OUTDOOR Nebraska

OUTDOOR NEBRASKA of the Air

AND THE FLOODS CAME

FLOODING WAS inevitable, but how bad, no one knew. Personnel at Niobrara State Park were prepared; at least, as well as they could be. The park, just beginning to show the effects of a major face lifting, was square in the path of the Niobrara River which at 8 p.m., Friday, March 25, appeared as docile as it soon would to thousands of summer visitors.

But the humidity-laden air gave warning enough that its quiet lapping would not long remain. A 54 day build-up of snow over the entire eastern portion of the state had to move—out and down the feeder streams and rivers and to the Missouri. The ground just couldn't hold that much runoff if there was a quick change in the weather. From throughout the state, Game Commission men and equipment were called in to be included in the fast-growing force MAY, 1960 3   which was the Civil Defense-directed "Operation On Guard".

Robert Danner of the Engineering and Operations Division and Vincent Rotherham, park superintendent at Niobrara, were a part of the force. So, too, were conservation officers with radio-equipped cars, boats, and an airplane; operations crews and park personnel, ready to move with the first signs of trouble; and administrative personnel to correlate the Commission's part in the force which would soon come to grips with nature on the loose.

The two men had kept their vigil for many hours. They, and men like them in other state recreation areas which lay in full rivers' paths, had done everything possible to prepare for flooding. Dikes were built to surround vital areas. Picnic tables and other outdoor equipment were tied down or taken to higher ground. Valuable machinery was moved out.

Now all Rotherham and Danner could do was wait. At 9 they surveyed the entire park, sweeping the ground ahead of them with searching headlights. At 10, another check. And at 11, still another. All was quiet—the big trees, showing signs of budding; patches of ground reflecting hints of green; the state highway bridge, solid and secure, ready to carry another crowd of vacationers to the popular play land; the spanking-new swimming pool and re­modeled cabins, almost ready to accommodate them; and the river, still comfortably within its banks.

Danner and Rotherham returned to the administrative building, hoping that the park was secure for at least one more night. But Danner was uneasy. Midnight. "Just one more look," he thought as he opened the door. It was a look he'll never forget. A wall of water over two feet deep roared past and in the door, making a mockery of the dikes which in other years had protected the building.

The two men escaped—miraculously. Walking to the highway and over the bridge, they were confronted by a wall of water 600 feet wide. Pushing through the driving three-foot deep torrent proved a tremendous ordeal with safety finally assured with the assistance of firemen who threw ropes to the faltering pair.

On solid ground, they looked back, numb and exhausted, at the swirling black waters where once was a play land. Huge chunks of ice slammed against giant shade trees. Surging currents swept into cabin after cabin. The bridge creaked under the pummeling.

Through the week the tragedy of Niobrara was repeated on the surging Platte, Loup, and Elkhorn rivers. The Blue River crested earlier, then crested again. And when all the flooding was over, Niobrara Park, Dead Timber, Cowles Lake, Louisville, Fremont, Plattsmouth, Litchfield, Crystal Lake, and Blue River state areas along with farms and cities lay in shambles. The Game Commission's bright dreams for an early completion of a refurbished 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   Niobrara and badly needed Two Rivers were smashed. The loss to all recreation and park areas— a loss to every outdoor Nebraskan—$325,000.

Niobrara was blanketed with silt and debris up to 18 inches deep. The big bridge was ripped away, dumped unceremoniously farther downstream. Two big barracks which housed youthful visitors in summers past were ripped off their foundations. One smashed into a tree, its floors left rolling like a small roller coaster. The remodeled cabins which looked so inviting were a mess. Floors were covered with silt; walls soiled to flood line. Tree damage was extensive. Huge chunks of ice tore -at their upstream sides, stripping away up to 18 inches of bark four to five feet above the ground. Whether they will survive is anyone's guess.

Fremont Lakes presented a sickening sight. For those not familiar with the chain of sand-pit lakes it might have looked normal enough. It wasn't. The Platte River swept through the entire chain, emptying lakes, tearing out banks, and dumping silt, which in one case almost filled a 20-foot-deep sand pit, leaving an island five feet above the present waterline.

Area access roads took a beating in all flooded areas. Nearly 300 feet of road surface had to be replaced at Dead Timber where three feet of water inundated the area. A good 50 per cent of the roads in Louisville needed major repairs. Tree damage was as extensive. Many small bushes were washed away, larger trees scored. Sod which should now be greening is buried under stifling silt.

Department operations crews, bolstered by an additional 12 men as well as emergency-issued heavy earth-moving equipment, moved into the areas almost before the water receded. Working 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, they began the monumental task of removing debris and silt, cleaning out waterlogged buildings, and rebuilding where necessary.

Will the areas be ready for this season's throngs of visitors? Yes, but the effects of the flood will still be evident. There's no way of making a scarred and perhaps dying shade tree look beautiful. All of the countless tons of sand cannot be removed in time to expose greening sod.

And what of the staggering costs? Where will the department get the funds to match the $325,000 damage toll? At the moment, the only money available is that appropriated for the Department's rejuvenated park program outlined in the last issue of this magazine, funds which if only used for development, would be small.

The cost becomes staggering when this is considered. Not only will such sites as Niobrara suffer from the flood, but from the lack of funds to bring about needed refurbishing. What about Chadron, Ponca, Ft. Kearny, and the other parks scheduled for major improvements? Though never feeling the physical brunt of the flood, they will, nevertheless, suffer from its passing. Development work will continue as outlined, but only within the limitations of money now available.

The "big first step toward a modern state park program" under L.B. 408 as reported in the May issue was seriously crippled with the flood. Only quick emergency action now by all concerned will assure that it will not falter.

GLASSY-EYED FUN

HERMAN SCHMIDT had that let's-go-fishing look in his eye when he told me about the early spring walleye action at Medicine Creek Reservoir. "Better head west," he said. "A lot of nice ones are coming out of the stilling basin. Folks in McCook dropped everything and hit the big water."

Herm's the conservation officer in the McCook area and was in Lincoln as a part of the Game Commission's force for Operation "On Guard".

"Get in touch with Carl Esch of Indianola," he advised. "He knows the reservoir inside out and catches his share of the big ones."

I was sold, but it wasn't until a week later that I was able to try the big impoundment, 7 miles northwest of Cambridge. The April morning was sunny and pleasant when Bill Morris, Commission movie cameraman, and I met Carl and Herm at the state's parking-picnic area near the spillway. This is a cozy little haven with fireplaces, tables, and such to accommodate anglers.

"In two or three weeks the lake will produce the best catches," Carl said as we worked our way down the dock ledge to the water. "But the spillway takes care of the early fishing fever. There have been some big walleyes landed."

Anglers lined the area, and the majority had walleyes on their stringers. Some of the marble eyes hit 4 pounds, but the run of the mill went 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. Some anglers were casting, but most were still-fishing, the best bet in early spring. The important thing to do, no matter what the fishing style, is to use enough weight to take the bait to the bottom and the deep-lying fish.

A nocturnal feeder, the walleye usually bites best in early morning and late evening. This helps explain why fishing is often good in shallow waters on cloudy days. If the water is riled up and dark, the fish will bite at all hours.

"For still-fishing," Carl suggested, "hook the minnow back of the dorsal fin. It'll give good, lively OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 6   action. Some snag them just in front of the tail so they'll do a good job of wiggling."

Our large minnows dropped into the deep water, sinking and drifting a little with the swirling currents. It wasn't long before something bunted my bait. The strike was gentle, and I waited for the fish to hit again. With the second strike, I set the hook and felt a small surge of power as my adversary tried to battle free. The spinning rod arched as I eased the fish to shore and saw the black back, golden-yellow sides, and high, spiny dorsal fin of a walleye. The fish would hit Wi pounds, not large by any means but mighty fine eating.

Though I was first to score, Carl was the one to get real action in these opening moments. The Indianola rancher dropped his line in next to the high wall of the spillway. Chatting with Bill, his rod was almost whipped out of his hand by a strike.

"That's the way walleyes are supposed to hit," Carl yelled in surprise as his rod stabbed toward the water. "We're going to have fun with this one."

The rod bowed dangerously as the walleye tried to make a run for deep water. Carl played the fish cautiously, easing him toward the still water. Herm, checking the catches of other anglers, jumped for a landing net and ran to help. It wasn't long before the two had the thrashing walleye on the bank.

"I knew this was a good one by the strike," the smiling angler yelled as he weighed the walleye. "Three pounds even. It hit like it was bigger."

Herm said that walleyes have a tendency to tap a little light during the early spring. But when they start hitting in the reservoir, it's a different story.

My luck changed after the first catch. I was getting strikes but wasn't landing any fish. Bill, who was fishing when he wasn't taking pictures, was having the same trouble. Once I felt a light tapping on my line and after the third knock, tried to set the hook. All I retrieved was a minnowless hook.

"Too bad," Carl sympathized. "Sometimes they just seem to suck on the minnow. Hold tight and let them start running. You might be trying to set the hook too fast."

That sounded like a good enough reason, but I had the feeling my luck might change if we tried the big water.

"If the fish are biting here in the basin, why couldn't we take some out of the lake?" I questioned.

"No reason we can't," Carl replied. "I have taken walleyes out of the lake during the winter months. One day last February, I caught two, and both pushed 10 pounds."

This tallied with what Bob Williams, a rancher who lives near Medicine (continued on page 24)

HUNTER'S BONUS GUNS

YOU'RE MISSING a bet if you haven't joined the swelling parade of Nebraska sportsmen who have found fun and adventure with handguns afield. As a pistoleer, you can get new kicks from hunting woodchucks, prairie dogs, squirrels, crows, raccoons, jack rabbits, and cottontails.

I'll admit that in some places it's easier to hunt varments or small game with a rifle or shotgun, but there have been plenty of times when my pistol has been faster, easier to use, and just as lethal.

No one can deny that the smaller, lighter pistol is easier to use. Take coon hunting at night. With a rifle in one hand, and a flashlight in the other, you're helpless in all kinds of situations. With one hand free, I can work my way through the roughest bush and still be ready to get off a quick shot when the time comes.

There are two basic kinds of handguns—revolvers, the single and double-action types, and pistols. My favorite is the autoloading pistol, usually and incorrectly called an automatic. It has scored on plenty of game.

The one important advantage a pistol has over a revolver is its ability to discharge a spent shell and swiftly reload, all in one smooth operation. If you miss with the first shot, you have a better chance for a second. A revolver, on the other hand, must be cocked again after it is fired if you wish to obtain maximum accuracy.

Pistols enjoy a short, rapid hammer fall. A longer trigger fall is found in most revolvers causing added time-lag between shots. The single-action revolvers are so-called because the hammer must be cocked by hand after each shot, whereas in a double-action you simply keep pulling the trigger. Also, the accuracy of a single-action revolver is impaired because of the long stroke on the hammer. To pull off a good shot you must stand immobile while the hammer is falling.

Those just joining the handgun ranks should start with a .22. Its light recoil and high accuracy quotient give the tyro confidence and help to develop good habits.

Get acquainted with your gun as a first step to successful shooting. Try plenty of dry firing—aiming and shooting with an unloaded gun. This is an ideal way to learn perfect trigger squeeze and sight alignment. Then, in actual shooting, all you have to do is overcome the fear of recoil. In a .22 handgun there's not enough of that to worry about.

Now to the local practice range to develop accuracy and a steady trigger squeeze. Don't be surprised if your first shot misses the target. The average person doesn't do well with a revolver or pistol in the beginning because he does not realize he has only 8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   nine inches—sometimes less—between the front and rear sight. Consequently, a slight move, especially with a short-barreled gun, can develop into a great angle of error at long distances.

Some of you may ask, "Will I get good hits even if I have a slight arm tremor before I shoot?" Sure you will. The error caused by arm tremor is very slight—if your trigger squeeze is perfect, your shot will be dead on target. No one can stand rigid as marble while aiming and shooting.

Actually it's all a matter of learning nerve control. Do this and concentrate on improving your trigger squeeze to become a good shot afield.

A new wrinkle creeping into the sport of handgun shooting for varments or small game is the use of scope-sights on .22's. The addition greatly increases the sportsman's accuracy. Any good gunsmith or serious do-it-yourselfer can mount a scope. Instructions come with each scope which employs barrel-clamp mounts. Whenever you order one for your handgun, specify the model you own. The manufacturer will forward the correct barrel clamps for it.

Once you're proficient with the .22 you'll want to advance to the Magnum guns. Be sure, however, you are able to cope with these big-game killers. Start as slowly with the .357 or the .44 Magnums as you did with the .22. You'll be confronted with a greater recoil problem. To overcome this make sure your arm—the elbow and wrist—are locked firmly to absorb the recoil. If you hold the gun loosely, it will fly upward and cause difficulty in getting back on target.

Choose a gun that feels comfortable in your hand and has enough heft to give you confidence. Be careful, however, of getting a gun that is too heavy. It may slow your movement if you have to make a quick gun alignment. This is especially true if you must be fast. My advice is to use a gun of average weight. Later, after you have acquired skill and knowledge, change if you feel a different weigh t gun will help.

There will be times when you'll do some shooting from a prone or sitting position. Most, however, will be done while stalking or the game is standing still. Incidentally, when you align your gun on a moving target make certain that the entire body is relaxed enough to make a swing. If the aiming arm is not free, it will pull you off the mark. Plant your feet firmly, one foot slightly forward, and swing your body from the hips as you aim.

About the biggest problem that confronts the varment and small-game hunter is the effective range of the handgun. Maneuver yourself into range since you don't have the distance that you would have with a high-powered rifle. When stalking, take advantage of every ditch, brushy fence row, or other natural cover to get within yards—or less—of the prey you're after.

The .22, .38, and .45 are most effective and accurate between 50 and 100 yards. Sure, some have killed at greater distances, but such hits require more luck than skill. Of the three shells mentioned, the .22 is usually considered the longest-ranging shell.

Keep in mind that .22's can be dangerous up to one mile. Bullets fired from the average pistol or revolver are not as fast as those from a varment rifle; consequently the danger of ricochets is always present. If a high-speed hollow-point .22 is used, it will disintegrate on impact.

Don't tempt fate by leaving your handgun lying around the house, regardless of whether it is unloaded or not. TV Westerns tempt many a child to get one in his hands, considering them a plaything instead of a deadly weapon.

A handgun is a small, slim, exquisitely designed and precision-machined sporting tool. Built to hair's breath tolerance, it can, in proper hands, outperform a rifle or shotgun. Add one to your collection, become proficient in its use, and a whole new world of outdoor fun will unfold to you.

HOOKY with a Camera

THE MINUTE I saw the boy fishing at the small pool I knew he was playing hooky. It was Thursday morning, and all youngsters his age were supposed to be in school. I eased up behind him as he hauled in his lure and asked, "How are you doing?"

A startled "just messing around" was all he could muster.

"It's the first time IVe heard fishing called 'messing around.' "

"Well, you see," the lad grinned impishly, "I had a funny fever this morning when I got up, so I figured fishing might help. I feel much better now."

I didn't report him to the truant officer. I didn't dare. The soft, balmy mid-April day that greeted me brought on the same fever. But in my case, a camera proved the cure-all.

Eastward from Lincoln the countryside sported a fresh blanket of green. Buds on the trees and shrubs 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   were poking their way toward the sun. Calves bawled and ran after their mamas, and a few brave jonquils adorned the pathway to a farmhouse near Weeping Water.

But not all of nature's children were up. I ran across a bat that was still in hibernation on a white birch. A few more days of sunshine and it would join the parade of other wide-awake Nebraska residents.

The woods and fields teemed with activity. A shy calf resisted my efforts to have its photograph taken. I finally succeeded, but it took five tries. Wild ferns, a budding magnolia tree, an idle hornet's nest, a flimsy spider web perched between two tender shoots, an empty bird's nest, the gnarled roots of an ancient tree exposed along a crumbling stream bank, and some moss on a tree trunk all fell prey to my shutter.

Once I had to inch my way, just as stealthily as a waterfowl hunter, to bag a couple of black coots cavorting on a glassy farm pond. Some handsome mallards spooked before I got within camera range.

A sacked lunch never tasted better, and the snooze that followed was like sleeping on puffs of clouds. Hurry was a part of the other world in the city. Here everything moved at a leisurely pace.

My camera was nothing real fancy— a 2%-square reflex outfit, using 120 black and white film,with a couple of filters to catch the clouds. Actually, a simple box camera works almost as well. The big items are the subjects themselves.

Put a roll of black-and-white or color film in the camera, take off to the outdoors, as near as the city limits, and you're in business. Besides, it's the best excuse I know of to cure the fever. Maybe there's one exception. A cane pole, a pond, and a forgotten school day.

THE END

BEST BAIT GOING

THERE ISN'T an angler who doesn't sport a surplus of artificials in his tackle box. And chances are he'll also cache some worms. But for real insurance, he'll include a can of minnows. Along with garden hackle, these lively come-ons are the most popular bait going.

The bluegill is about the only fish that shuns minnows. Trout, walleye, sauger, northerns, bass, perch, crappie, and channel catfish all find the minnow tempting fare. Experienced anglers find this bait more effective on some varieties at particular seasons even though most species take minnows year-round. Trout, channel cat, and bass, for example, prefer them during spring and fall whereas walleye and sauger go on a minnow binge in winter and midsummer. Northerns, crappie, white bass, and perch take them any time.

The effectiveness of the bait depends much on the abundance or scarcity of minnows in the water. Before the spawn in the spring, minnows prove a rare treat. Later, when the water warms and teems with fry, they aren't as desirable. During the colder months, fish are more inactive, and often only minnows will lure them into action.

Collecting and holding minnows is no easy chore. However, here are some tips that should simplify the matter and assure a minimum loss.

When collecting bait with a minnow seine, try to land them on a firm sandy stream bottom. Silt stirred up on a soft mucky bottom may cause suffocation. Never pull the seine onto the shore when landing. Bag the seine and move to deeper water, then remove the desired minnows with a small dip net. Return the remainder to the water.

Do not subject minnows to more than a 10° F. change in temperature. The fish may show no immediate response, but may die within a short time from delayed shock.

The angler who buys from an authorized dealer should look for clean, strong minnows. Those with many scales missing, caused by rough handling during collection, and in a thin, weakened condition, the result of holding for prolonged periods without food, are very difficult to keep alive. They often die when placed on the hook.

To keep the minnows so they'll be hardy when you reach your fishing site, remember these general points.

Do not overload the minnow bucket. When minnows are crowded, the oxygen in the bucket is quickly depleted, and mortality results. And also, as the OUTDOOR NEBRASKA 12   temperature warms, the fish use more oxygen. Temperature of the water governs the number and distance that minnows can be transported. By using ice, you can carry more.

Oxygen tablets now on the market are a new aid in carrying minnows. Or, if you're handy, you can make a device with a funnel and hose that will provide oxygen for even long trips. Clamp the funnel outside the car where it will catch the wind. Attach the hose to the funnel and insert the hose in the minnow pail. This "Rube Goldberg" creation continually replenishes the oxygen content of the water.

Now that you have the minnows safely streamside, how do you hook them to assure lively action and longer living?

There are several ways. One is to put the hook through the lower lip. This enables the minnow to breathe and also eliminates the possibility of piercing the brain. Another way is to hook the minnow through the back or tail, being sure to place the hook through the upper fourth of the body. If the backbone is pierced the minnow will be crippled or killed.

Storage between fishing trips requires very simple equipment. A 20-gallon tank will hold the 100-minnow legal limit. The tank may be aerated with running water or compressed air. If running water is used, there should be a continuous flow of about one-half gallon per minute under pressure. Compressed air should be passed into the water through a carborundum air stone attached to the end of the hose, or through a perforated tube.

Chlorine in city water sometimes kills fish. Compressed air is used for aeration where there is too much chlorine. Add a few grains of sodium-thiosulfate to the water. This serves as a neutralizer. This chemical, incidentally, is the "hypo" used by photographers and is easily obtained.

Minnows should be fed if they are stored at the home for periods of over one week. It is best, though, to underfeed. Any food not eaten in an hour is overfeeding. Excess fcod accumulates on the bottom and in turn pollutes the water and depletes oxygen.

Remember that the legal limit of minnows is 100 per license holder. A new regulation also makes it unlawful to use, sell, transport, or offer for bait any carp, carp sucker, buffalo, gar, goldfish, quillback, or dogfish. Any of these fish that are taken shall not be returned to any waters of the state but shall be destroyed. See the 1960 fishing regulations for further particulars.

Each year, more anglers come to depend on minnows for bait. When all else has failed, the minnow moves in to transform the hook into an irresistable come-on. The smart fisherman who knows how and when to use this lively runt parleys it into a catch at least 20 times its size. Is it any wonder that it's about the "best" bait going?

GUIDE TO FISH COOKERY

CRACKLING-CRISP trout that are fried bankside can be a mighty pleasant ending to a day on the water. On the other hand, a soggy or stale meal can quickly take the edge off the fun of the strike. You can fix almost any Nebraska fish if you know the basic broiling, baking, and frying techniques, with wide latitude allowed for your individual preferences in sauces and extras.

You start preparing your fish for the plate the instant you pull them from the water. Next time you land a brownie or a bluegill, take a good look at him. His sides are shimmering with a myriad of delicate pulsating colors. His eyes are bright and bulging.

But he'll lose his appeal rapidly if you don't start caring for him right away. Fish, especially trout, deteriorate and decompose far more quickly than other meats. If you can, kill the trout immediately and put them, unwashed and ungutted, into ice. If you lay them on a slab of ice and cover them with an insulation of sawdust, they'll keep for several weeks.

If ice isn't available, and you're afraid tomorrow's catch may be lean, clean today's, sprinkle the flesh with salt and pepper, and wrap in several thicknesses of dampened woolen cloth or brown paper. Place in cold damp earth, and it will last up to 48 hours.

If you use a creel, line it with fresh leaves or grass. Dip it in water whenever you stop for lunch; never put it on the ground, or you'll risk crawling insects. Wash it after every use, to keep fly eggs and maggots out. Creels should be used in boats, too; a stringer kills fish more often than not, and prolonged soaking impairs the flavor and texture and causes discoloration.

To scale and clean a fresh fish, hold the critter by the tail and scrape with a blunt-edged knife from 14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   tail to head in short, firm strokes. Then slit the underside, remove the innards, and wipe out well. Skinning is advisable for catfish, bass, and other fish caught in sluggish waters.

The most important thing to remember in cooking fish is not to overdo it. You want the flesh flaky, while leaving it tender and temptingly flavored. Another factor to consider is fish-fat content. Generally, bass are lean, perch are medium-fat, and trout are fat. The fatter species are better for broiling, baking, or planking. If you broil lean fish, baste them with bacon drippings or butter.

To broil small whole fish or fillets, place the fish (skin side down) on a preheated greased broiler pan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and melted butter. If you like, add 2 tablespoons of mustard to 1 stick butter and rub inside and out on the fish. Then salt and pepper, wrap in aluminum foil, and place in broiler or on grill. For a fish under 1 pound allow 15 minutes.When you remove the foil the skin comes, too. Or dip the fish in egg and milk, roll in crushed barbeque potato chips, wrap in aluminum foil, and throw on the grill.

Boiled fish are actually not boiled, but simmered. Correct temperature is reached when bubbles form on the bottom of the pan but do not break the surface. To boil a large fish, cover it with cold salted water, bring rapidly to a boil, then simmer 8 to 10 minutes per pound. Put small fish directly into boiling water, let them boil for a few minutes to seal the sides and keep the flavor in, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer till done. Add 1 tablespoon vinegar, lemon juice, or white wine to each 1 1/2 quarts of water used, and some carrots, onions, and celery to enhance the flavor of the fish.

Planking is an elegant way of serving whole trout or pike. Use a slab of hickory, oak, or ash. It should be 2 or 3 inches thick and a couple of feet long. In cleaning the fish, split it down the back, leaving the belly skin intact. Spread it, flesh side out, on the plank and tack it. Then stand the plank up before the fire so it will get lots of heat but not burn. Baste with a strip of bacon on the end of a twig, and turn the plank end for end to insure even heat. Serve as is with pepper, salt, and lemon.

You can adapt this to your oven at home. When the fish is almost done arrange a border of mashed potatoes, and broil until brown. Add vegetables for color. A word of advice—stick to the sweet hard­woods, stay away from the strong-flavored pines.

A baking dish lined with greased paper and a 400° F. oven, a dash of salt, pepper, and lemon are about all you need for oven-fixed fish. You can try a stuffing in whole fish for variety or a bread of crumbs, chips, or meal.

Large carp, skinned, of two pounds or more, after salted, peppered, and rolled in flour, can be baked with 1/2-pound butter for 30 minutes at 350° F. Open a can of tomatoes, pour over the fish, and bake 30 minutes more. Don't stint the pepper.

Walleye, split, and laid out like an open book on a wire rack over a cup of water in a shallow baking pan, can be baked at moderate heat with the cover on. Meanwhile you can prepare the basting-mix de resistance. Melt *4-pound butter, mix in a stalk of green onion and 2 slices lean hickory-smoked bacon chopped fine. Add the juice of a lemon and a tea-spoonful each of salt and black pepper. Blend at low heat, just short of browning the butter. When the fish is tender to a fork, brush on the basting, bake about 10 minutes with the pan cover off. Then rack the fish under the broiler after another basting. After 15 minutes more of broiling and basting, the walleye is a crackling golden brown on top and delicious inside. It goes on the table piping hot.

All you need for tasty camp-baked trout is to pack along some salt, an onion, and some bacon strips. Your baking dish is a mound of mud; and you eat with your fingers.

Clean the trout and cut off the head and tail. Sprinkle the inside of the fish with salt and onion, then place the bacon over the diced onion so it will not fall out. Wrap firmly with wet leaves so the entire surface is covered. Make a mold of wet earth or clay about 2 inches thick over the side and ends of the fish, patting down firmly. Then bury in the red-hot coals of the campfire. Rake the fire back over the fish and keep the fire burning slowly one hour. When you break open (continued on page 22)

COLD WATER KINGS

TROUT FISHING offers a challenge that no other form of angling can. It requires the skill of a fine craftsman, the touch of an artist, and the tenacity of a bulldog to consistently creel these cold-water fighters.

The angler looking for lots of fish doesn't last long in trouting circles. A 16-inch trout is considered a mighty handsome fish, and although some lunkers are caught they are mighty tough to come by.

If the fisherman can't catch many trout and the big percentage are small, why, then, are the brooks, browns, and rainbows, the most prized of our fish? Answers vary, but all touch on the very basics of fishing—the appreciation of sparkling-clear waters, the feel of a good fly rod in your hand, the sight of a dry fly riding jauntily on the surface of a pool, and the knowledge that the prey is not only wary but capable of putting up an exciting battle.

How does the fishermen catch trout? First off, he must know which streams have fish. Nebraska's 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   panhandle brags roughly of 225 miles of trout streams. Nine Mile and Red Willow creeks in Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties, and the White and Niobrara rivers in Sioux County are considered the best. Spottedtail, Dry Spottedtail, Wildhorse, and Sheep creeks in Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties and Soldier, Monroe, and East Hat in Sioux County are also good. Dawes County has fair trouting in Dead Horse, Chadron, and Bordeaux creeks.

Cherry County offers some fair to good fishing in the Snake and North Loup rivers and Boardmans and Schlagel creeks. Plum and Long Pine creeks in Brown County are excellent. The Verdigre and Steel creeks in Knox County have fair to good trouting as do Lakes McConaughy and Ogallala in the southwestern reservoir area and the Bridgeport sand pits. Other streams and irrigation ditches in the west have some fishing but are not considered consistent.

Two Rivers, near Venice, the state's new "put-and-take fishing" recreation area, offers the angler the chance to pay—$1 to creel his daily limit in country which is otherwise void to trout.

Catching trout can be simple at times, especially on newly planted fish, but by and large the trout presents a worthy adversary. Once the fish has become acclimated, he has his favorite haunts and will follow somewhat of a schedule. The usual pattern is for the fish to feed in the shallow runs and riffles during the morning and evenings, retiring to the protection of undercut banks and deeper holes during the midday hours. Adverse weather conditions can change the pattern somewhat. Rain or a heavy overcast offers the trout more protection, and he will move about more throughout the day.

The trout's diet changes with the seasons or the availability of the food. Early season fishermen will have the most success on bait such as worms, minnows, and beef melt. Artificials such as streamers, bucktails, and nymphs will produce for the fly fisherman. Spoons, spinners, and flatfish lures work well for spin enthusiasts.

A variety of winged insects prove tasty treats to trout in early summer, a clue to the fly fisherman to add wet and dry flies to his assortment of lures. The feeding pattern will become quite predominant throughout the summer, so early morning and evening fishing will be best.

Summer fishing can have its "dog days", but well versed trouters continue to catch fish by using varied methods. Waters usually are down to minimum levels, and the trout become very wary. The dry fly is a top producer along with such natural baits as grasshoppers and crickets.

Browns become almost nocturnal feeders in the summer. Many tackle-busting brownies are taken at night. Top lures for night angling are the shallow-running type with lots of action. Surface lures such as dry flies and bass bugs work well along with spinning-size surface plugs.

The novice night trouter will have his problems. The fish will be feeding in the shallow, flat water, so the angler should familiarize himself with enough of these areas during the day and make mental notes on casting room, obstructions, and other pitfalls.

Bait works well for fall and winter fishing, but small spoons, spinners, and streamer flies take trout for those who know how to fish them. Knowing where to fish in a particular stream and how to present the bait or lure is the secret of taking these fighters.

Trout lie deep in the holes during the winter. Food intake and movement is at a minimum, so bait-fish these areas slowly and carefully. Food intake as well as activity increase as the weather warms. Trout begin to prowl the riffles and lie in wait at the tail of a pool for food. The smart angler works undercut banks at the head of a run or narrow portion of a stream. At midday, he'll drift his lure or bait deep under logs and banks.

The trout's environment is his best defense. The shallow, clear water of the stream makes approach difficult. Caution is the byword here. Never plod along the bank or drop your lure in helter-skelter fashion. Plan each approach with care, crawling on hands and knees if need be. Keep the sun in your face if at all possible. Your shadow ghosting across the surface of a pool will spook the boldest trout.

There are a number of ways for you to get your offering to the trout in the shallow runs without spooking him. Determine the lay of the stream and whether or not there is sufficient room to handle a long cast with the fly rod. If the stream does have casting room and you can stay out of sight, make a long cast, dropping (continued on page 22)

SMITH LAKE

IF YOU like your bass and bluegill in large packages, prefer shooting at large congregations of ducks, and at the same time get in plenty of shots at wary pheasants and grouse, you're in for a treat. The Smith Lake Recreation Area, tucked away in the rolling Sand Hills between Lakeside and Rushville in the panhandle, has all this and more, too, proving a mecca for year-round sport.

Whopping five-pound bass are occasional customers. Hefty bluegills spar for almost any bait. And come waterfowl season hordes of ducks will take over, blanketing the lake's sparkling surface. Sweeping grasslands cover plenty of sharptails, and the marshes of Pine Creek have more than their share of pheasants.

The area seems almost virgin, with a few taking advantage of its many opportunities. A black-top road from Lakeside on State Highway 2 provides easy access. A 23-mile drive from Rushville on a gravel road leads you right to the popular Sand Hills playground.

Variety is the byword at this hot spot. Both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, as well as scrappy northerns, bluegills, crappies, channel cats, bullheads, and yellow perch abound.

Smith Lake is fairly shallow, with a mucky bottom. When you wade it, make sure of each step. The lake is fed by underground springs. Wise anglers, knowing their location, fish these deep holes for lunkers.

One evening last summer as the fiery sun splattered red on the water, I watched an angler at work with a surface fly. In less than 30 minutes he had over 20 strikes. The best show occurred when the bluegills and crappies accepted his offering, thrashing the water in a feeding frenzy. When it was all 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   over, he had 15 scrappers in his creel. Some topped the one-pound mark.

Four days later it was my turn. I came up with some dandy bluegills and a three-pound bass.

Almost 50,000 northern pike fingerlings were stocked in the lake last spring. Many of these turned up as 14-inchers during a seining operation last fall, and should provide plenty of action this season.

The 225-acre lake is the prime feature of the 650-acre western fun area. James Smith of Rushville, former owner and an ardent sportsman, donated the site to the state. His only stipulation was that the land be used to create a park and lake for the enjoyment of all.

Prior to Mr. Smith's donation, the lake was typical of many small waters in the Sand Hills. Previously, Pine Creek flowed through the lake on its way to the Niobrara. The Game Commission constructed a steel and concrete overflow spillway at the northern end of the lake to maintain a constant level. Now Smith Lake overflow waters spill back into Pine Creek as it continues on its way northward.

Convenient roads provide easy access to much of the area. Several miles of dirt-surfaced and graveled road surround half the lake. An additional two miles have been bladed and prepared for surfacing.

Cottonwoods, pines, red cedars, and coniferous trees dot the area. The Game Commission eventually hopes to have the entire area circled with shade trees. Last summer 300 Chinese elms, quail bush, sand cherry, plum, chokecherry trees, and shrubs were planted.

Smith Lake offers you the chance to rough it. You can camp under a canopy of stars and listen to a nighttime symphony of crickets and lapping waters. There's lot of elbow room and you can camp for days with little if any disturbance. Alliance and Rushville are close enough, however, to provide the modern comforts of a motel for less rugged individuals.

Two new wells have been installed to provide fresh drinking water. There are fireplaces with plenty of cut wood. Picnic tables and sanitary facilities are included.

This Sand Hills spot is a top hunting area. Thousands of ducks afford plenty of early shooting. The upland gunner gets more than his share of shots at grouse and pheasants. Cottontails are bagged as well. An occasional antelope and deer may be spotted, and trappers will find an abundance of muskrats and some beaver.

As an added bonus, visitors are treated to the antics of the double-crested cormorants, springtime residents at Smith Lake. Champions at their own form of angling, they quickly put the best of fishermen to shame with the number of fish they take in a dive.

If fighting watery warriors is your pleasure, here is the place to go. If camping is your meat, then Smith Lake with its super-abundance of room is for you. Try it this year. One visit and you'll be back for more.

THE END

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER

IF YOU'RE like most fishermen, you've experienced the frustration of seeing a prized fish move in within striking distance, then at the last moment, shy away. The reason? The unnatural appearance of the offering which includes everything from the end of the line to the hook. The leader is a part of this offering, and is often the difference between success and failure.

The proper leaders can help you catch more fish. Experienced anglers rely on them to help "fool" the finnies.

As a general rule, the clearer the water, the lighter the weight leader you should use. Most fish have keen eyesight and cannot be expected to take a bait or lure that is obviously attached to a heavy line. Of course, there are exceptions when fish will hit at anything. The successful fisherman, however, doesn't trust to luck on such occasions.

Once leaders were difficult to handle and very delicate. This was because most of them were made from silkworm gut or single-strand steel wire. The silkworm gut had to be thoroughly wet before it could be tied, and the steel wire had a tendency to kink. Now, however, with the use of nylon monofilament strands, leaders are practical, easy to use.

Nylon leader material is packaged and prepared in many different ways, but all nylon is not the same. There are several manufactured in the United States as well as foreign imports. Each produces several grades or types of nylon monofilament. This nylon is then put on the market by fishing-tackle or fishing-line companies under various brand names. Some further process it to make it even more suitable.

Care and good judgment should be used to select the proper weight and style of leader to suit the type 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   of fishing you are doing. For instance, most fishing can be done successfully with hooks on ready-tied leaders. These are known as "snelled" hooks. This is the easiest and simplest way to use a leader.

New on the market this year are "spinning" snelled hooks especially designed for fishing with nylon monofilament lines. These have leaders that are lighter in weight than ordinary snells, are 18 inches long, and are tied with a dropper to attach sinkers. If the sinker catches in rocks or snags it will strip off, leaving the hook and line free. This new snell proves a big help when fishing rocky bottoms.

For fishermen wanting to tie their own leaders, it is advisable to buy several spools of leader material in various pound-tests. The choice of color is up to the fisherman. With these different pound-tests you are ready for most types of fishing and fish.

Consider the fisherman using monofilament nylon line on a spinning reel. The best rule is to use a leader of lighter pound-test than the line being used. This serves a double purpose. First, it reduces the visibility of the line attached to the bait or lure, and second, it serves as a "safety". If the hook becomes snagged, the leader will break first, saving your line.

When fishing with a bait-casting reel using a braided line, the "lighter-pound-test-leader-than-line" rule also applies. In most cases, however, a heavier leader can be used, as most braided lines are used in the heavier pound-tests. Many heavier pound-test short-length leaders are on the market. Most of these are equipped with a snap and swivel for use with bass plugs. Many are made from twisted stainless-steel wire covered with nylon for use on fish like pike that can bite through plain nylon.

A leader is an absolute necessity for the fly fisherman. It serves as an extension of the line for proper casting. Also, the heavy weight and bulk of a fly line make it almost impossible to fish without a leader. In most cases a fly-line leader should be used in long lengths from four to nine feet, depending on the clarity of the water, the type of fish, and the type of lure or bait being used.

The best leader is the longest and lightest that the fisherman can handle when fly-rod fishing with artificial flies for trout or pan fish. There are two types of leaders for fly fishing—the level and the tapered. The level is, as the name implies, the same diameter for its full length. The tapered, on the other hand, varies from a large diameter on the butt end to a fine diameter on the tip.

A level leader is generally used for normal fly­fishing use, especially when fishing for pan fish, or with popping bugs. However, for fine dry-fly fishing with the longer leaders, you should use a tapered leader. The reasons: the low visibility of the fine tip plus the ease of casting the leader on the water as lightly as possible.

Care should be taken to tie nylon in the proper way. A poorly tied knot will cause the fiber to cut itself and break easily at the knot. Pull up all knots slowly and tightly. Never tie an ordinary overhand knot in nylon as it reduces the line's strength by almost 50 per cent.

Leaders play a large part in the proper balance of a complete fishing outfit. When properly used, they are second in importance only to your fish hook. It is the thin, almost invisible connection that makes the lure look and act as it should, the come-on that keeps the fish coming right into your creel.

THE END

COLD WATER KINGS

the lure 10 feet ahead of the fish. Strip enough slack line off the reel to drift the lure to the fish.

Long, fine leader material is a must for this type of fishing whether you are using spin or fly tackle. Line or leader in the 4-pound-test class serves the purpose in most cases. Another trick that sometimes works in getting the lure to a fish without disturbing it is to use a piece of bark or wood just large enough to float your lure as it drifts downstream. When the lure is about three feet in front of the fish, ease it off the float and get set for a strike.

The small plastic bubble used as a cork will often the answer to getting a lure to the fish. Place the float 6 to 12 inches above the bait. (This depends on the depth of the water you intend to drift.) Drop the bait and float it in the current, giving enough line so that it floats freely into the area.

Fish lying deep in the runs or holes are much easier to approach, and, in general, easier to catch. The lure should be drifted to the fish as naturally as possible. To accomplish this the angler should cast up and across the stream, "mending" the line as it floats back toward him.

What about sinkers? Experienced anglers recommend their use only when it's impossible to get the bait down to the fish. Any weight creates an unnatural drag on the bait or lure and will often make a fish pass up your offering.

The successful trout fisherman isn't a dyed-in-the-wool dry-fly addict; neither is he strictly a bait dunker. The boys that bring home something for the frying pan are those who have learned that there isn't any one approach that will take trout at all times.

Streamside success depends on the right choice of bait or fly and a thorough knowledge of the trout's habits and preferred habitat. There is no substitute for knowing the stream fished. Many areas do not have fish, even though they look like they should. The fisherman can only learn these important points by consistently fishing the trout's stronghold.

GUIDE TO COOKERY

mud shell the skin will stick to the leaves. Incidentally, if you can't find appropriate leaves, use newspapers.

Frying hardens the surface of the fish and seals in the juices. Any delicately flavored fish, such as trout, is always good prepared this way. But keep the pieces small. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, and dip in flour or corn meal. Pan-fry in a hot skillet with Vs-inch fat (part butter adds a delicious flavor) over medium heat until golden brown. Turn and brown on other side. Deep-fat frying is about the same.

For bank-fried trout, clean the fish, dip in thin cream, then roll in a mix of flour and corn meal well seasoned with salt and pepper. Be sure the pan for frying is large enough so that the fish won't touch. Use enough bacon grease or oil (peanut oil's best) to keep the fish from sticking and burning. When the grease is hot but not smoking, gently lay the coated trout in and fry quickly to a golden brown on one side. Turn and brown on the other. Keep the grease bubbling hot but not burning. If you have an orange handy, quickly saute it in butter and garnish the fish.

So there you are. And if this doesn't make you want to get out and get fishing, your imagination and taste buds need reviving.

Outdoor Elsewhere

WASHINGTON, D. C. . . . Here's what eight animals can do in 10 years when given a chance. Stocked inside a maximum security compound at Fort Campbell, an airborne troop military reservation straddling the Kentucky - Tennessee state line, the eight were protected from poachers, free-roaming dogs, and other predators by successive wire fences and by Marine security patrols. Several years ago 78 animals were live-trapped and removed from the area. Earlier this year, an additional 162 deer were live-trapped and removed, with the remaining population estimated at 250 animals—about the maximum the habitat can support. In other words, the deer population multiplied 62 times in 10 years.

MINNESOTA . . . "Missing persons" have turned into "Found Fish" in Minnesota. And the experts are still puzling over how three humpbacked salmon turned up in the "land-o-lakes". The trio appeared in Lake Superior fish catches this fall. Native to Pacific Coast streams, the humpbacks are not known to inhabit fresh water. So how did they get there?

NEW JERSEY ... An angler from Pennsylvania who apparently is a con­firmed practical joker, has been catch­ing tagged trout in New Jersey, remov­ing the tags, and placing them around the legs of pigeons. First inkling of this activity came when a Pennsylvania woman called the New Jersey Division of Fish and Game, reporting she had captured a pigeon with a tag indicating the Fisheries Laboratory should be notified. After the caller convinced them of her sanity, the tag was traced to a nine-inch rainbow trout. Came another call from a pigeon fancier; the tag this time was from a 10-inch rainbow. Biologists report they have been un­able to find any correlation between in­creased tag returns from pigeons and the present trout-stocking ratio.

NORTH DAKOTA . . . Who was the prey and who the predator? A school bus driver reported seeing a bald eagle about seven miles southeast of Medina. That's a rare observation in it­self. However, the eagle was chasing a red fox—and the fox was busily en­gaged in catching a rabbit.

PENNSYLVANIA . . . While on a recent raccoon hunt in Crawford County, Deputy Game Protector Paul Warner's hound engaged in a fight with a large coon in an open field. When Warner came up, he saw four deer standing in a circle around the combatants, curiously watching the fracas.

ALBERTA . . . "We've always believed that the pheasant was a pretty tough customer," says the Alberta Forest Service. Backing up its claim was a mutilated Canadian airlines aircraft. The plane received a direct hit from a pheasant during take-off, smashing in a cowling and plugging the air compressor. The 73 passengers were delayed eight hours while the damage was repaired.

PENNSYLVANIA ... In the closing days of turkey season two women had just settled down in a select hunting spot when along came a good-sized bear. Believing retreat the wisest move, the women took off for another hunting spot. They weren't there long when Mr. Bruin appeared again. A shot in the air failed to discourage the bear so they started for their car. Again the bruin showed, but this time hollering chased him off for good. What was the big attraction? Probably the chocolate candy the women carried in their pockets.

OREGON ... A silver gray squirrel started a ruckus in Oregon when he tried a salad of power-line insulation. He shorted the line and blew a fuse two miles away. A two-acre fire resulted.

GLASSY-EYED FUN

Creek, told me earlier. Bob is one of the top catfishermen in the area. Living near the reservoir, Bob has found time to do a lot of fishing. He does not confine his angling to "old whiskers" and likes to try for crappie and walleyes.

"I used to keep a record of my catches in the reservoir," he remarked. "And I have fished it every month of the year. There hasn't been a month when I haven't made some fine catches. No records, under­stand, but some mighty nice fish. Those early spring walleyes are great. They're just as fat as butter."

The veteran, true to his reputation, had five nice ones by the end of the day.

My suggestion to try the lake was the mistake of the outing. Using Carl's boat, we fished coves, shore lines, and drop offs. But to no avail. Others were taking some small walleyes and a few crappie.

I have taken some nice walleyes along the shore," Carl told us, encouragingly. "My best catches have been when there is a light breeze blowing and the water is moving. You know there's an old saying that wind is a must for good walleye fishing."

But wind or no wind, we failed to make a catch. As I said, mine was the mistake of the day. While we had been plying the lake, the walleyes had gone on a midafternoon feeding spree in the basin. Practically every angler had scored, and strings of two, three, and four walleyes were along the bank. But we had missed out on the show; and though we worked our lines continually into the evening, we failed to make a catch. Whipped, we called it a day.

Sunday morning was cloudy, and there was very little action until 8:30 a. m. Then the fish got hungry. In short order, three and four-pounders were snapped from the water. The action was steady for the next two hours.

Carl picked up three nice-sized fish which would average out better than two pounds. I caught four, but three were on the small side. Bill added two more. The walleye's taste for bait is anyone's guess. One day it might be artificials, the next minnows, and the next, worms. Artificials were not working at Medicine Creek, and the anglers did not have much faith in worms. Practically everyone was using minnows. But the biggest fish taken in our short stay came off an artificial night crawler. Henry Roth of McCook hooked a six-pounder in the deep water of the basin.

It was hard to tear away from this hot spot and start the long trip back to Lincoln. The walleye may be unpredictable and contrary, but he's an exciting prize to catch. And once you've tasted this morsel, cooked to a golden brown, it's hard to resist the temptation to make many a return trip back to Medicine Creek. I plan to do just that.

SPEAK UP

"I am interested in snake hunting as a sport, but I would rather begin with a com­panion who has had some experience in this line. Do you know any snake hunter in Ne­braska who would take a chance with a 23-year-old 'greenhorn'? I'll furnish my own weapons and other needed material."—J. Den­nis Martin, Lincoln.

Anybody actively engaged in snake hunting? We'll be glad to forward your replies. —Ediior.

"Friends have told me that some hawks are protected by law. Please tell me which are protected and which are not."—Wayne Sluiheil, Giliner.

Unprotected hawks in Nebraska are the Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and goshawk. These are considered predators on game birds. All other hawks prey mostly on mice, and are protected by law.—Ediior.

"So many fishermen discard their rough fish such as carp and buffalo that I am offering this recipe for smoked carp. These are among the best I've ever eaten.

"Clean the fish, skin, and cut in chunks. Wash well in fresh water. Drain and dry fish with clean cloth (or store loosely in the refrigerator overnight to aid in drying). Then dip the chunks in liquid smoke or apply thoroughly on all sides with a brush. (Liquid smoke can be purchased at most drug stores.) Now place the fish or pieces packed close together in a cold salt brine for 24 to 36 hours. The brine is made by adding iy2 cups of barrel salt to a gallon of water. Place the fish-in-brine in the refrigerator or in a cool place, using a nonmetal container and a close-fitting lid or cover. After brining, re­move fish, do not wash, and allow to drain. Place fish loosely, to aid in drying, on a grill over a drip pan and place in a 450° F. oven for about 1 hour. Smaller fish bake in a little less time. After removing from oven, the fish should be kept where air is circulating. It can then be returned to the refrigerator in a covered dish and will keep for quite a while."—Ferd S. Bogner, Crofton.

"Your December issue said you would like to hear from early hunting-license holders. I have one issued in 1902 at Alliance which is still in good shape. I have bought one almost every year since. Does the Game Commission ever give hunting permits away?"— Earl Douglas, Oshkosh.

Your 1902 permit is truly one of the early birds, as the first year of issuance was 1901. Nebraska law makes no provisions for providing a free fishing and hunting permit, except for disabled veterans and recipients of old-age assistance.—Editor.

Notes on Nebraska Fauna

MEADOWLARK

THE "good morning" whistling of the meadowlark is as much a part of the Nebraska countryside as goldenrod and full-headed wheat. The favorite of the farmer, he's loved for his charm and companionability, his spirited and eloquent bursts of music, and his hunger for insect life.

Two species inhabit Nebraska — the Eastern (Siurnella magna magna) and the Western (S. neglecta neglecta). Their appearance is identical— bright golden vest, black cravat, and flashing white lateral tail feath­ers. Only when a mead­owlark sings can you recognize the species. The Western rips out over twice the notes in the time the Eastern executes his four-noted slurring song. Plus that, the Western's music is richer and fuller, and lower pitched.

Short and plump, with the build, walk, and flight of the bobwhite, meadowlarks are at home in the open fields and meadows. They were once gunned in several southern states where some spend the winter and where they are known as the marsh quail. Both species are presently increasing in number, with the Western moving into range once thought to support solely the Eastern.

The Western meadowlark is found generally over Nebraska and in the grasslands and pineclad foothills of western North America from British Columbia and Ontario south to Mexico. The distribution of the Eastern is more spotted over Nebraska, and ranges from the central United States and eastern Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Migration is believed by biologists to be relatively limited, perhaps just a withdrawal from the more northerly parts of the range. Winter residents in Ne­braska flock together and become almost tame, especially if food is scarce. In the spring the old males 26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   are the first to arrive here. They are quiet in manner. As more arrive, a few tentative songs are begun, but without the brilliance of the courting season. Now the males are selecting their territories, with later arrivals forced to carve out theirs from the do­mains of those before them.

The territory of the polygamous meadowlark is usually in grassland or meadow. Depending on the number of mates he takes, he may later enlarge this, claiming the area around the nests of all his mates. Territories are guarded throughout the sum­mer, until fledging of the second brood. Generally meadowlarks remain mated for this time. Following the late-summer molt, they become gregarious and flock up until spring.

Perches such as telephone poles, fence wires and posts, and farm implements are of primary importance in selecting territories, for males will return to them almost daily during the summer to watch and sing. Generally they roost nearby.

Few have written about the courtship of meadowlarks, an antimated affair punctuated by elaborate displays, spectacular flights, and intensive singing. Usually covetous rivals can be driven off with a round of flashing displays and competitive singing, ending when the vanquished is chased from the territory. But some males will fight savagely, rolling and tumbling in the grass.

Later, the female selects a natural hollow—a hoofprint will serve—shapes it to her fancy with her stout bill, and weaves a cozy nest of dried grasses complete with roof. This is a dome of grass inter­woven with the clump of grass or weeds against which the nest is located. Sometimes a covered passageway, two to five feet long, is added.

Three to seven eggs, usually five, are laid. They vary greatly in size and shape. The base color is pure-white, occasionally covered with a pale-pink or very rarely, greenish-white. They are more or less pro­fusely spotted, blotched, and speckled with different shades of brown, purple, lavender, and other colors.

While on the nest, the female is busy turning the eggs, feeding on insects, probing, rearranging, and preening. Incubation usually lasts 14 days.

About 11 or 12 days later, the young usually leave the nest for good. Feather growth on the wings is sufficient to allow the nestlings to fly. However, the young prefer to run about in the grasses, and seldom take more than short jumps. They are fed by the adults for about two weeks or longer after leaving the nest. About two days after the first brood leaves home the female starts building the second nest.

Since meadowlarks nest on the ground, they are subject to almost every type of predatory animal. The house cat is considered one of the worst. Owls, hawks, snakes, skunks, weasels, raccoons, coyotes, and crows all take their fill of young birds. The game is almost too easy. Even man, mowing his pasture or alfalfa, must take a heavy toll of nests. But be­cause of the two broods of four or five young brought off each season, the relatively high mortality rate is not a serious problem.

The meadowlark's food preferences endear him to the farmer. In summer the diet consists mostly of insects—cutworms, caterpillars, beetles and grass­hoppers. In autumn and winter seeds and waste grains are the top items. Examination of stomachs collected over the year shows a 70 per cent ratio of insect and animal contents to 30 per cent vegetable matter.

Nestlings are heavy eaters. One day's food weighs 8 to 20 grams, the equivalent of about 100 to 300 small grasshopper nymphs. A 10-day food supply for 10 nestlings, when the chief food is grasshoppers, may be 5,000 to 7,000 of these bugs.

I see your petticoat, is the jaunty yodel of the Western meadowlark. The first three notes are de­liberate, full, and resonant. The next two are finer and in a higher key; the final is like the first in accent and tone. In contrast, the Eastern has a higher, shriller slur. The ordinary conversational note is a deep-toned tuck, much like the chuck of the black­birds which are close kin.

Singing activity is at its peak during the first part of each breeding season. The meadowlark sings an endless round of variations—one listener recorded 53 different songs from one individual in less than an hour. And meadowlarks have been reported singing every hour of the day every month of the year. One of the best-loved birds of the Nebraska countryside, the meadowlark is well chosen as the state's official bird. A musical symbol of the open prairies and plains that are a part of this state, he's one of the cheeriest and most useful of all song birds.

CAMPING WATCHITS