172 THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



CONSERATION THROUGH EDUCATION. 



By Harold C. Bryant, in charge Education, Publicity and Research, California Fish 



and Game Commission. 



In Mr. Henry Chase's well known book, ''Game Protection and 

 Propagation in America," it is stated that the most needed thing to 

 forward the great movement of game conservation is a campaign of 

 education. Mr. Chase says: "Connected with the game department 

 in each state there should be a bureau of education and publicity, 

 presided over by an expert. With these bureaus co-operating with each 

 other and with the national one, a campaign of education along correct 

 lines can be conducted which will accomplish more and better results 

 in a few years than has been done altogether in the past. 

 Unquestionably, nothing can be of more value to the cause of game 

 protection at this time than a systematic campaign oi education con- 

 ducted officially by the game department in every state of the Union, 

 and an extension in the work on that line now being performed by 

 the Federal bureau." 



The California Fish and Game Commission, convinced of the truth 

 of Mr. Chase's opinion, instituted a year ago a Bureau of Education, 

 Publicity and Research, as a fundamental method of bringing about 

 proper game conservation. Results are already noticeable, although 

 this bureau has only been in existence a year. 



Though the motto of this new department is "Conservation through 

 education," and the primary function is to educate the people to the 

 value of California's wild life, much emphasis has been placed upon 

 research; for proper education and publicity must always be backed 

 with indisputable evidence. In order to supply this evidence, data is 

 being collected regarding the life history and the status of all of the 

 native game birds and mammals. The food habits of birds are being 

 studied in order that the real dollar-and-cents value of each species 

 may be well understood. In connection with the problem of restock- 

 nig depleted game covers many investigations are being made. The 

 one of present interest is that of the status of the ring-necked pheas- 

 ant, as a result of which more information will be at hand showing 

 why Oregon has been so successful in the efforts to establish this 

 game bird, whereas California and other states have been unsuc- 

 cessful. In order that future generations may have evidence upon 

 which to base their efforts in the direction of game conservation, a 

 collection of photographs showing the work of the Fish and Game 

 Commission and the status of game is being assembled. These and 

 other investigations are furnishing the backing for educational and 

 publicity work. 



The principal means used in the campaign of education are lec- 

 tures, bulletins and correspondence. Many illustrated lectures on 

 game and game conservation have been given in various parts of the 

 state to organizations of sportsmen, farmers and teachers, as well as 

 to the general public. Realizing the advantages to be gained from 

 co-operation with educational institutions, a series of lectures was 

 given to a class of prospective teachers in a course in advanced ver- 

 tebrate zoology in the University of California. Such training is of 

 particular importance in California for all forest deputies by virtue of 

 their position become game wardens. 



A quarterly periodical, California Fish and Game, is now being 

 published and sent free to all citizens of the state who make applica- 

 tion. This quarterly follows the motto, "Conservation through educa- 



