Outdoor Nebraska

IN THIS ISSUE:

WATER-SOAKED ROBIN HOODS

IF YOU'VE soured on spinning, tired of fly-fishing, or become bored with bait casting, take heart! There is yet another form of fishing, relatively new in Nebraska, that is guaranteed to end all boredom. And you use no hooks, but bow and arrow instead. For the second consecutive season, the Game Commission has authorized an archery season on nongame fish. For the purposes of the bow fisherman, nongame fish are carp, buffalo, gar, and suckers.

This sport, most successfully practiced in spring and early summer when rough fish are spawning in the shallows, combines the thrills of hunting and the excitement of playing a robust fish on a line. Added to this doublebarreled fun is the fascination of archery itself, one of America's fastest-growing sports.

Learning to shoot a bow well is an exciting challenge, and placing an arrow on the target is not a skill developed overnight. But the longbow is a deadly and efficient weapon in skilled hands. Last year, 657 archers killed 80 deer in Nebraska. Benjamin Franklin once seriously considered arming the colonial militia with longbows rather than the clumsy, inaccurate muskets of that day.

This is not to say that the bow is so murderously efficient as the modern rifle. Only 12 per cent of Nebraska's JUNE, 1958 3   big-game archers were successful in '57, far short of the 69 per cent success score made by the rifle hunters. But it takes considerably more practice with a bow than with a rifle to become proficient enough to kill game, not to mention the inherent limitations of the longbow as compared with the rifle. This deliberately self-imposed handicap assumed by the archer-hunter is a part of the game, giving added enjoyment when success does come.

While the term "longbow" is used to differentiate this weapon from the crossbow, which is illegal in Nebraska and most other states, the modern bow is a far cry from the English longbow from which it is descended. The English weapon was often six feet in length, sometimes more, relatively high in the belly and narrow in proportion to its depth. Generally made of self yew, it was clumsy and sloppily made compared with the modern bow.

Actually, the modern hunting bow, made of fiberglass and other synthetic materials, more nearly resembles the ancient Turkish bow. The Turks' weapon was fashioned of horn and sinew, short and sharply recurved. Unsurpassed by the work of modern craftsmen, these weapons were famed for superb cast. The finest modern bows resemble them both in appearance and performance.

For bow fishing, however, you do not need an expensive weapon. The finest equipment, of course, in line with what your pocketbook will bear, is always a good investment. But you will be shooting your fish at extremely close range, and your bow will be getting wet.

Whatever the quality of your equipment, do not use too powerful a bow. This is good advice in any type of archery, and probably applies even more forcefully in bow fishing. Your finny target will be close to you, so little power is needed to drive an arrow through a fish. Aside from that, pulling a heavy bow is tiring and makes for inaccuracy. A modern bow of 50-pounds pulling weight is heavy enough for nearly all big game, and may be handled comfortably by most men. A 40-pound bow is suitable for most women, and is adequate for big game. A bow of this weight will most certainly do a good job on fish.

The fishing arrow is usually made especially for fish, of metal or fiberglass. It is generally best to tie your fishing line to the metal arrowhead, which is heavily barbed. When you hit a fish the head pulls off the shaft and you play the fish directly. In many shafts, a hole is drilled at the feather end and the line passed through this hole. This insures accurate flight. "Feathers" on fishing arrows are generally of rubber or plastic, for conventional vanes would not last long in this wet and rough-on-arrows sport.

The heavy nylon line is stored on a simple reel which is taped to the bow. You may buy a reel or make one yourself. The reels are inexpensive, being essentially a drum around which the line is wound by hand. Some 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   archers place a short length of coiled spring on the reel or near it. The line is inserted between two of the coils to hold it in place, preventing the line from falling off the reel. Thirty to 60 feet of line is ample.

Several types of barbed heads are available. The simplest consists of a wire spur attached to a piercing point. But it is most difficult to remove from a landed fish. The easiest solution to the problem is to cut the line and then retie to the barb for your next shot. A convenient variation of this barb is similar, but the spur is retractable, making for easy removal from the stricken fish.

An old pair of leather gloves is most handy for bow fishing. The conventional shooting glove may be saved for other work, for any type of hand protection will be wet before you've fired many shots. Aside from that, the old leather gloves protect your hands from burns that might be caused by the nylon line. And the glove on your left hand gives protection from sharp gill covers and spiny fins. An armguard may or may not be essential, depending on your bow and the clothing you're wearing.

Many rough fish are not easily caught by hook and line, and the Game Commission reports their numbers are underharvested by conventional fishing. Thus the bow fisherman is actually aiding good conservation by indulging in his sport. Carp, for instance, are shy and hard to catch in most areas, difficult to approach except during the spawning season. But in spring and early summer you may walk within a few feet of the spawning carp as they lie in shallow water, their dorsal fins often exposed. And there will never be a shortage of carp, for this species is one of the most prolific fish found anywhere.

This situation is ideal for the bow fisherman, who may, in Nebraska, enjoy his sport from April 1 to December 1, from sunrise to sunset. Only in a few state-owned lakes, where carp are stocked on a "put-and-take" basis, is there a limit. Elsewhere the sky is the limit on nongame fish. A large carp or any other rough fish pierced by your arrow will put on a most exciting show, even when struck in a vital area. You should, in fact, aim for the head when shooting any large fish. Outright kills are almost never made, and your chances of getting damp are excellent.

But so are your chances for good sport and good eating. For fun and practice, take your bow into the water. There is much to be said for this new type of fishing, involving as it does an ancient form of hunting. For, as Maurice Thompson put it:

"So long as the new moon returns in Heaven, a bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold of the hearts of men."

NUTRIA versus the PEOPLE

A RECENT newcomer to the ranks of Nebraska fur bearers is the nutria, Myocaster coypus, also known as South American beaver, swamp beaver, and coypu. The nutria belongs to the Order Rodentia and is a member of the Family Octodont (so named because of the four molar teeth on each side of the jaw). These qualifications place the nutria in a close relationship with the muskrat and beaver, both semiaquatic fur bearers found in considerable numbers in Nebraska.

The nutria was originally introduced into the United States in 1899. Little success, however, was achieved from efforts to raise them in captivity and, as a consequence, some were released into the wild to survive or perish. Other releases were accidental, coming as a result of floods, storms, or insecure pen construction.

From whatever cause releases were made, it soon became evident that the nutria was finding conditions to its liking. In Louisiana, the broad coastal marshes were especially attractive, offering considerable areas of emergent vegetation along with other succulent green plants. It was a simple matter for the nutria to extend its range in Louisiana because of the many waterways to and from the marsh areas. Within a 20-year period, Louisiana's nutria population skyrocketed to a population supporting a harvest of over 500,000 during the 1957-58 trapping season.

Along with this tremendous increase in the nutria population came howls of anguish from farmers in areas adjacent to marshes and waterways. The nutria has never been known to be too finical as to its diet, except that it is a vegetarian. Flooded rice fields proved too tempting, consequently crop-depredation problems multiplied with the population increase. In regard to feeding habits, it must be emphasized that crops such as alfalfa, clover, carrots, and cabbage are sought-after morsels and are items which a nutria can be expected to utilize in our Nebraska habitats.

One of the best descriptions of the nutria was given in a book on fur farming by A. G. Harding: an animal having a "head like a beaver, whiskers like a walrus, body like a ground hog, front feet like a squirrel, hind feet like a duck, and a tail like a rat."

In size the nutria, with an average weight of 15 to 20 pounds, would be placed at the halfway mark between its smaller cousin the muskrat (2 to 4 pounds), and the beaver (40 to 50 pounds). The nutria's body is approximately 24 inches long and the tail 12 to 16 inches. An interesting feature of the female is the location of the mammary glands, along the side of the back. This arrangement makes it convenient for the mother to suckle her young while they are in the water.

The nutria's living conditions are similar to those of muskrats in that they live either in a floating home constructed from aquatic plants, or in bank dens. They continue to enlarge their living quarters as long as food and 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   water remain relatively abundant. Should their food supply be consumed or otherwise depleted, nutria will migrate along the watercourse or even several miles overland to reach more desirable conditions.

Females breed at from 5 to 15 months of age, and the normal gestation period is approximately 135 days. After producing a litter, the female will usually breed back the same day.

The young are born at various times throughout the year. Litter sizes vary from two to eight with the usual number about five. Two to three litters each year are possible, indicating the high reproductive potential of this fur bearer.

The fur of the nutria was known to the fur trade many years prior to the importation of the species into the United States. The most desirable portion of the pelt is the "belly" fur and not the back, as is generally the case with other fur bearers.

Trappers find No. 1V2 or 2 traps able to hold the largest nutria. Traps are set in "runs" or feeding areas in sets similar to those made for muskrat. Traps should be anchored more securely than for muskrats because of the nutria's larger size and greater strength.

Nutria are skinned in the same manner as muskrat, that is, "cased" with the skin side out. Proper care in stretching and fleshing will pay off in higher returns to the trapper. Pelts which measure 22 inches or less from the eye hole to the bottom of the skin have practically no commercial value. Nutria pelts currently bring approximately $2.50 per pelt. They sell for as little as 25 cents, and may bring more than $9 for an unusually fine pelt.

Recent inquiries from people interested in pen-raising nutria have prompted the following comments which may answer some questions concerning this venture.

The National Better Business Bureau printed a periodical exposing certain promoters who have made misleading statements concerning the economic aspects of raising nutria. Claims that skins will bring up to $75 or more each are unwarranted and untrue. The usual price is from 50 cents to $2.50.

Frank G. Ashbrook, formerly with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has explained that "the present situation is not caused by the raw-fur prices, but by the processing and manufacturing costs which make a fur coat a luxury. Until these costs are reduced, there is little possibility of an increase in the prices paid for raw nutria pelts and an increase in the volume of the nutria fur business in this country."

Honest and reputable fur ranchers are the first to condemn the fly-by-night, get-rich-quick promoters who have no interest in the future of the fur industry. Nutria ranchers realize that the future of the industry lies in the continual improvement of pelt quality which can come about only by severe and purposeful culling of the ranch herd. Color phases of the nutria will surely come, but it will be a hard struggle with only the most experienced and capable ranchers reaching the goal.

As to the future of nutria accidentally released in Nebraska, only time will tell how successfully they will be able to withstand our winters and adapt themselves to our habitat picture.

Since it is known that nutria compete with muskrats for food, and will destroy waterfowl marsh habitat, it was resolved by the Midwestern Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners at their 1957 meeting that nutria be banned from Midwestern marshes. M. O. Steen, Nebraska Game Commission director, has indicated that it may become necessary to prohibit the importation and release of nutria, and to eradicate if possible the present population in Nebraska.

HANDLOADING BAND WAGON

VERSATILITY, accuracy, dependability, economy, availability, and performance. Sounds almost like a commercial for new cars or power lawn mowers, doesn't it? Yet these are qualities obtainable by any shooter who enters the mushrooming field of handloading rifle or pistol ammunition.

Hit hard in the pocketbook by increase after increase in the price of factory loads, lots of shooters think twice before burning many rounds. Budget-conscious gun bugs the nation over have climbed aboard the reloading band wagon, and have been followed by many folks who can afford all the tailor-made ammunition they need. Though to the former economy is the major factor, both groups seek the ultimate in accuracy and versatility. Let's take a step-by-step look at the handloading game, and see how reloading is affecting shooting everywhere.

Your first question might be, "Just how accurate are reloads?" The answer is found in magazine reports of bench-rest matches. You will find the number of benchrest shooters using factory loads about equals the number of antelope in Douglas County. Remember that these bench-resters are the super-accuracy Johnnies, many of whom can place 10 shots in a half-inch circle at 100 yards. This pretty well disproves the cynical wheeze that reloads merely provide dry firing with a bang.

Shown the way by the authoritative National Rifle Association, backed up by carefully checked data from the well-known H. P. White laboratories, and information from the makers of components and loading tools, the amateur and professional handloading experimenters have blazed a trail into what was once unknown territory. Today, unknown factors are mostly eliminated, so that making safe, accurate handloads is mainly a matter of following simple directions to the letter and using common sense, caution and observation.

How about handloading for you and me, the ordinary run-of-the-mill rifle and handgun enthusiasts? Is this reloading business practical for us, or should all this mumbojumbo of "seating depth," "case trimming," "primers," "neck chamfering," "grains weight of powder," and so forth best be left to the experts?

Sales figures of the multi-million-dollar handloading-supply business show that the ordinary run of gun-toters JUNE, 1958   are becoming handloaders in droves, and more daily come into the fold. Want to get with them? It's easy.

Get yourself a reloading handbook. It will give you the whys and wherefores, and get you on the track. Using the book as a guide, select your loading tools, powder measure, and scale, and obtain your components.

With your handbook spelling out directions, cook up a batch of ammunition. Take your time, for speed comes later. And don't start at maximum loads. Work up to maximum loads, not down.

What about these claims of versatility and economy? Let us take the common, garden variety .30/06 cartridge for an example. In factory ammunition of this cabber, the choice is limited to only four weights of bullets, but this is a wider selection than most calibers offer. These factory loads are fine, but they certainly don't fill some needs. Properly handloaded, the .30/06 can be ballistically right for any game from brown rats to brown bear, because of the tremendous flexibility possible with the almost innumerable combinations of powder and cast or jacketed bullets. Not all calibers are suitable for such a wide range, but any center-fire cartridge can be made much more flexible by proper handload selection.

For example, if you want fun and practice indoors, you can make up some of the "gallery" loads that are safe with any good bullet trap or backstop. These loads consist of a small charge of fast-burning powder behind a small lubricated lead bullet. Some even use bore-size round shot for this purpose. Good gallery loads are accurate up to 25 yards.

At the other end of the scale is the big 250-grain Barnes .30 caliber jacketed bullet, which when loaded correctly has tremendous energy and penetration. With proper preparation this load will about equal the .318 Rigby, of African and Indian fame.

Between these extremes is the practical 125 or 130-grain jacketed soft-nose bullet for a flat-shooting, high-velocity varment load. This load is shown in the accompanying photos. These practical handloads can give almost fabulous results on varments, offering the freedom from ricochets of the 110-grain load, with most of the wind-bucking qualities of the 150-grain standard deer load.

This should give an idea of the extreme versatility of the handloaded product. What is true for the .30/06 is usually true for most other standard calibers. In many of these, you may safely exceed factory ballistics a little, or you may reduce the power of the load to fit the desired task. These varied ends, to point up the accuracy in handloading, can be accomplished with just one rifle.

Using current retail prices, if you are in-the-know you can load mild cast bullet loads in .30/06 caliber for $2.27 per 100 rounds, or load fairly hot varment or deer loads for $7 per 100. This is allowing no depreciation on your loading tools, as they would ordinarily last several lifetimes, but does represent the total retail cost of the components. Compare this with $22.75 per 100 for over-the-counter sales of factory-made ammunition.

Compared with tailor-made hulls, you can save about $2 out of $3, or 66 percent. For target shooting, where you don't need the power, the wide-awake handloader can save about $8 to $9 out of 10, or 80 to 90 percent.

You might ask why Mr. Peters Winchester and Mr. Remington Western haven't been irked at all these savings and moved to cut off the supplies of reloading components. That's easy. These gentlemen themselves sell reloading components. They know that many of their customers would shoot far less if they had to buy all their ammunition factory made.

There is another area where the reloader has an advantage—the "odd" foreign calibers. Ammunition for these is often difficult or impossible to obtain, but nowadays loading dies and proper components are often available. Many of these immigrants are fine weapons, suffering only from the shortage of ammunition.

Should you think this handloading game is right for you, don't sit on your hands. Join the fun and save a buck. There is room for everyone.—THE END.

PAN FISH PALAVER

BARE FEET in the sand, two boys concentrate on a piece of cork bobbing merrily on the surface of the water. Fishing slows a bit and they lie back against the warm bank. Looking up into the cumulus clouds, they pick out the faces of Uncle John, Grandpa, and even Thor, the Norse god of strength.

Many minutes tick by before one boy glances down on the water to see his cork plunge out of sight. Small, sun-browned arms lend themselves to the task. The cane pole bends precariously, responding to pressure as a big crappie comes flopping out on the bank. Excitement runs high as the boys admire their fish, then add him to a stringer filled with crappies and bluegills. The long hike home with a heavy stringer draped over a shoulder has its reward, for Dad looks longingly at the fish and asks how and where such trophies are obtainable. He even inquires if he might go along some Saturday afternoon.

Angling for pan fish brings back such memories of boyhood days. But a cane pole, a few minnows, a can of worms, and a whole summer to fish is past for us kids of yesterday. Fishing has changed. The younger generation JUNE, 1958 11   now wears shoes, uses a $25 fishing rod and reel, and fishes from a $300 boat. The fish are still there and our kids catch them in basically the same manner. But the style is fancier.

I don't know that I envy today's youth. I think our boyhoods would have been pretty dull without the pole, a slingshot, and the old swimming hole. Nevertheless, fishing today, with today's methods and equipment, has much to commend it. I can recall many evenings during my boyhood when crappies and bluegills were rising to hordes of May flies, and I couldn't catch a decent fish on my baited hook. Today, fly-fishing for both of these fish is one of the top angling attractions.

Nebraska has a lot of fine pan-fishing waters. Crappies are numerous in our reservoirs and Sand Hill lakes, and bluegills abound in our farm ponds and also keep the crappie company in Sand Hill lakes.

Some well-known crappie spots are Swanson, Medicine Creek, Harlan County, and Enders Reservoirs in southwest Nebraska. Northward, in the panhandle, West Kimball Reservoir and Lakes Minatare and Whitney have some excellent fishing. Sand Hill lakes that have been producing both bluegills and crappies are Schoolhouse, Medicine, Pelican, and Big Alkali. Gavins Point, for those who know the area well, produces crappies in abundance and some bluegill.

Smith Lake in Sheridan County has a very good population of big bluegills, but they have been reported hard to catch on bait. The fly rod and poppers should help the fisherman on this lake. Long and Duck Lakes, on the Valentine refuge, are predominantly bluegill waters.

Bluegills are the predominant species in Nebraska's countless farm ponds. These small impoundments, along with Memphis, Fremont, Louisville, and Alexandria State Lakes, round out the bluegill and crappie waters of the state. Your local conservation officer or sporting-goods dealer can be of help in locating and determining accessibility of farm ponds and remote Sand Hill lakes.

The crappie provides lots of fast action for the spring fisherman. He is fished for primarily with minnows, but will readily hit streamers and wet flies. Later in the summer, crappie will pounce on a small fly-rod popper fished along the shore line in the evening. The crappie is a school fish and it is usual when one is caught that there will be more in the area waiting for your offerings.

Late spring and early summer find both bluegills and crappies in shallow water. As the water begins to warm they perform their spawning duties. By early July they are moving into deeper, cooler waters during the day, feeding along drop-offs and weed beds in early morning and late evening.

My experience with the crappie shows that he likes his dinner on the move, also that a spinner-minnow combination is sure-fire when fished with spinning or fly rod.

Finding fish is frequently more of a problem than catching them. Trolling a lure or bait at different depths until one gets action is probably the quickest method for locating fish. Once located, the school may move, but you can usually find them again in short order.

Crappies feed heavily on minnows and large aquatic nymphs, so small spoons, spinners, streamers, and wet flies 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   pay off best when fishing artificials. They prefer the lighter patterns, such as the red-and-white and the pearl spoons. Silver spinners on dark days or in roily waters, and brass or gold on bright days with clear water, are good bets for consistent results.

Streamer flies in sizes 8 to 12 in the red-and-white, yellow, or combinations thereof, have been the best fish getters over the years. Wet flies in these same sizes and color patterns, along with such well-known ones as the Light Cahill, Coachman, Black Gnat, and Professor, will produce lots of action.

Bluegills are, in my book, the fly-fisherman's warmwater trout. Inch for inch, the bluegill can put up a fight that would do credit to any fish that swims. He's not a fussy feeder. Worms, wet flies, dry flies, and poppers are all accepted by this game little scrapper.

The bluegill will follow the crappie in spawning, then move into deeper water during the hot part of the summer. He is most vulnerable to fishermen when over the spawning beds, usually from late May to early July, depending on water temperatures. In protecting his nest from predation he is a veritable little bearcat, seeming to have the attitude that if he can't swallow the bait whole he can chew it into small pieces.

Many times while fishing for bass, I have had bluegills strike so viciously they knocked big bass plugs completely clear of the water. Early in the year, worms and wet flies will prove to be the best fish-getters. On spawning beds, poppers and flies will provide action, then later in the summer a combination of all is the key to a heavy stringer.

Early morning and late evening will find these pan fish in a mood to hit dry flies and poppers. As the sun gets up they move back into the cool depths, then bait and wet flies should be used. Procedure is identical with both the bluegill and the crappie, except that for crappies you should substitute minnows for worms.

My preference in equipment for pan fish is the spinning rig. It casts easily, can be used with a cork for still-fishing or, as I prefer, used with bait and very little lead, letting the bait sink to the desired depths and slowly retrieving it. In this way I can cover a lot of water to locate the fish.

Medium-to-light-action fly rods perform well for pan fish. Six to eight feet of four-pound-test leader is standard. When fishing wet flies and streamers in the shallows, allow the fly to sink a foot or so under the surface and retrieve slowly. Making the fly move jerkily for a foot or so, allow it to settle and continue your retrieve.

When fish are in deeper water it is usually necessary to add a small split shot to your leader so that the fly will sink faster. I use the counting method to tell when my fly is near the bottom. To use this method, make your first cast and continue to count until your fly hits bottom, then you will have a fair idea of how long to wait before starting your retrieve.

In the event that you feel this is a little too complicated, let the kids use the rods, flies, and lures; you take the cane pole and the worms. Take off your shoes, pull your hat over your eyes, and relax; there's one thing the younger generation has to wait for just as we did—for the fish to bite. Time hasn't changed that.

THE END

WATER SAFETY

IDEALLY, as far as fishing, boating, skiing, and swimming are concerned, every participant should be a swimmer, and every swimmer a lifesaver. Since this is too great an accomplishment to be a reality, a few fundamentals should be a part of everyone's knowledge.

Safety in and on the water depends upon a number of things. It begins, of course, with the ability to swim well enough to take care of one's self under ordinary conditions. It does not, however, end there. Real water safety is also based upon such things as the ability to recognize and avoid hazardous water conditions and practices. Ability to use self-rescue skills to get out of dangerous situations is also a factor. Finally, skill in rescuing or assisting persons in danger of drowning is a means of preserving one's life as well as saving that of someone else.

The three major causes of drowning are: failure to recognize hazardous conditions or practices, inability to get out of dangerous situations, and lack of knowledge of safe ways in which to aid or rescue drowning persons.

Man has found comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment in the water, but at the same time he has learned that there are definite limits beyond which he cannot safely go and there is a certain amount of knowledge of water conditions which he must acquire. Real safety in the water is largely a personal matter. Every person, from the time he first enters the water until his taste for swimming ceases, should steadily acquire the knowledge and the skill which will enable him to take care of himself under all except the most unusual conditions.

The knowledge necessary for water safety in swimming consists largely in knowing when, where, and how much to swim. Skill for safety is made up of abilities to meet commonly hazardous conditions which beset the swimmer. A person is reasonably safe in the water only if he knows how to swim or is under the watchful eye of someone who knows how to save his life in case of emergency.

RULES FOR WATER RESCUE:

Never risk your own life, if it can be avoided, in a rescue. The victim's life and yours depend on what you can do.

Make the rescue from land, if at all possible. Use a rope, long pole, or any floating object to serve as a buoy. The tube from a spare tire is very good.

If using a boat or canoe, use proper safety techniques and devices. Know how to use position points for rescue.

Remember that the rescue that necessitates swimming is the most hazardous of all. If you don't know exactly how to make this type of rescue, get help! Know what to do and how to do it before you go in for a drowning victim. If you don't know—don't go!

After the rescue, you should know revival techniques. These are illustrated on the next page.

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

1. POSITION OF THE SUBJECT AND OPERATOR— Place the subject in the face-down, prone position. Bend his elbows and place the hands one upon the other. Turn his face to one side, placing the cheek upon his hands. Kneel on both knees, one on either side of the subject's head. Place your hands upon the flat of the subject's back in such a way that the heels lie just below a line running between the armpits. With the tips of the thumbs just touching, spread the fingers downward and outward.

2. COMPRESSION PHASE—Rock forward until the arms are approximately vertical and allow the weight of the upper part of the your body to exert slow, steady, even pressure downward upon the hands. This forces air out of the lungs. Your elbows should be kept straight and the pressure exerted almost directly downward on the back.

3. POSITION FOR EXPANSION PHASE—Release the pressure, avoiding a final thrust, and commence to rock slowly backward. Place your hands upon the subject's arms just above his elbows.

4. EXPANSION PHASE—Draw his arms upward and toward you. Apply just enough lift to feel resistance and tension at the subject's shoulders. Do not bend your elbows, and as you rock backward the subject's arms will be drawn toward you.

5. REPEAT CYCLE—Then lower the arms to the ground. This completes the full cycle. The arm lift expands the chest by pulling on the chest muscles, arching the back, and relieving the weight on the chest.

The cycle should be repeated 12 times per minute at a steady, uniform rate. The compression and expansion phases should occupy about equal time, the release periods being of minimum duration.

ADDITIONAL RELATED DIRECTIONS—It is all important that artificial respiration, when needed, be started quickly. There should be a slight inclination of the body in such a way that fluid drains better from the respiratory passage. The head of the subject should be extended, not flexed forward, and the chin should not sag lest obstruction of the respiratory passages occur. A check should be made to ascertain that the tongue or foreign objects are not obstructing the passages. These aspects can be cared for when placing the subject into position or shortly thereafter, between cycles. A smooth rhythm in performing artificial respiration is desirable, but split-second timing is not essential. Shock should receive adequate attention, and the subject should remain recumbent after resuscitation until seen by a physician or until recovery seems assured.

FORT ROBINSON OPENS AS PARK

IN 1874, to enforce peace at the Red Cloud Indian agency in northwest Nebraska, historic Fort Robinson was established where Soldier Creek flows into the White River. Eighty-four years later, last month, to be specific, adobe officers' quarters, built with the original fort, opened to the public in the form of overnight cabins as a part of the park development of Fort Robinson.

Authorized by the 1955 Legislature, remodeling and rehabilitation work on the buildings to be used in the park facility progressed steadily until last fall. Accommodations actually were opened at that time for the convenience of antelope and deer hunters.

The Fort Robinson State Park Facility consists of 14 rental-cabin units—eight with housekeeping facilities, six without; the Lodge or Inn, which has 10 hotel-type rooms with bath, and a dining room; a camping and picnic area; and hiking, horseback-riding, and fishing opportunities.

Cabins are completely modern and furnished. Each has two bedrooms equipped with a double bed and bath. In addition, housekeeping cabins have modern kitchens. The rooms are spacious and furnished in a manner to accommodate a stay of any duration.

The Fort Robinson area is probably more closely representative of pioneer aspects of Nebraska history than any other portion of the state. Reminders of the prehistoric past are evident in the fossil beds near Agate, 30 miles southwest of the Fort, from which the skeletal remains of many prehistoric animals have been recovered. In the grim and weird badlands areas 20 miles north of the Fort, agate and fossilized animal remains are still hunted by collectors.

Local collections of stone missile points and other Indian artifacts such as awls, scrapers, and axes attest to early man's inhabitation of the area. "Arrowhead'' and agate hunting is a popular recreational activity of both local residents and visitors to the Pine Ridge. In a recent visit with a Crawford agate hobbyist who cuts and polishes the stones, I was told that an estimated 5,000 out-of-state cars visit the area annually for the purpose of agate hunting.

More recent history is expressed by the actuality of the Fort itself, monuments commemorating the death of the Ogallala chief, Crazy Horse, and the Red Cloud Agency site.

Located north of the Fort, near the former village of Montrose, are markers telling of Cavalry-Indian skirmishes and the purported fight between William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody and Yellowhand. The history of Fort Robinson and the surrounding area is masterfully portrayed at the State Historical Society Museum located in the former Post Headquarters building at the Fort. A stop here is a "must" for the Pine Ridge visitor. The former Post Theatre is being converted into a museum by the University of Nebraska, and will be open to the public to further interpret the state's past.

A unique facet of Fort Robinson is the multiple use being made of this historical site. The area is primarily used as a Beef Cattle Research Station sponsored jointly by the University of Nebraska and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Thousands of acres of pine ridge contained in Fort Robinson and the Wood Reserve provide a picturesque background for this work.

Also located at the Fort is a training school for U. S. Soil Conservation Service personnel. Annual sessions provide training for soil men from many Midwest and Western states.

The very uniqueness of these several endeavors resulted in the Fort Robinson State Park Facility being chosen as the site of the recently held 11th Annual Meeting of the Mid-West State Park Association. This organization is composed of state-park administrators from 17 states.

Camp Robinson was established March 8, 1874, as a temporary installation near the Red Cloud Agency on the south side of the White River. Later that year, the military establishment was moved to the present permanent site and construction of adobe and log buildings was begun.

The Fort was named to commemorate 1st Lt. Levi H. Robinson, 14th U. S. Infantry, who had been killed by hostiles earlier in the year. Fort Robinson played an important role in the last Indian campaigns on the Great Plains. The Big Horn and Yellowstone Expeditions came to an end here, and the 4th U. S. Cavalry under Col. R. S. Mackenzie started on the winter expedition from Fort Robinson in 1876, during the course of which the hostile village of Dull Knife and Little Wolf was destroyed.

Subsequently, Fort Robinson was expanded to the area across what is now U. S. Highway 20. Administrative and quarters buildings around the present parade ground were constructed in due course. The only buildings remaining on the original Fort site are the present state-park cabins which were first officers' quarters and later married noncommissioned officers' quarters, housing such personnel as sergeant major, color sergeant, and ordnance sergeant.

Comanche Hall, the former bachelor officers' quarters situated on Highway 20, now houses the Soil Conservation Service School and is the headquarters of the Beef Cattle Research Station. "Comanche" was the name of the horse belonging to Capt. Miles Keogh who was killed with Custer's command. The horse was said to be the sole survivor of the Little Big Horn.

Fort Robinson was for many years a major Cavalry Remount Depot and later was used extensively during World War II as a training center in the famous K-9 wardog program. The Fort continued as an active military post until 1948 when it was declared surplus to military requirements and was transferred to the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

There is yet another way in which the Fort Robinson park area is of great significance to the Nebraska park enthusiast—it is the first state park area acquired since 1934. We believe that the introduction of the Fort Robinson area to the Nebraska family recreation scene is evidence of an awakening to the need for adequate state-park facilities to meet the requirements of an ever-expanding population and an ever-increasing interest in outdoor recreation.

The deer seasons that have been held in the Pine Ridge area in past years have introduced many Nebraskans, especially those from the eastern part of the state, to a region many did not know existed. The opening of the Fort Robinson State Park Facility, in the heart of the ridge, will provide an opportunity for everyone to become acquainted with Nebraska's most scenic area in many ensuing vacation seasons.

THE END

TIME TO PLAN IS NOW!

Deer season is a long way oft, but to insure success, safety, and the good time you anticipate, plan now

BIG-GAME hunting in Nebraska is still several months distant, but the time to plan is now. Success and enjoyment of a big-game hunt are often proportional to the planning and preparation made prior to the hunt.

Some of you may not be lucky enough to participate in the 1958 season. The authorized number of permits for deer is less than last year. And there will be no antelope hunting in '58. Why these restrictions on big-game hunting?

In '57, the Game Commission was faced with a problem of too many deer in the Pine Ridge Management Unit. Deer numbers had exceeded a level that was compatible with other land uses. Consequently, the '57 seasons were geared to reduce the herd in this area.

Reduction of the Pine Ridge herd was accomplished according to plan, and the deer population is now at a more desirable level than in '55 and '56. Consequently the Commission was more conservative in planning the '58 season in this area. Only 3,000 permits were authorized as compared to 10,000 in '57. This reduction accounts largely for the decrease in total number of permits for the state.

Why not have antelope hunting in '58? Our antelope populations in the major range decreased about 20 per cent in '57. Considering the hunting kill, other mortality factors, and expected reproduction, it appears that we may expect a further decline in '58 or, at best, the population will be no greater than last year.

Nebraska's antelope population is not so low as to be near a critical level. Actually, we could have held a token season in some management units. However, the Commission has inaugurated a program to trap antelope from concentration areas and transplant them in the Sand Hills. Since we have approximately 20,000 square miles of Sand Hills range, this policy and program should result in increased antelope hunting in the future.

Let us briefly review the '58 seasons and determine, in a general way, what may be expected.

The '58 archery season for deer will extend from September 13 through December 31, excluding dates covering rifle hunting in areas open to that weapon. Archers will be allowed to hunt throughout the state with only one restriction. Those hunting in the extreme southeast (see Figure 1) will be restricted to bucks having a fork on at least one antler. Either sex may be taken in all other areas of the state.

There is no limit on the number of archery permits to be issued, and permits will be sold up to the end of the season. Permits will be good for either the buck-only or either-sex area. This will be the fourth consecutive deer season for archers in Nebraska, and the second state-wide season. In '57, 12 per cent of Nebraska's archers were successful in bagging deer. Our archery-hunting success was among the nation's best, ranking seventh according to compilations of the NATIONAL BOWHUNTER.

This year, archers will have more time to pursue their sport. They will be able to hunt deer for almost 3 1/2 months. Not only do we expect the number of archers to increase under this liberal season, but the hunting success should 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   also increase. Since they have almost two months more hunting time than in '57, they will have an excellent chance to improve their over-all success.

What can the rifle hunter expect in '58? By scanning Figure 2 and the accompanying table you can determine the areas that will be open to hunting in '58 and the numbers of permits that will be issued for each unit. You will notice in the table that we have only two management units that will be open for either-sex hunting in '58: the Pine Ridge and the Upper Platte. Hunting success will undoubtedly be higher in these units than in those area open to bucks only. Not only will the inclusion of antlerless deer provide more legal targets, but identification of yearling bucks with relatively small racks will not have to be so positive. It all adds up to giving the nimrod a better chance to bag a deer.

Those of you who hunt in the Pine Ridge will not find so many deer as in '55, '56, and '57. Hunting will be more difficult and you will not, as in the past years, see large herds. However, the deer population is adequate to provide good hunting. Better hunters will have no trouble scoring. Deer hunting success last year in the Pine Ridge was 69 per cent. Since there will be fewer hunters in '58, the hunting success should be about the same or only slightly lower.

All Game Commission surveys indicate that the spring population of deer in the Upper Platte was about the same as last year. Hunters had a success rate of 67 per cent and it appears that we can expect about the same rate of success in 1958.

Those of you hunting the northern Sand Hills will be restricted to bucks having a fork on at least one antler, but will be allowed to harvest one deer of either sex on the last day of the season (November 5). The general opinion of Game Commission personnel and landowners is that this unit can support more deer than presently occurs. Such a season will place most of the hunting pressure on males while allowing some harvest of females on lands requiring herd control. However, the deer herd in this unit is increasing rapidly. We will have to liberalize and issue more permits within the next few years if we are to keep up with the annual increment and practice the best management.

A similar season was held in these counties in 1956. Hunting success that year was about 80 per cent. In '57, under an either-sex season, the hunting success was 83 per cent. Spring surveys indicated that the population was about the same as in '57 or slightly higher. Our information indicates that hunters in this unit can expect about the same success as in '56, or about 80 per cent.

Hunters will be restricted to bucks having a fork on at least one antler in all other management units. These seasons were designed to provide some recreational use of the herd while still allowing populations of deer to increase.

Trophy hunters should have a reasonable chance of finding a handsome buck in the Central and Southwest Management Units. Most of the counties included in these units have not been opened to deer hunting in the past. The proportion of older bucks with large racks is usually greater in an unshot herd than in one that has been subjected to harvesting.

Those hunting in the buck-only units should not expect a hunting success so high as those hunting in either-sex units. Your chances of bagging an animal are much less when restricted to one sex. Hunting success in most of these units will be 40 per cent or slightly higher.

As I indicated earlier, you should begin to plan your big-game hunt now.. Applications for rifle permits will be accepted up to midnight, August 1. Complete your application now! Be sure to check the management unit in which you want to hunt. Be certain you have checked the correct unit.

Since most of our big-game hunting is on private lands, the farmers and ranchers will be your hosts during the '58 deer seasons. Most of the landowners are capable of supporting only a limited number of hunters, so don't wait until the last minute to make arrangements with the landowner. A pen and paper and 15 minutes of your time may mean the difference between a pleasant and enjoyable hunt and a series of frustrations while attempting to locate a place to hunt on opening day.

If you make adequate and early preparations you should have another pleasant and enjoyable deer hunt in '58.

THE END

CATFISHING

PROBABLY one of the most sought-after fish in the streams, lakes, and reservoirs of Nebraska is the channel catfish. If records were kept of all the heavyweights caught in the state, he would rate near the top of the list. Weights in the 20-pound class are not uncommon. The average-size channel *that will find his way to your stringer will weigh in the neighborhood of two to three pounds. So, if you're looking for a fish which is over runt size, with the possibility of hooking a tackle-buster, the channel cat is your best bet.

As an aid to increase your chances of bringing catfish home to the frying pan, a few tips on angling are in order.

As his name implies, the channel catfish is an inhabitant of flowing streams. The larger and more permanent the stream, the more fish you will find. A good catfish stream has deep pools alternating with bars, riffles, and eddies. Look for sunken logs, large boulders, undercut banks, tree roots, and the like. Catfish use these places as lairs for refuge, resting, and spawning sites. Find stretches of water in which these conditions occur and your batting average is sure to increase.

Nebraska's better channel-cat streams include the Blue River system, Republican, Loup River system, Elkhorn, Niobrara, lower reach of the Platte, and, of course, the Missouri River. Channel catfish have also been stocked in all large reservoirs in the state. Lake McConaughy, the Tri-County Lakes, Enders, Swanson, Harry Strunk, and Harlan County Reservoirs all furnish fair to good catfishing during certain times of the year.

When fishing for channel cat in the spring, remember that they feed very little when the water temperature is below 60° F. So, a good item for your tackle box is a cheap thermometer. It can save you hours of fishing for catfish, when your efforts might best be spent in plugging for walleye or fishing for crappie. Usually, by the latter half of April, waters have warmed enough for the channel cat to stir out of his winter stupor and search for food.

Another good rule to remember is that catfish feed primarily at night, especially so at dusk, after sunset, and the early hours before sunrise. During daylight hours the lazy critters prefer to stay near their dens in deeper water, particularly when the water is clear. However, you can occasionally catch a channel cat at this time by presenting a choice morsel in front of his nose.

Generally, rainfall has caused the waters to rise in April, May, and June and this is the time when catfishing is good in Nebraska. The water is also more turbid and offers the fish more protection as he seeks food which is being washed into the water. Channel cats swim into shallow flooded areas and begin to feed with increased activity.

By the latter half of July and during August, the catch of channel cat decreases somewhat. One reason is that 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   the fish are spawning and the business of raising a family is his main concern.

The male catfish selects a spawning site around rocks, undercut banks, hollow logs, tree roots, and other places which give protection and concealment. He then drives a female to his homesite and she deposits from 6,000 to 20,000 eggs, depending on her size and condition. The male fish then runs the "old lady" out of the house and guards and fans the jelly-like mass of eggs until they hatch about 10 days later. The young catfish stay together for some time, then gradually separate to fend for themselves.

There are always some channel cat feeding throughout the summer. Use a wide selection of bait when angling for them.

By late September through October and part of November the channel cat is feeding and fattening up for the winter. Fall fishing is good until water temperature drops below 40° F. After this, most of his activity ceases until the following spring.

As the channel cat changes his feeding habits during different seasons of the year, so should the angler change his fishing techniques in order to catch him.

In the spring when waters are rising and turbid, dead baits, cut baits, stink baits, and chicken blood are the good items to use. Don't throw your baited hook into the center of a rushing torrent or in the middle of the lake. Fish in shallow water near shore, in eddies, where debris is being deposited, and in flooded weed patches and grassy areas. Catfish tend to migrate when waters begin to rise. Other good places are where rivers empty into reservoirs and below dams. Still-fishing is probably the best technique to use when waters are rising. In other words, place your bait where the fish will come looking for it—where the fish would naturally find it.

Water is more stable and clear during summer and calls for a difference in bait and technique. Live and cut baits are the best to use; fish with a wide variety of them. Either float or drift your bait. This is accomplished by using a float on your line which will keep your hook from resting on the stream or lake bottom.

If you must fish in the daytime during the summer, float your bait around sunken logs, rocks, and undercut banks. At night, which is best, fish in shallower water in inlets, bays, below shallow riffles and eddies. In flowing streams allow your bait to drift slowly along, just off the bottom.

In the fall, channel cat begin to feed more actively to fatten up for the winter. Water levels are usually at their lowest and the fish are concentrated in deeper pools. The water is clear and the fish are "spooky," so fish quietly. Drift or float your bait as you would during the summer months. Live bait is the best to use in the fall. Fish deep water during daytime and shallower areas at night.

What kind of bait? The channel cat will eat just about anything in the water that he can swallow and many other things that fall into the water. Minnows, small fish, worms, snakes, crayfish, baby birds, mice, frogs, insects, plant material, and dead creatures that are washed into the water are all found in his diet.

Such unusual baits as white laundry soap and green bananas are used to catch him, but for our purposes we will stick to the more common baits.

Cut baits include beef liver, beef milt, chicken entrails, strips of carp, shad, and other rough fish. When using carp and rough fish, scale the fish and cut strips about one inch thick and two inches long. Some fishermen have good success by cutting their bait and letting it sour a little before baiting. Many kinds of stink bait are sold in sporting-goods stores. They are best used by balling up and forming around treble hooks.

Dead baits include minnows, frogs, crayfish, etc. These are used whole without cutting.

Chicken blood is rated as one of the best for catfish. This bait can be made by getting chicken blood from produce-processing plants. Collect the blood in a shallow pan, allow it to settle and congeal, pour off the clear liquid that forms on top, and cut into cubes about two inches square. To keep chicken blood on a treble hook mix it with cotton or downy chicken feathers.

Use cut bait, dead bait, stink bait, and chicken blood in the spring when waters are rising and turbid. In summer use live or cut bait. During the fall use live baits such as minnows, frogs, worms, or crayfish.

While channel cat feed on a wide variety of foods, they often feed on only certain ones at definite times. It may be either minnows, frogs, grasshoppers, seeds, or whatever happens to be "in season." When you catch one or two fish cut them open and examine their stomachs, then match your bait to the contents.

Snoop around on the lake or creek bank. If frogs or grasshoppers are numerous chances are the fish are feeding on them. Bait up with some and wait for results. Always take a wide selection of bait with you on a catfishing trip and experiment until you hit on the hot one.

Casting rods with reels are the most frequently used equipment for channel catfish. There are many other methods which may be used such as throw-lines, set hooks attached to tree limbs along the bank, and the common cane-pole rig. It isn't necessary to use expensive equipment to catch the channel cat. Twenty-pound-test JUNE, 1958   line used with treble hooks size 7 or 8 or single hooks of No. 3 size are good standard equipment. One other tip: don't use too much sinker; use just enough to keep your bait in the position you want it.

Since the habits of all species of catfish are very similar, you will very likely catch other kinds while fishing for the channel. The bullhead is well known and is also widely distributed throughout Nebraska. The blue cat and the yellow or flathead catfish are more selective in their choice of living conditions and are not found as frequently as the channel or bullhead cats. Anglers commonly confuse the channel and blue catfish. To tell the difference between the two, simply count the fin rays on the anal fin. The channel cat has from 24 to 29 and the blue cat from 30 to 35.

All catfishermen have their favorite methods for catching their quarry. Just a few have been mentioned here. If you have never tried any of these, give them a whirl next time out and improve your chances to outcat a cat.—THE END.

OUTDOOR Nebraska Quiz

The FRIENDLY SPANIELS

AS STATED in previous issues, there are, for our purposes, two main divisions of dogs: gun dogs and - hounds. And gun dogs are classified as pointing dogs, spaniels, and retrievers. These divisions may seem a bit arbitrary, for the Brittany spaniel points game; setters, pointers, and spaniels retrieve; water spaniels are classed as retrievers, and many retrievers are worked in spaniel fashion. But the general categories nevertheless are valid and useful distinctions indicating which dogs specialize in a particular mode of hunting.

By analogy, we might say some lawyers are also musicians, and some musicians are lawyers, but the members of each group carefully label themselves according to their specialties. It is trite to observe that this is an age of specialization, with each specialist knowing more and more about less and less. The purpose of this article is not to discuss the possible harmful effects of this social fact upon individual human psychology, nor its excellent effects in producing the highest quality product at the lowest cost. We shall note here merely that man has produced hunting dogs reflecting his own life patterns.

Most writers say that the spaniels originated in Spain, hence the name. The French termed them "Chein du Espagnol'' (dogs of Spain), and early English writers called them Spagnell, Spainell, and Spanyel. These spellings seem to be different orthographic interpretations of the same word.

Whatever the origin of the spaniel, and it is by no means certain that he originated in Spain, his name is obviously a reference to an Hispanic background at some point in his history. About 1387, a Frenchman named Gaston de Foix wrote a book called Livre du Chasse (Book of the Hunt), occupying a place in the hunter's library analogous to Walton's The Compleat Angler among fishing classics, and in it de Foix praises the spaniels for their retrieving, especially in water.

Some 200 years later, a Dr. Caius, an English dog authority, wrote of the spaniels being divided into two sorts —those having a natural affinity for water, and those hunting upon land. The latter were used to flush game for greyhounds or falcons to pursue, or they were sitting spaniels that pointed game. The sitting spaniels were the ancestors of the modern pointing setter. The flushing or "springing" spaniels had no special names, but were identified by the type game they hunted. Thus the cocker spaniel was a spaniel used on woodcock.

In 19th century England, spaniels were classified by weight. Those under 14 pounds were pets or lap spaniels, those from 14 to 28 pounds were cockers, and, from 28 pounds up, they were designated springers, English spaniels, or field spaniels. As a dog's weight changed, so did his classification.

In the United States today, excluding the water spaniel, a retriever, and the Brittany, a pointer, we have three spaniels of importance as field dogs. They are the springer, cocker, and clumber, although the last named is not common. The most popular sporting dog of the three is the springer. His size varies, but 35 to 40 pounds would be an average. The cocker is smallest, about 25 pounds, and the clumber is largest, some weighing more than 70 pounds.

The springer's popularity may be traceable to the popularity of the pheasant. This game bird can give a pointing dog trained on quail or grouse a bad case of the jitters. While the dog holds the point for the hunter to catch up, the pheasant can run through three counties, more or less, and be shot down by another hunter with a shuffling spaniel. Pointing dogs may be used on pheasants, but the springer's ability to follow the running bird, plus his retrieving qualities on wounded game, make him a favorite for this sort of work.

The springer is often hunted with the pointing breeds, and quite successfully, when well trained. The big, fast pointers find the game and the springer retrieves it. In passing it will be duly noted that the springer is sometimes accused of being hard-mouthed. And sometimes he is. Sometimes all breeds are. This appears to be more the fault of the trainer than the dog, for handling game gently is decidedly learned behavior, contrary to the instinct of most dogs to gulp it down.

There are many reasons for the springer's popularity. In the day of the muzzle-loader and ample game, the springer was a natural. His close ranging and flushing habits were ideally suited to the time. But modern firearms and the growing scarcity of birds brought the wideranging, speedy pointing dogs to the fore. They remain there today, except in certain types of pheasant cover.

But the springer has other desirable attributes. Like all spaniels, he is extremely friendly, has a desire to please, and makes a good family pet. These are not essentials, and may even be handicaps to the field trial or hunting purist. But purists constitute a small (if deservedly influential) minority of mankind. It can not be doubted that the springer's warm, pleasant disposition is a large factor in his popularity.

His size is another asset. He is large and rugged enough for hard hunting, yet small enough not to require all outdoors for his maintenance. He is versatile enough to be used on other game, if desired, and can work in water if conditions are not too extreme. He is relatively easy to train, for he loves to hunt and is a natural retriever.

Springers are usually liver and white or black and white, with a docked tail. Their heavy, wavy hair rebuffs thorns, briers, and rain. The male, ideally, stands 18 xk inches at the shoulder.

The cocker spaniel is said to be the most popular dog in the world. Stud book registration statistics, according to the Standard Book of Hunting and Shooting, show the little fellow to be the overwhelming favorite in the United States. Why? Credit his small size, good looks, and sunny spaniel disposition.

He looks like a pint-size springer, except that he comes in umpteen delicious colors, with black thrown in for good measure. He may be only 10 inches high, even in the field cocker category. He makes a loving, intelligent, beautiful family pet. That, many sportsmen will contend, is just the trouble. He is a pet. Pretty is as pretty does, say they. In the field, they assert, the springer can do anything the cocker can do and do it better.

So, despite his great general popularity, the cocker is used little for hunting in the United States. Because of this, many cockers, not bred as hunters, have lost all desire for the chase. They exhibit their greatest talent in hunting the softest spot on the sofa or armchair, or in milady's lap.

Nevertheless, the cocker can be a hunter, and a good one. Most of what has been said of the springer applies to his smaller relative. Despite small size, the field cocker is actually a powerful, speedy animal. His strong, tiny body, protected by a heavy coat, is an asset enabling him to penetrate heavy, forbidding cover, impenetrable by larger dogs. Under such special conditions the cocker is a superior bird dog, and has been used on pheasant with good results.

Historically, the cocker—as we know him today—arrived on the scene late. The breed began in 1879 with the 24   birth, in England, of Mrs. Farrow's Obo, by Fred, out of Betty. The cockers were given separate registrations in 1893, and their first field trial was held in 1899. Many field champions in the United States came directly from Obo stock. But the cocker today, with individual exceptions, is not the hunter of yore.

The clumber has been called the aristocrat of the spaniels. And, like other aristocrats, he is not very numerous. His average weight is 55 to 65 pounds, the female being smaller. The clumber hunts like other spaniels, but has a better nose, in the opinion of most writers. He should have, too, if his spaniel ancestors were crossed with the basset hound as is claimed.

This big dog looks something like a springer with four inches of his legs sawed off. He is low-slung and powerful, but his heavy coat has no curl or wave. Webster's New International dictionary says the clumber is a "sure game finder", and if you can prove Webster's wrong you should drop the lexicographers a note. Chances are, if you happen to see a clumber work, you'll agree with the dictionary. He has all the speed and dash of a glacier, but he is thorough, pushing aside briers and other dense growth with unconcern.

It is not too early in this series of articles on dogs to state that it is as impossible to write about dogs without hearing a few growls as it is to walk through a kennel without hearing a few barks. Men love their dogs, but one man's dog is another man's mutt. The purpose of this series is not to disparage or boost any breed or type of dog; it is to give our readers information as factual as arduous effort can make it.

What about my own opinions? I have tried to keep them to a minimum, and will continue to do so. I will say only that I am friendly toward almost all dogs and almost all humans; in fact, toward almost all living things, except those species directly harmful to man. And what are those species?

That, of course, is another story.

THE END

Unhand Those Babies

WHEN YOU are in the outdoors at this time of year, chances of seeing wildlife babies are good. The woods are full of them. But don't fondle, caress, bother, or cuddle the young of any wildlife, no matter how cute it may be.

Most young wildlife creatures are appealing in their seeming helplessness. But don't pick them up, and don't carry them home. Only in very few cases have they been abandoned by their mothers. Mothers, in fact, are probably watching, and may misinterpret with some ferocity your mistaken sympathy. Even if you get home with your furry infant, its chances of survival are not in most cases good. The presence of the natural mother, not an inexperienced foster one, is the little animal's best guarantee of surviving to adulthood.

Aside from the unintentional cruelty of taking a wild creature out of the wild, you may be violating the law, subjecting yourself to the possibility of a heavy fine. Then, too, you may be endangering your own health or that of your family, or even a life, for wild animals often harbor disease-carrying mites and spread tularemia. A bite may infect you with rabies.

If your cute pet does survive, there are multiplie dangers of attacks on humans. The animal has not developed a fear of man and is unpredictable in its actions, to say the least. Among large animals, deer have often been known to inflict severe injury, sometimes death, on their owners. Such a fatal attack occurred at a Nebraska park some years ago. The raccoon has in several cases bitten and clawed the person who raised it from infancy. So has the squirrel. Even the cottontail rabbit may inflict a painful wound.

If the wound itself is not serious, danger of infection is quite real. Tularemia is so often connected with the rabbit that the disease is popularly called "rabbit fever." Perhaps 90 per cent of human cases are caused by rabbits. Other sources of tularemia are squirrels, opossums, quail, coyotes, deer, red foxes, bull snakes, groundhogs, muskrats and skunks. Tularemia may be contracted by handling an infected animal.

Justly feared rabies occurs in many wildlife species. The skunk is the most often reported carrier, which is fortunate for human beings, for few people are anxious to handle even little skunks. But rabies also occurs in the fox, mink, raccoon, rabbit, and squirrel. Last year, cases were reported in Nebraska in all these animals.

While pet permits are available in this state, legal seasons must be observed by those capturing animals. And taking a baby deer out of season is just as large an offense as capturing a grizzled grandpa.

Some cases of people picking up young wild animals have already been reported this year to the Game Commission. Four young raccoon were reported captured near Norfolk and two small beaver near Burr. Others may occur, but don't be one who swells the total. It will be better for you and better for the babies. The wild are best left in the wild.

Notes on Nebraska Fauna

BULLFROG

NEBRASKA'S latest protected species is neither fish nor bird, but amphibian. It is the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. Bullfrogs have long been sought and taken from Nebraska streams and marshes for their delicate eating quality. With no legal protection, only a few people benefited by being able to take these frogs indiscriminately with no restrictions. This resulted in virtual removal of the species from some watershed and marshland areas.

Recognizing this problem, the State Legislature in 1957 authorized the Nebraska Game Commission to regulate the taking of bullfrogs. The Game Commission designed its regulations to perpetuate the bullfrog and to give more people an even chance at the allowable harvest.

Eighteen species of the Family RANIDAE, sometimes referred to as the "true frogs", are on record for North 26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   America, and two of these occur in Nebraska. They are the leopard frog and the bullfrog.

The bullfrog is easily distinguished from the leopard frog by a number of tell-tale characteristics. No. 1 is size. The bullfrog is considerably larger, with an average body length of five inches as compared to 2.7 inches for the leopard frog. The bullfrog differs from its kin in mottled underparts, absence of dorsolateral skin folds, coloration, and enlargement of the ear drum in males.

Coloration, according to George E. Hudson in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Nebraska, is olive green, or brown above, sometimes obscurely blotched with black; hind legs usually spotted or banded above; underparts white or yellowish, heavily mottled; upper surface speckled with small black dots in mature tadpoles and newly transformed frogs.

Bullfrogs come out of hibernation in Nebraska when water temperatures reach about 55°F. Air temperatures by then are much warmer, generally about 70°F. Bullfrogs do not spawn in this state until late June, and then only when at least three years old.

Females may lay from 10,000 to 20,000 eggs per season. They are deposited on the surface of the water in large films covering three to five square feet. Incubation is 23 days. The many thousands of eggs would seem to indicate that bullfrogs have no trouble in perpetuating themselves. Actually, though, a very small percentage of the eggs survive to become jumbo-size bullfrogs.

Many eggs do not hatch. And of those that do, some tadpoles become diseased. Some tadpoles may be stranded in drying pools, while still others fall prey to everything from predatory insects to fish and birds. Once the tadpoles transform into bullfrogs, their major enemies include snakes, birds, and raccoons. Then, too, bullfrogs occasionally feast one upon another.

Chances are that those big hind legs you ate last summer came from a bullfrog several years old. On the average, three years are required for the change from egg to tadpole to frog. This growth, transformation, and maturity are more rapid in the southern states and much slower in northern states. In Nebraska, two or three summers may be spent in the tadpole stage.

When it comes to eating, bullfrogs do themselves proud. They have man-size appetites, and they are not particularly fussy about what they eat. Principal foods include insects, crayfish, amphibians, meadow mice, birds, and snails. They also devour water-scavenger beetles, fish, nymphs of dragon flies and damsel flies, moths, grasshoppers, spiders, millipedes, and plant materials, mainly leaf fragments, plant stems, and algae.

Most of the bullfrog's food comes from within or very near the water. Nevertheless, bullfrogs do not confine themselves entirely to water. They are often found in weeds and grass adjacent to water. Their environment, however, must be damp, so that their soft glandular skin will be kept moist.

Jumbo-size bullfrogs are the stay-at-home type, as opposed to the younger frogs. Studies conducted in Missouri showed that movement from one pond to another by adults was very slight. The "wanderlust" is more peculiar to the younger and smaller frogs. In one case, 20 or 30 small, newly transformed bullfrogs turned up in a new pond where they couldn't possibly have been reared, because the water hadn't been there long enough.

It is wise to remember that every eating-size frog cannot be taken from a particular area with the expectation that more will move in. Small bullfrogs will probably restock the place, but it would take several years' time to produce another crop of Jumbos.

When fried crisp and brown the meat of bullfrogs is a choice morsel. Some people only skin and prepare the hind legs. This is a wasteful practice, for the flesh elsewhere on the body is of the same quality.

Familiar to many Nebraskans is the bullfrog's deep bass "jug-o-rum" heard about many of our lakes and ponds. It is one of the most impressive sounds in nature. Best time to hear the chorusing is April through June. The choruses are then silenced, except for an occasional "jug-o-rum" by a late breeder.

Although the bullfrog is native to Nebraska its original distribution was probably more restricted than at present. For years the Game Commission stocked bullfrogs. Today they are found throughout most of Nebraska in suitable localities.

Nebraska's season on bullfrogs begins on July 1 and continues through October 31. The late start permits most adult bullfrogs to spawn before harvest by man begins. Bag limit is 12 bullfrogs, as is the possession limit.

Bullfrogs may be taken with a hunting permit by means of firearms, bow and arrow, hand, or hand net; with a fishing permit by means of hand, hand net, gig or spear, or hook and line; with a combination fishing-hunting permit by any of the named means or methods.

THE END

FISH I.Q