TSE GUN CLUB IN CALIFORNIA 



27 



serve as it is being conducted today. If we look at the problem strictly 

 from the conservation standpoint the evidence is fairly in favor of 

 the preserve. 



EFFECTS OF THE GUN CLUB 

 Detrimental 



Concentration. — The best natural lo- 

 cation is selected and conditions 

 made still more attractive for ducks. 

 As long as there are any ducks at 

 all, they will concentrate upon such 

 favorable grounds. In other words, 

 the preserve may be looked upon as 

 hastening the decrease of the duck 

 supply because it leads to a continual 

 concentration of population in a place 

 where regular and heavy toll is levied. 



Heavy toll. — On the preserve there 

 is systematic hunting every favor- 

 able shooting day during the season, 

 and under the best devisable condi- 

 tions. Hence very large annual bags 

 are appropriated. 



MarJcsmansMp. — The highest type 

 of marksmanship is always to be 

 found on the preserve and this 

 makes for limit bags. 



Efflciency of firearms. — The best 

 grades and most expensive guns and 

 ammunition are used. 



Personnel. — The highest grade of 

 intelligence is brought to bear on 

 ways and means of procuring the 

 ducks. 



ON OUE DUCK SUPPLY 

 Favorable 



Increased and ietter 

 grounds. — These are secured by diking, 

 flooding, and tha construction of arti- 

 ficial ponds. Increased breeding and 

 loafing grounds are also furnished. 



Maintenance of favorable grounds. 

 Much land is appropriated and re- 

 tained in the preserve which other- 

 wise would be made unfit for ducks 

 through reclamation for agricultural 

 and pastoral purposes. 



Additional food. — Additional food 

 supply is furnished in the form of 

 bait, and by the encouragement of 

 native food plants. 



Restricted hunting. — Hunting is 

 often limited to but two days a week 

 and to relatively few shooters. 



Indiscriminate hunting prevented. — 

 By a system of posting and patrol of 

 lands undesirable hunting is elimin- 

 ated. Illegitimate shooting during 

 closed season is also prevented. 



Refuge for ducJcs. — During the 

 closed season, on non-shooting days, 

 and during rough weather, the pre- 

 serve affords an ideal refuge for the 

 birds. 



Cripples not wasted. — The habitual 

 use of trained dogs assures the re- 

 covery of practically all cripples, and 

 thus lessens the total number of 

 birds killed. 



Most deadly guns not used. — On 

 most preserves use of the- pump gun 

 and automatic is prohibited. 



In our minds, the most important count against the duck preserve 

 is not so much the preemption of the most desirable hunting grounds, 

 as the improved conditions offered to the ducks, which cause them to 

 congregate at points where a severe toll is exacted. The unavoidable 

 concentration due to the reclamation of marsh land is undesirable 



