Nov., 1912 
COMMUNICATIONS 
229 
5. Reduction of the bag limit on certain 
game birds. 
6. An investigation into the practicability 
of a campaign against the English Sparrow to 
be carried on by the State Fish and Game 
Commission. 
7. A law nroviding for the protection of 
the Bear, Raccoon, Mink, Badger, Marten, 
Fisher, Otter, Red Fox, Wolverine, Skunk, 
and Ring-tailed Cat during all seasons except 
during the winter when their fur is prime ; the 
seasons to be determined on the basis of the 
facts of the case in the different species ; pro- 
vision to be made in the law permitting the 
killing of these mammals by the owner or 
tenant of any premises when found doing 
damage; cases of this necessary killing to be 
reported to the State Fish and Game Commis- 
sion. 
8. The law regarding rabbits to be amend- 
ed with the provision that the owner or ten- 
ant of any premises be permitted to kill cot- 
ton-tails and brush rabbits when found doing 
damage to crops. 
A synopsis of our recommendations and 
short discussions of each follows : 
ANIMAI, 
Redhead 
Wood Duck 
Other Ducks 
SEASON BAG IJMIT 
Close indefinitel.v 
Clo.se indefinitely 
Oct. IS to Feb. 1 20 per day 
(Bag limit on ducks 
to remain at 50 per 
week if "no-sale of 
ducks" law is not 
passed) 
Ibis and all Shore 
Birds (kimicolae) 
with the exception 
of the Wilson Snipelexcl'de from game 
birds and place on 
protected list) 
Rail (excl’de from game 
birds and place on 
protected list) 
Geese Oct. 15 to Feb. 1 25 per day 
Valleyand Desert Oct. 15to Nov. 15 20 per day 
Quail 
Mountain Quail Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 10 per day 
Grouse Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 4 per day 
•Sage Hen Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 4 per day 
Mourning Dove (excl'de from game 
birds and place on 
protected list) 
Band-tail'd Pigeon Nov. 1 to Feb. 1 15 per day 
Sea Otter protect absolutely. 
making the killing 
of the Sea Otter a 
felony 
Bear, Mink, Otter, \ 
Raccoon, Badger, I Open season only 
Marten, Fisher, Red Id u ring time 
Fox, Wolverine, /when furs are 
Skunk, and Ring- 1 prime 
tailed Cat / 
RED-HEAD DUCK 
The Red-head Duck has been greatly re- 
duced in numbers in this state in the past few 
years. Data collected the past year shows 
that there came to the markets of San Fran- 
cisco only 230 Red-heads making a total of 
.15 of one per cent of the total number of 
(lucks. The Red-head is a resident species 
and originally was very abundant in this state. 
Our resident ducks need far more protection 
than the migratory species. We believe, there- 
fore, that we are justified in recommending 
the closing of the season indefinitely. 
WOOD DUCK 
The Wood Duck is probably the rarest duck 
found in the state. Practically all of the 
Eastern states protect this bird throughout 
the year simply because it is found in such 
small numbers. But two or three wood ducks 
were seen in the markets of San Francisco 
during the past season. This shows the scarc- 
ity of the bird. 
OTHER DUCKS 
Most of the other ducks to be found in the 
state we believe are still in sufficient abund- 
ance to withstand a limited amount of de- 
struction at the hands of the hunter. We do, 
however, recommend the shortening of the 
season to three and one-half months, Oct. IS 
to Feb. 1st, the bag limit to be twenty per day. 
We also suggest that the bag limit on all 
ducks remain at fifty per week if the “no-sale 
of ducks” law does not pass. 
SHORE BIRDS 
Most of the game birds have withstood de- 
struction at the hands of the hunter far better 
than the Shore Birds (Liinicolae) . We be- 
lieve that the shore birds in California have 
been greatly reduced in numbers and that 
many of them are nearing extinction. Con- 
sequently we suggest that these birds be taken 
from the list of game birds and that they be 
protected the year through. We owe some- 
thing to future generations and certain it is 
that our shore birds need protection above all 
others. 
RAIL 
We recommend that Rail be excluded from 
the game birds and placed on the protected 
list. Tlie California Clapper Rail, the most 
important one of these birds, is gradually 
nearing extinction not only because of the 
hunter but because of the reclamation of the 
lands frequented by the bird. In order that 
this valuable bird be conserved we believe it 
necessary that it be absolutely protected. 
GEESE 
Geese form a cheap and valuable source of 
food. The numbers of these birds has greatly 
decreased and, unless some sort of protection 
is afforded them, it will not be long before 
this source of food supply is exhausted. We 
therefore recommend the placing of an open 
season of three and one-half months, October 
15th to February 1st, on geese. This is the 
particular time of year during which their 
depredations in grain fields are most notice- 
able, so that the open season at this time 
should prevent any antagonism by ranchers 
of the state. 
