UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
ADDRESS REPLY TO 
CHIEP, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, 
AND REFER TO 
December 12th, 1917. 
Ilr. Alexander V/etraore, 
Bureau of Biological Survey. 
Dear I.Ir. V/etmore: 
In accordance vdth letter of authority ITo. 212-Bi. you are 
instructed to proceed on or about December 12th, 1917, to points 
in Arlsansas and Texas to learn the extent of damage inflicted by birds 
on the rice crop. 
J 
In Arkansas, you will get in touch with I^r. S. V. Visart, a 
representative of this Bureau located at Little Rock, and from him 
learn the localities where dainage is being done in his vicinity. Ducks 
are rex^orted to be tearing down the ^ocks in this region and in some 
cases ai'e ruining entire fields. It is inijortant that we verify these 
reports in order that we may la^ow wiiether the waterfowl are actually 
to blame or whether there may be in some cases ulterior motives prompt- 
ing the circulation of such rei)orts. In Texas you will meet LIr. 0. J. 
Winterman of the Lakeside Irrigation Comx-'any at Saglo Lake. Llr. V/inter- 
mari has reported damage to rice by red v/inged black birds and jaolcdaws. 
The principle object in conducting this investigation is to 
farailarizo ourselves with the conditions in these localities in order 
that at' such time v/hen the passage of the Enabling Act will allow us to 
take aggressive measures against these birds, v/e will be in a position 
to do it intelligently. VQiile in the field you will, of coxirse,use 
