54 REPORT OF BOARD OF FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. 
the establishment of one.in California. Negotiations for services were 
entered into with several men who had had experience on game farms 
in Eastern States, also with Mr. J. R. Argabrite, a resident of Califor¬ 
nia, who was a successful raiser of pheasants in Ventura County. This 
resulted in engaging the services of Mr. Argabrite in September, 1908. 
He was immediately detailed to examine and report on a number of 
different locations that had been offered for the establishment of such 
an institution. The choice finally fell upon some 45 acres located one 
State Game Farm—Male Hungarian Partridge. 
mile west of Hayward, in Alameda County, owned by Mrs. H. G. Bed¬ 
ford. A lease was executed for one year, with a privilege of nine years 
additional, at the rate of $450.00 per year. Possession of the premises 
was assumed in November, 1908. An artesian well, which furnishes an 
abundance of water, was bored, and the construction of a barn, pens, 
brooders, and other necessary equipment was immediately begun. A 
contract was let for the building of a cottage for the superintendent. A 
stock of pheasants to be used for breeding purposes was purchased 
through Wenz & Mackensen, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, importers of 
choice European wild stock. Some were brought in from Oregon and 
others purchased from breeders in our own State. We also added to 
