The Mallard 



VULGAR COMPANY 



MUD-HENS AND BLUE-BILLS ARE 

 SCARCELY FIT COMPANY FOR MALLARDS 



It is difficult to convey to this generation any accurate conception 

 of the former abundance of waterfowl in America. For nearly a century 

 our ancestors in the middle East shot without regard to consequences, 

 nor thought of any necessity for conservation. Professional hunters in 

 the middle South wallowed in gore. They measured their captures by 

 wagonloads, and shipped to the markets by carloads. In certain sec- 

 tions, indeed, tons of ducks were shot annually for their feathers, and 

 no account was taken of their carcasses. That this burden fell heavily 





Taken Feb. 2, 1018, near Pennington, Sutler County 



Photo by H. C. Bryant 



Use by courtesy of the California Fish and Game Commission 



THERE ARE A FEW MALLARDS LEFT 



1753 



