Pittman-Robertson Activities

EFFECTIVE as of July 1, 1941, our old Pittman-Robertson Project 2-D, known as the Quail Restoration Project, will have been dropped and in its place, substituted Project 5-D, which will be known as the Upland Game Restoration Project.

It is our plan that during the next fiscal year to operate two crews of men; one in the northeastern part of Nebraska comprising of Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Wayne, Pierce and possibly Antelope county; and another crew in the southwestern part of the state comprising the counties of Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Red Willow, Gosper and Furnas. Each crew will be responsible for establishing demonstrational areas within their respective districts to aid the species of upland game bird that can be most benefited by restoration of nesting cover and winter cover.

In southeastern Nebraska, a bird that could be primarily benefited was our old friend, the bobwhite quail. This bird may also receive considerable attention in the southwestern counties where there are quite a number of quail at the present time and where it is worked, we can be instrumental in assisting the sportsmen and the landowners to bring this bird back to its once great numbers.

In northeastern Nebraska, where there is an opportunity to restore habitat for quail, we will plan to do so, but for the most part, much of the attention will be centered on the restoration of the area for the ring-necked pheasant.

As the program progresses for the next five or six years, it is expected that the entire state shall be covered with these demonstrational areas and that all of our upland game birds will receive material benefit. All of us are anxious to get into the hill country where we can furnish considerable assistance toward the restoration of grouse and prairie chicken. We realize that restoration activities for one bird will certainly be of benefit to every other species of bird in that area, but we realize also that different birds have slightly different requirements which will cause us to place more emphasis on these specific requirements for certain birds when working in their natural surroundings.

To the landowners cooperating under this program, material benefit and aid will be extended in erosion control. Planting of windbreaks, planting of gullies, sodding of waterways, etc., will also help to prevent wind and water erosion and should help to improve the value of the land. In addition, where the numbers of birds are depleted and it is shown that stocking is necessary, birds will be brought in and liberated on the restored area. These new demonstrational areas will not be called "Game Refuges", but rather they will be called "Game Management Areas". As this is a new undertaking in the State of Nebraska, we had best explain in little more detail just what we are attempting to do when we speak of game management and the restoration of upland game bird habitat.

We expect that farmers in a group comprising several sections of land will enter into an agreement with the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission to the effect that they will allow limited hunting on their lands in so far as the breeding stock on their land is not depleted. This will allow for the harvesting of what we call a "shootable surplus". The restored area on these demonstrational grounds will be of varying sizes and shapes and will be closed to all hunting for the period of time under which the agreement remains in effect; which agreement will be effective for a period of fifteen (15) or even twenty-five (25) years. Each area will be posted conspicuously, marking it as a game management area and is not to be confused with the game refuge area, several of which are located at strategic points in the state at the present time. Likewise, the restored areas within the demonstrational areas will be properly posted and marked so that no sportsman will have a valid excuse for trespassing on these sanctuaries for wildlife.

A program of this kind has been tried in other states for several years and has been found highly satisfactory. Other state directors have told us that, in years past, it was customary during the hunting season to find cars parked on the highway near every suitable bit of cover, meaning, of course, that the sportsmen were prone to go on to private lands without the permission of the landowners. Where a hunter wishes to hunt on a game management area, under this system, it is necessary that he receive the explicit permission of the landowner, which in turn means that he will probably park his car in the farmer's yard. It might be well for all of you sportsmen who contemplate making a hunting trip this fall to make it a point to ask each and every landowner, on whose land you wish to hunt, for his permission to hunt thereon.

DURING the forepart of June, all of the Cooperative Pheasant Rearing units were supplied with day-old pheasant poults. Unfortunately, all of the thirty-seven units that were planning to raise two broods of poults received their birds during the unseasonably cold windy weather and some loss occurred due to chilling in transit. However, these birds were replaced in some instances so that the various groups would have a fair chance to raise a desirable number of birds.

Up to the present time, some 13,480 day-old birds have been delivered, and according to weekly mortality report cards, that are sent into this office, losses have been very, very light so that it is probable that last year's average of 80 per cent of the birds raised of those started will be exceeded.

A complete list of the cooperative units, including the number of birds delivered to each unit, is as follows:

"The Farmer Cooperator in Quail Restoration"

IN past years, the questions of farmer-sportsmen relationships have been discussed by many people and groups of people. Some of these discussions have been constructive, resulting in improvement of farmer-sportsmen relationships through cooperative work to aid wildlife on private lands. Other discussions have been devoted entirely to the sportsman condemning the farmer and the farmer cursing the sportsmen. It is only recently that large scale endeavors have been used to bring the two together in a cooperative manner to obtain mutual benefits.

One of the first efforts toward this aim on the part of the State Game Department has been the Quail Restoration Program in southeastern Nebraska. This program, based on the idea of mutual aid, through game restoration for the hunter, erosion control and farm improvement for the farmer has been well received by farmers and sportsmen alike, and by their efforts, is now nearing completion.

In a brief summary of the work to date, the figures show that 96,800 trees and shrubs were planted for feed and cover for wildlife; all such plantings were on gullies, banks and waste patches, so aiding in farm improvement. All plantings were fenced.

Many areas naturally favorable to wildlife were fenced to prevent grazing and trampling by livestock. These fencing operations involved the use of approximately 300 spools of barbed wire and 4,000 osage orange fence posts which amounts to 21 miles of fence. The construction of the fence was handled both by farmers and a crew from the State Game Department.

The degree which such cooperation may be expected to attain is well shown by an individual concerned in the Quail Restoration Program. In the case of Mr. Rudolph Heusman, a farmer living northwest of Sterling, Nebraska, the spirit with which the farmer will enter into such a program is displayed to the greatest.

Early in the summer of 1940, Mr. Heusman's name was brought to the attention of a field representative of the State Game Department, who contacted him and explained the details of the work in which they wished to aid him. After thinking the situation over for about a week, Mr. Heusman decided that he would like to participate. Agreement papers for the establishment of a game refuge were signed and the farm was surveyed for working possibilities at this time.

Mr. Heusman pointed out that he had one severe gully and another small one starting in a newly established brome grass pasture which he would like to check, if possible. Such conditions are ideal for game conservation work and presented an opportunity for the State to help the farmer. Arrangements were made to start work in the fall of 1940.

In September, the farmer was furnished with 100 pounds of grass seed mixture to seed down the banks of the gullies in an attempt to hold the soil from washing and to establish cover for wildlife. It was also suggested that any seed left over might be used to seed fence-line field borders for permanent turnrows. When the field representative returned a week later, he found that in addition to seeding the gullies, nearly every fence line on the farm had been seeded.

Mr. Heusman's interest in the work grew, and when visited at successive intervals it was found that he had interested his neighbors in the program and the size of the refuge grew to include eight different farms in the vicinity. On being supplied with signs, Mr. Heusman posted the entire area against hunting and built a feeding shelter for birds on his farm where he fed a covey of quail during the winter months.

In February of 1941, he completely fenced out the two gullies and began preparations for planting trees, shrubs and additional grass.

On April 1st, he was supplied with 1,300 shrubs for use in planting the gullies. A week later to the day, he was just finishing the planting, having worked every day from morning to night and even during rainy weather. He asked for more plants! These were gladly given to him, not only once but twice; a total of 2,900 trees and shrubs. In addition to planting them on the banks of gullies, he planted several of his fence lines to shrubbery, also several eroded areas in cultivated fields. As if this were not enough for one season, he began transplanting native trees and shrubs from a timbered area along the creek and from seedlings which he had grown from seed that he had collected from trees around his farm. He also bought fruit trees and grape vines to plant in the fenced-out areas in order to start a small orchard for future use.

In talking with Mr. Heusman, he has mentioned several times that he believed the work which he has done will improve the value of his farm and will increase the amount of wildlife. He expects to receive considerable aid in insect control from having an increased supply of birds on his farm; both from the natural influx to a favorable area, and from stocking of quail on his land.

There are many individual cases, comparable to that of Mr. Heusman's, where a great amount of work has been done during the past year and where cooperation of the farmer was whole-hearted, but there are many more instances where work can be and should be done. Many sportsmen's groups could easily take part in such a program by contacting their farmer friends and helping them with such work on their lands.

Never let it be said that the farmer will not cooperate!

Pittman-Robertson Activities

About the middle of July, the first thirty-seven names on this list will receive second broods of pheasant poults, and about August 1st we will begin to make releases on the refuge areas that the several groups have made to receive these birds.

YOUR NEBRASKA

How well do you know Nebraska . . . your own home state? Do you know, for instance, that Nebraska has seven beautiful state parks and twenty-five convenient recreation grounds? Do you know that right in Nebraska you can find many excellent places for bass fishing? There are loads of fine places for camping . . . and many interesting scenic and historical spots. Plan to see Nebraska this year. Take your family on pleasant little weekend jaunts ... or arrange a regular two-week vacation in Nebraska.

"Prairie Chickens and Grass"

CAN prairie chickens tell grass from sagebrush? Can they tell weeds from grass? Where do prairie chickens spend their time in fall and early winter? Where do they roost? Is just any pasture a good place for them? If not, what's the difference between a pasture the birds use and one they don't use? Information on these and other questions was obtained from field investigations in the sandhills of Chase County during the fall and early winter of 1940.

Prairie chickens resemble all other kinds of animal life in requiring a place to live and something to eat. In Nebraska, they can get plenty of grasshoppers and other insects for food until the first hard freeze of fall practically puts an end to this kind of food supply. After that, cornfields and sorghum shocks provide foods upon which these birds seem to thrive.

But prairie chickens don't like to stay in cornfields all day, nor all night, and if the grass nearby is too short or too heavily grazed, they probably will not even stay in the locality at this season.

One part of the 1940 investigation compared neighboring pastures, hoping to find out why the prairie chickens roosted in one pasture and seemed to avoid another pasture just across the fence. Was it just chance, or was there actually some difference in the pastures?

In comparing the two pastures, the following points were considered: (1) height of tall plant stems; (2) amount of understory present; (3) amount of sagebrush. Understory refers to the fallen, tangled and dead grasses, which commonly form a mat covering or cushion in the fall of the year.

One pasture, used by prairie chickens, had been moderately grazed; the other pasture showed evidence of heavy grazing.

Grass and other plant stems were counted on equal areas of the two pastures. Stems over two feet in height were found to be over nine times more numerous on the area used by prairie chickens than on the adjoining heavily grazed areas. Stems over one foot in height were common in both pastures, but were five times as numerous in the pasture used by the birds. This seems to indicate that more tall stems are desirable, if a grass area is to be used as cover by prairie chickens.

Weeds of a type useless as forage for cattle, or as protective cover for wildlife, were much more common in the pasture which was avoided by the birds.

So much for the tall stems. Now, what about the understory, or litter of fallen grasses? The answer to this is short: the understory in the area used by prairie chickens had an average height of ten inches. In the nearby pasture, not used by the chickens, the understory was completely lacking.

"But of what importance is the understory?" someone asks. The prairie chicken has been given, by nature, a protective coloring which enables it to blend into a surrounding of grasses and other vegetation. Unless pressed by some attacker, it will often choose to remain motionless rather than expose itself in flight. Obviously, the understory is of great value in providing concealment for this bird. And when cold winds blow, such a ground covering of tangled grasses becomes a welcome windbreak.

How do prairie chickens react to the presence of sagebrush in their environment? The same two pastures were checked for sage density. Sagebrush was present in both pastures. Counts showed that sage clumps were more numerous in the pasture not used by the prairie chickens. Sage clumps appeared at the ratio of about three clumps in the pasture used by the birds to four clumps in the other pasture, or one clump to twenty-five square yards compared to one clump to eighteen square yards. A third pasture, with dense sage (one clump per two square yards surface), located near an available cornfield feeding place, was used temporarily by a flock for roosting cover.

It appears that dense sage is not particularly attractive to prairie chickens, while thinner sage with an interspersion of tall, lightly grazed grasses may be very useful. Sagebrush was not present near the central part of the prairie chickens' original range. It is possible that it is used only as a substitute for the preferred, but often lacking, tall prairie grasses.

A second part of the investigation was made in another part of Chase County. Almost no sage grew here. This second area provided plenty of chance for comparisons because of the variety in grazing practices on three adjoining pieces of grass. And here again, the birds showed certain preferences.

One pasture was lightly grazed during the fall, and used by prairie chickens also. Another pasture, moderately grazed all season, was not used by the birds. A third plot, not grazed and not cut for hay in 1940, was used during the fall as night roosting and daytime loafing cover by prairie chickens? What were the differences in cover on these three grass areas?

Tall plant stems, mostly grasses, were again counted on sample plots from each of the areas. The ungrazed area, used by prairie chickens, had about 30 per cent more tall stems than the area the chickens avoided. The lightly grazed area, also used by prairie chickens, had only 3 per cent more tall stems than the moderately grazed area which the birds avoided. This seems like a small difference, so a further reason must be sought for the birds' choice in this case.

The difference in the understory is apparently reason enough. The understory on the two areas used by the birds averaged 8.5 inches in height; while in the pasture, which they avoided, the understory measured only 4.5 inches in height. The additional four inches was perhaps the factor which attracted these birds to the two areas which they used.

It is probable that the presence of useful roosting cover, near fields which provide winter food, is an important factor in determining whether or not an otherwise acceptable area will be occupied by prairie chickens in the fall and winter. Food alone apparently will not suffice.

A list of cover types observed in use in Chase County in 1940 may be of interest. At least four types were noted, as follows: (a) Moderate to thin stands of sagebrush with an interspersion of tall grasses; (b) sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), which commonly grows about twenty inches in height, and is rather bunchy in character. This grass provides little understory, but a uniform stand of a fairly dense cover seems acceptable to prairie chickens even if an understory is lacking, (c) Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) or "red bunchgrass". (d) Tall grasses, such as sand reedgrass {Calamovilfa longifolia), big bluestem {Andropogon furcatus), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). These were especially useful if a dense understory was present.

It is perhaps true that prairie chickens in fall and winter will generally avoid grassland which does not have at least some tall stems or a dense understory of dead grasses. Various combinations of the four types given above may provide excellent cover.

Shorter grasses, such as grama grasses (Bouteloua), have but little value for prairie chicken cover. These grasses usually are noticeable where overgrazing has been permitted, or where other conditions do not favor tall grasses.

The investigations here referred to indicate that desirable wildlife may well be a secondary product of the land, a product which is naturally present if man manages the land properly; a product Whose very presence might well be taken as an indication of wise land use!

It is encouraging to both landowners and sportsmen that "good things go together"—that measures which will improve the grass will also benefit the birds.

EDITORIAL

The latest release by "Ducks Unlimited, Inc.," indicates that there is now a satisfactory increase in the duck crop over last year on the breeding grounds in the north and that there will be more ducks on the wing this fall than at any time for the last ten years.

Over the Northlands, consisting of 312,000 square miles, good rains have reached 115 per cent of normal conditions, quenching fires, soaking old vegetation and creating new, to choke fires and improve water conditions in general.

From over the Farmlands, which make up half of the duck range, more ducks, increased water supplies, and a better hatch of young birds is reported.

While Canada is diverting its every resource into all-out defense of her Mother Country, and the United States is clearing her decks for action to help exterminate the predators of mankind, effective war on wildlife enemies is curtailed. Crows, magpies, and other enemies are on the increase, and if we expect to see a continuation of the increase of our wild fowl, their defense must not be neglected. Day by day we see more of our young men, who make up our shooting populace, go into the ranks that make up the defense of our civilization, leaving a greater responsibility for the safety of our wildlife on the shoulders of those who stay at home. War conditions will distract our attention and perhaps reduce the supply of guns and ammunition that will be required to keep these enemies under control, but we must not fail in the protection of the increase in wild fowl, and we must continue every effort toward the betterment of their habitat. All living things under proper conditions and protection will reproduce and increase in numbers, creating a surplus that can be taken each season by hunters and fishermen, if done in the proper manner, without affecting the reproduction the following year.

Hunting and fishing is a God-given right and our wildlife belongs to all and not to a few who feel that because it belongs to no one in particular they are privileged to go out and take of it whenever and wherever they please. A true conservationist understands that conservation laws must apply to every individual if they are to be effective. One who steals personal property would be prosecuted, but those who rob the fields and streams of their game and fish are sometimes not only tolerated but have the cooperation of many who purchase illegal game and fish from them.

While every effort is now being made, not only in foreign lands but in our own land, to stamp out predators of human life, let it not be said that we in Nebraska have neglected and failed in the protection of our natural heritage of wildlife.

The Tri-County Recreational

NEBRASKANS generally do not realize it, nevertheless they soon will enjoy benefits from one of the greatest water and recreation areas ever established in any state in the union. It is a vast area cutting through the canyons south of the Platte River from east of North Platte to Lexington along the line of the Lincoln Highway.

On the 76-mile-long main supply canal of the Tri-County Project are twenty-six canyon "lakes" and two huge regulating reservoirs. These are the Jeffrey Canyon Reservoir south of Brady and the Johnson Canyon Reservoir north of Elwood. The map shows the location of all these impounded areas.

The Jeffrey Lake or Reservoir is perhaps the most scenic of the lot. It was formed by damming up the end of a deep canyon and permitting water to spread out in the canyon valley. Since this is hilly country the water naturally spreads out into numerous canyon "fingers" with the result that the shore line is not straight, but cuts back and forth, winding in and out of the hills. Actually the reservoir is only three miles long, but the winding shore line totals twenty-nine miles. A gravel road follows the east side fairly close.

It is hard for persons to visualize such a lake. "Bill" Lytle, Acting Secretary, Lee Hudleson and Glen Foster of the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, I believe, were inclined to the belief I was putting out a lot of propaganda. I'm sure they thought Tri-County merely would have some puddles or buffalo wallows; most certainly not the size and type of water areas they actually saw.

The first place we "dropped" in on was Snell Canyon Lake No. 1, southeast of Maxwell. When the trio got a glimpse of the deep blue water, the shore line and the canal that fed through the upper end, their reactions were immediate and vociferous.

"My gosh, Jack, this is wonderful!" cried Bill.

"Holy smoke," said Hudleson, "what catfish couldn't do in a place like this. Man, this water is perfect. That canal will bring in feed and provide the flow needed for spawning."

"Wow, what a setup!" said Foster, who was short of adjectives that day.

I wanted to say "you ain't seen nothing yet," but kept silent. After all, seeing is believing, and these birds, these "Missourians", were going to see something.

For one thing this particular Snell Lake covers only sixty acres. It has a shore line of slightly over three miles. The maximum water depth is eighteen feet. Compare this with Jeffrey with twenty-nine miles of shore line, the scores of "fingers" and a maximum water depth of sixty-one feet. You can have an idea of why I kept silent. What would they say when they saw IT, or the Johnson Reservoir, which is almost five times larger in surface area than Jeffrey? Or the Midway chain of eight beautiful lakes!

Their reaction was expressed by action. The State Game Department started immediately on a program to stock these areas with fish. An agreement was reached with Tri-County whereby the areas would be open for public fishing beginning in 1942 for a 25-year period. There is talk now of not opening the area until 1943 so as to save the high priced spawner fish and get an extra hatch and growth on young fish. Hunting will be allowed on areas where it is not deemed dangerous to the public or does not interfere with patrol and maintenance work of the District.

After all, the business of the District is to engage in irrigation and power development and distribution. This recreation

The Nebraska Farmer Controls the Homes of Wildlife

1. HIS FIELD BORDERS, WHICH PREVENT WIND EROSION, FURNISH A HOME FOR WILDLIFE.

2. HIS STRIP CROPS, WHICH PREVENT WATER EROSION, FURNISH FEED AND COVER FOR WILDLIFE.

3. HIS STOCK PONDS, WHEN FENCED AND VEGETATED, PREVENT EXCESSIVE WATER RUNOFF AND HARBOR WATERFOWL AND OTHER USEFUL WILDLIFE.

4. HIS GULLIES, WHEN CONTROLLED BY SOIL PROTECTING VEGETATION, PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTERS FOR WILDLIFE.

5. HIS FENCE ROWS, PLANTED TO GROWING CROPS TO PROTECT THEM FROM SEARING WINDS, PROVIDE TRAVEL LANES AND REFUGE COVER.

Water and Wildlife

FOOD and cover are essentials in every wildlife development, but a dependable water supply is of equal importance.

Few kinds of game exist far from water. In the case of upland game birds, the distance from water may strictly limit the use of otherwise desirable range.

In order to make fully productive large areas of desirable game bird habitat, water should be available at points not more than half a mile apart. These water supplies may consist of natural lakes and streams, but usually these are too few and must be supplemented. For additional water, it is possible to create lakes, ponds and marshes through the building of inexpensive dams and dikes. After the better sites for these structures have been made use of, there are certain to remain large areas which are still poorly provided with water and where birds or animals, if they would use these areas, must travel a mile or more to get a drink. In such places, we may have recourse to making "water holes".

These "water holes" need not be large if only upland species of wildlife are to be served. The demand is not heavy, but it is insistent and local. Small holes about half a mile apart are excellent. These water holes are made by hand or with the aid of a team and scraper. They may vary from ten feet long to eight feet wide and four feet deep to twice this size and a foot or so deeper where desirable. In clay lands even small holes dug out on level bottoms or on gentle slopes where they will not be subject to heavy wash during storms and even on reasonably level spots on hilltops and ridges will prove to be satisfactory. To make the bottom of the water hole more impervious it should be "puddled". This is accomplished easily by driving a team or other livestock round and round in the spot to thoroughly trample it after it has been dug out and well wet down.

The idea is for these water holes to fill up during the spring run-off and be refilled with every rain and to some extent by underground seepage. If they hold water until September 1st, they will have served a large part of their usefulness since the young broods of birds and the young of various desirable animals will be sufficiently grown by that time to enable them to travel where more permanent water is available. The entire area will have served as a breeding ground. Without the "water holes", our experience shows that nesting and breeding is essentially limited to rather restricted strips or belts along near the few natural watercourses and bodies of water. It is still better, of course, if these "holes" carry water until winter.

The making of a lake for fishing purposes is quite a different matter from developing water areas for all wildlife. The aim is to put conservation areas in the best condition to produce game and furbearing animals.

Shallow lakes and marshes are most productive. Many kinds of aquatic vegetation most appreciated by ducks and geese grow in water from a few inches to three feet in depth. A marshy lake is productive throughout its whole extent, while a deep lake is productive only in small areas.

Food is one of the great essentials, and the variety and quantity of food plants produced in a marshy lake are in excess of those found in deeper bodies of water. Nesting sites and cover are also far more numerous in shallow water. Concealment and protection for broods of young ducks are more abundant in the shallow lakes. The great need is for a belt of grassy, Weedy and brushy unflooded lowland surrounding duck lakes or ponds to serve as nesting grounds.

While some ducks build up foundations and actually nest over the water in shallow places, the larger number seem to prefer sites back from the water, but where there is some dampness in the soil and where their eggs will be kept slightly moist. Many ducks nest at considerable distances from water, even up to a quarter or half a mile, where the nesting cover is suitable.

For muskrats, shallow lakes and marshes with abundant vegetation are much more desirable than deeper ones.

angle is merely a by-product created through construction of a system that makes power and irrigation possible.

To all who have seen those lakes and reservoirs the possibilities are unlimited for fishing, picnicking and outdoor recreation.

Such men as Burnie Maurek of Minneapolis, Regional Director of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Arthur C. Storz, perhaps the most unselfish sportsman and friend of wildlife in Nebraska; Ernie Bihler, Chairman of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation; State Game Commissioners, and scores of other experts consider the future for recreation in this area very great.

"All Minnesota has is more lakes," said Maurek, "but I doubt if they could be any better."

Maurek believes many of the lakes in time will become extensive nesting areas for ducks, providing better shooting for hunters along the Platte River east of North Platte.

These areas are very scenic; the "lakes" varying not only in size, but in general contour. Some nestle in the hills and are long and narrow. Still others are actually wide spots in the canal where the canal has cut directly into a natural canyon. The water spreads out to form the "lake", as people insist on calling any water area in Nebraska bigger than a buffalo wallow. By routing its 76-mile canal through these canyons and draws, the District saved thousands of dollars in canal excavation.

An outstanding example of such natural lakes is the Midway chain north of Eustis and southwest of Cozad. Here the canal formed a chain of eight "lakes" by emptying from a deep cut into old canyon bottoms. The upper ends of these canyons were dammed and the canyons became the canal. Short cuts through the hills connect the chain. In beauty, these lakes compare with the best of the rest. The chief drawback is that most of them are inaccessible because of lack of roads and the difficulty of building roads to the lakes because deep canyons must be crossed.

What of the future of these areas? Much work remains to be done. Tri-County construction has made this long chain of lakes possible. The public can enjoy the benefits, but in doing so the public must remember recreational facilities are not the primary business of the District.

With national defense emergency and with electric power facilities playing so important a part in this defense program, the rights and purposes of the District must be respected. Our property must not be damaged and our job of supplying water for irrigation and power production interfered with.

Nor is the District in a position, financially or otherwise, to embark on a large improvement program for this chain of lakes. Trees need to be planted, picnic shelters built. The public now is seeking cabin sites.

Likely the program of the future will bring forth a plan whereby the District will lease the more attractive and accessible lake areas to public groups such as wildlife clubs, clubs which not necessarily

In The Mail

Back in 1880, when the pioneers of Nebraska were busy planting trees for both fruit and shade, and turning vast areas of prairie into fertile grain fields, and great herds of cattle roamed the Wahoo Creek valley, my Uncle Lute, that's my tobacco-spitting uncle from Tennessee, came to visit Pa and encourage him in raising vegetables for home consumption.

After all the tomatoes, carrots, turnips and cabbage had been planted, Uncle Lute got to fingering around in his vest pocket and found a watermelon seed that had accidentally dropped in there while he was eating a slice of melon some years before.

Says he: "Sonny, if you can find a suitable place on the farm we will plant this seed, and if it produces in Nebraska like its ancestors in Tennessee you will have plenty of melons."

Now this seed looked sort of dry and withered, so we soaked it in castor oil for three days and, believe me, on the morning of the fourth day it showed signs of life, so I informed Uncle of its actions and he said we will plant it at once.

We took the post auger and bored a hole three feet deep just south of the peak of the hill on Dad's west eighty and dropped the seed in. Folks, you never saw so much action in all your life. Vines started shooting out in all directions.

By the first of July this was a sight worth going miles to see; vines of enormous structure were spreading all over the hill. Now Len—that's my youngest brother—was kind of an indifferent chap and Ma could never keep his napkin on with a common safety pin, so she borrowed Dad's skipper pin and pinned it on with that. The kid sauntered up the hill and laid down and went to sleep near the melon patch and, would you believe it, those vines were growing so fast that one of the curls on the vine ran through the eye in the skipper pin and liked to dragged him to death before Ma could pull him loose.

Along about the 20th of August there was one big melon set on the vine just at the top of the hill, and it grew to a gigantic structure. So great was this melon that it cast a shadow over the pasture that shaded thirty head of cattle and horses from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until sundown.

Now, everybody for miles around had asked Dad for an invitation to help partake of the luscious food when the melon was ripe.

On about the 15th day of September, Pa's old brood sow got out and wandered into the melon patch and started rooting around on the shady side of the melon. This started the melon to rolling and it pulled the whole side of the hill out and headed for the railroad track that runs from Ashland to Schuyler, known as the "B. & M. Branch." The darn thing rolled right up on the track right in front of old (34), the through freight. Old Mack, the engineer, saw that he couldn't stop his train, so he turned on a full head of steam and tunneled a hole right through the melon, letting all the water out, thus causing the worst flood that was ever known in the Wahoo valley. The water was two miles wide and twenty feet deep, and Old Mack so governed the speed of this train that he kept the caboose just three feet ahead of the wall of water, and "Ves", the conductor, speared a carload of carp and buffalo the first six miles they traveled.

By the time the flood reached Memphis, you could see farmers floating down the valley with their whole family setting on a watermelon seed.

I remember old Peg Leg Mike, a veteran of the Civil War saving Uncle Si from being drowned. Uncle had gone down for the third time when he threw him his cork leg and he floated safely to shore. It sure looked like the town of Ashland would be wiped off the map. But! as the flood neared the Lucas Bend, it had to pass over a prairie dog town and, would you believe it, every drop of water ran down the holes! Now this so sweetened the water in the sands of the Platte Valley that people came for miles around to drink it. Even the City of Lincoln spent two million dollars for wells and pipe that they too might enjoy this wonderful water.

Well, Saunders County has long been known for its fine melons, but nobody has ever been able to produce one like my Uncle Lute from Tennessee. Now, folks, if any one doubts the veracity of this story, should you ever be at the Memphis Lake, face to the north and you will observe the depression or valley that this melon made while rolling down the hill.

Roy Laird of Ingleside, 15 years old, son of Dr. C. R. Laird of the State Hospital, caught a northern pike recently in the North Platte reservoir that weighed 19 pounds, 14V2 ounces. Roy is a junior in Hastings High School and has been fishing since he was 7 years old. He used a casting rod with a minnow on a small hook.

To date the largest northern pike reported was a 22-pounder from Lake Minatare.

As you know, the dangerous practice of using progressive burning powder loads in Damascus - barreled guns has occasioned considerable concern to the members of the sporting arms industry in this country. Writers on guns and ammunition have performed a valuable service in bringing this matter to the attention of their readers.

Because of a persisting tendency on the part of owners of twist-barreled guns to ignore past warnings, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute feels that the time is ripe for a new warning, emphasizing the fact that there are NO modern smokeless loads that are safe for use in guns having Damascus or other twist barrels. Accordingly, the Institute's Technical Committee has authorized the issuance of the following, directed to owners of Damascus-barreled guns:

"Never use smokeless powder loads—even LIGHT smokeless powder loads—in guns having Damascus or other twist barrels! To ignore this warning is to court severe personal injury through possible gun barrel rupture.

"Some sportsmen still think twist barrels will handle modern loads safely as long as the extra heavy 'long range' loads are avoided. This is a fallacy. Twist barrels were designed back in the days of black powder, which is far less powerful and develops a much lower pressure than any of our modern gunpowders. Even the so-called 'light' modern loads are unsafe in twist barrels.

"Many of these barrels are the handiwork of highly skilled craftsmen. But regardless of the quality of workmanship employed, the method of combining low-carbon steel with iron, and the weakening heating process to which they have been subjected during manufacture, render them unsafe for the high pressures developed by modern loads, for which they emphatically were not designed. American manufacturers have not made them since the advent of modern progressive burning or 'smokeless' powder.

"If you own a Damascus or other twist-barrel gun, don't take chances. Retire it now, and avoid the possibility of accident and injury."

In view of the importance of this subject to the welfare of sport shooting, we sincerely trust that you will do what you can to stress in your own way the points covered in the foregoing warning.

Bullsnake Depredation and Control on Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Ellsworth, Nebraska

MANY people consider the bullsnake a harmless reptile because it is non-poisonous and apparently easy-going. A season on a waterfowl-nesting area where bullsnakes are numerous, however, would probably change the minds of sportsmen and bird lovers who have kindly inclinations toward this reptile.

Field investigations conducted on the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge at Ellsworth, Nebraska, have proved that the bullsnake is the most serious predator so far as nesting waterfowl are concerned. Studies conducted on that area during the last three seasons (1938-40) revealed that more than 40 per cent of the nest destruction was the work of bullsnakes. It was found that one of these snakes frequently eats in a single visit all the eggs in a nest, or it may eat one or two at a time and remain nearby until it has cleaned the nest. Some ducks desert a nest that has been entered, but others are more persistent. On one occasion a mallard hen was found to be calmly incubating her depleted clutch of eggs while a bullsnake lay beside the nest patiently and comfortably waiting for its appetite to return.

Unlike the skunk or crow, the bullsnake does not always leave clear proof of its thievery. It distends its jaw and easily swallows the unbroken egg; by contraction of the muscles of its body the egg is broken and is then slowly digested. Occasionally the shell and egg membrane are regurgitated since digestion may not be completed for several days. However, the snake frequently leaves the scene of the crime, and aside from the disappearance of the egg there is little evidence of the destruction occasioned by the snake's visit. Careful study and examination of stomach contents, however, have clearly proved that, where abundant, the bullsnake is a definite menace to nesting waterfowl.

It was further determined that bullsnake predation is more intensive during the latter part of the waterfowl nesting season. Although the bullsnake has been identified with the destruction of duck nest and eggs on the Crescent Lake Refuge, it is beneficial from the standpoint of rodent control, since it feeds rather extensively on pocket gophers and field mice. Where it is less numerous, the bullsnake is not an important predator on duck eggs. This clearly indicates that predator control is in most respects a local problem and must be treated as such.

In an effort to control bullsnake predation at Crescent Lake and other nearby waterfowl - breeding grounds, Ralph H. Imler, biologist in charge of field investigations and control work during the last three seasons, has developed a wire trap that has proved very effective. It is made of one-third-inch mesh hardware cloth; is 72 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 11 inches high; and has entrance funnels at each end. The most successful method of setting the traps is to place a drift fence 150 to 320 feet in length at a 60-degree angle with the lake shore and place one trap from 30 to 60 feet from each end. During the spring and summer of 1940, 832 bullsnakes were taken in 63 of these traps.

During the summer of 1940 the biologist stationed at the refuge began an interesting experiment to determine the travel movements of bullsnakes. With an electric needle he tattooed certain snakes; a record was kept of each of the snakes thus marked, and of the place where it was captured. Then the snakes were liberated in the same locality in which taken. It is expected that trapping operations during the spring and summer of 1941 will reveal some interesting facts.

Thus, through the judicious control of bullsnakes in areas of waterfowl-nesting concentrations on national wildlife refuges, the Fish and Wildlife Service is helping to increase the waterfowl population by insuring a greater degree of nesting success.

are part of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation, but which are locally organized to specifically supervise improvements and handle cabin site leases.

These arrangements would be on a non-profit basis. In other words, these organizations or wildlife boards could not profit from money received for cabin leases. All money received through leases, golf fees, boat house rents, etc., would have to go back into improving the areas through planting trees, building picnic facilities, roads and bridle trails.

Organizations such as these also would be charged with the responsibility of protecting life, so that the District would not be legally liable in case of drownings or accidental death. Likely, trained lifeguards would have to be on duty. Sale of liquor and intoxicating drinks would be banned.

The District is anxious that the public enjoy the hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreational facilities, but the extent of public enjoyment of these privileges will depend entirely upon the public and sportsmen. If the public cooperates in remembering we have a job to perform (a most serious and vital one in this period of defense emergency), and will respect our property and our patrol and maintenance work, a most satisfactory future is ahead for Outdoor Nebraskans.

Underwater Gangster It is an established fact that snapping turtles are killers of waterfowl. When one of these reptiles detects a duck, it cunningly makes its way toward the creature, seizes it by its legs, pulls it down under water, and drags it to the bottom of the pond. There it tears the duck to pieces with the aid of the long claws on its forefeet. Snapping turtles have been known to bite completely through the blade of an oar.

Moulding Our Future Citizens

THE other day we stopped at a sporting goods store, attracted by a fine window display of fishing tackle. Two youngsters, a boy and a girl, obviously brother and sister, of about 12 and 10 respectively, were already gazing intently at the many sparkling items which go to make up an angler's kit, and audibly discussing their mysteries.

"Mister," said the boy, edging close, "what's the price of these rods?" -The tone of his voice was full of longing and desire.

"Thirty-five cents and up," we replied, quoting from a price card higher up on the window.

"Gee, I'd like to have a rod with a reel on it," he continued. "Which ones are thirty-five cents?" We pointed to the cheapest looking rod we could see and suggested that was probably it.

"I guess that's the one I should have," this in a tone which had just a touch of disappointment in it.

"That reel there would do me"—pointing to a handsomely carved Shakespeare level-wind anti-backlash, which occupied a foremost place in the window. We suggested that that particular one was probably a little too expensive for him.

"Fve got fifty-five cents saved," he responded, "but I have to get an elastic for this bat," holding up a small bat, "and tomorrow is Mother's Day and I want to get something for mother and my two grandmas, but I'll still have something left."

We tried to assure him that it was still some time before school closed, and he might be able to save up enough to satisfy his desires by that time. In a kindly way we also attempted to show him that if he couldn't get this "rod and reel," he could still have lots of fun fishing with a bamboo pole which he could buy cheaply.

"I have a bamboo pole," he was quick to inform us, "but gosh, I'd like a rod and reel."

By now we were quite interested and really enjoying his youthful enthusiasm. "You seem to like fishing."

"You bet I do"—this with real warmth.

"What kind of fish do you catch?"

"Oh, they're about that size," extending the fingers of one hand to signify about five or six inches, "but I don't know what you call them."

A pair of roller skates with a price tag of 75 cents on them attracted his sister, who interrupted to ask if that was all they cost. Assured that it was, she gasped with anticipation.

"Oh, roller skating," said the youthful angler, with just a touch of impatience in his voice. "I'd much rather go fishing. When Dad gets his holidays he has promised to stop several times during our trip to let me fish."

By this time he had suddenly remembered the elastic and Mother's Day gifts he was going to buy, so without any formality, "Well, I guess we better go now. Goodbye, Mister."

We wished him goodbye and hoped he would get his rod and reel!

There's a moral in this true story and it concerns you and you and you, the Dads of the province, particularly those of you who fish and have boys of your own. This particular boy was a credit to any Dad. That gift to mother and the two grandmas out of his meagre savings of fifty-five cents, when he might have bought the rod he craved so badly, gave an inkling of his character. He was no sissy, just a clean, wholesome lad who wanted above anything else to go fishing. The fact that he had been fishing and didn't know what kind of fish he had been catching showed a lack of direction. They probably were rock bass, perch or sunfish, but might easily have been small bass.

Schools will soon be closing, and many thousands of fortunate boys will spend the summer where fishing is one of the principal recreations. If your boy is one of these, does he know what kind of fish he is catching, or is he familiar with the limits of size and take? Have you explained to him the rules of the game and how necessary it is to avoid waste in order to insure the continuance of his sport? Have you stimulated his enthusiasm, through personal interest and practical demonstration, and the gratifying of his desire for a rod and reel, however cheap? This may seem an unimportant matter, but the character building influence of properly directed outdoor recreation is vital to his future and your peace of mind. The moral value of the fishing beatitudes is recognized wherever sportsmanship is proclaimed.

The misdirected enthusiasm of many thousands of boys unfamiliar with the regulations and to whom a fish is just a fish whether it be a black bass or rock bass, perch or pickerel, may readily be the source of much waste through illegal destruction. These youths are not conscious of any limitations to their sport except geographical. In this they are hardly to be blamed, because where such conditions apply the lack of knowledge must be charged to adult neglect. There are many thousands of boys like our young friend of the store window who "just love to fish," but like him, don't know what thsy are catching. Like him, also, most of them are fine lads of whom any Dad might be proud, and they deserve more paternal encouragement and wise guidance in their pursuit of happiness.

Good fishing is the heritage of the boy as well as the man. It is sport of the finest type and, considered from that angle, the boy who is interested and plays the game according to the rules will seldom cause his parents any anxiety.

From the standpoint of conservation, knowledge of the regulations is of primary importance, and in seeing that the boy is conversant with these and the reasons therefor, the sportsman is helping to protect a valuable asset and contribute to the best in citizenship.

Nebraska Fishing Laws and Regulations

The following open seasons, bag and possession limits are fixed, prescribed and published, effective September 15, 1940, and shall remain in effect until September 15, 1941.

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:

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

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:

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

On state-owned lakes do hot 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.