Imperial Valley press., 1921-10-14
GOVERNMENT
REQUESTED
CLEAN OUT
DUCKS
Wild Fowl in Countless Mum
bers Denuding Grain
Fields of Valley Since
Shooting Prohibited

c. W. Brown of Calipatria, chair
man of the duck control committee of
Imperial County Farm Bureau has
written letter to Senator Hiram w.
johnson requesting him to present La
case of Imperial Valley farmers to
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace ex-
planning the situation caused by the
myrlads of ducks which winter each
year in the valley. In his letter which
is full of interest to all grain and
alfalfa growers Mr.. Brown states:
Ever since grain crops were first
sown in Imperial Valley ranchers have
suffered serious losses from damage
done by wild ducks. These damages
have amounted to many thousands OF
dollars annually and are serious and
often disastrous losses to the individ-
uas on whom they fall.
Until recently there has been a
fair amount of protection to the ranch
ers by night shooting, but since the
biological survey has begun he en-
forcement of the provision of the mi
gratory bird treaty act and its regula-
tions, even this slight protection has
been removed. In general farmers
here admit the wisdom of protecting
ducks, but firmly believe that they like
wise are entitled to consideration
perts from the biological survey have
advised us that the automatic acety.
lene exploder is the most satisfactory
method that has yet been devised in
others parts of the country for keep
ing ducks from the fields. Conditions
in Imperial Valley are not in all re-
spects like those in other localities and
on account of these differences we feel
that We merit special consideration
here, and accordingly we are asking
Senator Hiram w. johnson to lay the
matter before you and request that
you assist us in securing the needed
relief.
"Salton Sea. located in the north
west corner Of Imperial Valley, is a
day time resting place for countless
myriads of ducks that winter in tl4
region. Since there is neither fooC
nor fresh water for the birds there.
nor yet at any place except on tho
tivated fields of ranchers of the val
ley, they have to feed on our crops.
1t is not alone the actual amount of
grain which they consume that does
the damage, %ut their habit of "pud-
ding" the wet, heavy clay soils which
in this region of hot sun and drying
winds results in the land drying into
veritable cement, which damages con
sequently not only the immediate crop
but to a certain extent, succeeding
crops, particularly in the case of per-
ennial crops, such as alfalfa, which
they especially attack.
when ducks feed in small flocks
! over large areas they do comparative
ly little damage, but quite frequently
they congregate in countless numbers
on certain fields and if undisturbed alb
solutely ruin crop sometimes ever
before the farmer knows of theii'
presence.
"The biological survey has pointed
out to US that the automatic acetylene
exploder is the most effective means
yet found for protection of fields
against ducks. This is a patented de-
vice which sells at $35 and protects
about 40 acres each. Accordingly it
would be necessary for every grain
growers in Imperial Valley to pur-
chase one or more Of these depending
on his acreage, and operate them con-
tinuously from September to May. The
margin of profit in grain is so small
that many grain growers feel unable
to do this. Mr.. Ernest P. Walker of
the biological survey and f. l.. Garth
waite the county agent, succeeded in
getting the distributor for this ex-
ploder to come to Imperial Valley and
and give demonstrations. These dem
onstrations were largely attended, and
the general opinion may be summed
up in the expression Of one rancher
who said, We'll, if the government
wants to protect these ducks for the