UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
ADDRESS REPLY TO September 10, 1918. 
CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, 
AND REFER TO 
Mr. Alex Tfetraore, 
1011 Forum Building, 
Sacramento, California. 
iiy dear \7e tmore: . 
I notice in your official report and also in a personal letter 
to me that in one respect your investigation of the damage to rice by 
ducks is in the nature of a wild goose chase. It is natural that 
you should feel that your time is being wasted, but I believe that 
upon second thought you will admit this is not the case. I think it 
desirable that you should make a complete report for the official 
files which will carry all details as to false reports of damage 
you have been called upon to investigate. This will provide the 
office with a means of answering renewed criticisms inspired by the 
same sources . 
The field trip that I have just completed^ at least^has turned 
out this way, the claims of damage proving to be absolutely unfounded 
and I am sure that having a full report on the matter here in the 
office will make it impossible for similar claims to be made in the 
future. 
The movement to do away with the sale of game has been steadily 
growing for many years and now that such sale is entirely prohibited 
% 
by the regulations of the Migratory Treaty Act, the agitation on the 
part of the California market hunters and their friends will be with- 
out result. You are safe in assuring any one who inquires that the 
