"by ducks to the rice fields and to public statements that hunters 
would be welcomed by the rice growers to aid in keeping the ducks 
out of the rice fields , these statements having caused a great 
deal of annoyance and loss to numerous rice growers and property 
owners in the rice gro'"ing region. These newspaper statements 
have lead hunters to believe that they would be welcomed by the 
growers to enter their lands and shoot ducks. The Advertisement 
given has been so widely diffused that shooters have come from 
Vancouver to San, Diego. The majority of them have been disappointed 
due to the fact that the first comers have been aggressive and 
dlsrespective of property rights. In numerous places where no duck 
damage was done the hunters, nevertheless, entered the lands and 
did more damage than the ducks could have done. Faturally the 
hunters were,. drawn to the rice fields most convenient to highways 
and railroads, whereas, some of the worse damage done by ducks 
occured on lands inconveniently located for hunters. „ The larger 
erov/ers of the State feel that an effective means is at hand to 
protect the fields against ducks in the form of hombs and lights. 
They also feel that if shot guns are necessary more effedtive 
work can he done at smaller cost by employing men to systematically 
guard the fields,' The following resolution vas therefore adopted; 
"TRERFikORE , be it resolved that the Pice Growers recognizing 
the above conditions, feel that „they are the ones hest able to 
protect the crops .^nd therefore, insist on the r-^ght to protect 
the crops against damage done hy wild game hy the best method 
obtainable and recognizing' the principles of the privacy of 
property want no laws passed which v/ould in any way mitigate against 
the present trespass laws. 
(Signed) RHITEST E. BEHR 
Sec.” 
The publicity grlven the subject this season brought thousands 
of hunters on the opening day from points as far south as Los 
Angeles andjiorth to Oregon, to Co.lusa, Bigf?s, Williams, Gridley 
. iVJ 
and other towns. They were met with ”Ro Shooting" sie-ns and in 
some cases with guns. Many returned home disgusted, as our 
letters show. 
For the reasons above stated we fail to see ho/^ an earlier 
season would work to the advantage of the farmer. >ve believe that 
the solution of the duck and rice problem is placed in the hands of 
the rice grower and that by the intelligent use of the bombs made 
for the purpose (which have proven so effectual under severe tests) 
the grower will he able to save his rice crop from injury. It is 
