2 Outdoor Nebraska—1946

There Is A Future

By L. P. Vance

Large numbers of returning servicemen are anxious to learn what they can do in the field of wildlife management. There are jobs to be had in many different state and federal agencies. The Soil Conservation Service in their program are using large numbers of trained wildlife men whose main purpose is to develop wildlife resources on the farms, in relation to good farming practices. These men are primarily agriculturists who have some additional training in the management of the native types of wildlife.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has need for men in positions of refuge managers, biologists and game management agents. All of these men are specialists in their respective fields.

The game management agent needs to know laws and the application of laws as they refer to the protection of our wildlife. He must also have a thorough understanding of the habits of all of the game birds, animals and fish, as well as knowledge concerning predatory animals.

Refuge managers in the employ of the Fish and Wildlife Service may be specialists with waterfowl or with one of several of the forms of big game animals. These men gain considerable knowledge from practical experience and constant association with the wildlife in the field; yet they must all have certain definite amounts of intensive training to qualify them for the jobs that they undertake.

The Fish and Wildlife Service also has demands for fish biologists, for it is in this field of game management that trained personnel is most lacking. The several state game departments are asking more and more for men trained at some recognized school of wildlife. These men are employed in many different jobs. Some are employed as biologists in the Pittman-Robertson programs. Others ar§ employed in the fish hatcheries. Some work in the game farms and still others are utilized as conservation agents.

The U. S. Forest Service also hires men with wildlife backgrounds. While the Forest Service requires that men have an academic forestry education, they also require a good percentage of them to be well versed in game management techniques.

Unfortunately, not all state universities and colleges provide facilities for teaching game management or fish management to prospective students. At the present time the following are the outstanding schools that Nebraska residents may attend if they are especially desirous of obtaining a good academic background in the fields of game management or fish management:

Texas A. & M. Missouri University Iowa State College Minnesota University Utah State College Michigan State College Cornell University University of Illinois

Michigan University and the University of Illinois are well known for work in fisheries, and some of the above schools also work in this field. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Merchandise Mart, Chicago 54, Illinois, can supply interested persons with a bulletin which gives complete details concerning the game and fish management programs offered in the various schools in this country.

When writing to these schools it is suggested that the applicant give the complete educational background and if possible furnish a transcript of credits if they are available. The registrars at the respective schools will then be able to send the necessary information for gaining admission to these wildlife schools. Ex-servicemen are particularly fortunate in that they will be able to obtain this additional education at government expense under the G. I. Bill of Rights. We can further suggest, to these ex-servicemen, that they also contact their nearest Veterans' Administration office for information regarding the length of time that they can continue in school under the G. I. Bill.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DIFFICULT DOE?

Unfortunately the climax of Lloyd True's story was deleted from the last issue and true to our promise to those who requested the final sequence, we submit the following:

By now the moon was coming up and it looked as though the struggle might go on far into the night, so I decided I would hit her over the head with my gun barrel and finish the job. So after getting a tree between us, I hit' her such a blow that I broke the stock from the gun, but the doe came at me with blood in her eye.

My next idea was quite juvenile for I decided I would jump on her back Tarzan-like and stab her to death with my hunting knife, but my brain triumphed over my weak and feeble body and I went back and got Bill and his gun and we finished off the doe.

BACK FROM THE WARS

Fourteen employees thus far have returned from the armed services, and only a few are yet to come back. It is good to have these men back not only because we are very glad to see them again, but because we can again begin to resume conservation work on a scale of intensity which has been greatly curtailed during the war.

The returned veterans have seen service in the Army, Navy, and Seabees, and served in nearly every theater of operations. All of them are grateful to those who remained behind to do a splendid job of carrying on despite difficulties brought on by the war. Each is glad to be back on the job.

Lloyd P. Vance, Supervisor of Game. David Damon, Pittman-Robertson. Edson Fichter, Pittman-Robertson. L. Don Davis, Pittman-Robertson. Liven A. Peterson, Pittman-Robertson. Roald Amundson, Public Relations. William R. Cunningham, Law Enforcement. George Weidman, Law Enforcement. Burman Guyer, Law Enforcement. Ben Schoenrock, Law Enforcement. Bill Garnick, Law Enforcement. D. Clyde Short, State Parks. Emil Sturzenegger, Fisheries. Vernell Stockholm, Fisheries. We can always use your hunting and fishing stories about Nebraska. This is Your Publication, to show others what a real state Nebraska really is.

4 Outdoor Nebraska—1946

FISHERIES SURVEY

By ROALD AMUNDSON

When you buy a fishing permit in Nebraska, you have a right to expect a return on your investment in sport and food. Enjoyment of these can be had only if the waters in which you fish have been properly managed. It is often contended that Nebraska has more miles of flowing streams than any other state. Add to these thousands of miles of streams the many natural and artificial lakes and you can begin to realize the tremendous responsibility the Commission has for the development and management of Nebraska's fisheries.

A project is proposed to make a complete survey of our fishing waters, designed to evaluate existing conditions and to modify or improve these conditions to the betterment of fishing. Lakes and streams can be properly managed only when there is thorough information available concerning them. In past years the Game Commission has spent thousands of dollars raising or purchasing fish to plant in state waters, yet every year complaints are received from sportsmen that the fish are too small, too few, or of the wrong kind. Unf ortun at el y, through inadequate information cone e r n i n g our waters, large sums of money have been wasted unavoidably. Stocking policies and management programs in the past have been the best possible under the circumstances. A fuller knowledge of our waters, however, will lead to a more efficient stocking program, a successful management program, — more fish on your stringer per dollar invested.

For practical purposes, Nebraska's waters may be divided into three general groups: lakes, both natural and artificial, warm water streams, and trout streams. The number of artificial lakes in the state is increasing by leaps and bounds. Since most of these are created by dams which store up water for use in irrigation and water power, their development for fishing must be of secondary economic importance. Secondary impoundments — smaller dams along tributarial streams running into the main reservoir—will maintain a more constant water level, and can be developed primarily for fishing.

More money is being spent for trout propagation than for any other species. For this reason initial work should begin with a survey of trout waters, or waters which are now considered to be suitable to trout. Most of the trout streams of the state lie in the northern and western part. As has been pointed out, the Commission expends considerable cold cash toward trout production. Stocking trout without a complete knowledge of water conditions, which knowledge has been impossible to obtain in the past, has resulted in the placement of costly stock in streams which are unsuited to trout. It is known that there is very little natural trout reprod u c t i o n in Nebraska. Lack of spawning grounds has necessitated artificial production in hatcheries. The war has greatly curtailed this work, but now that manpower and materials are again becoming available it is hoped that production will soon be back to pre-war levels.

Artificial trout production has been successful if costly. To get the best value from this production—more live fish in the angler's creel—fingerling and adult fish must be placed in suitable water. This can be done only when we know which streams are actually suited to trout, and which can be most inexpensively developed. Trout have certain basic requirements which must be met in order that they may survive for harvesting. Being cold-water fish, they must be placed in streams which do not rise above .a critical temperature.   We do not now have accurate knowledge of which of our streams may become too warm. Since the species are almost entirely carnivorous, they require water which is clear enough to support aquatic vegetation which in turn harbors the animal life on which trout feed. Only by a thorough analysis can it be determined which of our streams are really suited to this type of fish. Without complete knowledge expensive fish are doomed to die without ever rising to a bait.

It is only reasonable to expect that any sizeable stream which has a yeararound flow should produce fish. There are many miles of streams in Nebraska which, though too warm for trout, can support a good population of game species. Under good conditions it should not be necessary to stock these streams. Unfortunately, good conditions do not exist, but a management program based on knowledge of stream conditions would improve our streams for fish habitat and reduce the cost of propagating fish artificially. The result: more fish at less cost.

Perhaps the greatest factor in limiting fish production in warm water streams is silt. As agricultural practices are improved less silt finds its way into our waters. Water becomes clearer, and game species which cannot tolerate heavy silting will become more numerous. It is impractical to stock fish in a stream which bears a heavy burden of silt. Until the degree of silt-load is known in each of our streams there will be a costly waste of stock.

Waters impounded by dam construction tend to act as settling basins for silt, and thus benefit our streams. Floods are a menace to fishT-bqth in the formation of silt and in. ^dislocating fish;.'populations. They alsp'Seaye.Vast numbers of fish stranded in pools where they either die or have to be salvaged by rescue crews. Both results are costly. The problems arising from flooding and silting will be solved only when agricultural practices havs permitted the land to become once again covered with green vegetation and when crop lands are operated in a way which will reduce soil washing to a minimum.

The history of artificial lakes follows a set pattern. The first few years after a new lake is stocked are highly productive. Fish grow fast and reach legal size in a comparatively short time. After a few years the fish begin to appear stunted. They are emanicated, and although they may be abundant, complaints come in to the Commission that the lake has been fished out, fish are dying out, and more stocking is needed. The answer to the problem is not definitely known. It is believed that newly impounded waters are highly fertile due to decomposition of submerged organic material, and that after this fertility has been used there is a resultant drop in productivity; There is a possibility of replacing this fertility, but no economical method has been devised.

Frequently lakes have all the requirements of good fish habitat except spawning areas. Aquatic plants are slow to become established along shorelines, and gravel beds required by many species are often lacking. Other species need submerged logs, brush, or rocks for spawning. Sometimes the chemical balance of the water is unsuited to fish. Lakes impounded for power and irrigation have a wide fluctuation of water level which reduces their value for fish production. It must be remembered that such lakes are initially designed as storage basins, and fish production must take secondary importance. Too often the layman is inclined to think that where there is water there should be good fishing. Fish, like game, must have a variety of cover—nesting cover, escape cover, loafing cover. Natural food must be abundant. Only through knowledge of our lakes in relation to these matters can we expect to manage   6 Outdoor Nebraska—1946 them so that you will get the most fish for your invested dollar.

Here are a few of the things that can be determined in a survey of our lakes and streams, and which must be taken into consideration in any successful management program:

A trout stream should not rise above a critical temperature. Bottom samples should show that there is sufficient animal life such as insect larvae, rotifers, and crustaceans. The water should have a year 'round flow. It should be clear and not subject to frequent flooding. There should be ample protection cover. There should be spawning beds, although very few of our trout streams have desirable spawning gravel bottoms. There must be no destructive pollution.

Lake waters must maintain an optimum chemical balance. Silting should be at a minimum. Summer and winter oxygen content must not go below a critical point, and the lake should be of sufficient depth to prevent freezing solid to the bottom. Breeding places and protection cover should be abundant. Rate of filling in by silting must be determined and checked where possible. Destructive species, such as carp, must be kept to a minimum. Growthcondition factors must be determined by comparing age with size. Natural food should be plentiful through an abundance of aquatic vegetation. Forage species such as minnows and shiners must be present in numbers.

Warm water streams must be guarded against pollution. Degree of silt bearing should be determined by water clarity tests. Bottom samples should show sufficient animal life for fish food.

These are but a few of the problems that will be encountered in a fish management program. They can be dealt with only when they have been evaluated by a stream and lake survey.

Very rarely will a single factor result in depleted fishing in our waters. We have learned that stocking is not the answer to all problems. Only through a thorough investigation of the conditions existing in our lakes and streams can we detect the factors which limit our fish supply and through a commonsense management program give you, the angler, a greater return for your license dollar. Such a survey should begin as soon as trained fishery biologists are available.

Year 'Round Fishing Season

Nebraska is one of very few states in the country that now has a year-round fishing season. This might at first seem impractical, since it is known that certain game species will strike at anything that comes along while standing guard over their nests. This is particularly true of black bass. This habit does make the bass more vulnerable to the angler's hook. However, bass are one of the most cannibalistic fish, and while an aggressive parent may do a wonderful job of keeping would-be predators away from its nest, that same fish may make serious inroads on the spawn of other breeding adults of the same species.

A single bass lays thousands of eggs. It is believed that although some breeding stock may be taken during the spawning season, this loss is compensated for by a corresponding reduction in cannibalism.

When you go out to one of Nebraska's lakes this spring and summer, you will come across areas which are marked off by signs designating them as spawning areas. By this means, areas which are known to be spawning grounds of game species are set aside to protect the breeding fish. Usually these spawning areas occur in shallow, weedy parts of the lake where pan-size fish are not ordinarily taken. With most species, very little feeding is done during the spawning season. Thus there is little danger to any but the more pugnacious fish.

There are arguments for and against an all-year fishing season. By biological facts concerning the fish and their habits the practice can be justified. Certainly the cost of enforcing game laws is reduced, since out of season poaching is eliminated.

Due to increased costs of publishing and distributing; OUTDOOR NEBRASKA it is necessary that paid circulation be increased considerably. If you are enjoying the magazine and wish to assure yourself of continued enjoyment, use the convenient inclosed subscription blank. If you wish your friends to enjoy it also, add their names and addresses in the space provided and inclose a dollar for each fiveyear - subscription. We believe that you can't find a magazine that will give you more information on wildlife in your state, or more enjoyment from reading of the experiences of others in hunting and fishing.

We are eager to receive contributions for the publication. Hunting and fishing tales are -wanted, as well as -informational contributions concerning the birds, animals and fish of Nebraska. We can use more good pictures, and will be glad to add yours to our files—or to use them in the magazine.

Outdoor Nebraska—1946 7

WILDLIFE Italiano

By ROALD AMUNDSON Illustrated by Nathan Mohler

"Buon' giorno, paesano, forse' possibile io piscare qua?"

"No possible, perche niente pische in questo lago. Tedeschi feenish feesh een thees-a lakes. No dam' good, Tedeschi!"

The above conversation took place last summer in Italy when a very fishhungry GI asked an Italian farmer for permission to fish in a small lake not far from Caserta. It was one of those June mornings when bass and crappies would have been hitting anything from worms to the tray out of the tackle box. I had a day off from hammering the typewriter in the company orderly room, and had decided that if I could wet a line in some good fishing water it would help relieve some of the nostalgia that a warm, balmy day hadn't improved.

When I asked Pasquale if I could fish in his lake I didn't really expect that I would get any fish. I just wanted to go fishing. I was not surprised when he told me that the Germans—"Tedeschi"—had taken all the fish. Certainly the Jeries had taken most of the fish, like they had taken nearly everything else from Italy that could be eaten. What the Germans left the Italians have long ago consumed.

Well, I did a little fishing, just to get the kinks out of my wrist, but all I caught was a smal turtle that had somehow escaped Italian dipnets, hand grenades, and other more or less ingenious devices. The turtle wound up in a stew, I suppose, and I at least had the satisfaction of a none too vigorous but definite pull at the end of my line.

During nearly two years in Italy I took every opportunity to observe conditions of Italian wildlife (the nonsocial kind).

Wild game in Italy has almost ceased to exist. Rifle and machinegun fire, artillery and bombing during the slow advance of Allied Forces up the Italian peninsula weren't beneficial to game. The war and the Germans didn't leave much and there wasn't a lot of game before the war. A few deer in the mountains, hares on the agricultural lands, some migratory waterfowl, and a few trout in streams owned and fished exclusively by Mussolini & Co.

The only game laws existing before the war were designed to preserve hunting and fishing for the aristocracy and Fascist big shots. The common citizen was just out of luck and poached at risk of life and limb. But when people get hungry laws of any kind don't do a lot of good.

Altogether, I saw one rabbit in the wild, but it was obviously a domestic animal that had escaped from its pen. The only deer I saw was in the form of   a stew being cooked over an open fire by a bunch of fresh-meat-hungry GIs. Definitely spoils of war, but at least one Yank will swear the Garand .30 calibre is a good deer gun. He claimed to have dropped that deer with one shot at an estimated half mile. Italian venison tastes pretty good.

One day we were sent on a reconnaissance tour up a valley northeast of Caserta. I don't know what we were looking for, because Jerry had been pushed back to Cassino and we couldn't even hear artillery fire. But we did hear some muffled explosions and went to investigate. We found a small pond about an acre in size, completely surrounded by excited Italians. We shoved our way through the crowd and saw what was going on. In the middle of the pond was a grebe-like bird, unfamiliar to me, at which the people were throwing stones and clods. A small boy pegged a stone about six inches from where the bird was frantically swimming around, and it went under. Immediately a pineapple-type hand grenade arced through the air and splashed near the spot where the bird went under. At that instant the bird came up again a few feet away, and a second later the grenade exploded, throwing mud and water in the air as the bird dived again. Our duty required that we line up the civilians and relieve them of any more grenades they might have hidden in their clothes. The yelling and excitement increased as two more grenades lobbed through the air and twice more the bird escaped being blown to pieces. I don't know why that bird didn't fly away. I suppose it was crippled. I started back to the jeep, thinking how smart that bird' was in escaping the grenades, but sort of feeling sorry that there was fresh meat there for some hungry kid, perhaps, and no way of getting it. That seemed to be all of the grenades, as the crowd started melting away. About the time I reached the jeep I heard the loud bang of a carbine and a terrific yell from the Italians. There was a lot of splashing and more yelling, and my buddy came back to the jeep. He was cussing because he would have to clean his gun, but he looked kind of self-satisfied and the incident was considered officially closed. I went back to camp thinking that I had a date with a few lakes and streams back in a state where people don't go hungry very often, and there is fish and game for anyone who wants it, and laws that make sure that the fish and game belong to all of the people. I decided, that if I ever heard anyone griping because he didn't get a bag limit of game or a big string of fish, I'd remember a venison stew and a turtle and a very clever grebe in Italy.

Watch For This Bird!

There are probably fewer than one hundred whooping cranes left in the world. In grave danger of becoming extinct, these beautiful birds are protected by rigid state and federal law.

During the present migration season these birds have been observed along / the Platte river on four different occasions. One bird was seen alone, twentyfive were later seen in a flock, fifty-eight in another, and the largest flock, numbering sixty-eight, were seen most recently. State and federal authorities, as well as the Audubon Society, are interested in the welfare of the whooping crane, and are eager to get more information concerning their numbers. Notice the picture below, and if you have seen these birds, notify the Game and Parks Commission.

The whooping crane is a large bird, having a wing-spread of seven feet. It is white in color, with black wing tips. It is easily confused with the snow goose, but in flight it may be distinguished by the protrusion of the feet beyond the tail.

Outdoor Nebraska—1946 9

BOTTOM SOIL WEARS OUT TOO

It is no more reasonable to expect an acre of water to produce a heavy yearly crop of fish without fertilization than it is to expect an acre of farm land to produce corn or wheat year after year without replacing the soil nutrients that are taken away in the production of grain.

The ability of a body of water to produce fish depends directly upon the amount of bottom-soil nutrients which are available to the use of aquatic life. Water plants furnish fish food in two ways: directly to the species which consume green vegetation, and indirectly by supporting a host of small animal life which in turn is fed on by carnivorous game species. Just as a fattened steer is the ultimate product of soil nutrients, so is a pan-size crappie the product of the elements which are contained in or dissolved from the bottom of a lake. The process of turning nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and other elements into fish is a complicated one, but here it an example of how it works.

Bacteria grow directly from the dissolved nutrients of bottom soil. They reproduce in numberless billions, and are in turn fed on by single-celled animals called protozoa. These are fed on by more complex forms of life such as hydras, insect larvae, small worms, etc. These latter forms are large enough to attract small fish, either the fry of game species or minnows which comprise a large portion of game fish diet.

Water plants turn soil nutrients into fish flesh. The smallest known plants live in ponds and lakes. Most abundant are the diatoms, one-celled plants that produce food from action of light (photosynthesis). Although not necessarily green in color, these microscopic organisms are true plants which produce food for small animal forms which are fed on by fish. More highly developed plants such as pondweed, bulrushes, cattails, and water lillies not only harbor a myriad of insect larvae, but provide shelter to newly hatched game fish and spawning grounds for adult spawners.

In nature the processes above are much more complicated, but the accomplished results are simple enough: Soil elements eventually become harvestable human food.

You may have fished in a lake where, although you were able to catch a large number of fish, they were too small to keep. They were scrawny, stunted looking. Such a condition in otherwise healthy fish is almost always the result of a food shortage. Lack of food can be traced directly to a deficiency of fertility in the lake.

One of the important problems facing game managers today is that of replacing nutrients to worn-out bottom soil. This is particularly true of artificial lakes which bloom for a while and taper off toward a condition of aquatic desert. Small rearing ponds in fish hatcheries have been very successfully fertilized with either barnyard manure or commercial fertilizer. At the North Platte pike hatchery experiments are being carried on to determine the relative merits of various types of fertilizer. Due to costs of transportation, commercial fertilizers have proven the less expensive type. Since a greater volume must be handled to get the same amount of nutrition, more labor is required in application than is needed in applying commercial concentrates. Both types, however, have been very successful in stimulating fish growth, although the barnyard type tended to bring about intense growths of algae which in..erefere with handling the rearing stock. These experiments are indicating that fertilization greatly increases the rate of growth in fish, but the expense involved would make it seem impractical to fertilize lakes on a large scale unless a very cheap form of fertilizer can be developed.

It is very evident that many of our artificial lakes have passed the period of greatest productivity. Intense production of game fish can be resumed only when the fertility is brought back to an optimum level. Stocking more fish only tends to increase the competition for food among the species already present. Fertilization alone is not the answer to fish production problems, but we know that added fertility will greatly add to our fish resources. More time and experimentation is required to solve the problem. Small farm ponds have been successfully restored by enclosing several tons of barnyard manure in wire netting so that the nutrients contained can leach out into the water gradually. To do this practically on a large scale in lakes would require the cooperation of farmers and sportsmen in reducing costs of labor, materials, and transportation.

Fish, like all other forms of life, are a product of the soil. Heavy cropping of fish from a body of water produces the same effect as heavy cropping of grain from a field. Soil nutrients which are taken away must be replaced. A" lake can become just as much a barren waste as an over-worked, under-fertilized cornfield

10 Outdoor Nebraska—1946

Good Fishing Spots

By Glen R. Foster

Fishing over the State of Nebraska this year should be generally very good.

Trout fishermen in the north and west part of the State will again be happy after two years of waiting for adult trout. Production of adult trout was very small during the war due to lack of meat products for food. This year the Federal Hatchery at Crawford turned over around 15,000 adult rainbow and brown trout to the State and several hundred thousand fingerlings. The Rock Creek Hatchery produced around 50,000 adult trout and several thousand fingerlings have also been planted. Some of the better trout streams in the State include: White River and the upper Niobrara River in Sioux County; Bordeaux Creek in Dawes County; Schlagel Creek, the Snake River, and the upper North Loup River in Cherry County; Plum and Long Pine Creeks in Brown County; Steele and Verdigre Creeks in Knox and Antelope County. The larger trout streams in the Scottsbluff area that produce good trout are: Red Willow Creek in Morrill County; Nine Mile Creek, Winter Creek, the Sheep Creeks and the Spotted Tail Creeks in Scotts Bluff County. Many other small drain ditches in this area are good trout streams although rather short. Trout are also stocked in Otter Creek and White Tail Creek in Keith County and also in the Ogallala Lake below the dam. Near North Platte the Hershey and Sutherland drains produce good-sized trout. In the southwest part of the State, Rock Creek Lake will be stocked heavily this year with adult trout. Lodgepole Creek above Sidney should be good this year as adult trout will be stocked there.

Northern Pike and Walleyes have been striking good since the first of April in the Platte River Reservoirs near North Platte and at Johnson Lake near Elwood. Minatare Lake in Scotts Bluff County has been producing some extra large northerns the last few years and all indications are that it will be excellent this spring. Walleyes are being produced in our North Platte Hatchery to stock other reservoirs in this area.

The reservoirs from the large McConnaughey Lake to Johnson Lake along the Platte River are probably the best place to go for pan fish especially crappie. They also produce perch, catfish, bullheads and bass in addition to the pike mentioned above. There are around thirty good-sized reservoirs in this string, the larger ones located as follows: McConnaughey Lake and Ogallala Lake north of Ogallala; Sutherland Reservoir south of Sutherland; Mahoney Lake south of North Platte; Jeffrey Reservoir south of Brady; Midway Lakes south of Cozad; Gallagher Lake southwest of Cozad and Johnson Reservoirs south of Lexington and north of Elwood. All of these lakes are accessable from good highways and convenient to fair-sized towns. The Commission is developing recreational areas around each reservoir for the convenience of the fishermen.

Sportsmen who in years past enjoyed many fine trips into the sand hills can again be assured of some fine bass, bluegill and bullhead fishing. The sand hill lakes south of Valentine in Cherry County were stocked by the Commission soon after the lake levels began to come back and as a result bass weighing up to three pounds and some fine pan fish and bullheads can be taken. Red Deer Lake, Big Alkali, Trout Lake, Cody Lake, Shoup Lake and others In that area are producing good fishing. Rat and Beaver is all right for bullheads.

In the northeastern part of the State, Crystal Lake near South Sioux City is   probably the best. Black bass, bluegill, bullheads and catfish are some of the main species caught. Gilman Lake near Pierce and several other lakes in that territory are very good. In the eastern part of Nebraska most fishing is done in the rivers and in small artificial lakes. The Blue River and the Platte River are probably the best for catfish. Stateowned lakes at Fremont, Louisville, Dorchester, Alexandria and Verdon and Memphis generally produce fair catches of crappie, bass, bullheads and catfish. Some good lakes in central Nebraska include Ericson Lake, Pibel Lake near Spalding, Loup City Lake and Ravenna Lake, sand pit lakes near Clarks and Hordville are generally very good for bass, bulheads, crappie and catfish.

Since most of the sand hill lakes have come back they are producing large numbers of bullheads again. It is the plan of the Commission to keep these lakes thinned down so that the bullheads will have a chance to grow large like they used to be. Surplus bullheads will be used in stocking many small artificial lakes over the State where natural reproduction is not possible and where there is a heavy fishing pressure.

Many towns have a small lake near that is suitable for bullheads and many sportsmen's organizations have arranged to stock these small lakes with bullheads for kids under 16 only. They also supervise the fishing, giving the kids pointers on how to fish and teaching them to obey the game and fish laws. The Commission is much in favor of this program as it will help make the kids better sportsmen in the future.

There are many lakes and streams over the State that have not been mentioned above but never the less are swell fishing holes. The newest and most heavily fished area, however, at the present time is in the reservoirs along the Platte River. Reservoirs of this kind generally produce excellent fishing during the first few years due to the large amount of food produced by the native vegetation that is covered by water. The history of most reservoirs, however, shows that after this food is used up the reservoirs generally do not produce such good fishing. The Platte River reservoirs, however, may be somewhat different in that a large amount of food consisting of minute insect life is carried in from the grass lands and irch farm land above. Also conditions in the reservoirs has, up to the present time, been excellent for natural propagation and large numbers of game fish and rough fish fry are produced which is wonderful food for game fish. As long as natural reproduction continues as it has been, it will be almost impossible to deplete. the lakes of fish with hook and line. The oldest reservoirs, namely, North Platte and Sutherland, are now around ten years old and are still producing wonderful crappie, walleye and northern pike. The bass, however, in these two reservoirs seem to have left. Checks made on what these game fish are eating in the reservoirs show that they are feeding mainly on small crappie, perch and carp. The Commission is watching these areas carefully and will do everything possible to keep the fishing good in them for years to come.

Anyone wishing information on where to go fishing should contact their local conservation officer or write the office of the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. The department is anxious to help in any way possible to make your fishing trip a success.

Fish Food Producers

These plants are all natives of Nebraska, and can be obtained from existing ponds and marshes.

Chara is one of the top food producers and is particularly noted as the home of the crayfish. Chara is also a good fertilizer due to its high lime content.

These plants produce fish food organisms by offering a home on the stems, where small animal organisms can cling and find food and shelter. The food in this case is the plant itself.

The microscopic plants, the algae, and the duckweeds are floating plants, and sometimes the coontail, and can be transplanted readily from one place to another. All the others are rooted seed plants and must either be transplanted or sown by seeds.

Duckweeds are particularly valuable in offering a home where the fairy shrimp can find food and shelter.

Planting of any of these food producing plants   is useless in areas where heavy silting prevents light penetration or where fluctuation of water level varies making permanent shore line development impossible. Plants not acclimated or already growing in Nebraska cannot be expected to produce the results of those already native to Nebraska.

Because of its peculiar habitat requirements and climatic needs wild rice is not successful in Nebraska.

For further information write: Game Commission Aquatic Biologist Dr. Walter Kiener Game, Forestation & Parks Commission Lincoln, Nebraska

POURING OIL ON MOSQUITO-TROUBLED WATERS

By Doris B. Gates Illustrated by Nathan Mohler

A party of vacationers encamped near a northern lake returned from fishing one evening to discover that all their canned goods had vanished. As they were trying to solve the mystery, two mosquitoes arrived and hastily began searching for a can opener. You may or may not believe such a story, but true ones almost as fantastic were told by the pioneers about horses, for example, made uncontrollable by mosquito attacks and, on occasion, even being killed by them. In the light of this latter fact, Mark Twain's boast that "a New Jersey mosquito could whip a good-sized dog" seems an understatement. At all events, both fact and fiction bring to mind that mosquitoes are a scourge to man and animals.

Mosquitoes are not confined to the tropics and subtropics. They occur in pestiferous swarms as far as the cold regions of the North. In some places they appear in such numbers that man must seek protection from them.

There is evidence to indicate that some people are "very repulsive" to mosquitoes while other people show no ill effects when bitten. Many persons experience severe irritation which can, and often does, lead to serious infection.

There's no accounting for the tastes of some mosquitoes. Certain kinds prefer cows and horses to human beings; others feed entirely upon birds. Some kinds of birds in Nebraska often have a type of malaria that is transmitted by mosquitoes. One Nebraska mosquito feeds entirely upon frogs, lizards and snakes. A few live upon plant juices. It is the deadly female that bites. The male is contented with plant juices and nectar.

A mosquito "bite" is not a sting as some people believe, but is the piercing of the skin with a long sucking tube called the proboscis. Mosquitoes practice the policy of "give and take." While obtaining blood they inject saliva into the wound. In the saliva may be disease organisms. Welts and general stinging irritations are due to the poisoning effect of the saliva.

Examples of economic loss due to large mosquito populations may be itemized thus: up to 30 to 40 percent milk reduction from dairy herds; failure of feeder stock to fatten normally; egg production reduced and chickens sometimes killed; working time of horses and laborers lost; and land prices cut because of the presence and attacks of mosquitoes.

It is common knowledge that some kinds of mosquitoes carry diseases and many Nebraskans wonder what chances they have to escape them. For most diseases, their chances are very good! The malaria-carriers (Anopheles) are present, but not in large enough numbers nor for a long enough time to be of much importance. But "sleeping sickness" of man and horses appears frequently in Nebraska. In a recent oneyear period, 1571 cases of sleeping sickness in horses were reported; and, of these, 339 were fatal. There were also a number of human cases reported.

Mosquitoes also are responsible for spreading yellow fever, dengue fever, elephantiasis (a swelling of localized parts of the body caused by a very small worm common in the tropics), fowl-pox, heartworm of dogs, and they have been associated with tularemia (rabbit fever).

From these facts it is quite clear that mosquitoes are more than "just a nuisance." Nebraskans need not be highly alarmed by the mosquitoes present in the state, but they should not underestimate their potentialities.

 

Different kinds of mosquitoes follow the pattern of the "Moses in the bullrushes" story in caring for their progeny. The eggs may be arranged in tiny compact rafts that remain on top of the water or they may form loose rafts, or be laid singly in which case each egg is equipped with a "life preserver" or float filled with air. One species has the unique habit of laying their eggs in dry water-holes among leaves or on moist soil where they will eventually be covered by water from spring rains, thawing snow, or irrigation. Many eggs hatch the first time they are covered with water while some do not but may remain viable for several years.

Flood water types of mosquitoes are the most annoying pest species in Nebraska and are the most abundant. They develop in shallow temporary puddles formed by rains or drainage from irrigation. Such puddles are often found along roads and in hay meadows. Even water-filled hoof-prints of cattle are sometimes alive with "wrigglers." Some kinds of mosquitoes are not very particular and will lay their eggs in any kind of receptacle—rain barrel, tin cans, buckets, water trapped in eavetroughs, flower pots and urns; in fact, anything that will hold water for a few days. Salt water is especially favorable for some types of mosquitoes and Nebraska is not without its salt or alkaline water. Tree holes filled with water offer excelent rearing conditions for a few species. Permanent ponds and lakes, on the other hand, aggravate the mosquito problem very little.

The life cycle of a common mosquito is typical of others. One hundred to 400 or more eggs are laid in May or June and, under ideal conditions, hatch in one to three days. Wrigglers or larvae develop to pupae in about ten days. Both of these stages always live in water. Adults emerge in two to three days. The minimum time required by this species for the whole cycle is about two weeks under best conditions. A few species develop in a much shorter time. Some mosquitoes produce only one generation a year; others produce two or more, depending on the environment.

Wrigglers obtain part of their oxygen from water as do fish, and part directly from the air. This latter fact partially explains their habit of remaining close to the surface. One Nebraska mosquito secures its oxygen from air in the submerged parts of water plants.

Food of the larvae consists of tiny organisms such as algae and bacteria or organic debris which is found on or in the water, and to some extent, food materials in solution.

Adults of most mosquitoes remain close to their breeding grounds, seldom if ever flying more than a mile. However, a few will travel farther; for example, our most abundant mosquito (Aedes vexans) has been known to migrate as far as 14 miles. Other species have been transported great distances by cars, planes, and boats or ships. Extensive airplane travel offers a possible means of transporting dangerous disease-carrying mosquitoes from one country to another.

Mosquitoes may winter as adults, in the egg stage, or as wrigglers. As adults they hibernate in houses, garages, barns, caves or other shelter and may become active and even bite on warm winter days.

Maximum populations in nonirrigated districts of Nebraska are reached in the spring and fall. In irrigated areas a steady increase reaches its peak in August. As excess irrigation water dries, eggs are laid at its receding edges. When the next irrigation is made, these eggs hatch and the cycle is started again. Since some flood water species can develop within about a week, the irrigation interval in ordinary years is highly favorable for an increase in mosquito population.

 

During rainy spring weather mosquitoes frequently reproduce abundantly in old buckets, tin cans, barrels and similar rain catchers around homes and in towns.

Man Bites Mosquito! (Control)

Except in a few localized areas, the mosquito problem is not severe in Nebraska. Control is relatively simple, in fact so simple that every community can and therefore should reduce them to the very minimum.

The immature stages of mosquitoes must live in water. Preventing the unnecessary accumulation of water in such places as fields, pastures, roadside ditches and hay meadows is the most effective control. If adequate drainage is supplied, or depressions filled with soil or other suitable material, favorable breeding puddles can be eliminated. Practical control measures in irrigated regions can be carried out if farmers will acquaint themselves with mosquito habits and learn to recognize their favored breeding places. Water-holding barrels, buckets, tin cans, etc., should be emptied or, when they are too numerous, as in a "city dump", they should be treated with a larvicide.

Larvicides should not be used unless they are needed. Their haphazard use may be harmful.

Larvae can be killed by spraying, or pouring oil (fuel oil, crankcase oil, crude oil, mineral oil or kerosene) thin enough to form a quick, unbroken film over the surface of the water. The recommended rate is 20 to 30 gallons per acre. Usually it may be applied with a handsprayer. Where there is considerable debris or a large number of plants, oil-soaked sawdust may be broadcast (mixed at the rate of three gallons per bushel). If water is standing around crops, it should be drained to an outside spot before treatment to avoid crop injury.

If oil is objectionable because of its appearance or its effect on plants or animals, Paris green may be used at the rate of one-half pound per acre. At that rate, it is not dangerous to animals. DDT dust at the rate of about one-fourth pound per acre is effective against mosquito larvae if it is well distributed. However, DDT kills other cold-blooded animals such as insects, frogs, and fish, and therefore should \)e used cautiously. Paris green or DDT may be diluted with flour or talc. Either may be applied with an ordinary garden duster.

How to Become Unpopular with Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes as uninvited evening visitors may be discouraged from entering houses and porches by use of a 16-mesh screen. (Some happy little mosquitoes do pass the screen test.) If a person must work outside among them, he should wear heavy clothing and be completely covered.

Fish are the first and foremost natural enemies of mosquito larvae. In many Nebraska areas most any native fish may be used to check mosquito increase. Other enemies include salamanders, water spiders and certain water insects.

Enemies of adult mosquitoes include bats, birds, toads, frogs and insects— especially dragonflies. Fish, particularly trout, account for some mosquitoes which on occasion fly too close to the water's surface or alight on it.

Outdoor Nebraska—1946 17

Sportsman's Widow

From Recipes and Menus Courtesy Arthur C. Storz, Storz Brewing Co.

To Improve Flavor of Fish — Many times bass, pickerel, northern pike and other fish caught in middle western and southern waters have a weedy or muddy taste. This can often be remedied if, after cleaning, the fish are salted down over-night and then washed with fresh cold water.

To Bone a Fish—Clean, scale or skin your fish. Use a sharp, narrow-bladed knife and cut down on both sides of the back bone until you hit the side bones. Follow down the top of the side bones and cut fish loose .from these bones. After cutting each side of the fish loose, cut each half of your fish in pieces to desired size for fish fillets.

Note: With a little practice the boning out of a fish becomes quite simple and not a bone should remain in your fish fillets.

To Clean Fish—In cleaning, scale and remove head last and leave tail. Cut down the back on either side of the heavy back fin and be sure to remove all of the blood along the back bone.

To Salt Surplus Fish—Put fish in an earthen crock, small wooden keg or wooden bucket. Cover bottom with a half inch layer of salt, put in a layer of fish with flesh side up and cover with another layer of salt. If you wish to salt down fish to keep for several months, repeat the above operation for each layer of fish and salt. If fish are to be kept for just a few days, less salt can be used.

If you wish to salt-cure fish for storage, place crock or keg in a cool, clean place and cover to keep out dust. If excess brine forms on the top of crock, dip it off. To use salt-cured fish, soak over-night; in cold water to remove excess salt. These fish can then be cooked in the usual way except that they will require less cooking than fresh fish.

To Store Smoked Fish—If you wish to store smoked fish for an extended time, wrap each fish in waxed paper and store in a cool, dry place. Should mold spots appear on the fish, they can be removed by spreading a little olive oil over the spots and wiping them clean. Fish stored this way should keep satisfactorily, if instructions are followed carefully.

BAKED BLACK BASS 3 lbs. bass Salt and pepper Vi cup butter 2 tablespoons flour % cup strained tomato or 1 fresh tomato, sliced

Clean and wash fish. Sprinkle with salt inside and out and let stand several hours. Stuff and sew. Tie or skewer into the shape of a letter "S." Put in a pan across which you have placed strips of cloth by which to lift out when cooked. Rub it over with soft butter, and a little pepper. Dredge with flour. Put in a hot oven without water in the pan. Baste with hot water when brown; add a tomato. When done, remove carefully and place in a hot platter. Draw out the strings and skewers, wipe off the water or fat that runs from the fish, serve with drawn butter flavored with lemon or with Hollandaise Sauce, in a gravy boat. Garnish with parsley or cress.

Haddock, bluefish and shad are good, baked.

BAKED OR PLANKED BLACK BASS

White fish or wall-eyed pike may also be planked. Select a large fish weighing 3 to 5 pounds. Scale, remove head, tail, fins and entrails. Bone out, removing completely the center bone and as much of the side bone as possible. Sprinkle the inside of the fish well with salt and allow to stand for 30 minutes. Mince 1 medium sized onion and brown slightly in 2 tablespoons of butter. Drain and remove the juice from 2 cups of canned tomatoes and combine iy2 cups of bread crumbs and 2 tablespoons of melted butter with the tomatoes and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and fill the fish with this stuffing. Carefully sew it together along the edges. Thoroughly grease an open pan or a plank used for planked steak or fish. Score the surface of the fish in- 3 or 4 places, insert strips of bacon and secure them with toothpicks. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and bake 45 minutes at 425° or until the fish is brown and tender. Remove from oven and serve at once.

18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA—1946

Permit Sales by Counties — 1945

The above figures, which give a summary of permit sales by counties, may be further broken down according: to late permit reports received, into the following types on a dollar basis:

Fishing permits—$49,774.00 Hunting permits—$76,764.00 Combination permits—$124,751.00 Non-resident hunt—$65,793.00 Non-resident fish—$16,949.00 Trap—$12,087.00

Outdoor Nebraska—1946 19

Fish Production Figures

The past year has been one of extreme difficulty for the Commission's hatchery employees. Lack of labor, feed and equipment were obstacles which in many cases made 1945 Nebraska's toughest year of the hatcheries.

At Gretna State Fish Hatchery, Gerhard Lenz with one assistant produced 90,700 fingerling channel and blue catfish at a production rate of $22.80 per thousand. 59,700 of the channel cat were planted, while 20,000 were held over to assure greater size when stocked. 9,000 blues were planted and 2,000 held over. 32,150 warm water fish at $9.00 per thousand were also produced at this hatchery.

At the Commission's newest hatchery in North Platte a record was set by raising 465,000 walleye pike fry at a cost of 50c per thousand and 341,900 walleye pike fingerling at .$2.40 per thousand. This hatchery is under the supervision of Mr. Hube Howard.

Rock Creek Hatchery near Parks, Nebraska, is the Commission's trout hatchery but clue to shortages of liver, few trout were produced last year. 2,800 adult trout were stocked last year at the cost of $166.00 per thousand and 122,000 fingerlings at a cost of $55.00 per thousand. Mr. Weiss, who is in charge of this hatchery, hopes to raise 50,000 adults this year. 76,000 warm water fish were produced last year at this hatchery at a cost of $24.00 per thousand.

Valentine Hatchery located near Valentine, Nebraska, and under the direction of Mr. Jack Mendenhall produced 60,000 brown trout fry at a cost of $1.30 per thousand, 4 to 8 inch brown trout at a cost of $7.60 per thousand. 398,000 fry, fingerling and adult warm water fish were produced at approximately $5.00 per thousand.

The Salvage and Distribution Crew was reduced from twelve to three men during the war period. However, Mr. Todd, supervisor of the crew, with his limited help was able to take 48,900 pounds of rough fish at a cost of $35.00 per thousand pounds. This same crew salvaged 357,000 fish that otherwise would have been lost through flood or drouth conditions.

The Commission has recently been able to increase the size of its hatchery and seining crew personnel and hopes for peak records next year in all fishery categories.

The above figures are actual production costs only and do not include maintenance of aquariums, buildings and picnic areas on these hatcheries.

How to Make Carp Fillets

20 Outdoor Nebraska—1946

FISHIN' PALS

By Paul T. Gilbert

Many a so-called father eagerly looks forward to a planned fishing outing with his business colleagues or boys from the club. His haste in preparation is great as he changes from office attire to the far more comfortable regalia appropriate to fishing pleasure. He rushes down the , stairs and gives "Mom" a peck on the cheek. Hastily waving goodbye to the tousle haired, freckle-nosed kiddie who replies with a tearful "Please bring me a fish, daddy".

At a later date the same father will clumsily attempt to seek a time and place where he can enter into serious discussion with that same growing freckle-nosed boy. Time itself will soon draw a distinct line of separation between the boy and the father who was too busy with the other fellows.

The father who takes his boy fishing knows the value of the comradeship and personal relationship gained by spending days and nights out in the open on the quiet lakeside, or in the thought-provoking environment of the campfire, where long visits are fire to the melting pot that makes the understanding of the boy and his dad a pleasure.

Records show that the outdoor boy with his nature-taught wisdom of the outdoors, loving the sports of fishing, hunting, and hiking over the country he has learned to love, knows few, if any, of the difficulties encountered by the boy who spends his time in the back room of Tony's Pool Hall.

The Game Commission, through the cooperation of the Better Fishing Association, the Isaak Walton League, and various county wildlife groups, is interested in getting kids outdoors and instructing them in the methods and pleasures to be derived from outdoor sports. One method of doing this is through the medium of Kid's Fishing Days, first initiated by the Better Fishing Association. In about twenty Nebraska towns social minded citizens contribute prizes for the largest fish, the most fish, the first fish caught, the tiniest fisherman, etc. The Game Commission tries to stock each lake just before the contest, and all concerned are amply rewarded for their expense and efforts by the shrieks of delight from the kiddies as they realize the thrill of catching their first fish.

FISHIN' PALS Yes, Sir, I took my boy a-fishin'. Sure, my wife, she told me to. But besides, I kind of done it. Cause it seemed the thing to do. We went out one earjy mornin'. And I never will forget The kid was so darn happy, That I sort of did regret The times I'd gone without him. Cause he might be in the way And bother things a little Or hear what the fellows say. That kid of mine, he had to know .. .. Why I did each little thing. . And his-eyes would swell to bustin' When my line and reel would sing. He learned the ways of fishin' folk And why they love the sport; He learned the kinds of bait to use For fish of every sort. My boy, he learned through fun with me Just how to live and play; But he learned it all through nature In a decent sort of way..... " And even all the fellows Who used to come along Kind of censored all their actions. And their language ain't so strong. It's a heap more fun a-fishin' When I'm out there with my son, Cause we really get acquainted Through a little fishin', fun. And when my creel of life-is empty, shall, always keep rememberin' That' first .'early-summer's morn1 When I took my boy a-fishin And I really learned the joy That comes to every father When he really knows his boy. —PAUL THYGESON GILBERT.

OUTDOOR NEBRASKA—1946 21

REGULATIONS ON FISH

TROUT OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: No size limit. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 10. POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 10. BASS (Large Mouth and/or Small Mouth) OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: 10 inches. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 10 (inclusive of both species). POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 10 (inclusive of both species). CRAPPIE (Black Icalico bass] and/or White) OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: No size limit. DAILY BAG LIMIT: IS (inclusive of both species). POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 15 (inclusive of both species). SUNFISH (Bluegill, Green and/or Pumpkinseed) OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: No size limit. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 15 (inclusive of all species). POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 15 (inclusive of all species). BOCK BASS OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: No size limit. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 15. POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 15. BULLHEADS OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: 6 inches. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 15. POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 15. CATFISH (Channel, Blue and/or Mud [or Yellow]) OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: 12 inches. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 10 (inclusive of all species). POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 10 (inclusive of all species). CATFISH (Commercial fishing) Under proper commercial permit issued by the Commission, catfish may be taken from the Missouri River by nets, the meshes of which are not less than one and one-half inches square. OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Missouri River—South and West of the middle of the channel and not less than 300 yards in any direction from the mouth of any stream emptying into the river. SIZE LIMIT: 13 inches. POSSESSION LIMIT: None. ANNUAL REPORT: All persons holding a commercial Seining-Vendor Permit shall keep an accurate record of the number, species and weight of all fish caught and a separate report of all fish sold during the calendar year. A record shall be kept for each month separately. Each person shall send this information to the Secretary of lite State Game, Forestation and Parks Commission on or before the 15th day of January of the following year. Forms for this purpose shall be furnished by the State. PEBCH OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: No size limit. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 25, except in Shell and Merriman Lakes in Cherry County and Walgren Lake in Sheridan County where there is no limit. POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 25, except in Shell and Merriman Lakes in Cherry County and Walgren Lake in Sheridan County where ahere is no limit. PIKE (Walleye and/or Sauger [Sand]) OFEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN": Entire State.   22 Outdoor Nebraska—1946 SIZE LIMIT: 12 inches. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 5 (inclusive of both species). POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 5 (inclusive of both species). PIKE (Northern) OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: 12 inches. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 5. POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 5. FRESHWATER DRUM (Sheepshead) (Haploiclonotus grunniens) OPEN SEASON: No closed season. AREA OPEN: Entire State. SIZE LIMIT: No size limit. DAILY BAG LIMIT: 10. POSSESSION LIMIT ANYTIME: 10.

TOTAL BAG AND POSSESSION LIMIT: No more than 25 game fish of all kinds combined may be taken in any one day, nor more than 25 game fish of all kinds combined be had in possession at any one time, excepting perch in Shell and Merriman Lakes in Cherry County and Walgren Lake in Sheridan County where there is no limit on perch.

RETURNING FISH TO WATER: All fish caught that are under the legal size limits as specified herein and all fish legally taken that are not to be counted in the bag limit must be returned immediately to the water with as little injury as possible.

RESERVOIRS AND LAKES OPEN TO FISHING: All reservoirs and lakes within the State not closed or restricted because of Federal regulations or otherwise closed or posted are declared open to the public for fishing subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission.

RESTRICTED AREAS: Restricted areas shall be designated on various lakes during the spawning season in which areas fishing shall not be permitted.

LENGTH OF FISH: The "Total Length" of a fish shall be used when determining the size limits. Total length shall be found by measuring from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail.

SALE OF FISH: No species of fish may be sold from private fish hatcheries in Nebraska, except trout, for purposes other than propagation, and where sold for propagation invoices furnished by the Commission must be used and a report made to the Commission covering all sales at the end of each quarter of the year.

DESTROYING OR DAMAGING STATE PROPERTY: It is unlawful to injure trees or shrubs, to pick flowers or ferns, to mar, deface, or remove any of the natural or structural features in any State-owned or controlled area.

STATE-OWNED LAKES

Special Fishing Regulations are in Effect at the Following State-Owned Lakes: Arnold Lake, Custer County; Blue River Recreation Grounds, Seward County; Champion Lake, Chase County; Cottonmill Lake, Buffalo County; Cottonwood Lake, Cherry County; Crystal Lake, Adams County; Duke Alexis, Hayes County; Dead Timber Recreation Grounds, Dodge County; Fremont Sand Pits, Dodge County; Jefferson County Recreation Grounds; Loup City Lake, Sherman County; Memphis Lake, Saunders County; Niobrara Park Lake, Knox County; Pawnee Lake, Webster County; Pibel Lake, Wheeler County; Platte view Lake (Louisville), Cass County; Rat and Beaver Lake, Cherry County; Ravenna Lake, Buffalo County; Verdon Lake, Richardson County; Rock Creek Lake, Dundy County; Shell Lake, Cherry County; Walgren Lake, Sheridan County; Wellfleet Lake, Lincoln County.

The following Regulations are in effect on State-owned Lakes only: Fishing devices other than regular lines attached to poles are prohibited.

Each person is permitted to use not more than two lines with two hooks per line.

Throw lines or floats are prohibited. Motorboats are not permitted. Digging or seining for bait on grounds is prohibited.

NOTES

Where "entire State" is open, this does not include private lakes closed to the public or areas closed by Federal or State Law or City ordinance.

"Daily Bag Limit" means fish taken from midnight to midnight.

"Possession Limit" means fis"h in the possession of any person at anytime.

The only legal method of taking fish is with hook and line with the following exceptions:

Carp, buffalo, suckers and other non-game fish may be speared between   Outdoor Nebraska—1946 23 sunrise and sunset from April 1 to December 1, except in restricted areas as mentioned above.

Catfish of legal size may be taken from the Missouri River with seines, hoop nets, or trammel nets under special regulations with proper commercial permit.

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

It is unlawful for anyone to angle with a line having more than five hooks thereon or to angle in any inland waters with more than fifteen hooks in the aggregate or with artificial bait having thereon more than three triple gang hooks.

Snagging any fish externally with hook and line is unlawful whether game fish or non-game fish.

All persons sixteen years of age or older must have a fishing permit for the current year.

It is unlawful for any person to borrow or use the permit of another or to lend or transfer his permit to another.

WINTER FISHING

Winter fishing is permitted through the ice. Regulations are the same for regular fishing over the entire state. Fifteen hooks are permitted with no more than 5 on a line, and floats and throw lines are also legal except in State-owned Lakes and other restricted areas (see special regulations on Stateowned Lakes above).

BIG FISH IN 1946 Please let us have reports of your record catches this year. Here are a few to start with. Let's see you top these.

BIG FISH IN 1946 April 22, 1946

Dear Mr. Gilbert:

At last I got to see a big crappie taken. For two years I've heard of big ones taken, but never got to see the evidence. This one is the biggest I ever saw by quite a margin, and I measured and weighed it in the presence of the man who caught it and his party besides a dozen other fishermen. I carry a tested scale which weighs by ounces and he weighed 2 lb. 15 oz. and measured over 17 inches.

It was taken at the mouth of Otter Creek in the big lake on fly-rod by Lloyd Lindberg, Sidney, Nebraska, on April 21, at 4:00 p. m. using live minnow bait.

I have seen thousands of crappie in the past twenty years and before, but this one was far bigger than any I had ever seen. The largest one I saw taken in other years was a full pound lighter and measured 15 inches, in fact I have caught three of that type myself. I look for probably even bigger crappie this year at our lake, as the water is so high the feed is plentiful.

Yours truly, OFFICER LORON BUNNEY.

6% lb. large mouth bass caught by Nick Hanson of Jackson, Nebraska with a home made spoon on Crystal Lake.

4 lb. 6 oz. trout caught by Earl Artist of Imperial, Nebraska with a minnow.

5% lb. bass caught by Kenny Smith of Creighton, Nebraska.

21 lb. northern pike caught by Ed. Schmidt of Mitchell, Nebraska with a minnow in Lake Minatare.

18 lb. 1 oz. northern pike caught by Mrs. George H. Duke of North Platte with a minnow at the lake at North Platte.

7% lb. walleyed pike caught by Eugene Rohrich of Scottsbulff with a red and white daredevil.

7 lb. 11 oz. bass caught by M. E. Flynn of Valentine, Nebraska with a Johnson silver minnow in the Mill Pond at Valentine.

15 lb. blue catfish caught by Ray Blauser of Columbus, Nebraska with eggs.