2 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Nebraska Fishermen Land Some Big Ones

OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 3

Spring Fishing Gets Under Way in Nebraska

THE Nebraska fishing season for 1940 officially opened Friday, March 1, on all species with the exception of pike, which season will open on May 1. This is 30 days earlier than in 1939.

Last year the month of March furnished so much good fishing weather that there were many requests for an earlier opening, so this year the State Game Commission advanced the opening date on trout, bass, crappie, sunfish, bullheads and catfish to March 1. Closing date will be the same as last year, November 30.

The pike season will open on May 1 and the perch season is the full year. Catfish in the Missouri River only by commercial permit has a split season: January 1 to March 16 and May 1 to December 31.

Trout Fishing Good

Many good trout streams are being stocked by the Game Commission, and there should be a lot of good fishing this year. All trout being stocked are of legal size. The daily limit and possession at one time from all waters except state owned lakes is ten. The limit from the state owned lakes (Fremont Sand Pits, Louisville Sand Pits and Rock Creek Lake) is five.

Some of the waters being stocked with trout are:

Rock Creek (Dundy County).

Nine Mile Creek (Scotts Bluff County).

Winter Creek (Scotts Bluff County).

Lodge Pole Creek (Kimball County).

Sheep Creek (Scotts Bluff County).

Pine Creek (Brown County).

Schlagel Creek (Cherry County).

Plum Creek (Brown County).

Dikeman Creek (Antelope County).

Steele Creek (Holt County).

Upper Niobrara River.

Reports received at the State Game Commission offices in Lincoln from conservation officers show that some fishermen are having good luck in spite of the bad weather so far. Deputy Conservation Officer W. O. Monnette of South Sioux City reports:

"Fishing in Verdigre Creek north of Royal, I believe, is just as good for trout as Long Pine or Plum Creek, and sportsmen are enjoying the sport of early fishing. They all get some trout if they know how and stay with it. Eugene Liewer, editor of the Osmond Republican, has made six part day trips and has caught 44 trout to date. Howard Kinney, Herald Kinney and Kenneth Cary of Norfolk, Joe Schulte and John Schulte of Osmond, and Paul McBride and Donald McBride of Orchard, all got the bag limit on March 1."

Dr. F. B. Garrison and Fred Johnson of Oakdale report catching nice bags in Dikeman Creek in Antelope County, K. N. Parke of Wayne has reported good luck in the same stream. Deputy Conservation Officer C. R. Fick of McCook has reported that a number of good bags have been taken from Rock Creek Lake in Dundy County.

Crappie and Bullheads Taken

Deputy Conservation Officers B. Guyer and C. W. Shaffer have reported that a party of seven from Schuyler (Frank Halloran, Charles Hurt, Walt Sadlik, Frank Dudek, George C. Novotny, J. L. Hampl and L. Buracek) caught 30 trout on April 5 in the sand pits at Fremont.

Marvin Jones of Omaha caught 5 trout each day on April 1, 2 and 3 in the Fremont pits.

Emory Short and C. J. Robinson of Blair caught 9 trout and 15 crappies at the Fremont pits on April 5.

J. B. Rogers of Fremont got the bag limit of 15 bullheads in an hour in the Union Pacific pits at Fremont.

On April 5 one party fishing in the canal and Babcock Lake near Genoa caught one 13 pound catfish and several weighing from 3 to 5 pounds.

Bass at Cambridge

Deputy Conservation Officer Everett Ling of Grand Island reports:

"On March 8, F. A. Shifflet of Cambridge caught three black bass out of the Cambridge Rod and Gun Club lake southeast of Cambridge, using live minnows as bait. One weighed 4 pounds, 6 ounces, another 1% pounds, and the third three-fourths of a pound."

Metz Lake Should Be Hot

Metz Lake, three miles from Cody in Cherry County, is reported to have some fine fishing. It has an area of about 800 acres, and Jack Mendanhall, superintendent of the Valentine hatcheries, in recent tests, found the lake well stocked with crappie, bass and bullheads.

Fishing Lakes Ready; Others Closed

The Game Commission has a large number of recreational areas, many of which will be very attractive this summer. Hastings Recreation Grounds in Adams County offers some good fishing in a small lake and in the adjacent Blue River. The sand pits at Louisville and Fremont are always popular for fishing and picnicking.

Other popular places are the Wildcat Hills in Scotts Bluff County, Rock Creek in Dundy County, Sherman County Recreation Grounds in Sherman County, Cottonmill Recreation Grounds in Buffalo County, Camp Duke Alexis in Hayes County, Pibel Lake in Greeley County, Memphis Lake in Saunders County, and recreation grounds in Richardson County, another near Ravenna in Buffalo County, and the Elkhorn River recreation grounds. The Jefferson County Recreation Grounds are being improved and are closed for the time being.

An illustrated map with information on all the State Parks and Recreation Grounds is now available at the office of the State Game, Forestation and Parks Commission at a cost of only 10 cents each.

NEW BRIGHT LIGHT LURE MAKES FISH FOOD SURE

Feeding fish by electricity is the latest experiment undertaken by the Bureau of Fisheries at Spearfish, South Dakota, under the national conservation program. Submerged red and green neon lights are being used to lure insects into the maw of the federal swimmers. Heretofore, hatcheries used the light principle to supplement ordinary feeding procedures by suspending a drop cord ending in a reflector from 6 to 8 inches above the water surface. Seeing the reflected glow, insects strike for the surface where they are captured by the fish. Under the new plan, slender neon tubes about 4 feet in length are equipped with specially developed underwater wiring and waterproof fittings, the net result being a more glamoious lure for the insects than ever before presented for their attention.

WAR ON SNIPERS

War has been declared on the pheasant sniper and a warning is being broadcast over the state to all game law enforcement officials.

"We are instructed to put on a special drive for these snipers," Loron Bunney, area supervisor for the State Game Commission with headquarters at Fremont, announced this week. "A pheasant sniper is a chap who rides along the highway and shoots pheasants from his car. It is not only a cowardly trick on the pheasant, but it is also a very unsafe practice."

Pheasants at this time of the year are not near as wild as during the fall, and cars on highways can approach within easy rifle range without the birds taking flight.

4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Hints for Anglers

By TALBOTT DENMEAD Leaders

Formula for Soaking Leaders: To soften and preserve leaders use a solution of four ounces of distilled water, one ounce of glycerine, and one-half a teaspoonful of baking powder. (By Ray Bergman and others.) Pads in the leader box may be soaked with this solution with good results.

To Restore the Mist Color to Leaders: Soak in a weak solution of water and writing fluid.

How to Stain Leaders: The color of most leaders washes out. The mist color can be restored sometimes by. soaking the faded leader in a solution of water and writing fluid; logwood is known to be harmless to gut and may be used; some manufacturers use Diamond and Putnam dyes, using hot water in so doing; many anglers think this method is injurious. In fact, the Bureau is not willing to guarantee that any of these methods will not weaken the leader. It is believed that "flash" scares the fish more than "color." There has been no great experimenting in this by capable chemists to ascertain what damage, if any, is done to the gut by such processes.

The Pennsylvania Angler mentions soaking leaders in a solution of permanganate of potassium crystals when used in mountain streams—it produces shades of brown.

Flies

How to Dye Fly Fishing Material: Ordinarily aniline dyes, obtainable at any drug store, are used in the work the same as for household purposes. Warm water may be used, but it will remove the oil from the flies.

Formula for Dry Fly Oil. Dissolve one-fourth of a cake of paraffin in one-half of a pint of gasoline—carbona may be used instead of gasoline.

To Prevent Moths from Eating Flies: Place the flies in an air-tight preserving jar, and sprinkle over them moth flakes or camphor balls.

How to Restore Flies: Many flies after some use are not so fit, yet too good to discard. They may be at least partially restored to original condition by holding over a jet of steam issuing out of the spout of the old hot water kettle.

Lines

To Restore Sticky or Worn Out Lines: Soak in mineral oil, such as Nujol; after excess oil is removed, apply a line dressing, such as Abolene, Cereline, or Muciline.

To Waterproof Bait Casting Lines:

Recipe No. 1—Stretch the line between posts, rub thoroughly with deer tallow (if deer tallow is not obtainable, use mutton tallow), remove surplus tallow with cheese cloth. Two dressings a year will suffice.

Recipe No. 2—Use a warm solution of boiled linseed oil, and treat thoroughly every section of the line with a small rag wet in the solution; stretch line in a warm dry place and squeeze out all the surplus oil; when dry gently run a soft rag sprinkled with pumice stone over it to smooth off the rough places where the oil has accumulated. The vacuum treated lines of the tackle manufacturer are preferable. Patented preparations for oiling lines are advertised from time to time in sporting magazines.

Rods

How to Wind a Fishing Rod: Lay end of silk thread on the rod and wrap first few turns over it; wrap last few turns over a separate thread loop; the end of the thread is drawn through the loop and pulled tight. Cut off the loose end of the thread with a razor blade.

Care of Live Bait

Minnows: Minnows should not be overcrowded in any container if they are to be kept alive. If crowded the angler will probably lose his bait before he gets to fishing waters. If the container is not aerated the water should be aerated at frequent intervals; this is accomplished by dipping up some of the water and pouring it back into the container about 12 times, and is more successful than changing or adding water from different water supplies. If live minnows are to be transported on a very warm day, or the trip is long enough, ice should be added to the water to lower the temperature to about 55 degrees. With water at this temperature, there is less need for frequent aeration. In fishing with live minnows, the water in the minnow pail should be as warm as that of the stream fishes, if the best results are to be obtained.

Helgramites: Helgramites are the larval form of the Dobson fly (Corydalis cornuta). They are found under stones in swift streams and are an excellent bait for bass. Helgramites can be kept alive for a considerable time in floating bait boxes or in wet grass, or in a wash tub filled with damp leaves.

Worms: Moist moss such as may be obtained from any florist should be used to keep worms alive—they scour themselves well in this material.

How to Keep Crayfish Soft

There is but one satisfactory method of making hardshell crayfish soft-shelled. That is by feeding them and developing growth, causing the crayfish to shed the old shell frequently. When a bait dealer propagates his own crayfish for bait, he may sort out the soft-shelled crayfish from his pond every two or three days, and have soft-shelled individuals on hand continually during the summer. If they are kept cold, metabolism will slow up, and growth will be retarded, with the result that the shell will not harden very fast. Soft-shelled crayfish can be kept in a dormant stage in a refrigerator for two weeks and they will remain soft and in good condition. When they are removed from this cold storage to warmer quarters, it is best to do so gradually. They must be used soon after they are removed from cold storage, for the shell often hardens very rapidly. There are several species that may be used. Langlois recommends Cambarus rusticus. Enbody recommends Cambarus affinis Spinirostirs for the reason that it is prolific and because the shell is never very hard.

How to Preserve Minnows

Recipe No. 1—To a fruit jar full of water add 1 tablespoonful of formaldehyde. A teaspoonful of glycerine may be added, if desired, although not required. In a few days pour off the first solution and refill, using the same proportions. Use more water if the minnows appear too hard. To give them a slightly reddish tint, add a few drops of red dye and place them in a single layer on the inside cover of an ordinary tin box, if a burnish tint is desired.

Recipe No. 2—Place minnows in airtight jar, or bottle, for a week or 10 days, covered with a solution 99 per cent water and 1 per cent formalin. If the solution becomes discolored, wash minnows and place in a fresh mixture, which should be weaker, if they are too stiff; stronger, if they are too soft. This process should be repeated until the mixture becomes clear—ordinarily two changes are enough.

Recipe No. 3—One ounce of formalin, 6 ounces of glycerine and 40 ounces of water. After a month or six weeks, remove the minnows and place and keep in a strong

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OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 5

A Plea for Great Plains Forestry

By M. B. JENKINS, SR.

MUCH has been said and written of late years both for and against the attempt to grow trees in the area now known as the "Great Plains." No doubt much damage has been done the cause of tree planting on the Plains by extravagant statements of enthusiasts on the one hand, and critical statements displaying gross ignorance or open disregard for fact on the other. But be all this as it may, the fact still remains that some trees have been growing naturally in most parts of the region for centuries, and if heed is given to species adaptability they may be successfully grown in difficult sites by man when care and protection are given them. As an example we need only point to the 15,000 acres of conifer forest which has been planted near Halsey in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Generally, trees may be safely planted where cultivated crops are grown if given equal care and protection. These factors were understood and pointed out by such early United States foresters as Dr. B. E. Fernow and N. H. Egleston who advocated the planting of crop windbreaks on the Plains as early as 1890. Dr. Fernow gave emphasis to the fact that in a sense "the forest creates the conditions of its own existence," and stressed the point that if crop agriculture is to be made successful in most areas of the region tree belts should be established for field protection against wind damage and rapid soil moisture evaporation.

The Great Plains region, extending from about the 97th meridian to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and 1,200 miles from central Texas to Canada, embraces nearly one-fifth of the area of the United States exclusive of Alaska. Inhabited by nearly 9 million people, the source of almost half of the agricultural food products consumed by the American people, and one of the great markets for manufactured goods, it is an essential economic unit whose fortunes bear strongly on the stability of the nation's industrial areas.

The predominantly flat surface of the Plains rises gently but steadily from east to west, and inversely precipitation tapers off from amounts well above the minimum needed for tree growth to less than 14 inches a year at various places on the western table lands. Climate ranges from subtropical with long growing seasons in the south to rigorous with long winters in North Dakota. The great variety of soils, ranging from very tight to sandy, are distributed throughout the region in crazy quilt fashion. Nature had originally established grasses to trap winter snows, retard runoff, and combat the effects of the high summer temperatures, low humidity, strong winds and rapid evaporation of soil moisture which is the rule in the region.

High winds and severe storms are the basic causes of the ills that afflict agriculture on the Plains, and which the recent drouth period has only accentuated. When the sods were first turned over the soil was extremely rich in organic matter so that precipitation percolated readily through the upper layer to be stored in the subsoil, and for the first few decades crops, trees and other vegetation suffered much less severely from drouthy periods than they do now. Winds and storms, however, have progressively removed organic matter and as a consequence water runoff and evaporation of soil moisture have increased proportionately with the result that the soil is drier and more easily affected by wind than formerly, and hot winds fire crops more frequently.

Wind desiccation and destruction of the soil is still progressing, and ominous warnings already have been served that in many areas successful agriculture can not be continued unless remedial steps are taken. Scattered over the Plains are many areas of sandy soil, once fairly rich in organic matter, whose loose texture enables ready absorption of moisture with little evaporation, and therefore at first there was slight fluctuation in crops from year to year. Such soils, however, suffer severely after only a few years' exposure to the winds which remove the humus and leave the coarse abrasive particles as material for destruction of nearby fertile fields and sandblasting of young crops. Sandblasting presents a particularly vexing problem on well watered lands as well as on dry areas. On the western high plains where soils are generally fine in texture, severe damage has resulted from soil-drifting as in the "dust bowl," exposure even of bedrock at other places, and general dissipation of the soil humus. All exposed land has suffered, the degree of damage varying somewhat with the texture of the soil. Lands generally have been so universally tilled or overgrazed that natural wildlife cover has about disappeared, causing depletion of insectivorous and game birds almost to extinction in numerous districts with consequent increasing occurrence of grasshopper and other insect scourges.

Regardless of favorable crop conditions, a barren land is not attractive to man, and it has been learned on the Plains that where winds blow unchecked, homes are less comfortable, feeding of livestock requires greater quantities of grain and roughage, and good gardens, orchards and small fruits, upon which a "live at home" policy depends, can not be grown successfully.

During the early settlement of the Plains, tree planting reached the largest proportions ever known anywhere, and under the leadership of eminent early agriculturists such as Governor Robert W. Furnas and J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska, who, visualizing what might happen if the soils remained continuously exposed to the winds, recommended the planting of great shelterbelts across the Plains to conserve soil and soil moisture and reduce damage to crops resulting from direct blasts of the winds. Stimulated by the Timber Claim Act and state bounties these plantings reached their peak in the 1880's. However, most of them were made for woodlots and farmstead protection rather than to aid agricultural crops. Because of mistakes in selecting species and sites, and lack of an understanding by the farmers of the fundamentals of forestry many of those plantings failed, only a few comparatively persisting down to the present time. It is in the lee of these remaining plantings, where farmers have raised fair crops during our worst drouth years, that we find the examples which demonstrate that forestry is an essential agricultural practice on the Plains.

Much of the native timber and many of the planted groves have failed because of excessive grazing which was not understood by farmers to be harmful until it was too late. Recent surveys have shown, also, that tree losses during the late drouth have been less than half as heavy where the timberlands were not overgrazed. The theory of unlimited timber resource was formerly prevalent in the nation, and farmers generally did not understand the principles of sustained yield and selective cutting, with the result that many native woodlands have been seriously depleted by unscrupulous use of the axe. Neither did they comprehend the value of timber as a perpetual farm income resource, and worthy of continuous care and protection. Many of the planted groves, windbreaks and hedge rows were removed because they were thought harmful to neighboring crops, and it was only after the removal

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EDITORIAL

Sportsmen Are Given These Five ftules to Aid in Saving Our Outdoors

1. Get acquainted with the Conservation Officer in charge of the district in which you live.

2. Consider that the wildlife in your community belongs to you and your neighbors and guard it like you do your domestic poultry.

3. Talk to boys whenever you get a chance, and discourage the gathering of eggs, the shooting of birds or molesting fish life.

4. Watch out for the pheasant sniper, the duck blaster and the fish hog, and ascertain when and where they are operating.

5. Try to get the number of the car of any one seen violating the game laws, and report it promptly to the District Conservation Officer or the County Sheriff.

The biggest problem before the Nebraska Game Commission at this time is to provide enough fishing for the thousands of Nebraska anglers.

In a recent survey it was found that in eastern Nebraska, four permits are sold to each square mile; in southern Nebraska, two permits to each square mile and in northwestern Nebraska, one permit to each square mile. These permits were for both hunting and fishing.

How to provide adequate fishing for the heavily populated areas of the State is a real headache. Lack of natural lakes, an extended and severe drought, and muddy streams in the early spring make the problem doubly difficult. During the past winter a number of the shallower lakes and ponds froze out.

There is one way, however, that some of our anglers can help. In a survey not long ago it was found that some fishermen were taking entirely too many fish each year. In some cases as high as two hundred to five hundred fish were taken annually by individuals.

It is a certainty that if many anglers insist on taking large numbers of fish that thousands of others will get nothing, and the Commission will go broke trying to furnish bags of this kind for a dollar per person.

The Commission is making every effort possible to provide good fishing in Nebraska. While funds are limited and a drought still leaves very limited water, some progress is being made. But for the coming year, all fishermen can help greatly if they will take no more than a fair share of fish. And those who make a practice of taking fish from recently stocked waters can help by discontinuing the practice of "following up" the State fish trucks. In some cases, anglers have been following the trucks to state-owned lakes, getting a bag of fish in the forenoon and returning for another in the afternoon. Then after the lake is gutted of fish, some of them condemn the Commission because they don't have better fishing!

All must work together in a fair and constructive way to give a hundred thousand Nebraska citizens good fishing.

  OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 7 Pittman-Robertson Cooperative Pheasant Rearing Projects

Organizations sponsoring pheasant rearing units in co-operation with the State Game Commission have decided that game management presents problems almost identical with accepted farming practices.

Farming to be successful, means that three major practices are brought to conclusion. These three steps with which we are all familiar are: First, the preparation of the seed bed; second, sowing the seed; and third, harvesting the crop. Direct parallel to these farming practices can be applied to any efficient game-management program.

To the game manager, preparation of the seed bed is providing adequate nesting cover, winter feed, protective cover and water. Sowing the seed is stocking with game; harvesting the crop is the hunters' "take" less the loss due to predation, less the numbers necessary to reseed or restock the area. These three steps are important one to the other as are the three legs of a three-legged milk stool. Eliminate one step and the program is drawn entirely out of balance. We cannot do one of these game-management practices to the exclusion of the others without jeopardizing the success of the game-management program.

In most communities areas can be found that provide more or less abundant nesting cover, natural winter feed supply, and water. Sponsoring organizations, in the communities in which rearing units are located, are attempting to set trese areas aside as refuge areas to complete the first step of the management program. Where cover, feed and water are not naturally available, plans are being made to provide these by planting trees and sweet clover for nesting cover, several varieties of the sorghums such as black amber cane and red proso millet to provide a winter feed supply and are helping to conserve a year-round water supply by building small check dams in small water courses.

These same groups are stocking their refuge areas with the birds produced in their rearing units. Last year, an average of 150 birds were liberated on each of 26 refuge areas located in 24 counties. These refuge areas were all over two square miles in size, the thought being that a seed bed of two square miles area would provide ample room for the establishment of numerous broods produced by the liberated breeding stock.

The refuge areas have allowed for regulation of the harvesting of the crop. Normally the pheasant is mobile, but the range of the individual bird is quite restricted to one-quarter or not more than one-half mile from a favored site. Most of the birds liberated on a refuge area will stay put until they have produced at least an additional crop. After natural production has taken place, an overflow on to wintering open hunting areas provides the shootable surplus, which is the take of the sponsoring organizations.

RAINING CROWS

Did you ever see it rain crows in Nebraska? Rains in Nebraska the past few years have been few and far between, but the St. Paul, Nebraska, "Phonograph" of March 6th carried an interesting story by Ole Double-Barrel of a downpour on the North Loup River, north of St. Paul, on the night of February 29th that was somewhat unusual as it rained crows instead of water.

As the story goes, many thousands of migratory crows were roosting in the trees on the islands in the river and at about seven in the evening, 16 silent, well-armed hunters led by Captain Laverne Jacobsen made an assault on the island taken over by the crows.

Sixteen silent sentinels with guns pointing upward strung out in siagle file, following a trail marked by dead crows, across the weakening river ice to the scene of action. "Life's" recent picture of Finns on patrol duty would resemble this line of march; only the skis and white shrouds were lacking, but as the story goes only the skis were lacking on the return trip. Advance guards, Sargeants DeVry and Dixon, were contacted on the island and reported underbrush too heavy to penetrate to the roost, so Captain Jacobsen was sent in to reconnoiter, and in some manner, the crows were aroused and took flight in the direction of the hunters. As reported, the flight was a stirring spectacle. Wave after wave swept over and the whirring of innumerable black wings was not unlike the sound of a mighty waterfowl.

The crows settled on trees on the island on which the hunters were stationed, in such numbers that their weight broke large limbs from the trees. The command to fire was given and the downpour of crows was as a heavy rain. When the volley was over, arms were stacked and the crows retrieved.

The number of crows killed was not revealed at that time as a contest was on and they did not want to reveal the number killed to the opposing side, but the information was given that three crows were killed for every shot fired and the nests of a great many game birds were saved from destruction by the marauders.

SEE NEBRASKA PARKS THIS YEAR

Nebraskans need not go out of their own state this year on vacation trips or over Sunday sightseeing or fishing trips. With several thousand acres devoted to state parks and recreation grounds in all parts of the state, a "see Nebraska first" tour would be a most enlightening and worthwhile time spent by any citizen.

All parks and recreation grounds are now open, according to an announcement by the State Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, and one of the biggest seasons in history is expected. Practically every park and recreation ground has been improved in the past year and further improvements are being planned.

Chadron State Park, located in Dawes County, has been gradually improved in the last five years and is now one of the best. A large number of cabins are available for vacationists and this park caters to group campers. The park can handle about 200 at a time. Horseback riding, swimming and hiking are the features at this beautiful park.

Niobrara State Park, in Knox County, also has been much improved and has a number of cabins available for campers. Fishing and golf are the big attractions there. This park is the favorite of the heavily populated sections as it is within easy driving distance.

Ponca State Park, in Dixon County, attracts a large number of Sunday picnickers as does Stolley State Park in Hall County and Victoria Springs State Park in Custer County.

PLANT TREES

With the advent of spring the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission is giving attention to the planting of trees and shrubs. Plans made call for extensive replacements at Arbor Lodge Park, in Otoe County and other recreational areas. Trees and shrubs for this purpose will be secured from the Stolley Park nursery in Hall County. Trees to be planted will include Chinese elm, hackberry, plum, locust, mulberry, osage and Russian olive.

"It is hoped every citizen in the state will plant trees and shrubs this spring," states Frank B. O'Connell, Commission secretary. "The last five years have taken a toll of millions of trees and Nebraska must start now to replace them or there is going to be a period in the future when the state will be almost barren."

Bear in Mind—That stray dogs and cats kill more game birds and small game animals annually than do licensed hunters.

8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

With Nebraska Sportsmen's Organization

We appreciate the space in "Outdoor Nebraska" given the Nebraska Wildlife Federation by the State Game Commission. We hope to use this page from time to time in telling about the happenings of the Federation. It is up to the members to send in news items so we can have a page in each issue.

—D. L. WILLHOITE, President Nebraska Wildlife Federation. The President's Column

BECAUSE of no session of the Unicameral Legislature this year, the Nebraska Federation thought it an opportune time to finish organizing the remaining counties throughout Nebraska.

On January 1, 1940, there were twenty-four counties organized. Today, we have forty-one organized. The seventeen new ones are:

Buffalo Frontier Kearney Chase Furnas Lincoln Gosper Logan Deuel Hayes Nance Dundy Hitchcock Phelps Franklin Howard Red Willow

We hope by the next issue of "Outdoor Nebraska" to have as many more. Meetings are being arranged in several counties at this writing.

Certainly it is an inspiration to all of us to see the enthusiasm displayed by all of those interested in conservation. At Franklin, 35 sportsmen met on a stormy night; at Holdrege, there were 25; at Grand Island, over 150; at Kearney, 250. At a McCook meeting, where six counties affiliated with the Federation, 350 sportsmen sat down to a buffalo dinner in honor of the fourth district's new commissioner, Dr. M. Campbell.

At this writing the 1940 stamp sale is not yet over. It was decided, because Wildlife Week conflicted with Holy Week, to carry the sale over until March 31. Only meager reports so far have come in from Ernie Bihler and Dr. Merritt Pedersen as to how the sale is progressing, but what we have indicates as good a sale as last year and perhaps some larger. Ernie and the Doctor will have the details in the next issue.

Did you notice in John Bentley's column in the Nebraska State Journal, the item which read: "Maurice Frizzell, 16-year old resident of Silver Creek, volunteered his services during Wildlife Week to sell stamps in his community. Frizzell wants to stop illegal shooting, too, believing there would be a share for all if properly controlled. Some of us older fellows should take a leaf out of Maurice's book—and put our shoulder to the wheel, don't you think?

—D. L. WILLHOITE. Big Meeting at McCook

One of the largest gatherings of sportsmen ever held in southwestern Nebraska took place March 19 when nearly four hundred gathered at McCook to honor their fellow-citizen, Dr. M. Campbell, who was recently appointed a member of the State Game Commission. Dr. Campbell, C. E. Alter, Dr. Merritt Pedersen and Frank B. O'Connell were speakers. Harry Strunk was in charge of arrangements. Buffalo meat was served at the dinner, and the head of the animal, beautifully mounted, was presented to the "Bisons," of the McCook High School.

After the dinner the following counties were organized to affiliate with the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. W. O. Willhoite was in charge of the organizing.

RED WILLOW

Dr. E. W. Parmenter, chairman, McCook.

Dr. E. C. Green, secretary, McCook.

HAYES

George Kittle, chairman, Hayes Center.

Orval Shoemaker, secretary, Hamlet.

DUNDY

Harry De La Mater, chairman, Benkelman.

Dr. Glen Lorenzen, secretary, Benkelman.

FRONTIER

F. M. Allen, chairman, Curtis.

Lloyd Ervin, secretary, Curtis.

HITCHCOCK

E. Sinner, chairman, Culbertson.

Wade Martin, secretary, Stratton.

FURNAS

Eldon M. Simons, chairman, Holbrook.

Walter T. Babcock, secretary, Cambridge.

Phelps County Organized

A good meeting of Phelps County sportsmen took place at Holdrege. Chet Conn called the meeting to order. Reports of the Committee on Bird feeding were read. W. O. Willhoite, State President of the Federation, outlined the organization's work both in the state and nation. Dr. Kablinger was elected temporary chairman and Oliver Belling was appointed temporary secretary. The meeting decided to make application to the State Game Commission for a pheasant rearing project. The report on bird feeding indicated that splendid work was done in this respect during the past winter.

Buffalo County Holds Big Feed

The annual meeting of the Fort Kearney Wildlife Club was held during Wildlife Week with over 250 persons attending. Everett Randall was toastmaster and Dr. Merritt Pedersen, the main speaker. Eric Mueller is President of the Association.

Hall County Ikes Banquet

The Izaak Walton League of Hall County held their annual dinner at Grand Island Wildlife Week. Ward Betzer and Dr. Merritt Pedersen were the main speakers, while the State Game Commission furnished motion pictures. Leo Stuhr is President of the Grand Island League. He was chairman of the meeting.

Betzer National Director

Ward Betzer, President of the Nebraska Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, was named a National Director of that organization at its annual convention during March.

Franklin County Organizes

Meeting was preceded by motion pictures shown by officers of the Nebraska Fish and Game Commission. The meeting was then called to order by Les Goldsbury.

Mr. D. L. Willhoite of Superior, chairman of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation, gave a brief talk on the advantages of affiliating with the Federation. He explained that there were no dues involved and that the Federation furnished a vehicle by which the many organizations for the conserving of natural resources and wildlife could get together in support of sound legislative measures to increase and preserve wildlife in Nebraska.

Mr. Willhoite was then appointed temporary chairman, and Judge William H. Smith, temporary secretary.

It was moved by Jackson and seconded by Goldsbury that Franklin County sportsmen form an association for the conservation of wildlife in Franklin County.

It was moved by Hillman Sparks that this association be called "The Franklin County Fishermen and Hunter's Association."

Les Goldsbury was elected chairman, Hillman Sparks, vice chairman, and Wm. H. Smith, secretary.

Deputy Conservation Officer Ling then made a brief talk, stating that the State   OUTDOOR NEBRASKA Game Commission was glad to cooperate in any way possible and that the Commission would appreciate cooperation from this association in the apprehension of poachers and game law violators.

Arnold Holds Meet

On March 5th a Wildlife meeting took place at the Arnold high school auditorium. There were several speakers scheduled to appear on this program, but only one was able to appear to take part in this program. Mr. Frank B. O'Connell of Lincoln, who is Secretary of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, gave an address, and after the address showed some of the Commission's sound motion pictures which were enjoyed by all present.

In the absence of Dr. Merritt Pedersen of Lincoln, William Rosentrater of Arnold spoke briefly on the purposes of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation and also on some of its accomplishments of the last year.

There was some very fine interest shown at the meeting and the outlook for the county organization is good. The county is one of the largest in the state, so there will be a contact man appointed in each of the ten towns to work in cooperation with the county unit and the State Federation.

RECENT ARRESTS FOR GAME LAW VIOLATIONS

Jetsie Turner, 2705 Erskine St., Omaha, hunting without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $4.80.

William Rosentrater, Elsie, hunting ducks without permit. Fined $10.00, costs $3.01.

Alvin Thompson, Elsie, hunting ducks without permit. Fined $10.00, costs $3.02.

Theodore French, Tryon, hunting ducks without permit. Fined $10.00, costs $3.02.

Henry Williams, 1112 No. 23rd St., Omaha, fishing without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $5.40.

John Goodro, Sutherland, illegal possession of one beaver. Fined $10.00, costs $5.00.

Arnold Morrill, Minatare, spearing fish in closed season. Fined $10.00, costs $5.00.

Harvey Morrill, Minatare, spearing fish in closed season. Fined $10.00, costs $5.00.

Edwin Walter, Minatare, spearing fish in closed season. Fined $10.00, costs $5.00.

Merl Berrins, Minatare, spearing fish in closed season. Fined $10.00, costs $5.00.

Russell Krajexki, Kilgore, trapping on private land without permission of the landowner. Fined $10.00, costs $5.75 and 4 traps confiscated.

Gerald Cain, Macy, shooting ducks in closed season and possession of one pintail. Fined $10.00, costs $4.65 and single-barrelled shotgun confiscated.

Ben Chiles, Clay Center, Kansas, non-resident trapping beaver on resident permit. Fined $15.00, costs $5.90 and 14 beaver pelts confiscated.

Peter Cochetas, Korty (Paxton), illegal possession of two cooked wild ducks, illegal taking and killing of 5 wild ducks, hunting without a permit. Fined $75.00, costs $39.00 and 12-gauge double barrel shotgun confiscated.

Peter Cochetas, Korty (Paxton), illegal possession of one quail. Seven days in jail, costs $8.00.

Emil Steffel, Howells, taking fur-bearing animals without a permit. Fined $5.00, costs $7.00.

Phil Dworak, Schuyler, taking fur-bearing animals without a permit. Fined $5.00, costs $7.00.

Carl Broeker, Edison, hunting without a permit. Fined $5.00, costs $5.55.

Fred O. Rifenbery, Holdrege, fishing without a permit. Fined $5.00, costs $4.35.

A. C. Whitney, Ogallala, fishing and possessing pike during closed season. Fined $5.00, costs $4.00.

Arthur Van Grueningen, Ogallala, fishing and possessing pike during closed season. Fined $5.00, costs $4.00.

Edward Pueppke, Sutherland, stealing one beaver hide. Costs $11.30.

Lloyd Pueppke, Sutherland, stealing one beaver hide. Costs $11.30.

LeRoy Hubbard, Edison, hunting without a permit. Fined $5.00, costs $5.55.

Louis Bauer, Mitchell, killing one duck. Fined $10.00, costs $7.00 and Stevens single shot 12-gauge gun confiscated.

Chester Hoke, Elk Creek, raising and selling raccoon without a permit. Fined $1.00, costs $4.80.

Walter Buettner, Albion, possession and sale of furs without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $5.00.

George Babb, Chadron, hunting without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $7.45.

A. R. Elwood, Creighton, hunting without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $4.55.

Elmer Smith, Hazard, hunting without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $5.50.

Clarence Dahlstrom, Loup City, taking fur-bearing animals without permit. Fined $5.00, costs $5.55.

Hersel Johnson, Comstock, buying and selling furs without permit. Fined $25.00, costs $4.80.

Frank Bender, Humphrey, buying furs without permit. Fined $25.00, costs $5.00.

Roy Pate, McCook, illegal trapping of beaver. Fined $10.00, costs $5.40.

PLAN DEER REFUGES

Deer hunting in Nebraska. Sounds like a dream, but there is a very strong possibility of it several years from now. It will become an actuality if plans of the State Game Commission do not go wrong and deer in Nebraska increases in the future at the rate they have in the past three or four years.

A survey made during the past winter by the Game Commission found between 2,000 and 3,000 deer, most of them of the Mule specie, in the Pine Ridge section (Sioux, Dawes and Sheridan Counties) and between 400 and 450 in the National Forest divisions, near Halsey in Thomas County and Bessey in Cherry County.

Smaller groups of deer were observed during the winter in other sections. Several groups of about 40 each were seen in the Smiley Canyon area in Sioux County and a few in the Platte and Niobrara River valleys and other watered areas.

The Commission has made application, which has been acted upon favorably, for aid from the federal government under the Pittman-Robertson Act. This project will get under way this spring in the Pine Ridge section and will provide refuges for both deer and game birds. The Commission believes the Pine Ridge area to be the best suited for deer. Only a small amount of state funds will be used. Most of the money is being contributed by the federal government.

Efforts to increase the antelope population have not been successful to date and at the present time there are only two large herds in the state. There is one herd of about a hundred animals in Garden County and another herd of about two hundred which roams the southwestern part of the state and eastern Colorado.

Plans of other states where deer are raised and are hunted are being studied to find one that will fit the Nebraska situation. In some states special permits are issued each year for deer. These permits are issued in proportion to the number of animals that can be killed without depleting the stock. Half of the male stock is the basis most of them figure on.

FIND FISH CHANGE HUES TO MATCH HOME WATERS

Certain fish have the power of altering their color so as to resemble the hue of the water in which they have been confined, or which has been their habitat, it is reported by the Bureau of Fisheries. Minnows, sticklebacks, and trout are listed among those species able to add this camouflage to their appearance, and old-time fishermen often are able to tell where a trout comes from by its color.

10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Hints for Anglers

(Continued from Page 4)

brine—this will remove the formalin flavor, which is believed to be objectionable by some anglers.

Recipe No. 4—Minnows to be kept for only a few weeks or days—Place minnows one inch apart, side by side, on a piece of cloth covered with salt, cover the minnows with salt and roll up. While the salt will shrivel them somewhat, the water will cause them to become plump again.

Recipe No. 5—Use one part of formalin to 29 parts of water. Place the minnows in this solution in a tightly closed jar or bottle, keeping in a dark place until used —they will retain their color and silvery hue better than in the light. Before using soak in cold water and add a few drops of oil of rhodium to lessen the odor of the formalin.

Pork Rind

Recipe for Preserving Pork Rind: The following formula is suggested as a guide and not an infallible recipe. A certain amount of experimental work will be necessary.

Cut pork skin into strips of the desired size, freeing the skin from the fat. Then place in a 90 degree salinometer brine (one that will float a potato), seeing that it is totally submerged. Allow it to remain here until the brine has "struck through." This will require 48 hours. Then remove and drain. The skin may be bleached by soaking for a few hours in dilute hydrochloric or acetic acid, either before or after brine-curing. When the skin is well drained, pack it in bottles with a little glycerine and sufficient 10 to 20 per cent formaldehyde solution to cover. Sodium benzate may be used in place of formaldehyde.

Bait Recipes

Carp Bait: Recipe No. 1—One-half cup plain flour, one-half cup of plain corn meal, small pinch of salt, and enough water to form a fairly smooth working dough; knead into a ball and drop in boiling water, and boil for about 20 minutes, then remove. When cool, work into pellets and shape as desired. A pinch of absorbent, medicated cotton worked in stiffens and holds the dough about the hook. A bit of grated cheese added to the dough (before boiling) and thoroughly mixed, adds scent and flavor to the bait. In boiling oiled paper should be placed between the dough ball, and the bottom of the kettle to keep the dough from sticking to the bottom.

Recipe No. 2—Ingredients: Two large sized potatoes, one-half teaspoonful of salt, one tablespoonful of corn meal, wheat flour and sufficient cotton to give it the proper consistency. Peel and grate the potatoes, and mix all the ingredients together, using sufficient wheat flour to make a stiff batter. Roll into balls about the size of fifty cent pieces, drop into boiling water, and boil until they float. In baiting hooks, the balls should be cut in pieces in proportion to the size of the hook used.

Recipe No. 3—A tough paste is made of moistened bean, wheat or other flour, thoroughly mixed with a little sugar, or preferably honey. Cotton batting or wool is added to give the paste greater tenacity. If ground or mashed white meat, such as veal or pork or any bleached meat is added, the bait must be kept fresh and untainted.

Recipe No. 4—Boil rye flour to a consistency of paste, then sprinkle with corn flour and roll into a ball.

Sweet Paste: Mix bread and honey together until they are thoroughly mixed and of sufficient toughness to stay on hook.

Cheese Paste: Work grated cheese into a paste with butter and saffron, using bread as a base—if new cheese is used, stale bread is necessary and vice versa.

Miscellaneous

How to Smoke Fish in Camp: Clean but do not skin. Small fish should be split down the back into two pieces; larger fish should be cut into smaller sections. Soak the pieces of fish in a solution of one part salt to ten parts water for five or six hours. A wire screen is then erected over an open fire about four feet above the fire, and the fish allowed to cook for about fifteen minutes; then smother the fire with green maple (preferred) and let the fish smoke for four or five hours. If kept in a cool place fish thus prepared will keep for a long time.— (R. E. Coulson.)

How to Tan a Snake's Skin: To tan any snake skin, cover the fresh skin with salt and let it lie for two days. Then soak in clear water until soft and flesh off all bits of fat and membrane. To leave the scales on, tighten them by soaking 10 minutes in a solution of one part water, one part glycerine, and one-fourth part liquid carpenter's glue. Hang skin up to dry for 10 minutes, then wipe with a cloth and you are ready to tan. Mix 1 pint of salt, 2 ounces of oxalic acid and 1 gallon of soft water. Leave skin in this 12 hours. Stir occasionally, then rinse in a soda bath composed of one pail soft water and one cup of sal soda. Rinse again thoroughly and press flat with scale side out. Dry partially between layers of paper weighted to keep the skin from curling. When nearly dry soften by drawing across the edge of a one-half inch board. Do this until skin is perfectly dry. Then dampen skin and repeat, working until it dries almost soft. Burnish scales by pressing with a heavy smooth cool iron. The last step is to polish on the scale side, with white shellac, diluted with one-third part wood alcohol. Much hinges on how long the snake shed his skin. New thin hides are hard to handle.—(Outdoor Life.)

How to Measure a Fish: Lay fish on flat surface, mark the points to which the tip of lower jaws and tip of tail reach, then measure with tape.

Girth—Around widest part of fish.

Length—From tip of lower jaw to tip of tail.

Fish are sometimes measured from lower jaw to fork of tail.

PRIZE FISH STORY

Abner Roe, a prominent Izaak Waltonian of Washington, D. C, has verification for the prize fish story of the year * * * bass casting on the Potomac River, Roe was frequently annoyed because his line was snubbing on subsurface roots and other obstructions * * * one especially vigorous cast placed the plug close to shore * * * as Roe attempted to reel in, the line grew taut * * * he had hooked a redhead duck through the fleshy part of the wing * * * the bird had been crippled and was unable to fly * * * next season, Roe says he's going to take his rod and reel with him when he goes duck hunting * * * "If I can't shoot 'em, I can hook 'em," he believes.

OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 11

DUCKS FLYING NORTH

Between 35 and 60 million migratory waterfowl are winging their way northward as the annual spring migrations to the breeding grounds in Alaska, Canada, and northern states get under way, the Bureau of Biological Survey, United States Department of the Interior, estimated. Though final reports of the nationwide inventory held last January are not completed, it is generally believed that the birds are returning to the breeding ground in somewhat better condition than last year.

Regarding reports during the past winter that many ducks starved in the cold periods, survey officials declared that laboratory examinations of birds from several areas showed without exception that the affected birds were subnormal and usually the victims of lead poisoning. It was this latter condition, it is believed, that prevented some of the waterfowl from continuing their usual migratory flight and resulted in their starvation when freezing weather cut off the food supplies. Investigations, however, revealed no considerable waterfowl losses as a result of starvation.

During the fall migration last year some observers placed the southward flight of migratory birds as much as 20 per cent greater than that for the fall flight of 1938. While survey officials believed these figures were excessive, the Bureau's investigations left no doubt that the breeding season had been successful and that additional gains had been made.

A preliminary study of the data obtained in this year's January inventory confirms the observations made last summer and fall by the four flyway biologists of the Biological Survey, and it appears that the continental supply of waterfowl returning northward this year may be as much as 15 per cent greater than last spring.

Though the migratory waterfowl population as a whole is thus increasing at an encouraging rate, Survey officials expressed disappointment at the slow rate of recovery of canvasbacks and redheads, on which special hunting restrictions have been in effect in recent years. They also expressed concern for Canada geese. One explanation for the slow recovery of the geese, it was said, was an excessive kill made in some parts of the country.

Biological Survey experts are also apprehensive regarding the forthcoming nesting season. Reports from the southern part of the breeding grounds are somewhat alarming, it was said. There is great danger of drought conditions that may be as serious as were those in 1934.

Reports of the U. S. Weather Bureau and the Dominion Meteorological Service of Canada indicate a great deficiency in precipitation over the central part of the continent. Unless spring rains are copious, the waterfowl may face another grave situation.

It will be recalled that by 1935, the migratory waterfowl population of the continent had dwindled to what is hoped will prove to be an all-time low. Their numbers were then estimated at about 30 million. The Biological Survey recommended rather severe hunting restrictions to save the breeding stock from greater depletion. As a result of these restrictions and an enlarged refuge program, the birds during the past five years have been able to take advantage of improved climatic conditions and have increased steadily, as shown by the annual January inventories.

Though almost the entire country east of the Rocky Mountains was under a blanket of snow and ice, which extended south to the Gulf of Mexico, about 2,000 Biological Survey workers and cooperators joined in the inventory last January. Assisting the observers were the Army Air Corps, Naval Air Service, Coast Guard, a commercial tire comprny, the Soil Conservation Service, National Park Service, Forest Service, State conservation departments, and others.

FORMER PRAIRIE LAND IS NOW ANGLER'S DELIGHT

Belle Fourche Dam, South Dakota, built early in the century when the Bureau of Reclamation was itself a pioneering agency has formed the largest artificial lake in the state. The reservoir stores irrigation water for project lands. In addition, with the assistance of the state game and fish department, which stocked the lake with varieties best adapted to the surroundings, a fine recreational resort has been formed where before dry prairie lands alternately sizzled and froze. In recent years sportsmen have gone there particularly for pike fishing which cannot be equalled for many miles around.

REFUSE VENISON

Can you imagine anyone refusing a gift of deer meat, venison? C. C. Herling, state game warden at Scottsbluff, had that novel experience two weeks ago. A motorist hit a doe deer, breaking its leg and it was killed by Herling. He then tried to give the meat away and what a job he had. He was refused by many housewives with the plea that they didn't know how to cook it. Others were afraid to take it. Herling spent the greater part of a day in getting rid of the meat and the most appreciative of all who accepted any was an Indian living in a tent with a family of seven.

CITIZENS HELP ENFORCE LAWS

"What shall I do when I see a game law violated?"

This is a question many sportsmen in the field ask themselves each year. Many would like to help the game warden, but do not know how to go about it.

Enforcement of the game laws of Nebraska is a duty of the private citizen and the State Game Commission is asking the help and co-operation of everyone toward that end. The Game Commission spends one-fourth of its funds in law enforcement, but it has only seventeen men in the field for that purpose. This means that these seventeen men have 77,520 square miles of territory to patrol, which is some job.

A number of organized sportsmen and gun clubs are now assisting with game observers. These observers are not known in the community where they work and furnish confidential reports to the game conservation officers. In some localities there is a local committee rendering this aid.

Under Nebraska laws the conservation officers are not the only ones charged with enforcement of game laws. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and other police officers are charged with that duty. Not only are they charged to make prompt investigation of violations reported to them, but they are charged to file complaints, when justified after investigation, and help with the prosecution.

Secretary Frank B. O'Connell of the State Game Commission, has prepared a code of five points for all sportsmen to consider and follow. It is:

1. Get acquainted with the Conservation Officer in charge of the district in which you live.

2. Consider that the wildlife in your community belongs to you and your neighbors and guard it like you do your domestic poultry.

3. Talk to boys whenever you get a chance and discourage the gathering of eggs, the shooting of birds or molesting fish life.

4. Watch out for the pheasant sniper, the duck blaster and the ash hog, and ascertain when and where they are operating.

5. Try to get the number of the car of any one seen violating the game laws, and report it promptly to the District Conservation Officer or the County Sheriff.

Let us all help in the cause of Izaak Walton—help make and keep good fishing in Nebraska.

12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

A Plea For Great Plains Forestry

(Continued from Page 5)

of these fine early plantings that farmers were given blunt demonstrations of wind damage, which brought a new realization of the tree's place in agriculture.

Because of many failures and the passing of such men of influence as Robert W. Furnas, J. Sterling Morton, and Dr. Charles E. Bessey, father of the Nebraska National Forest in the Sandhills, planting interest waned among following generations from the turn of the century until within the past decade. But during the last few years there has been a tremendous surge of interest in tree planting, occasioned no doubt by a staggering loss of trees and a fuller realization by the public that forestry is a necessary part of agriculture. In 1934, because of drouth, dust storms and widespread destruction of farms, there was general alarm throughout the Great Plains, and demands were made on the Federal Government for aid, which culminated in remedial undertakings by the Forestry Service and the Soil Conservation Service in this region.

According to our latest information, the Forest Service, since 1935, has assisted farmers in planting 11,000 miles of field shelterbelts on 17,000 farms of the Plains. This has required more than 125 million trees and, according to conservative estimates, will eventually furnish wind protection to more than 2 million acres of crop lands. Many of these plantings were made where residents were convinced that trees could not be grown, but by correlation of species and soil and the application of sound principles of forestry, the Forest Service has shown that trees are successful in such areas. The faster growing species of the shelterbelts planted in 1935 range now up to 35 feet tall in the south and to more than 20 feet in the north, this during the severest drouth period the Plains has known. Many plantings were made in sandy areas which were being ruined by the winds, but already these have stabilized the soil, eliminated crop sand-blasting, prevented serious crop damage from hot winds, and brought new courage and hope to farmers who were once ready to quit. Shelterbelts on the finer textured soils are showing equal improvement to adjacent crop lands and increases of crop yields in their lee are very noticeable. Wildlife, especially game and insectivorous birds, is multiplying with great rapidity under the new cover of these plantings, while the older shelterbelts will soon be a continuing source of firewood, fence posts and other necessary wood products for the farms. In the fields protected by these plantings the fertility of the soil seems to be returning since the light organic matter is no longer blown away.

During about this same period the Soil Conservation Service has operated in the region, and has aided farmers in planting thousands of seres to trees and shrubs in badly eroding gullies and drainage ways. These plantings, besides retarding gully erosion and checking damaging floods, are also forming a habitat for wildlife and will soon become continuous woodlots, as well as bringing shade, comfort and beauty to the countryside.

Under the provisions of the Clarks-McNary Act, several million trees are annually distributed for farmstead and feedlot windbreak planting, but they supply only a small part of the needs for such plantings on the Plains. These are the types of plantings to protect homes, gardens and orchards, and when properly located effect considerable savings for the farmer -who feeds livestock. Millions of cattle are still being wintered and fattened in the open, fully exposed to winter winds.

Probably 95 per cent of the rural schoolhouses on the Great Plains have little or no tree protection, whereas every rural school needs a generous planting of carefully selected trees and shrubs around the grounds for the protection of children at play, conservation of fuel in heating the building and to afford an outdoor classroom where youth will be trained in the knowledge of our important trees and woody shrubs and become familiar with their use in relation to our agricultural, economic and social problems. Similar plantings are needed about church yards and extensive groves should be established for the purposes of recreation. In some areas even small community forests might prove feasible.

Although the tremendous surge of interest in tree planting of the last five years has brought gratifying progress, the total amount of planting by all agencies, Federal, State and private, is still far short of the immediate needs of the Plains. There are still many thousands of farms upon which shelterbelts and farmstead windbreaks should be planted if any appreciable progress is to be made toward bringing general relief to agriculture in the region.

It is admitted that not all of this vast amount of work can wait to be done by Federal agencies, but because of the diversity of conditions and very immensity of the job, the various state extension departments and state foresters need the aid and cooperation which the facilities, trained technique and experienced men of our Federal agencies can afford. We realize that eventually these several states must take over a large share of this work, but at the present time our respective states lack the organization, equipment, and ready finance to assume responsibility for a task so urgent and so vast. We further feel, however, that since our states contribute support to the forestry program in other parts of the United States, and since we have problems of equal importance, and in many respects more complicated and difficult, we are entitled to some permanent cooperation from the Forest Service, which is the recognized Forestry Agency in our country. This, our people ask only in fairness.

The farmers of the Great Plains now look to the Forest Service to continue its assistance and advice in their forestation problems at this time of great need. The repeated drouths of recent years have necessitated restriction of funds for our Agricultural Colleges, and therefore it would have been impossible for extension departments and their foresters even to have attempted an undertaking so large as that which is being carried on by the Forest Service. In Nebraska we feel highly grateful for this fine work, and stand ready not only to lend our every facility for its success, but to cooperate in such a manner that there will be no duplication, friction, nor division of purpose.

The Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska has carried out extensive surveys relating to soils, water, land use, timber and grass lands, and their proper inter-relationship in the general structure of the state's economic and social well-being. This information and our facilities are always available to all agencies, Federal, State, municipal, and private. We particularly appreciate the work of the Forest Service in our state as evidenced by the unstinted support we have endeavored to lend in a cooperative effort. We are asking Congress to look with favor on the continuance of the Forest Service program in our state, and if continued pledge our efforts to make this great tree planting program the ultimate product of the combined efforts of our state institutions and agencies cooperating with the Federal government to conserve and restore the soils, water, and agricultural resources of our state.

The nation is already paying the price of the ills of agriculture on the Great Plains, through the loss of crops, lower purchasing power of farmers, direct relief, migration of populations, disturbance of economic balance, and other unfortunate conditions. These will continue and grow worse unless agriculture in this area is made more stable. We must have a well-planned, adequately coordinated, scientifically sound forestry program, based on   OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 13 the solution of the problems peculiar to our region.

One pressing need is the establishment of the Great Plains Experiment Station, which was authorized by Congress in 1936. This station has not yet been financed despite repeated appeals. There are twelve forest experiment stations in the United States, their functions primarily being to bring about the greatest economic use of forests for the production of lumber and other wood products, but with relatively little attention being given to afforestation in such regions as the Great Plains where the problems are unique, intricate, and diverse. Great accomplishments have been made in this area by state experiment stations which have been devoted primarily to improvement in grain crops and livestock by means of selection, breeding, and development of strains and species adapted to the area, but in the field of forestry little has been attempted in forest genetics, the search for more dominant strains and development of forest species more suited to this region. Sufficient work has been done elsewhere, however, to indicate that amazing results may be expected through cross-breeding of trees, as one example of the many lines of research which should be explored. Because of' the great importance of forestry to Plains' agriculture, the vastness of the area and the complicated nature of its problems, this great outdoor laboratory is urgently needed as part of the program for shelterbelt, windbreak, range livestock protection, ornamental, recreational, and wildlife plantings. As conceived, such a station would cooperate closely with the State Agricultural Colleges of the Great Plains in working out the problems peculiar to their respective areas, and would become the central clearing house for information relating to the arboreal life of the region.

It is readily apparent from the brief resume of the facts in the preceding paragraphs that the program of forestry on the Great Plains is of sufficient importance to this region in particular, and the nation at large, that it must be continued. It must be put on the basis of long-time planning, not possible under the piece-meal procedure of emergency financing which of necessity is predicated on the need for relief employment rather than on the needs of agriculture. The Prairie States Forestry Project of the Forest Service is unstably financed, operating wholly on W.P.A. funds as a work relief project. This project needs stable financial status so that it can make necessary long-range plans in complete cooperation with the extension departments of our Agricultural Colleges and thus combine its facilities with our state agencies who are tirelessly striving to serve the best interests of agriculture. On behalf of the Great Plains States we are therefore requesting the continuance of the work of the Forest Service in our region and asking that it be given sufficient allotment of funds to permit it to operate under a sound and efficient policy.

FISHING INCREASES

Fresh water fishing in the United States moved up another notch in its standing in the big league of national sports last year, when an increase of more than 500,000 in the number of anglers paying state license fees brought a total of 7,436,177 licenses issued during the year, it is revealed in tabulations of the Bureau of Fisheries submitted to Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes.

Pointing out that the statistics do not include the thousands of anglers who are permitted to fish without state licenses along the seacoasts and in the oceans. Bureau experts estimated that if the salt water fishermen were added to the census of fresh water rod and reel enthusiasts, more than 12,000,000 individuals participated in the aquatic sport in 1938.

Reports from state officials indicate that of the total number of licenses issued, 5,453,426 were for fishing alone, while 1,982,751 licenses included fishing, hunting and trapping privileges. More than 89,000 anglers' licenses were issued to women and children, and 275,552 short-term licenses were sold to tourists in sports centers of the nation.

Michigan led all the 48 states in the issuance of resident and non-resident fishing licenses, the tabulations show, its total of 807,930 including 110,719 trout fishing permits. Ohio ranked second, with 631,126 licenses, and New York third, with 542,346 licenses issued.

Standing of the other states in the Big Ten League of sports fishing is shown in the tabulations as follows:

Minnesota, 538,668 licenses; Indiana, 447,560; Pennsylvania, 401,710; Illinois, 385,866; California, 374,161; Wisconsin, 180,612, and Oklahoma, 118,826.

In New England, Maine's score of 117,290 barely nosed out the Massachusetts total of 116,551 licenses, which included 17,879 for women and children.

Altogether, 443,956 licenses were issued in the New England sector, the tabulation crediting Vermont with 85,793; New Hampshire, 75,025; Connecticut, 36,540, and Rhode Island, 12,757.

In the south, where 307,228 licenses were issued, Tennessee ranked first with 101,272; North Carolina, second, with 49,793, and Virginia, third with 40,991.

The score in other southern states shows that Florida issued 28,285 licenses, Arkansas, 27,702, Georgia, 23,233, Louisiana, 19,227, South Carolina, 11,024, and Mississippi, 5,701.

Summing up the talley sheet, it is revealed that issuance of fishing licenses during 1938 resulted in the collection of $10,220,787.73 in fees which went to the states for the enforcement of fish laws, educational work, administration, and the raising of fish for restocking the sports streams.

Looking back over the records of national sports fishing for the past five years, bureau experts found an increase of more than 2,500,000 in the number of anglers during the period from 1933 to 1938.

"PLANTED" DEER THRIVE

Austin, Texas.—Deer transplanted to areas where there once was deer, but where they had been eliminated, or practically so, thrive to the degree allowed by the amount of food and cover available. The latest report of a successful planting received by the executive secretary of the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission is from Brown County. Approximately fifteen bucks and does were trapped and shipped to that county several years ago by the Game Department. The report of the game warden there shows that there are approximately 250 deer in the county at the present time.

14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

NEW PHEASANT-REARING UNITS

Work of establishing twenty-five new cooperative pheasant-rearing units in Nebraska got under way last week with the delivery of equipment by the State Game Commission to the cooperative groups sponsoring the projects. Twenty-six units were in operation in 1939, which will now give the state a total of fifty-one units.

This pheasant-rearing movement is an activity of the State Commission with financial aid from the government under the Pittman-Robertson Act. The government provides three-fourths of the money for the equipment and the State Game Commission furnishes the other fourth, the birds, supervises and otherwise helps the cooperating groups. These groups are various game and wildlife clubs, civic clubs and others.

Equipment furnished each unit consists of a brooder house, sun porch, shelter pen, wire run, small feeders, large feeders, small waters, large waters, feed and water stands, electric brooder hovers, posts and signs for game refuge area and blueprints on how to set up the equipment.

Delivery of birds to the units will start about June 15. Each unit receives about 220 birds. This year, as last year, the Mongolian type of pheasant will be distributed. It is slightly larger than the Chinese pheasant with which the state was first stocked and is hardier. It is darker on the back than the Chinese type, which has considerable green on the back.

Each unit has a manager or caretaker, appointed by the sponsoring group, and his work is to see that the equipment is properly installed, the refuge area has adequate nesting cover, winter feed, protective cover and water. Several varieties of small grains must be planted to provide a winter feed supply and small check dams erected in small watercourses to provide sufficient water, if necessary.

Following are the locations of nineteen units established this year: Alliance (Hugh D. Schooley, chairman); Ashland (O. J. Lohr), Chadron (D. C. Short), Clay Center (E. S. Wolfe), Crawford (R. H. McDowell), Crete (Ben G. Miller), Gordon (no chairman appointed), Hemingford (no chairman appointed), Holdrege (Don Joy), Humboldt (R. Vertiska, Jr.), Kearney (R. D. Richardson), Minden (Soren Peterson), Memphis (George Baker), Papillion (G. F. Cordes), Platte Center (George Burrows), Rushville (Francis McFarland), Shickley (Carl Wentnersteen), St. Paul (LaVerne Jacobsen), York (Myron L. Holm). Six more units are to be located.

The twenty-six units in operation in 1939 and which will operate again this year are: Albion (James Struve), Auburn (Homer Mathews), Aurora (C. G. Bremer), Beatrice (Dr. R. C. Noble), Beaver City (Clarke Kelley), Blair (Charlie Gaydou), Callaway (Wm. F. Haycock), Columbus (Harry Winsinger), Curtis (Lloyd Ervin), David City (Richard Zeilinger), Elwood (Cloyd Clark), Franklin (Chet Joy), Genoa (W. D. Rowdin), Gladstone (Emil R. Scheen), Gladstone (Ernest Kriesel), Grand Island (Leo Stuhr), Lincoln (Harry Jesperson), Lyons (W. E. Paulsen), Neligh (Walt Bradley), North Bend (L. L. Fitzsimmons), Osmond (Eugene Liewer), Pierce (Elvin Bowen), Red Cloud (Eric Steiner), Schuyler (Rev. A. Bergt), Shelton (Don C. Smith), South Sioux City (Clarence Rockwell).

The quail cover restoration project of the State Commission also will get under way this spring and plans are to have at least forty-five demonstrational areas before the year ends. These areas will be located where the Bob White flourished in the years gone by and where it looks most favorable for a restoration of cover and feed for them.

Nebraska Fishing Laws and Regulations

Effective September 15, 1939, to September 15, 1940 OPEN SEASON, BAG and POSSESSION LIMITS, GAME FISH

The following open seasons, bag and possession limits are fixed, prescribed and published, effective September 15, 1939, and shall remain in effect until September 15, 1940:

Specie Open Season (Both Dates Inclusive) Area Open Size Limits Daily Bag Possession Any Time Trout Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State (except state-owned lakes) Keep All 10 10 Bass (L.M. & S.M.) Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 10 inches 5 10 Crappie Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 6 inches 15 25 Sunfish Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State Keep All 15 25 Rock Bass Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 6 inches 15 25 Bullheads Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 6 inches 15 25 Perch Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 Entire State Keep All 25 25 Catfish Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State (except Mo. River permit) 10 inches 10 15 Pike, Walleye May 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 12 inches 5 5 Pike, Northern May 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 15 inches 5 5 Pike, Sauger or sand May 1 to Nov. 30 Entire State 12 inches 5 5 Trout Mar. 1 to Nov. 30 State-owned lakes i. e., Fremont Sand Pits, Louisville Sand Pits, Rock Ck. Lake Keep All 5 5 Catfish Jan. 1 to Mar. May 1 to Dec. 16 31 Missouri River only by Commercial Permit 13 inches No Limit No Limit

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 from midnight to midnight.

"Possession 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 with hook and line at any time without limits on size, bag or possession. They may be speared between sunrise and sunset from April 1st to December 1st.

Under proper Commercial Permit issued, catfish may be taken from the Missouri River by nets, the meshes of which are not less than one and a half inches square, at any time of the year except from March 16 to May 1.

It is POSITIVELY FORBIDDEN to take the legal bag of fish and return to fishing waters and take another bag the same day. Fishermen are warned that persons so doing will be prosecuted and full damages of $5.00 per fish assessed.

Effective January 1, 1940, the Hunting and Fishing fees are as follows:

Combination Hunting and Fishing $1.60 Hunting $1.10 Fishing $1.10

The Nebraska state laws require every person (male or female) over sixteen years of age to hold a permit.

INFORMATION ABOUT NEBRASKA FISHING LAKES (Season of 1940)

Certain state-owned lakes are not open at all times or hours to fishing. The following information, which is posted at the lake, is for your information:

PIBEL LAKE (Wheeler County) COTTONMILL LAKE (Buffalo County) Open daily May 1st to November 30th. Fishing hours 4 Open daily March 1st to November 30th. Fishing hours 4 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily. Bag, 15 game fish, 5 of which may be A.M. to 10 P.M. daily. Bag limit, 15 game fish, 5 ©f which bass in proper open season. may be bass. MEMPHIS LAKE (Saunders County) ROCK CREEK LAKE (Dundy County) This lake will be open March 1st and then will be closed Open daily march 1st to November 30th. Daily bag and Thursday, Friday and until noon Saturday of each week. Fishing possession limit, 25 game fish, 5 of which may be trout, and 5 bass. hours 4 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily. The bag limit on fish is of which may be bass. Fishing hours 4 A.M. to 10 P.M. not more than 10 in any one day, all species combined. VERDON LAKE (Richardson County) This lake will be closed for repairs until May lst. SAND PIT LAKES (Dodge and Cass Counties) Louisville and Fremont Sand Pits open daily March lst to WELLFLEET LAKE (Lincoln County) November 30th. Fishing hours from 4 A.M. to 10 P.M. Bag Open daily March 1st to November 30th. Daily bag and limit, 15 game fish, 5 of which may be trout. possession limit, 25 game fish, 5 of which may be bass. Fishing hours 4 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily. WALGREN LAKE (Sheridan County) HASTINGS STATE RECREATION GROUNDS LAKE Open daily March lst to November 30th. Fishing hours 4 (Adams County) A.M. to 10 P.M. daily. Bag limit on all fish, not more than 15 Open daily March lst to November 30th. Bag limit, 10 in in any one day. any one day, all species combined.

No fishing is permitted at any state-owned lakes from 10 P.M. to 4 A.M.

On state-owned lakes do not use other than regular lines attached to poles having not more than two hooks thereon and not more than two lines to any one person.

GAME, FORESTATION & PARKS COMMISSION

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

Get Your New Permit NOW!

In 1940 there are three kinds of hunting and fishing permits on sale. They are as follows:

FISHING PERMIT

Entitles the holder to fish but not to hunt any place in Nebraska where there are public waters available or in privately owned waters where the consent of the owner is obtained. Permits are good from January 1 to December 31. Price $1.10.

HUNTING PERMIT

Entitles the holder to hunt during proper open seasons but not to fish. Persons hunting on either public or private properties throughout the State of Nebraska must have a permit. Good January 1 to December 31. Price $1.10.

COMBINATION HUNTING AND FISHING PERMIT

Entitles the holder to both hunt and fish. Good from January 1 to December 31. Price $1.60.

In addition to the above, coon hunters are now required to hold a "Coon Hunter's Permit". These cost $2.60 each and are good from January 1 to December 31. If you take raccoon and opossum with dogs, get this permit. If you take them with steel traps, get a Trapper's Permit. This costs $2.60 for 1940. They are good from January 1 to December 31.

Get Your Permit Today! GAME, FORESTATION & PARKS COMMISSION LINCOLN