24 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



tion of game, for food or sport, the introduction of exotic birds and 

 mammals, and the introduction of diseases, are all affected by the 

 preserve. Thus we see that the problem is a complex one and needs 

 careful treatment. The present brief discussion can be considered' 

 as only a very inadequate contribution to the subject. 



Preserves are really of three kinds — public, club, and private. 

 The first, a far different type from the other two, is exemplified in 

 the state game refuge now being established in different parts of 

 California, and of the utility of this there can be no question. Let 

 us examine somewhat critically the club and private preserves as they 

 exist at the present time. 



Club preserves are tracts of land, either rented by groups of men 

 or owned by them for the common advantages they offer for exclusive 

 hunting. Every degree of equipment may be found, from a rented 

 house-boat on some slough at the edge of a bay marsh to an elaborate 

 shooting lodge situated on a valuable tract of land owned jointly by 

 the club members. A representative instance of this last type is the 

 Empire Gun Club, which consists of about twenty business men of 

 San Francisco, and whose holdings are located along the Elkhorn 

 Slough, near Castroville, in Monterey County. The land is largely 

 marsh, such as is suitable for ducks, but some of the adjoining hill 

 land affords favorable ground for quail. The improvements consist 

 of a house for the keeper, who patrols the grounds the year round, and 

 a substantial clubhouse for the accommodation of the members at 

 shooting time. Expenses are met by dues and assessments. 



The most necessary improvements connected with this type of pre- 

 serve are those concerned with the furnishing of attractive places for 

 the ducks. These consist chiefly of a number of fresh water ponds 

 made by constructing levees and flooding the enclosed land with fresh 

 water. This water is piped from springs, or pumped in from wells. 

 In a short time the fresh water drives out the salt marsh plants, such 

 as "pickle weed," and their place is taken by a better type of vegeta- 

 tion. The ponds are kept free from rank or undesirable growths, and 

 are in other ways made attractive for the more desirable kinds of 

 ducks. An effort is made to keep the ponds deep enough to attract 

 Sprig, rather than Spoonbills or other less desirable ducks, which 

 prefer shallower water. The ponds are baited twice a week. Wheat, 

 whole corn, and maize, are used to the amount of a carload and a half 

 each year. The slough itself affords excellent Canvasback and Blue- 

 bill shooting during the latter part of the season, so that the club is 

 ideally situated from the standpoint of the hunter. 



The rules of the club are few but well observed. Shooting is 

 allowed on two days of each week only — "Wednesday and Sunday. The 

 use of pump guns and automatics is prohibited. Trained dogs are 



