Nov.,1915 REPORT UPON DISEASE AMONG DUCKS 215 During the following year, that is, x9xo, the same disease, apparently, broke out not only on the above mentioned waters but also on Bnena Vista, Goose and Tulare lakes. Thousands of birds died. Members of the State Fish and Game Commission made several expeditions into the regions thus affected, but were unable to ascertain the cause of the malady. The year following this, the disease again appeared, and an attempt to determine the cause of the mystery was made but not completed. The year x9?2 was not an off year for the disease, nor has the present season been an exception. On the other hand, the present' season has been almost a record year for a high death list. Whatever has been the causative factor of the malady, it does not seem to have been one which rendered the birds affected by the disease dangerous for human consumption, because man. y thousands of sick birds have doubtless been distributed through the markets of San Francisco, Los Angeles and other places. The writer has been told by reliable parties that, ever since the disease was first known, market-hunters (some of whom are not noted for the highest principles of integrity and morals) have reaped a two-fold harvest in their business by selling sick birds. These were easily obtained and being fat, sold well. It is said that Fig. 66. BED OF TULARE LAKE, ON SOUTH SIDE; MANY MILES OF THIS SORT OF GROUND WERE COVERED BEFORE ANY OPEN WATER WAS REACHED; PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SEPTEMBER 30, 1913. the market hunter would pick up a string of sick ducks, hang them out, get off several yards and fire shot into the birds to kill them, and thus allay any suspi- cion as to the nature of their condition and capture. Certainly the market hunter of wild game should have no more right to sell diseased birds than the stock man has to sell diseased beef or mutton. Great interest has naturally been aroused regarding this condition, as thom sands upon thousands of our finest game birds, representing a large sum in dol- lars and cents to the people of the state, have perished from tbe unknown cause. No systematic investigation was made on this subject until the present sea- son when the State Fish and Game Commission, working in co-operation with the University of California, detailed a research assistant from thiq latter insti- tution to make as thorough an investigation of this destructive disease asmeans at his disposal should permit. The present article is only a preliminary report. which is intended to answer some o the many questions which have been pu? to the Fish and Game Commission regarding the subject. The investigation was begun on September i9, i9i 3. The first work con- sisted of a general survey of the situation, and the collection of a large number
