The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
POISONED GRAIN
 FOR THE GEESE AND DUCKS

The long-expected heavy rain which ar- rived in Suisun to save the crops has put an end to duck-Shooting on the marshes, but as it has done an immense amount of good to the country sportsmen have been as delighted with it's arrival as the men who depend solely upon a good wheat crop to tide them through the season.
 Latest advices from Stockton are to the effect that the farmers who reside near the river have been soaking their wheat in poison, and as a consequence thou sands of wild geese die on the fields.
 The following letter to the sporting edi- tor from Stockton is self-explanatory:
 Wild geese are here in thousands, and are remaining along the sloughS and riv- CTS so long this year that they have be- come dangerous pest. They are nipping the young wheat to a great extent, and the farmers are becoming alarmed that they are soaking wheat in strychnine and throwing it over the fields. Dead geese are lying around in profusion, but for every one killed ten more seem to come"
 The Sacramento Record-Union recently published very instructive article on the danger of casting out poisoned wheat, and there is no doubt that Game Warden Helms will try his utmost to stop the practice if possible. The article in Ques- tion reads:
 II IS nlgh time that something was done to put stop to the indiscriminate scattering of poisoned grain for the purpose of killing birds. If the poison was to be confined to birds that remained in particular fields it would not be so bad. for land owners might prohibit persons from invading their prop erty and shooting game that had eaten pois- oned grain, or if anyone should trespass it would be at his peril
 But the trouble is that birds here to- day and somewhere else tomorrow. They may eat poisoned grain in one end of the county and be shot miles away, thus endangering the lives of those who eat them.
 Game Warden Helms went out to locality about six miles south of Folsom to investigate report that the ground was covered with dead doves that had been poisoned. He found about 2500 of these birds scattered about, all dead as reported
 Helms found that the poison had been put out by farmer named Daniel Faukenheir. The latter, when called on, admitted that he had put out wheat soaked in strychnine to kill the e, birds that ate his growing I grain: ,,. to District Attorney Ryan, and the latter could find no law governing the case. There killing or destruction of certain species of birds. including doves. between specified dates. the 18th of February, that after that date any one can be prosecuted and punished for poisoning otherwise killing doves
 Warden Helms subsequently, conferred with Supervisor Morrison on the subject, and MT. Morrison declared his intention of introducing ordinance at the first meeting of the board making it punishable offense for any one to put out poison where wild game Is liable to get it.
 Hunters in the vicinity of Stockton, and especially market hunters, should be care- full not to pick up any dead birds they may find in the grain fields, otherwise there may follow no end of trouble.
 The season for killing wild ducks and quail is drawing to a close, and as the hills are now in splendid condition for neither limb exercise, doubtless large numbers of the lovers of quail-shooting will take advantage of the few weeks that remain of an open season to bag a few birds.
 The Olympic Gun Club will give a first class entertainment on Monday evening at Native Sons Hall. AS there will not be any seats reserved, pleasure-seeke must go early. First-class talent has been secured for this occasion.