Nebraska Game Commission Districts

Nebraska's Heritage

Your Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, by law, is placed in charge of forestation, state parks, game and fish, recreation grounds and all things pertaining thereto. We become, thereby, trustees of those resources for the more than 1,300,000 residents of this State, and the millions who someday shall succeed us in this heritage which is Nebraska.

Your Commission is convinced that all but a small percentage of the citizenry of this State has long since assumed this obligation and is now earnestly striving to conserve that which remains thereof and to enhance and improve this heritage for our children and those who shall succeed them. The support which our efforts have received from the purchaser of licenses, the press and the public gives assurance that we shall ultimately approach the goal toward which we strive. If each Nebraskan were to recognize and assume the full responsibility of this stewardship, much more could be accomplished by your commission.

It is no small project to service, maintain and improve our admittedly inadequate park system and establish recreation areas—the increasing numbers and extent of which are steadily magnifying the demands upon our personnel and funds. We cannot hope to properly police the hunter and the fisherman, and protect the fruit of our efforts, without the assistance and support of the public.

In the excitement of vacationing we forget, sometimes, the proprietary interest which is ours, this trust and obligation to conserve our resources and wildlife for the enjoyment of a later generation. We stand by and countenance the despoiling and destruction of the very recreational facilities which our own money makes possible. If we have not actually contributed to the destruction of shelter houses, chairs, tables, fireplaces and other structures—our failure to step out and assert our proprietary interest when such destruction is taking place has added to such destruction. If we have not wantonly destroyed game and fish—our failure to speak out correctively, in the presence of those so engaged encourages such conduct. If we fail to clean up the grounds when we leave that favorite vacation spot, or even stand by and permit another to so do without objection—we not only have added to the burden and expense placed upon the Commission, but we have violated our trust.

Conservation, whether of soil, water, wildlife, or other property, sometimes does not come easily. Frequently, continued effort is required before an objective is reached. Constantly reminding ourselves, our children, and those with whom we come in contact, of this responsibility and trust which is ours, will soon show its results in your Commission's accomplishments. Your precept and example can accomplish more than all our efforts, all the laws, and all the licenses you could buy. This is your trust, your obligation and your responsibility. Your Commission is but your delegated representative agent. Do not cease your vigilence if there is to be a heritage left for your children.

Administration

Strange and amusing is the comparison between the high-built wheezing automobile of the early nineteen hundreds, as compared to the modern stream-lined vehicle of today. Just as unique is the comparison between the early game departments with their political and personal intrigue, paper fish and part-time game wardens, paid by the number of arrests they made, and present day modern game departments with their highly trained personnel and modern equipment, uninhibited for the most part by political relationships.

The Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission is composed of seven civic-minded businessmen and sportsmen, willing to give of their time for the benefit and improvement of outdoor Nebraska. These Commissioners are appointed by the Governor for a term of five years, the terms being so staggered that only one or two new Commissioners may be appointed in any one year. No more than four Commissioners may be of any one political party. The Commission receives no remuneration for their work other than actual expenses and per diem while attending meetings. The Game Commission meets every month or two, to study work reports of the personnel, approve bills and promulgate policies and work assignments. The Commission appoints an executive secretary for a term of six years to place in effect the assignments and fulfillment of the policies of the Commission.

The executive secretaryship is a full-time position with offices on the ninth floor of the State Capitol Building. This administrator is in charge of all personnel and keeps all the necessary records, reports and information necessary for the Commission's study.

The Game Commission is charged with the management of all game and fish of the State as well as all fish hatcheries, game farms, state parks, recreation grounds and refuges in the State, including public education appropriate to such activities.

Funds for these purposes come to the Commission from the purchase of hunting, fishing, trapping, etc., permits. Federal aid funds are available to the state in proportion to the number of hunting permits sold and the area of the state in which case Federal funds are furnished in the amount of $3.00 for every state dollar so matched. State parks appropriation by the Legislature, to be spent only on State parks, is also available to the Commission. The total of the Commission budget is now over a million dollars for the maintenance and improvement of outdoor recreational facilities and wildlife management in Nebraska.

A graphic description of the various subdivisions of the Commission indicates the various relations of said departments and personnel. The Commission is proud of their personnel, many of the members having tenure with the Commission of well over twenty years. Many of the newer personnel have college training or appropriate specialized training in addition to their field experience, which presents a technician with a very well-rounded background for the Commission assignments.

Office

Though not as conspicuous as the Commission's field men, the office force, which handles the paper work for the Department, is no less important. The friendly hospitality of this office is well known to those who have visited the ninth floor of the Capitol and to those who have not, a gracious welcome awaits them.

These girls, each trained in her individual capacity, dispatch efficiently the complex office routine necessary for a department of this size. Over 1,200 permit accounts are given the daily attention of the bookkeeping department, while the billing department is very busy fulfilling the requirements of over a million dollar budget and expenditures pertinent thereto. All of the various types of permits are issued by this force, not to mention the maintenance of a continuous inventory system.

In addition to the above work, hundreds of letters are issued monthly by these attractive young ladies. All records and books are studied and audited regularly by the Commission, the Executive Secretary, the State Auditors and the Federal Auditors.

Visitors in Lincoln are invited to become acquainted with the Commission office personnel on the ninth floor of the State Capitol Building.

Office personnel include the following: Mrs. Mary Jane Blackburn, Receptionist; Mrs. Margaret Steinbruck, Federal Aid Accountant; Mrs. Lucille Brazil, Legal Secretary; Miss Louise Lucas, Voucher Clerk; Mr. John Burley, Accountant; Mrs. Ella Nora Wallace, Bookkeeper; Mrs. Joyce Lewis, Secretary to the Game Division; Miss Mildred Haldeman, Secretary to the Fisheries Division; Mrs. Lau Dell Datus, Secretary to the Lands and Waters Division; Mrs. Ruth Bassett, Permit Accountant; Miss Deloris Brt, Assistant Permit Accountant.

In addition to the secretarial staff listed above, one or more of the administrators may be found in the office at any given time in order that visitors may have professional advice when necessary.

Visitors are always welcome to call at this office without appointment and are equally welcome at any Commission meeting.

Fishery Administration

Those fishermen who have had occasion to contact the Commission regarding the stocking of ponds or related fisheries problems are well acquainted with the congenial smile and cooperative assistance of the Commission's Supervisor of Fisheries, Mr. Glen R. Foster. Mr. Foster's familiarity with Nebraska lakes and streams and their related fisheries problems is well founded through twenty years of service in the fisheries division. Mr. Foster is in charge of all the Commission's fish hatcheries, located at Gretna, North Platte, Parks and Valentine, Nebraska. The State seining crew and fisheries biologist also come under this administration.

In addition to field work appropriate to these subdivisions, administrative details of this office call for setting up suggestions for Commission study on new regulations, the handling of fish applications and production and stocking records. All commercial fishing permits and problems pertaining thereto are under the jurisdiction of this office.

In addition to management of hatcheries, Mr. Foster works in close cooperation with the Federal Hatchery at Crawford, Nebraska.

All fish stocked by the Commission are stocked without charge in ponds which are open to the public. Ponds which are closed to the public may be stocked, free of charge, by application to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Many new problems are showing themselves as related to sound fishery management which are calling for new fields of endeavor in this division. New reservoir construction in Nebraska has already been mentioned. This is bringing to the desk of the fishery administrator many new problems inasmuch as public use areas on these reservoirs should be located where there is reasonably good fishing. History of similar impoundments show that many of them tend to experience an initial spurt of unusually fine fishing only to find fishing getting progressively worse as the reservoirs age.

Mr. Foster's studies at present are evolving around such related problems as the effect of siltation upon the productivity of the reservoir, the effect of the extreme water level fluctuations upon spawning activities of the fish, the relation of numbers and kinds of fish to each other in analyzing the food chain of the game fish in these impoundments. Other problems causing extreme difficulties to the fulfillment of the need for adequate fishing for all fishermen of Nebraska are to be found in relation to the flood control activities of the various constructing agencies. The straightening of such rivers as the Missouri and proposed Elkhorn, Loup and Nemaha River projects make fish production impossible and the fishery administration problems many as a result.

Fish Research

More unanswered questions are to be found in the category of fishery research than probably any other of the game divisions. Dr. Walter Kiener, thoroughly trained in all details of aquatic biology is in charge of all such research activities pertinent to fish. At the present time, Dr. Kiener is engrossed in the detailed study of such problems as the effect of water level fluctuation and siltation upon the reproduction and growth of fish, food habit studies pertinent to stocking ratios for farm ponds and larger water areas, the relationship of successful fisheries production to aquatic plants and ecological factors in relation to propagation of fish and innumerable other problems. Dr. Kiener's laboratory is a source of revelation for fishery enthusiasts and everyone is welcome in the Commission's wildlife building at Lincoln. However, Dr. Kiener is more apt to be found in his fishery investigation travelling laboratory along the shoreline of one of our many lakes or streams in Nebraska.

The equipment found in Dr. Kiener's travelling laboratory is always of interest to on-lookers who happen to be watching Dr. Kiener at work. Only a portion of Dr. Kiener's studies on a given lake require the handling of the fish themselves. Such on-lookers are often amazed at the series of various tests that Dr. Kiener makes which seem rather unrelated to the fish themselves. By delicate tests actually on the lake, Dr. Kiener is able to ascertain rather closely many of the various chemical organic compounds which are to be found in the lake. Another kit in Dr. Kiener's travelling laboratory enables him to analyze the oxygen content of the water. This is especially important during summer fishery studies as many of our smaller lakes and streams are fed by waters carrying rather heavy organic materials and these may be of a definite polluting type. Such organic materials during hot weather have a definite tendency to use up the oxygen in the water and the result is one of the much publicized complete fish losses in any given lake. Such fish actually smother to death and first may be seen gulping at the top of the water and later may be found along the bank of the stream or the shore of the lake on the windward side. Other activities actually followed on the lakesite itself by Dr. Kiener include investigation of microscopic plants and larger forms of algae which are necessary to the over-all study in order to determine what food plants are available not only to the fish but to the micro-organisms upon which the fish feed. Water temperatures are also found to be important in the activity of this on-the-lake study. Various types of thermometers are used for this, thermometers which, for example, will register the temperature at any given water level in order to ascertain what fluctuations in temperature there may be in the deeper reservoirs and the accommodation of the various species of fish to these temperatures.

Other interesting equipment used by Dr. Kiener includes an ageing scale by which the age of any given fish may definitely be ascertained and compared with the fish's over-all size and weight. Such ageing processes involve the study of growth rings on the individual scale of the fish, similar to the ageing of trees by the annual rings. Food habit studies are also a part of Dr. Kiener's activities and many new procedures are inaugurated in other divisions of the fisheries group through information obtained in the fisheries research laboratory. The Commission's fishery research program, while in its infancy, is holding its own well in comparison with other states.

Gretna FIsh Hatchery

Nebraska's oldest fish hatchery is located on Highway 85, a few miles south of Gretna. Mr. Gerhard Lenz, Superintendent of this hatchery, has been in fisheries work with the Commission for twenty years and with the aid of Mr. Foster has developed an efficient method of propagating catfish, an accomplishment found impossible by most other hatcheries in the country.

This beautiful hatchery area comprises fifty-three acres, is located along the bluffs of the Platte River and is a nature enthusiast's Utopia with its many kinds of large trees and the many eastern birds that frequent them. In addition to the numerous attractive ponds used for the propagation of fish, the Commission has constructed a large aquarium building where living specimens of most all of Nebraska's fish are maintained in the attractive aquariums for inspection of the public. Eastern Nebraska picnicers find the well equipped shaded picnic area high on the bluff overlooking the Platte and a joining this hatchery, a restful place to relax from a walk through the interesting phases of hatchery improvement.

While some other species of fish are propagated at the hatchery, they are dwarfed in importance by the channel catfish production. However, production figures for this hatchery run approximately 100,000 fish per year. The success of the catfish propagation at this hatchery is in part due to the use of Platte River water which is pumped into large holding ponds in which the spawner catfish are placed in early spring. In these ponds are then placed the potential nests of the catfish. These are simply constructed of small nail kegs with a cement bottom covered with rough gravel. These are lowered into the ponds by means of long wired handles and the catfish find these suitable for the laying of the eggs. Fish eggs are usually taken about the first of June. These eggs are then placed in a trough known as the mechanical nurse where electric motors cause constant agitation of   the waters and the young fish are thus hatched in seven to nine days. Their food consists of beef livers, melts, dried skim milk, white fish meal, cottonseed meal, and wheat flour middlings until they reach fingerling size, at which time they are placed in holding ponds where they are maintained until of larger size. They are then stocked above many of the dams in the State which make natural migration of catfish from the large rivers impossible.

While this hatchery specializes, primarily, in channel catfish some experimentation has been done in the propagation of blue catfish, which are considered, in general, almost impossible to propagate at such hatcheries. However, some degree of success has been achieved by Mr. Lenz in the propagation of blue cat. These catfish, propagated at this hatchery, are not only popular with Nebraska sportsmen for stocking in streams and lakes but seem to be equally popular with some of the other states who have been very desirous of obtaining some of these fingerling catfish. The Commission has not closed its ears to the requests of these other states, but has profited highly by furnishing small numbers of these catfish to other states. Annual trades are made for walleye pike eggs which are obtained for hatching at the North Platte Hatchery and whenever available, small catfish are traded for bullheads in the satisfactory ratio of one inch of catfish for one pound of bullhead. These large bullheads gained by this trade have been very popular with the Kid's Fishing Contests. '

Bass, crappies and bullheads are also propagated at this hatchery although to a limited extent, as this hatchery is limited in its production due to the confines of the hatchery area. The rough bluffs overlooking the Platte River make pond development impossible to any degree inland, the only pond area being the flat river bottom area between the bluffs and the Platte. Though some river flooding is experienced in this area, dyking procedures have enabled the hatchery to maintain its normal output as far as production is concerned. For this reason it is not too desirable to construct hatcheries adjacent to waterways, however, in the case of this hatchery, it would be impossible to raise the catfish produced here if it were not for the river water which is pumped from the river into the hatchery ponds. When attempts were made to propagate the catfish by the use of spring water, the catfish were found to develop a disease known as white spot, a situation which is overcome by the use of river water.

Visitors at this hatchery are always interested in the adjoining rock quarry, maintained by the Commission where adequate rock is quarried for use all over the State by the Commission's construction crew. This portion of Nebraska is dotted with large rock quarries adjacent to the Platte River. Another unusual sidelight of the production of this hatchery is the limited numbers of bullfrog tadpoles which are produced here and actually stocked in certain portions of the State as well as for trading stock for large fish from other states. Visitors enjoying the aquarium and the picnic area, if at all interested in natural history studies, find the wall along the upper hatchery ponds to the spring pool very enlightening with many kinds of native fern, and other not too common plants of Nebraska.

This hatchery is open to the public all daylight hours and will furnish not only recreational pleasure but a definite source of outdoor education to the visiting public.

Other Commission employees at this hatchery include: William Busekist and Gilbert Dell.

North Platte Hatchery

Nebraskans and their non-resident friends are for the first time catching limits of walleyed pike in the larger water areas of Nebraska. This fishing phenomena is due entirely to the construction by the Commission of one of the largest pike hatcheries in the country. For the past four years this hatchery has been producing nothing but walleyed pike under the direction of Superintendent Hube Howard, and additional pond areas are being continually developed for increasing the productivity of this hatchery. At the present time, the completed ponds are producing about 842,596 walleye pike annually. This hatchery is centrally located a few miles south of the city of North Platte, just below the large reservoir lake known as Lake Maloney. In fact, water from this lake furnishes the complete supply to the hatchery.

Fish from this hatchery are stocked at the flngerling stage due to the fact that the walleye pike is very carnivorous and if the ponds are not cleaned out while the fish are at the flngerling stage, cannibalism soon reduces the pond's population to only a few large pike. These pike have been stocked mostly at the headwaters of the many reservoirs and growth rates on larger fish now being taken are exceedingly high. Six to eight pound walleyes are now not uncommon. Additional experimental plantings have been made in small lakes and these plantings are being watched closely to determine the possibilities in such lakes.

Pike are hatched from eggs in large glass jars in the hatch house and are placed in highly fertilized ponds in the fry stage. Commercial fertilizer is used in the ponds until the water is brownish color, indicating high fertility capable of producing the micro-organisms necessary for feed for these extremely young fish.

This new hatch house, finished in light-colored brick and completely cemented and tiled inside, furnishes one of the most modern working facilities of any of the Nebraska   hatcheries. Here Mr. Hube Howard has his office as well as locker rooms and headquarters for all of his crew. In the larger portion of the hatchery building the entire space is devoted to truck storage and hatchery facilities. The water from the lake supply in this instance is run in to a complete series of the bell-shaped jars in which the walleye pike eggs are placed. The water bubbles through these jars from the bottom to the top and carries with it the young fry when they are hatched from the egg. These young fry then pass down into large collecting tanks where they are removed to the highly fertilized rearing ponds. This is a crucial stage in the hatchery operations as the eggs are very sensitive and will not stand too much handling and have been found to be very susceptible to the climatic conditions as well as physical conditions. Quite a severe loss of fry was experienced at this hatchery a few years ago due to the fact that the eggs were placed in the large jars according to the usual procedure and that night an unusually severe electric storm occurred and either the electrical conditions or the vibration of the extreme thunder of the storm caused all of the eggs to hatch prematurely which resulted in very weak fry, necessitating the repetition of the hatching procedure.

Experiments have been carried on regarding the various types of commercial fertilizer as compared to various types of farm manure. At the present time the commercial fertilizer is being used, not particularly because of its unusual qualities over the farm manure, but due to the fact that the commercial fertilizer seems to produce far less algae growth than the farm manure. This growth of algae in some ponds is not detrimental; in fact, is to be desired. However, in the case of the hatchery ponds which must be drained and seined, such heavy plant growth is not desirable due to the fact that it causes a mat, making seining very difficult as well as trapping the small fingerling walleyes in the vegetation, thereby either losing completely the fingerling or weakening its condition prior to stocking. The Commission is especially proud of this hatchery due to the fact that it is receiving national recognition from fishery authorities over the country, not only due to its size and location, but due to its ability to produce fish in large quantities. This hatchery is so constructed that it is not only efficient in its production of walleye pike, but can be used for other species of fish if necessary.

Rock Creek Hatchery

Nebraska's largest trout hatchery under the direction of Superintendent Frank Weiss is located 7 miles northwest of the town of Parks. In addition to the hatchery, Mr. Weiss is also in charge of a fishery sub-station located just adjacent to the town of Benkelman. The trout hatchery itself is so located because of a large and beautiful natural spring which furnishes water for the entire hatchery. This hatchery is famous for its production of rainbow trout which are artificially spawned in late winter and the eggs are developed in the hatch house at the lower end of the area. The fry are held in troughs within the hatch house until large enough to place in circular ponds where they are hand fed until large enough to place in the larger more natural rearing ponds. This is the most costly fish that the Commission produces inasmuch as it is necessary to feed them a mixture composed in part of beef reject liver. At this hatchery, the Commission follows its most desirable policy of rearing the fish to legal size before stocking. Most all trout stocked from this hatchery are from 6 to 12 inches. Trout from this hatchery are stocked all over the state. However, inasmuch as the trout do not do as well in small lakes the largest numbers are placed in desirable trout waters in the northern and western portions of the State. A few other species of trout are raised here but due to the fact that they mature slowly, they are not produced in the numbers anywhere equal to the rainbow. Few, if any, rainbow trout propagate successfully in Nebraska, due to siltation factors and water temperatures. For that reason trout caught in Nebraska of this type are mostly all Commission-reared trout including the large trout having come into these water areas through the tributaries of the small trout streams adjacent to the Platte river. Investigations have been made regarding these large trout and while they make a normal spawning run the final reproductive activities are not completed. The Commission, however, is

Valentine Hatchery

Valentine hatchery is located immediately northeast of Valentine, Nebraska, and is under the supervision of Mr. Jack Mendenhall. This hatchery is important in that it completes the production record of the Commission for all of the various other warmwater fish not handled at the other hatcheries, such species as bass, bluegills, crappies and bullheads. Adjacent to Minnecaduza, this hatchery has a fine water supply distributed to its ponds scattered over the 800 acres. Also of educational interest is the large attractive aquarium building where all of the various species of fish found in Nebraska are on display for the public. At this hatchery the actual taking of eggs and incubation is reduced to a minimum, inasmuch as the many ponds are built as natural as possible, and under optimum conditions the fish spawn naturally and are carried up to near legal size before stocking. This hatchery is becoming famous for its new variety of bullhead known as the golden bullhead. Mr. Mendenhall found two of these mutations among his regular bullheads and by careful breeding has obtained a large quantity of these bullheads which resemble any other bullhead in size and appearance except that they are a golden pink in color, adding an interesting bit of diversity to the fishery story at this hatchery. This hatchery produces about 590,741 fish annually which are distributed all over the state In addition to this hatchery activity Mr. Mendenhall and his crew also assume the responsibility of keeping a check on the fishery conditions in the sandhill lakes as well as local salvage work when necessary. This additional checking of the sandhill area is very important in Nebraska's fishery picture due to the fact that the sandhill lakes are still the most natural water areas remaining in the State. In fact, they are about the only areas which have not been touched by man in his engineering endeavors connected with power, taking advantage of this run by trapping the fish in late winter, stripping them of their spawn and returning the fish to the waters of the reservoirs, while the eggs are transported to Rock Creek Hatchery for incubation.

Visitors at this hatchery will be interested in the sub-station located just east of Benkelman. This sub-station was formerly a bird hatchery, however, it has now been developed into a small headquarters area for the hatchery superintendent, Mr. Frank Weiss, who has developed on the area a number of rearing ponds where various species of warmwater fish are held. This is in accord with the Game Commission's policy in stocking larger fish. In the early history of the game department most all fish stocked were of the fry stage, which produced enviable stocking records as far as numbers were concerned but the mortality of such fry are very high, so that the actual number of adult fish reaching the fisherman's creel from such stocking was very small. This procedure gradually changed to nearly a complete absence of fry stocking in the state, as the stocking of fingerling fish became possible. These fish, as their name describes, are about the length of the index finger. The survival on them is much greater by several hundred percent than in the case of the fry. However, the Commission was not satisfied with the stocking of fish even this large and inaugurated a series of experimental studies to determine how larger fish could be stocked in Nebraska. Due to the fact that many of the lakes in which fish are stocked in Nebraska have such a heavy fishing pressure, the fish actually never have a chance to reach maturity making the stocking of adult fish necessary. Such" holding ponds as have been constructed at Benkelman are used to carry the fingerling fish up to the adult stage. This is also true of the hatchery as mentioned above at Parks, where the fingerling trout are taken through the adult stage before stocking. The stocking of trout from this hatchery is augmented by the numbers of adult trout stocked from the Federal Fish Hatchery, located at Crawford, Nebrraska, under the direction of E. D. Mason. Through the cooperation of the Fish and Wildlife Service most of the fish found in this Federal Hatchery go into the State of Nebraska to augment the large stocking made from the Rock Creek Hatchery. This Federal Hatchery being located in the northwestern corner of the State as compared to the state hatchery located in the southwest corner of the state makes the stocking of trout water throughout western Nebraska a very uniform procedure. Due to the successfulness of growth of trout in the new larger reservoirs it will tax the capacity of both of the above mentioned hatcheries and tentative plans are under way at the present time to attempt to inaugurate a new hatchery in a suitable area. The propagation and rearing of trout is probably one of the most difficult of all of the various hatchery procedures and Mr. Weiss and his crew are called upon to feed and nurse the young trout along on a very definite schedule similar to the feeding of human infants, requiring meticulous care and constant attention on the part of the hatchery attendants. In addition to Mr. Frank Weiss, the superintendent, the following men are serving the Commission as attendants at this trout hatchery: Charles Blank, Elvin Bray, Gerald Plucker.

Fish

Rugged indeed are the assignments of Mr. Paul Todd, Superintendent of the fish salvage crew. Hot summer days will find the crew in the middle of knee-deep silted lakes where hot summer suns make the shallow water no longer habitable for fish. Mr. Todd and his crew remove such stranded fish to deeper, cooler waters. This crew is also responsible for a good deal of the distribution of the fish all over the state. Tradition with this crew is the motto "the fish must move on" and once fish are placed from the nets to the transports, the drivers will drive day and night continually until the fish are delivered in the lake to which they are assigned.

Though of interest to the average public who gathers around any lake when the salvage crew is in operation, the summer seining of salvage fish does not carry with it any of the complexity of operation, and, therefore, the public interest as the seining in winter. It is hard for the average individual unacquainted with the salvage crew's procedures to visualize the possibility of actually seining tons of fish out of a lake by seining under the ice. This is actually just what the seining crew does all winter, the colder the weather, the deeper the ice and the better the seining crew like it. Though certainly unfavorable as far as temperatures and working conditions are concerned, the seining of fish in the winter is actually less difficult than seining in lakes where during the summer there is a heavy accumulation of green algae or as some fishermen call it, fish moss, which tangles in the net and is not only an additional load on the net but is detrimental to the fish being seined. In addition to Mr. Paul Todd, the superintendent, the following members comprise the Commission's seining and salvage crew: Lloyd Winkleman, Alfonso Beza, Clarence Brown, B. H. Ellis, Victor Matousek and Emil Nieman.

Lands and Waters

This division has been newly approved by the Commission and only recently Mr. Carl F. Anderson was appointed as supervisor. Previous to this, Mr. Foster was in charge of the various divisions under this administration such as the construction crew, forestry crew, about fifty-five public recreation areas and State lakes, as well as all of the State parks. With the increase in reservoir areas, and increased development by the Commission of recreation areas, this division has been established to enable the Commission to give more immediate service to the public in the development and maintenance of all recreation areas. Appropriations for such work are derived from the sale of hunting and fishing permits, in the case of the lakes and recreation grounds. In the case of the State parks, maintenance and development funds are appropriated by tax appropriation from the Legislature. The new supervisor comes to the Commission well qualified for the assignment, having been trained in engineering and National Park work.

The work in this division entails a knowledge of all types of construction work, from the grading of roads, cleaning up of present recreation areas, to the actual construction of new lake sites and recreation areas. The latter involving the mapping of the area, the running of levels, the laying out of actual plans, the making of cost estimates for such specifications and the actual dirt and concrete work appropriate to the laying out of contours, construction of dykes, concrete spillways, and the final construction and planting of the recreation area for day use of the public

Present State recreation grounds where State lakes are involved are bringing a problem to this division due to the fact that most of the State lakes are quite old and due to the high silting factors of contributing streams and rivers the water in these areas has carried considerable silt with the result that the lakes have become quite shallow. The Commission has recently inaugurated a pumping program whereby ultimately all of these older lakes where feasible will be pumped out in order to deepen them and make them more acceptable for fish spawning and adequate growth cycles for fish. Such silting problems can be remedied to a degree on all such waterways by the following of sound soil conservation procedures throughout the areas of adjoining farms.

Nebraska's State parks offer this division a problem inasmuch as legislative appropriations have not been great enough to do any more than maintain the park areas in only a passible condition. The Commission has many requests from over the state for the construction of new lake areas, however, the Commission has a very definite policy of considering all such requests making detailed studies of them but of making actual construction plans only in areas where such lake sites have definite potential fishery values as well as being suitably located for public use in any given area.

Lands and Waters Administration

The Game Commission construction crew is unique in that its members must be thoroughly trained in all phases of construction from the construction of intricate educational exhibits to the completion of large dirt fills and concrete spillways, by the use of heavy equipment. This crew has the entire State as its working area and is responsible for maintaining and repairing of Commission improvements, construction of minor roadways, recreational facilities, lake areas and the maintenance of such areas. This crew is well equipped with heavy bulldozers, gravel pumps, semi-transports, intricate power saws, welders, drills and everything necessary to assure efficient and economical work.

This crew has its headquarters in Lincoln and all of its heavy equipment is kept there where it is serviced and ready for assignments. This construction crew has far more assignments outlined for it in the future than is possible to handle with a crew of this size and in some cases of major development the Commission contracts the work to be accomplished.

This crew has been seriously handicapped the past few years due to the inability to obtain the necessary building materials and due to the fact that this crew necessitates the hiring of skilled labor such as concrete men, carpenters, dirt men, heavy equipment specialists and skilled engineers. Private enterprise has increased wages to a point where it is difficult to obtain the type of men desired for this type of work.

Men employed by the Commission to work on this crew are as follows: Herbert Bucknell, Lowell Ahrens, Henry Clark, Melvin Durham, Marion Erhart, Paul Erhart, Adrian Guzinski, Earl Harrison, Lein Hewitt, Hubert Koch, Edmund Kowalewski, Dallas Nelson, Everett Reinboth, Jerome Sekutera, Orville Solomon, Vernon Stone, Richard Wickest.

Forestry Crew

Mr. John Tooley, another long time faithful with the Commission for a period of years, is in charge of primarily the landscape planting of all the recreation areas, including the new reservoir areas. Mr. Tooley's plantings differ from other planting crews within the department, in that his plantings are primarily for shade, comfort, and beauty, therefore involving the planting of larger trees, while other plantings in the department are farm plantings for the development of habitat for wildlife. In addition to these planting activities, Mr. Tooley and his crew are also charged with the maintenance of nearly fifty recreation grounds scattered over the state, which in the rainy seasons taxes the capacity of the mowers in an attempt to cover the areas two or three times a season. Because of financial restrictions the Commission is not able to have caretakers at all the recreation areas, therefore the only maintenance is by the periodic checks of this crew. Unfortunately, the public is of little assistance to this crew as much of the public carelessness and maliciousness experienced by the department, is in the recreational ground division which means additional, unnecessary work for this crew. Cooperation of the public in continuing their picnicing activities in conjunction with the philosophy of good sportsmanship, would greatly facilitate the efficient activity of this crew.

If Nebraska is to fulfill the obligation of the title "The Tree Planter's State," this crew and all agencies planting trees, as well as all individuals, must qualify this title to a greater degree in the future.

The members of this crew, in addition to Superintendent John J. Tooley, are: Phillip E. Boiling, Louis E. Dettman, Orville F. Gillham, B. J. Miller, Arnold Thelander, LeRoy E. Weiss, LeRoy H. Wulf.

Chadron State Park

Nebraska's largest state park is located deep in the heart of the beautiful Pine Ridge country. Here, 1300 acres of deep canyons and pine covered hills strike favor with even those individuals familiar with the Black Hills and the foothills of the Rockies.

Jake Snodgrass, Superintendent of this park, is well known for his friendly welcome extended to all visitors in this area. Mr. Snodgrass takes pride in the pleasure derived by visitors from their stay in one of the several overnight cabins scattered among the cool pine scented canyons. Each of these cabins is fully equipped with bedding, cooking utensils, linens and well furnished even to the modern gas stoves and refrigerators and hot water heaters. Regardless of the temperature of the day, night always finds blankets in use by the happy visitors.

Group camps are also available where church, scout and 4-H club youth groups enjoy organized outdoor meetings. Chadron Park is also famous for its National Band Camp. The group camp is modern with a large gas range and walkin refrigerator. The park is lighted electrically and modern sanitary facilities are available within each unit. Attractive boating lagoons and swimming pool are available for those who appreciate this type of recreation. Lovers of horses will find the many bridle trails through the park an incentive to make frequent use of the Park's well equipped riding academy Those visitors who are not desirous of cooking their own meals will find the Park's lunchroom clean and generous in its helpings of wholesome food.

The natural beauty of the entire park area is enhanced by the clear water stream that winds its way through the area and at night nature lovers will enjoy the friendly deer which frequent the area.

For a restive, pleasurable vacation deep in the pines, Chadron Park has little competition.

Chadron State Park, as other state parks in the State, is supported entirely by legislative appropriation and only by   the cooperation of local groups adjoining the park, in conjunction with the Legislature, can much future development be made. The Commission is willing and anxious to completely renovate all state parks in Nebraska when the funds are available.

As a visitor enters through the large stone gates of the park, the native log administration building with its landscaped flower beds and stately pine immediately make us feel welcome and at home. As we look through the trees to the south shelter houses, small cabins and the small store and cafe for our convenience adds to the overall picture. Gazing higher through the surrounding high hills, cabins perched advantageously among the high hills tantalize our desires for a peaceful and restful vacation and it is not uncommon to see native deer browsing peacefully throughout the area.

It is with reluctance that visitors bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass and few leave this park without the promise to themselves that they will return again next year. The personnel at Chadron State Park besides the Superintendent, Mr. Snodgrass and his wife, include the following: Walter Fintel, Phillip Stradley and Irene Goff.

Victoria Springs State Park

Mr. C. O. Williams, caretaker of Victoria Springs State Park, is pi oud of his little park, which, though not large, is picturesque with its natural beauty, its large trees, small lake and its famous flowing well.

Victoria Springs State Park is located nineteen miles northwest of Broken Bow, near the town of Anselmo, Nebraska. This state park is located in one of the choicest valleys in Custer County. Spring fed Victoria Creek winds through the valley for fifteen miles to empty its sparkling, clear, cool water into the Middle Loup River. The park property includes sixty-eight acres of land generously provided with some of the largest, most beautiful trees to be found in the state. A large grove of cottonwood trees, centrally located in the park, is well over seventy years of age.

Of special historic interest in this sixty-eight 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 posl office.

Improvements include a new modern residence for the caretaker with water and electric system, barns and other out buildings. The park possesses two double cabins, totalling four rooms which are available for rental to the public. The rooms are furnished with beds, tables, stoves, and chairs, but are not modern. The Commission has constructed a relic house on the park proper and several hundred relics of Nebraska pioneer days have been gathered there for public enjoyment.

This park is a popular center f Sunday picnic crowds. Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Williams are the caretakers for this park and they are well known throughout the area. Mr. Williams is always available and anxious to show visitors through the historic cabin post office as well as pleased to introduce them to the two beautiful cool water springs which quench the thirst of visitors from all over the states. Other employees at Victoria Springs include: Christopher Dobson.

FOR FISHING, HUNTING OR A REAL VACATION - - - Try Nebraska First

Arbor Lodge State Park

Nebraska is famous for the National holiday known as Arbor Day. The day conceived by and now dedicated to J. Sterling Morton, an Amercian statesman who appreciating the need of trees in this prairie state, sponsored the inauguration of this activity on a large scale.

The home of Mr. Morton is now the site of Arbor Lodge State Park and is located on the outskirts of Nebraska City. Here thousands of visitors annually take advantage of the daily guide tours through the large mansion which has been maintained very much as it was used in the days of the Mortons. In addition, visitors find the historical museum portion of the mansion of great educational interest with its many originals symbolic of early Nebraska history. Many of the large original plantings are still alive through the arboretum and picnic area and in addition, the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission has added many new plantings.

The carriage barn draws its share of interest from the visiting public with its many horse-da-awn carriages including the "Surrey with the fringe on top" and, in addition, such special items as the horse-drawn fire engine and the little hand-operated fire pump. This park also has picnic facilities available for the visiting public.

All visitors long remember their visit to Arbor Lodge because of the continued Morton hospitality still exemplified so bountifully by the superintendents, Mr. and Mrs. Grant McNeel.

Niobrara State Park

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 three-quarter 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 has 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 back door 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 six-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 thereir?

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 areas. 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, picnicing, golfing and hiking are all in order for a full day of activities for the visiting tourist at Niobrara State Park. Assisting H. E. Jones and his wife at the park is Mr. Willard Krohn.

Stolley State Park

On the immediate outskirts of Grand Island, Nebraska, is 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.

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.

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. George Markhofer and his wife who live on the grounds.

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.

Fort Kearney State Park

Fort Kearney State Park is one of the least developed parks at present in the State, although developmental activities are in progress on this area at the present time. This forty acre tract located in Kearney County, between Kearney and Minden, is the actual site of the old historic site of early historical significance. At the present time, little of the original area is visible, the area being chiefly minor picnic areas with the large original cottonwoods still marking the original location. Studies are under way now to determine by trenching activities the original building sites which will then be permanently located for the public.

This historic State park is important in the story of Nebraska as it was on this area that the United States troopers were sent out to avenge the bloody massacres by the Sioux and Pawnee Indians, and the Fort was, furthermore, a mile post in the still evident Oregon Trail which wound through Nebraska.

The site was founded by Lt. Woodbury, who named the area after his father-in-law. It is hoped that the actual areas of the building sites can be marked off, at least, by means of hedge rows and, perhaps, if funds are available, by some actual construction on the area.

This area received important national recognition recently due to its centennial ceremony, commemorating onehundred years since the original establishment of the site by Lt. Woodbury. The centennial ceremony brought dignitaries from Washington and other parts of the United States and was commemorated by a special stamp printed for the occasion. While not particularly well developed at the present time, future plans for this area should make it a very attractive recreation area as well as a major spot of historic Nebraska interest.

Pnoca State Park

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 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 picnicing are the order of the day with some 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 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 to the park.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Heil, caretakers at the park, have 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.

PARK RATES

Game Administration

Mr. Lloyd P. Vance, Supervisor of Game Administration for the Commission, is in charge of the Commission's Game Farm, all refuges and game herds within the State, as well as the responsibility of maintaining all administrative details pertinent to publishing of seasons and the management of all problems pertinent to game animals over the State. An acquaintance with the activities of Mr. Vance may be gained by an enumeration of the problems which are handled in his administrative capacity: 1. Deer depredation and methods of control; 2. Waterfowl population estimates; 3. Development and management of all types of refuges, game preserves and sanctuaries; 4. Raccoon and beaver damage complaints and the correct procedures of management; 5. Management of the State's buffalo and elk herds; 6. Farm and game management relationship and problems pertinent thereto; 7. Stocking types and ratios of game birds as well as establishment of suitable locations for such; 8. Management of a predator control crew in relationship to problems evolving around coyote, fox and the crow.

These and many more problems are but routine in the annual activities of this administrator. Mr. Vance's cooperation is traditional over the State wherever game management problems arise.

To Mr. Vance goes credit for the establishment of the first federal aid projects in Nebraska for the study of upland game birds, migratory waterfowl and fur bearing animals.

Game Farm

Mr. S. E. Ling, Superintendent of the Commission Game farm, is one of the best known of the Commission's personnel, due to his lengthy tenure with the Commission. Mr. Ling's technique in propagating game birds is an art in itself and an average production of 10 to 12 thousand birds from the present game farm, located near Norfolk, Nebraska, is not unusual. At the present time, only pheasants are being propagated at this farm although preliminary plans are being formulated for the construction of a modern game farm capable of producing any type of game bird according to the best modern hatchery procedures for stocking and experimental purposes.

Mr. Ling and his assistants do far more than just propagate birds at their game farm. At this farm many of the Commission's game bird problems are answered by experimentation. For example, only recently the Commission was interested in proving to some of the public, the latitudes of the sex ratios of pheasants and the related Commission policy of protecting hen pheasants. In order to prove this the Commission set up an interesting experiment at the farm. In this experiment Mr. Ling set aside several pens in which he placed one cock pheasant with five hens and continued this in multiples of five through a series of pens up to one pen containing twenty-five pheasants. Interestingly enough, the one cock with the twenty-five hens was fully as successful in the ultimate production of viable eggs as the birds penned in lesser ratios, proving the fact that one cock pheasant can be effective in fertilizing more than one hen pheasant, a problem which does not exist at the moment as Nebraska's cock-hen ratio is close to one to one.

Various types of feeding experiments are being tried at the game farm as well as future planned experiments to determine the effects of various types of weed spray and insect killers upon these game birds.

The Commission's new game farm when planned will be a far cry from the present farm as the present individual brooders, scattered over the grounds with their difficulties in cleaning operations and temperature control, will be replaced with colony brooders and modern temperature and humidity control buildings capable of producing any type or number of needed game birds.

The Commission's stocking program during the war was set up to furnish as much immediate shooting to eastern hunters as possible. Birds were stocked adjacent to areas of high hunter population due to the fact that the hunters were unable to journey far into the state. However, with the close of hostilities and the return availability of gasoline, the birds are now stocked purely with the idea of reproduction in mind. These birds are now being stocked only where the farmer will cooperate by closing the area for at least one season to allow the birds to adjust themselves to the area and produce at least one setting of eggs.

Thus when pheasant populations are high the activities of the game farm are not so necessary. However, the Commission feels that a game farm is always necessary at least on a standby basis for experimental purposes and at times of low natural pheasant production for accelerated farm production and stocking.

Education and Information

Antiquated philosophies of educating people by arresting them are passing with the political tendency of the past. Modern game psychology, while requiring the penalties of law enforcement to a limited extent, finds the trends pointing toward the betterment of game conditions by educating the sportsmen to the follies of game depletion and the benefits to be derived, from good game management. Such education procedures while finding roots in all educational groups are finding most fertile fields in the youth of Nebraska through such channels as the 4-H Clubs, Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls, Future Farmers and Rural Youth groups. Public schools which have been slow to assimilate the need of conservation education are now coming to the front in individual localities where interested personages are stimulating and motivating new classes in conservation education.

The Commission's education program in furnishing material and lectures to the above groups includes such activities as (1) weekly radio programs over most all stations in the state, (2) publishing of Outdoor Nebraska, (3) publishing of Wildlife Notes, (4) Exhibits for state and county fairs and wildlife clubs, (5) presentation of programs to well over 500 local civic and wildlife groups, (6) furnishing bullheads for between 30 and 40 annual fishing contests, and (7) an annual conservation youth camp.

Any group of any kind may have any type of program or demonstration they desire which will stimulate knowledge and understanding of game management upon request.

Game Law Enforcement

The adolescent period of game law enforcement was not particularly attractive to the conservation officer or the public. The officers, some chosen because of a political affiliation, received little, if any, pay, their remuneration being based chiefly upon the number of arrests they made. From such a past grow the now false ideas that law enforcement officers try to make arrests in order to increase their income. Present day officers receive no part of game law fines nor are they measured to any degree by the number of arrests they make. The officer of yesterday had no uniform. Many furnished their own cars, such as they were. The general conception of a game warden was that he was merely a bushwhacker hiding out trying to make an arrest on some innocent violator. Today the picture is different. The state of Nebraska is now composed of 21 game law enforcement districts, each one supervised by an efficiently trained, well-equipped conservation officer. These officers, many of them with college educations, are given a complete schooling in game law enforcement and public relations and education, as well as being completely uniformed and equipped with a modern patrol car with air to ground communication. The Commission's airplanes are a new innovation by law enforcement and are proving highly successful in the apprehending of the more difficult game violators. Another recent innovation is the inauguration of high-powered patrol boats on some of the larger reservoirs, both for checking and assisting fishermen and hunters as well as possible safety emergency vehicles. Assignments of conservation officers on a season basis are as follows: (1) The winter checking of trappers (2) Checking of all fur houses and out-state fur shipments (3) The checking of new permit accounts and collecting of old accounts (4) Continuous attention to the spring duck flight through the State. (5) Checking of fishermen and fishing conditions (6) Checking of the conditions of the game bird nesting season and ratios (7) Continuous attention to the young birds, especially through the fry stage (8) Checking of ponds that are drying up and needing seining attention (9) Working of rivers for illegal nets (10) Checking of hunters during hunting season (11) Giving talks and picture programs to all types of sportsmens groups, civic and other groups.

Fishermen and sportsmen in the field may, therefore,   be sure that the conservation officer is in the field as their friend ready to assist them in getting the utmost out of their outdoor recreation as well as protecting for them the source of this enjoyment. In addition to the 21 regular officers located in districts, the Commission has two special investigators and in charge of the entire efficient law enforcement division is William R. Cunningham, experienced not only in the law enforcement division, but various phases of other departmental activities.

Of great assistance to not only the law enforcement division, but all phases of the game department requiring legal decisions and knowledge is the legal division recently inaugurated within the department. Mr. Carl Peterson, previously with the Attorney General's office, is now in charge of this division and available whenever public inquiry requires legal interpretation.

The following is a typical breakdown of general arrests for one year: hunting or fishing without a per123; Carrying loaded shotgun in vehicle, 58; Improper permits, 25; Over-the-Bag limit of fish, 23; Illegal fishing, 40; Illegal trapping and possession of fur, 21; Hunting on State Game Refuge, 15; Illegal killing and possession of deer, 5; Hunting game birds and animals with airplane, 3; Obstructing and resisting an officer, 4; Total 501.

Fines, $5,819.50; Costs, $1,743.57; Liquidated Damages, $1,635.00; Fur Sale, $1,259.00; Gun Sale, $5,462.00.

Conservation officers and their home bases are as follows: William Ahern, Fremont; Robert Benson, Columbus; Lee Bowers, Benkelman; Loron Bunney, Ogallala; Edward Cassell, Steele City; L. J. Cunningham, Hay Springs; A. O. Edmunds, Grand Island; Sam Grasmick, O'Neill; Clyde Grossoehme, Wisner; H. B. Guyer, Overton; Lee Jensen, North Platte; Don Lidolph, Fairfield; A. G. McCarroll, Cody; Roe E. Meyer, Sargent; Roy E. Owen*, Crete; Bernard Patton, Lincoln; George Rishling*, Oshkosh; William Schultz, McCook; Jack Strain, Ainsworth; James Scott, Minden; C. W. Shaffer, Columbus; George Weidman, Gering. (* Special Investigators)

Pheasant Investigation

The pheasant is Nebraska's number 1 game bird, and being a stranger introduced by artificial stocking, a great deal of investigation has been required to fully understand this magnificent bird. In charge of this activity is Mr. Levi Mohler, research biologist, who with his field men, keep a continuous check on the pulse of Nebraska pheasant population, noting trends, nesting success, hunting success, and comparing data with that of the conservation officers, rural mail carriers and other interested cooperators who are assisting Mr. Mohler.

This detailed pheasant information is now available without charge at the Game Commission office, as another educational service to those desiring it.

Originally the entire focal point in the introduction of any given game bird into a new area was entirely a matter of stocking and the cooperative pheasant units along with state and private assistance enabled the state to become at least initially stocked with this game bird. However, now that most all areas have at least a minimum population of these birds, trends are from such large scale stocking procedures to the studies of required habitat and food demands by these upland game birds. Studies have been made as to what constitutes good cover, what type of vegetation best protects the pheasant through the winter periods and what types of vegetation produce the best types of winter feed. All of these factors have been under investigation by the research biologists and present day trends are towards the development of suitable living quarters for the upland game birds rather than stressing the number of birds placed in any given area. This, along with the fact that any given area has its given carrying capacity of any certain species of birds, is allowing the hunter to crop his share of the game bird production, which he previously was not able to do.

Food habits and habitat studies then are occupying the major portion of the biologists time in this category. Population trends, nesting success and such related conditions are not only tabulated in this state but comparisons are made with neighboring states and constant data is kept on pheasant trends throughout the middle-west through the cooperation of Mr. Mohler and hij associates in the neighboring states.

Quail Investigation

Mr. David Damon, research biologist, is in charge of quail investigation. Although the investigations are being carried on all over the state they are chiefly concentrated in the southeastern portion of Nebraska which is the most successful quail range. It is in this area that some time ago the Game Commission started a habitat development program by the developing of cover in refuge areas for suitable homes for wildlife. The quail population has developed, therefore, until it is now a sizeable population in this area. Mr. Damon, and his assistant keep a constant check on all activities involved, including the serious present destruction of beneficial cover by many farmers in that area, a problem, serious as far as future quail populations are concerned.

This destruction seems to be primarily in the category of hedge rows of the osage orange type where high prices of farm produce, chiefly corn, have made the farmer desirous of the extra three or four rows of corn that might be gained by removal of the hedge row. The economics involved is definitely questionable and bulletins regarding this are available from the Game Commission. However, Mr. Damon and his associates are working on all types of new cover plantings which might be more acceptable to the farmer. Mr. Damon's research studies on quail have furnished the Commission with rather definite formulas for the production of quail, formulas which cannot possibly be followed without the maintenance of present quail cover and the addition of many new areas of good quail cover development on farm areas, especially in southeastern Nebraska. Mr. Damon's activities are at present being generalized to cover several different types of game birds and game animals. He will, in the future, act as assistant to Mr. Vance, Supervisor of Game, in the many studies pertinent to sound farm management in conjunction with sound game management. This activity will be crystalized at first on some of the Commission's areas where farm areas are involved in the Commission's holdings in which cases Mr. Damon can inaugurate the correct types of farm management which are correlated with new ideas of wildlife management. Such areas serve not only as experimental plots but as demonstration areas for the visiting conservation groups and farmers who are interested in maintaining a modern, financially stable farm and at the same time keeping a maximum amount of wildlife on their area. Mr. Damon, being a farm product, as are many of the Commission biologists, will be in an admirable position to speak the farmer's language in inaugurating these new wildlife procedures.

Habitat Development

The Nebraska Game Commission, through experience and study, is cognizant of the fact that merely stocking a given area with additional birds each year will not necessarily guarantee more birds for the hunter when the hunting season arrives. The one all important factor, namely, habitat, is to be considered. Birds cannot develop and increase their range without food and cover. The Commission has, therefore, appointed Mr. James H. Ager as superintendent and Mr. Wade Hamor, biologist, as his assistant.

Mr. Ager has under his direction six crews completely equipped with trucks, tractors and tree planters and is working in over one-third of the State, chiefly the eastern and southern portion, planting cover and food producing shrubs on eroded farm areas. These individual areas are chosen by the Soil Conservation Service and the Game Department on the farms of cooperating farmers who are willing to sign an agreement that they will leave the planted area as developed for a period of ten years. The areas chosen are usually poor land or eroded land and usually small in size. Without charge this division cultivates the areas to be planted, completely fences it and plants the entire area with beneficial cover and food plantings.

The newer plantings are being developed, in part, with a relatively new plant to be used on a large scale in Nebraska, known as Rosa Multiflora, which will not only make a hog-tight fence, but produce fine winter cover for birds.

Further information may be obtained by requesting the Department bulletin on this plant, or by contacting your local Soil Conservation Service office who will appraise your potential planting area, if in a county open to such planting the year in which you apply.

Crew foremen under Mr. Ager are: Ira Glasser, Roy Godwin, Elwin Hall, Calvin Sampson, Charles Stenstrom, and Jack Stuart.

Fur Resources Investigation

Few people realize that Nebraska has an annual income of over a million dollars from its fur resources alone. Dr. Edson Fichter is in charge of the Commission's fur investigations. As a trained mammologist and field biologist, Dr. Fichter and his assistants have been making detailed studies of all of the fur bearers to a certain extent, chiefly concentrating their activities upon the beaver and the muskrat.

In these studies much necessary information must be obtained on populations of each kind of fur bearer in any given area, and any increase or decrease involved, the best pelting periods for each kind of fur bearer in any given area, the number of trappers in relation to the species to be trapped, and suggestions for improved pelting procedure for the benefit of the younger trappers.

Dr. Fichter is the co-author of a recent publication by the Commission "Nebraska Trappers' Guide," which explains many of the techniques involved and the correct trapping and pelting of Nebraska fur bearers.

In addition to the analysis of the activities of the fur bearers themselves in the field, Dr. Fichter is in charge of a modern scientific laboratory developed by the Commission, in Lincoln, for the study of food habits of all types of birds and animals. The laboratory is at present being used chiefly for a coyote food habit study in order to determine just how detrimental or beneficial the coyote is in relation to Nebraska wildlife and farm produce.

Mr. Lloyd Vance, of the Game Division, and Dr. Fichter have developed a very interesting study regarding the place of the various predators and their relations to wildlife and the farm. This will involve studies on the coyote, the fox, the crow and some of the lesser known predators. In order to put this into effect, the Commission transferred one of its conservation officers, Mr. Harold Miner, with his assistant, Mr. Dale Jones, who have been equipped with jeep, rifles and the necessary equipment and are working in given areas of supposedly high coyote depredation. Their studies and the kills made are carried on in direct coordination with the food habits laboratory. It is anticipated that their activities will increase as additional information becomes available from these studies.

Duck Investigation

Although the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is actually responsible for all migratory waterfowl, and although this Service sets the migratory waterfowl seasons, it is not able to adequately carry on migratory waterfowl studies in all states. The Game Commission, therefore, takes an active part through its field biologist, Mr. John Wampole, in keeping a watchful eye on migratory waterfowl history in Nebraska.

This activity is of such recent vintage that few recommendations are available at present. However, Mr. Wampole's activities involve answers to such questions as (1) What are the migratory flight lines through Nebraska, do they differ?, (2) What are the prevalent species of ducks in Nebraska?, (3) What is Nebraska's breeding population?, (4) What is the nesting success of such populations?, (5) What is the wintering population of migratory waterfowl in Nebraska?, (6) Where duck flight lines continue from Nebraska and many other questions pertinent to the all too rapidly diminishing waterfowl.

Setting seasons for migratory waterfowl is indeed a difficult procedure for the Commission due to the fact that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service only gives the Commission a choice of a very few dates for opening of the season, the length of which and bag limits of which are set by the Washington agency. Nebraska, being a long state, takes in not only several different flight lines but early shooting in the north and east and late shooting in the west, making some of the shorter seasons inadequate to care for the needs of all portions. The Commission then has to try and choose a date giving all portions some shooting on an equal basis.

See Nebraska First

THE LIFE OF A GAME COMMISSIONER