Editorial

Five years seems a comparatively long period of time to a Game Commissioner looking ahead to his term of office. Looking back, the same five years seems as only two or three. This is particularly true of Commissioner Harold Hummel, of Fairbury, Route 1. Mr. Hummel was the first Commissioner to qualify under the new law requiring one Game Commissioner to be a farmer living on the farm.

Harold Hummel, the immediate past Chairman of the Commission, as well as the outgoing Commissioner, this year qualified well under the new law. Mr. Hummel not only lives on his own farm, but—as proven by his Master Farmer awards and other recognitions —practices all the newer methods of soil and wildlife conservation. Mr. Hummel brought to his official Commission work this spirit of developing farmer cooperation in assisting wildlife management programs on the farms of Nebraska.

During his term as Chairman, Mr. Hummel has seen many programs initiated and others completed. These projects include much lake improvement work, a new era in park development, the maturity of the district plan, and most recently the inauguration of complete radio control units in Nebraska game law work.

Mr. Hummel has been most sincere in his work on the Commission, and his absence from official sessions will be felt by all with whom he has worked.

However, while he will not be officially connected with the Department, Mr. Hummel's services will not be lost because of his continuing interest in keeping wildlife on the farms of Nebraska by encouraging good sound soil and wildlife management procedures.

P. T. Gilbert THE COVER: This month's cover depicts a typical group of sharptail grouse in the Nebraska sandhill country, according to artist C. G. "Bud" Pritchard. See pages 14 and 15 for more information on this prairie game bird.

Hard Work Pays Dividends

Omaha Fish and Wildlife Club members build a new home with profits from sport show.

NESTLED on the hardwood slopes of the Platte River near the Gretna Fish Hatchery is an example of what cooperation and hard work can mean to a wildlife club. Here, on 200 acres of recently purchased land, will be established the new home of the Omaha Fish and Wildlife Club.

The first big step of acquiring the land has been difficult. For years this has been the dream of club members. Finally, while Dr. H. Kennedy was president, an unusual plan for raising funds was developed. The result of this plan was the 1954 Omaha Sports, Vacation and Boat Show, presented at the new municipal auditorium.

All net profits made by the club were ear-marked for purchase of land and development of a club site.

The land already has fairly good wildlife cover. The club members hope to develop the area so it will be a top quality demonstration area on habitat improvement techniques.

Fishery possibilities are assured by the location of two flowing springs. By erection of dams at various locations on the land, they will be able to provide four or five lakes. The largest will be at least 35 acres.

Fortunately, the club owns most of the acres of the small watershed. This means they will have complete control of all run-off surface waters on their land. Siltation and flooding of the various ponds can be controlled by the club itself.

Primary consideration is being given to soil erosion and water conservation problems. "We want to go about this the right way," Dr. Kennedy says. "By doing our planting first, guarding against erosion, we can be sure of pure lake waters. Siltation problems will be minimized."

President of the 956 member club, Richard Baliman, says "It has long been the hope of the Omaha Fish and Wildlife Club to offer a model game habitat management area. Now we have the tools of the trade. We can get to work."

It looks like this spokesman for all the members has put his verbal finger on the key to the success of the club's program when he says, "We can get to work."

WINTER ISSUE 3

Game Law Enforcement Modernized With 2-Way Radios

By P. T. GILBERT

A CONSIDERABLE number of people in the past have believed that the Nebraska Law Enforcement Division of the Commission was completely equipped with radio communication from office to car, car to car, and car to plane. This belief was not discouraged by the Department, as it had a certain restraining effect upon some would-be violators.

Actually, the only radio equipment that has been used in the past was a good piece of equipment in the Department's plane and about six portable sets, good for only a comparatively short distance and not operative in cars. These small sets, however, resulted in certain cases that otherwise would have been lost.

The Game Commission, after several preliminary studies the past few years, requested that a detailed report be prepared and submitted to them along with direct reports from neighboring game states, who use such equipment. The reports from other states were convincing, particularly Colorado, the Dakotas and Minnesota found their radio communication system practically indispensable to modern effective game law enforcement. The county sheriffs in Nebraska were practically unanimous in the encouragement of the Commission in adopting a radio set-up which could be tied in with County Sheriff frequencies on a cooperative basis. The Civil Defense officials expressed interest and indicated the possibility of Civil Defense paying half the cost of the equipment.

As plans crystalized they seemed to include the advisability of such equipment in the department cars of each conservation officer, and similar equipment in the cars of four supervisors and the Executive Secretary, who is also Chief Conservation Officer. A similar set would also be placed in each of the five Commission district offices at Lincoln, Norfolk, Bassett, Alliance and North Platte. The total estimated cost OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 4   would be approximately $22,000, with Civil Defense paying half of this amount for the Commission.

The benefits of such an installation are many. They involve considerable improvement in efficiency of the administrative, as well as the law enforcement phases of the Department's activity. For example, at the present time when an emergency call comes into a district office, there is no way of reaching an officer or supervisor until that night or sometimes even the next day. Under the new plan an officer or supervisor can be reached within a comparatively short time.

At present if an officer or supervisor runs into trouble alone, or an accident or similar situation, he is on his own. With the new equipment he can summon the immediate aid of a fellow officer, the county sheriff or the highway patrol. And of course these cooperating agencies would in turn have the assistance of the Commission personnel at any. time it might be needed in an emergency.

At present it is quite common for an officer of the Department to return to his headquarters after investigating a complaint at the far corner of his district and find he has a complaint in the mail from the same corner, thus requiring a return trip. Under the new plan the officer would be contacted in the field by radio and would be given the second complaint while in the same area.

In law enforcement work the radios will practically insure the apprehension of violators caught in a planned investigation where the violator tries to escape on side roads; the plane, often used on such serious cases, can easily direct patrol cars to any cut-off road as required.

Present plans call for two separate wave lengths; one on the County Sheriff's frequency and a separate one for this Department.

Chronic violators, night deer hunters, market hunters and all such individuals may well fear the implication in the installation of this new system. However, the general law abiding public may well have an added feeling of confidence that this equipment will further be in their service not only in the greater protection offered game and fish, but also for their safety and convenience in case of a personal emergency or a civil defense need.

The Game Commission approved the project at their November meeting, and if the necessary permits, etc.; are received in short order, this equipment should be operating in the near future.

WARDEN DIRECTORY

DISTRICT I Chief Conservation Officer--Edward Bosak 1020 Potash Avenue Alliance, Nebraska Phone 1276 or 412 Jim McCole Box 268 Gering, Nebr. Phone 837L Edmund Greving Box 221 Rushville, Nebr. Phone 257 DISTRICT II Chief Conservation Officer—A. G. McCarroll Box 269 Long Pine, Nebr. Phone 378lor 334 Leon J. Cunningham 606 Fourth Street Crawford, Nebr. Phone 184 Joseph P. Ulrich Box 1382 Bridgeport, Nebr. Phone 100 Fred R. Salak 419 No. 4th, Box 254 O'Neill, Nebr. Phone 393 M M. L. Burney Box 76 Neligh, Nebr. Phone 446 John Donald Green Box 273 Hartington, Nebn Phone 412 B Wm. J. Ahern Box 85 Ord, Nebr. Phone 504 R 1 DISTRICT III Chief Conservation Officer--Robert Benson 1322 Hayes Norfolk, Nebr. Phone 262lor 2875 C. W. (Bud) Shaffer Box 202 Columbus, Nebr. Phone 4072 Gust Junior Nun 503 East 20th, Box 376 So. Sioux City, Nebr. Phone 4-3187 John Harpham West Second Street Valentine, Nebr. Phone 670 Vernon Woodgate Box 403 Fremont, Nebr. Phone PA 1-5715 H. Burman Guyer 1212 No. Washington Lexington, Nebr. Phone Fairview 4-3208 Loron Bunney Box 675 Ogallala, Nebr. Phone 247 DISTRICT IV Chief Conservation Officer--Samuel Grasmick 1012 Bast D St. North Platte, Nebr. Phone 3972 or 5 74J Herman O. Schmidt, Jr. 1011 Fourth, East, Box 161 McCook, Nebr. Phone 992 W Ralph Von Dane 1443 So. 21st St. Lincoln, Nebr. 3-6760 Carl Gettmann 810 East 5th St. Hastings, Nebr. 2-4929 H. Lee Bowers Benkelman, Nebr. Phone 49R Wm. F. Bonsall Box 305 Alma, Nebraska Phone 154 DISTRICT V Chief Conservation Officer--William R. Cunningham 501 Mulder Drive Lincoln, Nebr. Phone 4-7108 or 5-2951 Harland Huppert 2411 Chase Falls City, Nebr. Phone 0000 Norbert J. Kampsnider 220 West 19th St. Grand Island, Nebr. Phone 5673 Roy E. Owen Box 288 Crete, Nebr. Phone 446 Richard Wolkow 2586 Ida St. Omaha, Nebr. Phone KE-8603 Bernard L. Patton 3325 Van Dorn Lincoln 6, Nebr. 4-6571 WINTER ISSUE 5

A Long, Long Day

By W. F. GREEN

AS I HEARD the short horn blast, I was just finishing a hurried cup of coffee. Going to the window I waved and picked up my jacket and thermos bottle. It was still dark out and all I could see from the window was the dull glow of the parking lights on Bill's car.

The time was 4:45 a.m. and it was the second Sunday of November. There were several hunting seasons open; ducks, geese, quail, pheasants and of course, squirrels and rabbits.

As I switched the kitchen light out, it occurred to me, "This is a heck of a time to be going out." It would be different if I had my shotgun under my arm. I never saw a real hunter that gave a second thought to getting up an hour or so before dawn to go hunting.

Yet, here I was walking out to the car and I knew I wouldn't fire a single shot all day. You see, I was going to spend a day with a Nebraska Game Warden.

I'm a reporter for the local paper and my editor thought it would make a good story for next Sunday's edition. After some checking to make the appointment, OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 6   I was a little surprised when Bill said he would be at my house before 5:00 a.m.

"Hi! Got plenty of coffee in that thermos bottle?" was the greeting I got from Bill as I opened the car door and stored my things on the back seat. "Yeah," I answered, "this is a heck of a time to be starting." "We have to get down into the quail country before the hunters get there," he pointed out. "Although it isn't the best pheasant country, there are still a few down there. Chances are some early morning hunters will be tempted to shoot pheasant from their cars, although the season doesn't open until noon and it is illegal to shoot game from a vehicle. If we get down south before dawn, we will be ready for them," he concluded.

It was about a 50 mile drive to the quail country. As we were humming along the road in the early morning darkness, Bill explained that his regular district was in the vicinity of our home town. However, he was swinging south to start the day because there are more pheasants than quail in his district. As the quail season starts onehalf hour before sunrise most hunters would be down where the quail are. There wouldn't be much activity around home in the pheasant country until noon when you could legally hunt for them.

It was around 6:00 a.m. when we arrived in the area. It was still dark, as sunrise wasn't until 7:16. Quail shooting would begin at 6:46 a.m. Bill allowed at least a half-hour in case a flat tire or some other emergency would hold us up. We started to see an occasional car load of hunters on their way to the areas where they planned on hunting.

Bill explained that he wasn't worried about early shooting of quail; that the main problem would be checking for slow moving cars which might contain road hunters carrying loaded shotguns.

He spotted the first slow moving car on a section road to the north of us. Watching with binoculars for several minutes, he decided it was a car load of hunters looking for a place to hunt.

Soon, another slow moving car was seen in the early glow of the dawn. We started following it, keeping a hill or hedge row between us. This continued for 10 minutes as the car was observed driving extremely slow by every gully-head or plum thicket.

This continued for about 20 minutes, until Bill said, "We can't waste any more time waiting for them to find some game to shoot. I'll have to check them for having a loaded shotgun in their car. At least it will stop them from road hunting." Pulling up behind them, he turned on his red stop lights and gave them a signal to stop.

Bill walked up to their car, identified himself and asked to see their guns. There were two men in the car. The driver had a 12 gauge automatic leaning on the seat beside him. The other hunter handed Bill a 16 gauge doublebarrel.

After looking at the double-barrel and handing it back; Bill asked to see the automatic. Slowly the driver passed the gun out to him.

Ramming back the cocking lever on the side, Bill glanced up slightly as a bright green shell flew through the air and landed on the ground at his feet.

Click-clack. Click-clack. Two more ejections and two more bright green shells were lying on the ground.

Bill proceeded to check their permits and identification after searching the car carefully for any hidden game birds.

"I'll have to take this gun as evidence of your having a loaded shotgun in your car," he told the driver, as he gave him a receipt for the gun.

"What will happen to it?"

"It will depend upon the court decision," Bill answered.

As he got back into the patrol car he said, "With only 29 wardens we check about 10% of the people with loaded shotguns. Most of them get the shells out of the gun before we can get their cars stopped. Naturally they are excited and sometimes unload their guns by pulling the trigger. I've seen everything from holes in the roof to holes in their feet."

"The thing I can't understand," he continued, "is that if there ever was a law designed to protect anyone, it is the one prohibiting a loaded shotgun in a car. Yet, the very people who should benefit from it are the ones who violate it."

Shaking his head in mock wonderment, he said, "It just doesn't make sense."

He continued to explain that this was the prime violation that they had to contend with; they are sure it is evidence that illegal shooting from the road is much more common that realized "We spend hours checking for loaded guns. It is almost a continuous contest between the hunters and wardens," he concluded.

We drove around now, looking for either more slow driving cars or hunters in the fields. Occasionally we would stop at a location where the visibility was good and Bill would watch a party of hunters with his binoculars.

At one such stop at the top of a small hill, we saw a party of three hunters coming down a mid-section fence line of hedge and plum thicket. They had a hard working springer spaniel going over every inch of fence line. If there was anything there, the lively little brown and white dog would surely get it to move or fly.

WINTER ISSUE 7  

Suddenly, a rooster pheasant broke out about twenty yards ahead of the hunters. The early morning sun blazed off the iridescent feathers of the bird. The hunter on our side of the hedge row swung his gun up as soon as the bird crossed to his side.

For just an instant it looked like he was going to shoot the bird. But, as if remembering at the last moment, he slowly lowered his gun and kicked at a clod of dirt in front of his foot.

"He remembered just in the nick of time," Bill stated. Then I caught on; you couldn't shoot pheasants until noon and another violation had almost occurred.

As the hunters came to the end of the fence row, Bill started a procedure that was to be repeated many times before we returned home in the evening. First identifying himself, he then checked their permits and upland game bird stamps. Next, he requested identification of residence from each hunter who had a resident permit. Checking each of the pump and automatic shotguns for plugs was the next task. Finally, he looked over the birds taken by the hunters. With the hunters' permission, Bill took a wing from each of the quail. He explained that they would be turned over to a Commission technician for study.

"By collecting large numbers of wings, we can tell the ratio of young to old birds taken by hunters. It is a good cross-check on how successful the quail hatch was during the summer," he explained.

Taking one of the wings, he showed the hunters the little white or buff markings on the primary coverts of the wing feathers that indicates a young bird. Placing the wings in two piles; one, old birds and the other young, Bill soon showed the hunters that 9 out of the 12 birds taken were young birds. "That is a pretty healthy ratio!" he pointed out.

"Most, from 70 to 80 per cent, of our quail never live to see two falls, whether they are hunted or not. They are just a short lived bird. You can see that the small percentage left in the spring is responsible for the big jump in population through the summer. This means that most of the population will consist of young birds in the fall, if there was a good reproduction season."

As it neared 10:00 a.m., we had moved on north and were not far from the edge of Bill's own district. "Now we will start to meet hunters that have had pretty good luck and are leaving the fields and coming up north to hunt pheasants," Bill observed.

Not long afterwards, we met four hunters just as they were backing their car out of a field entrance. Once again, Bill went up to the car and identified himself and asked for their hunting permits.

While checking the birds they had taken, the driver kept pacing back and forth, yet had little to say. Noticing this nervous appearing hunter, Bill immediately re-checked all of the hunters'permits and chatted with each of them.

As the game was lying on the back floor of the car, he announced to the driver that he would like to take a look in the trunk. One of the hunters started to say something then stopped. The driver opened the trunk door without a word of argument. Bill looked around in the trunk and didn't see a sign of any extra quail.

Reaching clear to the back of the trunk, he grabbed a hold of the panel forming the back wall and pulled. As it came down on one side, a hen pheasant tumbled out onto the floor of the trunk. Stuffed in the springs of the back seat were also four quail.

"I—I didn't think you would find them," the driver stammered. "You or someone left finger marks in the dust en the panel when you pulled it down to hide the birds," Bill said. "Well, who wants to claim these birds? Or, do you all want to take the responsibility"

The young fellow standing with his head lowered looked up and said, "I can't let them take the blame for something I did. All of the birds are mine. I should have known better."

Within a few minutes Bill had made a tentative appointment for the violator to appear in court, collected the illegal birds and the driver's gun.

As we got back into the car he said to me, "You get so you can tell by the way hunters act if there is something wrong."

After patrolling for a short time, we came to a small town on the southern edge of Bill's district. It was nearly 10:45 a. m. so we ate dinner as Bill wanted to be out in the country before noon to check for early pheasant shooters.

Back in the field after dinner, we rode around until about 11:35 a.m. Bill pulled over to the side of the road and turned the engine off. Rolling down the window he began to listen. "Be quiet and we may be able to catch someone opening the season up before shooting time." We listened until almost noon. "They seem to be well behaved around here," Bill said as he started the car.

We continued down the road and he said, "We drew a blank that time. Nothing much will happen until the hunters have been in the fields for awhile. They will start looking for new fields to hunt about 3:00 p.m.

We rode around for about two hours watching various groups hunting in the fields. Then we started to meet hunters coming out of fields and moving around. Bill checked a number of these; going through the whole procedure as he had in the morning, only this time he took the foot of the pheasant for the biologists. They can tell the age of the pheasant by the spur on the foot.

Late in the afternoon Bill had made another case on roadshooting and we had been cruising around since. About ten minutes after the end of shooting hours we were sitting in the car listening for late shooters. As the shadows in the fields blended into the formless dark of night, Bill told me how the cases were handled. Tomorrow he would go to the County Attorney's office at the Courthouse and file charges against the violators. He also would check with the court and see when the cases could be scheduled. For most violators it would be a simple procedure of notifying them and they would appear. Others would balk and a subpoena would have to be served on them by the Sheriff's office. The violator would have to pay the cost of having the subpoena served, including both mileage and salary of the serving officer.

Bill pointed out that some complex cases continued in court for a number of days before they are completed. Then some are appealed to a higher court and the whole routine is repeated.

"Actually, what you have seen today is just the preliminary work that can lead to much more work than you would think. I will probably be in court over half the week, even if the violators don't put up much of a fight."

Bill pulled the car up in front of my house about 7:00 p.m. I was tired, hungry and sick of sitting in that car. I told Bill as much when I thanked him for taking me along. "Well," he said as he glanced down at the dashboard, "I don't blame you for feeling that way. We have traveled over 400 miles since we left here this morning. You would get used to it if you had to do it every day."

As I walked up to the house, I really wondered if I could get used to it. Fourteen hours, most of it spent in the patrol car—that is a long, long day.

8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Fish Management Means . . . BETTER FISHING FOR NEBRASKANS

This is part five of a series on fish management. The role of research and education is explained by the late R. W. Eschmeyer. by R. W. Eschmeyer

THE immense progress made in medicine, industry, agriculture, and other fields is attributed directly to scientific research programs. In the same way, fishery research, though still in its infancy, has already brought about some striking advances in fish conservation.

Most sportsmen now realize that the future of our fishing depends largely on fact-finding. For those who don't recognize this fact, an editorial in a recent issue of WYOMING WILDLIFE gives food for thought:

"We live in an age of wonderdrugs, anti-biotics and synthetic fabrics. We move along at high speeds with automatic transmissions, super fuels and jet engines. We watch television and cinemascope and listen to trans-oceanic broadcasts. We anxiously await fulfillment of promises of nuclear fission aircraft engines and of cures for TB and cancer.

One leading manufacturer boasts over the air waves that his most important product is progress through scientific research. We all appreciate the benefits we derive from continuing research in industry. Likewise, we're ready to accept an AMA finding regarding polio or a report from an engineering institute on some new discovery.

We fish with nylon leaders, with fiberglass rods, with reels made of new alloys. Scientific research has given us new powder for our cartridges and new combinations of metals for our bullets. New metals insure rifle barrels with life-long accuracy. We live in a wonderful age of scientific advancement and we take full advantage of it in the fields of medicine and industry.

Isn't it odd then, that the modernday sportsman sometimes expects game management to ride in a buggy and yet keep up with present heavy demands on fish and game? Propagation of game animals by strict law enforcement alone or propagation of fish by planting alone are as dated as the mustard plaster and the kerosene lamp. Yet, some people insist that these two practices are sufficient. They regard scientific research in wildlife matters as a stupid innovation.

If the public wishes to maintain its wildlife resources, it must be as ready to give serious thought to the findings of a wildlife biologist as it is to accept the products of the industrial research worker."

The Present Picture

Rather than use this brief space to record some past accomplishments in fishery research we're limiting this section to a discussion of the present picture and the future needs.

Some states have had a fishery research program for quite a few years. But, others had no fact-finding even three or four years ago. The reason was simple. It was felt that the available money should be used for such popular panaceas as indiscriminate stocking and rigid law enforcement. There were no funds for research because its importance was not recognized. Sometimes the bottleneck was the administrator, often it was the state legislature, in some instances it was the sportsmen themselves.

Then a few years ago, came the Dingell-Johnson Act, providing for federal assistance to the state fishery programs. These funds could not be used for routine stocking or enforcement. In passing the D-J Act the legislators wisely excluded routine practices as proper uses of the added funds. This law gave fishery research a tremendous impetus. Many states decided to use some of the federal-aid money on fact-finding. During the first three years, the states obligated $4,300,000 of D-J money for research projects. This called for their employing professionally trained fish men to conduct the programs. Though some of the programs are still very rudimentary, all state fishery set-ups now have some fact-finding activity.

In many instances, those states which were starting research programs took their cue from states which had long been engaged in research activity. It was pretty much a case of following the leaders. Money was available now, but in some instances the ability to plan a comprehensive program was lacking. Nevertheless, "following the leaders" led to immediate progress in some of these states.

What about the leaders themselves? Are they continuing to set the pace? Are they coming up regularly with new ideas and new methods? If the tendency is to follow the leaders, then there must be some progressive leaders to follow. If new ideas and new management procedures do not develop, we can expect to have a period of "stagnation" when the states which recently initiated factfinding programs have caught up with those states which have long been active in research.

It seems that some former leaders are not making rapid progress. Some states which led the research parade seem to be marking time. New ideas are scarce. Procedures developed long ago—such as creel census and general lake and stream survey—seem to still be in the limelight, much as they were ten or fifteen years ago.

If we have entered a period of stagnation, at the very time when funds are available and when more emphasis is WINTER ISSUE 9   being placed on research, this will have a harmful effect on the entire fish conservation program.

Assuming that we have entered a period when new ideas are scarce, why has this development taken place? We don't know the answer, but much greater progress, the kind we need to keep up with the parade, could be made if we had a better climate for research personnel — better salaries, freedom from routine jobs and political pressure, and reasonable job security. The low salaries paid to fishery investigators tend to stifle initiative.

The men in the fishery biology field are usually so busy with routine work, with trouble-shooting, and with administrative matters, that they have little time to devote to basic research, and little freedom for creative thinking about the problems.

The solution seems to be to have some well-paid and well-qualified biologists devote full time to the investigative work, with a minimum of routine or trouble-shooting; or, to turn over a part of the research money to the campus, in those states where a well-qualified fishery professor is available to guide the studies.

Regarding research, in a recent report to the American Fisheries Society, the committee on hydrobiology and fish culture made this observation:

Although most state departments of conservation support fisheries research to a limited degree, few maintain a fishery research division of trained personnel free to function without excessive curtailment by the demands of "trouble shooting," political expediency and excessive administrative restriction.One has the feeling that in many state departments fisheries technicians are tolerated because their presence suggests a certain mark of progressiveness; but little use is made of their research contributions in regulation and management procedures.

Actually, research has a big future. Any period of stagnation which we may have entered will probably be of short duration. Some former leaders are marking time,but new leaders are taking their places. About seventy-five trained fishery biologists have been entering the field each year, during the first three years of the D-J program, because of the impetus given to research by federal aid. In due time, they can be expected to lead us to a new period of rapid progress. Too, the growing recognition of the importance of research will help bring about more and better fact-finding and new developments in fish conservation.

The Needs

Though fishery research has made considerable progress, we still lack adequate answers to many questions if we are to use our fish management tools skillfully and effectively. What are some of the questions which need answering? Here are a few that come to mind at the moment:

Stocking: Is the emphasis on trout production out of proportion to the rest of the program? How much does stocking with warmwater fish benefit angling? How many stocked fingerlings survive to reach a desirable size? What percentage of the planted stock is recaught by fishermen? For individual waters, what kind of fish should be stocked? How many? What size? When?

Under what conditions, and to what extent, does "corrective" stocking of warmwater fish benefit angling? What factors limit survival of planted fish?

Regulations: Which of the regulations now in effect really benefit angling? Do we need size limits? For which species? What should the limits be, if needed?

Are creel limits desirable? For what species? What limits?

Are closed seasons helpful? If so, for what periods should they be imposed?

Where should commercial fishing be permitted? What restrictions should there be on commercial fishing, where it is permitted?

To what extent do present enforcement methods prevent violation? How can they be improved?

Habitat improvement: What factors now limit fish production in different types of habitat? What part, if any, is played by siltation? Pollution? Water diversion? Dams? Floods? Other environmental factors?

Under what conditions can fishing be improved, practicably, by use of stream or lake "improvement" structures? What is the effect of water-level fluctuations in reservoirs, streams, and lakes on food production, fish production, and fishing? To what extent does turbidity limit fish food and fish production?

Managing fish populations: What are the habitat needs of our more important fish species? How much can fishing be improved by controlling rough fish? How can rough fish be controlled, economically? What part of the fish population is caught by the anglers? What part may be caught without adversely affecting future fishing? Under what conditions is the introduction of exotics desirable?

What kinds or combinations of fish will yield the most satisfactory angling in farm ponds? In big waters? In clear waters? In muddy waters? In weedy waters? In cold waters? In warm waters? In "cool" waters?

Other questions: Originally we listed at least a hundred additional questions, then discarded them because of space limitations. Any qualified fishery worker can not only list questions which need answering, but he can indicate which ones, in his state, are most in need of answering. He can suggest, too, which research jobs can be expected to give a maximum return for the investment of time and funds.

All states might well list what their over-all fact-finding needs are, and then direct their attention to those which can be expected to benefit fishing most.

In General

The future of our fishing will depend to a considerable degree on the quantity and quality of our fishery research. Fact-finding has received its greatest impetus through the enactment of the Dingell-Johnson Act (federal aid to state fishery programs). Though still in its infancy, fishery research has already pointed the way to better fishing in numerous instances. There is considerable room for improvement in both the kind of research and the amount. This improvement must be forthcoming if we are to have good fishing despite constantly increasing fishing pressure. There is evidence that it will be forthcoming.

Education And Fishing

Some years ago, on a visit back to our home state, we talked with a former neighbor about fishing in the vicinity. "Crappie fishing in Lake St. Marys was good," observed the man, "until those so-and-so state fish people planted a strain of crappie that doesn't grow to catchable size."

We could have explained that no 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   dwarf strain of crappie had been introduced, and that the fish simply didn't grow up because there were too many of them. But, there wasn't any point in making the observation. Our former neighbor wasn't ready for that sort of talk. The facts were available, but the processes of' education had been neglected. This is by no means an isolated case.

A few decades ago we had so few facts that most of the "information" was mere guesswork, and much of it was misinformation. Today, research has progressed to a point where we do have some of the answers (though many more are still needed). Our major bottleneck now is "education." Fortunately, there is growing interest in this important aspect of conservation. However, with more and more fishermen, the interest must still grow very decidedly.

The Schools

Conservation education is receiving increasing attention in the schools. The problem, here, seems to be one of getting suitable training for the teachers themselves, and of providing the teachers with suitable teaching materials. A conglomeration of state and federal publications tends only to confuse teachers, and does not give them an over-all picture of our conservation problems and concepts.

The Sportsmen's Organizations

Sportsmen's groups are showing increasing interest in conservation education through junior clubs, junior conservation camps, and in other ways. Each club should preferably have an education committee, whose interest should be in educating the club members and other sportsmen as well as the next generation of fishermen and hunters. Here, as in the schools, the programs may be handicapped somewhat by the scarcity of suitable educational material.

The Fish And Game Departments

In a number of states, the fish and game (or conservation) departments have taken the initiative in conservation education. A few still have almost no contact with the public, not even to the extent of issuing press releases. Others have extensive information-education programs. As an example of the latter, here is a very brief resume of the Missouri department of conservation program, as of 1952:

Eight people, with 16 to 19 counties each, work directly with schools on all levels in assisting teachers and administrators in planning and integrating conservation education in the present-day curriculum. They work with teachers and administrators as individuals and also through Workshops where they combine lecture with field work. Each person on this staff is collegetrained, an experienced teacher with majors in education and one of the sciences. These folks, when invited, also go into classrooms and actually teach courses, demonstrating how the resource story can be integrated. Two of these people have radio programs. They teach youngsters in a studio while thousands of other youngsters follow them in their classrooms.

Weekly news releases to 1,650 papers, plus a feature article twice monthly.

Thirty-seven radio programs weekly. The commission's radio-TV writer produces the scripts, and mails them to conservation agents who put them on the air with their adaptations to local conditions.

A monthly magazine (one of the best) with a circulation of 69,000. Also, pamphlets and booklets on fish, game, forestry, etc.

Production of one 30-minute film per year. These films have gained wide recognition for their excellent quality. About 30,000 people per month view the films from the commission's film library.

An exhibit program for fairs and shows.

An excellent library of wildlife still pictures — produced by commission photographers.

Special literature for school kids. Series covers special publications for third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, and junior high school. Each level has its major subject.

And, of course, there are those many hundreds of individual inquiries, which get individual attention, plus numerous talks and appearances by commission personnel whose major work is in activities other than education-information.

Many fish and game departments are handicapped in their education programs because of their small budgets. A survey made in 1953 indicated that, even though "education" is now our major bottleneck, only three per cent of the fish and game budget (on the average) is used for information-education. Commissions and legislatures which might be quick to increase budgets for hatcheries, or for more wardens, tend to be reluctant to provide funds for education, presumably because it's less tangible. In some instances, too, they undoubtedly fear that the funds may be used for "propaganda" instead of for "education."

Partly because of the shortage of funds, some programs are not as well run as they might be. For example, the magazines issued by many state fish and game agencies could be improved.

A graduate student in journalism at the University of Oklahoma recently studied the state magazines as his special problem for a Master's degree. In applying a readability test, he found that none rated "very easy", and only one rated "fairly easy." Two-thirds rated "fairly difficult" or "very difficult." None of the state magazines rated "dramatic" or "very interesting." About one-third rated "interesting"; the other two-thirds were classed as "mildly interesting" or "dull" in human interest values. Only nine magazines rated both "standard" (or better) in reading ease and "interesting" in human interest.

It's obvious from the study that the quality of our conservation education material can be improved decidedly. Much of it must be improved if it is to be effective.

Other Groups

Numerous other groups, especially youth groups, are actively interested in conservation education. For example, the Boy Scouts emphasized conservation during 1954, and will undoubtedly continue to give the subject extensive consideration in the future. Most of this program is of an educational nature.

What Shall We Teach?

We don't pretend to know exactly what should be taught in fish conservation. Three underlying concepts, though, seem to be of basic importance. Here they are:

1. A lake or stream is really an aquatic pasture. We must take the same rational viewpoint toward the production of crops in our waters that we take toward production on the land. (For many years we were rational about our land pastures, but expected our acquatic "pastures" to produce

Continued on Page 25 WINTER ISSUE 11

Local Groups COOPERATION HELPS COMMISSION

AM UNPREDJUDICED visitor to Game Commission meetings over Lthe years would undoubtedly be impressed by three rather constant points evident at most all such meetings. The first would be the surprising amount and extreme variety of the work that is handled at such a meeting; the second would be the lack of personal district-mindedness, but instead a state-wide approach to all problems by the Commission; and lastly, the large number of delegations and petitions, and the completely different approaches of such, delegations.

Any individual or group, regardless of size, is always welcome at any commission office at any time, and Commission meetings are always open to the public. However, such an unprejudiced visitor as mentioned above could draw several conclusions from listening in on several meetings. In the first place it would become apparent that while large delegations are always welcome, they take more time and result in more confusion and repetition than do two or three properly informed individuals who are authorized to speak for a given club or community.

It would also be apparent that the volume and type of petitions sent in are only confusing and weaken themselves by the sometimes strange varieties of signatures. A personal letter or call from a responsible officer or representative of a club or community, authorized to write for the group, will receive the personal attention it deserves, while trying to answer constructively a petition is flustrating, to say the least.

Delegations, large or small, seem to divide themselves into two distinct and separate types with equally different approaches.

For example, the casual visitor will note a few such committees or delegations approaching the commission obviously defensively, and with more or less of a collective chip on their shoulders. Such groups are usually completely unfamiliar with the work and attitudes of the Commission itself. There is an attitude of "You do this or else," with many more or less subtle inferences of possible political and other negative implications, completely foreign to a non-political commission. They obviously have nothing constructive to offer and their restricted negative attitude alone is far from conducive to a cooperative attitude on the part of the Commission.

On the other hand, in recent years it would be obvious to the casual observer that most of the individuals and delegations approach the Commission with a friendly, cooperative attitude with constructive suggestions backed up by an obvious offer of mutual cooperation. These are the groups that engender friendly cooperative attitudes from the Commissioners with beneficial results to all concerned.

It is not possible in this short article to mention and give due credit to all of these cooperative approaches made to the Commission, but in order to more definitely tie down this cooperative approach to mutual problems, a few examples are given.

At Pibel Lake the local community and the Cedar Valley Sportsmen's Club wanted their lake cleaned up and carp removed to improve fishing. The officers of the club met with the Commission and offered to do all the dike and dirt work if the Commission would add some roads, rebuild the outlet, drain the lake and restock. The project was accomplished with a resulting good lake in which everyone feels a mutual satisfaction.

At Swanson Lake near Trenton, the local Chamber of Commerce and related groups wanted additional developments faster than the Commission could provide, so the local groups working with the Commission personnel put in one concrete and one crushed rock boat landing and provided several fireplaces. This activity has resulted in freeing Commission funds for a shelter house on the area, and the lake is being developed more rapidly because of this mutual endeavor.

At Ponca State Park the local community leaders have themselves put in a fine boat ramp and cooperated in the lighting of this boat landing.

At Niobrara State Park the City Council actually purchased a large mower to take care of the golf course at the Park, and this same group also takes care of all the greens.

The Lions Club at Loup City has generously assumed the responsibility of developing parking areas and drainage areas, and general management of the lake, to the benefit of this Department as well as their community. On Walgren Lake the county officials cooperated in the re-grading of the roads. The City Park Department in Omaha is contributing two-thirds of the cost of the pumping program to improve Carter Lake, and the Game Commission one-third.

The Kearney Wildlife Club at Cottonmill Lake has been one of the earliest cooperators in this program of doing 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   their share in the purchasing of a motor to pump water into the lake and in the hiring of a caretaker.

At Big Alkali and Smith Lakes, local ranchers have shown wonderful cooperation by providing grounds for access roads and picnic areas, and have provided hay to keep the roads passable. At Smith Lake the County Commissioners assisted in the construction of the roads.

At Norfolk, Bassett, Alliance and North Platte, civic-minded individuals and Chambers of Commerce, through their cooperation, have enabled the Commission to develop necessary headquarters for their district offices.

Bridgeport officials have cooperated in the loan of maintenance equipment for a comparatively new area there. In fact, in many counties the local county commissioners have showed this same spirit of being willing to participate in the development of their area by patrolling the roads on such state lakes and recreation grounds.

Several groups in general have been facilitating the work of the Commission by their exemplary attitudes and actions. For example, the Boy Scouts of America deserve a tremendous hand for their clean-up activities on threefourths of the state's areas. This is work that is not particularly stimulating to a young man—to clean up after others. It is work which should be appreciated by the local communities as much as it is by this department.

The rural mail carriers of Nebraska have been one of the first statewide cooperating groups in providing research information by their continuing counts of the game birds that they see on their routes. This work has been of great value to the Commission in assisting and arriving at game seasons based on various field counts.

Several sportsmen's groups have been cooperating by assisting the local conservation officer or the seining crew in the salvage of fish from lakes that were drying up.

The wildlife club at Cambridge has been cooperating in providing freedom of access over a road through our area at Harry Strunk Lake.

The above projects are representative of the type of wholehearted cooperation that the Commission has had in recent years, and it is quite obvious that this creative type of thinking and cooperation on the part of such groups is far from ended. For example, at the present time the Izaak Walton League of South Sioux City has been very patiently going through a heartbreaking series of red tape procedures necessary to establish a pumping project at Crystal Lake. This Izaak Walton League is taking care of all the footwork and paper work in getting easements around the lake, as required by the federal government, and further is putting up the cash representing the state's share in matching federal funds to provide this project for their lake.

The Gage County Fish and Wildlife Association, representing wildlife clubs throughout the county, and particularly in the Burchard area, have been working hard to obtain options for the providing of a lakesite for the Commission. This group has not only obtained the options, but is going to actually put on a subscription campaign to obtain the money which will represent the state's one-fourth of such a federal land acquisition project. This type of cooperation on this project has definitely encouraged the Commission's interest and desire to cooperate in the actual construction of the dam.

Most recently, the commissioners at Wellfleet, where a repair project is necessary on Wellfleet Lake, have offered to do all the dirt work for the Game Commission if the Game Commission will improve their lake.

It is obvious that in the future, if other types of funds are not made available to the Commission, that the only manner in which maximum development of local areas can be accomplished will be by the type of unselfish whole-hearted cooperation exemplified by the examples above.

Drop In Duck Stamp Sales

FEDERAL "DUCK STAMP" sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1955, continued the downward trend exhibited last year, Director John L. Farley of the Fish and Wildlife Service reported.

A total of 2,181,566 stamps of the 1954-55 issue was sold to hunters of migratory waterfowl, conservationists, and philatelists, according to the final figures recently supplied to the Fish and Wildlife Service by the Post Office Department, the agency responsible for distributing and selling the stamps.

The 1955 total indicates a drop of 89,864 below last year's total of 2,271,430. The alltime high record was reached in fiscal year 1953 when 2,296,628 stamps were sold.

California headed the 1955 list with a total of 176,881. Other states recording sales exceeding 100,000 were Texas, with 151,851; Minnesota, 143,886; Michigan, 129,937; Wisconsin, 127,358; and Illinois, 110,507. Nebraska sales totaled 49,455 last year.

Many stamps are also purchased annually by stamp collectors. The Post Office Department's Philatelic Agency in Washington, D. C, reported sales of 9,840 stamps during fiscal year 1955 of that year's issue. This is a drop of 2,984 below last year's total of 12,824. In fiscal year 1953, Philatelic Agency sales amounted to 12,987.

WINTER ISSUE 13

Wildlife in one reel

 

a progress report.... CONSTRUCTION IS EXTENSIVE

By E. H. BAKER

THE GAME, Forestation and Parks Commission's diversified field of construction with its variations in types and designs, its location and its necessity for adaptation to the land requirements, makes it an interesting and somewhat unique job. All construction is a challenge, but has its compensation as it is a mark of progress and in our particular case, is always greatly appreciated by the sportsmen. This appreciation is shown in their eagerness to cooperate and assist us with the problems that arise.

The goal of all construction carried on by the Game Commission is to improve hunting, fishing and recreation facilities. The source of funds for construction is in a large part derived from the hunting and fishing permits. The only state tax monies received are for exclusive use in the six state parks—Arbor Lodge (at Nebraska City), Ponca, Niobrara, Chadron, Victoria Springs (near Anselmo) and Fort Kearny. Funds used in construction, maintenance and operation of the 59 state recreation grounds are from the sale of hunting and fishing permits.

Funds for construction of new lakes and hunting areas come in part from the sale of hunting and fishing permits and the balance from Federal Aid. The Dingell-Johnson Act and the Pittman-Robertson Act established by Congress provide funds to be matched by the State and used for new developments. These funds are allocated to the state by the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service with the State paying the total amount and then receiving three-fourths reimbursement.

Some of the major construction projects and improvement accomplishments made by the Game Commission during the last year or so include:

GROVE LAKE—located in Antelope County, three miles north and one-half mile east of Royal. This tract of land consists of 426 acres. The dam, an earth fill with concrete chute overflow, was constructed across the Verdigre Creek and impounds a lake of 67 surface acres that has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The Verdigre Creek is a constant-flowing stream with normal flow of 44 second feet. There are three picnic areas with fireplaces, tables, toilets, water pumps and trash barrels. Two of the picnic areas have graveled access roads and parking areas. The entire area which is timber and meadow is fenced.

MEMPHIS DUCK MARSH—located one mile northwest of Memphis is a public hunting area. Over 58 acres 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   of lowland were purchased and flooded for duck nesting and hunting. This land is adjacent to the Memphis Lake and has been developed by digging 8,000 feet of ditches, averaging 16 feet wide and 4 feet deep. These ditches provide water for the ducks while nesting. The earth from these ditches was cast up in 100 foot strips, alternating from side to side of the ditch. The reason for this is to stop predators from following the high bank and destroying the nests. Natural growth of vegetation provides natural blinds for the hunters.

NORTH PLATTE SEINING CREW HEADQUARTERS—located two miles south of North Platte. Additional facilities were needed to handle the hundreds of thousands of fish moved by the seining crew. Four earth ponds varying from V4 to V2 acre each were constructed to be used as holding ponds. These were constructed in such a manner as to provide flowing water through each pond with an outlet gate and catching basin for each pond to enable the crew to recapture the fish in a minimum of time. They are used as a distribution point; fish seined from lakes are hauled into these ponds and held for transplanting into other lakes. In connection with this, four concrete raceways were constructed for the sorting of fish. These raceways are 6 feet wide and 6 feet long. They, too, are provided with flowing water.

A new building is now under construction at this location. This building is a combination district office and seining crew headquarters. It is a two-story building, 40 ft. x 92 ft., with a single-story "L", size 32 ft. x 75 ft., which will be occupied by the district office staff. It is being constructed of concrete block with brick veneer. The two-story sections will have shop area, truck storage, seine storage and net repair areas. It is so designed that the seine trucks will enter the first floor and the long seines will be unloaded and stored by reeling them up through a hatch onto a large reel located on the second floor. From here the seines can be strung out for drying ' and repair.

The "L" will be divided into five offices and one laboratory for the biologists. Three of the offices are divided by removable partitions to provide a large room for meetings and advance training classes. It is expected that this building will be ready for occupancy by March of '56.

PONCA STATE PARK—located two miles north of Ponca. Another project now under construction is a swimming pool at this park. This pool is basically rectangular; the ends are 28 feet wide and the center section 40 feet wide, length is 100 feet. Water depth ranges from 2*/2 feet to 11 feet. The design was arrived at by study of use survey photos made by the State Health Dept. In studying these aerial photos, the Health Department found that the greatest usage was in water depths from 3 to 5 feet; therefore, the pool was designed to provide the most area in these depths.

The problem in construction of this pool is due to the fact that there is no level ground area large enough to accumulate a pool of this size. The site was leveled from the side of a large hill and grading arranged to provide slope for bleachers overlooking the pool. This, of course, is an allmodern pool with filter, concrete block bathhouse, wading pool and fence.

A new procedure required the use of reformatory labor for the construction, which was stipulated by the Legislature. Housing and mess hall facilities were provided by the park and the men were restricted to their quarters after working hours. The great majority of these men, though unskilled for the work required, were good and willing workers. The reformatory was reimbursed for these men at a little less than the "going hourly wage rate" of the community. This pool will be ready for opening in the spring of '56. It is approximately 90% complete at this time; however, construction has been discontinued due to materials delivery and cold weather.

CRYSTAL LAKE—located two miles northwest of Ayr. The Legislature appropriated $16,000 for the renovation of this recreation area. Vandalism throughout the past few years had reduced this area to an unsightly nonusable area. Interest from local clubs prompted the instigation of a bill to rebuild. Our Legislature realized that it would be necessary to hire a permanent caretaker and included this in their act. The rebuilding included reconstruction of two shelter houses, wells, fireplaces, toilets, picnic tables, regrading of roads and reconstruction of bridges. Additional work will be performed this winter which will include graveling of roads, rip-rapping of the river bank and rebuilding the ice-skating shelter.

SACRAMENTO GAME FARM—located 3V2 miles northwest of Wilcox. This is a multiple use area, a portion of which is used for rearing of pheasants and the rest a public hunting area. About 5,000 lin. ft. of dikes were constructed to impound run-off waters. When adequate rainfall is received, there will be three impoundments to provide duck hunting in addition to the present pheasant hunting. These dikes were constructed in such a manner as to let the three lakes fill consecutively. In other words, Lake No. 2 will fill from the overflow from No. 1, and No. 3 from the overflow from No. 2.

Two pheasant-rearing pens, each an enclosure of approximately nine acres, WINTER ISSUE 17   were also constructed. These pens are fenced 7 feet high with a 1 foot overhang to prevent the pheasants from getting out. They are divided into quarters to permit proper crop usage and to permit approved game management. Each pen has a catch pen which is used during banding, brailing and crating for distribution. It was also necessary to install an electric pump for water supply, as well as modernize an existing residence for the area foreman.

CHADRON STATE PARK—located eight miles south of Chadron; NIOBRARA STATE PARK—located IV2 miles southwest of Niobrara and VICTORIA STATE PARK—located six miles northeast of Anselmo. A total of ten new all-modern overnight cabins were constructed in these parks; four at Niobrara, four at Chadron and two at Victoria Springs. These cabins are frame constructions, size 24 x 24. The interiors are divided into two bedrooms, bathroom, dining room, kitchen and a screened-in front porch. The interiors are finished in knotty pine varnished to retain its natural color.

At Niobrara and Victoria Springs, new wells were put down for water supply. All cabins have electricity, running hot and cold water and complete bath. Septic tanks and disposal laterals were installed in each park. The cabins were located so that one septic tank would provide for two cabins.

Five old cabins were completely renovated and modernized. These are log slab cabins which were not finished on the inside. The cabins were raised and concrete footings were installed. The cabins were floored with concrete and floor covered with asphalt tile. They were wired for electric service and plumbed for bath and water supply. They are now all modern and a credit to the parks.

Another improvement in each of these parks was the rewiring of all secondary service and all buildings. The demand for electricity in the parks has been in line with the increased use on farms and in cities. The old system was no longer adequate nor safe. All secondaries, which had been extended through trees and in other ways unsafe for public use, were replaced with underground wiring. You will no longer see the unsightly wires hanging from poles and trees in these parks. All buildings were rewired and all wiring is now in accordance with National Electric Code, local and state laws.

VALENTINE HATCHERY — located 2V2 miles northeast of Valentine. A new water supply line was laid between the reservoir pond and the rearing ponds. Water is taken from the Minnechaduza Creek and stored in a reservoir pond for distribution to the rearing ponds as needed. Sewage disposal fields were also laid from each of the tenant houses to prevent waste from entering the rearing ponds. Dikes were reconstructed in the upper area to improve ponds.

SMITH LAKE—located nineteen miles south of Rushville. In order to prevent interference with grazing practices, a new road was constructed across the marshy area at the north end of this lake. The old road was on private property and had caused considerable inconvenience to the neighboring rancher. An equalization tube was installed through the fill to provide water for the cattle. The new road was gravel-surfaced. Due to the sandy nature of this area, fishermen were having difficulty in getting their cars turned around, so a turn-around and graveled parking area was constructed near the dam. The Sheridan County Commissioners were very cooperative and assisted in this project.

PRESSEY RECREATION GROUNDS —located five miles northeast of Oconto. A very bad traffic hazard at the entrance off of State Highway #21 was eliminated by the construction of a new approach. The roads leading to and in the recreation area were all regraded and gravel-surfaced. A parking area was constructed and gravel-surfaced near the shelter house.

Concrete bottoms were poured in two stock tanks each 30 feet in diameter. These tanks are located in the grazing area of the Pressey tract. Playground equipment is being installed in the recreation grounds.

WALGREN RECREATION GROUNDS—located five miles southeast of Hay Springs. In co-operation with the Sheridan County Commissioners, a dry canal was filled paralleling the road adjacent to the recreation grounds. This canal had been constructed in W.P.A. days as an emergency water supply; however, as the road was being constructed with Federal Aid funds, it could not be approved with this canal in existence. In turn, the Sheridan County Commissioners assisted with the regrading and installing drainage tubes, in all roads and parking areas within the recreation grounds, then roads and parking areas were graveled.

HAYES CENTER RECREATION GROUNDS — located twelve miles northeast of Hayes Center. The face of this dam was completely reconstructed. Throughout the years, wave action had eaten it away. Rebuilding was done by compacting earth leaving a 4:1 slope and rip-rapping it with ballast rock hauled from the old abandoned railroad bed in the Swanson Lake area. Easements were secured from the adjacent landowners permitting us to raise the water level 2 feet. New wave breakers were constructed to minimize future trouble.

ARBOR LODGE STATE PARK—located one mile west of Nebraska City. In order to eliminate a traffic hazard at the entrance of this park, a new entrance gate was constructed permitting the traffic to enter from the northwest corner and giving them a clear view of the highway. This was constructed as nearly duplicate to the original entrance as possible using the brick columns and ornamental iron

Continued on Page 22 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Personnel Changes

WINTER ISSUE 21

CONSTRUCTION IS EXTENSIVE

Continued From Page 18

gate. The concrete approach at the east entrance was enlarged to permit a larger turning area for traffic.

BIG ALKALI LAKE — located approximately eighteen miles southwest of Valentine. Throughout the past years this lake had flown over a natural earth barrier; however, each time it overflowed it would erode a a little more and was endangering the permanancy of the large lake. A concrete control outlet was constructed to permit the raising or lowering of the lake as required. This was constructed with concrete overflow aprons and slots for insertion or removal of drop planks for elevation control.

CRYSTAL LAKE (SOUTH SIOUX CITY)—located two miles southwest of South Sioux City. An engineering feasibility study was made in connection with the proposed construction of a well; the purpose of which would be to assist in offsetting the evaporation loss.

Siaie-Wide Work There has been a sizable amount of minor construction carried on in normal operations of the crews. These consist of such items as the construction of 87 haydite block fireplaces, 50 picnic tables, graveling small strips of roads, rerouting drainage ditches, rebuilding bridges, drilling new drinking water wells, running survey of Ballards Marsh, remodeling of Wildlife Building, construction of equipment pens at four district offices and construction of shop building at Norfolk.

The approved construction for next year is one of many improvements. These projects will include: FORT ROBINSON—located two miles west of Crawford. By Act of the Legislature, a portion of this historical cavalry base will be converted into a State Park. It is planned to convert a number of these buildings into overnight cabins, modernize the swimming pool, convert one brick barracks into a hotel, cafe, park office and concession room. Bridle trails are to be located in the Butte Area, picnicking grounds and trailer camping grounds are to be leveled and provided with water, electricity and sanitary facilities.

NIOBRARA STATE PARK—located IV2 miles southwest of Niobrara. A new swimming pool is to be constructed. This is to be a modern pool similar in design to the pool at Ponca State Park with the exception that this pool will^ have to be constructed almost entirely above ground and filled in around it. This is due to the extremely high water table. It will also be necessary to construct revetments along the shoreline of the Niobrara River in the south park to prevent excessive loss of the area by erosion. As the stream traverses the bank, it is continually cutting into park area. Due to limited funds, this will be a long-range project construction as many revetments as possible each year.

CHADRON STATE PARK—located eight miles south of Chadron. A new combination office and residence is to be constructed for the use of the Park Superintendent. This building will be frame construction and located directly east of the present cabin which the Superintendent now occupies. The size will be 73' x 32'. The present swimming pool is to be improved by installation of a water filtering system. The water is now treated and recirculated, but will be greatly improved from a sanitary standpoint.

VERDON RECREATION GROUNDS —located one mile west of Verdon. This lake was drained during the spring of 1955. If the lake bed has sufficiently dried by the summer of '56, equipment will be moved in and the lake bed lowered. The earth removed from the bed will be used to raise the dikes which will in turn permit the increasing of water depth. A new outlet structure will be constructed at the lower elevation. This work will probably extend into the year of 1957.

HAYES CENTER RECREATION GROUNDS — located twelve miles northeast of Hayes Center. A new shelter house is to be built on the west picnic area. This will be a frame roof and concrete floor.

WELLFLEET RECREATION G R O U N D S—located one-half mile west of Wellfleet. Major renovation of the fill and outlet structures are planned. This fill and structures will be raised to permit the raising of the water level by approximately two feet.

This will be a major project as it will involve large quantities of dirt and concrete. The lake has now been lowered to permit the starting of this in early spring.

CRYSTAL LAKE (SOUTH SIOUX CITY)—located two miles southwest of South Sioux City. A new well is to be constructed to assist with the maintaining of the water level. This work will be paid for by Federal Aid and local help.

The Izaak Walton League has agreed to pay the Game Commission's share of both construction and operation. This is in addition to the well already installed by this club.

BURCHARD (PROPOSED)—located four miles northeast of Burchard. Preliminary plans have been made for the construction of a new lake in this area. It will be constructed with Federal Aid funds. If this project becomes a reality, the local sportsmen will provide the Game Commission's share of the land acquisition. It is estimated that this lake would impound approximately 130 surface acres.

Every effort is being made by the Game Commission to provide more and better areas for the sportsmen for the recreation, hunting and fishing. New areas are constantly being sought for future development.

Federal Aid Funds Rise

GAME RESTORATION projects in the various states this year will receive nearly $2 million more in federal aid funds than were available during the previous 12 months, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, administrator of the fund under the terms of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, reports that the $11,610,500 presently available for wildlife restoration work this year exceeds last year's total by $1,813,700.

This money comes from an 11 per cent excise tax paid by sportsmen on sporting arms and ammunition. It is allocated to each state on the basis of size and the number of hunting licenses actually sold.

Under a somewhat similar plan of more recent origin, 10 per cent excise tax collections are made on sport fishing tackle under a program of federal aid to sport fisheries restoration in each state. The total payments this year will be $4,927,400, the largest ever made.

With the required matching provisions of one State dollar for every three Federal dollars, this means that more than $22 million could be used for game and fish restoration work in the States this year.

22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

What about your gun?

By BILL CLEDE Is your favorite hunting piece stored properly for its own protection and the safety of your family?

IN THE FALL of the year a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of hunting in the great outdoors. Out come the rifles and shotguns to be cleaned, inspected, and fondled in anticipation of the coming season. A few weeks of the year the gun is foremost in your mind. But what about the rest of the year when it is left at home?

A great deal has been done in the field of hunter safety. Eleven states have adopted legislation concerned with the education of new hunters and this is effectively reducing the firearms accident rate. As a part of the NRA Hunter Safety Course the proper care and storage of firearms in the home is discussed.

The 1954 edition of "Accident Facts," published by the National Safety Council, says that 1,000 persons died in homes of firearm accidents during 1953. This is actually a small percentage with a population death rate of only 0.6. However, any accident involving a firearm naturally draws publicity. It is by nature tragic because it is so easily prevented. Ninety of these deaths occurred to persons four years old or under. Ignorance is no excuse.

Just as we have rules for safe hunting, so are there rules for guns at home.

TREAT EVERY GUN AS IF IT WERE LOADED. Since "unloaded" guns have caused injury, consider them all loaded and treat them with the respect due a loaded firearm.

When taking a gun home you want to protect it as well as carry it safely, so CARRY IT IN A CASE. A good gun is something we save for nowadays so it is well worth the few extra dollars to buy a good gun case. It will keep inquiring hands away and prevent the fine stock from being scratched. Naturally, carry it unloaded and uncocked. If possible, take the bolt out and carry it separately.

We take pride in the ownership of a fine hunting rifle or shotgun. It should be displayed to best advantage. An attractive gun rack will lend to the rifle's appearance and, when equipped with a lock and key, it will keep it safe.

Before storing your gun, clean it thoroughly. Use a good solvent in the bore until the patch comes out clean, then dry thoroughly and put in a light film of oil. Too much oil can be as dangerous as an obstruction in the bore. Excessive oil or grease in the chamber or bore can create pressures greater than the safe maximum. Clean all metal parts and wipe on a light film of oil. Stock waxes and preservatives are commercially available to keep the wood in good condition.

When cleaning your gun, be by yourself. The only time you need ammunition is in the hunting field or on the range so leave it locked away separately from the firearms. Check for mechanical defects and always make sure the bore is clear before using the gun. Now that the gun is clean, lock it in the rack.

Friends will probably want to see your guns when they come to call. Naturally you want to show your pride and joy. OPEN THE ACTION. The first thing to do is open the action and make sure there are no cartridges in the chamber or magazine. An open action is the most dependable safety because the firing pin cannot reach the cartridge. Safeties are mechanical and thus subject to malfunction. Use them supplementary to good gun handling.

Even with an open action—or if it must be closed to get the right "feel” POINT THE MUZZLE IN A SAFE DIRECTION. An expert is easily recognized by the way he handles a firearm. He never allows it to point at anything he does not intend to shoot.

You can also recognize the person ignorant of the safety rules by the carelessness and disregard with which he handles a gun. Always insist that everyone near you obey these common sense rules of safe gun handling.

WINTER ISSUE 23

Two New Fish Records Set

Don Smith, Lincoln, has filed a 2 lb. 4 oz. bullhead caught at Cedar Bluffs in September. This is the first bullhead to be filed as a record fish with the Game Commission.

Dale M. Johnson, Wausa, is pictured at the left with a record size sauger pike, weighing 5 lb. 15 oz., caught in October at the tailwaters of the new Gavin's Point dam.

Johnson was fishing with worms when he caught the 26-inch fish.

You can record your fish by having your local Conservation Officer witness the weighing and filing a report on it. Otherwise, you should have an affidavit made of the catch and have two witnesses, who actually saw the weighing, sign it. Forward it to the Game Commission, Statehouse, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Nebraska Record Fish

LARGEMOUTH BASS: 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Caught by Wentworth Clarke, Omaha* in Fremont State Lake No. 4 in 1943. (World record: 22 pounds, 4 ounces). SMALLMOUTH BASS: Open. (World record: 10 pounds, 8 ounces). WHITE BASS: 4 pounds, 4 ounces. Caught by Barbara Mombach, Grand Island, in McConaughy reservoir in 1952. (No authentic world record but catches up to 5 pounds reported). BLUEGILL: 2 pounds, 8 ounces. Caught by party consisting of Walter Beckman, Carl Buck, Bill Adams and Ervin Krueger, all of Garland, in Monroe power canal in 1949. (World record: 4 pounds, 12 ounces). BUFFALO: 32 pounds. Caught by L. Ashbaugh, Wilber, in Blue river near Wilber dam in 1944. (No world record available). BULLHEAD: 2 pounds, 4V2 ounces. Caught by Don Smith, Lincoln, at Cedar Bluffs in September, 1955. BLUE CATFISH: 58 pounds. Caught by O. P. Nielson, Bloomfield, in the Missouri river near Bloomfield in 1954. (No world record available.) BROOK TROUT: 4 pounds, 8 ounces. Caught by Vernon Zimmerman, Avid, Colo., in Lake McConaughy in 1953. (World record: 14 pounds, 4 ounces). BROWN TROUT: 11 pounds, 4 ounces. Caught by L. B. Eby, Sidney, in Otter creek in 1950. (World record: 39 pounds, 8 ounces). CHANNEL CATFISH: 31 pounds, 12 ounces. Caught by Bob Nuquist, Broken Bow, in Lake Erickson in 1944. (World record: 55 pounds) YELLOW CATFISH: 46 pounds. Caught by Leo Wozny of Columbus and Roy Hamilton of Lincoln in Loup river power canal at Columbus in 1950. (World record not available). CRAPPIE: 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Caught by A. E. Hueppelsheuster, Lincoln, across Lake McConaughy from Otter creek in 1947. (No world record available). FRESH WATER DRUM: 17 pounds, 1 ounce. Caught by Edward Woolsey, Omaha, in Carter lake in 1952. (No world record available). NORTHERN PIKE: 25 pounds. Caught by R. O. DeFord, Ogallala, in McConaughy in 1951. This record was tied by O. D. Moon, Sterling, Colo., in McConaughy in 1951. (World record: 46 pounds, 2 ounces). WALLEYE PIKE: 13 pounds, 5 ounces. Caught by Gordon Gelster, Brady, in Brady Check in 1954. (World record: 22 pounds, 4 ounces). PERCH: Open. (World record not available). RAINBOW TROUT: 12 pounds, 4 ounces. Caught by J. C. Wickard, Brule, in Sports Service Bay near Kingsley dam. (World record: 37 pounds). SAUGER: 5 pounds and 15 ounces. Caught by Dale M. Johnson, Wausa, at the tailwater of Gavin's Point dam in October, 1955.

Fishing NE Nebraska

-Continued From Page 19-

duces excellent catfishing and also carp fishing. The North Fork of the Elkhorn has given excellent walleye fishing at certain times of the year.

Taylor Creek, northwest of Madison is a typical creek in this area from which numerous rainbow trout have been taken.

NANCE: The Beaver, Cedar, and Loup Rivers all are excellent catfishing streams; most of the catfish caught being channels and blues.

PIERCE: The North Fork River in this county produces catfish, bullheads, and carp.

PLATTE: The powerhouse tailrace, 4 miles east of Columbus at the junction of the power canal and the Platte River is well known for catfishing. Monroe public power canal is good for catfish, drum and bullheads. Catfish are taken in parts of Lake Babcock; however, the lake has accumulated much silt and fishing has deteriorated.

STANTON: The Elkhorn River and Union Creek produce bullhead, catfish, and carp fishing.

THURSTON: The Missouri River and Logan Creek afford catfishing and carp fishing.

WASHINGTON: The Elkhorn and Missouri Rivers produce carp, bullhead, and catfishing.

WAYNE: Few fishing possibilities occur in this county other than in farm ponds. Logan Creek produces catfish, bullheads, and carp.

WHEELER: The Cedar River and Lake Ericson produce good bass fishing. Walleye have been stocked in the lake. Bluegill, crappie, and catfish are also taken from Ericson.

Pibel Lake, which is state-owned, has recently been renovated with the help of contributions made by the citizens of the surrounding area. At present it affords excellent bullhead and catfish fishing. Pan-size bass and bluegill should afford very good fishing in 1956.

Northeastern Nebraska contains over five hundred farm ponds which have been stocked with fish. Fishing in these varies from poor to excellent. Some of the better farm fishponds are those located in the northern part of the State. Many ponds in this vicinity are not entirely dependent on runoff but are also spring fed. Farm pond catches consist mostly of bass, bluegill, catfish, and bullheads.

24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Better Fishing For Nebraskans

Continued From Page 11

miracles).

2. Angling today is for relaxation, not primarily for "meat." (With present human populations, and the resultant heavy fishing pressure, some waters can no longer provide the anglers with big quantities of meat. But, they can furnish many man-days of healthful, badly needed relaxation. The emphasis must be on the enjoyment of fishing. If "meat" is all that is wanted, it can be bought at the corner store more cheaply than it can be caught by angling).

3. Fish conservation has become a complicated science; we must rely on the trained specialist in the same way that we rely on professionals in medicine, law, engineering, dentistry and other fields. (Fish conservation is a relatively new science; we still lack many of the answers and we sometimes make mistakes. However, we rely on the physician even though he can't cure some ailments and even though he makes errors in diagnosis.)

These three items are not the full answer to fish conservation education. But, if we recognize that our aquatic pastures have much in common with their dryland equivalent; if we realize that our limited fish supplies in many waters are more valuable for recreation than for meat; and if, as in other fields, we rely on the specialist, we will have reached the point where fish conservation can make rapid progress.

Educating The Professional

We still have a long way to go in educating the professional fishery worker. The tendency has been to give him a thorough background in biology and related subjects, if the worker is to be strictly a researcher, this background training is proper and is probably adequate. But, most workers who begin as biologists end up in other capacities. For them the "biology" training, alone, is highly inadequate.

The fishery worker will be in constant contact with people. He will soon discover that humans, not fish, are his major problems. In this connection, he should have training in sociology and psychology, as well as in journalism and other media of expression. Ability to write a technical paper will be of secondary importance. Ability to talk, to appear effectively on TV and radio, and to write simply and understandably in a popular vein, will be immensely more important.

If the "biologist" is to become an administrator, he must know something about business administration and economics.

We know, now, that land and water use are all-important to fishing. The fishery worker must know something about forestry, soil conservation, pollution, mining, irrigation, and other major land and water uses.

The fishery worker who is not engaged solely in research needs a broad background; mere training in biology is highly inadequate. Actually, there should be two categories—training for research, and training for fish management. The first of these could be highly restricted; the other should be broad. For the first, a Ph.D. degree is preferable; for the second a Master's degree would probably be better. There's another argument for the two categoriesan individual who excels in one of them is usually poorly suited for the other. The top-notch researcher is usually an introvert,and is highly sensitive. The fish management man must be thick-skinned enough to take in stride a certain amount of abuse. The one primarily produces information, the other "sells" and uses it.

Our colleges and universities must recognize these differences if they are to provide competent personnel. The professors must recognize too, that the campus habitat and the off-campus habitat are two different environments. It happens that most fishery professors are rather strictly research men, and that they can do a better job of training researchers than of training fishery personnel who need a broader basis of learning.

Nebraska Trout

The fish weighed 2 lbs. 8 oz. and 3 lbs. 6 oz. They measured 19 and 21 Vz inches. They were caught at well, that is still a secret of the Krikac family.

Comstock is located in Custer County on Nebraska State Highway 183. Nearest fishing waters are the Middle, North Loup and Calamus rivers and the small spring-fed streams emptying into them.

E. S. Krikac's daughter Sheila holds up two brown trout her father caught in November near their home at Comstock. They are visual proof of his contention that "Nebraska has some of the best trout fishing in the Nation, only people don't realize it."

Fellowship Aid For Wildlife Students

THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE Federation has announced that its fellowship program will be continued next year with several $1,000 grants to outstanding graduate students in conservation education. Application forms may be secured by writing to Ernest F. Swift, executive director of the Federation, at 232 Carroll Street, N. W. Washington 12, D. C.

The fellowships are financed largely by returns from the famous wildlife stamps which have been distributed by the Federation annually since 1938.

In addition to the fellowships, a number of scholarships will be awarded to qualified undergraduate students in the field of conservation, Mr. Swift said. The undergraduate grants are made possible by the income from a bequest by the late James Hopkins of New York City.

WINTER ISSUE 25

Notes on Nebraska Fauna

Pintail

This is the twenty-fifth of a series of articles and drawings depicting Nebraska's many varieties of wildlife. The article was written by Game Manager Harvey Miller and the drawing was prepared by Staff Artist C. G. "Bud" Priichard. The spring issue of Outdoor Nebraska will feature the brown trout.

MOST outdoor Nebraskans associate the American pintail, commonly called "spikes," with springtime. His arrival in early February, just as winter begins to relax its icy grip on the land, means spring is close behind. This saucy gentleman in strictly formal attire migrates enmasse and can seemingly blanket the land during his usually brief stay.

Shy and ever alert, one distinctive characteristic is their habit of alighting to feed, then suddenly, with only the slightest provocation, the entire group scrambles aloft. After circling and scanning the field, they settle down only to start the process over again.

It is on the journey northward to the breeding grounds that the pintail selects a mate for the coming season. One of Nature's most interesting sights is this courtship, most commonly carried on during the early morning or late afternoon hours.

Any unattended female will attract a half-dozen or more drakes, all of whom put on a vigorous display of neckstretching, strutting and sparring which milady appears to ignore.

Suddenly, however, she springs into the air to start a most precisely maneuvered, awe inspiring game of aerial follow-the-leader imaginable. Twisting and turning, she leads her suitors at break-neck speed barely skimming the water, then rocketing to great heights, there appearing to pause an instant before power-diving down again. They literally whip through the treetops with reckless abandon, moving in such a close knit group that wingtips are continually snapping together. All the while the drakes are telling of their true love in a rather plaintive, whistlelike call.

After each flight, the group drops to the water where, accompanied by a great deal of splashing and preening, a "gabblefest" is held, as if to discuss the highlights of the aerial display.

By late April, the newly formed pairs have reached the breeding grounds which extend from the sandhills of Nebraska to the ^rctic Ocean and from California to Labrador.

Here, the male selects the actual mating area or "territory," usually a small pothole or sandy beach. He will defend this area against all trespass by other pintail drakes; so vigorous is his defense that few care to challenge.

The nest itself is constructed by the hen. She selects a site on dry land usually'in a meadow or prairie grassland; it may be a mile or more from water. The nest is simply a scooped out hollow rather sparsely lined with feathers and down.

She lays from 6 to 12 eggs, usually about 9. Incubation begins as soon as the last egg is laid and takes from 21 to 23 days. The first broods appear in midMay making the pintail the earliest nesting species over most of the breeding grounds.

The young grow rapidly, being one of the faster maturing species of ducks. At 10 days, the first feathers appear; at 30 days they are nearly full grown and feathered, and in the short time of 38 to 50 days, they begin to fly. Thus, the first pintail broods are on the wing in early July when many of the other species are just hatching.

As soon as the brood is able to care for itself, the hen moults into her eclipse plumage, which for her, is similar to the breeding plumage.

The young soon begin wandering flights over the countryside. Other family groups join occasionally to make flocks of several dozen or more. These "constitutional" flights may carry the flock in any direction and quite often, the hunting season finds them in neighboring flyways or even north of their rearing grounds.

Now, the pintail performs an aboutface. Whereas, in the spring he appeared oblivious to the cold in his rush to get to the breeding grounds, he now flees before the autumn' frost. His southward migration is among the earliest; starting in late August and is completed through Nebraska by late October. He is generally well settled on the wintering grounds of California, Mexico, and Central and South America by mid-December.

They are probably second in importance to the mallard in Nebraska and the Central Flyway. Hunter reports show pintails making up from 10 to 15 per cent of the hunter kill. Due only to the pintails' early migration they miss much of the hunting pressure.

The pintail has a rather unique migration pattern. Most waterfoul species migrate along a relatively straight north-south line which in the Central Flyway, runs from Alaska to the Texas Coast and Central America.

The pintail, however, moves from Canada into Montana and North Dakota, where a large portion of the population turns westward to California missing Nebraska entirely. They continue down the Pacific Coast to the wintering grounds of Mexico and Central America. The following spring these birds then return northward along the Gulf Coast through the Central Flyway to their northern summer homes.

This accounts for the masses of pintails in Nebraska each spring; they appear relatively scarce in the fall. Also interesting is the preponderance of males in the spring flight. This is caused by the males migrating early and being held up by the frozen lakes; the females come later and move almost nonstop through the state. One pintail banded at Brigham, Utah, was recovered three months later in the Hawaiian Islands. Another banded in Labrador was recovered a month later in England.

So, the pintail is a busy duck. He hurries north for the summer, then hurries south for the winter; he hurries to feed, then hurries to rest. But for all his rush; his beauty, sporty habits, and table qualities place him high on the list of favorite waterfowl for outdoor Nebraskans.

26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA