Introduction

Next to San Francisco and the East Bay lies the Suisun Marsh, the largest wetland of its kind in the nation. Its survival as wildlife habitat despite century-Iong pressures of industry , agriculture, and population is almost miraculous. Most of the credit belongs to the peculiar societies of duck hunters that emerged there, unusual bands of unusual men whose fierce love for the marsh, despite their own occasional in-fighting, has repulsed all "developers."

In a combination of careful archival research and analysis, philosophical musings, and short (and some tall) tales, Anthony Arnold uses a lively style to show us the past and present of this unique wetland and its occupants. Through it all shines his love of hunting, of the marsh, and of the wild things that live there.

Tony Arnold first hunted the Suisun Marsh as a boy in 1940 but only returned to stay in California after retiring from government service in 1979. He is active in the California Waterfowl Association and has also written books on Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union. He has seen and hunted many fine marshes around the world, but, he says, "Suisun is special." This book shows why.

It gives me the greatest pleasure to endorse wholeheartedly Tony Arnold's latest book. Of the several dozen books on hunting in my library, many of them on duck shooting and marsh preservation and management, this volume is in my opinion far the most noteworthy.

Tony's detailed research, particularly on the fascinating long- ago Suisun history, his wealth of anecdotes, statistical exhibits, photos, and gripping accounts of early days on the marsh, are features that ~ hunters (not just Suisun Californians) should treasure.

I happily recommend this book to hunters and to wildlife enthusiasts wherever they may be!

N. B. (Ike) Livermore, Governor Reagan's Secretary of Resources (1967-1974); President of Governor Brown's California Fish and Game Commission 1980-1984.