238 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVI 
If the added area of available breeding grounds provided through extend- 
ed irrigation of land does not remain equal to the area of land rendered unfit 
for nesting it is evident that our breeding ducks must either adapt themselves 
to the new conditions or disappear. Not only are ducks strong lovers of their 
home locality but they are often prevented from taking up new quarters by 
the concentration of the numbers of their kind elsewhere. Hence it seems rea- 
sonable to believe that when nesting grounds are destroyed, and the ducks do 
not adapt themselves to new conditions, the numbers must certainly decrease. 
If this be true the need of furnishing safe breeding places for native ducks is 
imperative. 
The Los Banos country is conceded to embrace the best of the breeding 
groiands of central California. It seems, therefore, that some measures might 
well be taken to prevent the destruction of nests above noted. A more careful 
regulation of the water during the height of the breeding season would inter- 
fere very little with the pasturage and Avould save many ducks. The encour- 
agement of trapping might reduce the predaceous animals to such an extent 
that their depredations Avould be of little importance. The present prices on 
skins of fur-bearing animals is sufficient to pay for their capture. Even the 
hiring of one man to supervise this particular district during the breeding 
season would doubtless bring excellent returns. He could trap predaceous 
animals himself, could interest others in doing the same at the proper season, 
and could no doubt find means of reducing the destruction consequent upon 
the rise and fall of the water. 
Obviously any methods Avhich can be applied during the nesting season 
and Avhich Avill insure a greater percentage of successes in rearing young Avill 
add just that much more to the annual yield. The visit to the Klamath Lake 
Bird Reservation clearly demonstrated that it is possible to maintain safe 
breeding places. I should say that the ducks in this vicinity Avere at least 75 
per cent more successful than those at Los Banos. One of the first things 
noted on the preserAm Avas the fearlessness of the birds. A person could easily 
aiAproach Avithin a feAV yards of them. As the government alloAvs trappers to 
catch fur-bearing mammals on the Reservation these enemies are kept doAvn to 
a minimum. Conditions are as near the natural as can be imagined, and the 
birds apiiarently profit immensely by this circumstance. 
As an object of sport the duck has a value in dollars and cents. By the 
time the gun-club man pays for his trip, ammunition, entertainment, etc., he 
usually pays more than tAvo dollars apiece for the ducks he shoots. Add to this 
value the jAleasure the Avild duck affords the man Avho does not shoot and it 
Avill be readily seen that a valuation of tAvo dollars a head is not too high. As 
Avild game belongs to the people as a Avhole, such a A-aluation emphasizes the 
importance of the state and federal government taking just as acthm interest 
in preserving this as any other natural resource such as forests or Avater sup- 
ply. There is no reason why the mature crop of ducks should not be har- 
vested yearly, just as the mature crop of timber is harvested. The same ra- 
tional vicAV as is accorded the administration of other national resources needs 
to be applied here. Supervision of natural nesting grounds and even a consid- 
erable expenditure of money to secure and maintain additional breeding 
grounds as game refuges Avould, therefore, seem to be justified. More study in 
this direction Avill doubtless suggest other means by Avhieh our supply of native 
ducks can be increased. 
One Aurtue of the gun club Avhich in a measure offsets excessiAm shooting 
