NEBRASKA'S GAME COMMISSION 1944

4 Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944

WHO'S WHO AMONG THE MOSSES

By Walter Kiener, Ph.D.

If you should catch that culprit that started calling "moss" every green thing growing in lakes, shred him in a thousand pieces and feed him to the fish.

There's Art, a fisherman and hunter, class 1A. Listening to him, it seems there isn't a thing he doesn't know about the fish and ducks. Art wanted to have a fish pond on his farm. He not only wanted to take fish out of the water, but he wanted to put some in, to propagate. He wanted to have ducks on his pond; for somehow, Art isn't just a killer, he is a nature lover who loves to watch the native wildlife. With the fish and ducks in their proper places, he figures the world's a finer place in which to live.

Art's dream came true. He got his pond; but he was really stuck, for he didn't know what kind of "moss," if any, he should put into that pond. It was amusing. Here he knew every kind of duck and fish in the whole country, together with all their tricks; but he really knew next to nothing about what nurtures them. So the hero of the rod and gun, meekly but hopefully, went to the vegetation doctor of the Game Commission' for assistance. And that was just the thing to do. Not that this vegetation doctor could doctor it all up for him pronto; oh, no, mother nature's ways too often are too intricate for mere men to understand.

The environment of a pond or lake is a very complicated habitat, subject to all sorts of changes from all sorts of things. Then too, scientific people like all other people, love fame and glory. They often work so hard for it that they are short on time to learn of nature's secrets. They will talk to you about what everybody knows, in terms that nobody understands. Such complex dwellings as the lakes and rivers offer scant occasion for quick laurels; and so their study gets neglected until some fellow comes along who, so embued withzeal for nature's hidden doings, follows her labyrinthic ways and unravels mysteries that were mysteries only because of ignorance and laziness of men. Then too, the fisherman and hunter is so absorbed with getting the fish and ducks, he doesn't bother to wonder what makes them grow fat. Oh yes, if they don't grow or aren't there, quite quickly and often vociferously, he blames the Game Commission, or stays away from church and sometimes even blames the Lord. Quite often, unwisely, he fails to think that there must be replacement for what he takes.

Pish and ducks are crops, and like all crops they must be managed in order to perpetuate this natural resource for profit and for pleasure. To manage this resource for sons of fathers yet unborn, all hands must join in unity of purpose, though every one will have a different share. One sin, of which the fishermen and hunters will have to rid themselves right soon', is their ignorance of the vegetable kingdom which dwells in lakes and streams. Just think of it, he-men of the rugged outdoors don't know any better than to lump as "moss" the part of pisnt large varieties of vegetables that grow in streams and lakes, without which vegetables the animals of watery habitations would quickly starve and die.

There is no need for fishermen or hunters to go to college to learn the names of all the vegetables that enter into food relations with the ducks or fish. He should, however, learn from nature by stopping now and then to study the types of plants that make up the vegetation of the lakes and streams. Do get acquainted with the types of vegetables that dwell with fish and ducks. Know who's who among the plants that are their basic foods.

Meet the Charas

Fine fish are raised in the state hatchery at Rock Creek in Dundy County   Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944 5 where good water is supplied from everlasting sand-hill springs. When the hatchery ponds were built, many water plants began to make their appearance until the ponds seemed full of them. One of these plants was chara (pronounced ka'ra), also known as musk grass, or stonewort, or brittlewort. Chara appeared naturally and did so well that soon it became the dominating plant in the ponds. Now it grows so rank that every year in the fall hatchery employees have to rake it out to make seining of the fish possible. In this way tons of organic matter are removed, thrown upon the banks, and later hauled away. Before the plants are raked out, they produce a large number of spores, a kind of "seed", which will grow into new plants the following spring. Many plants are merely broken off during the raking procedures, anQ these keep on growing from year to year. Especially healthy fish are raised in the hatchery at Rock Creek, chiefly due to the abundant chara that seems to be the basis of the whole food chain. The exact name of this plant is Chara contraria.

Chara is considered a good food for ducks and other waterfowl. Analyses of I duck stomachs in the western United States have shown that these plants rank fourth as a desirable duck food. The fish eat it too to some extent. It is therefore of great value as a food for wildlife.

Dense jungles are formed by chara on the bottoms of the ponds. In those submerged jungles live myriads of tiny animals. Some of these animals cling to the stems on which they feed. These tiny animals are eaten by larger forms, and these are in turn eaten by still larger ones. Some animals find shelter among the chara from their enemies. The fish frequent the chara beds, seeking these smaller forms for feed. Ducks, on the other hand, feed on both the chara and the animal forms that frequent this vegetation. Thus fish and ducks are dependent on the cosmopolitan food-producing chara.

It further happens that when chara is found growing in a pond, the water always appears rather clean. At present it is not understood why that is, but it is believed that chara in some way is a Plants make factor in keeping the water fairly pure. Some kinds of chara extract lime from the water and in this way apparently make the water softer.

After the chara has been raked out of the ponds and has dried, it is white in color due to the lime with which it is encrusted. With it are other plants and quantities of small animals. This material should prove to be a good fertilizer for soil that is poor in lime and nitrogen. It could also be used to inoculate other ponds that are still bare of vegetation. A natural resource may thus far have been overlooked.

Chara contraria has an interesting history in Nebraska. About fifty years ago it was found in only a few places. Since then, hundreds of sand and gravel pits have been dug in the state and this chara began to settle in these ponds. It appears to be very much at home in this particular watery habitat. Usually where there is chara, there is also good fishing. So common, and so restricted is Chara contraria to these ponds that it might be called the gravelpit chara.

Another chara is restricted to the intermittent pools on the table lands. These pools are also known as buffalo wallows and lagoons, and they have water in them only from late winter until summer, when they completely dry up. Many aquatic plants grow in these pools and one of them is Chara coronata. This chara is an annual. In the short time which the pool is under water, the plant grows from spores into a good-sized plant and produces new spores before the pool dries up. These spores then lie on the ground among the dead stems until the next spring when they again will grow into new plants. This chara is therefore most adaptable to this particular situation.

Chara fragilis and Chara foetida appear to be perfectly at home in the sandhill lakes. These two types of chara are a source of food for millions of ducks in this area as well as being suitable nurse beds and food for the fish.

There are some other charas that grow scattered here and there but are so rare that one must conclude that they are not fully at home in our Nebraska climate.

  6 Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944

We do not yet know all the things that we should know about chara. But since there is a different plant for every different type of situation, it is exceedingly important to those in wildlife management that the exact identity of every plant be known so that the right plant is being put in the right place in order to get the best productivity with the least cost in time and money. Wildlife management needs the cooperation of all hunters and fishermen. It is therefore very important that all interested, recognize a chara when they see one.

Plants by themselves can not travel around. But when a duck brushes through the mats of chara, some fragments of a stem may cling to the feathers on his body. Or he may step on a plant where the water level has lowered and the bottom mud exposed. Charas with a little mud, cling to the duck to be carried elsewhere. A duck may eat so much that many of the spores pass through his stomach undigested and may be dropped miles away where the spores will germinate and grow into new plants; if the conditions of the new environment are not inhibitive. There are many lines of evidence which show that the ducks themselves spread plants which are their food.

Fossilized plants have been found in rocks that were formed ages ago. There can be little doubt that the relation between the ducks and chara dates back to the era when the ducks first started their migration.

Now then, what are these plants we call chara? Long technical descriptions would help little. Study of a few pictures with further study of the plants themselves in the various ponds is the easiest method of becoming acquainted with this group of plants. The charas form a family of plants that are rather peculiar and stand as a small group by themselves, because they are so different from all other plants. The stems are somewhat grass-like and the leaves come out in little whorls. The plant may be from a few inches to three feet tall in Nebraska ponds. They always grow under water, sometimes becoming stranded when a lake dries up. They do not bear true flowers and therefore have no true seeds, but reproduce by spores which have the same function as a seed. The stems of the plants are brittle and break easily, especially those types that are encrusted with lime. The lime-encrusted stems give these plants a gritty feeling when touched.

Once one becomes acquainted with the charas, they are always easily recognized. Just remember the gritty feeling and the strong musk odor.

Club Activities

Minden Better Fishing Association

Over ninety youngsters were the guests of the Minden Better Fishing Association at a fishing contest sponsored by this Club on July 4th. Prizes were provided by the Club for the youngster who caught the first fish, the one who caught the largest fish, and the first youngster to reach the necessary limit. Miss Marilyn Musgrave was the winner of the first and second prizes, catching the first fish as well as the first three by any one person. Her reward was two twentypound casting lines. Laverne Miller, from Hildreth, was awarded a prize for coming the greatest distance. Jack Howard won the prize for catching the largest total number of fish, while Judy Bauer and Bruce Christensen were awarded prizes for being the youngest boy and girl fishing.

Directors of the Club are Judge F. S. Martin, F. Rogers, Albert Zade, Howard Tarkington, George Brainard, O. A. Stumpff and R. T. Bang. Nice going fellows!

Lincoln County Wildlife Club

The Lincoln County Wildlife Club deserves a gold star for promoting the collection of funds from private donations for the purchase of a fish screen to be placed at the outlet of North Platte Reservoir. Cooperating groups were the North Platte Chamber of Commerce, Perry Lake Boat Club, North Platte Better Fishing Association, Mill Isle Boat Club, Elks Club, Lions Club, and several railroad organizations. The amount raised was over $2,700, which speaks well for the conservation enthusiasm of the North Platte area. The Platte Valley Public Power District and the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission are cooperating with the project.

Let your friends read Outdoor Nebraska and you will be $ aiding conservation in, Nebraska.

NEBRASKA'S DEER

By R. R. Hill

In the Nebraska National Forest we have an opportunity to learn things about deer that many Nebraskans do not see. Pew people realize that the state has close to 1000 deer on some forty sections of pine and cedar plantations; even fewer have had the chance to see them.

Our deer are the common mule deer of the Rockies. In size and weight they are somewhat smaller than those of the high mountains, but the hunter would see some antlers equal to those of any other region. Incidentally, the age of a deer cannot be told by the number of antler points. The buck fawns have no antlers. A yearling buck normally has a spike or two-point antler on each side. Then in the prime of life he usually has four points on each antler; but as he grows old the antlers are less regular, f r equently degenerating into gnarled spikes. Actually, he supports an entirely new set of antlers each year, the old ones shedding between February and April, the new ones starting development in May or June. Until fully formed the antlers are soft and are covered with a thin skin and light coating of hair. This is known as the "Velvet" stage. By fall the antlers have hardened and the "velvet" is rubbed off on trees and shrubs. Considering that an antler weighs from two to five pounds, a large quantity of mineral matter must be assimilated in the growing of each new set.

The spotted fawns, born in June and weighing seven or eight pounds, are seldom seen. Spindly legged and awkward they take advantage of protective coloration, lying close to the ground without movement until danger passes. Occasionally one is found; and with best intentions, the finder, thinking it an orphan, takes it home to raise on a bottle. This is a mistake, first because the doe is usually feeding not far away; and again because pet deer become dangerous after the first year, frequently severely injuring their captors.

Mule deer breed when a year and a half old, usually bearing one or two fawns the first time and two thereafter. The herd increases at the rate of 20% to 35% each year. Thus in 1933 when there were an estimated 100 deer on the forest, the increase was only 25, but now that there are close to 1000 the annual increase will number 250. Compound interest is at work.

The sandhills region is not impressive as a deer range; it lacks the timber with which deer are associated. So, to one who studies wildlife the question of food supply is first investigated. Contrary to common thought, deer do not subsist mainly on grass; their food habits are more like those of sheep and goats. Apparently the digestive system is so developed that a large quantity of coarse weeds and twigs are essential. Only in the early spring is grass a factor in the diet.

From analyses of the contents of four hundred deer stomachs collected during the past four years the writer has reliable information on what they will and will not eat. The dozen samples collected here at Halsey as a result of accidental losses and coyote kills show that sandhill deer feed on about the same plants as those living in a natural timber type. Preferences vary with the seasons, and plants that are highly palatable in the winter may go untouched in the summer.

The chart shows the relative importance of classes of plants through the

  8 Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944

year. Here in the sandhills, in order of preference, the tree growth eaten consists of red cedar, Scotch pine, Austrian pine, and jack pine. Ponderosa pine which is abundant is used very little.

The palatable shrubs are redroot, sand cherry, choke cherry, sandhill willow, buckbrush and rose. The latter is one of the principal summer feeds. Soapweed and prickly pear cactus are eaten during the winter months when other green feed is scarce. Plants listed as "weeds" are what many would call wildflowers such as sunflowers, pea vine, sage, and clover.

During the summer months there is an abundance of feed for deer, and they should go into the fall in good condition, usually with layers of fat to draw upon later. It is during the later winter months that cold stormy weather thins them down to the extent that here in early spring it is sometimes possible to count their ribs. In almost every case the condition of the winter range determines the number of animals that can be supported; at other times there is no rationing problem.

Fawns and old deer are the first to show the effects of food shortage. The fawns are smaller and cannot reach as high as adult deer, while in old age a deer's teeth are worn too short and dull to easily bit off and chew the woody foods.

To understand why deer can starve in a forest of trees, one must realize that only those branches within five feet of the ground can be reached. And, if those branches are pruned by the deer year after year they soon die and produce no more feed. The tree continues to live if its top is out of reach, but from the standpoint of deer range it no longer exists. No plant can grow and reproduce if its new growth is annually removed.

This condition is prevalent in the Halsey plantations—the old trees cleaned below the five-foot level, and the young trees so severely browsed that it is doubtful whether they can long survive.

First thought is to feed the deer. It has been tried in other states, but does not solve the problem. Going back to the studies of deer food, we must remember that the feeds that could be feasibly supplied are those that cannot be assimilated by deer. Deer must have a high percentage of coarse weeds and woody growth. Examples are common of deer dying with a stomach full of hay.

Second thought is to move the deer to new areas. In a small way and at great expense this can be done. But there must first be a suitable place to put them, and suitable places not already supporting deer in Nebraska are few and far between. The old theory of game refuges was that they would overflow like springs, distributing game into surrounding open territory; actually that seldom happens on a large refuge until it is so badly overpopulated that it is no longer suitable for game. Sufficient deer have been tagged in various localities to know that their seasonable movement is very restricted. Born in a given area they normally live there and produce offspring that follow the same trails in succeeding generations.

Sooner or later the ultimate solution is inevitable. The deer must be managed in the way a rancher does his cattle, and limited to numbers that the range will support. If permitted to go that far, nature's course of starvation and predation will be the answer. The other way is to permit the State Game Commission to regulate numbers through controlled hunting as is done with almost every other form of game.

So, all is not well with Nebraska's deer. An airplane count conducted by state game officials and checked by ground work has given a good indication of the population. Students of vegetation show that there are too many deer.

Two courses of action are open. One is to permit deer to multiply to the point that a high percentage starve, and the other is to control the numbers at a point consistent with the range. The first sounds easy, but it means less deer in the long run because the carrying capacity of the range will be permanently lowered. The second method involves good game management practices based on sound biological findings of your Game Commission. It necessitates tempering sentiment with judgment based on facts. Public sentiment brought wildlife back from near-extinction, but it can kill more game than will firearms if not changed to fit new conditions.

Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944 9

Elegy to a Cane Pole

By Paul T. Gilbert

T'weren't that I ain't patriotic. Pact is I wasn't using my gas gadgets for the old Model T, just cause it didn't seem quite right. But when I reads in the local Town Crier that all them folks is goin' to the Democratic Convention in Chicago, I just plumb spits and cusses, 'specially seein' as how they all know 'fore they goes who they're nominatin'. So I just says to meself, "If that's the goins on, then I can go for my fishin' weekend."

We been plannin' all winter on it, me and Eb. Eb's my cousin on my wife's side, distantly removed. Never did care too much fer 'im, but he's got some gas gadgets saved up too. Now Eb ain't no fisherman, but he's game to go. And 'fore I knows it he's gone 'round to every second-hand store in town pickin' up high-faluttin' fishin' paraphernalia. Gosh, I never seen such a conglomeration of stuff; long shiny rods, me I uses a cane pole; fancy reels that you pushes a button and it rolls up all your line for you; and gadgets with hooks on to beat all; hooks with feathers all over, like these women's hats now-a-days; and hunks of wood painted up 'til if I was a fish I'd hide 'neath the nearest rock I could find, scared-to-death-like. Ah, well jiminy, Eb was all puffed up like a sick hog, ridiculin' my bamboo pole and minnies. Gosh, I've ketched more on that cane pole than them guys ever thought of ketchin' with them painted up gadgets.

T'any rate we pecks the women folks on the cheek and loads up, me with my cane pole on the side, and Eb's stuff fillin' the rest of the car, and we drives down main street like a couple of old women comin' back from an auction, wavin' to all the boys sittin' outside the Post Office. Most of 'em works the grave yard shift at the local factory now-a-days, so they can still keep up on local happenin's during the afternoon down at Joe's Bar.

We pulls up, reckless-like, to Ab's fillin' station and I yells, "Pill 'er up, Ab." Well he did it and then says real official-like, "That's nine and one-tenth gallons; give me your stamps." Well we argued for an hour there, him wantin' a whole stamp fer that tenth of a gallon, and me claimin' it ain't cricket. But he produces a whole pile of papers showin' how he had to take the extra stamp. So I lets him have it, and we pulls out feelin' a little bit down-like to begin with.

We was just pullin' out in the road when Jake Abercrombie stops us. Jake's the new O.P.A. official in town. He used to be the country driver for the Perkin's milk route. "You fellows ain't goin' a'fishin," he says puttin' on them glasses he bought at the Five and Ten last year. Well, cripes, with all Eb's stuff hangin' out all over, what could we say. "You know," he says, "what rule 95840 says about pleasure driving." Well I was sort of worried, 'cause I'd just been up to see Jake last week. I needed a tire sort of bad for the jalopy. He had sat there at that desk they give him and looked real superior-like. Gosh, I remember when the only letters of the alphabet he knew were P, W, A. At any rate he said since I was a previous acquaintance of his, he would give me a special Grade 4 Deluxe recap job. Well,   10 Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944 I didn't want to rile him up, so I sort of tells a white one about business and pleasure. Gosh, me own mother would have killed me, me a'fibbin'. But a feller's sort of drove to it. So with Jake's warnin' in our ears, we finally gets out of town.

What a day it was! Felt like I used to when I was walkin' down that same road barefoot with an older cane pole. Sure the sweet lips of fortune were smilin' upon us until that first dern blow-out. As if it wasn't bad enough to see my special Grade 4 with a whackin' big hole through it, but my tire mendin' stuff was under the seat and gosh, I wish you could have seen that seat! It was piled with fishin' gadgets; and rods were stickin' out like a pin cushion; and over that was a heck of a big fishin' net. Never did figure out what he brought that along for. At any rate we piles that stuff at the side of the road to get to the seat. And upon a stack of books, I swear some guy in a big car pulls up and wants to know if we are sellin' fishin' equipment and wants to buy some. Gosh, Eb about had a fit all over the road tellin' that guy that the stuff was his own personal fishin' equipment. Laugh, I thought I'd bust.

Eventually we got the spare on and away we went, trustin' in a patched-up tube and a prayer. Lady Luck smiled on us the rest of the way and toward noon we pulled up at the lake. Gosh all hemlock, was it pretty! The doggon fish was makin' little circles in the water where they was feedin'. I untied my pole, stuck on a minnie, and tossed it in the water. "Cheater, cheater," Eb started yellin', a-strugglin' with all his stuff. Gosh, what a mess! In pullin' out that danged fish net he upset his bait box 'bout as big as a young trunk. And out come all them colored gadgets, all over the doggon net. Well it was then I discovered that each one of them colored thing-a-majigs had two or three hooks, and each hook had a prong like the old galleon anchors. Gosh, I'd feel awful ashamed of myself if I couldn't give the poor fish a chance on one hook, 'stead of diggin' a whole pitchfork full of hooks into him. One thing sure, if you ever got a fish around that gadget, any babe in a go-cart could land 'im. Boy, what a mess! If you'd a hung that dern net up, anyone passin' would a'thought he was fixin' up a Christmas tree.

Eb finally got out one purty little thing with a little shiny windmill and some feathers on it, and claims the fish ought to go for it. Gosh, if I was a fish and saw that—oh, well, let it go. He then starts pullin' rods out and sticks 'em together and ends up with the craziest lookin' pole. Upper part was a bamboo rod stuck in a steel rod and handle. I finally found the right bottom for the bamboo rod, right purty too when it was all together. It was sort of like the last buggy whip I bought when we still drove old Maggy.

Then Eb says that fancy gadget that runs itself goes on the handle, so we puts it on and pulls the line up through the little holes and sticks that shiny feather thing on the end. Eb pulls out about ten feet of bright yellow line, enough to scare off any fish. And just then I notice my bobber's a cuttin' capers and I runs over; and say, do I have a battle on! I horses that fish around a bit and finally lands a nice two pound bass. Well, Eb just goes crazy. He grabs up that fancy rod, and I still don't know for sure what happened, but he touched something on that fancy reel and 'fore he knows it, that fancy gadget on the end of his line acts   Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944 11 like a bee stung- it. It jumped up in the air and, like a piece of greased lightnin', chased that yellow line up to the tip of the rod, tried to pull rod and all down to the reel, and broke the top of the rod off slicker 'n a whistle. And there stood Eb, mouth open a-starin' at that broken rod, the danged reel still groanin', tryin' to wind up line, rod, and all. Boy, what a gadget!

"Guess somethin' must have busted," sighed Eb. Then he fixes up that shorter steel rod. It hasn't got an automatic reel, but had a roll of fishin' string fit to fly a kite. This time he sticks on a plug with a whole batallion of hooks. In the meantime I lands another bass. And 'fore I can get my line back in, Eb yells, "Look out, I'm goin' to cast." Well, after what had gone on before, I didn't know what was comin'; so I falls on my stomach and watches out of the corner of my eye. Eb, he takes that rod in one hand and heaves like he was gonna throw the whole thing across the lake. And sure enough, that plug and line goes sailin' out twenty-five feet with Eb hangin' on to the rod. Then all of a sudden, the plug acts like it changed its dern mind and jumps back at Eb about fifteen feet. Well, Eb ducked, but the plug just fell in the water. Then Eb started cussln', and darned if I blamed him. That derned reel looked like the old lady's darnin' ball when the kitten finished playin' with it. I caught six more fish while Eb cut that line up in little pieces tryin' to undo it.

He finally got down to the roll of line again and tied that colored plug back on. "Now," he says, "we'll try it again." "Just a minute," I yells and lands another bass. Well, this really broke Eb's heart. He heaves again. And this time the dern plug took off straight up in the air, leveled off right over an old Cottonwood, and then seemed to stop a minute, almost seemed to look around for a nice big limb, and then settled down high over our heads in the old tree. Eb pulled and pulled until finally the line broke. And there hung the little plug, shinin' so purty in the sunlight. Eb didn't say nothin' but borrowed a bobber off of me and stuck a hook on that little rod. But he could reach out in the water only three feet with the dern thing and all he caught were little sunfish.

Toward evening I had my limit and we loaded up. Eb wasn't sayin' much when we got in the car. Then came the sicknin' sissin' of air, and us with no spare. We got out and looked. And sure enough there was a flat, and stickin' in the tire was one of Eb's many-hooked gadgets. What Eb said next don't bear repeatin'.

We caught a ride part of the way back on Ezra Jenkins' hay rack. There we was sittin' on the back end, me, my cane pole, and ten beautiful big bass. And beside me sat Eb, a-mutterin', with —well, I guess he didn't bring anything with him, must have left it all in the car.

IT'S IN NEBRASKA

Nebraska has IT, and it is just what the young men of Nebraska are going to crave most when it is over, over there.

Nebraska has an unusual number of different types of scenic areas as well as more miles of streams and rivers than any other state. Be a true Nebraskan, and see and know Nebraska first.

 

14 Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944

VACATION TRAILS IN NEBRASKA

Lead to a Cozy Cabin in One of Nebraska's State Parks

Far too little has been said pertinent to the beauty and available vacation resources furnished by Nebraska's State Parks. The following descriptive pages will surprise many a restricted Nebraska tourist with the recreational possibilities at the State Parks developed and maintained by this department. These parks while beautiful and interesting in their own right have long been a "babes in the woods" as far as a legitimate, interested sponsor is concerned.

Until 1929 the State Parks were administered by a State Park Board with funds furnished from the general fund through an appropriation each biennium by the State Legislature. This Park Board was for a time under the Department of Agriculture. In 1929 the parks were passed with apologies to the Game, Porestation and Parks Commission at which time a law was amended to allow 10% of all receipts from hunting and fishing licenses to be used in the maintenance of State Parkfj. This income aided materially a diminutive budget upon which the parks had been trying to exist. It was not long, however, before fishing and hunting enthusiasts responded to such use of their funds for park purposes. For fishermen like their money spent on fish and hunters theirs on game. So once again the parks were forced to go begging and their plight once again was saved by emergency rations from the Legislature.

At the present time the State Parks in Nebraska are supported by Legislative appropriation and the cash receipts that they are able to obtain through cabin rentals and concessions, and no part of the Fish and Game funds are expended for this purpose other than a portion of Supervisor Foster's time. The Legislative appropriation for the biennium for Nebraska's seven State Parks is at present $30,000.00. An amount which allows no new development and makes even maintenance and existence often times a problem. At the last session of the Legislature this amount was further decreased by earmarking $2,000 for Fort Kearney State Park which is in a totally unimproved condition. This, cut into the budgets of the other parks and with materials and labor unavailable, was of little benefit to Fort Kearney. Nebraska's Game Commission primarily interested in fishing and hunting pleasures in Nebraska finds the State Parks purely of secondary interest especially with the restricted budget upon which they must maintain the parks over a two year period. Chadron State Park has profited more generously than the other State Parks with a special appropriation of $5,000.00 and $2,500.00 respectively for the past two bienniums. Fort Kearney, not mentioned in the subsequent page, is by far the least developed of all the parks with only a few picnic tables available and little else. Nebraska's six other parks, however, are fine examples of welcome recreational haunts for the lovers of outdoor Nebraska.

  ARBOR LODGE State Park Nebraska City, Nebraska

Arbor Lodge—Southeastern Nebraska is proud of its stately Arbor Lodge State Park which though quite different from the more rustic parks of the State attracts visitors from all of the 48 states. To this spot almost 100 years ago came J. Sterling Morton and his bride. Here they built a small frame house consisting of four rooms which they called Arbor Lodge. At Arbor Lodge was conceived Arbor Day now a tree planting occasion set aside in every State and many of the foreign countries. If there is one spot on the entire map of Nebraska of which its citizens have just cause to be proud, it is the home of the man who looked out on this then wild and windy country and said, "Plant trees."

The mansion itself tells the complete story from the middle 1800's through the organization of Nebraska Territory and the Kansas-Nebraska bill during the time Indian tribes were common around the mansion site. Trees of every species adaptable to Nebraska stand as monuments about the mansion to the ardent desires of J. Sterling Morton that Nebraska become a tree planter's State.

At the death of Mr. Morton in 1902 the mansion became the home of Joy Morton where he lived for 20 years until 1922, when he most generously turned the mansion and grounds over to the State. The mansion' is completely furnished with the original furnishings. In addition, innumerable relics representing early Nebraska are to be found throughout the mansion. A visitor car: spend a very profitable day browsing through the 52 rooms of the three-story colonial structure. In the nearby two-story stable, vehicles of the horse and buggy days represent modes of travel from the early horse cart to the ever thrilling horsedrawn fire engine. Surrounding the mansion are 65 acres of woodland with many picnic areas for those who like to plan on spending the entire day at this historic spot. On the immediate outskirts of Nebraska City this historic monument welcomes and pleases even the most fastidious tourist. The pleasures of visiting Arbor Lodge are further enhanced by the cordial welcome and generous hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Grant McNeel, caretakers of the mansion and grounds. Guide service is available to take visitors through the mansion. A charge of 10 cents per person is made by the State to go through the mansion in order to keep the priceless exhibits therein in condition befitting the visiting public.

Near the east end of the park is a natural depression and in this, surrounded by a grove of native trees, stands the Morton memorial. Against a background of evergreens the bronze statue of the tree planter lifts its heroic proportions. The entire memorial was designed and erected by Rudolph Evans and was made possible largely by the penny and nickel contributions of the school children of the United States.

For a peaceful and educational afternoon, enjoy a picnic among the trees at Arbor State Lodge and become acquainted with Nebraska's past history as exemplified throughout this park's stately mansion.

  CHADRON State Park Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron—Nine miles from the town of Chadron is located one of Nebraska's largest and most picturesque State Parks. The park, built rusticly against the natural setting, offers all the qualifications necessary for a tourist's requirement for a happy vacation. One thousand five hundred and twenty acres has been set aside in the heart of the pineridge country for the development of this natural playground for Nebraskans and outstate visitors.

Seven modern cabins are available to the public fully-equipped with dishes, linens and housekeeping facilities where the entire family can enjoy themselves without having to load up quantities of camping and bedding materials. Running water, lights and telephone utilities make this a modernized vacation. Yet tall pines and native wildlife surrounding the cabins add the necessary back to nature setting so appreciated by the tired vacationer from the city.

Two large, well-equipped group camps furnish facilities for church and youth groups and have even contributed to the war effort in their use by paratroopers of the Army who used these facilities at various times last year.

Tourists visiting Chadron State Park are not without diversified recreational facilities. Innumerable foot trails and bridle paths tease the hiking enthusiast to immediate activity. While a wellequipped swimming pool awaits those who enjoy a cool dip in the warm afternoons. No more attractive country could be found for a trip on horseback from the cabins to a secluded spot in the hills for an afternoon meal cooked over a campfire. With a modern' cabin as headquarters, visiting tourists are within short drives from the picturesque Bad Lands or Nebraska's best trout streams. Nebraska is not too generously supplied with streams where trout will naturally abound. However, in this area trout fishing is on par with that of any of the surrounding vacation States. The heavy winter snows of this area make this park a mecca for skiing enthusiasts as the many broken hills of the area lend themselves readily to such winter sporting pleasures.

A newcomer to this area is immediately impressed with the sudden change from flat plateau country to the high pine-laden hills of the park area. As we enter through the large stone gates of the park, the native log administration building with its landscaped flower beds and stately pines immediately make us feel welcome and at home. As we look through the trees to the south, shelter houses, small cabins and a small store for our convenience add to the overall picture. As we gaze higher through the surrounding high hills, cabins perched advantageously among the hills tantalize our desires for a peaceful and restful vacation and it is not uncommon to see native deer browsing peacefully throughout the area. Mrs. Short who is efficiently guiding the progress of the park while her husband is in the armed services adds materially to our welcome at this park and her hospitality during our stay makes us realize that we have gained another personal friend as we leave this park with a promise to ourselves that we must return again next year.

  NIOBRARA State Park Niobrara, Nebraska

Niobrara — Niobrara State Park located one mile from the town of Niobrara, while quite different from the previously described parks, is most self\sufficient in its answer to the demands of the present day tourist. This park is of historic interest as well as great recreational value.

In 1846 the Mormons settled on this ground and the vestiges of the threequarter mile mill race built by them is still in evidence.

In 1891 the Department of Interior gave this plot of ground to the City of Niobrara for a park and in 1930 the City of Niobrara in turn gave it to the State of Nebraska. Through the efforts of the Commission and the work of local friends of the park this recreational area lias been developed to a point that satiates the desires of all who seek rest and recreation in its area.

Niobrara State Park is built upon a beautiful wooded island of 800 acres. Glistening white cottages, group camps, administrative buildings dot the entire area and are excellent examples of the cleanliness and meticulous care given the park.

There are four large cabins and five smaller ones equipped with beds, linens, stoves, ice box, water and lights. Many of these are built along the winding lagoon and in many cases the backdoor leads down picturesque rocky steps to a boat awaiting the use of a visiting tourist. Besides boating pleasures this lagoon furnishes much enjoyment for the enthusiastic fishermen with both fly and still fishing quite a successful pastime at this park. In addition to these usual recreational facilities a 6 hole golf course is maintained for those visitors who enjoy an early morning round of golf. The upper end of the winding lagoon has been developed into a well-equipped swimming area and bathing beach with diving boards and numerous rustic chairs and tables for the convenience of the bathers. Numerous fireplaces and picnic tables are available throughout the camp for afternoon picnics.

The southern portion of the island has been set aside in its natural condition as a wildlife refuge where hiking enthusiasts will find much enjoyment on the natural trails provided therein.

A very complete live game bird exhibit adjoins the caretaker's home and adds much color and interest to the park.

This park does not lose its patronage after the fishing and tourist season but is a welcome headquarters for large numbers of hunters who enjoy the bountiful hunting pleasures offered by the immediate surrounding area.

Well-equipped group camps are available on this island by reservation for large church and youth groups and many are the groups of young people who have returned year after year to this favorite area where they can enjoy, to the fullest, their conferences at a most reasonable rate.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones, caretakers of this park, are well-known throughout this area for their kindness and hospitality towards visitors and "Jonesy", as his young friends call him, is always an old friend of the young people who visit the group camps at this park.

Few of the parks offer more diversity of recreational pleasures than does Niobrara. Swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, golfing and hiking are all in order for a full day of activities for the visiting tourist at Niobrara State Park. Nowhere else will visitors find such a variety of pleasure at such a minimum of cost.

  PONCA State Park Ponca, Nebraska

Ponca—Ponca State Park is the latest addition to the State Parks and is still different from the State Parks herein described. Located in the Ponca Indian country on the high bluffs overlooking the Missouri River this park provides many different types of recreation. The park is located about 3 miles north of the town of Ponca and comprises about 260 acres of very rough timber land. This park built against some of the highest bluffs along the Missouri River affords views rarely available elsewhere in Nebraska. From one spot high on Lookout Point three different states can be seen.

There are three modern cabins available to the visiting tourist consisting of three rooms each. Each cabin is modern with showers, gas, lights, running water and housekeeping equipment. In addition two large barracks are available with mess hall for organized groups. The roughness of the area separates well the various cabins into secluded units.

Various picnic areas are available throughout the park and two of the most modern shelter houses in the State are available with beautiful stone fireplaces and rock slab verandas.

Ten miles of foot paths and natural trails with rustic bridges and beautiful natural woodland settings are available to the visitor who enjoys tramping through trails left as nature developed them. Hiking and picnicking are the order of the day with some swimming and fishing available in the nearby Missouri River. Of interest to visitors at this park is the world's largest pipe line bridge just adjoining the park which serves natural gas across the Missouri River. This park, being located in such an advantageous spot, serves many visitors from the two neighboring states as well as Nebraska.

While great improvements have been instigated at this park within the past two or three years this park is a very good example of lack of development due to inadequate income. The numerous wooded hills of the area would lend themselves materially to the development of many cabin sites. The topography of the land is even adaptable to the development of a small fishing area all of which would rate this park high in comparison with other parks in the State. However, until such additional income is forthcoming little further development can be expected at this park. The people of the town of Ponca have been interested and active in assisting in the development of the park but can aid little in the way of financial returns except through patronage by overnight visits at the park.

Mr. and Mrs. Markhofer, caretakers at the park, while only recently installed there are natives of the surrounding area and in a short time have already created a great many friends among visiting tourists at the park through their efficient assistance and welcome hospitality to visitors during their sojourn' at the park.

Visitors will find this an appropriate place to get back to nature and yet enjoy modern surroundings.

If you will write Mr. Markhofer at Ponca, in advance, he will have your cabin ready and waiting on the date you specify.

  STOLLEY State Park Grand Island, Nebraska

Stolley—On the immediate outskirts of Grand Island, Nebraska, has developed a park completely different from the other parks in the State. This park is purely for picnic and afternoon recreational programs as no overnight cabins have been developed. This park is of material, historic and natural interest however.

Land embracing the present site of Stolley State Park was originally settled in 1858 in which year a party of German colonists heading from Davenport, Iowa established their homes on the rich grasslands of the Platte Valley. In 1860 the settlers banded together in the construction of a fort as protection against the Indians. This was named Port Independence and was constructed entirely of cottonwood logs. A replica of this original fort containing many of the old handhewn cottonwood logs stands at its original site near the center of Stolley State Park.

William G. Stolley was a tree planter who had thought that trees would also grow away from the water courses if they were planted and cared for. He introduced many new varieties in this region and during subsequent years transformed a large portion of his farm into a beautiful grove. This is how Stolley State Park came into being.

The citizens of Grand Island subscribed some funds to purchase a portion of the original farm and in 1927 the park was dedicated and accepted as Stolley State Park. The park comprising 43 acres has a large variety of trees and shrubs of interest to visiting horticulturists and naturalists, and beautiful landscaped picnic and recreational areas are in constant use by the visiting public.

Much of the development of this park is due to the personal efforts of the Superintendent Mr. John Tooley and his wife who live in a cozy cottage on the grounds. Mr. Tooley, a horticulturist and landscape gardener, has experienced many difficulties in maintaining this park for public recreation. Mr. Tooley had only a very limited budget from the general appropriation fund to carry on his work. It was immediately obvious that such development was impossible with the funds at hand and inasmuch as nursery material was needed by other divisions of the department Mr. Tooley developed expansive nursery beds where he has been producing large numbers of trees and shrubs for use in the development of game bird cover areas throughout the State. This has provided the park with additional income which Mr. Tooley has used to great advantage in maintaining this beautiful area.

As is true with most all of the State Parks, one of the greatest problems involved is the lack of respect on the part of the public for the long hours of tedious work that the superintendents have devoted to their areas. Disheartening indeed are the broken tables, trampled flower gardens and quantities of litter thrown without care over the entire picnic area. Additional appreciation and care on the part of the public would greatly enhance the beauty of all State Parks.

For an interesting afternoon's picnic in a setting of innumerable kinds of trees and shrubs no more appropriate spot could be visited than Stolley State Park.

  VICTORIA SPRINGS State Park Anselmo, Nebraska

Victoria Springs—Last but certainly not least of the improved State Parks of Nebraska is Victoria Springs State Park located 19 miles northwest of Broken Bow. This State Park is located in one of the choicest valleys in Custer County. Spring-fed Victoria Creek winds through the valley for 15 miles to empty its sparkling clear water into the Middle Loup River. The park property includes 58 acres of land generously provided with some of the largest and most beautiful trees to be found in the State. A large grove of cottonwood trees centrally located in the park is well over 70 years of age.

Of special historic interest in this 58 acres of park land are the twin cabins built of cedar logs by Judge Matthews in 1874. These were the home of Custer County's first postoffice known as New Helena with Judge Matthews as the first postmaster.

Since its acquisition by the State of Nebraska the park has been developed considerably beyond the old grove of aged cottonwoods. Plantings of evergreens and new shade trees have been made. Improvements include a modern residence for the caretaker with water and electric system, barns and other outbuildings.

The park possesses two double cabins totaling four rooms which are available for rental to the public. The rooms are furnished with beds, tables, chairs and stoves.

A number of years ago the dam which was constructed on Victoria Creek provided a small picturesque lake in this park. From time to time this is stocked with fish and nearly every Sunday finds a few fishermen around the shores of the lake. Boats are available for rental to fishermen and picnic parties and there is some swimming available at the park.

The Commission has constructed a relic house on the park property and several hundred interesting relics of Nebraska pioneer days have been gathered there for the public's enjoyment. This park is a popular center for Sunday and holiday crowds.

This is another park that has suffered materially from lack of adequate funds and though available and suitable to public use at the present time, in its entirety the park offers many possibilities in the way of further development. Additional cabin space well-equipped would make this area very popular with large numbers of tourists. The lake already present, with a little added development, could be made into a most desireable fishing area.

Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Williams are the caretakers for this park and are wellknown throughout the area served by this park. Mr. Williams is always available and anxious to show visitors through the historic cabin postoffice as well as pleased to introduce them to the two beautiful cool water springs which quench the thirst of visitors from all over the State and neighboring States.

Other Parks — Fort Kearney and Pressey Parks are two relatively unimproved areas which, from historic and recreational standpoints, should be developed to the full limit of their capacities. Both have potential possibilies for very serviceable recreational areas for Nebraskans.

  Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944 21 CHADRON STATE PARK- Modern Cabins: DAY WEEK Accommodations for 2 $2.50 $15.00 Accommodations for 3 or 4 3.00 18.00 Extra Cots with linens 1.00 1.00 Extra Cots without linens .50 .50 Cabins (Not Modern) Accommodations for 2 to 6—per day $1.25 to $3.00 Accommodations for 2 to 6—per week 7.00 to 15.00 All linens extra per bed or cot 50 cents each Riding — Swimming — Fishing — Hiking NIOBRARA STATE PARK- Modern Cabins: DAY WEEK Small cabins for 1 or 2 $1.50 $7.00 Small cabins for 3 or 4 2.50 12.00 Large cabins for 1 or 2 2.00 9.00 Large cabins for 3 or 4 3.00 15.00 Extra steel cots .75 2.00 Extra canvas cots .50 1.00 Golf — Fishing — Boating — Swimming PONCA STATE PARK- Modern Cabins: DAY WEEK Accommodations for 1 or 2 $1.25 $ 6.00 Accommodations for 3 or 4 2.25 10.00 Extra steel cots .75 2.00 Extra canvas cots .50 1.00 Hiking — Picnicking HAYES CENTER RECREATION GROUNDS- Modern Cabins: DAY WEEK 3 room cabins $1.50 $ 8.00 Fishing — Boating — Swimming

22 Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944

LAKES AND RECREATION GROUNDS

PICNICKING, CAMPING AND FISHING AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING RECREATION GROUNDS: ARNOLD LAKE 40 acres, 20 of which is water located 1 mile south of Arnold in Custer County on State Highway No. 40. BALLABDS MARSH LAND 1,500 acres 1,000 of which is water located 20 miles south of Valentine in Cherry County on U. S. Highway No. 183. A large area of water and swamp open to the general public for hunting. BLUE RIVER RECREATIONAL GROUNDS 14 acres, with 20 acre lake located on south bank of West Blue River between Milford and Dorchester in Seward County on U. S. Highway No.6. CHAMPION LAKE 30 acres lake located at Champion in Chase County on the Frenchman River. COTTONMILL LAKE 1000 acres, 30 of which is water located 3 miles west of Kearney in Buffalo County. COTTONWOOD LAKE 160 acres, 30 of which is water located 1 mile east of Merriman in Cherry County. Boats, bait and cabins also available. CRYSTAL LAKE 55 acres, 30 of which is water located 1 mile north of Ayr in Adams County on Little Blue River. Picnic and ice skating shelters also available. DEAD TIMBER LAKE 200 acres, 50 of which is water located 1 mile east and % mile south of Crowell in Dodge County on the Elkhorn River. Picnic shelter and baseball diamond also available. DUKE ALEXIS (Hayes Center) 100 acres, 40 of which is water located 4 miles west of Fremont in Dodge County on U. S. Highway No. 30. Picnic shelter also available. GOOSE LAKE 350 acres located 25 miles south of O'Neill in Holt County. JEFFERSON COUNTY RECREATION GROUNDS (Alexandria) 40 acres, 20 of which is water consisting of 2 lakes located 4 miles east of Alexandria in Jefferson County. LITCHFIELD RECREATION GROUNDS 20 acres, 10 of which is water located 5 miles northwest of Hazard in Sherman County. LONG LAKE 50 acres, 40 of which is water located 20 miles south of Ainsworth in Brown County. LOUP CITY LAKE 50 acres, 20 of which is water located 2 miles east of Loup City in Sherman County on State Highway No. 92. MEMPHIS LAKE 147 acres, 40 of which is water located adjacent to Memphis in Saunders County. Boats and bait also available. PAWNEE LAKE (Guide Rock) 60 acres, 25 of which is water located 2 miles west of Guide Rock in Webster County. Picnic shelter available. FD3EL LAKE 65 acres, 25 of which is water located 12 miles northwest of Spalding in Wheeler County. PLATTEVD3W RECREATION GROUNDS (Louisville) 190 acres, 50 of which is water making 5 sand pit lakes located adjacent to Louisville in Cass County along the Platte River. Swimming beach, boats and bait also available. PRESSEY RECREATION GROUNDS 80 acres located 20 miles south of Broken Bow on South Loup River in Custer County. Bath house with swimming in the river also available. RAT AND BEAVER LAKES 245 acres located 30 miles south of Valentine in Cherry County. RAVENNA LAKE 80 acres, 30 of which is water located 1 mile east of Ravenna on the Loup River in Buffalo County. RICHARDSON COUNTY (Verdon) 55 acres, 30 of which is water located 1 mile west of Verdon on U. S. Highway No. 73 in Richardson County. ROCK CREEK LAKE 100 acres, 50 of which is water located 5 miles north of Parks in Dundy County. Good trout fishing available. SHELL LAKE 640 acres, 40 of which is water located 14 miles northeast of Gordon in Cherry County. WALGREN LAKE 130 acres, 90 of which is water located 5 miles southwest of Hay Springs in Sheridan County. Picnic shelter also available.

Outdoor Nebraska—Summer, 1944 23

SPORTSMAN'S WIDOW

Nothing will please your sportsman husband more than one or several of the volumes herein listed. And incidentally, you yourself will find many of them interesting. The bird books alone are worthwhile as art collections. Editor's note: These books were chosen at random and not solicited by any publisher. n 1. The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America F. H. Kortright (Published hy The American Wildlife Institute, Washington, D. C.) Written for the duck hunter as an aid to understanding waterfowl, this book is interesting, accurate, complete and well-illustrated. This is the book to read if one wants to "know ducks." 2. The Canvasback on a Prairie Marsh—H. Albert Hockbaum (Published by The American Wildlife Institute, Washington, D, C.) This book follows the ducks through a full year on one of the best duck marshes in North America. The emphasis is on the "Can," but many other species get attention too. Illustrated by the author. 3. Fading Trails—by committee including Daniel B. Beard, Frederick C. Lincoln, Victor H. Cahalane, Hartley H. T. Jackson and Ben H. Thompson. (Published by MacMillan Company, New York City) An illustrated book of exciting life histories of endangered or disappearing species, including the grizzly, bighorn, prairie chicken, wolf, mountain lion, trumpeter swan, Atlantic salmon and many others. 4. A Field Guide to the Birds—Roger T. Peterson (Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts) This is the book you want to carry in the glove compartment of your car so you can get acquainted with Nebraska birds. (If you live in western Nebraska you will need "A Field Guide to Western Birds" too, by the same author). 5. Meeting the Mammals—Victor H. Cahalane (Published by MacMillan Company, New York City) Short, interesting, authentic stories about dozens of mammals from the great grizzly to the common jackrabbit and tiny chipmunk. 52 lively pen-and-ink sketches. 6. The Blue-Winged Teal—Logan J. Bennett (Published by Collegiate Press, Inc., Ames, Iowa) This teal is Nebraska's most common breeding duck. The author followed it across the country into Mexico and shows us what to do to help the blue-wing through the future years. 7. Field Book of North American Mammals— H. E. Anthony (Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York City) This pocket-size handbook covers land and marine mammals and will enable the reader to identify any mammal north of the Rio Grande. 8. The Bobwhite Quail—Herbert L. Stoddard (Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York City) Nebraskans love quail and this volume is the best single publication on this fine game bird. 9. Wildlife Refuges—Ira N. Gabrielson Most people have only a hazy idea of why refuges are established. In this book the "head man" of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives the refuge story clearly, including interesting details concerning the National Wildlife Refuges in Nebraska. 10. Outdoor Life Cyclopedia (Published by Outdoor Life, New York City) A complete all-around encyclopedia of vital knowledge on camping, fishing, hunting, guns and dogs. It is a must on any sportsman's shelf. 11. Birds of America (Published by the Garden City Publishing Company, Garden City, New York) A comprehensive volume which is most useful as a home reference and interesting reading for pleasure and information. Abundantly illustrated with 106 full-color plates. 777 pages. 12. Hawks of North America—John Richard May (Published by The National Association of Audubon Societies, New York City) Detailed description of coloration and habits of all of America's hawks, with full-color plates on many of the described species. 140 pages. 13. How to Know Trees—H. E. Jaques (Published by H. E. Jaques, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) A handy field and desk reference with brief descriptions, line drawings and keys to species. The spiral binding and conciseness of this book make it a must on any nature trip. 152 pages. 14. Common Edible Mushrooms—Clye M. Christensen (Published by the University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota) Every lover of hiking and camping should have this volume describing by words and picture how to identify and cook forty-five varieties of mushrooms. Be on the safe side and read before you eat. 124 pages with color and half-tone photographs. 15. Birds of Minnesota—Thomas S. Roberts (Published by the University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota) Two volumes of detailed information profusely illustrated with especially beautiful full-color plates. These volumes are quite pertinent to Nebraska as well as to Minnesota. 16. America's Food and Game Fishes—David Starr Jordan and Barton Everman (Published by Doubleday-Doran and Company, Garden City, New York) Detailed descriptions and full-page color prints of all the fish you could ever wonder about. This is a must when fish references are needed. 573 pages. 17. Northern Fishes—Samuel Eddy and Thaddeus Surber (Published by the University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota) A handy reference, up-to-date with concise descriptions of fish found in this area. Halftone photographs and color plates make identification an easy matter.