The record-union., 1892-10-24
BRING BACK THE WILDFOWL.
1t May Be Done by Introducing Wild
Rice and Bass.
A Correspondent Writes on the Wild
Rice Subject-Black Bass the
Carp's Enemy.

On the subject of growing wild rice in
the ponds and sloughs which the carp have
despoiled of the natural food for wild
ducks, a correspondent in this city writes: ::
EDS. RECORD UNION Some time ago / no
ticed an article in your paper relating 10
plan TO provide food Tor wildfowl. 1t was
stated that the eat sh and carp had driven
wild ducks away b. eating the food of the lat
ter. The article recommended the sowing OF
wild rice (Zizdntd dqtldticd) In our ponds ana
tule. This plant is an annual, which sows IL
self in the fall, about the first OF September,
and lies dormant through the winter until th2
warm spring calls it 10 life. 1t is rapid
grower, reaching the surface OF the water ID
May, and is ripe in August. 1t should be sown
broadcast from boat, in from one 10 eight
feet OF water, before frost or ice sets IN. VI
course a good mud bottom is required. II
may be planted in the spring, but succeeds
best If planted in the fall.
AS an attraction for wildfowl it cannot be
equaled; It also purifes the water; put II
those who think that by planting it they
would be FEEDING the fowl and not the hsh,
they are mistaken. 1t will afford refuge for
small fish from the large, as well as feeding
them. The fish eat the dIlintdJcttP on its
stalks, therefore for planting in fish ponds 1t
Is very desirable.
1t also does well on shore although strictly
water plant close TO streams of water, and
makes good hay OF which cattle are very
fond. Two crops could be cut for hay in the
mild climate OF this part of the State. The
seed is worth about So per bushel OF fifteen
pounds. "QUACK."
We are pleased to know that at least one
person has taken sufficient interest in the
matter to express his views on the sub
Ject. His suggestion that, while provid-
ing an attractive food for wild ducks, the
wild rice would also be food for the
fishes should not deter anyone from try
ing the experiment, because the fishes
might not devour all the rice to which
they had access, and while feeding on it
the other duck food might be spared.
However, there are ponds and sloughs
which have not been invaded by the
worthless and voracious carp and which
may escape their baneful presence in the
future, and in these places, as well as on
the bottom lands referred to by our corre-
spondent, the experiment of growing
wild rice should be given fair trial.
Even in the tule basins, where the gun
clubs have preserves, it should be freely
sown, in the hope that it might spread
and increase beyond the power of the
carp to eradicate it If they do not try it,
it will be only matter of time when
there will be very little duck-shooting
along the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers.
Some months ago another correspond
ent of the RECoRD-UNIoN gave it as his
opinion, based on long experience with
the black bass, that the introduction of
this species of fish on a liberal scale
would soon have the effect of clearing out
the carp. Beside being the enemy of the
carp, the black bass is one of the finest
food fishes, and one of the gamiest known
indeed, they furnish about as exciting
sport for the angler as the front.
A former board of State Fish Commits
sioners committed the objectionable
blunder of introducing the good-for-
nothing carp, wherefore the present
board should use its influence with the
Legislature to procure sufficient appro-
priation to provide for a bountiful plant
of black bass for the streams and ponds
of the valleys, in the hope that the worth
less scavengers that now swarm therein
may be eradicated.
The determination of the carp and
restoration of the food for wildfowl
should also interest the farmers, as well
as the sportsmen, as the ducks are now
driven, in the early spring, to feed upon
the young grain. As they migrate to the
north every season they stop over in the
valleys for few weeks to rest and feed,
and the less food they find in their natu-
raj haunts along the river bottoms and
tule swamps, the greater the attraction of
the succulent young grain. Ii they found
sufficient food in the ponds, the birds
would not pay so much attention to the
wheat fields.
The farmers, who have complained of
late years OF the depredations by wild
fowl, should heartily second any efforts
that may be made by the sportsmen of
the State to eradicate the carp and pro-
vide food for the ducks in the over
flowed sections.
1t might not be amiss also for the Leg
islature to extend the open season for
Understanding from March Ist to the 18th,
if not the 1st of April. The migratory
ducks are here in great numbers in
March, while those that breed hereabouts
do not pair off before April lst. AS the
law now stands, sportsmen complain that
they are deprived of considerable sport,
which is not counterbalanced by such
protection as is afforded the ducks.