ISAAC W. BERNHEIM FOUNDATION, INC. 
 
 
Clermont, Ky.                                   September 20, 1929. 
 
 
Mr. Aldo Leopold, In Charge. 
Game Survey, 
421 Chemistry Bldg., 
Vniversity of Wisconsin, 
Madison, Wis. 
 
Dear Mr. Leopold: 
 
                 Thank you very much for your letter of the 5th 
re our game problems here. I have not answered it before, as I 
have been going over numerous bulletins on the subject, inclu- 
ding Stoddard's preliminary report( 1925-1926). 
 
                 To answer some of your specific questions- The 
ruffed grouse was originally native here, according to the na- 
tives, but has been killed out by indiscriminate shooting both 
in and out of season, and by annual and severe forest fires. To 
my knowledge there are none left in this region. Pheasant- both 
native and ring-neck- are represented by a few isolated birds, 
whicn, are evidently left from birds released in the vicinity a 
few years ago by one of the residents. I question if the pheas- 
ant was ever numerous here, and I have not recommended its intro- 
duction. I should apprecte any information you can give me on 
the ruffed grouse. I know that it is subject to an apparent epi- 
demic of an intestinal trouble, but the cause and control I am 
ignorant of. 
 
                I have submitted a preliminary report on game 
goods and stocking to the directors, in which I recommended the 
introduction of ruffed grouse and wild turkey, and of deer and 
black bear. I also stated that, in my opinion, there was no need 
at present, of planting additional game bird foods, since there 
was an abundant supply on the forest at present, blt that our 
problem was one in forest mana6emeqt- in so regulating our land 
use that we insured the retention of open and semi-open areas 
scattered thruout the area of the preserve, and the growt) of 
the present food plants. I also stressed the necessity of pred- 
ator contrdl- and of a preliminary biological survey of the whole 
tract by a competent naturalist familiar witn the flora and fauna 
if Kentucky. I would appreciate your suggestions on a man qual- 
ified and available to make such a survey for us. I have also 
written the University of Kentucky for sagestions. 
 
                  In regard to -our question on the possibility 
 of the Foundation engaging in game research, I assure you that 
 as far as I plersonally am concerned, I shall do all I can to 
 get such a program approved by the directors. I have already 
 recommended , in my "Report on a Program of Development", that

 the Foundation make one of its primary functions the practice of 
 research in all phases of forest practice-;hich would surely in- 
 clude Fame research. I feel that in the line of research, pro- 
 perly conducted, would lie,perhaps, the greatest benefit :f the 
 Foundation. There is to oe a meeting of the corporation in 
 Louisville on October 4h, and at that time I hope that we can