■PoUo./ing Is a ouotatlon from a letter hy the party referred to 
in reply to the above communication: 
"V/illows, Nov. 5, 1917. 
"Mr. i3eo. Neale, 
Sacramento, Cal. 
Dear Sir: 
_i ii ^ ■ 
'• ."Regarding the clipping referred to in the .Villo/ifs Journa"' , I 
see no necessity for further entangling the controversy that 
existed. As a former nevspaper proprietor and editor I have al/;ays 
known that one can never catch up with a story once published. 
It ought to suffice for me to reiterate that I am not responsible 
for the story -to which you take exception." 
This is merely a sample of the reports when investigated in 
order to learn the truth so that v/e could arrive at a Just 
conelusion. 
pgr I was accused in the press of making the statement that "wild 
Ducks do not Eat Rice", which is untrue. .1 know now, as I knew 
in 1915, that under some conditions ducks do eat rice, whenever 
they can obtain it, I also know that the damage done to rice by 
blackbirds and mudhens is blamed to the ducks., and in order to 
minimize, the amount o'" damage the Commission succeeded in passing 
a law permitting the killing of blackbirds at any time in Fish and 
Game Districts Nos. 1,8 and 3, which districys comprised all the 
rice growing area and much grain lands. The Fish and Game Commission 
• ’* * 
also took the initiative in experimenting ."ith bombs for use in 
ridding the rice fields of all species of birds. The Commission 
delegated Hr, Geo. Neale of the Sacramento District Office to visit 
the various fireworks companies in San Francisco and endeavor to 
have experimental hombs manufactured for the purpose. These homhs 
were manufactured by the Racliff Sales Company, 146 Davis Street, 
San Francisco. They- were later improved and have proven very 
