Important Changes in Game Laws Effective September 1st

ON and after September 1st, new game laws and regulations will be in effect. The old laws and regulations should not be followed after that date.

The Commission has held several meetings this summer and have fixed the new regulations which are found on page 15. These regulations will supplement the laws that are found in this article and will be effective to September 1, 1938, when new regulations will ro into effect for the next year.

The following gives the sections of the old law that have been amended, while section 19 is a new one:

Section 1. That Section 37-101, C. S. Supp. 1933, be amended to read as follows:

37-101. As used in this Act, unless otherwise specified or plainly intended, the word "game" shall include all game fish, game animals, fur bearing animals, game birds, and all other birds and creatures protected by this Act; the term "game fish" shall include all fish except buffalo, carp, quillback, suckers, gars and squaw fish; the term "game animals" shall include all buffalo, deer, antelope, elk, squirrels, cottontail rabbits, opossums, and raccoons; the term "fur-bearing animals" shall include all beaver, muskrat, mink, otter, fox, opossum, woodchuck, raccoon, badger, and martens; the term "game birds" shall include all waterfowl, ducks, geese, snipe, cranes, swans, coot, quail, plover, pheasants, grouse, prairie chickens, wild turkey, curlew, dove, and partridge; the words "herein" and "hereof" refer to this entire Act; the words "person", "owner", "proprietor", "grantee", "lessee", or "licensee" means individuals, co-partnerships, associations, corporations and municipalities; the word "board" and the word "commission" each mean the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission; and the word "officer" includes every person authorized to enforce this Act. Whenever the possession, use, importation, storage, taxidermy for millinery purposes, sale, offering or exposing for sale of fish or game, song, insectivorous or other birds is prohibited or restricted, the prohibition or restriction when not specifically stated to be otherwise, shall mean every part of such fish or game, song, insectivorous or other birds.

Sec. 2. That Section 37-201, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-201. For the purpose of supplying revenue for the propagation, importation, distribution, protection and conservation of the wildlife of this state including all wild animals, birds, fish and all things pertaining thereto, every person sixteen or older, who hunt for game animals or game birds or angles for fish, and every person who traps for fur-bearing animals shall first pay a tax as herein required and obtain a permit.

Sec. 3. That Section 37-211, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-211. Permits for the purchase and sale of raw furs may be issued to dealers therein. The fee for this permit shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00) per annum for residents and Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per annum for non-residents. Dealers sending buyers into the field away from their place of business will provide each such buyer with a separate permit. Each and every buyer entering the state shall carry a non-resident permit. Each and every buyer, both resident and non-resident, shall keep complete records of all furs bought or sold in a record book to be provided by the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. Such book shall be open to inspection by conservation officers at any and all times. Any violation of any provision herein shall constitute a misdemeanor and subject the offender to a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars.

Sec. 4. That Section 37-213, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-213. Unless holding a permit as in this Act required it shall be unlawful for any person to trap or otherwise take or attempt to take any fur-bearing animal or for any person sixteen years old or older to hunt for, kill, shoot at, pursue, take or possess any kind of game birds or game animals, or to take, angle for, or attempt to take any kind of fish from the waters of this state or possess same; it shall also be unlawful for any one to do or attempt to do any other thing for which a permit is herein provided without first obtaining such permit and paying the tax required. Any violation of this provision shall constitute a misdemeanor and subject the offender to a fine of not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) nor more than Fifteen Dollars ($15.00), except for trapping in violation of this section for which the punishment shall be a fine of from Five Dollars ($5.00) to Five Hundred. Dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both fine and imprisonment.

Sec. 5. That Section 37-301, C. S. Supp. 1933, be amended to read as follows:

37-301. The Commission is hereby authorized and empowered, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and in accordance with other provisions of law and lawful regulations, to fix, prescribe and publish regulations as to open seasons and closed seasons, either permanent or temporary, and as to bag limits for the taking, killing, hunting or pursuing of any particular kind or species or sizes of game, game fish, game animals, fur-bearing animals and game birds defined in this Act, in any designated waters or areas of this state, after due investigation and having due regard to the distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits, migratory habits and causes of depletion or extermination of the same in such designated waters or areas and having due regard to the volume of hunting, trapping and fishing practiced therein and climatic, seasonal and other conditions affecting the protection, preservation and propagation of the same in such waters or areas. Such regulations may be amended, modified or repealed from time to time subject to the above limitations and standards; such regulations and all amendments, modifications and repeals, thereof shall be based upon investigation and available, reliable data relative to the above limitations and standards. Each regulation and each amendment, modification or repeal thereof, when made and issued, shall be placed on file in the office of the Commission and a certified copy thereof shall be sent by registered mail to the clerk and sheriff of each county the whole or any part of which is affected thereby not less than fifteen days before the taking effect of such order and shall immediately be posted by each sheriff and each clerk receiving such copy in a conspicuous place in the office of each such

Permits Commission to fix open seasons, bag and size limits.

Prohibits shco'.ing game from an automobile or other vehicle.

Prohibits baiting of game birds.

Provides heavy penalty for clubbing, netting or trapping game birds.

Makes the possession of seines, fish traps or devices illegal and subject to fine.

Requires non-resident raw fur buyers to get a non-resident buyer's permit, fee of which is $25.09.

Takes the European starling and bronzed grackle off the protected list of birds.

Puts the Red-shouldered hawk, sparrow hawk and pigeon hawk on the protected list.

Lowers certain fines and clarifies many administrative defects in the game code.

Nebraska Game Farm Now in Production

NEBRASKA now has a game farm in operation, and if the experience during the last three months is a criterion, then the farm should be a decided success.

The present farm is located on Highway No. 81, near Madison, Nebraska, on property formerly known as "The Nebraska Fur Farm". This was a private farm engaged in the raising of furbearers, but it failed to succeed. The Commission has leased the farm for the present time, but will no doubt purchase a tract elsewhere later as the farm continues to develop.

Mr. Dale Halbert, who has been employed by the Commission for a number of years, is in charge of the farm. He was given a course of study during the past year and allowed to visit and study the game farms of several other states. Nebraska is following the system worked out by the State of Wisconsin and has been greatly aided by the officials of that state.

The farm was started early in April, 1937, and already several thousand birds are in the pens. The Ring-neck Pheasant, Black-neck Pheasant, Chukar Partridge and Bob-White Quail will be raised.

One of the birds, the Chukar Partridge, is a newcomer to Nebraska. Several hundred of these are now on the farm, all of which will be held over for breeders. The male pheasants will be released this fall, while the hens will be kept for breeding purposes. It is planned to mate these hens with wild cocks that are trapped.

The Chukar gives promise of becoming an excellent game bird. Heretofore the Nebraska Commission has stocked the Hungarian Partridge, but for some reason as yet unknown they have not done well in the Cornhusker state. The Hungarian has increased in Montana, North Dakota and elsewhere, but has not adapted himself to Nebraska environs.

The Chukar can stand a great deal of dry, hot weather, as well as severe winters. He does not require much food and thrives in open country, especially in the higher altitudes. From all accounts, they should do well in western Nebraska.

The breeding system followed on the Nebraska farm is by the use of incubators and electric brooders; only a few foster mothers will be used, the eggs being placed in incubators as laid.

It is quite likely that pheasants will be released when about sixteen to twenty weeks old. It has been found that this gives the bird a chance to adapt himself to his new surroundings before winter comes, and then the cost of feeding and care is greatly reduced.

Only a few Bob-White Quail are being raised and mostly for experimental purposes. If success is had with them, however, it is possible that some will be released later.

It is the plan of the Nebraska Commission to release pheasants in those counties where they have become scarce, and particularly where it is believed new blood is needed. The Black-neck Pheasant has been popular in some states and these will be given a trial in Nebraska.

Visitors are allowed at the farm on Sundays and Wednesdays of each week. Already several thousand people have called. Besides the birds being raised, there are a number of pens of other birds for exhibition.

Take chalk line pieces about 10 feet long, use copper leads and about a No. 15 hook. Get tough, bloody beef neck, add equal parts of anise oil and asafetido, put a few drops on bait. It is best to set it twice a day, morning and night, and let in all day and night. If turtles are out in deep water, take planks and make a float about three feet square, cut a hole in center of plank about four inches square and put in bait, tack screen on both sides so they cannot get it, and nail hooks about six inches apart around the plank; they will crawl up on top and get caught on hooks when they try to get off.

Turtles can be cleaned raw, or after being dropped into scalding water. Cut off the head, run a knife around the edges of the skin where it joins the shell, pull the skin back to the feet, which are cut off. The shell is removed by cutting the under parts which attach it to the body. Next disembowel, and the meat can be readily taken from the carapace.

Turtles lay their eggs in sand; lizards hide them in holes or stumps or decayed logs; snakes bury theirs in decaying vegetation, and alligators build nests of the same material in which they hide their eggs. The latter, by the way, are said to be the only reptiles that take any interest in their young after they are hatched.

In cleaning a turtle, always cut him out of the shell first so he cannot kick.

Taking an eel off the hook: Give the eel a little tap with a switch about the middle of the back. This does not kill the eel, but stuns it so that it will lie real quiet while the hook is taken from its mouth.

Eels: Use about a No. 1 hook, when fishing for eels and fish in deep water. Bait with a worm or piece of fish or any kind of raw meat. They can be caught at night if it is dark, but not when lightning, or you must not build a fire. If you catch a two-pound eel one of these days, I dare you to try to hold him with your bare hands.

Loup River Power Project to Offer Good Fishing

WATER lovers in the territory surrounding Columbus will soon discover the presence of some very attractive recreational spots incident to the construction of the hydro-electric project of the PWA-financed Loup River Public Power District. While the canal is approximately 35 miles long, nevertheless, the flow is broken by structures so that the water can be pretty fairly divided and described in five component parts.

The desilting basin is located about five miles southwest of Genoa, south of the Union Pacific Spalding branch and south of State Highway No. 22. Rectangular in shape, it is approximately two miles long and 300 feet wide. By means of a low diversion dam, the Loup River will discharge into it through radial gates from the low water stage up to 3000 cubic feet per second. The depth will be about 16 feet. Fish can pass in or out through the gates. During flood periods, the Loup carries a large percentage of sedimentation. As this dirty water enters the basin, its flow will be retarded and the silt will consequently be deposited on the bottom, very much after the manner of non-soluble material in a medicine bottle dropping to the bottom when set down after shaking. A dredge, electrically-operated, will suck the silt from the bottom and discharge it up the south bank into a concrete flume, from whence it will flow back into the river. At the lower end of the basin, a skimming weir has been constructed to take off the top clear layer of water, dropping it a few feet into the canal proper. Consequently, fish can go down this fall from the desilting basin but not up.

The canal from this point to the Monroe Power House, is a distance of approximately 11 miles. This will flow by gravity, passing under numerous highway and farm bridges, by siphons under Beaver Creek, the Union Pacific tracks and Looking Glass Creek. The gradient of the canal is only about three inches to the mile for the purpose of preventing a speedy current and resulting erosion of the banks. The water travels at the rate of two and one-quarter feet per second, or about two miles per hour. At the Monroe Power House, a stream flow plant, with a 32-foot average drop, the water is harnessed by three turbines, developing approximately 10,000 horse-power. Trash racks with two and one-quarter inch mesh screens are installed upstream from the entrance, which means that large fish will stop at this point. It is a possibility for fish small enough to pass the trash racks to go down through the machinery and live. They can not, of course, go up the water fall. At the present time, the carp-canning industry in this section of the country has not reached the stage justifying erection of fish elevators such as are being installed in the Bonneville project on the Columbia River for the salmon.

From the Monroe Power House to the Reservoir, 11 miles. The water molecules will bob along this stretch under the Union Pacific Norfolk branch by a siphon and under a fine overhead structure on U. S. Highway 81, finally emptying into the regulating reservoir by means of a sawtooth concrete weir or drop structure.

Lake Babcock, named after H. E. Babcock, now deceased, the most prominent and persistent pioneer promoter of the project. This artificially-created reservoir is going to be quite a sizable body of water for this section of Nebraska. It is located three miles directly north of Columbus; will be one and one-quarter miles wide and about two miles long, with a straight line of water of nearly three miles; will be 25 feet at the deepest, with here and there a few small islands cropping up at low-water stage, and will have a shoreline of about seven miles, one mile of it a natural sloping grade and the balance an artificial dike, dirt and concrete. It is called a regulating reservoir because it serves to operate the Columbus Power House for "peak load" during the hours of approximately eight o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock at night, when the heaviest demand for electricity in Nebraska exists. In other words, the water will flow into the lake constantly 24 hours a day. But it will be shut off at the Columbus Power House from about ten o'clock at night until eight o'clock the next morning, when power is not needed so urgently by the customers of the district. This means that the water level will fluctuate approximately three feet during the 24-hour period, high in the morning and thence lowering gradually to the low stage in the evening.

The natural shoreline prompts the establishment of a bathing beach. The district directors have given it considerable attention, but they find themselves without funds for the purpose. The PWA financing countenanced only the production of electricity. The soil is, generally speak ings, clayish, and therefore it will be necessary to haul in sand in order to establish a suitable swimming resort. An unsuccessful application for funds for this purpose was made to the WPA. A concession to private capital may prove to be the solution, calling for a beach, bath and boat houses, refectory, etc. Undoubtedly, canoes, rowboats, motor boats, yachts and other craft will be observed on the waves in the not too far distant future. In fact, boating will be confined to the reservoir, as it would prove injurious to the banks of the canals and desilting basin.

One item worthy of mention in passing with regard to beating is the struggle which arose when the establishment of the reservoir made necessary the closing of the Sixth Principal Meridian Road. Farmers to the north objected strenuously, but the directors, upon advice of the engineers, resisted the pressure. The farmers wanted the road maintained across the water by meani of a bridge or a dike with bridge. The cost would have been in excess of $180,000, and would not have contributed anything to the efficiency of the system, in fact, would probably have detracted. While the idea was not even considered during the heat of the fray, nevertheless, the construction of the crossing would have cut the value of the lake in half from a recreational standpoint. Thus will sport-lovers enjoy the usufruct of a somewhat bitter civic struggle between town and squire.

Private individuals are applying for shoreline leases to construct summer homes. Organizations, including the Izaaki Walton League, are likewise asking for permits to occupy portions of the lake front. The Columbus Junior Chamber of; Commerce plans to hold a regatta this summer. But at the present writing, the Board of Directors has not formulated any definite policy that permits anything beyond the plan stage.

The canal from the reservoir to the power house is two miles long and virtually constitutes an extension of the reservoir itself. It is shut off at the Columbus Power House by means of lowering and raising of gates. The capacity of this canal is 4800 cubic feet per second. The

Retriever Trials Popular

WELL, why not?" That's the way it began. A group of hunting dog fanciers were sitting around doing plain and fancy tricks with their elbows when one of them said, "Retriever Trials are certainly growing in popularity with the loss of covey game and the increasing popularity of pheasant hunting."

"Why don't we have field trials in Nebraska?" said another. Well, why not? That was the beginning. We dug in, organized and as a result Nebraska had its first Retriever Trial last fall, the first Retriever Trial ever held west of the Mississippi.

The response of the Retriever fanciers and the general public was amazing. We just couldn't handle the crowds.

But all of that is past history. What of the future? The Missouri Valley Hunt Club has made all tl 2 necessary plans for a 1937 Retriever Trial that will surely make sporting dog history. Top dogs of the east, middle wesJ., and the west will meet in Omaha about October 9th and 10th for a tremendous trial. All of the retriever breeds will be represented. Golden, Flat and Curly Coated retrievers are little known here. A number of the outstanding kennels raising these breeds have promised to compete. A special prize will be given to the best Nebraska working retriever. There is much speculation now as to who will carry away this honor.

To those who are training for these trials—a word of advice—get your dog steady to shot, that is, be sure your dog does not dash forward to retrieve a shot bird until you tell him i.5, then let him go like the wind; have him use his nose, pick up with a well balanced carry, and come in with real "zip"; be sure he doesn't drop the bird when he gets to you, but holds it tender-mouthed until you take it. Have him retrieve from water and go out around wooden decoys. Be sure he won't chase rabbits, but will retrieve them. That's all there is to it. Don't forget that it's fun to win, but the real fun is in the running!

Spaniel enthusiasts will have their day afield too. The retriever goes from the handler's side to make the retrieve. The spaniel starts his retrieve from a point out in the field ahead of the handler. The spaniel works ahead of the gun, flushes the birds or rabbits and then stops immediately and stays there until ordered to continue questing, or to go forward and retrieve. The spaniel stops to flush, shot, whistle, or hand signals. Because of this difference in their hunting methods, spaniels (cockers and springers) do not work with the retrievers in trials. There will be a special Spaniel Trial at the same time the Retriever Trial is held.

There will be a Field Trial for Pointers this fall too, if the bird dog men are interested in one. It would be conducted at a different time and place however. Such a trial would be held on pheasants. The lack of covey birds is a real handicap to the bird dog men. The best solution seems to be a long range plan. The Missouri Valley Hunt Club is copying the very successful Northern States Trial Club plan of planting covey birds. We are planting this newcomer the "Chukar partridge". This is being done in cooperation with our State Game Commission, but at no expense to the Commission. We will use the Western-Winchester "club-game-farmer" cooperation plan. In bird dog trials the birds are not shot and therefore planted birds will furnish both sport and a foundation for restocking our state with covey birds.

That is the long range plan. It may take a number of years to develop trial grounds well stocked, but it can and will be done. From that start we hope the movement will spread to many other points throughout the state and eventually we will have covey bird shooting again. Obviously, the plan necessitates the cooperation of the sportsmen of Nebraska. Club memberships of $5.00 go for these purposes. The response so far has been most gratifying, but more members will speed the work.

In response to many inquiries on the work of dogs afield, the following glossary of sporting dogs may be of some help:

Labradors

Chesapeakes

Irish water spaniels

Flat and curly coats

Golden retriever

(For their work see above.)

Cockers

Springers

Clumbers

(WTork ahead of guns within gun range, flush both fur and feather and retrieve shot game to handler's hand from land and water.)

Pointers—Setters (Irish, English, Drathars, Griffons, German Short Hair)

(Work far out beyond the guns, cover wide territory in a fast manner, find, point, and by the point hold the birds until flushed by the handler or guns. Though they may be taught to retrieve, it is not a part of Field Trial rules.)

Motion pictures of retriever trials are available through the Missouri Valley Hunt Club by writing Dr. L. O. Hoffman, Secretary, Medical Arts Building, Omaha, Nebraska.

Nebraska Sportsmen, this is your Club. We want you to take a hand. If you have any questions, write us.

One part pennyroyal, two parts castor oil, three parts pine tar, or 1 ounce oil of citronella, 1 ounce spirits of camphor, V2 ounce oil of cedar.

EDITORIAL

Attention of all readers of Outdoor Nebraska is called to the new laws and regulations for hunting and fishing published in this issue.

It will be noted that hereafter the regular laws will be supplemented by regulations made by the Commission. All open seasons, size limits, daily and possession bags are now fixed by regulations.

These new laws go into effect August 16, 1937, and the regulations September 1, 1937.

All Nebraska hunters should be interested in Senate Bill No. 2670, now pending in the U. S. Senate. This legislation would give the several states aid through setting aside or earmarking excise taxes derived from the sale of guns and ammunition—taxes now being used for other purposes:

The wildlife resources of continental United States have shown a marked decrease in their populations due to a number of causes. The effects of drought, of floods, of soil erosion, the advance of civilization, the destruction of habitat, and the diminishing supply of foods for wildlife species have all played an important part in this depopulation. The increased number of men and women who enjoy the chase has been another factor.

The time has passed when conservation is the only remedy to apply to our dwindling wildlife species. Conservationists and technical research workers in wildlife problems have recommended for a number of years that restoration projects must be carried on if we are to bring back for the enjoyment of our people the wildlife species which once were so abundant in our forests, fields and waters.

The problems of wildlife are inescapably and inherently linked with the land. We must restore the environment for wildlife if we are to have more of it. We must give it a better place in which to live and multiply. A high authority said recently: "Birds can't nest on the wing nor can animals reproduce on the run." Restoration of wildlife and its preservation for all time is essentially a problem of land and water management Conservation of land areas naturally includes the conservation of our lakes and streams which are the habitat of our fresh-water fishes. Under the provisions of the Lacey Act, passed more than 30 years ago by Congress, and by virtue of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Federal Government is directed and concerned with the restoration and maintenance of those wildlife species which are declining in their populations.

The people of the several states are the proprietors of the wildlife within their borders, and the state, under its police power, has jurisdiction over it. The Federal Government, through the migratory character of certain species of waterfowl enumerated in the treaty with Great Britain, has jurisdiction over the perpetuation of ducks, geese, and other migrants. Only recently President Roosevelt promulgated a migratory bird treaty with Mexico which greatly enlarges our responsibilities in protection, preservation and restoration of these species.

The time has come when the Federal Government and the states must cooperatively engage in a broad program which will not only conserve our present-day limited supply of wildlife, but restore it to some semblance of its former-day abundance.

"The fight to conserve our big out-of-doors and its wildlife is a patriotic duty; increasing its area is an achievement for health and better citizenship," were true words spoken recently by former Senator Harry

Correlation of Water Conservation and Wildlife

WATER conservation and flood control are generally looked upon as purely engineering problems but they certainly can be handled in part by manipulation of the vegetative cover of the soil, and they have far wider than mere engineering interests. In the past few years there has been greatly increased attention to the solution of such problems, as well as a growing realization that some of them are of national as well as of local importance.

The biological side of flood control and general water conservation should not be overlooked in any program or in projects involving the expenditure of national funds, and it is this aspect of the situation that I would like to discuss in the time allotted to me. I am not going to deal with engineering problems in any way, but wish rather to call attention to certain biological phases of this matter which I believe have not yet been given sufficient prominence.

The needs of wildlife and its conservation are best served by holding rain near where it falls and by the maintenance of comparatively stable water levels. Floods are disastrous to small ground-inhabiting forms in the territory covered by the water. When high waters come in the nesting season of small birds—May, June or early July—they may destroy the entire season's production as well as a considerable portion of the adult birds. On numerous occasions I have found birds that had drowned on their nests rather than leave the newly hatched young or eggs on the point of hatching. Widespread floods, particularly those that come swiftly, may be catastrophes to the wildlife population as well as to human beings.

From the standpoint of wildlife conservation it is important that the control of water be started at its source. We feel that the whole national psychology in respect to water must be changed from what has prevailed before any appreciable progress can be made in the proper handling and utilization of this indispensable resource. Water is one of the two basic necessities of life that can be controlled in any degree by human activity. Soil, water, air and sunshine, as you all know, are the four elements from which living substance is created. Neither the sunshine nor the atmosphere can be appreciably changed by human activities at the present time, but soil and water can be handled either to the advantage or to the disadvantage of living things.

I believe that as a part of a water control and conservation program we must develop a new national psychology also with respect to land utilization. So far we have devoted our attention entirely to drainage and to the production of certain standard types of crops without any realization or appreciation of the fact that water and marsh areas may produce crops in an abundance and value as great or greater than those produced on agricultural lands. In the Rhone Valley in France, for example, certain areas of land are so managed that they can be used for agricultural purposes, either flooded or drained. Some of the farmers practice a definite rotation, producing water crops for a year or two and then following them with agricultural crops on the same land, leading the water into another field or pond. They produce, under these practices, ducks, fish, and other products requiring an abundance of water and find that the alternation is good agricultural practice. We have developed nothing comparable in this country, although the system would seem to have possibilities for some of our flood plains.

Biologists believe that from the standpoint of wildlife the most effective flood control and water conservation starts with soil conservation activities, the prevention of soil erosion by preservation of the vegetated ground cover, the slowing up of run-off and forcing into the soil as much water as can be held without waterlogging it. They believe that many of the lakes and marshes that have been drained should be restored and allowed to serve their natural functions as reservoirs which gradually lose their water by evaporation during the summer months or by seepage into the vital ground-water supply and are then capable of storing a certain quantity again when heavy rainfall recurs.

Stream straightening and deepening is destructive to all of the aquatic community of plants and animals which make it possible to grow a good crop of fishes, fur-bearers, and other water-loving forms of life valuable to the human family. Many thousands of dollars are now being spent on streams to restore obstructions which formerly retarded the water flow and which were destroyed by stream straightening works undertaken in order to solve the water problems for some individual or group of individuals, such as gaining a little more land to cultivate or land more desirable as being a little closer to the water's edge. Such activities may be of advantage to the individuals concerned but they are almost certain to create more serious problems for people who live farther down the stream.

It is the belief of biologists that water should be handled as a resource rather than as something to be gotten rid of as rapidly as possible. Water levels and water tables should be maintained. Lakes and marshes should be retained and made to produce fur, fish, and fowl, and recreational facilities on a much greater scale than are available to the inhabitants of many communities at the present time.

It is realized thoroughly by wildlife interests that some phases of water conservation and management, particularly the main stream control of floods, are primarily engineering problems, and that a program must be worked out to handle water no matter how valuable with the least possible damage along its course.

Wherever it is necessary to construct large reservoirs or storage dams which will regulate the flow of water, the most beneficial program which could be followed, from a wildlife standpoint, would be to create accessory small storage reservoirs. These might be maintained at relatively stable levels by the normal flow of the stream, or it would be possible to store or hold back in them such additional water as might be necessary. Most streams will undoubtedly require the construction of dams in order to provide the storage or retarding effect necessary. We believe, however, that instead of emptying them entirely these small storage areas could be planned and operated so as to provide water facilities and stabilized water levels of perennial value to wildlife without greatly increasing the cost.

Maintenance of small bodies of water, the more numerous the better, is one of the positive actions looking toward the creation of recreational facilities and wildlife values that can be made a part of any flood control program, and with the minimum of cost.

Biologists would like also to raise the question whether it would not be of greater ultimate value to the nation and of less expense to the public treasury to concede to the waters certain areas which are now being diked and leveed to make farm land available. A certain part of the flood plain of some rivers might well be reserved for a safety valve and levees

COMMISSION FIELD ACTIVITIES

Here Are the Hunting Seasons for 1937:

*DUCKS—Oct. 9 to Nov. 7—Daily Bag 10, Possession 10.

GEESE—Oct. 9 to Nov. 7—Daily Bag 5, Possession 5.

DOVES—Sept. 1 to Nov. 15—Daily Bag 10, Possession 10.

^PHEASANTS—Oct. 17 to Oct. 26—Daily Bag 5, Possession 5.

SQUIRRELS—Oct. 1 to Nov. 30—Daily Bag 7, Possession 7.

RACCOON—Nov. 1 to Feb. 1—Daily Bag 2, Possession 2.

RABBITS—Jan. 1 to Dec. 31—Daily Bag 5, Possession 5.

OPOSSUM—Nov. 1 to Feb. 1—Daily Bag 3, Possession 3.

SNIPE—Oct. 9 to Nov. 7—Daily Bag 15, Possession 15.

*Do not take Wood-Ducks, Canvas-Back, Red-Head, Ruddy or Buffle-Head ducks.

^Five male birds or three male and two hens may be taken.

NOTE: See inside of back cover of this magazine for full information on regulations.

Attention of all readers of OUTDOOR NEBRASKA is directed to the new regulations to be found on the inside of the back cover of this magazine.

These regulations go into effect September 1st and will probably remain in effect until the following September, although the Commission can amend them from time to time if deemed advisable.

These regulations govern all bag and possession limits, as well as open seasons on fish, game animals and fur-bsaring animals.

These regulations conform to the federal regulations in all except several cases where they are slightly more restrictive. If you follow these, you will not violate any federal laws or regulations.

The new law books with regulations of the Commission are now ready for distribution. You can obtain a copy free by writing the Secretary of the Commission at Lincoln.

The pheasant season this year will apply to all the state. The policy of opening certain counties will not be followed this year.

It is the belief of the Commission that the new policy will be much more satisfactory than the former arrangement. Hereafter areas that are short of birds will be stocked following the open season.

After observation and study of the pheasant situation, the Nebraska Game authorities are pretty well convinced that there are certain sections of the state that will never have a large number of birds, while in other sections they will thrive. This is caused by physical conditions and a shifting of the bird population due to food, water and cover conditions.

The regulations this year will permit the taking of two hens. This is believed to be a conservation measure, since experience in the past has brought to light the fact that too many hens were given away, or in some cases left in the fields.

The stocking of bullheads has been a serious problem for the Nebraska Game Commission this season.

Each year heretofore the Commission has been able to stock hundreds of thousands of these fish which were taken from certain sandhill lakes used for propagation. However, the drought of the last two years lowered the water in these lakes to such an extent that all the fish froze out during the winter of 1936-1937.

Efforts are now being made to raise the bullhead at several of the hatcheries and some are being purchased from nearby states. The Commission is making every effort to recover from this blow in the shortest possible time.

Though Nebraska has received considerable rainfall in most sections during the past several months, the sandhill lakes have not as yet been filled to any extent. These lakes are probably in as bad shape as they have ever been. It will take several years of heavy rainfall to fill them. Even then many of them may not hold water because of the drainage and shifting of sand that has taken place during the past two years.

Representatives of the Game Commissions of eight middle western states met at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 12th and 13th, where problems confronting them were discussed.

Reports from the duck-nesting states, principally the Dakotas, Minnesota and Nebraska indicated a greatly improved condition for game, especially waterfowl. Surveys recently made show many birds hatching in these states.

Frank B. O'Connell, Secretary of the Nebraska Game Commission, was elected president of the association for the coming year. Ernest Swift, deputy director of the Wisconsin Commission, was elected vice-president, while Charles MacFarlane, deputy commissioner of Minnesota, was chosen secretary-treasurer.

The next meeting will be held in Omaha early in the summer of 1938.

DUCK STAMPS SHOWING FIVE SCAUPS

The new 1937 Federal migratory bird hunting stamp showing 5 scaups "pitching in" near a feeding area went on sale today at U. S. postoffices. Every person more than 16 years of age who hunts migratory waterfowl is required to carry one of these stamps countersigned with his or her name.

Proceeds amounting to not less than 90 per cent of the sales, as provided by law, are turned over to the Biological Survey of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for establishing, maintaining, and administering migratory bird refuges. Each year a new stamp slightly larger than a special delivery stamp is issued and placed on sale at $1 each. Hundreds of stamp collectors and conservationists, in addition to waterfowl hunters, buy "duck stamps".

The design for the 1937 stamp is the work of J. D. Knap, New York City sportsman and artist. Three male and two female scaups, otherwise known as "broadbills" and "bluebill" are shown. The scene, which is typical of waterfowl feeding grounds along the Atlantic Coast, is of the Great South Bay, New York.

Mr. Knap's art work on the 1937 stamp, says the Biological Survey, means a continuation of the artistic value of the Federal hunting stamp series. The first stamp was based on a design by J. N. "Ding" Darling, formerly chief of the Survey. The second was supplied by Frank W. Benson, and the third by Richard E. Bishop, all well-known artists of waterfowl.

U. S. AREAS FOR BIG GAME

Ranging wide on more than five million acres in eleven big game refuges and preserves in seven states and Alaska, are thousands of buffalo, elk, deer, mountain sheep, muskoxen, antelope, and other wild animals protected and perpetuated under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. How they have fared under Federal protection was the subject of an address today (May 6) before the American Society of Mammologists meeting this week in Washington, by Stanley P. Young, chief of the Biological Survey's division of game management.

Although tracing the history and status of each area, Mr. Young discussed at length the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, in Oklahoma, first of these great game sanctuaries to be established. Set aside as a forest reserve in 1905, it was further designated a game preserve under administration of the Forest Service. In 1935, in recognition of its primary importance as a wildlife preserve and out-of-door laboratory for wildlife research, the Wichita area was transferred to the Survey for administration.

"On this refuge," said Mr. Young, "are herds of buffalo, elk, and white-tailed deer. The buffalo, gift of the New York Zoological Society, were put on the area in 1907, the animals forming the nucleus herd. It now includes some 300 animals. The first elk for this refuge were transferred from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1911. Others were added in 1912-13, from Jackson Hole and Yellowstone Park, so that now there are about 220 in the herd. White-tailed deer are native to the region and, though greatly reduced in numbers when the preserve was established, there are now about 640 on the area."

Attempts to establish antelope and mountain sheep on this refuge were made several times during the years since 1910, said Mr. Young, by transferring these animals in small numbers from Yellowstone Park and Canada. Change in forage and climate, however, reduced their resistance, and they failed to survive.

Beaver a Conservationist

In many farming communities beavers are not wanted because their dams sometimes flood crops, and in some sections their burrowing in ditch banks interferes with irrigation. Rather than kill these "master engineers" for their pelts when they become a farm problem, the U. S. Department of Agriculture suggests their transfer to suitable mountain streams. In such places their dams help control floods and conserve water.

Methods of trapping beavers alive, transporting and transplanting them, and selecting proper planting sites are explained by the Department in a recently issued Farmers' Bulletin 1768, "Trapping and Transplanting Live Beavers." The bulletin was prepared by Leo K. Couch, of the Bureau of Biological Survey, who has had wide experience in assisting farmers, stockmen, and foresters, as well as officials of Federal and State agencies in charge of public lands, in transplanting" these animals. Mr. Couch is now directing the cooperative wildlife research and management projects, under supervision of the Survey, at 9 land-grant colleges.

The bulletin points out that beavers for stocking purposes must be taken uninjured in traps from July to October. During this period the water is low and the young have been weaned and are old enough to shift for themselves. The trapping should, however, be in accordance with state laws. Two efficient traps for taking beavers alive, one developed by Vernon Bailey, retired naturalist of the Survey, and the other by Mr. Couch and Theo. H. Scheffer, another retired naturalist of the Survey, are described in the bulletin. Patents for these traps have been dedicated to the public and they may be made in any machine shop. Plans and materials required also are described in the bulletin. Special traps can be bought or built in machine shops, but padded steel traps are not recommended as they are likely to cripple the animals.

Intensive trapping of beavers for their pelts during the early development of the nation threatened their extinction, but under rigid protective laws the drain on their numbers has been halted. They are well established in more than half the states, and in some localities they become so abundant as to cause wholesale migration to less desirable places. In such instances the Department also recommends the transfer of surplus animals to suitable mountain streams. Large areas now in national forests, national parks, state forests, soil-conservation projects, reclamation projects, game refuges, city watersheds, and suitable submarginal farm lands can be stocked with beavers.

Observations over many years show that beavers are responsible for building up valuable bottom lands by checking-- through pond construction—-rapidly flowing waters filled with soil.

In states where conservation commissions are managing beaver production and regulating trapping, farmers and landowners benefit from the sale of pelts. Pennsylvania, for example, has had no beavers for approximately 70 years prior to 1917, and in that year the state liberated a pair imported from Wisconsin. From 1917 to 1924, 94 beavers were imported and set free in suitable waters of the state. The animals increased so rapidly that it became necessary to transfer them to other sections.

A survey by the State Board of Game Commissioners of the streams in Pennsylvania in 1931 revealed 899 beaver dams with an estimated beaver population of 4,377, which by 1934 had increased to 15,000. During the 1934 trapping season 6,455 beavers were taken legally, which at the average price of $15 a pelt brought the trappers $96,825. In 1936, under increased trapping restrictions, 2,261 pelts were taken, which brought the trappers $22,610, an average price of $10 each.

Copies of Farmers' Bulletin 1768, "Trapping and Transplanting Live Beavers", may be obtained at 5 cents each from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.

Loup River Power Project to Offer Good Fishing

fall at the Columbus Power House averages 112 feet. Obviously, fish can not come up through this plant, and the tiny ones would be telling their grandchildren quite a tale, if they survived a trip down through it.

The Tailrace

The tailrace from the Columbus Power House to the Platte River, just below the confluence of the Loup and the Platte at Buck Island, a distance of nearly five miles. The canal here has a capacity of 4800 cubic feet per second also.

Project to be Landscaped

The very splendid official map in Outdoor Nebraska, compliments of Game Forestation and Parks Commission, needs a slight correction regarding reservoirs created by this project. Beaver Creek Reservoir, Looking Glass Reservoir, Monroe Forebay, Lost Creek Reservoir and Reservoir No. 2 as printed thereon, while in the original application to the PWA, have not been developed, for the reason that it was decided that they would be more costly than they were worth.

As stated above, no recreational policy has yet been established by the Board of Directors. However, they are a public body, elected by the people, in control of a public project, and they can be depended upon to carry the best recreation possible at a minimum cost. It has been intimated that shooting will be "verboten" and a game preserve established. However Piscator and Piscatrix should have access to their favorite sport from minnows to whales. Already, fish have found their way into the stream by means of inlet from the Loup, backing up from the Platte and one small planting from the state fish hatcheries. To Carl Glur goes the honor of lifting the first fish from the small pond that has accumulated in the reservoir, which he immediately redeposited. One feature concerning fishing is the steepness of the canal banks and the deepness of the water, not as it might be ordered, but unavoidable. Picnicking will be indulged in on a large scale, and it is already starting. Free conducted tours of the entire project are now offered by the district for the benefit of visitors, a thorough tour requiring approximately four hours.

The matter of responsibility and liability of the district in case of accident is, of course, of paramount concern to the directors.

The matter of planting trees is also one of the urgent problems, and this is proceeding as rapidly as limited means become available. Needle trees, such as pine and fir, are preferred to leaf-bearing trees, because the leaves in the fall will blow into the canal and be required to be removed annually from in front of the trash racks. The National Park Service and Professor M. B. Jenkins, of the University of Nebraska, are bending every effort to aid in a forestation program. The right-of-way will be eventually lined with trees, and a great haven for the enjoyment of the populace will be created.

Correlation of Water Conservation and Wildlife

or dikes where these are necessary could be set farther back from the river than has been customary in the past under some development programs. If this were done the areas between the dikes and the river, if allowed to grow up to bottomland vegetation, would be of great value to wildlife. Ponds and marshes created by the flood waters would exist within the dikes and furnish places for waterfowl and other water-loving forms of life. At the same time this program could undoubtedly be so designed as to decrease the cost of maintenance and repairs of the levee system itself.

These are some of the points that are of interest to biologists with respect to water conservation and control. We earnestly believe that this nation has gone altogether too far in draining off surface water. We believe that the public must concede certain land to water and allow it to remain in natural water areas. These areas will have recreational values and will produce wildlife values sometimes as great as they would produce in agricultural use.

EDITORIAL

B. Hawes, one of the great leaders of the conservation movement in America, in a speech delivered before the annual convention of the Izaak Walton League.

To that end this bill was introduced in the Senate. A companion measure (H. R. 7681) has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman A. Willis Robertson, chairman of the Spacial House Committee on Conservation of Wildlife. It has the approval of a large group of congressmen who desire to preserve our heritage in the out-of-doors.

In brief, the bill provides for the joint activity of state and federal agencies in a continent-wide restoration for all species of wildlife.

2. The Federal Government will, by the provisions of this bill, set aside funds to be allotted to any or all of the 48 states in the union which comply with the provisions of this act.

3. The funds thus set aside by the Federal Government are not additional taxes to be levied against the taxpayer. They are not new taxes at all. The money proposed by this bill for wildlife restoration are the dollars which are now (and have been for some time) collected from special excise taxes on sportsmen's equipment— sporting arms and ammunition. It amounts to about 3 million dollars a year.

4. One of the cardinal principles of conservationists has always been that moneys taken in by government agencies from wildlife resources, sportsmen's license fees, etc., should be spent in the conservation and maintenance of wildlife species. This bill now before Congress applies to the Federal Government this principle which has long been in successful operation in the states and provides for its equitable distribution of this revenue to the 48 states in cooperative projects with the Federal Government.

5. Upon the enactment of this measure, money now paid in by taxes on sportsmen's equipment will be spent for wildlife restoration. The process of administration is similar to that parallel necessity to American health and happiness, the Federal Highway Aid Act. Each state conservation agency or Fish and Game Commission will, by the provisions of this bill, receive its quota for restoration projects from the Federal Government on the same general plan as federal highway aid is distributed to state highway commissions. The State and Federal Government will jointly pay the cost of these wildlife restoration projects which, when completed, must be maintained as such by the state.

6. There is no dispute over the necessity, workability, effectiveness or justice of this bill.

The state's quota of allocations under the provisions of this bill is arrived at by allocating (a) one-half in the ratio which the area of each state bears to the total area of all the states and one-half in the ratio which the number of paid hunting license holders of each state bears to the total number of paid hunting license holders of all the states.

CATFISH BAITS AND TIPS

To catch catfish use a long cane pole and strong line and about a No. 1 long shank hook. The catfish likes quiet, deep water, muddy bottom; he likes warm water and is active when other fish are quiet. He will bite when no other fish will. Catfish will take a good bait most any time you get it to them; he is not particular what he eats. He is a lazy fish.

Important Changes in Game Laws Effective August 16th

clerk and sheriff. A copy of each such regulation, amendment, modification or repeal may be published by the Commission in a legal newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in the area affected thereby and shall be included and printed in each official compilation of the Nebraska game and fish laws. Each such regulation, amendment, modification and repeal shall specify the date when it shall become effective and when it becomes effective and while it remains in effect shall have the force and effect of law. Provided, when any English Pheasant, Chinese Pheasant or Mongolian Pheasant or antelope are damaging or destroying crops on lands owned or occupied by any farmer, such farmer may destroy such pheasant or antelope when a permit so to do has been granted to him by the Commission and said Commission shall have authority to grant such permits when convinced that conditions are such to justify such actions.

Sec. 6. That Section 37-303, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-303. All fish which cannot lawfully be taken shall be returned to the water at once with as little injury as possible, if caught, and before taking or attempting to take such fish from the hook it shall be the duty of the angler to first wet his hands.

Sec. 7. That Section 37-304, C. S. Supp., 1933, be amended to read as follows:

37-304. It shall be unlawful for any person in any one day to kill, catch, take, or, save as herein excepted, to have in his possession at any time a greater number of game birds, game animals, or game fish, of any one kind than as fixed by the Commission.

Sec. 8. That Section 37-305, C. S. Supp., 1933, be amended to read as follows:

37-305. It shall be unlawful to shoot, trap, hunt, take or pursue any species of game birds, game animals or fur-bearing animals or to angle for or catch any game fish protected by this Act except during the open seasons, if any, that may be authorized by the Game, Forestation and Parks Commisison as herein provided. And it shall be unlawful for any one except a holder of a game and fish breeder's permit to have in his possession except during the open season thereon and ten days after the close thereof any unmounted game bird or game fish except as provided herein. Provided, however, that where beaver are destroying trees or otherwise damaging property and the owner or owners of such lands shall be dissatisfied, they may make application to the Commission to trap such beaver and the Commission shall forthwith, upon receipt of such application, issue to such persons a permit in writing to trap the same, said permit to continue for sixty (60) days after the date of its issuance. That said animals thus destroyed, or the hides taken from the same, shall be the property of the state, but on sale of same the person taking shall be refunded one-third the amount received for the pelts. Any pelts of beaver held in possession by any person holding such a permit shall be stamped by the Commission with a stamp containing the words "Killed by permission of the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission", before same are sold, shipped or otherwise transported outside of the State of Nebraska.

Sec. 9. That Section 37-308, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-308. It shall be unlawful (a) for any person to shoot, kill, destroy or catch, or attempt to shoot, kill, destroy or catch, or have in possession living or dead, any song, insectivorous, or non-game bird, or part of such bird, other than an English sparrow, blue jay, crow, Coopers hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, goshawk, European starling, bronzed grackle, or magpie; (b) for any person to take or needlessly destroy the nests or eggs of any song, insectivorous or non-game bird or to have in his or her possession the nests or eggs thereof other than nests and eggs of the birds excepted in paragraph (a) hereof.

Sec. 10. That Section 37-309, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-309. Any person who shall at any time except during an open season ordered by the Commission as herein authorized, take, kill, trap, or destroy or attempt to take, kill, trap, or destroy, or have in possession, any buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, mountain goat, swan or any wild turkey, shall upon conviction be fined One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or be imprisoned for not to exceed thirty days. Any person who shall at any time except during an open season ordered by the Commission as herein authorized, take, trap, kill, or destroy, or attempt to take, kill, trap, or destroy, or have in possession, any quail, partridge or Hungarian partridge, wood duck, eider duck, curlew, sandhill or whooping crane, shall upon conviction be fined in the sum of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) or be imprisoned in the county jail for not to exceed thirty days and any person who shall take, catch, trap, kill, or destroy, or attempt to take, catch, trap, kill or destroy any other game bird, game or fur-bearing animal, or game fish or who shall have in his or her possession any such game or fish except as specified and permitted by order of the Commission shall be fined in the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each offense. Any one who shall in violation of this Act kill, take or destroy, or attempt to take, kill, trap, or destroy, or have in possession, any song or insectivorous bird or destroy or take the eggs or nest of any such bird be fined not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) for each offense. Provided, however, nothing herein contained shall render it unlawful for any one operating a game, fur or fish farm pursuant to the laws of this state to at any time kill game or fish actually raised thereon or lawfully placed thereon by himself; and provided further, that persons holding special permits under the laws of this state for the taking or killing of game or other birds or game animals shall not be liable under this section while acting under the authority of such permits.

Sec. 11. That Section 37-501, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-501. It shall be unlawful (a) To shoot from any public highway at any bird or animal protected by this Act; (b) To hunt for any of such birds or animals with a spotlight or other artificial light; (c) To hunt or kill or attempt to hunt or kill any waterfowl from any boat or water craft propelled by sail or electric, gas, or steam power or from an aeroplane or hydroplane; (d) To use any rifle or swivel-gun or shotgun larger than ten gauge, in hunting any game birds, or to trap, snare, net, or attempt to trap, snare, or net any game bird or birds; (e) To take or needlessly destroy the nests or eggs of any game bird or birds; (f) To hunt, kill or attempt to hunt or kill any game birds by attracting them to the place where hunted by a distribution of grain or other feed, commonly called baiting; (g) To hunt, kill, take or attempt to hunt, kill or take any game birds from an automobile or vehicle of any kind; (h) To hunt, kill, take, or trap or attempt to hunt, kill, take or trap any game birds with nets, traps, or clubs, except by nets for propagation purposes upon permit issued by the Commission.

Sec. 12. That Section 37-505, C. S. Supp., 1933, be amended to read as follows:

37-505. It shall be unlawful to buy, sell or barter any game bird or game animal or game fish protected by this Act at any time whether killed or taken within this state or without the state or for any commercial institution, commission house, restaurant or cafe keeper to have in possession at any time black bass, game birds or game animals protected by this Act. Catfish or other game fish except black bass lawfully shipped in from without the state or game or fish lawfully acquired from a lawful game or fish breeder may be sold in this state. The burden of proof shall be upon every such dealer and   12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA keeper to show by competent and satisfactory evidence that any game or game fish in his possession or sold by him was lawfully imported from without the state, or was lawfully acquired from a licensed game or fish breeder: Provided, however, fish lawfully taken from the Missouri River, under the provisions of Section 37-502, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, as amended, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, excepting game fish protected by this Act and catfish less than 13 inches in length, provided the vendor of such fish shall first procure a permit to sell same from the secretary of the Commission. Provided further, that catfish shall not be taken with nets or seines from March 16th to May 1st of each year. Application for such permit shall be upon forms prescribed by the Commission and the secretary of the Commission shall charge and collect for each permit so issued the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00). All moneys received by the secretary of the Commission shall be disposed of as provided in Section 37-206, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929.

Sec. 13. That Section 37-511, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-511. It shall be unlawful (a) To mutilate, or destroy the house or den of any fur-bearing animals except where such houses or dens obstruct a public or private ditch or watercourse or to cut down or into any tree containing the den or nest of any fur-bearing animal for the purpose of capturing, taking, or killing such animal; (b) To use spears or any like device in hunting or taking fur-bearing animals or to use explosives, chemicals, or smokers of any kind to drive fur-bearing animals out of holes, dens, or houses. Provided, that where any dam, canal, drainage ditch, irrigation ditch, private fish pond, fish hatchery, artificial waterway, railroad embankment or other property is being damaged or destroyed by muskrats, the Commission may issue a permit to the owner or owners of such dam, canal, drainage ditch, irrigation ditch, private fish pond, fish hatchery, artificial waterway, railroad embankment, or other property to take or destroy such muskrats, and the Commission is authorized to make and enforce such rules in connection with the issuance of such permits as it may deem necessary to prevent the illegal destruction of muskrats by any holder of such a permit.

Sec. 14. That Section 37-513, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-513. It shall be unlawful for any person without a permit from the Game, Forestation and Parks Commisison to train or run any hunting dog or dogs including pointers, setters, droppers, retrievers, springers, spaniels, coon or trail hounds, or grey or wolf hounds, or to allow same to run loose in fields or upon lands in which game birds or game animals may be found or which are apt to be frequented by game birds between the first day of April and the sixteenth day of September of each year. Permits to train dogs in the field from August first to September sixteenth each year, may in the discretion of the Commisison be issued to responsible persons upon payment of a fee of One Dollar ($1.00) for each dog which shall be plainly and accurately described in the permit. Such permits shall not authorize the holder to take firearms upon premises where game birds may be found, or to permit dogs to catch or destroy game.

Sec. 15. That Section 37-604, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-604. It shall be unlawful for any person to resist or obstruct any officer or any employee of the Commission in the discharge of his lawful duties. Any person wilfully resisting such officer or employee shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

Sec. 16. That Section 37-605, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-605. It shall be unlawful for any person to falsely represent himself to be a warden or officer or employee of the Commission, or to assume to so act without having been duly appointed or employed as such. Any person wilfully representing himself to be such warden or employee shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

Sec. 17. That Section 37-610, C. S. Supp., 1933, be amended to read as follows:

37-610. Each and every device, net and trap and every ferret possessed, used, or attempted to be used, by any person in hunting, taking, catching, killing, or destroying any game, or fish, contrary to law, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and subject to seizure and confiscation by any warden or person charged with the enforcement of this Act. Ferrets and every trap, net and device, the use of which by the terms of this Act is wholly prohibited, shall be destroyed upon seizure. All guns, and lawful nets, while being used illegally shall be seized upon the arrest of the person so using them and upon conviction of such person of the violation of any provisions of this Act, all and every gun, and otherwise lawful net so used by such person as a part or element of such violation shall be forfeited to the state. The possession of any and all nets except minnow nets shall be construed as illegal possession and render such nets subject to confiscation and destruction by the state, and such person possessing same shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor more than Twenty five Dollars ($25.00). Provided, however the provisions of this section shall not apply to the possession and legal use of seines or nets as provided in Sectior 37-502, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska 1929, as amended.

Sec. 18. That Section 37-706, Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, 1929, be amended to read as follows:

37-706. Game and fish propagated raised under a permit issued under this Act may be sold or offered for sale anc transported at any time subject to reguJ lations adopted by the Commission: (ai Before any live game or game fish of anj kind raised under authority of any propagation permit is shipped out of the state it must be offered to the Commission foi propagating purposes, and the secretary shall, within ten days, advise the licensee whether it desires to purchase the same. If not purchased by the Commission, it may be exported if properly tagged as hereinafter provided. Game so raised, when slaughtered, may be shipped anywhere if tagged as herein required, (b) Before any game or fish raised or produced under authority of any propagating permits is shipped or removed from any premises the licensee shall apply to the Commission for a tag, which shall be supplied at cost. Said tag shall bs composed of two parts, and, when detached, ond part thereof containing the name and address of both shipper and purchaser and the kind, number and weight of game or fish shipped or removed shall be attached to the bird or animal or the container of fish. The other part of the tag, containing the same information and such additional as the Commisison may require, shall immediately be returned to the Commission. The tag attached to a container or a bird or animal shall so remain until the fish are removed from the container, or the carcass of any bird is sold, or the carcass of any animal is cut up for retail consumption, at which time the tag shall be removed by the person receiving the fish or finally disposing of the bird or animal, shall at once be forwarded to the Commission, (c) It is unlawful for any holder of a permit, or his agent or employee, to neglect to return to the Commisison any tag with the information thereon required, or to kill, sell, give away, remove, or ship any game or fish bred or raised, under the authority of any propagating permit, except in compliance with the provisions of this section, (d) It is unlawful for any person to wilfully or wantonly remove or mutilate or destroy any tag attached to any container or bird or animal, according to the provisions of this section except in the manner and the time and place provided for in this section, (e) It   OUTDOOR NEBRASKA13 as some of the other kind, is when the is unlawful for any person to wilfully use any tag of the kind provided for in this section for carrying, removing or shipment of game or fish taken or killed outside of premises used for propagating the same, under authority of a permit, or for the purposes of a second shipment of game or fish from any such premises. (f) The sale or purchase or barter of any game bird or carcass thereof bearing shot marks or external wounds of any kind is prohibited.

Sec. 19. It shall be unlawful for any person, association or corporation to place, run or drain any matter harmful to fish into any of the waters of this state where same have been stocked by the Commission. Any person violating the provisions of the preceding section shall be punished upon conviction by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense.

Catfish Baits and Tips

The best time to fish for catfish, as well water is rily or muddy or when the river is raising or gone down, as catfish go up and down with the water. The channel cat's eyes are poor and they go more by scent and touch. That's why a bait with a strong scent is best.

Fish deeper during hot weather. Fishing for catfish, set the cork just so it will float and clear the bottom, as catfish swim low.

Catfish bite good on moonlight nights and after a good thunder storm; they like muscles and clams, also a fresh piece of red beef cut up in bait sizes. Fish deep for them.

Take fresh chicken or rabbit entrails and add a small amount of cornstarch, let stand for 24 hours, keep in a jar in a cool place. Cut up in sizes you want to use. This bait must be sour. The catfish like this bait and will go for it.

Take equal parts of sheep tallow and brick cheese, heat the tallow, add the cheese and beat into a paste. Roll in balls the size to be used.

Go to a meat market, get a beef melt (spleen of beef), cut into pieces the size you want to use. Get a jar or can, put in a layer of beef melt, then sprinkle about two tablespoonsful of brown sugar over it, then another layer of beef melt, then some sugar, etc., until you have it all in the bucket; let stand for 12 hours before using it. Don't let the flies get to it.

To one-fourth pound of brick cheese add a tablespoon of sugar and work into a paste, then add a tablespoon of flour and a tablespoon of olive oil (from a 10-cent can of sardines), mix well with shreds of cheap cotton to keep on hooks, put into air-tight can or jar, mix only enough for a day's trip.

Grind up or scrape a small piece of liver, add a spoonful of sugar and enough of cornstarch to work in a paste, add a tablespoon of flour, work to a stiff bait. This makes a good all-round bait for any kind of fish. Use as needed; will not keep.

A real bait and easy prepared, good for catfish and all-round bait: Take a cup of shrimp (you can buy it at any grocery), mix in one cup of flour, work well in hand and add condensed milk to make a tough dough. Break off in pieces (size to be used), add shreds of cotton. Shrimp alone makes a fine bait. Pour off the water, rinse, and let stand in condensed milk for a couple of hours and you have a bait any fish will like.

Get a piece of bloody beef neck, cut up in pieces the size to be used for bait, let sour for 20 to 30 hours or until it begins to smell a little. Then take one-fourth pound of brick cheese, boil in milk till it goes to a liquid. Spinkle a little brown sugar over the meat, then put in the liquid. Let stand for a couple of hours and it is ready for use. The stronger scent it has the better.

For catfish stings take at once and suck the place and also bite it a little with the teeth and suck. Or take the fish and rub his belly on the sting for a little while as fish are immune to stings.

Fresh liver cut up in pieces makes a good bait, also cheese—the stronger the better.

Take the scrapings of old cheese, any kind; put it in a fruit jar with just enough milk to cover it. Tie a piece of muslin around the top and put it in a safe place for about two weeks. Knead it into balls large enough to cover your hook.

All Around Catfish Bait: Get some dried herring (some call them blind robins), cut up in size to be used for bait. Soak a little while in any kind of milk. This makes a good bait for trout line.

To one cup of flour add one can of sardines in linseed oil. Mix stiff, adding milk. Roll in balls, use shreds of cotton in dough. Makes a good bait.

Everlasting Catfish Bait: Take pieces of sponge and place in a can or jar of cod liver oil. The pieces of sponge will absorb the oil and give it a strong scent; it is ready to use as soon as the sponge soaks up; or if you want a stink bait, dissolve some Limburger cheese in milk by heating, and soak in this liquid. In a short time the scent will wash off; place back in your jar and use fresh pieces. This is a fine bait for trout line.

Bullheads are bottom feeders and bait should go to the bottom when one is fishing for them. If bait is even six to eight inches from the bottom the critters may fail to bite.

Catfish will bite any time of the day or night and bite good after a thunderstorm or rain.

Purchase a desired amount of beef liver, cut it into strips suitable for baits, then set this liver in a cool place to sour for 36 hours or till it begins to smell. Then take liver and cover with common vinegar for 24 hours or until ready to use. Remove from vinegar any amount of liver you want to use, rinse off in water. Then sprinkle with two tablespoonsful of cornstarch and two tablespoonsful of sugar to each pound of liver. Then cover with sour milk from 10 to 15 hours. The bait is then ready to use. You may keep the bait in vinegar till ready to use as it will keep. Then add cornstarch and sugar as directed above. You will find no other bait to equal this.

Catch large crawfish, put in an air-tight pail, take about one quart of water and one tablespoonful of saltpeter and mix in water. Pour over crawfish, shake a few times and pour off water. Then set in sun or some place to die. Then take crawfish, break off the tails and peel them. The tails become hard and tough and have a scent that catfish or any game fish likes.

Take a can of cove oysters, pour off the water, cover the oysters with condensed milk or sour milk, add two tablespoonsful of cornmeal and one of sugar for each pint of oysters. Let stand for at least 10 hours. Use oysters whole or cut up in pieces.

Catfish like deep warm water and are quite active when other fish will not stir. With a good bait you should land a few.

Channel catfish take live bait much more readily than do other catfish. Try live minnows.

Official records indicate that the largest blue cat ever taken was landed in St. Louis, Mo., in 1878. It was 5 feet long and weighed 150 pounds.

Try fishing for catfish after a thunderstorm—that's the time you should have plenty of luck.

There are over 25 different kinds of catfish in the United States and over 65 different species of suckers.

A fish will shrink an ounce to the pound in about 12 hours, when out of water.

A wool rag will hold a fish while the hook is being loosened, but it should not be used if the fish is to be thrown back in the water.

Snakes do not charm birds. The instinctive fear that small birds and animals have for a snake paralyzes their muscles and prevents their escape.

When a bass strikes let him run with the line, keep a light tension, just enough to feel his tug. After he has tugged a few times strike quickly and with a decided twist of the wrist. You will land him.

In baiting fish for trout or bass, the white grubs are real catchers.

THE OLD MAN FROM NORTH PLATTE GOES FISHING

Arbor day being a nice sunshiny day, the "Old Man" decided to go fishing. Persuading his daughter, Marie, to take him to the nearest sand-pit, he resurrected his faithful old cane pole and taking his little can of worms which he had dug up while spading the "Old Woman's" garden earlier in the month, he soon arrived at the old familiar place and anon flung in the old line baited with a good, fat, juicy worm.

The "Old Man" hadn't much faith in catching anything that day, the weather having been bad all spring, but he needed the sunshine, and he settled contentedly on the bank and forgot all the ills of humanity. To his surprise, in a few minutes the bobber disappeared and, lo and behold, a big German carp was his first catch. God bless the Germans, but pity the German who planted the first carp in the streams and ponds of Nebraska if the "Old Man" ever gets hold of him.

But luck changes. The next strike brought out a thirteen inch bass, good and wholesome to look at, and in less than two hours the "Old Man" caught five different kinds of the finny tribe; one carp, two thirteen-inch bass, one ringed perch, two suckers, and one blue gill. And yet you say there is no variety of fishing in Nebraska.

The "Old Man" lighted his pipe, smiled a broad smile with that old wrinkled face of his, and presently his car returned, taking him back home, content with his first fishing trip of the season, having received the benefits of the sun and fresh air; also a red nose in the bargain, received not from the cup that inebriates, but from Old Sol himself. That night the "Old Man" slept the sleep of the innocent and dreamt of the biggest ones that always get away and the others yet to be caught some other day.

Fishing is a great pastime. Learn to fish scientifically or philosophically, but don't forget how the "Old Man" fishes.

BIG SKEET SHOOT

More than $45,000 worth of shotguns will be used at the eight-field layout of the Blue Rock Gun Club, Detroit, Mich., from August 31st to September 4th, to shoot 150,000 loads of led pellets at 150,000 clay targets during competition for seven national individual Skeet titles and one national team crown in the Third Annual National Skeet Championships.

At least, so estimates Henry E. Ahlin, secretary of the National Skeet Shooting Association, which organization, with the aid of Henry B. Joy, Jr., and Richard E. Hocker, Detroit sponsors, and Blue Rock Gun Club, is staging the annual bang-fest for national honors. According to Ahlin, the early flood of entries in the 1937 championship indicates an entry list on at least 300 shooters who will bring, on the average of, two shotguns apiece, each worth at least $75.00. Each entrant is expected to shoot at a minimum of 50ft skeet targets in practice and actual competition, bringing shell and target consumption to a conservative figure of 150,000.

This year's national tourney will feature the defense of the national individual crown which was won in spectacular fashion last year by 15-year-old Richard Shaughnessy, schoolboy from Dodham, Massachusetts, who blasted 248 out of a possible 250 during the three-day shooting grind for national supremacy. Another outstanding feature of the current championship will be the return of Kenneth C. Miller, Tyler, Texas, for the defense of his national smallbore crown which he won last year with the record-shattering score of 100 straight. Other defending champions are Robert Stack, Beverly Hills, Calif., national 20-gauge titlist; Billy Clayton, Calvin, Oklahoma, national sub-small-gauge champion; Dick Shaughnessy, the all-gauge title holder, who will also defend the national junior crown he won last year; Miss Elizabeth Small, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, national women's champion; and the Los Angeles-Santa Monica Club quintet from California who won the first national team title last year with the sensational score of 1217x1250.

Where to Go in Nebraska...

Camp in cabins in the woods in Nebraska's Biggest Park. Swimming, horseback riding, skyline hiking, playgrounds.

A restaurant, store and saddle horses for your use. Prices and rentals reasonable. Write for rates and reservations. Address: Mrs. A. E. Speer, Supt., Chadron, Neb.

Located just off State Highway No. 2, near Anselmo, in Custer County. Camping, fishing, picnicking free. Address: C. O. Williams, Supt., Anselmo, Neb.

Visit Nebraska's new state park for northeastern Nebraska. Fishing, camping, picnicking. Splendid shade. A good place to enjoy the Indian and Missouri River country. Located near Niobrara, Neb.

Visit America's agricultural shrine. See the old home of the founder of Arbor Day.

Mansion open daily. Picnicking facilities free, camping permitted at this park.

Booklets describing trees, well illustrated, excellent souvenir, price 25 cents.

Park located adjacent to Nebraska City.

Address: Frank Williams, Supt., Nebraska City, Neb.

Fish in Pibel Lake for bass, sunfish and bullheads. This resort is owned and operated by the State of Nebraska. Hotel with first class accommodations. Camping sites free. Boats for rental. Fishing free.

Address: A. E. McVeigh, Supt., Spalding, Neb.

Get acquainted with western Nebraska. See the famous North Platte Valley and the scenic Wild Cat Hills. Buffalo, elk, deer, etc., on exhibition.

Located on State Highway No. 29, between Gering and Harrisburg.

ATTENTION, SPORTSMEN!

THE FOLLOWING NEW REGULATIONS COVERING THE OPEN SEASONS, BAG AND POSSESSION AND SIZE LIMITS HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED BY THE NEBRASKA GAME COMMISSION AND BECOME EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 1937.

It shall be unlawful except in the Missouri River under commercial permit to take a daily bag or have more than twenty-five (25) fish of all species combined in possession at any one time.

All fish caught that are under the size limits enumerated above must be returned to the water at once with as little injury as possible.

"Daily bag" means fish taken in any period from 12 A. M. to 12 P. M.

"Possession at any time" means fish in possession of person taking same at any and all times.

Carp, buffalo, suckers and other non-game fish may be taken at any time without limits on size, bag or possession.

Note: Where entire state open it does not include game reserves, city ordinances.

Platte River hunting permissible only from 7 A. M. to noon each day of open season.

(*) No more than two hen pheasants may be taken in any day or be possessed at any time.

Note: Any fur-bearing animals not classified under State Laws as "game animals", and not listed above, can be trapped any time of year.

LINCOLN

There's Health, Rest, and Fun at CHADRON STATE PARK

You will find hundreds of acres of pine forests where the nights are cool and exhilarating. Camp in your own tent or rent a cabin. Eight miles south of Chadron on State Highway No. 19.

It is now time for you to relax—to get out-of-doors for a few days.

Why not go to Nebraska's Own Great Park—Chadron Park—this year?

Perhaps you do not know that you can enjoy yourself right in your own state park. Beautiful Pine Ridge scenery, excellent water, comfortable cabins, swimming, skyline hiking or horseback riding, rustic picnic shelters, playgrounds, restaurant, store—everything to please the visitor.

There are 800 acres of pine forests ready for you. Cabins (some with fireplaces) off in the woods away from the crowds. Good roads and trails where you can go by car or afoot.

Keep your vacation money in your own state where it will come right back to you! See the Pine Ridge country this year!

Rates are reasonable.

Write now for Rates and Reservations