The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-12-18

| " IdlSc SdIue girls, SUCH DIS pAeaSetAIo,
cartridges, wild turkeys, etc, with
| which to stock the covers of the state.
The new game farm is situated near
Haywood, on the east side OF San
Francisco bay, and about ten miles
south of Oakland.
1t is an ideal location. being so near
the bay that it has the full benefit
of the healthful bay breezes. The
winters are mild and the summers
cool, consequently the conditions are
favorable for the breeding OF young
fowl.
1t is the intention of the California
State Game and Fish Commission, I'M
der whose management the game farm
is carried on, ultimately to raise game
folws for the use of the farmers of
the state, SO that the latter may raise
them for commercial purposes. With
plenty OF breeding stock and a modifi-
cation OF the state game laws, the
farmers of California, 1t is thought,
will be able to go into the business
with excellent prospects of success.
1t is also the intention of the COM
mission to breed the more attractive
species of song birds, to the end that
In time all the forests, meadows and
pasture lands of the state may be
peopled with merry songsters and the
air be made melodious with their vo-
cal music. In taking this step Cali
fornia is only following the example
OF the many Eastern states, which
within the last few years have estab-
lished game bird farms, notably New
Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois, all
of which have been eminently success
full.
California has a chance of making
even a greater success than any of her
Eastern sisters by reason of her ex-
ceptional climate, which, on account
of its mildness and evenness of tenn
perature throughout the year, does
not impose upon the feathered tribe
the necessity Of annual migration.
The California state game bird farm
consists Of forty acres, but it is the
intention of the Fish and Game Com
mission to secure larger tract of adj
Joining land in the near future, and
thus be enabled to produce birds in
number Commensurate with the size
of the state
The buildings thus far completed on
the farm embrace a superintendent
residence, barn and water tank, with
inclosed base for storage purposes. A
gasolene engine is used for pumping
quantities, and of absolute purity, by
sinking wells in the vicinity.
AS for the game birds, California
has wild ducks, quail, geese, doves,
plovers. ETC., but no pheasants to
speak of; and for the last named bird
the season has always been closed. A
few of the species has been imported
and turned out in Ventura county, in
the southern part of the state. These
birds did well and are part of Cali
fornia's coming stock of game fowls.
They increase very rapidly in our
climate, and it will not be long before
an open season will be feasible.
j. A. Argabrite has been appointed
superintendent of the bird farm, and
the appointment was evidently wise
one. for Mr.. Argabrite has been an
enthusiastic bird fancier from his
youth. He knows the habits of the
fowls, and is able to breed them with
the least possible loss.
Mr.. Argabrite gives it as his opin-
ion that the Hungarian cartridges and
pheasants will become the leading
game birls of California. These birds
are imported direct from Hungary. A
number were turned loose last year,
and they did much better than was |
expected.
At the state bird farm four varieties
Of Hungarian pheasants will be bred at
first. At the same time Hungarian
Bow White partridges or
quail and wild turkeys will be bred. |
This year between four thousand and |
eight thousand young birds will be
liberated from the farm in punches of
fifty to one hundred each.
No birds will be given out until the |
covers have been inspected |
by a competent person and the appli-
,ants for the birds pledge themselves
10 take the best of care of the fowls
md to make business of trapping all
wild animals that would be liekly to
nolest them.
All parts of the state will be treated
alike in the distribution of the young
n. Among the applicants is big
larry concern owning a ranch of 1000
acres at Novoto, Marin county. Be-
sides a regular dairy business, this
concern operates a cheese factory, and
AZ. alr .-o,r.- 10 |