1902 – A group of San Francisco businessmen starts the Empire Gun Club on what is now Hummingbird Island (map). They encourage preferred breeds of ducks by creating freshwater ponds and scattering feed.

The Empire Gun Club lodge.

This map shows two of the freshwater ponds created and maintained by the Gun Club: the cloverleaf shape at lower right, and the oblong shape above it.
(Click here to see the full map in a new window.

1904 - Oysters are planted in the slough by two of the Vierra brothers. Heavy harvesting takes place in the '20s and '30s.

1905 – J. Henry Meyer (above), one of the founding members of the Empire Gun Club, buys 220 acres of adjoining lands to start his own hunting club.

1908 - Local residents redirect the Salinas River through a new opening into the bay south of Moss Landing.