Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-14
EASTERN GAME BIRDS.
SPECIES THAT IT WOULD BE DEsIR.
ABLE TO INTRODUCE.
Some Further Suggestions Regarding
Pheasants, Quails and Other
Game Birds.

opaCe Is cneerIully gwen 10 Inc 1OIioWlng
communication on the above subject. It
is one which cannot be too thoroughly in
vestigated, and all who can throw any light
thereon should do so, as the question is full
of importance to the sportsmen of the State
as well as to all citizens who delight to see
our fields and forests filled with great
variety of birds of both game and singing
species:
this morning an article headed Japanese
Pheasants" in connection with the announced
purpose of the State Board of Fish Commission.
ers to inaugurate action at their meeting
to day in Ssn Francisco, looking to the importa-
ton into this ktate of various game birds in
Guiding pheassnts. l had something to do in
the preparation of the bill which became law
and which imposes upon the State Board of
Fish Commissioners the duty of stocking this
State with the well-krown fine game birds now
existing in this State and note with sstisfac-
ton the valuable suggestion in your paper.
as to the unadYisability of importing the Japan
csc pheasant for the reason that in Oregon
they drive Of other birds, and especially qusis.
This is an important matter for sportsmen to
know, and have 10 doubt that the Board of Fish
Commissioners viii note well the information it
conveys. feel sure that like suggestions from
any persons touching the desirability or unde-
STABILITY of importing any other game birds
will receive due appreciation. Sportsmen
everywhere will hail with delight the fact that
the Legislature has appropriated $1,000 TO be
used in defraying the expenses of importing
game birds into the State for propagation
and has also provided a penalty for their de-
struction. And all good citizens will do what
they may 70 aid the enforcement of this law.
Respectfully, L. J. CLARK.
SACRAMENTO, August IS, 1859.
1t must not be understood that the Rec.
oRD-UNIoN looks with the slightest disfavor
upon the introduction of the Japanese
pheasants. 1t merely advises caution in the
matter. The passage of the bill empower
ing the State Board of Fish Commissioners
to eXpend $1,000. or as much thereof as
may be found necessary, in the importation
of game birds and fishes from other States
and countries, was one of the wisest acts
of the last Legislature. 1t should have
been done years ago, and our hills and val
legs should long since have been made mu-
steal by the notes of the bob White" and
the drumming of the grouse. There is no
reason why the broad stubble-felds of our
valleys should not harbor millions of prai-
RE chickens nor our woods and forests af-
ford excellent wild-turkey shooting. The
chief trouble experienced heretofore in the
few efforts made 10 introduce Eastern quails
and prairie chickens has been that the ex-
periments were made by private individu-
ais and on small scale. A dozen or two
of quails have been put out but they soon
became scattered and probably merged
with the native birds, or were killed off by
the country lads.
Some years ago a gentleman in Napa
turned loose dozen or so of Bob Whites,
but for some reason they did not remain on
his place. 4 few weeks later some of them
were seen several miles west of there. and
later on they showed up in the orchards of
the Bassford brothers near Vacayille, NOV
ing eastward all the time. That was the
last seen of them, but the following season
the son OF State Fish Commissioner Rou-
tier shot quail on the home place on the
American river, between here and Folsom,
that was certainly a cross between Bob
White and valley quail of the native
species. 1t was more brown than blue,
and had many other marks peculiar to the
Eastern bird. Hence, there is reason to be-
lieve that the few birds brought here from
the East have bred with the natives and
long since lost their identity.
Everybody who has hunted the Eastern
quail admits that they afford better shoot
ing than our native birds, and it is to be
hoped sNat the Commissioners may see
their way 10 make an experiment on an
extended scale. Then, too in putting out
these birds they should not be scattered
among too many localities, but if possible
hundreds should be turned loose together,
so they can be watched and the results
carefully noted. No better place could be
selected than along the American river.
The birds would have plenty of water at
all seasons, and the thickets of wild rose
bushes, wild grapeyines and chaparrel that
line the rivers banks would afford the
safest of hiding places for them. The
ranches and orchards along the river are
comparatively free from skunks, 'coons and
other enemies OF the quail. and the farmers
would doubtless carefully uphold any law
that might be passed to secure protection
from pot-hInters-a thing that every true
and high-mInded sportsman would also do.
If possible, the Commissioners should
act likewise as regards grouse, or prairie
chickens. These are noble game birds,
and are being rapidly exterminated in the
Western States. They are still plentiful,
however, in Nebraska, northern Texas and
other sparsely settled States, and there is
no doubt that any desired number can be
procured readily enough. a few hundred
dollars should be sufficient to secure the
importation of thousands of these birds.
AS for the Japanese pheasants, all the in
formation necessary concerning them can
be readily had by inquiries directed to in
telligent sportsmen and farmers of the
Willamette valley, Oregon, where the birds
have become very numerous. Some letters
received from these state { as mentioned in
these columns yesterday that the pleas
ants are The natural enemies of the quails
and kill or drive them from their native
haunts. Others say they do not afford
good shooting, while others still speak
highly of them as game bird. But, as it
will not require more than few weeks in
which to get reliable information on the
subject, itwonld be well for the Commits
sioners to inquire into the matter.
Another thing the Board should en-
deavor to do, and that is. introduce some
of the choice song birds of the Eastern
States Our native bird families do not
include many Of the warbling species, and
if the latter can be successfully introduced
they would give great pleasure to all classes
of people. The great mountain chains that
divide this continent from north to south
with their perpetual belts of snow, as well
as the great deserts to the southeast OF US
have proved insurmountable barriers to the
migration Of both song and game birds; but
there is no reason to suppose that any or all
of the species would not thrive and multi
ply in the glorious climate of California