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 Barios country is conceded to embrace the best of the breeding grounds 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 would save many ducks. The encour- agement of trapping might reduce the predaceons animals to such an extent that their depredations would 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 which can be applied during the nesting season and which will insure a greater percentage of successes in rearing young will 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 were at least 75 per cent more successful than those at Los Barios. One of the first things noted on the preserve was the fearlessness of the birds. A person could easily approach within a few yards of them. As the government allows trappers to catch fur-bearing mammals on the Reservation these enemies are kept down to a minimum. Conditions are as near the natural as can be imagined, and the birds apparently 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 two dollars apiece for the ducks he shoots. Add to this value the pleasure the wild duck affords the man who does not shoot and it will be readily seen that a valuation of two dollars a head is not too high. As wild game belongs to the people as a whole, such a valuation emphasizes. the importance of the state and federal government taking just as active interest in preserving this as any other natural r?source such as forests or water 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 view 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 would, therefore, seem to be justified. More study in this direction will doubtless suggest other means by which our supply of native ducks can be increased. One virtue of the gun club which in a measure offsets excessive shooting
