Working Together

To the Sportsmen of Nebraska

My dear Friends:

The problems which confront the sportsmen of Nebraska are the same problems which face the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. We on the commission are interested in your welfare. Our job is to teach the theme of conservation, and to see to it that you and your children and your children's children shall have as much good hunting and fishing as can be provided with the funds and facilities available.

The likelihood of success in our efforts will be greatly increased if we recognize our common interests and if we understand our mutual problems and work together in these endeavors.

One of the most heated topics of discussion in recent months among sportsmen has been the marked decline in our pheasant population. We don't know and biologists can't tell us exactly what has caused the decline. We do know that there are natural controls over which we have no power of regulation, such as weather and disease. Then there are predators which presently are large in number and therefore unusually damaging. The predators operate most effectively when habitat is lacking. We are convinced that over-shooting (of roosters) has little, if anything, to do with the present decline. However, a major contributing cause, and one about which we can do something, is the lack of habitat. In recent years farm prices have been high and as a result farming in Nebraska has been increasingly intensive. Where farming is intensive with no thought of the survival of our game birds, food and cover are non-existent. Without food and cover there will be no pheasants.

What can we do about it? We can do nothing about the weather and little about disease. Restocking may help, but it is not the answer. It is very expensive and rather ineffective. We can lessen the loss by predation by lowering of the population of skunks, raccoon, etc. We can approach the "more cover" problem intelligently by developing the proper relationship between the farmer and the hunter. Let us, as hunters, respect the farmer's property. Let us never presume to hunt his fields without his permission. Let us not be careless of his stock, his crops, or his gates. Let us offer him some of the game that he has fed and we have shot. Let us make him glad to have the hunter's car drive into his yard. When he is won over and is our friend, let us teach him the importance of providing cover for game birds. Let us make him proud to have his farm known as a good hunting spot.

If the sportsmen of Nebraska can succeed in making friends of the farmers and then can sell their farmer friends on the importance of re-establishing and maintaining habitat areas, we will have taken a big step toward re-building the pheasant population in Nebraska. With the active cooperation of you sportsmen and with the help of your farmer friends, the commission will be able to offer improved hunting conditions to those who get a kick out of pursuing the elusive and wiley ring-neck.

Thanks for helping us to be of service to you. Cordially yours,

W. O. Baldwin Member of Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission

JANUARY 15, 1954, Commissioner Jack Lowe of Sidney completed his five-year term of office as a member of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. Mr. Lowe has served as a Commission member since 1949, and as chairman of the Commission in 1953.

Mr. Lowe has taken active interest in the development of the Department during his term of office, and under his chairmanship many refinements of the Department's activities were accomplished. During Mr. Lowe's tenure, the Commission has accomplished the completion of many new projects. A few of these projects include the purchase and partial construction of Grove Lake, the development of the Sacramento Shooting Grounds, the purchase of the Memphis Shooting Grounds, project assistance on Carter Lake, a cooperative operational plan for the recreational management of Reclamation Bureau Reservoirs, a continuing Hungarian Partridge trapping and stocking program, an increase in conservation officer districts, development of a machine bookkeeping system, the first open antelope season in Nebraska and many other projects.

Mr. Lowe is Mayor of Sidney and editor of the Sidney Telegraph. Mr. Lowe has assured all those with whom he has worked on conservation projects of the continuance of his earnest endeavors to cooperate progressively with all conservation interest in the State for the benefit of "OUTDOOR NEBRASKA."

CLUBS SUBSCRIBING 100% TO OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 1. Antelope Sportsmen's Club 2. Cedar Valley Sportsmen's Club 3. Cheyenne County Wildlife Club 4. Dalton Sportsman Club 5. Columbus Izaak Walton League 6. Kimball County Wildlife Club 7. Page-Inman Rod & Reel Club 8. Plainview Izaak Walton League 9. South Central Nebraska Sportsmen's Club 10. Webster County Wildlife Association 11. Chimney Rock Gun & Rod Club 12. Sandhills Rod & Gun Club 13. Wakefield Gun Club 14. Wisner Izaak Walton League 15. West Nebraskan Sportsmen's Association 16. Four Corners Rod & Gun Club 17. Omaha Fish & Wildlife Club NEBRASKA WILDLIFE CLUBS REPORTS

"OUTDOOR NEBRASKA" is proud of the fine cooperation of the constructive wildlife clubs in Nebraska and provides this section for any club activities, pictures or reports as space permits.

Lebanon Gun and Wildlife Club

The Lebanon Club sponsors a "March of Dimes Benefit Shoot" each year. Last year the club turned in $700.00 on this project. Other shoots include April 11, May 23 and September 12. The club membership is 25.

Ashland Gun Club

This club of 59 members reports a successful fish feed February 25 and trophy shoots scheduled for April 4, May 2 and June 6. This club also reports a very successful "beaver feed" to promote funds for "Ducks Unlimited."

Roberts Golden Guernsey Gun Club of Elkhorn

This club has scheduled an Eastern Nebraska League Trap Shoot June 6, a tentative Nebraska State Skeet Shoot June 26-27 and another Eastern League Shoot August 15. This club maintains an approximate membership.

Platte Valley Pointer & Setter Assn.

This club is holding its annual field trial at Grand Island, April 10 and 11, five miles south of Webb Livestock Commission Co.

South Central Sportsman Club

One hundred and forty-seven family members are planning a summer long fishing contest for the young people at Heartwell lake near Hastings. The youngster catching the largest fish each week will receive a fishing rod.

Ravenna Izaak Walton League

After April they will hold all meetings at St. Michael at Ray Johnson's big barn. This club is still distributing its flushing bar plans and is continuing to make these flushing bars developed by Bud Kemptar, club president. Several habitat plantings are being made by this club and one of the lady members, Mrs. Fred Sielaff, is building a small park for song birds on her area. The club membership is 99.

Fremont Boating Club

This club is planning run-about races each month to which anyone is eligible. This club has just completed construction on a new concrete slab for launching boats. The club's membership is 33.

Chimney Rock Gun Club

The membership is 71. This club meets the first Wednesday of each month, and June 1 will celebrate Jessie Fowler day by taking all the boys and girls who wish to

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Everywhere I wonder

SOMEONE dreamed up a melody and called it "Everywhere I Wander." It's a nice tune but a nicer title. To me personally, it represents the proper basic philosophical approach for you who are still endowed with pioneer spirit of our fathers and grandfathers, who followed the wagon trails to the Nebraska Territory. The fact is that everywhere you wander—yes, everywhere you roam in outdoor Nebraska—there are treasure coves of scenic beauty that will cause you to wonder why you never "treasure hunted" in Nebraska before.

Even the golden doubloons of the romantic hunts for treasure by the pirates of old can, in effect, be yours as substantial amounts of vacation money saved by a week or two enjoyed in Nebraska compared to vacation expenses elsewhere. In addition, the esthetic treasures you discover will be garnished by the native pride that will be yours in the realization that it is all to be found in your own Nebraska.

The most rugged nomad of the prairie will not attempt enthusiasm for "treasure hunting" in Nebraska during late July or August. It's just plain too hot—but the long spring and fall of this area provides many months of unquestionably perfect vacation weather.

The writer remembers one letter from a kind but irritated lady who followed the suggestion of seeing Nebraska first only to find some of the places she hoped to see were not marked by conspicuous signs on hardsurfaced highways leading directly to such areas. It is true that while a fair proportion of Nebraska's scenic areas can be reached without effort, there are many more such areas that are not on the major highways of the State or marked with conspicuous signs.

It is most regrettable that all of us, including local chambers of commerce and far-sighted citizens, have not seized the opportunity to point-up these areas and work toward the availability of such areas for the tourist. Without doubt, a part of this failure is due to the fact that those living in or near such a scenic area fail to realize how attractive such areas are to visitors.

In some ways the neglect in advertising such areas, while an inconvenience, is actually the principal reason for some of our "treasure coves" being so very beautiful, and their naturalness is due to their virgin freedom from the ugly scars of commercialized civilization.

It is this very absence of signs and maps that lends romance and adventure to "treasure hunting in Nebraska." The discovery of an unusually beautiful pine scented canyon, where still may remain the old ruts of the Oregon Trail or perhaps a few scattered arrowheads or pieces of pottery forgotten by the years, are experiences that can never be dwarfed by any guide tour in the more commercialized tourist areas of our country.

It matters not whether your desires are directed toward the more luxurious tourist accommodations or perhaps the more primitive "rough-it" type of vacation. Your desires will be granted in most of our Nebraska towns and cities. In either case, yours will be the most pleasant mernories of a week or two just "wandering" about in outdoor Nebraska.

Just forget, if you will, the planned necessity of being a certain place at a certain time—take your time—enjoy yourself. Forget about visiting cousin what's-her-name or a business call on the way. Instead, approach our little tour with a relaxed basic philosophy exemplifying a pio 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   neer interest in new faces and particularly new places. You and Mom and the kids will discover hidden vacation treasures "everywhere you wander" in outdoor Nebraska.

We would that space might grant us the pleasure of describing in rambling detail a trip such as we propose. But, unfortunately, space is not so generous. We would like to bring to you the spirit of eastern Nebraska as we would tramp together along the high Missouri River bluffs. We would boat and fish together on the broad waters of central and southern Nebraska; and together seek the highest lookout points in the heart of western Nebraska's most dense Pine Ridge. There we would watch the lazy porcupine or perhaps a wary wildcat in his native haunts. Perhaps we would lose ourselves in the heart of the primitive but beautiful sandhill lakes region with its cornucopia of interesting bird and animal life which would tax the abilities of the average nature lover's knowledge.

Instead, we must be content to try to motivate you to our spirit of adventure by first obtaining all the information possible in advance and then start out with the idea of asking and looking along the by-ways for our hidden treasure coves. Maps of highways and lists of parks and recreation grounds are always available from state agencies, and all cities and most towns have city parks well worth seeing, but the spots we must visit are not listed and can be found only by looking.

Just one friendly tip in behalf of those who own the land where such areas abound. If the spot you find teases you into enjoying a long hike, a picnic or a bit of fishing; just remember you are going on the land of someone else. You will find almost all such folks in Nebraska most gracious hosts if you but ask permission first. When you do obtain such permission, insure a welcome for the next "treasure hunter" by leaving the area as beautiful as you found it. Most keep out signs and trespass fees are caused by visitors who just forgot to remember the golden rule.

We trust local chambers of commerce will not feel neglected if we just mention a few of the types of places we have in mind. Such interesting spots are to be found in every locality and if this article serves only to cause local communities to advertise theirs, it will be worthwhile.

City parks and beautiful buildings abound in eastern areas, but less familiar perhaps are the Missouri River bluffs which abound with unusual song birds, particularly during the spring migration. This is also the home of the little-known flying squirrel, the red fox and the lowly ground hog. The natural limestone caves such as Indian cave and many others with many rock quarries and small timber mills compete for interest with the river itself and its large barges and smaller craft.

These bluffs from Falls City, Brownville, Rulo and Nebraska City all have interesting river roads. The same is true of ^the river road from Louisville to the Gretna Fish Hatchery. Abandoned rock quarries in the Lpuisville Meadow area have caves along the bluffs where the temperature stays at 50° all year.

As far west as Steele City and Fairbury, beautiful rock outcroppings frame deep canyons tempting the most reticent camera. Historians will find early Nebraska represented throughout this area with markers, log cabins and memorials from the first capital at Brownville; the old coal mine at Peru; to John Brown's cave, and Arbor Lodge at Nebraska City to the National Homestead monument at Beatrice. This list could go on indefinitely.

As we drift west, we meet a maze of reservoirs from Harlan County reservoir at Republican City, Alma and Orleans, to Medicine Creek at Cambridge, Swanson at Trenton and Enders—all on the Republican and Frenchman rivers. Beginning with Johnson between Elwood and Lexington, fourteen major reservoirs are available from Cozad, Willow Island, Gothenburg, Brady, Maxwell, North Platte, Hershey, Sutherland and finally the big lake McConaughy at Ogallala. Again we find this area replete with points of historic interest and Indian lore.

Strange enormous rock formations greet us as we leave the reservoir chain and travel west. The first is the famous landmark, Chimney Rock on Highway 20, two and a half miles southeast of South Bayard. Courthouse and Jail rocks follow in close order on Highway 88, six miles south of Bridgeport; and Point of Rocks, three miles west of Potter on Highway 30, are all musts at this point in our travels.

SPRING ISSUE 5  

In the Gering-Scottsbluff area, Wildcat Hills Big Game Refuge on Highway 29, eight miles south of Gering, is equal to a scenic drive most anywhere. Scottsbluff National Monument is complete with a beautiful Spanish Mission type museum filled with the story of early Nebraska. From this museum a hard-surfaced road climbs its high and winding way through a series of tunnels to a lookout point from which can be seen the broad expanse of the flat but fertile Platte Valley and on a clear day, Laramie Peak is easily seen from this famous lookout. This National Monument on Highway 26, three miles west of Gering, is flanked by the Oregon Trail as it winds through Mitchell Pass and is a must for all tourists. The highest point in Nebraska is above Bull Canyon, twelve miles southwest of Harrisburg with an altitude of 5,300 feet.

To the north of the area just suggested, the world famous fossil beds near the Niobrara River just east of Agate on Highway 29 will be of interest to the ardent explorer, and the comparison of this wide open gently rolling prairie country with its cattle and antelope herds will be a contrast to the area we just left behind and the scenic pleasures ahead.

Just north of Harrison, the rolling prairie rolls right into Nebraska's greatest treasure cove of beauty—the Pine Ridge and adjacent Nebraska bad lands area. Even the names of some of these little known areas are stimulants to the curious. Pants Butte and Sow Belly Canyon are both located without effort by following four miles east on Highway 20 from Harrison, then four miles north, and follow the first road to the left and on up Sow Belly Canyon and Pants Butte road. Monroe Canyon is in the same area following the State aid road north from Main street in Harrison, seven miles.

For a complete change in scenery in the same area, follow Highway 2 for two miles north of Orella and then turn right on the county road which will lead you to Sugar Loaf and the Agate Beds. To see Nebraska's Bad Lands, unique in their strange formations and rich with fossil deposits, follow Highway 2 northwest of Crawford, turning west on the county road about a mile south of Orella, and from there on just wander around enjoying the unique formations. The so-called Toad-Stool park is in this immediate area, but is best located by local permission and direction. Then continue west on the county road to the junction with the north-south road and turn north to Montrose, at which location is the site of two encounters between the settlers and the Indians. One monument to these battles is located just east of Montrose marking the site of the Buffalo Bill Cody and Sioux Chief Yellow Hand fight. North of this location, a monument on a near-by hill marks the site of the battle of several days duration between cavalry troops and the Sioux.

While in the Crawford area, don't miss Fort Robinson on Highway 20 west of Crawford. On this same highway, you will also drive through Smiley Canyon.

On east again, the Pine Ridge eventually gives way to the famous sandhills in the Valentine area. South of Valentine, the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Snake River Falls, and a myriad of sandhill lakes make looking and fishing profitable endeavors. East of Valentine, the Fort Niobrara Wildlife Reserve exhibits some of the largest buffalo and longhorn cattle herds in this country.

It is suggested that some of these trips should be taken only after checking with the Valentine Chamber of 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   Commerce and a visit to a gas station. Another "pioneer" trip is along the Niobrara about 25 miles to Smith Falls and Rock Falls. From the town of Sparks south on the country road parallelling the river to Meadville, many more stops will be made to photograph several falls. Again this portion of the trip is mentioned only for the true "wanderer" who is not too upset by sandhill roads and a temporary feeling of being a "bit lost." Plenty of time, a full tank of gas and a love for natural beauty will reward the "wanderer" many fold in this area.

The Long Pine area on our return is replete with scenery and many unusual flowing wells, clear streams and lakes, as is true of the Ainsworth-Atkinson area. If you prefer returning south, Halsey Forest is well worth a few hours looking, including a climb to the top of the Fire Tower.

If you prefer the continuation of your trip along the northern border of the State, the new impoundments being developed along the Missouri River will be of interest and again the typical river scenery will pay dividends along any river road.

Actually there are so many historic, geologic and natural scenic areas that should be mentioned, it seems almost unfair to close this brief glimpse of Nebraska without mentioning them. However, this is not supposed to be a travel guide or tourists' map. The sole purpose of this article is to attempt to arouse your curiosity to the point that you will seek further, more complete information from the State Highway Department, the State Department of Resources, the State Historical Society, the Game Commission and the local chambers of commerce.

No matter what highway, town, or portion of the State, if you but take the time to "read-up" on your State first and follow this reading with a leisurely trip, you will be proud of Nebraska and its treasure coves "Everywhere You Wander."

Recipe for a Vacation

A large portion of enthusiasm mixed with a pinch of affection for Nebraska. Sift out about half of the usual amount of luggage and refrain from mixing in any business calls or visits with relatives.

Thoroughly blend with the entire family's cooperation, a preliminary study of early Nebraska history. Omitting the usual timetable, add in large quantities the ingredients of Nebraska's treasure coves as you find them. Then add a generous supply of common sense in the use of matches and the care of fires.

Season all well with a respect for other people's property. Sweeten with liberal quantities of the milk of human kindness and take in large quantities for ten days to two weeks each spring or fall.

SPRING ISSUE 7

GROVE LAKE DEVELOPMENT Nebraska's First Dingell-Johnson Project

Jack Strain Eugue Baker

The summer of 1954 will see the completion of Grove Lake in Antelope County, the latest addition of prime fishing water to the Nebraska sport fishing scene. The lake, to be located about three miles northeast of Royal, takes its name from Philo Grove, a long time area resident and former owner of part of the land included in the purchase.

The Commission has long recognized the dearth of fishing sites in the eastern end of Nebraska, the population center of the state, and some time ago launched a program of repair of existing sites, land acquisition, and cooperative effort with the Federal Government to partially correct the situation.

Memphis and Alexandria lakes were extensively repaired and renovated, and additional land was acquired at Fremont Lakes, adding to the existing lakes at Verdon, Louisville and Dead Timber near Scribner. The Commission has worked with the Corps of Engineers on the proposed Salt-Wahoo project and the Gavins Point reservoir area, both of which are expected to provide additional fishing in eastern Nebraska.

Reconnaissance of numerous sites was made in 1951, 1952 and 1953 in northeast and southeast Nebraska for a lake to be developed by the Commission. The major problems encountered were limited permanent water supplies and siltation due to unprotected watersheds.

The best lake site located was on the headwaters of Verdigre Creek in Antelope County, and further surveys were made to determine the water supply, possible public use, and soil erosion. The Commission and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid Inspectors were favorably impressed, as the creek flowed a normal rate of 44 second feet at the potential lake site and the drainage area of 7,360 acres was almost entirely made up of pasture and woodland.

After final approval of the site by the Commission and the Federal Aid Division, purchase of 426 acres was completed in January of 1952 at a total cost of $42,600.00. Seventy-five per cent of this was reimbursable from the Federal Government under the Dingell-Johnson Act which establishes a fund from the excise tax on fishing equipment and supplies which is allotted to the various states on the basis of population and size. In order to take advantage of these funds, the state must be able to pay out the entire purchase price from the proceeds of the sale of hunting and fishing permits and in turn is reimbursed 75% of the total.

8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA  

After the land acquisition, a contract was awarded a firm of consultant engineers for the purpose of topographical surveys, water flowage and soil studies, design of the dam and spillway structures and final plans and specifications for construction. The dam was designed as an earth fill of approximately 75,000 cubic yards and also serves as the bed for a county road which it was necessary to relocate.

Drainage structures include a 36 inch tube with a concrete control tower which will enable the Department tc completely drain the lake if it becomes necessary to do so. Normal flow of the creek will be through a concrete chute 280 feet long, 30 feet wide and 6 feet 10 inches high. A stilling basin is installed below the chute to retard the water after leaving the chute and to prevent erosion.

The lake will be all spring fed, have a maximum depth of 28 feet at the dam, a water surface of approximately 65 acres, and be about three quarters of a mile in length.

Clearing of the entire area below the water line was accomplished by the Commission's Construction Crew. Much of the timber and brush was utilized in the construction of fish attractors which are anchored securely in strategic spots below the water line along the lake shore. The puropse of these attractors is to provide spawning areas and cover for fish and to induce better fishing in general.

The construction contract was awarded in July of 1953. Low bid on the specifications was $88,408.64 which added to the land acquisition and costs of surveys, plans and specifications, clearing and supervision brought the total cost price to $145,191.66.

In the fall of 1953, the Commission requested the aid of the National Park Service in laying out public use areas at the lake site. The Recreation Planning Division of this agency is furnishing the services of recreational planners and landscape architects to draw up a recreation plan at no cost to the Commission.

Preliminary research indicates that there will probably be one major public use area on the west side of the lake to include a boat ramp and concession site with possibly one or two other water access sites. It is contemplated that a concession will be let for the area which will include the rental of boats and the sale of baits, refreshments, fishing supplies, and similar items.

In view of the relatively small area involved, it will not be practicable to let cabin sites such as those available on some of the larger federal impoundments throughout the state. Although this comes as a blow to many people who have hoped to build a private cabin on the lake, it is imperative that the lake be managed in the best interests of the most people, and it is felt that private development would not best serve these interests.

The Commission has very high hopes for Grove Lake. The steady supply of cool spring water keeps the lake at an even level and provides excellent fishing and boating. It is expected that initial fish stocking will be primarily cold water species with trout predominating. Verdigre Creek has long been a favorite trout stream for eastern fishermen, and stream fishing is expected to continue in popularity after the lake has been completed.

SPRING ISSUE 9

WHATS MY NAME

By Elmer Carlson

IF you can't guess the fish from the following descriptions, compare the numbered descriptions with the numbers on the named pictures.

1. I am sometimes called a loch leven. My body color is usually olive to greenish-brown with "polka dots" of black and reddish-orange spots.

I prefer about the same environment as the rainbow trout; cold, clear streams. The largest one of us taken in Nebraska weighed 11 lb. 4 oz. He was caught in Otter Creek. This creek flows into Lake McConaughy. If you haven't determined my name yet, I'll tell you that I'm named because of my color and I am a relative of the salmon, rainbow trout and brook trout.

2. Down through the years I've come to acquire much fame as a sport fish and I'm widely known for my eating qualities. I'm a native of cold clear mountain streams but I can also thrive in deep lakes and reservoirs such as Lake McConaughy.

I have a pink stripe along my body and spots on my tail.

We don't do such a good job of reproduction in Nebraska, therefore, the Rock Creek hatchery of Parks and the Benkelman hatchery help out in getting us through the babyhood stages.

Some of these fishermen are clever. If they catch one of us, they open the stomach to determine what we've been eating. Then they fish with some of these artificial flies which resemble our food. In fact some fishermen even make studies of what we'll be eating at which time of day. Understand now what they mean by the expression "poor fish"?

In the spring they use worms and salmon eggs to catch us.

One of our elders broke the state record last year. She was caught in Lake McConaughy and weighed 12 lbs. 4 oz. A F-5 black and white flatfish was the cause of her downfall.

3. I'm really quite a beautiful fish as I come from the water. I'm not as plentiful as the rainbow or brown trout partly because most Nebraska waters are too warm for me. I prefer my home to have a temperature of sixty degrees or less. Bugs, beetles and immature water insects are among my most preferred foods.

Here is one final hint. I am a relative of the rainbow and brown trout and can be distinguished from them by the "worm track" markings all over my back.

4. I haven't any scales but I do have whiskers. Quite often my body is covered with a number of black spots. I have a deeply forked tail and 24 to 29 rays in my anal fin. They call me a scavenger just because I eat—well, almost anything. One of us weighing 31 lb. 12 oz. was caught in Lake Erickson.

5. I'm blue but not because nature didn't supply me with scales. I have no scales and am usually silvery-blue in color. I have whiskers (more properly called barbels) around my mouth. My tail is forked and I have thirty to thirty five anal fin rays.

I usually prefer the larger rivers of eastern Nebraska and am not too particular in my food habits. I'm what they call a bottom-feeder and I would rather be on a feeding spree at night than in the daytime.

The Game Commission has a record that one of my ancestors was caught in the Loup Public-Power canal in 1941 who weighed 47 pounds, 6 ounces.

6.I have a flattened head and am scaleless. I have whiskers on my chin and my tail is not deeply forked. My color varies from yellow to dark brown with dark brownish mottlings. One of my great uncles who weighed 46 pounds was fooled into getting caught out of the Loup River Public Power canal near Columbus.

7.Ever hear of a horned pout? That's me. If you're not careful in the way you handle me, I'll really give you a sting. I have whiskers. No, I don't use them to sting. I use them to hunt food on the bottom of the streams. You see, I have taste buds on my whiskers which help me locate my food.

Here in Nebraska I usually reach a length of eleven inches. My relatives in the sandhills grow somewhat larger. The fish biologists say we become a nuisance in some eastern Nebraska farm ponds because we literally "eat ourselves out of house and home." Can we help it if we have such a high rate of reproduction? Conditions are fine for our spawning, hatching and growth of young. But when we reach five or six inches we run low on food. Do you think some of us starve to death and others grow large? No sir! We just quit growing or grow very slowly. Then they say we're stunted. Is that our fault? I don't think so.

I eat a great variety of food; chicken entrails, worms and minnows among other things. Sometimes I even relish seeds from the elm trees, marshmallows, and even soap. You'll find that we are residents of a great number of Nebraska waters.

8. I am more widely distributed in Nebraska than most other game fish. You'll find me in the relatively 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   clear streams and backwaters, sandhill lakes, reservoirs, sandpits and farm ponds.

I'm known as quite a gamey warm water fish. There is a dusky band running laterally along my sides.

I strike on plugs, bugs, poppers, bait or flies. Of course what I take at any certain time is my own prerogative.

The largest of us taken according to official records was 9 pounds, 3 ounces. He was taken from the Fremont sandpit lakes.

If you haven't guessed me yet, this final clue should solve the riddle. I have a big mouth and my name is derived from this mouth.

9.I exist in Nebraska but there are few streams that have the necessary food and cold water I need. I am much more a stream fish than the largemouth bass (to whom I'm closely related).

I have dark vertical mottlings on my back while the largemouth has the dark lateral line along his sides.

Lengths of fifteen to seventeen inches are considered quite good for us.

One final clue: My name is just the opposite of that of my relative, the largemouth bass.

10. In the Southland we are referred to as "bream." I'm common throughout Nebraska in the relatively clear bodies of water. We reach a length of eight inches or more in the sandhill lakes. However, in other parts of the state we seldom exceed a length of six inches.

I may have a tiny mouth but I'll certainly go after a fly or live bait in a big way.

For sometime I have been known as a fish which is stocked with bass in farm ponds.

A 2 pound, 8 ounce individual was taken from the Monroe Public Power canal in 1949. This is the state record.

11. I'm a deep thin-bodied fish, sil very in color with dusky vertical bands across my back. A near relative of mine is also described in this article. I'm found quite generally throughout the state in lakes, river backwaters, and reservoirs.

Usually I am found in more turbid waters than my near relative. Some of our similarities are that we also travel in schools, eat tiny water animals when we're small and prefer small fish as our staple food item after we've become adults.

This characteristic distinguishes me from my relative. I have only six spines on my back and he has seven or eight.

12.I'm a deep thin-bodied fish and grow to a length of twelve inches. I've been known as the "calico bass." My color is silvery with dark spots.

I feed on the tiny water animals early in life. Later I find minnows much to my liking. In fact a live minnow fished without a sinker on about six feet of leader SPRING ISSUE 11   is usually deadly for me if I'm in the vicinity.

We travel in schools so you may catch your limit if, after you get one of us, you keep fishing in the same area.

I prefer cleaner water than a very close relative of mine who has the same last name.

I have seven or eight spines on my dorsal fin while my near relative described in this article has only six spines.

13. I'm a resident of the sand pits, sandhill lakes, reservoirs and also small bodies of water.

We are interesting little fellows, related to the bluegills but usually smaller in size. You can quite easily observe us spawning in late May and June. We lay our eggs in depressions fanned out of a sandy or gravelly pond bottom. The water where we nest is usually no deeper than two feet.

I have a larger mouth than the bluegill and many times I make an angler disgusted when he is fishing for another kind of fish. I sneak up to take his bait and get caught in the attempt. I particularly relish a little grasshopper or piece of worm. They sometimes fool me with artificial flies.

You might say I'm the young fisherman's fish.

14. Another name given to me is sheepshead. I'm a resident of the lakes and rivers of eastern Nebraska. We sometimes attain a weight of fifteen pounds or more. The largest of us recorded from your state is a 17 pound, 1 ounce fish who was taken from Carter Lake at Omaha.

Some baits I find difficult to resist are crayfish, worms and minnows.

I belong to a somewhat unusual family. Some members of my group have been heard giving peculiar grunting, drumming or croaking sounds. It is from such happenings that I have received my name.

15. Howdy! I'm relatively a newcomer to Nebraska but I and my kind are certainly making ourselves at home.

A small number of my ancestors were put in the large reservoirs along the Platte River. That was just the environment we needed. We've been reproducing satisfactorily and large numbers of our young have survived. We are fisheaters and the fishermen use this knowledge to their advantage by enticing us with minnows. We're also suckers for a pork rind and spinner combination.

If you've never fished for me, you will really be surprised the first time I hit your lure or bait because I carry a lot of punch for my size. We generally grow to a length of twelve to fourteen inches. However, one of us was taken from Lake McConaughy who weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces. The fisheries research section of the Game Commission determined his age to be four years and that he 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   had grown an average of one pound per year. He was an old fish because we live only about five years at the most.

We're related to a salt-water fish called the striped bass which furnishes much sport along the coasts.

We travel in schools so if you catch one of us, keep fishing in the same area and chances are that you'll have your limit before long. Only remember that they have a bag limit of ten on us this year.

16. You will not find me in great numbers in Nebraska because I need rocky streams and lakes for my home as does the smallmouth bass. We have been stocked in some of the Nebraska streams.

My red eyes and the eleven spines on my back pretty much distinguish me from other fish. I reach a length of seven to eight inches.

This is the final clue. I'm named because of the rocky conditions which I prefer.

I have definite black spots on my spiny dorsal fin while the walleye doesn't. I have no black blotch at the base of my spiny dorsal fin but the walleye does. My body has quite definite dark blotches and mottlings.

We make our homes in the relatively clean rivers. The Niobrara River in northeastern Nebraska is one much to our liking.

17. I belong to the same family as the walleye and sauger. My kind is found in good numbers in the lakes and reservoirs throughout Nebraska. We're usually found feeding in schools among submerged trees and brush.

We like minnows. In fact they are one of the major baits used to catch us. Worms are also good bait.

We have really been able to reproduce in some of the sandhill lakes. So much so that the State Game Commission has erased the bag limit on us in Cherry, Brown, Holt and Rock counties.

We grow to a length of about twelve inches if we have enough food and are one of the important kinds of fish you catch if you are an ice fisherman.

18. Many fishermen confuse me with the walleye. I'll admit, we look somewhat alike. We are quite closely related. However, I don't grow as large as the walleye. My maximum length is about eighteen inches.

19. Although people generally refer to me as a member of the pike family I really belong in the perch family.

I do have long sharp teeth such as a northern pike but I have both a spiny rayed fin and a soft rayed fin on my back while a northern has only a soft rayed fin.

I get my name from my eyes which look opaque. There is a black blotch at the base of my spiny dorsal fin.

Continued page 21 SPRING ISSUE 13

Wildlife IN ONE REEL

DISPLACED CARP FIND A HOME

By Dick H. Schaffer

EXACTLY one decade ago, an unprecedented stocking of an unglamorous fish in eastern Nebraska ignited a fuse which has since burned profusely in many parts of this midwestern state. This unpublicized stocking of a rough fish—considered by many as the most notorious fugitive of the water underworld—has provided fishing thrills previously reserved exclusively for celebrated game fish.

Nebraska has its seemingly endless chain of spacious reservoirs where large ravenous northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye reside in great numbers. It has its unique sand hill lakes where largemouth bass, crappie and bullheads flourish in such abundance that harvesting by seining is a necessity in many of them to assure natural growth and development. It has its rambling miles of rivers and streams—reputedly greater in total mileage than the flowing waters of any other state—where ponderous channel, blue and yellow catfish lurk in the depths.

But yet today, many of the state's previously neglected and frowned upon shallow lakes and bayous, muddy and murky and unfit for most aquatic life, produce some of Nebraska's most thrilling and successful piscatorial adventures. Fishermen now drive considerable distances to fish these particular waters.

This fish which has almost revolutionized fishing in some sections of the state is the prolific and misunderstood emigrant from Europe, one of the largest members of the minnow family—none other than the common carp which are today widely distributed throughout the United States. Originally introduced in Washington, D. C, in 1877, at which time they were glorified and permitted to multiply without retardation, but later upon which war was waged because of their adverse effect on other fish, these carp are again recipients of the respect and admiration of many Nebraska anglers, young and old alike. Their abundance, large size and proven willingness to do battle have rewarded them with a lofty rating among Nebraska's desired fish.

Not all, however, has always been smooth sailing for the confused carp, even in Nebraska. The state resounded with "get rid of the carp" sentiment back in the early 1900's. Carp were scorned and despised. Anglers "cussed and discussed" when they caught a common carp while fishing for a more desirable species. Not abetting their lagging popularity was the fact that few people realized carp were palatable when properly prepared.

16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA  

The prolificacy of carp—a 10 to 15-pound female is capable of depositing as many as one to two million eggs per year—further aggravated the situation inasmuch as they occupied precious space preferably desired for game fish. And—when abundant in such tremendous numbers and because of their particular fondness for tender roots and shoots of young aquatic plants—they rooted up and destroyed considerable vegetation, often rendering water turbid and making lake bottoms unfit for the feeding and spawning of other fish.

Carp meant competition for food as they consumed worms, insects, small crustaceans and crawfish. They did not, however, feed extensively on the spawn of game fish and consequently raise havoc with the game fish potential. This was a common misconception which unfortunately still exists in some states today. Carp do blunder occasionally upon a spawn but are primarily vegetarians.

Almost every lake, river and stream in Nebraska is inhabited by carp—and in most of them carp are unwelcome residents. Carp will continue to receive cold receptions in the better fishing waters. Two steps have been undertaken by the State Game Commission to reduce the carp menace, the first being the removal of thousands of carp by winter seining; the second, the alerting of anglers—through public relations—to the fact that carp are minnows and cautioning them to be careful in their selection of minnows for use in the good fishing areas. Many carp populations get their start in previously rough fish free waters by negligent fishermen who choose to release the minnows rather than take them home or give them to another angler.

The most successful of the two steps is the winter seining program. This, however, falls short of the desired goal inasmuch as it is almost impossible to remove all carp by seining. Carp are extremely wary and as a result are difficult to seine. When startled, they stick their snout into the mud bottom and oftentimes the seine passes harmlessly over them.

There are, however, a number of lakes in Nebraska in which the carp population is tremendous, but yet the seining crew makes no effort to remove them. Actually, additional carp are stocked so that the carp population becomes even greater. It is in these lakes and only these waters where carp are welcomed with open arms and are often the lone inhabitants.

Prior to 1943, thousands and thousands of pounds of carp taken during winter seining had been sold and others disposed of by either burying or giving away. The Game Commission was reluctant to waste the carp if there was any possible way for the sportsmen to benefit from them.

The Game department owns a number of sand pits near Fremont and another group of similar waters near Louisville, both towns of which are in eastern Nebraska. The two state lake groups are but an hour's drive from Omaha and Lincoln, the state's two largest cities. Nature has been unfair to Nebraska in that the good fishing waters are situated in the sparsely populated western and northern parts of the state. In the eastern portion of Nebraska, where the population is densest, there are few fishing waters, either good or bad.

Because of their location, the Fremont and Louisville areas serve as hosts to throngs of fishermen, far in excess of what the lakes could be expected to accommodate. Further harassing the situation is the presence of one shallow and muddy lake at both Fremont and Louisville. Because of the poor environmental conditions of the two lakes, it was considered a waste of effort to stock them with game fish.

In the spring of 1943, the Game Commission had a large surplus of carp. It decided to stock the select carp in the two lakes rather than leave them lay idle when there was such a demand for fishing opportunities in that part of the state. Today, 10 years later, these two lakes attract as many anglers as do any of the game fish lakes in the two state areas. The two lakes, because of their exclusive stocking of carp, were christened "Carp Only" lakes.

Anglers frequenting the "Carp Only" lakes hurriedly learned the advantages gained by fishing in them. One benefit was the greatly improved chance of catching a fish. Carp were extremely abundant as compared to game fish in the other lakes. As mentioned before, the two state lake groups are located near the centers of population and, consequently, are overfished. The game fish are generally caught just as quickly as they are stocked. Fishermen congregate near the fish truck and toss in their lines as soon as the last fish is released. This immediate catching of newly stocked fish is referred to by the Game department as its "put and take" program. Whereas it is SPRING ISSUE 17   an impossibility to propagate sufficient game fish to adult size for immediate taking by fishermen, it is relatively simple to provide more than enough carp to meet any demand.

"Carp Only" lake fishermen found carp considerably larger in size than the average game fish caught in other waters due to the fact that the Game department used only select carp for stocking. Very few carp weighed under one pound with the majority averaging two or three pounds each.

And—eagerness to wage battle was a carp characteristic which pleased the carp enthusiasts. Any angler tangling with a carp on a fly rod will testify that its bid for survival is ounce per ounce as savage as that of any of the reputable game fish. Imagine the battle that must have ensued when the present Nebraska record holder, using a 5-ounce split bamboo fly rod, tied into a 22-pounder. It took 30 minutes to land the 22-pounder which indicates the endurance and strength typical of carp. Not to be overlooked is the fact that carp are also perfect targets for still fishing.

Further enhancing the carp's attractiveness and appeal was the exchange of pet methods of preparing the flaky and firm flesh of carp and of ways to soften the multitude of bones. Carp can be prepared in a variety of different ways, including canning, with equally delicious results.

Soon after the original stocking of the Fremont and Louisville "Carp Only" lakes, the Game department received a letter from Humboldt, a southeastern Nebraska town, inquiring as to what could be done to improve its lake which was continually overrun with vegetation, making fishing almost an impossibility. The Game department advised Humboldt officials that the lake could be drained and the vegetation destroyed, but that the entire operation would have to be repeated in another one or two years as the vegetation would reoccur. It was obvious that this would be impractical because of the expense involved and loss of fishing when lake drained.

Told about the success of the "Carp Only" lakes, Humboldt officials chose to forget the lake draining and instead have it stocked with carp. This was done. The large stocking of carp, heavy vegetative feeders, soon eliminated much of the bothersome vegetation. Ample fishing space resulted and Humboldt sportsmen were again happy, catching carp regularly.

Word of the success of the "Carp Only" lakes spread and requests began pouring in for exclusively carp stockings. All met with similar success. One of the more recent additions to the "Carp Only" group was East Oak Creek lake in Lincoln. This lake's major use at one time was motor boating. The only fish inhabiting it were those which had entered through a small tube connecting the lake with West Oak Creek lake. The latter lake was stocked with game fish and it was a common sight to see cars parked bumper to bumper around the entirety of the lake shore. In complete contrast was the near absence of cars on the shoreline of the east lake.

The situation was somewhat similar to that at Fremont and Louisville. The west lake received fishing pressure much in excess of its potential. In an effort to disburse the fishermen and provide better conditions for all concerned, the local sportsmen clubs requested a carp stocking in the east lake. Today—when driving around the two lakes, a stranger would assume that fishing was identical in the neighboring waters as there are just as many fishermen fishing for carp as there are anglers competing for game fish.

Nebraska's "Carp Only" lakes will continue to increase in the state as long as there are waters unsuitable for game fish. But—that represents the extent of the carp potential. The Game department wants to and will stock carp in unfit waters, but in no others. It has notified all sportsmen clubs that carp stockings are restricted to those waters which do not drain into any game fish streams or lakes.

Displaced carp have found a home in certain Nebraska waters and will undoubtedly experience similar good fortune in other states as more and more people recognize and experience the endless pleasures and thrills derived from carp fishing.

18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

NEBRASKA'S PARKS WELCOME YOU

Elsewhere in this issue Nebraska vacationists are encouraged to "See Nebraska First." In so doing the vacationist is interested in places to stay on such a trip. In addition to the many fine hotels and motels well distributed over the State, the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission calls attention to three of its State Parks where most modern accommodations are available at most reasonable rates.

CHADRON STATE PARK

Chadron State Park, nine miles south of Chadron on State Highway No. 19, is one of the most attractive and notable places in Nebraska. It can be handily reached from State Highway No. 20 leading from the east and west and on Highway No. 19 connecting with Highway No. 2 from the south and east. The park's surface is rugged with deep ravines, high buttes and many acres of congested pine timber. Chadron creek, inhabited by rainbow and brown trout, runs throughout the northeast part of the park. Several miles of graded drives traverse the park. There are numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding.

The national band camp held here annually has received recognition as being one of the outstanding musical events in the nation. Tourists viewing the park, continually see stragglers of huge herds of Nebraska's mule deer which inhabit the pine ridge area of northwest Nebraska.

It is an entirely different type of park. The plains and sandhills country of Nebraska suddenly break into pinestudded bluffs of the beautiful pine ridge. Fifteen hundred acres of these pine covered bluffs have been set aside for the park. Overnight cabins and group camps are available to the public. Other attractions of the popular park are picnic grounds, swimming pool, playground equipment and outdoor auditorium.

Chadron Stale Park Cabin Rates

CABINS, COMPLETELY MODERN WITH TWO DOUBLE BEDS—One or two persons, $4 per day, $24 per week. Three to four persons, $5 per day, $30 per week.

CABINS, COMPLETELY MODERN WITH ONE DOUBLE BED—One or two persons, $2.50 per day, $12.50 per week.

All above cabins are equipped for light housekeeping including gas stoves, gas refrigerators, hot water heaters, gas heat, dishes, bedding, towels, cooking utensils and modern bath.

GROUP CAMP ACCOMMODATIONS—Up to 200 people. One hundred persons minimum. Cost $.50 per day, $2 per week per person. SEND REQUESTS FOR RESERVATIONS TO SUPERINTENDENT L. M. SNODGRASS, CHADRON STATE PARK, CHADRON, NEBRASKA.

NIOBRARA ISLAND STATE PARK Niobrara Island State Park Cabin Rates

Niobrara Island State Park, one mile west of Niobrara on State Highway No. 12 in Knox County, was settled in 1846 by the Mormons. Evidence of the three-quarter mile mill race built by them can still be seen. The park, covering about 800 acres, is a heavily wooded island in the mouth of the Niobrara river. A long, winding, clear-water lagoon runs through the center of the island, providing fishing and boating. A small golf course is adjacent to the lagoon.

CABINS, COMPETELY MODERN—Three rooms, one or two persons $4 per day, $24 per week. Large cabins at $5 per day, $30 per week. Cabins equipped with one double bed, two single beds, gas stoves, gas refrigerators, SPRING ISSUE 19  

gas heat, hot and cold water, showers, dishes, bedding, linen, and cooking utensils, lights and water.

LOG SHELTER CABIN, NOT MODERN—$3 per day, $15 per week.

GROUP CAMP ACCOMMODATIONS FOR 150 PEOPLE—Minimum group of 20. Minimum charge $5 day, $30 per week. Per person $.50 per day, $2 per week. Accommodations include mess hall, with gas stoves, tables, dishes, cooking utensils, water and lights.

SEND REQUESTS FOR RESERVATIONS TO SUPERINTENDENT PAUL MEYER, NIOBRARA ISLAND STATE PARK, NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA.

PONCA STATE PARK

Ponca State Park, four miles north of Ponca in Dixon county, is the most recent addition to the Nebraska Park chain. Located in the Ponca Indian country on the high bluffs overlooking the "Old Muddy," the park provides a diversity of recreation. Overnight cabins are nestled in the trees and far enough apart to provide privacy for all. Hiking trails are clearly marked and from one of the high lookouts, three states—Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota—can be seen.

Some of the features are scores of picnic sites, two stone shelters, fountains and fireplaces, three miles of drives, ten miles of footpaths and nature trails, rustic bridges, flowers in profusion, trees of many varieties, and a vast variety of fossils. Deer, fox, rabbits, squirrels, coon, opossum and many native birds of the state can be seen there.

Ponca Slate Park Cabin Rales

CABINS, COMPLETELY MODERN—1 or 2 persons, $3 per day; $18 per week. Equipped for light housekeeping, including gas stove, refrigerator, hot and cold water, showers, dishes, bedding, linen, and cooking utensils.

CABINS, DOUBLE—1 or 2 persons, $4 per day; $24 per week. Three or 4 persons, $5 per day; $30 per week.

GROUP CAMP—Accommodations for 150 people. A $10 deposit when making reservations. Cost per person $.50 per day, $2 per week. Minimum charge $5 per day. Accommodations include mess hall completely furnished with stoves, dishes, cooking utensils, water, lights. Two barracks with 77 beds and mattresses, men's and ladies' rest rooms, showers. No bedding furnished. Piano available.

SEND REQUESTS FOR RESERVATIONS TO SUPERINTENDENT PAUL HEIL, PONCA STATE PARK, PONCA, NEBRASKA.

Nebraska's other Parks do not provide over night accommodations, but do present interesting attractive day use areas for the public.

ARBOR LODGE STATE PARK

Arbor Lodge State Park, at Nebraska City on U. S. Highway No. 75, is the former home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day which is celebrated April 22 annually. The old colonial mansion, preserved as it was in the days of Mr. Morton, contains 52 rooms. It has numerous relics of early Nebraska. There are stables containing Morton vehicles, old fire engines, and a stage coach. Every type of tree grown in Nebraska, in addition to other kinds peculiar to other parts of the United States and foreign countries, are found here.

Some of the other features of the park are foot trails, park roads used for bridle trails, picnic grounds with tables, 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   fireplaces and fountains, amphitheater and Morton arboretum containing 200 species and varieties of trees and shrubs.

VICTORIA SPRINGS STATE PARK

Victoria Springs State Park, eight miles north of Merna on State Highway No. 80, consists of 70 acres. The park has much historical significance and has also been developed for recreational purposes.

Space is available for parking house trailers. Facilities include boating, baseball, horse shoes, nature study, outdoor fireplace, tent camping and children's playground equipment.

STOLLEY STATE PARK

Stolley State Park, three miles southwest of Grand Island in Hall county, is another historical landmark. It is the site of Old Fort Independence. Additional features of the park are outdoor fireplaces, playground facilities and an old log cabin. The park is open to the public throughout the year.

FORT KEARNY STATE PARK

Fort Kearny State Park, 10 miles southeast of Kearney in Kearney county on Highway No. 10, is comprised of 40 acres.

The park contains the original parade grounds and site of the stockade and fort buildings of the old army post. Mounds of earth mark the spot where these buildings stood. There are tall cottonwoods around the parade grounds which were planted in 1848. This area received important national recognition recently due to its centennial ceremony commemorating 100 years since the original establishment of the site.

We travel in schools and usually make our homes in large deep lakes. However, some of us can be found in the rivers throughout the state.

We seem to have reproduction trouble in Nebraska so they are helping us out at the North Platte state fish hatchery where many of us get our start.

Perch is one of our staple food items.

Many of us are caught by fishermen as we come in from the deep water to feed in the shallows at night.

The largest one of us caught in Nebraska was taken out of Lake McConaughy. She weighed 13 pounds, 1 ounce........

20. I've a long cylindrical body and have long sharp teeth in my mouth.

I'm a fish-eater, all right. In fact sometimes they blame me for eating ducklings and baby muskrats. Now it's just possible that this may happen because I feed mostly in the shallow weedy areas.

People say I'm quite a sporting fish. They say I put up a lot of "fight." You would too if a crazy thing came scooting through the water and you chomped down to find that it bit back at you.

A fisherman can take five of us as his bag limit according to the 1954 Nebraska fishing regulations.

We're found mostly in the sandhill lakes and the larger reservoirs. The state fish hatchery at North Platte is helping enlarge our distribution area by watching over us during our first few weeks of life.

The largest of my kind taken in Nebraska weighed 25 pounds. He was caught in the state's largest manmade reservoir, Lake McConaughy.

LET'S MEET ANOTHER CONSERVATION OFFICER—ROY OWEN

OFFICER ROY OWEN of Crete holds many titles, but probably the most descriptive is the unofficial title given him by the people with whom he works, "Friend of the Freckle Nose."

Officer Owen, more commonly called "Roy" by old and young alike, began work with the Nebraska Game Commission in 1932. During this era Officer Owen has seen the place of the "warden" in conservation rise from a place of questionable position in the minds of the people to the present high level of understanding and acceptance by the people. Such men as Officer Owen have had a definite part in this crystallization of the modern conservation conception of enjoying yet protecting the State's natural wildlife resources.

In addition to his regular patrol assignments, Officer Owen is in constant demand for club and youth programs. He is an accomplished shooter having won the Nebraska State Championship and over sixty other trophies, including a champion trophy in a prevaricators contest symbolic of the endless tall tales with which Roy entertains his audiences.

Officer Owen has been a member of the State Izaak Walton League since its establishment in Nebraska and is a present State Director. He is also a member of the Crete Masons, the Royal Arch, Odd Fellows, Rotary, and several Gun clubs.

SPRING ISSUE 21

The Lamprey And How To Distinguish The Lamprey From The Eel Fisheries Biologist

By Bernie Leman,

THE problem of distinguishing the lamprey and the eel recently became of some importance, when several catfish were taken near the town of Wilber, bearing the well-defined scar of lamprey parasitism.

These scars, before they were identified, aroused much curiosity from the fishermen. They became quite skeptical about the edibility of such scar-bearing fish. This skepticism led to the reporting of these scarred fish to the local sheriff, also a fisherman. He in turn reported the incident to the Game Commission. A fisheries biologist investigated the situation, obtained a specimen of the scar-bearing fish, and made positive identification of the scar as lamprey damage.

Following this identification, three men went to the area where they did extensive seining in an effort to obtain a lamprey or more catfish parasitized by these lampreys. At this particular time water conditions were such that seining was difficult and the results were that neither lampreys nor parasitized catfish were taken.

Despite these negative results, the record of lamprey damage is now recorded. The area is under suspicion and future workers will be on the watch for any further developments.

Why all this commotion about a few fish bearing signs of this parasitism, you may ask? The classical answer to this question is the lamprey damage to the fisheries of the Great Lakes. The lake trout commercial fisheries catch, in Lake Michigan alone, was reduced from nearly 5,000,000 pounds in 1935 to less than 400,000 pounds in 1949. The Lake Huron fishery had suffered a like fate over the same years. The first lamprey was reported in Lake Superior in 1945, and unless a control measure is perfected the commercial fishery of Lake Superior may be expected to follow the trend established in the other two lakes. The sport fishery of the Great Lakes necessarily must follow this same pattern. Not only are lake trout affected, but anything that moves in the Great Lakes, is subject to the cutting tongue and sucking mouth of the marine lamprey. There is a record of a long distance swimming event in Lake Erie, where one of the swimmers was helped from the water screaming and hysterical with three lampreys clinging to his body.

There are many kinds of lampreys. The one responsible for the damage in the Great Lakes is the Atlantic marine lamprey, Peiromyozon marinus. This lamprey is the largest of the group and may attain a size of 36 inches or more.

Lampreys vary in size from this 36-inch one to the 5-inch size of the nonparasitic American Brook Lamprey, Lampelra lamottei. From this it is easy to see that all lampreys are not injurious. Some do not attack anything, but live in the mud of river bottoms during their first stages of life, feeding upon minute plants, animals and bits of organic matter. When they mature to adults their digestive system becomes non-functional and their only purpose in life is to reproduce their kind, after which they die.

Because of the damage in the Great Lakes, folks become alarmed when they hear the word lamprey. However, in Nebraska there is nothing to become alarmed about. The Atlantic marine lamprey, while there is some very remote danger that it could spread to Nebraska, does not exist in our waters. Two species are assumed to occur in Nebraska, the Silver Lamprey, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis, that has been observed in the Platte and Missouri Rivers, and the Chestnut Lamprey, Ichihyomyzon castaneus Girard, in the Platte River. A specimen of this lamprey was taken, some years ago, by Gerhard Lenz, Superintendent of the Gretna Fish Hatchery. Positive identification of these species, however, was never made.

Despite the fact that both of these species of lampreys attack, injure, and even kill fish, they are neither as numerous nor as destructive as the marine lamprey. Both have been with us for many years and there is no reason to expect them to do much damage except occasionally in a few localities.

The Game Commission, however, is very interested in knowing about any lamprey damage and in obtaining specimens of lampreys from Nebraska waters or specimens of fish bearing the lamprey scar. Anyone having the opportunity of obtaining either of these, is urged to do so, and invited to forward such information and specimens to the State Game Commission.

The lamprey is not a true fish. It belongs to one of our most primitive classes of fish-like creatures. By definition alone, a true fish must have at least part of his skeleton composed of conventional bone, it must possess jaws, and paired fins supported by bony rays. The lamprey besides not having a bone in his body, has only a sucking disc for a mouth, and its unpaired fins are merely a thickened, specialized portion of his skin.

To recognize a lamprey is not difficult. It is shaped like an eel and could easily be mistaken for one at a distance. Closer inspection, however, makes differentiation relatively simple.

The typical eel is a true fish, and can readily be told from all fishes, except the lampreys, by its snakelike shape and movements. It may be distinguished from the lamprey by its true jaws, set with ordinary teeth. It has the usual type of gills found on fish, immediately followed by a short rounded pectoral fin on each side. The eel also has scales which are deeply embedded in its skin.

To further and finally distinguish the lamprey from an eel, the lamprey has a single row of seven small round openings on each side of his body where the gills are located on eels. Like the gills on the eel these ports are the lamprey's breathing apparatus.

The eel and the lamprey are both very rare in Nebraska. The eel is, without doubt, the more common of the two. The remoteness, of the chance, that anyone will stumble upon a lamprey, makes it more important that such information gets into the hands of the Game Commission. Again we extend the invitation to anyone who may observe or obtain a specimen of the lamprey to report it to his Conservation Officer or to the Lincoln office of the Game Commission.

22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

PHEASANT UPS AND DOWNS

By Levi L. Mohler Populations Can Change Rapidly

IF THERE is one outstanding thing about upland game birds it is that their numbers are continually changing. When the population goes up, all the upland game enthusiasts are happy. But when the bottom drops out, so to speak, and the population drops to a low spot, then it's natural for clouds of gloom to accompany the same outdoorsmen.

Since one year (that means "one hunting season" to the scatter-gun man) follows another pretty fast, it may be heartening to a hunter to know that ups and downs in game populations have a way of repeating themselves, which perhaps is just another way of saying that the years can't all be good or bad. So, before rushing out and ending it all because things in your favorite pheasant hunting spot went to pot last year, why not have a look at some of the things that have happened amongst Nebraska pheasants in the past several years and then chart the future possibilities on that basis?

From 1941 to the present, continuous investigations have been going on in Nebraska, aimed largely at keeping track of pheasant population trends and factors that seem to affect these trends. In following population changes, the investigations have also brought to light some of the happenings which accompany these changes.

Young per Brood—If bird numbers change there would seem to be many possible reasons. One thing which usually pops up when bird numbers are mentioned is the number of young per brood, or the number raised by one hen. Curiously enough, records of broods seen over the years show that the average number of young per brood runs fairly steady year after year. To be sure, there are some year-to-year changes, but they aren't usually great. Oftener than not the brood observations in early summer average around six young per brood. So in most years one has to look farther than brood size to see why the population can change rapidly. Remember, the average of six young observed per brood isn't necessarily the true number; some of the young don't show themselves. So if six are seen, and to this is added an unknown number for those not seen, the average could easily be somewhere above six.

Broods of five, six and seven are very common in summer records. Incidentally, broods containing over twelve young are extremely rare in actual field observations. For example, in the five-year period 1948-1952 less than three percent of the 1,177 broods recorded by officers had over twelve young. In years when the population is gaining rapidly the larger broods may happen along oftener than in the down-trend years.

Hens and Young—For the past six years (1948 thru 1953) Nebraska conservation officers have kept records of their pheasant brood observations during the important brood-rearing period in July and August. These records show quite a difference in the proportion of hens actually accompanied by young in different years, and it hasn't been as high recently as four, five, and six years ago.

In 1948 and 1949, when the pheasant population was gaining after the low point of 1946-47, over 80 percent of the hens seen in a week's period of August had young in evidence. In contrast, the percent of hens seen accompanied by young in 1952 and 1953 didn't pass 65 percent in the officers' observations.

Someone may ask, "How high a productive rate is necessary to maintain a pheasant population?" Pheasants are short-lived, and somewhere around 70 percent, or slightly more, of the fall birds must be young if the population isn't going to slip backwards. To put it another way, a hundred pheasants will be reduced to around thirty a year later, on the average.

Many people formerly thought that birds in a protected (unshot) area would gain rapidly compared to a population in which hunting was permitted. Wildlife managers at present don't string along too much with such ideas, simply because it has been learned that other things often affect the population far more than does hunting.

Without getting technical about this, it seems that when numbers are below what the land can support then nature throws reproductive machinery into high gear and a surprisingly high population can be built up in jig time.

But when the locality holds about as many individuals as it can accommodate, then young aren't reared in such big numbers and the total population, instead of continuing to increase, changes very little or even drops. This has been noticed in many different areas and among animals as widely different as pheasants, muskrats, and, under laboratory conditions, insects such as fruit flies and beetles. For example, sandhills trappers usually find a high survival of young muskrats in marshes trapped heavily the previous winter. And untrapped marshes often add relatively few young to the next year's population.

A good example of how this works in pheasants SPRING ISSUE 23   showed up in 1949, when northwestern counties which had been hard hit by blizzard losses had a higher ratio of young per hen by late summer than southern areas which were affected much less by the winter storms.

Net Effect to the Hunter—A pheasant hunter, naturally, wants to know what's in store for the future, and how all these possibilities fit together in explaining what he sees going on in the areas where he hunts. First, about population trends. It is difficult to convert pheasant observations into actual numbers of birds per section, let alone for the entire state. However, now that fairly satisfactory methods of following the ups and downs in pheasant numbers have been in use for a number of years it appears that there may have been about two and a half times as many pheasants in 1945 as in 1953. This means there may have been only forty pheasants in 1953 where there were a hundred in 1945. (Actually, the birds were even more abundant from 1942 to 1944 than in 1945, but extensive data isn't available for all areas in the earlier years.)

Pheasant Arithmetic—If we indulge in a little of what might be called "pheasant arithmetic," it should be obvious that big changes can come about quickly. Suppose, for example, that an area having 100 hens drops to a 40-hen stage. And suppose that, in a year when the area had 100 hens, about 85 percent of the hens reared six young apiece. That's a total of 510 young (or 100 x 85% x 6), about half of which are roosters and the rest hens. Now further suppose that, with the hen population reduced to 40, we hit a bad year and only sixty percent of the hens rear six young apiece (or 40 x 60% x 6), giving a total of only 144 young. That is only 28 percent as many young as in the year we started with, or a reduction of 72 percent. So, when a hunter finds far fewer pheasants at the old hunting place than he used to find it isn't necessarily that his memory wore rose-colored glasses; more than likely it is "pheasant arithmetic" on the hoof.

In using figures to illustrate what can happen, it should be noted that average or statewide figures aren't likely to show the extremes which individual farms or hunting areas can show. Hence, changes can be much more drastic than described above. An area where only 20 percent of the hens reared young could really look bad in a single year. And any area having anywhere near a hatching failure two years in a row would be practically without pheasants.

Although this article talks about ups and downs, it is usually easier for the hunter to notice the down trends, although he'd rather see the opposite. This is partly because the decreases usually occur faster than the increases do, and partly because more intensive land use by agriculture has tended to destroy nesting places and miscellaneous pheasant cover faster than favorable periods of pheasant productivity could close the population gap.

Speaking for the statewide situation, and not for any local spot in itself, pheasants increased in numbers in the 1938-42 period, then decreased from 1943 into 1947, and built up again from 1948 into 1952, with a decrease evident again in 1953. Whether it was because of intensive land use or other related factors, the "high" reached by the pheasant population in 1952 wasn't as high as ten years earlier in 1942. 1949 represented a temporary setback in part of the state because of the emergency conditions brought on by the blizzards that year. The interesting thing is that the blizzards occurred during a period when conditions were right for pheasants to increase, hence the quick losses to the storms were soon largely offset by rapid gains in young produced in 1949 and following years.

The hunter who has watched bird numbers go up and down needn't feel that he's to blame in the case of pheasants, if he has confined his shooting to roosters only. Field bag checks by conservation officers show that when birds are scarce few hunters bother to pursue them, and those who do hunt find the going pretty "slow," so hunting pressure drops way down when the birds drop. And on the other end of the scale, in periods when birds are plentiful and when hunting is good, Nebraska hunting pressure doesn't cut far enough into the supply of cock birds to reduce them below the number needed for efficient reproduction the next year.

Natural conditions, dictated by characteristics of the pheasants themselves, plus weather, plus land use changes which determine whether or not the birds can find food and cover, will continue to control pheasant population trends in the future. Man can't change the natural tendencies of pheasants, nor control the weather, at least not as of 1954. But actually planning land use, with pheasants as well as crops in mind, is a job which can produce results in the field and in the bag. Such a job will require cooperation between those who do the hunting, those who manage the land, and official game management agencies.

24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

LETS THINK ABOUT PREDATION

J. Henry Salher, Fur Investigations Biologist

PREDATION is one of the most controversial and leas understood aspects of animal relationship. Strictly speaking, any animal that preys upon another (usually smaller) animal is a predator. This objective or scientific definition excludes only the strict vegetarians from the predatory animal category. In other words, all of the Nebraska game and furbearing animals with the exception of deer, antelope, rabbits, and beaver could be classed as predators. Yes, even man could be classed as such, and he is without a doubt one of the most successful of predators.

Although the above definition is basically correct, to most people it sounds downright silly. Probably because it does not take into consideration the selfish interests of man. When man enters the picture, a new definition takes shape. It goes something like this: a predator is any animal that preys upon those animals that man considers necessary for his own welfare or pleasure. In other words, any animal that preys upon domestic stock, game birds, furbearers, etc., is a predator. A predator takes animals that we want to reserve for ourselves.

It is when man is taken into consideration that an already complicated problem becomes even more involved. As vocations and avocations of people differ, so do their attitudes towards predaceous animals differ. We can take the case of the coyote as an example of how this works. Livestock interests, especially sheep and poultry raisers, at times suffer losses to coyotes and hence favor strict control or, in many cases, extermination; coyote hunters and trappers (especially in years of high fur prices) look upon the coyote as a crafty game animal and valuable fur resource, and hence they frown upon strict control programs; natural history enthusiasts look upon the coyote as a cog in the complicated machinery of the so-called "balance of nature," and their views range from partial control to complete protection. Each group is firmly convinced that it is right. The very fact that there is disagreement, strong disagreement, seems to indicate that no faction has been able to come forward with indisputable evidence favoring its viewpoint.

In many cases, probably the majority, attitudes towards predatory animals are based upon snap judgments with little or no effort to obtain all the facts, or to appraise the known facts. It is strange that insofar as predators are concerned the customary methods of logical reasoning are given a good heave-ho out the window. Too often all predators are condemned because of the depredations of individuals. This same type of reasoning is not used with reference to humans and domestic animals: murders in the human race are treated on an individual basis and do not call for indiscriminate punishment of humans in general—a few chicken killing dogs are not considered sufficient evidence for condemnation of all dogs. Think about it. Doesn't it seem strange that in the case of wild predatory animals all members of a species are judged by the actions of individuals? It is strange, but one cannot deny that it is true.

This is a tragic situation in view of the fact that detailed studies of certain predatory animals are revealing that depredation is the trait of individuals; the majority of their kind seldom, if ever, are guilty of these same crimes. In some places this information has been put to good practical use in the control of predator damage. Efforts have been directed only against the guilty individuals. These efforts have been very successful in reducing the amount of predator damage.

Another thing to keep in mind when passing judgment on predatory animals is that every predator, no matter how bad his reputation, has some good points. Too often predatory animals are condemned without a full evaluation of their beneficial and harmful aspects. The reason for this may be that the harmful acts are so much more direct and obvious than the beneficial acts. A sheep-killing coyote leaves unmistakable evidence of his work; but his gopher, mouse, and rabbit killing relatives leave little evidence of their work. If all the facts were known, perhaps the rodent and rabbit killing habits of most coyotes more than offset the damage caused by their wayward brothers.

Many food habit studies of predators have been conducted. There is overwhelming evidence indicating that the primary diet of most predators consists of animals of no direct value to man. Except in special, usually local, cases there is a question as to whether the harmful aspects outweigh the beneficial aspects, or vice versa. There is enough evidence on the beneficial side of the scale to warrant serious consideration of what might happen with too strict control or extermination. There is a strong possibility that the "results of the cure may be worse than the disease."

A person would be extremely foolish to question the need for some predator control. On the other hand, there is definitely a question as to the type and degree of control needed. When making a decision as to the type of control needed, one should think in terms of controlling individuals responsible for damage. Methods of control that are indiscriminatory, equally effective against good and bad individuals, should be viewed with apprehension. The whole predation question deserves a great deal of study and thinking. It is always better to be right than sorry.

go on a fishing trip to the sand hills. This is in memory to Jessie Fowler who, before his death, always took a group of youngsters on such a fishing trip on his birthday.

Tri-Counly Sportsman's Club, Newman Grove Club's membership is 75. This club was organized last spring and has already sponsored a beaver and elk dinner and is now busy trying to locate a permanent place to hold trap shoots. The monthly meetings are April 28, May 26 and June 30. The editor wishes to commend the Fremont, Crete and Lincoln

Izaak Walton leagues for their progressive step in cooperating with the ladies in organizing active women's groups and auxiliaries into this program. All wildlife clubs are encouraged to bring the ladies, and of course the youngsters, into their organizations and activities. We will all profit by such an organization.

SPRING ISSUE 25

Notes on Nebraska Fauna

Walleye

THE fish known as the walleye in Nebraska is known by many different names in different parts of the country. In many states it is called the yellow pike perch. Canada refers to it as the pickerel, while in other localities it is called pike, jack fish, walleyed pike, jack salmon, etc.

The walleye, however, is in no way related to the pike family even though it resembles the northern pike in a few respects. It is a member of the "Percidae" or Perch family as are the yellow or ringed perch, sauger and numerous species of darters. The color of the walleye varies greatly depending on the type of water in which it lives. Generally, however, the color is a brassy olive brown, and at times shading to yellowish sides with white beneath. The sides have an over-all mottling of black or brown and there is a dark blotch at the base of the last dorsal spine. The jaws contain large sharp teeth which are used for tearing their food.

Walleyes have reached a size of from 15 to 18 pounds but weights over 10 pounds are not common. The average size caught by fishermen usually runs from 1 to 4 pounds, however the state record is 13 pounds 1 ounce.

The spawning period of walleyes occurs in the spring soon after the ice is gone and when the temperature of the water reaches 40° to 50° F. These fish spawn both in streams and in lakes. The female is generally larger than the male and is sometimes accompanied by several smaller males. Walleyes do not prepare special nests but are random spawners, scattering their eggs over the gravel sand and rubble bottoms in shallow water. They do not protect their eggs as do the bass and some other species of fish. The eggs are very small and also adhesive which hold them wherever they are deposited. Individual females vary of course in the number of eggs produced, however, they will run from 23,000 to 50,000 per pound of fish weight.

The growth is very rapid but also depends on the amount of food available. When first hatched the fry are about 3/16 of an inch in length and will reach 1/2 to 2 inches by the end of one month. Young walleyes up to about 2 inches feed mostly on plankton, microscopic plants and insects, but after they reach about 2 inches begin feeding on larger insects and other small fish. They are not particular and would just as soon eat one of their brothers or sisters as any other fish. In our Nebraska waters, especially the reservoirs, small perch make up a large part of their diet.

In Nebraska there are few lakes and streams suitable for natural reproduction and this has made it necessary to hatch the walleye eggs in our hatchery and stock them after they have reached a size large enough to begin to take care of themselves.

The walleye thrives best in waters where it has plenty of room to range, and in Nebraska seems most at home in our larger reservoirs. It is found to some extent in some of our larger rivers, especially those that contain clear water. In past years it has been reported that most of the larger streams contained walleyes but since many of them now have been straightened and carry tons of silt the walleye has moved out.

The state fish hatchery at North Platte was set up to produce walleyes to fingerling size for stocking our reservoirs and this has resulted in good walleye fishing in many of these reservoirs. Many experiments have been made in stocking smaller artificial lakes, sandpits and ponds, with little if any success.

The spring months of May and June are the best fishing months in Nebraska; however, in the fall during October and November is also a good time to take walleyes. During the hot weather months the fish stay mostly in deep water, coming up into the shallow water to feed generally in the evening and at night when the water is cooler.

Since walleyes are a strictly carnivorous fish, live bait seems to produce the best results, however, many artificial baits have produced well in some of the reservoirs.

The walleye, like his relative the yellow perch, remains fairly active during the winter months and continues to feed. It can therefore be caught through the ice. When spawning time approaches, however, it usually ceases to feed.

26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

NEBRASKA FISHING REGULATIONS—1954

AREA OPEN: The entire state is open to fishing excepting private lakes closed to the public or areas closed by Federal or State law or City ordinance.

SEASON: Open throughout the year for all species of fish.

SIZE LIMITS: No size limits on any species of fish.

SPECIES DAILY BAG LIMIT 7 POSSESSION LIMIT 7 TROUT 10 10 BLACK BASS (Largemouth and Smallmouth)10 10 WHITE BASS10 10 CRAPPIE (Black and White)15 15 BLUEGILL1) 15 15 SUNFISH (Green, Orange-Spotted and Pumpkinseed)15 15 ROCK BASS 15 15 BULLHEADS 15 15 (Except in Arthur, Blaine, Brown, Cherry, Garden, Grant, Holt, Hooker, McPherson, Rock and Thomas counties where the limit is 25.) PERCH 25 25 (Except in Cherry, Brown, Holt and Rock counties where there is no limit.) WALLEYE SAUGER 5 5 NORTHERN PIKE 5 5 FRESHWATER DRUM (Sheepshead) 10 10 CATFISH (Channel, Blue & Yellow) 10 10

TOTAL BAG AND POSSESSION LIMIT: No more than 25 game fish of all kinds combined may be taken in any one day, nor be had in possession at any time; provided, however, this regulation shall not apply to PERCH taken in Brown, Cherry, Holt and Rock counties where there is no bag or possession limit on perch.

STATE-OWNED LAKES

The following regulations are in effect on state-owned lakes only:

1. Fishing devices other than regular lines attached to poles are prohibited.

2. Throw lines or floats are prohibited.

3. Digging or seining for bait on grounds is prohibited.

4. Motor boats are not permitted, except on Victory lake at Fremont, and Cottonmill lake at Kearney.

5. Firearms are not permitted except during legal open hunting seasons.

6. State lake No. 4 of the Fremont sandpits located along State Highway No. 30 about four miles west of Fremont in Sec. 13, T 17N, R 7E, Dodge County, shall be restricted to the use of artificial lures from January 1st to June 30th.

7. Swimming is prohibited in Memphis lake in Saunders county.

8. DESTROYING OR DAMAGING 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 areas.

NOTES

WINTER FISHING is permitted through the ice. The hook and line law, applicable to ponds, lakes and reservoirs, does not apply to ice fishing. (See notes.)

Floats and throw lines are legal except in state-owned lakes and other restricted areas (See special regulations on state-owned lakes.)

DAILY BAG means fish taken from midnight to midnight.

POSSESSION LIMIT means fish in the possession of any person at any time.

SPEARING: Carp, buffalo, suckers and other non-game fish may be speared between sunrise and sunset from April 1 to December 1, except in restricted areas mentioned above.

HOOKS AND LINES: It is unlawful for any person to use, while fishing in voir or in their inlets, outlets and canals within one-half mile of such lake, pond or reservoir, more than two lines with two hooks on each line. One hook shall mean a single, double, or treble pointed hook, and all hooks attached as a part of an artificial bait or lure shall be counted as one hook. This DOES NOT APPLY TO ICE FISHING.

STREAM FISHING: In stream fishing, it is unlawful for anyone to fish with a line having more than 5 hooks thereon, or more than 15 hooks in the aggregate or with artificial bait having more than 3 triple-gang hooks.

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

AGE: All persons sixteen years of age or older must have a fishing permit for the current year. All non-residents must have a fishing permit for the current year, regardless of age.

SHORT-TERM PERMITS: Shortterm non-resident permits are available. They are reciprocal with other states with a minimum of $3.00 for^T 10-day permit.

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

NOTE

STATE PROPERTY: It is unlawful to this state in any lake, pond rdputt!sbed-b3f For further information write Nebraska Game Forestation and Parks Commission Lincoln for— Detailed Fishing Regulations Boating Regulations 1953-1954 Game Law Book