The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-06
California Legislature Will Be
Asked to Pass Strict Law
on Subject.
RAISING GAME FOWL ON
FARMS GREAT INDUSTRY
Good Profit Realized From
/. Hatching of wild" Ducks
for Market.

The handwriting on the wall indi-
Gates that efforts will be made at the
coming session Of the California legis-
lature to prohibit the sale of wild
ducks. This movement has a strong
support in the ranks OF the sportsmen
| throughout California, and will no doubt
| have an equally strong negative sup
port. The principal reason for the in
| PRODUCTION of the proposed change in
the law is to cut out the game exter-
minating rapacity of the market hunter,
who is regarded as destroyer and a
| non-producer. Numerous other states
have added the non-sale clause to their
game statutes, with, it is claimed, much
benefit.
In many eastern states the industry
Of selling wild fowl raised on game
farms is profitable and growing one.
Both upland game birds and water
fowls are sold. The business is carried
on in certain regular lines directed by
substitution of wild birds and under
penalties exact an observance of the
laws as prescribed. This industry is a
we'll received substitute for the non
sale of game birds.
To start a wild fowl farm the first
essential is to get Your wild ducks for
breeding purposes. This is done in the
birds. In California and Utah live NAL
lards are used as decoys by many gun
clubs, and live geese also by goose
hunters. Most of these birds were
wounded and disabled, picked up and
taken care of until they became we'll
again.
Capture Crippled Ducks.
Numerous birds are crippled in the
wing only every season by hunters. In
many instances they are captured, the
mutilatod portion of the wing ampu-
given their liberty, being turned loose
with flock of dark plumaged tame
ducks.
They sometimes wander away, but
usually take kindly to their new com
rades and adnnt themselves to the ways
of domestic ducks When tho laying
season is on. the tame brakes are re-
broods arc one.half wild blood, The
year following tho wild brakes are
mated with the half-wild ducks, the
prooeny resulting being three-fourths
wild duck. BY following this system up
to the fifth season there is but slight
trace of the tame blood left. The wild
nature and habits are now distinctly
tho experience of those who have tried
it.
They ill feed in the carly twilight
of morning and evening, spending the
day in swimming, diving and pudding
in the water along the pond shores,
and taking shelter during the heated
portion of the day in the brambles and
bushes.
On one poultry ranch near Marine,
ILL.,, these domesticated wild ducks are
raised in great numbers. They are
Matched in immense incubators and
kept warm during tho carly spring
months in hot water brooder houses.
Later on they are placed in runs sup
piled with growing lettuce, grass and
concrete swimming pools in the runs
are cIeansed and reflled daily. These
birds are much more vigorous and
healthy than tame ducks. They are
also more prolific. Fifty ducks mated
with ten brakes Will. during the lay
ing season, produce from 5000 to 1000
eggs. with an exceedingly high per-
being thin as waters, the ducklings,
about the twenty seventh day, burst
out of the shells as easily as moon
flowers open up.
The wild ducks, which have for ages
past been battling with the elements
and fighting for living, thrive under
these conditions. These domestcated
wild ducks arc marketed at the age
of from six to eight weeks, when they
weigh from two to three pounds.
When killed they are neithor bled,
picked nor drawn. They are held in
cold storage at temperature Of so
degrees for twelve hours, then packed
in ice and shipped in barrels to hotels,
restaurants and clubs in the cities.
This rather new industry gives the
man who does not shoot chance to-
enjoy dinner on what used to be
''wild duck" without fear of prosecu
tion for an infractiop Of the law. With
the markets thus supplied with edo
mesticated wild ducks. pigeon squad
equals" and guinea hen grouse and
fpheasaDts," " the man who cannot hunt
wild fowl but likes TO have the game
laws made lax $50 that he can get
some birds to eat.' will have little
room to score the customary kick. as
he cannot tell the real from the imi
tatiou-uuless, perhaps, the pure food
law may require the hotel or restau.
rant men TO correctly label tho ''wild
game" on the bill Of fare,