Game Farms has 

 been effected. 



