A CAT-ASTROPHE TABBY- A Serious Problem to Wildlife

That statement has been echoed throughout the ages by sportsmen and conservationists everywhere. The only voice in disagreement are those of cat fanciers and owners who look at their plump, well fed tabby, snoozing peacefully in the rocking chair, and like the mother whose son turns gangster-killer, can see nothing but the good.

Before going farther let us agree that farmers do have need for a good rat and mouse killer in and around the farm buildings. But, the practice of letting these felines multiply and wander off into the woods because there is not enough food around the buildings to maintain them all is the most pernicious and most aggravating habit of all.

It is this same kitten, whose mistress feeds him well, who has all the comforts of a twentieth century home and who appears to be the "perfect angel" which gives us all the trouble. For at night he becomes a ruthless, devastating, cold-blooded murderer with tactics that overshadow the Nazi blitz.

From sunset to sunrise he is a fiend, known to have tracked down and killed an entire covey of quail, one by one, leaving the carcass with no desire to devour it, spurred on simply by the lust to kill.

Nature has endowed the cat with all the physical attributes needed to make a perfect killer. Quickness, power, knife-like claws, ability to stalk, a cunning mind and the desire to murder makes a perfect combination for the job.

Quail, songbirds, rabbits, ducks and other such prey is a simple matter for tabby. Small turkey have been known to fall victim to the felines and dozens of reports of takes of 2-pound pheasants have been made.

Allan Parsons of Outdoor Life, long an exponent on "kill the cat", airs his views only after exhaustive research. His findings are quite interesting. Of 39 conservation chiefs interviewed, 28 unqualifiedly condemned the cat, whether pet tabby or stray animal "gone native", as a predator of the worst type, while seven others tempered their blasts only to the extent of laying most of the blame on strays. Even the remaining four failed to uphold cats but declined to offer an opinion, because they lacked definite information on the subject.

So, the cat was left without a single defender in this class of conservation experts.

Members of bird clubs in Missouri, as well as others who tramp the woods, invariably happen upon a cat stalking a bird. Much too often Tom is successful.

According to James Earl Comfort, who has made an intensive study of the cat situation, the woods cat, or house cat gone wild, destroys more song and game birds than do all the hawks and owls put together.

Mankind is directly responsible for the numerous woods cats due to his utter thoughtlessness. A great many cats are abandoned when the owners move. Perhaps the cat was deliberately left behind or maybe he was missing when the van pulled away.

Families who spend their vacations at summer homes frequently take along their dog and cat. The cat, not being able to quickly adjust itself to new surroundings, leaves the fireside for the woods, where it quickly ljarns to shift for itself. This tends to swell the cat population in the wooded areas.

By far the worst and most heartless practice is that of "dropping" cats or kittens. Individuals who find themselves owners of unwanted pets but who are too "kindhearted" to kill them take this means of disposing of them. It would be much better and more humane to turn over these orphans to an animal shelter for destruction.

Of these numbers, probably one out of five will starve or die of exposure before becoming accustomed to this new mode of life. The remaining four will turn into ruthless killers, first because of hunger but thereafter simply for the joy of seeing the blood run from some hapless, defenseless victim.

Because of the legions of cat owners and fanciers legislation has been impossible except in a handful of places. Owners refuse to believe that their cat, which has been well fed and cared for, would care for stalking and killing . . . just the same as it is always a shock to a mother to have her neighbor from up the road waltz her erring son home with the tale that he had been stealing apples, when he has a whole apple orchard right at his own back door.

Some states have made advances toward the destruction of cats found in the woods, far from any farm house. Arkansas is an example. Having thousands of acres of Ozark land, they realize that there is no reason for a cat to be found a rniie or so from the nearest cabin. Hunters, through sportsmen's clubs, have often been urged to shoot a stray cat just the same as we would shoot a coyote.

The domestic cat was introduced into this country and soon became a menace because its natural enemies were left behind. We have the same situation in the case of the English sparrow, starling, house mouse and house rat, all of which have been increased beyond natural proportions due to their natural enemies having been checked. A similar situation in the case of the dog is partially solved through licensing and the dog-catcher.

Woods cats are well able to perpetuate their race as many litters of their kittens are raised in a hollow log or den in the woods. Of course, their offspring are taught the wilderness code and carry on ... in too great a manner.

Yes, we can do well to turn our thoughts in the direction of the cat and to its control. One of the best ways to start this control is to follow the advice of Mr. Comfort:

"Don't forget to wind the clock— and put the cat in."

How Far Have We Gone?

Another year has been chalked up on Nebraska's blackboard of time, and the question arises, have we gone forward or have we slipped into reverse? Time alone can answer that question, but we definitely feel that we have advanced in the right direction and that what has been done and the plans that have been laid will produce the best hunting and fishing that Nebraska sportsmen have ever known.

Plans have been made that will bring back cover to the eroded hills and ravines, and in so doing will not only stop the erosion of our fair land but will provide feed and homes for many game birds and animals. Our greatest problem is not in producing more game for the hunter but to provide cover and homes for the game we already have where they can find food and shelter from the storms. If we can do this, we will have solved Nebraska's greatest game problem.

Certain phases of this plan have been completed, and the Quail Restoration Project in southeastern Nebraska, sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service and this department, has already shown results. A continuation of this work will be carried on over a period of years and has been enlarged to take in the entire state and provide food and oover for all upland game birds found in Nebraska. Game animals and furbearing animals have not been overlooked, and they too will come into their own under the plans already laid. A cooperative project has been established with the Soil Conservation Service whereby the Game Department takes advantage of work done and being done that is beneficial to Nebraska game. Any soil conservation work done by the Soil Conservation Service is definitely beneficial to wildlife.

A definite stride has been made on the piscatorial end of the work that will provide the fisherman a place to go where he will be reasonably assured of a fair catch without having to wear out those precious car tires in journeying to a far northern clime. Forty thousand acres of newly created fishing waters have been signed up through the courtesy of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, whereby these newly created waters will be open to the public without charge. These waters have been heavily stocked with game fish by the State and within a few years should provide fishing second to none. Other fishing waters have been improved. The State Lake near Verdon in southeastern Nebraska was completed and stocked well with game fish and opened to fishing. The beautiful Dead Timber Recreation Grounds in Dodge County was completed and the lake well stocked. The lake will be open to fishing this spring. Improvement on the Alexandria Lake in Jefferson County will soon be completed and will be opened to fishing this spring. A new dike now holds the west side of Memphis Lake in Saunders County, and extensive repairs have been made on the Loup City Lake in Sherman County.

For many years we have sat idly by and watched the commercial fishermen take our rightful supply of catfish from the Missouri River, and instead of the fish being allowed to go up our streams and spawn, they were taken in nets and sold to the public. Last spring we turned over a new leal and sent our Conservation Crew into the Missouri River in competition with the commercial fishermen. Our goal was set at 200,000 channel catfish for the season, but when the ice covered the river this fall we had taken out 260,000 catfish and planted them in Nebraska's inland rivers and lakes where they rightfully belong, In addition to this, 221,000 channel catfish were artificially hatched at Gretna State Fish Hatchery and stocked in our state streams.

In time past, thousands of game fish were lost in drying up ponds and irrigation ditches due to inadequate facilities for rescue work, while we spent thousands of dollars for the purchase of fish from private hatcheries. The purchase of fish was stopped last spring, new salvage equipment was purchased, and 4,873,602 game fish were rescued and stocked in other waters. We are now equipped with new fish trucks and equipment to carry on this salvage work for at least eighteen months regardless of the ban on the purchase of new trucks and tires.

The fish hatcheries have been improved and a greater number of catchable size fish has been produced and planted than in former years. In addition, a contract has been made with the Federal Fish Hatchery at Crawford, Nebraska, whereby we transport and stock in Nebraska waters almost the entire output of the trout and warm water fish raised there. Formerly a great per cent of these fish were planted in other states. During the 1941 season, almost the entire output of fish raised there was transported by this department and planted in state waters, and in addition 125,000 were turned over to this department to plant as we saw fit.

A new game bird hatchery located at Benkelman in southwestern Nebraska was completed and put in operation, and although we got away to a late start, 3874 chukars and 240 quail were raised to maturity.

At the Madison County Game Farm 25,250 pheasants were raised. Of these 23,000 were stocked, and the balance held for brood stock. In addition 15,948 more pheasants were released from sixty-three individual units sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service and this department and raised by sportsmen in different parts of the state

We believe we had the most satisfactory season on pheasants last fall that we have ever had. The entire state, with the exception of four southeastern counties, was open to pheasant hunting for a period of three weeks. An estimated 1,500,000 pheasants were bagged by hunters, leaving an estimated 2,000,000 birds in the field for brood stock.

Considerable improvement work was done at our State Parks and plans have been made for future improvements this year. We are proud of our State Parks and have just reason to be so.

We definitely feel that the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission has gone far this past year.

THE FISHERMAN'S PRAYER

"An optimist is a man who sees a light where there is no light; a pessimist is one who comes along and blows it out."

Housewives are urged to feed table scraps to songbirds during winter. Fish and Wildlife Service officials point out, however, that bread crumbs, meat, and other food should not be thrown on the snow-covered ground. Instead, a space should be cleared so that the food will not be buried from sight. Bird stores usually sell seeds that are also relished by the feathered creatures.

Hummingbirds can fly backwards as well as forward. The backward flight is commonly used as the bird darts to and from flowers and bushes on which it feeds.

The muskrat is the most common commercial fur animal in the United States.

The Quail Project

No doubt readers of "Outdoor Nebraska" will recall reading of the progress of the Quail Restoration Program which was the first of its kind in the state and the second PittmanRobertson Project for Nebraska.

This project was started in May of 1940 and was completed in September of 1941, when adult bob-white quail were stocked on the restoration areas which had been established in the four southeastern counties of Pawnee, Richardson, Nemaha and Johnson.

In brief, the basis of the work consisted of setting up refuges in cooperation with landowners, farmers and sportsmen. These areas were selected on the basis of habitability for quail, location within a four-county square and interest of the farmer or landowner. They were not refuges only because they were posted against hunting, but because of defnite restoration activities carried out on the land. In most cases gullies and waste land areas were fenced to exclude grazing by livestock and then planted to trees and shrubs to provide additional feed and cover for wildlife.

The outstanding feature of the whole program was the cooperative spirit shown by farmers and landowners. It may be said that they are willing to do their part 100%, in restoration of wildlife in the state. If it were not for their help the entire project would have been a failure before it started.

The state Fish and Game Commission wishes to express its gratitude for the splendid way in which the farmers and landowners have aided in this work.

Another agency which is to be commended on their cooperation and work on this project, is the "Turkey Creek District of the Soil Conservation Service." Both the District Supervisors and the District Conservationist Mr. D. E. Hutchinson Were quick to grasp the purpose and beneficial aspects of the restoration project. It aided directly in the Soil Conservation Program on the farms within their district. Thru cooperation with this conservation agency it was possible to set up an intensive restoration program in Pawnee County, involving 15 refuge areas, about 40 individual restoration sites, and including some 60 farms. That is what cooperation can do!

For the writer, the most important step and the ultimate goal of this whole project was the release of 1,803 bob-white quail on the areas which had been selected and prepared for them. In all instances the best cover available was selected for the immediate release of the birds. This precaution proved its worth in that none of the birds appeared to be afraid or startled when they emerged from the shipping crate. They walked out at their own pleasure and immediately began to revel in the freedom of open air and tangled masses of brush. Most of them began feeding and dusting immediately, whistling and talking softly to each other, a perfect sign of contentment.

Each release consisted of 20 birds, 10 males and 10 females. Therefore each release covey included 10 pairs of birds which is approximately the natural covey size and correct sexual ratio. Bob-white pair for the mating and nesting season.

Close watch was maintained on these stocked birds after the release and during the past fall months. In every case it was found that within one or two weeks time the birds were flushing well and became accustomed to their new homes. In many cases they were joined by small coveys of native birds which were already present on the lands. This should insure ample mixing of blood lines for next spring.

On the whole, the past fall has been exceptionally favorable to quail in that the temperatures were mild and there were no heavy, drifting snows. Feed supply was ample, both weed seeds and cultivated grains left in the fields by farmers. All wildlife has fared well, but they have been faced by a serious crisis in the past three weeks. The new year blizzard was exceptionally severe, bringing deep, drifting snows and abnormally low temperatures. This storm has probably caused some damage to the quail population in southeastern Nebraska. The snow has been on the ground for a long time and low temperatures have frozen and crusted it, thereby covering up a great deal of their feed supply. Some coveys may have been drifted in so tightly that they could not escape. During such emergencies as these some help should be given the quail, such as providing shelters and feed. Anyone knowing the location of a covey should try and see that it is fed during severe storms. If this is done we may be able to retain the great increase of quail which was achieved during the past two seasons. (We know there was such an increase because the farmer says so).

In closing it may well be said that not a dime of the sportsman's money was wasted on this project. The entire program was originally set up for a two-year period and an equivalent amount of funds allotted. The project was built up and completed in slightly over a year and included considerably more work than was originally planned, at less money than was allotted for the total two year period.

These funds belong to the sportsman and were used sparingly and productively and have accomplished a definite goal. The work was of a permanent nature and is on the land where the birds need it, and not tied up in words of propaganda of what should be done but never is. The results of this program are out in the open public view and anyone can see that the work must be done on the land.

If you are interested and have the time, take a trip to Pawnee County, Johnson County etc. The birds are there and can be seen with a little walking. In May and June their bobwhite call can be heard in almost any area in southeastern Nebraska.

First Son at Christmas

WHEN THE first faint grayness of a December dawn softened the shadows in the room, the boy was up. He shivered as he slipped into his chilly clothes. Then with an oversized shoe in each hand he tip-toed through the quiet house and stood a moment at the door of his father's study.

This room, like the best hunting woods on Mr. Hokum's neighboring farm, was forbidden ground that always held the strongest temptation. And now, for the first time alone, he stepped within those interesting walls of the study and stood in momentary awe of the dim surroundings.

The deer head holding the precious gun across its antlers looked down upon him from its high place above the shelves of books and it seemed to the boy that the gentle expression in the glass eyes was gone. Without the presence of his father, they seemed now to regard him severely and accusingly.

The boy allowed his gaze to wander over the other guns that hung in their accustomed places upon the wall, the fishing rods suspended by their slender tips in the coolest corner of the room, the mounted fish of record sizes with the lures by which they had met their fate still dangling from their gaping jaws. Then he turned again to the rifle across the deer's antlers, and setting his shoes down quietly, he stood on tip-toe and lifted the gun. A moment he fondled its smooth stock and, as if with sudden decision, he gathered his heavy shoes in the other hand and made his way to the deserted kitchen.

He passed the open door of the living room with face resolutely ahead. It would not be fair to look. It was Christmas morning and he knew that gifts adorned the floor under the lighted tree.

In the kitchen he put on his shoes and scratched the woolly ear of the dog that stretched out of his bed under the stove and greeted him with a yawn so prodigious that it ended in a little whine of satisfaction and caused the boy to laugh softly.

Once outside with the collar of a heavy coat turned up around the ear flaps of a wool helmet, the boy breathed deeply of the frigid air and spoke sharply to the romping dog.

"Rags! Come here."

When the dog stood obediently before him he knelt down and patted the gun affectionately.

"Ain't it a beauty, Rags?"

Rags turned his head inquisitively to one side and regarded his master doubtfully.

"You can't understand, Rags, but this is a special gun. It's not ordinary. There's no other gun like it—anywhere. And do you know what it means for me to have this gun?"

Rags was still doubtful and said so with moist brown eyes that showed impatience to be about the day's business. The boy continued:

"It means I am old enough to carry a real gun."

He stood up and Rags tore away again toward the open pasture, his clumsy feet sending back puffs of thin white snow that had fallen during the night. A sharp command from the boy brought the dog up short.

"Heel!"

The dog's head drooped a little as he fell in behind and followed his master across the white meadow to the woods lot. Here, berry bushes grew in profusion and sheltered the dark interiors with domed roofs of snow.

A flock of quail roared up from a thorn patch and exploded into singles like sky rockets. The dog jumped nervously forward a few steps with quick yelps and then looked guiltily back into the reproachful eyes of the boy.

"Heel!" came the command again.

A few yards farther and the boy stopped. His eye caught a liquid glint like a dewdrop lodged in the dark interior of a grass hummock. Gradually the gray ball of a sitting rabbit took form out of the shadows and the boy raised his gun. The click of the bolt brought the dog out of his trembling stance and he burst impulsively forward. The rabbit was gohe in a flurry of bobbing white with Rags in head-long pursuit. A tone in the boy's voice brought the dog back with remorse and disappointment written in every line of his repentant body.

"Rags," the boy spoke soothingly now and tapped the stock of the gun, "this is a rifle, not a shotgun. You don't expect me to hit 'em on the run with this yet, do you?"

It was not until they came to the line fence that marked the boundary of Mr. Holcum's forbidden woods that the sudden spirit of daring assailed the boy. This was the morning of a great forward step in his life. If he was old enough to carry a rifle he was old enough to take a scolding from a man. Besides, there were big woods rabbits on Mr. Holcum's place.

Decision came quickly and he crawled under the low barbed wire. The steep sides of a gulley, affording brush and bare rock with shelter beneath, absorbed his interest and he proceeded with watchful eye on the likely spots where the faint glint of a liquid disk would betray a sitting bunny. The boy stiffened at last as the form of a rabbit took shape under a shelving rock. He spoke caution to the dog at his heels and raised the gun. It swayed fearfully and he felt his heart pounding in his ears.

He lowered the gun and set his teeth. What was the matter with him? Was this the way a man felt when he made his first rifle shot alone? He glanced down at the dog that stood tense and eager. The presence and confidence of the animal seemed to quiet him. He raised the gun again and drew a careful bead that was steady on the unwinking eye. Then he squeezed the trigger.

Three things happened at once. The dog rushed forward when the rifle barked; the rabbit sprawled kicking from the squat; and the crash of brush sounded close on his left. He turned with sudden panic in the direction of the sound and his eyes widened at the sight of a pair of familiar boots that strode rapidly toward him.

"Mr. Holcum!" He gasped the words under his breath and stood frozen, watching the approaching boots, fearful to let his eyes meet those of the man he knew must be very angry. Rags, surprised in noisy mouthing of the rabbit, turned suddenly with a yelp of defiance. The boy. turned and laid a quieting hand on the dog's head as the voice of the man boomed out:

"Good morning, Son."

The boy was struck dumb with the cheerfulness in the words. He managed a little smile and looked at the man.

"Goo-good morning, Mr. Holcum," he quavered-

EDITORIAL

"Sportsmanship," according to a recent issue of the "Ohio Conservationist," calls for a fair and generous attitude toward our opponents, resorting to nothing illegitimate to gain advantage; above all, that we be "a good loser and a graceful winner."

The true sportsman can be found in every walk of life. He need not carry a rod or a gun. He is not measured by the number of fish he hooks or the amount of game he places in his bag, but he is measured by the manner in which game is taken. How many of we Nebraska fishermen and hunters can measure up to the requirements of a real sportsman? We who have charge of game law enforcement have reason to ponder over this question.

While making a routine patrol in the northeastern section of the state during the recent pheasant season, several of our deputies came upon a place where a party of hunters had dressed their pheasants along the road. In order to test out this perplexing question, they picked up the heads of six cock birds and placed them on sticks out in a wheat field, so that the heads could be seen above the green wheat about thirty yards from the road. The next day they checked up on their decoys and found seven empty shotgun shells in the middle of the road. As the decoys were somewhat disfigured, and the wheat was cut off to the ground by the shot, the decoys were moved and rearranged. Two days later nine more empty shells of various makes and color were found in the middle of the road, the wheat was shot to the ground, but the decoys were gone. Sixteen shots were fired at these decoys, sixteen violations in one spot, which from circumstantial evidence alone leads us to believe that some hunters do take unfair advantages and illegally shoot from the highway, without giving the birds a sporting chance to escape.

War conditions are placing a heavier burden on our conservation officers. They need your help. Much routine work that our officers have had in the past can be eliminated if more of our hunters and fishermen in Nebraska will make an effort to attain the qualities of the "true" sportsman and play fair with their fellowmen and our wildlife.

Major Frank B. O'Conell, former Secretary of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, who has been in the United States Army since September 20, 1940, has recently resigned as Secretary of the Commission. Major O'Connell has directed the work of the Fish and Game Department for over a period of fifteen years, and has been instrumental in building up the department to its present high standing.

This month's cover depicts a winter scene on our Wildcat Hills Game Preserve in Banner County.

For this cover we wish to thank H. J. Dollinger of Scottsbluff who has kindly contributed this and other pictures to "Outdoor Nebraska."

Nebraska Came Commissioners, 1942

Nebraska Upland Game Survey

Nebraska lias joined the ranks of other progressive states whose factfinding projects have saved the sportsmen of these states manv thousand of dollars through improved methods of game management. A new Investigation and Survev Project commonly known as the Upland Game Bird Survey was begun last spring. This project, which is made possible through the use of Pifrman-Robertson funds, is directed towards the determination of factors that limit the density and range of r upland same birds. The project personnel, consisting of three men, is maintaining a state-wide view of the problems involved. Problems of a more or less local nature are also kept tuider observation through the establishment of several study areas. Nearly all of these areas are on private lands and range over a variety of soils and land-use types throughout the state. By careful year-around observations on these areas these men are able to determine which factors are of local importance and which are of inmovtance over larger areas. All recommendations lor improved management practices resulting from these studies will be of the most practical type.

The work of the project personnel is as varied as the problems involved. These include the determination of stocking success, food and cover requirements. mortality factors, habits «ii the species, hunting pressure and fluctuations of the game bird populations/.

1. Observations are made on released pheasants, quail and ehukars to determine the initial dispersion of these birds on the refuges, the degree of mortality during the lirst few weeks, and the causes of mortality. All released birds are leg-bauded and the birds on release that are kepi under observation are also tail-tagged for easy identification. From these observations recommendations are made as to the need of stocking in various parts of the state, the composition of a good refuge for each species and the time and method of making releases including the maximum and minimum number of birds to put at each place and the age of birds to be released.

2. The determination of the food and cover requirements of all upland game bird species throughout the year are being made. This includes both pen-reared and wild-reared birds. The food and cover requirements of an individual bird varies not only month bv month but dav by day and ev»?n hour by hour. Until we know what the best habitat composition is for each species we cannot hope to increase the area occupied by it nor can we increase its population on a given area. A good habitat composition includes a number of items such as the right food and cover speck1.-;, the. proper density of (hose plant species, the proper proportion of each kind of plant, the proper amounts of natural foods for each season, the proper area of cover types and last but not least the proper distribution of food and cover in relation to each other so that each can be utilized to the best advantage by the species of bird or birds involved. In addition to actual Held observations on the feeding habits of these birds the crop eontents of dead birds fouv.nl on the ly/ed to determine the kinds of foods

3. Mortality facots affecting each species must also be determined- that is, we must know what reduces our game bird populations in the various parts of the state and what is the relative importance of each factor. For example, we have hunting, starvation, automobile or highway accidents, drought, flood, sleet, snow, freezing, predators, farming accidents such as mowing over nests, diseases, parasites, fires and numerous other causes of wildfire mortalit. When the major cuases of wildlife loss have been determeiend we can then inaguete measues most instances to reduce theses losses.

4. For the proper management of our game birds il is necessary to know certain facts about the species we are managing. To set these facts, careful observations under Nebraska conditions must be made. Our project workers spend many hours in the field prying into the private life of these birds. We must learn what the birds do throughout the year. What is the best ratio of cocks to hens in a polygamous species like the pheasant? When are the firs? egi>s laid'.' How long does the nesting season last'.' In what kinds of vegetation are the nests placed? What is the average number of eggs per nest'' What percentage of the eggs hatch? What percentage of the nests are destroyed before hatching? How man) broods are reared per year" Over how large, an area will ;;ii individual bird range in a year? What determines the movements of during the fall and winter and if so. how would hunting affect the sepahave a cyclic fluctuation? These are only a few of the very important questions which must be answered for each species of upland game bird before the best management techniques can be determined.

5. in order to get a relatively accurate estimate of the number of pheasants taken by hunters this year, . fifteen hundred qnestionaire postcards were handed to pheasant hunters in the field by conservation officers. From the returns on this among other things, to arrive at the average number of pheasants bagged and the number lost per hunter. At the close of the waterfowl season several hundred individuals who purchased hunting licenses were sent a different questionaire asking, among other things, »f he hunted pheasants this year and, if sa, how many birds he bagged and how many he shot bui lost. The returns from these quest tonahes will give an estimate of the total legal pheasant bag and the total pheasants lost. Such estimates are far more satisfactory than estimates based on hunches and will give us a better indication ol pheasant populations iiiid annual production.

6. We have to date approximately 250 wildlife reporters scattered throughout the state. By far the majority *H these reporters are farmers who have voluntarily responded the upland game birds on then farms. The names of these reporter.' were supplied by interested count} agricultural agents. Each reportei will receive a brief qnestionaire perhaps three times a year asking foi up-to-date information about tin game birds found on his farm. As we compile the informal ion on these wildlife inventories from time to time we will have a state wide view of the shifts or fluctuations in the game bird populations. The reasons for these variations will then be sought and all findings will be of lirect application to future manage nent practices. These reporters will Be contacted by the project personnel and on certain faints index areas" will be established. On the periodic censuses of the game birds as a supplement to the inventory reports.

No longer does Nebraksa need to "shoot in the dark" on game management policies affecting upland game birds. The hunger knows his hunting fee will go farther as a result of an accumulation of FACTS that will enable huim, the game technician and the farmer not only SAVE more birds but to allow Dame Nature to PRODCUE more birds INEXSPENSIVELY.

The Nebraska hunter, farmer and others interested in our upland game birds have shown their interest in this survey through their excellent responses to our requests for information. To them and to those farmers within our several study areas we extend our hearty thanks.

Beaver In Nebraska

Beavers in southwestern Nebraska are creating a "circle of benefits," and the boosters who are cheering the "circle" include duck hunters, upland game bird enthusiasts, farmers, trappers, and flood control boosters.

The beavers' fine work came into the spotlight again when one of Nebraska's game technicians, working on the Upland Game Bird Survey and Investigation, recently visited the Tecker ranch in Dundy County. On this ranch beavers have improved the surroundings for upland game birds, and they have also taken a very active and important part in improving the land in several other ways.

It is interesting to see how the several benefits are related. And the fact that the beavers work without pay is a point in their favor too!

Beavers turned misfortune into good fortune when they helped restore the land to productivity following the Republican Valley flood of 1935. Countless bends in the old stream channel were cut off during the 1935 flood and it is in one of these old bends that the beavers went to work on this ranch.

Water conservation means much in semiarid western Nebraska, and the series of dams which the beavers built installed them in the first rank of water conservators. In checking run-off water such dams become working units in flood control. A single dam may be small, but multiply its work by the number of dams in an entire watershed and the effect becomes surprisingly important.

The constant water supply, maintained in the ponds above the dams, is beneficial to vegetation in the surrounding area, and bobwhite quail are using the cover and food afforded by the plant growth. Pheasants find welcome cover in the plants of the marshy areas when winter winds and snows lessen the value of certain other types of plant growth.

And ducks! You should have seen the ducks there the past fall! Gunners shooting over the beaver ponds wanted medals pinned on the beavers for providing such splendid duck water.

Water is the big need in Nebraska,— and that goes whether one is a farmer or not. Furnish a water supply and other benefits follow. The trapper has long realized that much of his income is from fur-bearers which frequent the vicinity of ponds and streams. And he is becoming less anxious for the beaver's pelt, knowing that other fur-bearers will be on hand to reward him if the beaver "paves the way" by storing water.

The West was opened up by men who were in quest of the beaver,—and perhaps the West will remain a good place in which to live because the beavers continue to work.

We do not have to go back many years to find that at one time the beaver had almost disappeared from the streams of Nebraska. The few remaining were found only in northern and western Nebraska.

In the past few years they have been protected, and as a result they have multiplied rapidly and are now widely scattered over the state, making their homes in the banks of the larger streams and building dams on nearly all of our smaller streams.

They have increased and scattered with such rapidity that during the year 1940, 6,033 beavers were taken under special permit by Nebraska trappers. Permits are issued to take beaver only when they are doing extensive damage to trees, flooding hay meadows and causing bank erosion. During the following year, 1941, the restrictions on the taking of beaver were tightened and 2,778 were taken. The average mature beaver taken in Nebraska will not weigh over fifty pounds, but occasionally one will be taken up to 75 pounds.

The Introduction of Pheasants Into Central Nebraska

It is always of interest to look back at the old records and find out how some things have come about. Now that pheasants are probably more abundant in Valley and surrounding counties than in any other part of the State, we wonder at their small beginning just a few years ago.

The Chinese pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, was introduced into North America in Oregon by Mr. O N. Denny in 1880 and 1881. In 1887 the" English pheasant, a variety of the Chinese pheasant, was introduced into New Jersey. The birds that we now have are mainly hybrids of these two varieties. The English pheasant is darker than the Chinese pheasant, and as we now drive along the highways we can see some cocks that are much darker in color than others.

After the bird was found to be successful in the United States, especially in the northern half, many individuals and state organizations began in propagating and releasing them. The first importation of any numbers into Colorado was from 1889 to 1894. Kansas made her initial bid for the birds when 3,000 birds were liberated between 1906 and 1909. Importations into Kansas had been made earlier than that date, and during the period 1900 to 1904 stragglers had already begun to migrate into southern Nebraska. Individuals were shot in Pawnee, Gage, and other southern counties. It was about that time, 1909, when Charles Partridge, a citizen of Ord, began to interest himself in pheasants. He kept a few records of the number of birds which he had, and also the number of eggs that he set under bantam hens for hatching. Unfortunately in his records he did not indicate the number of young that hatched or that were subsequently raised and liberated. However, we can get some idea of the number of birds from the number of eggs that he set. In 1909 he received the first three pairs of pheasants on February 11, and had paid for these the sum of $17. On April 17 one of the hens laid the first egg laid in Valley County. There is, of course, the possibility that a few wild birds had come as far north as Valley County by this time, but these birds of Mr. Partridge's were the first imported ones. On April 22, 13 eggs were taken to the farm of Mr. Bill Wiygent. Twenty-five days later 11 chicks hatched. On May 7, 13 more eggs were set under bantams at Mr. Wiygent's and five hatched on June 1. May 13, 11 eggs were set, but these proved to be infertile. Of the 26 eggs, then, which were fertile, 16 hatched, or a hatch of about 60 per cent. Further records for that year show that on May 18, 31 eggs were set; on May 23, 9; May 25, 10; June 5, 26; June 10, 16; June 20, 22; July 2, 26; July 10, 16; July 18, 28; July 26, 15; August 1, 13; August 12, 6; and August 23, 3. In addition he sold 12 eggs on May 20, for $3. This shows that his three hens produced 270 eggs or 90 eggs each in a period of 123 days. Of course, as the eggs were taken from the hens as quickly as they laid them, they did not incubate any, and continued to lay at the rate of about an egg a day. In addition to these 270 eggs, Mr. Partridge received 12 on June 8 from a dealer in Oregon, and set these. If we assume that he got 50 per cent success from these eggs, there were released during the year about 135 pheasants.

Following 1909, Charley, as he was known, continued to raise pheasants and to give away or sell the eggs, but the only other records that could be found were those for 1916 and 1919. On July 1, 1916, he purchased hens from Wallace Evans at St. Charles, Illinois. He did not record how many hens, but stated that including $1.15 for express his expenses were $8.15. Another pheasant fancier, Mrs. Fenner at Burwell, had some birds and gave Mr. Partridge a male. The first egg this year was laid on April 15, and the hen laid 22 eggs which hatched May 29. The only other record for 1916 was the setting of 25 eggs on May 25 and eight on June 16 and 17.

In the ten years following Mr. Partridge's introductions, pheasants established themselves rapidly, and many people became interested in raising and releasing them. Some of the people to whom he sold eggs were listed in his 1919 records. He sold 15 eggs to Mr. W. M. Hare, Fairbury, Nebraska, for $1.50; to Huffard Brothers of Wayne, Nebraska, he sold 15 eggs for $3; Mrs. A. D. Smith of Grand Island received 15 eggs for $1.50; while Thomas Woodruff of Hastings received nine eggs for $1. The price apparently varied with the individual to whom he was selling, but, of course, we do not know the conditions involved, for some eggs may have been of a more virile or desirable stock. However, James Petska of Ord received 30 eggs for $1.50. Other purchasers of eggs included The Logan Valley Poultry Farm, H. Burgdorf of South Omaha, and a Mr. Maloney of Columbus.

In the record of eggs that were set in 1909 he shows that 13 set on July 3 hatched on July 26; 14 set June 28 hatched on July 26; 10 set on June 22 hatched on July 17; and 11 set on June 17 hatched on July 12. In this last record he mentioned that the hatch would be uneven since the eggs had been laid at different times, but during the incubation the hen threw out eight of the eggs, leaving only three to hatch.

Following 1919 Charley continued to be interested in pheasants, but by then the birds had become very abundant throughout the county. Nine years later an open season was declared in Valley County for the first time, and in the nine counties having an open season it was estimated that about 25,000 birds were shot This would be approximately 2800 birds per county, and there was sufficient breeding stock left over. Studies in progress now concerning the pheasant are still too incomplete to give an accurate estimate of the thousands of birds that are present in Valley County. Hunters that will flock into this county for their hunting this year should silently give a word of thanks to the energetic activities of Charles Partridge for so thoroughly stocking the county originally.

With Nebraska Sportsmen's Organization

It might be of interest to you who are not familiar with the Nebraska Better Fishing Association, to learn, that since we organized in March of 1941, we have held regular monthly meetings, we have shown pictures, silent and sound, not only of an entertaining nature, but educational as well. I particularly wish to stress the educational phase. At one of our meetings we screened one of the national bait and fly casting champions sound pictures. The champion stressed the fact, that before undersized fish, which must be returned to the water, were taken off the hook, the hands should be wet. A lad of about 12 years of age saw that picture. Several weeks later this same lad was fishing along side of another boy of about the same age. I noticed with great interest this young fellow who had been coming to see the pictures, remove undersized fish and return them to the water very carefully. Yes, he was wetting his hands, and he informed the other boy that he must never take a small fish off the hook without first wetting his hands. That little incident made me very happy. I'll bet my last cent he will be a fine sportsman. Many of these small lads come to our meetings. Everybody is welcome and our meetings are always open to the general public. It will cost you nothing to come down to our meetings. Why not drop in on us sometime?

At one of our meetings a lad approached me; he was straight as an Indian and brown as a berry. A perfect picture of health and outdoors written all over him. He informed me that just as soon as he could earn a dollar he was going to join the Nebraska Better Fishing Association. I inquired as to his age. He stated he was 15. I said, "Son why do you wish to join"? Here was his reply. "The Nebraska Better Fishing Association is really trying to better fishing, and I want to do my part". That lad was poor, but his heart was surely in the right place. He does all of his fishing at Oak Park Lake which is located within the city limits of Lincoln. I'm going to see to it personally that he gets to go on some fishing trips this next summer.

When you have experiences such as those, I have just mentioned, is it any wonder that we are willing to do everything within our power to try and better fishing in our State?

We do not claim that the Nebraska Better Fishing Association is perfect. We lay claim to only one thing and that being our honest efforts in trying to do our level best for this grand sport.

If you love to fish and are one of those who believe that fishing can be bettered; why not give us a lift? Just sitting back on the sidelines, growling and criticising someone that is trying to do something about it, won't help.

How about some of you boys who live out in the State? Would you like to learn more about this Association? If you don't feel like taking the time to write a letter, a card will do. We will even come out and put on a free show for you, and explain in detail just what the Nebraska Better Fishing Association is. It won't cost you anything to try.

By the time Outdoor Nebraska goes to press we will have a chapter organized at Seward and possibly York and Stapiehurst. There are several other towns which are interested. Of course Beatrice is already organized. They have approximately 100 members. Some other town is going to be next. Why not make it yours? Remember, the Nebraska Better Fishing Association is non-profit. It is not a money making scheme. We are all donating our time and money. The dues are only one dollar per year.

Fishing is a sport for the average man. No longer can the* stream or lake supply unlimited food for the rapidly increasing fishermen. The true sportsman needs neither game laws nor bag limits, nor does the securing of a license make a sportsman. He must be moderate in his take, find part of his pleasure in being afield, and in observing the life of the denizens of the deep. Many of our best days are those in which a large catch was not made.

Striving only to secure the legal limit destroys your pleasure and diverts your mind from the sport to the capacity of the creel. Make the capture of each fish a complete episode. Remember the Golden Rule. The more sportsmen we have the better will be our sport for they are the power behind the men who propagate the fish which stock our streams and lakes.

Most of our lakes and streams are either bordered or surrounded by private lands. These lands are being posted more and more each year. This is not, by any means, because of the selfishness of the land owner. It is because many fishermen forget that the property is not theirs to do with as they please. They tear down fences, leave gates open, trample crops, even commit petty larceny and take fish by many illegal methods. The true sportsman will feel himself a trustee of the private property he is fishing on and will, in every way possible, prevent damage and depredation.

Thousands of dollars are being spent in other States by our Nebraska fishermen, which could and should be spent here.

For information regarding the Nebraska Better Fishing Association write Dick Wait, 914 K Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

WRECK THAT STOCKED ELKHORN RIVER

A car of fish valued at $30,000 was deposited in the Elkhorn River due to a train accident, say workers of the Nebraska Writers' Project.

According to Leach's History of Antelope County, 1868-1883, the California Legislature appropriated $30,000 to stock waters of that state with choice fish. In the early '70s a carload of three hundred thousand fish was purchased from Seth Green, famous New York fish breeder. Consisting of such varieties as the tautog, black bass, striped bass, perch, waileyed pike, silver eel, oysters, lobsters, trout, the car was in charge of a United States fish commissioner.

Weakened by the great flood that followed the April storm of 1873, the bridge across the Elkhorn gave way when the train drawing this car passed over. The car broke open, liberating the fish. The accident added to the waters of the Elkhorn the black bass, silver eel, perch, wall-eyed pike, and possibly one or two other kinds.

"Cock pheasant No. 70996 brought down about five miles north of Scribner and, incidentally, mounted, full grown, oddly colored having a rich orange-brown on the upper and underside, with a full tail. Brought down with a 20gauge single scatter gun receiving two pellets in the back of the head behind each eye and several in the back. Think you are doing a wonderful job and may there be more of it".—By C. R. Briza, Omaha, Nebraska.

"Enclosed find two bands A-13974 and A-13971 from rooster pheasants shot November 2 about three miles east of Stockham, Nebraska. These two pheasants killed were the fattest pheasants I ever saw and their plumage was colorful and healthy looking."—By Millard L. Fox, Fremont, Nebr

Keporf of Proceedings of the Nebraska Fish Commission For the Years 1878 and 1879

In calling your attention to the operations of the State Board of Fish Commissioners I would give you the following synopsis of their work during the past two years. In the first year they succeeded in obtaining 200,000 California Salmon eggs from which they hatched 190,000 young salmon fry. These were equitably distributed between the northern and southern portions of the state. During the past year the Commission obtained 400,000 California Salmon eggs—the yield from which was not so good—the hatch furnishing only 300,000 young salmon which are being distributed and planted in the waters of the state. From Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Washington, D. C, U. S. Fish Commissioner, they obtained 135 German carp. These last have not been distributed, the Commission deeming it best to retain them as breeders and intending to distribute the fry of these fish in the spring. The German carp are believed to be the best fish for our waters—being hardy, prolific breeders—rapid growers and of superior flavor as food fish.

The Commission found it very difficult to accomplish much with the small appropriation made by the last legislature. They had no grounds or hatcheries and were obliged to contract with Messrs. Romine and Decker of South Bend, Nebraska, for the hatching of spawn. The express charges on spawn from California and on the German carp were excessively high and the inadequate appropriation was consumed, without leaving anything to reimburse the Commission for personal expenses incurred in traveling, telegraphing, postage, etc. They asked that sufficient appropriation be supplied them to purchase grounds and erect state hatcheries and small dwelling for a superintendent to care for the fish and spawn. The total amount asked for the next two years, amounting to $8,200.00 divided as follows: $4,000.00 for purchase of site with springs and erection of hatcheries and dwelling for superintendent, $1,200.00 for salary of superintendent for two years, and $3,000.00 for purchase of fish and cans, expressage > and incidents for two years.

So great are the benefits derived by the judicious stocking of our waters with food fishes and in view of the fact that we have 6,485 miles of streams and rivers and 11,160 acres of inland lakes, that I am persuaded your judgment will grant these appropriations and adequately supply the Commission with the means of carrying out this great work. At the present time almost every state in the Union is fostering this useful and productive enterprise by liberal appropriations and nearly all of them have extensive hatcheries. I am moved to urge your favorable consideration of this undertaking by the great results obtained in other states, and trust you will amend the present law so as to empower the Commission to appoint a superintendent of hatcheries, whose duties shall be to care for this interest under the direction of the Commission.

While on this subject I beg leave to commend the public spirit manifested by the present Commission who have actually paid all their own expenses and devoted the very small and inadequate appropriation made by the last legislature exclusively to the legitimate work of procuring eggs and fish for the benefit of the people of this state. Much time and labor has been bestown by them on this work and while no remuneration is provided for these services, it might be well to make provisions for paying them a sufficient amount per annum to at least cover their actual expenses.

(Continued from page 5, First Son at Christmas)

Mr. Hokum was looking at the rifle.

"I see you have a nice gun there. Christmas present, I suppose," he said.

"Mind if I look at it?" He took the gun and extended his own. "Here, look at mine. It's a twelve, full choke. Good for rabbits at fifty yards."

As he spoke he hefted the boy's rifle appreciatively and confirmed his first judgment of it. "Nice rifle here, Son, and I guess you know how to use it.

Yes, sir, nice Christmas present."

The boy opened his mouth to speak but the man boomed on:

"Was thinking you're a little young for a gun but I guess your Dad knows. Don't mind men hunting on my farm if they ask me and I have a chance to size them up and feel that they know how to handle a gun and know what to shoot at."

The boy opened his mouth again for an apology but Mr. Holcum cut him off.

"Of course, with you it's all right. I've known your father for years and I guess I can put as much trust in you."

THERE WERE two rabbits hanging from the boy's belt an hour later when he trudged in and met his father at the door.

"Dad, I'm sorry—" he began and his father interrupted.

"It's all rignt, Sonny. I know how you feel about wanting to try out the gun by yourself . . . And I see you have it licked," he added with an eye on the rabbits. That was all. There were no praising words, no embarrasing pats of affection —only those additional words of admonition which the boy always remembered with greatest warmth: "Hustle inside now, Sonny. Your Mother has a warm breakfast waiting for you, then we'll see what old Santa left for us under the tree." The last with a significant wink.

As the dream drifted away and the years came flooding back, the boy who was now the man at the desk in the study aroused himself. A boyish voice came again from outside the door:

"Dad!"

"Yes, Sonny."

"May I come in?"

"Certainly, my boy . . . Here, take this chair. Guess I must have been napping a bit. And that reminds me."

"Of what, Dad?"

"This is the first Christmas eve after your twelfth birthday."

He arose and lifted a rifle from the antlers of a deer head.

"It's yours, son," he said, handing it to the boy.

The boy was overwhelmed. "Why, Dad," he spoke disbelievingly. "It's the heirloom of the family! It's the gun I've always wanted most!"

"I'm glad you feel that way, son. And remember, it goes to your first son at Christmas when he knows how to handle a gun."

Nee-Haun-Chee: The River Blue

I know it's not much of a river as rivers go! Those who know the beautiful Columbia, the Colorado in its majestic canyon or the mighty Father-of-Waters, would, no doubt, not give it a second thought. I've not traveled much; still, I've been around a bit, and I have seen other rivers.

I've watched the Platte, running bank-full with hundreds of silt-laden eddies and I've driven up and down and across its dry sandy bed in mid-summer. I've known the Big Muddy and its powerful currents, constantly shifting and nipping a piece off first one bank and then the other. I've seen the Brazos in flood, ominously creeping back toward the levees, 'till the darkies began to pack up and desert the river cabins and move to higher ground. I've watched the Charles from the Harvard bridge and followed along the Hudson and the Potomac.

These rivers have stirred me to admiration, to respect and awe, but not the affection which I hold for Our River. Probably it is because I've only a passing acquaintance with them instead of the intimate friendship which I enjoy with Our River.

As I said, it's not much of a river—at its widest only fifty yards or so and often it is only half of that. Slow moving —you can hardly see that it does move, except in high water. Of course, your bobber moves slightly downstream—and when you stop rowing, the boat does drift in one direction. But for these signs the river almost seems to stand still. When the wind is strong from downstream, as it often is in summer, the boat may even drift upstream for a little.

And it's muddy!

Yes, I admit it is muddy—the scorn of those who know the clear streams of mountains or the more sandy plains. The Indians called it Nee-haun-chee, the river blue. The name seems a joke today as you look at its gray-brown surface. But the older people who, when I was a little girl, remembered the days when it was the Indians' river and ploughing had not stirred the black soil of its banks, said that it did look blue. So it is called the Blue River instead of the more musical Nee-haun-chee.

A little river! A muddy river!

To the casual traveler it is hidden away on the prairie, for the highway frequently passes it by. The transcontinental tourist bowling along over miles of level concrete will hardly guess that it is on the high plateau and that the seemingly low fringe of bushes in the middle distance marks a valley and Our River. But if you turn off from the highway and follow a side road for half a mile, you come to a curve -then a sudden dip down and you are driving even with the tops of tall trees. Another dip and you are in a grove of oak, ash, elm and box-elder and glimpse the river shining in the sunlight with feathery willows along its banks.

These groves, just down the bluff, are often narrow and sometimes in the urgent need for wood in a prairie land, they have been carelessly cut away; but many are there, with some fine trees among them and enough so that in a minute you leave the prairie and enter the realm of woods and water. Here you can watch the squirrels, see a muskrat swim towards his hole in the bank or catch sight of a dignified crane wading in shallow water.

As I started to say, I've had long and intimate acquaintance with Our River. I've learned to swim in it, to row and canoe on it and it has had a place in several of the big events of my life.

I was born and grew up in a town that spreads itself along both its banks. Our favorite drive, with horse and buggy, of course, was down across the bridge and along the river road. But few people used the river for pleasure in any way, there were no canoes and few row boats. The river was, nevertheless, an important factor in the town life. It furnished power for the flour mill for one thing and frequently furnished drama for a second. Nearly every ' spring, we heard that the river was "running full" or "over the bridge"—sometimes a block or two "up Main Street." Occasionally, picnic parties went in carryalls "up to Dibble's grove" and some venturesome spirits would go bathing. I'm afraid the bathing would seem tame sport to our boys and girls of today with their perfect back-strokes and Australian crawls.

The thing, however, that most of us particularly love, was the old sand barge. The boat house man took the big barge onto which he pumped sand from certain places in the river bed and made it into a most acceptable picnic boat. The big flat barge, with seats along the sides, was pushed upstream by a motor boat and then the boat taken off. After we had eaten our picnic supper on shore, the barge was left to float back to town, steered by men who stood like gondoliers with long poles to keep it away from the banks. Then we danced and sang as we lazily drifted on in the moonlight. What more delectable combination could be found for eighteen-to-twenty?

Even college did not pull me away from the river, although it took me away from its banks. Many college groups spent a day each spring on the Blue. An early train out from town, a row upstream to the resort established by a thrifty farmer in his wooded pasture. There was all sorts of fun all day and then the row back to catch the midnight train. How dark it was sometimes—only the streak of light where the shadows did not quite meet in midstream served as a guide to show where the bends turned.

There are always old friends to come back to—the big ash tree, those same grape vines—and the willow. The willow for years hung out at a right angle to the bank and has been the goal for the deep water test. "Jump off the deep end of the dock, come up in a backfloat. At the whistle swim upstream to the willow!" —one hundred yards. But the willow has succumbed to last winter's storms and now reaches out only a splintered and rotten stump—but perhaps even that way it may serve as a goal.

Most often we have come just for a day to fish! Some people laugh and loudly demand better fishing. But—we usually bring home a mess of bullheads and catfish—and a pound or two pound channel cat is mighty good eating! Each year someone pulls out a big one—thirty pounds or more. We've never gotten that sort, but we get other things just as important. A day in the open with only the small woods animals and the birds around— enough fishing to be interesting and above all—quietness and a chance to smooth out the wrinkles. In what other way can thinking come quite so clear and everything get restful?

Our greatest initmacy with the Nee-haun-chee has been in its middle stretches, but last year for an afternoon, we followed it for several miles nearer its mouth. Flowing more rapidly and over rocky outcroppings, it tumbles in little water falls and more nearly lives up to its name. The rock in the bluffs, which there are farther back from the stream, furnishes building material for the farmsteads. Even some villages in its green valley are almost entirely of stone, presenting a picture seldom seen in the middle west.

There is a picturesque effect in these scenes which exceeds that of the still brown waters and the thinly wooded banks which we know so well. But we have the pleasure of watching the same trees year after year, of seeing the sun come up across the same border of willows— and the added pleasure of remembering the other times we have done the same things.

You see we have an intimate friendship with Our River, and we like it—even if it isn't much of a river among rivers.