AUGUST ROUNDUP

NEBRASKALland HOSTESS OF THE MONTH No dog-day doldrums in action here as cowboy and critter whoop it up Water skiing is a popular sport on the NEBRASKAland scene this month; especially so since our August hostess, Miss Karen Hastings, invites you to skim along with her. The water's fine! A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hastings of Elsie, Karen is a 1963 graduate of Elsie High School. She is 20 and a journalism and home economics major at the University of Nebraska. Miss Hastings is a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and is scholarship chairman of that organization. She is Nebraska Wheat Queen of 1964, was a finalist in the N Club Sweetheart contest, and second runner up in the 1964 Miss Ogallala Pageant.

THE WILDEST of spectacles will roar across the NEBRASKAland trail during the month of August. It's rodeo time in the state where the rugged game was born in 1882. Today world-famous cowboys slap leather for big purses in 17 spectacular August blowouts.

Mightiest of the western classics is the Burwell showdown, billed as "Nebraska's Big Rodeo". It's set to cut loose August 11 for four days. At the Cowboy Capital of NEBRASKAland in Ogallala, the best prep riders in the United States will compete for top prizes in National High School Rodeo Championships beginning August 10 through 15. Ogallala makes another big "splash" August 14 when the Second Annual Spearfishing Tournament gets under way at Lake McConaughy for two days.

Sidney is king out in the panhandle August 22 to 25, inclusive, when Fort Sidney Days light up the sky with a four-day shindig. In north-central NEBRASKAland Atkinson will throw its Hay Days celebration August 9 and 10.

One of the most colorful and delightful events in all NEBRASKAland swings up to take a high seat of excitement August 7-8 when the Czech Festival rocks with gaiety in Wilber. The flamboyant color of Czech garb blends with the cheerful chat of a friendly people to produce tourist attraction supreme in eastern NEBRASKAland

AUGUST, 1965 5  

A glimpse of the raw, unharnessed courage molded by the pioneers will be offered in Fairbury August 21 at the scene of the moving pageant, ''Echoes of the Oregon Trail". The Rock Creek Pony Express Station is the site of this annual re-creation.

A state thriving on superlative football will cheer to the excitement of the first grid clash, August 21, when the North and South high school all-stars meet in the annual Shrine game in Lincoln. Many a Husker grid great first captured the crowd's fancy in this electrifying contest.

Free-wheeling fiddlers will have their day August 29 in Brownville when music lovers come to town for the big Country Music Contest and a day chock-full of fun and frolics. Horsebracing buffs, who follow their favorite steeds from the Ak-Sar-Ben track to the Fairgrounds at Lincoln, will have until August 7 to back their play at the 1/4-mile capital city track. Columbus will follow on the heels of the Lincoln meet to dish up top action from August 10 through September 6.

The chant and war-whoop of NEBRASKAland's famous Indian tribes will echo up and down the Missouri River during special powwows this month. Tribal customs and rituals of the Omahas will be on display August 13 through 15, inclusive, and the Winnebago powwow will be held August 16 through 22.

At Chambers, August 16, the Rodeo Cowboys Association will open the chutes on another spectacular NEBRASKAland rodeo performance, for a four-day stint in the Sand Hills cowtown. Broken Bow will also host an RCA-sanctioned rodeo.

Other rodeos are on tap across the state. Their dates are: Bloomfield, August 1; Harrison, August 5-7; Genoa, second week in August; Hastings, August 9; Loup City, 14-18; Ord, August 16-18; Wahoo, August 18-21; Bartlett, August 19-22; Dorchester, 19-22; Dunning, August 26-29; Gordon, August 27-29, and Bladen, no date set.

THE END WHAT TO DO July 30-August 3—Lincoln Great Plains AAU Swimming Championships July 8-August 7—Lincoln Horse Racing, Nebraska State Fairgrounds, Lincoln, Yq mile track, dark Mondays Sundays, June 22-August 13—Macy Omaha Indian Dances Wednesdays during July and August—Omaha Omaha Symphony Starlight Pop Concert Aug. 1—Bloomfield Junior Rodeo 1—Howells Second Annual Softball Tournament 2—Blair District Dairy Show 5-6—Friend Fireman's Picnic; Parade on the 5th 5-7—Harrison Sioux County Rodeo 6-8—Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Charity Horse Show Second Week in August—Genoa Livestock Show and Junior Rodeo 7-8—Nemaha Old Settlers' Reunion 7_8—Wilber Czech Festival 9-10—Atkinson Hoy Days 9—Hastings Little Punchers' Rodeo 10-September 6—Columbus Horse Racing, Platte County Agricultural Association, 5/q mile track, dark Mondays except Sept. 6 10-15—Ogallala National High School Rodeo Championships 11-14—Burwell 42nd Annual Big Rodeo 1 1-13—Elwood Gosper County 4-H Fair 1 1-14—Orleans Harlan County Junior Fair 12-17—Oshkosh District American Legion Baseball Tournament 1 3—Craig Craig Community Picnic 13-15—Macy Omaha Indian Powwow 14-5—Ogallala Second Annual Spearfishing Tournament 14-18—Loup City Sherman County Junior Rodeo Third Week in August—Broken Bow Sand Hills Open Golf Tourney 15-17—Franklin Franklin County Saddle Horse Show 16-18—Ord Valley County Junior Rodeo 16-19—Chambers RCA Rodeo 18-21—Wahoo Saunders County Rodeo 1 9—Arapahoe Annual Beef Barbeque 19-22—Bartlett Wheeler County Rodeo 19-22—Winnebago Winnebago Indian Powwow 19-22—Dorchester Saline County Rodeo 20-21—Thedford Invitational Horse Show 21—Fairbury Echoes of the Oregon Trail Pageant 21—Lincoln Shrine Football Game 21— Walthill Quarter Horse Shew 22-25—Sidney Fort Sidney Days and Rodeo 26-29—Dunning 38th Blaine County Rodeo 27-29—Gordon Sheridan County Rodeo 29—Brownville Country Music Contest 29—Republican City Horse Show Mid-August—Plattsmouth Cass County Horse Show No date set—Bladen Webster County Rodeo No date set—Plymouth Annual Flower Show FRONTIER RESORT LAKE MALONEY on U.S. Highway 83 South of North Platte Cabins-Boats-Motors-Cafe Write for reservations Route 4, North Platte, Nebr. HAHLE'S FISHING CENTER CAFE AND ICE BOAT AND MOTOR RENTAL BOAT GAS—SKI BOATS TACKLE AND BAITS GUIDE SERVICE RED WILLOW RESERVOIR Rt. #1 McCook, Nebraska Ph. 345-3560 Sportsman's Paradise On Johnson Lake Boat1 Tow-In Modern Cabins Sportsman's Steak House Boat Ramp and Docks Bait and Fishing Tackle Mercury Motors—Lone Star Boats Sales and Service ELWOOD, NEBRASKA COLLINS (RsiADht on Beautiful Johnson Lake . . . Lakefront cabins • Fishing tackle • Boats & motors • Free boat ramp - Fishing - Modern trailer court • Swimming - Cafe and ice - Boating & skiing - Gas and oil • 9 hole golt course just around the corner • Live and frozen bait. WRITE FOR FREE BROCHURE or phone reservations 785-2298 Elwood, Nebraska AUGUST, 1965 7

HIDDEN PARADISE

Resort on Long Pine Creek features varied bill of fare

FAR UP IN the crown of the state near Long Pine, the flat tableland is slashed by a canyon that knifes toward the Niobrara River 18 miles away. From the steep walls of the ravine, stately Ponderosa pine shade the cool, clear creek below.

Tourists and townsfolk refer to this area as * 'Hidden Paradise". And a bonny child of Dame Nature it is. This breathtaking vista of beauty is in sharp contrast to the steppe of sand and dunes that fan out from the lip of the valley into the sweeping prairie. In the cool lap of this crevice lies a resort, tourist stop, dancehall, and even a private club to lure the traveler off scenic U. S. 20.

Fishermen at Hidden Paradise can wade into Long Pine Creek at nearly every turn and step out with sleek, scrappy trout. Blue jays scold from rim to rim of the vale and wild turkeys strut in the lower reaches of the area.

There's a heyday promised here, too, for hikers, sightseers and picknickers. Winding trails lace the jutting bluffs and geological formations, bared by the wind and meandering river, tell an age-old story of their own. It is a gem of many gleaming facets for the NEBRASKAland tourist and a fine example of the state's myriad vacation attractions.

Mainstream of traffic into the area is borne on Highway 20, which skirts the northern edge of Long Pine to provide a smooth, black ribbon right up to Hidden Paradise. Once in Long Pine, the traveler should follow main street south through town for a half mile, turn west then head along the maintained road as it pitches down into the valley to find the area. At the sight of the yellow sign, you'll know you're there.

Kingpin of the resort on the valley floor is Frank Weander, Jr., a former Ainsworth businessman. Frank's 35 cabins are equipped to accommodate a party of six or supply a comfortable cabin for two. All facilities are fully furnished and so close to the creek that a long-legged customer can easily dunk a foot from the front window. Kids have a ball when a truckload of gleaming trout are stocked into the clear water or a big bull snake weaves across the road en route to his afternoon siesta.

The excitement of the city mixes with the informal, rustic enchantment of the retreat when the sprawling dancehall swings high and wide on special nights. Well-known bands cut loose on the stage and dude, cowboy, and rancher head into the canyon for some old-fashioned fun when the music echoes through the pines.

There's a restaurant attached to the dancehall, where up to 100 customers can be served at one time. The private club adjacent to the cafe seats about 75.

For a barrel-full of fun, hop onto the NEBRASKAland trail for a jaunt to Lone Pine. You'll find a true mecca of leisure at Hidden Paradise.

THE END OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

SPEAK UP

FROM ENGLAND YET—"May I thank you for the pleasure my family and I get from OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland? It is sent to us by our pen friends, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Skutchan of Crete, and it almost creates a squabble over who gets the first read.

"Sussex has just started to publish a county magazine, but while it is very good, the friendly, carefree spirit one gets from reading your magazine is missing.

"My children take OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland to school. My friends borrow it. All in all, I should say it is a very traveled copy before it finally retires.

"We love the pictures. Even the youngest member of the family, a non-reader so far, enjoys the pictures. I, myself, read it all, even the advertisements. Once again, thank you from an English family."—Jean Archer, Sussex, England.

DISAPPOINTED—"I have been a reader of OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland for the past three or four years. I have enjoyed hunting in your state for the past three years and usually hunt with Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Shenk of Salt Lake City. Last year one of my local friends joined us. This year four of us plan to gather in your state or in Kansas or South Dakota for our annual bird hunt. Thus, I explain the background for my letter.

"I subscribe to your magazine because I seek, need, and enjoy information as to how pheasants, quail, and other game birds have wintered, nested, and produced new broods.

"Your May and June issues were eagerly opened and scanned for news I hoped to find that would justify using my vacation, several hundred dollars, and laying my personal reputation on the line to entice others to join me, but what did I find?

"A lovely historical documentary on how Nebraska survived the lean frontier years, exceptionally outstanding photographs of beautiful panoramas and outdoor scenes, very proper views of feminine pulchritude, and a vast assortment of everything except hunting for birds, your greatest tourist attraction.

"Everything, except one article on last year's hen season which you admit was strictly for residents. I am sure you are primarily writing your magazine for state residents, and rightly so, but have you ever surveyed the number of out-of-state subscribers and what they are looking for in your magazine?"—John Daniels, Buffalo, New York.

Due to mechanical requirements, OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland is planned and prepared three months in advance of publication date. This precludes publication of breeding stock surveys which are conducted in late spring. Since hunting regulations are established on the basis of the current year's production, the early surveys have little bearing on the fall hunting prospects. In June and July, other surveys are conducted to determine the upland-game-bird populations. Results of these surveys are published in the September issue, the traditional hunting issue which is sent to all nonresident hunters who have enjoyed gunning in NEBRASKAland during the past three years.

We realize that gentlemen like Mr. Daniels, who must plan vacations early in the summer, are placed at a disadvantage, but we cannot do any different. Nebraska did not restrict the experimental hen-pheasant season to residents only. All license holders were permitted to hunt hens in the prescribed area in the latter part of the 1964-65 season.—Editor.

BELL RINGER—"I have just finished reading your fine article, 'The Haythorn Clan', in the May issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland. I hope you can publish more articles of this type as this is a way of life that is the backbone of Nebraska.

"The fish, game, and outdoor-living stories are interesting, but there is a great history of our state which bears telling. We enjoy this type of article very much."—Edna Masters, McCook.

NEWMAN'S GUEST RANCH Horses — fishing — bow hunting in season—country meals — children and families welcome — write for brochure. Stuart, Nebraska Devils Nest Ranch VACATION-HUNT Deer - Pheasant and Water fowl in season Make Devils Nest Ranch your headquarters for vacation—hunting—and fishing. Located at Lewis and Clark Lake, Nebraska's best playground. We furnish meals and lodging. For reservation contact: HANS & ANNE ECKMAN Bloomfield, Nebraska MOVING? Don't miss OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland Make sure it's delivered to your new address! Use this handy coupon. OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland State Capitol Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 Old Address New address AUGUST, 1965 9

BIG BASS ON A SMALL RIVER

by Gene Hornbeck Lazy and diminutive, the innocent-looking Cedar gives no hint of the finny dynamite lurking below. Then a lure lights the fuse

A PAIR OF TEAL vaulted into the evening sky as , Ed Booth and I stalked cautiously along the edge of the water. The sights and sounds that greet fishermen were all about us. Signs of spring were abundant along the Cedar River Valley. A redwing sang cheerfully of the day, spring peepers began their cricket-like calls heralding the night, and a fish splashed noisily on the placid surface of the slough.

Ed Booth, my fishing partner from the little town of Ericson, savvied the ways of the bass that haunt the bayous and cutoffs of the river. Stepping easily into the water, he aimed his lure at an old log that jutted from the grass-covered bank. The lure zipped noiselessly through the air and fell with a plunk 10 feet beyond the end of the log.

Raising the rod tip, Ed pulled the lure toward him. Almost instantly the water bulged as a good fish hit the offering. The line sliced across the glassy surface, heading for a weed bed. Ed hauled back on the rod and the fish jumped, shattering the placid surface.

The big bass tried again for the refuge of the weeds, but was turned as Ed deftly applied the pressure. Changing tactics, the bass headed for the log, but Ed had gained precious feet of line and turned the fighter short of his goal. With the battlefield clearly outlined the fish again took to the air. Gills flared as he cleared the water, furiously shaking his head to free the barbs of the hooks. As the minutes ticked off, Ed gained foot after foot of line and soon had the completely played-out bass at arm's length. Reaching for the gaping mouth, he slipped his thumb into the lower-jaw and hoisted the game scrapper into the air, a three-pounder for the stringer.

Our fishing had begun stortly after lunch at Ericson once Ed had finished his duties of rural mail carrier. The Cedar is born in northern Garfield County and meanders its way south and east through the ranch country of the Sand Hills into the southwestern corner of the county. Lake Ericson is formed by a power dam at Ericson.

For all bass-fishing purposes the river ends at the lake. It is from this reservoir upstream almost to the river's headwaters that largemouth find environment to their liking.

Down through the years the Cedar has changed its course many times cutting across bends and leaving AUGUST, 1965 11   the old channel full of water. These cutoffs make ideal bass ponds. Beaver also help create many ponds and sloughs which are bass hot spots.

BIG BASS ON A SMALL RIVER continued

"We can ask permission at the next ranch house", Ed said, when we were about six miles upriver. There are a number of good sloughs in here, and we should get some action."

"How are the landowners on giving permission?" I asked.

"All of them are good," Ed replied, "but they insist on everyone asking."

"A couple of places charge a small fee which most fishermen are glad to pay".

The rancher O.K.'ed our fishing, and we turned through a cattle gate and meandered along a trail road which stopped at the river.

"There are some bass taken from the holes in the river itself," Ed informed me, "but the best fishing is in the sloughs and cutoffs. It may be a little early in the year for the fish to be in the river. They usually show up there in the latter part of June."

"We won't need any waders on these first two cutoffs," Ed said, as he rigged his spin-cast outfit with a snap swivel. "I've always had good results with the rubber crawler, small weedless spoons, and recently this small minnow-shaped plug."

"I can see we agree on lures," I grinned, "that new one was originally introduced from Finland, and there are more copies of it than any lure in my memory."

I finished rigging my little ultralight spinning outfit, snapped on a fake minnow, and followed Ed along the brushy bank. The day was warm and bright, with the temperature edging 80, just right for the bass to be lying in the shallows absorbing a little sunshine. A long narrow cutoff joined the river just ahead of us. Ed figured he would try the mouth where it connected up to the river. I started fishing the slough.

Standing on the bank, I appraised my fishing water. Weeds were beginning to grow along the bottom of the pond. Water depth looked to be about two feet along 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland most of the shoreline, with a deep pocket against the far bank 40 feet away. I sent the little plug zipping across the water towards the deeper hole. A slight movement caught my eye and I saw a scaup swim out from the bank just to my left. Watching the duck and expecting him to take off, I continued to cast. The bird seemed satisfied to sit and watch me throw the plug and contentedly stretched and paddled towards the splash of my lure.

Ten minutes passed and Ed came over to see how I was doing.

"What are you trying for?" he said, grinning as he eyed my feathered friend, "a fish fry or a duck dinner?"

"I have seen lots of ducks, but never saw one that was interested in seeing how we catch fish," I answered. "He must be a cripple left behind by his northbound friends. I can't seem to raise anything on this plug," I commented as I recast.

"I'll try a speeded up retrieve to see if the faster action will do any better."

The little plug had zig-zagged its way towards us as I popped the rod tip giving it extra action. Moments later I was taken by surprise as a bass came blasting up after it and missed. On the next cast I was ready. The little treble hooks bit into the bass, and he tailwalked across five feet of river before slamming back into the water. Minutes later I had him in hand, a nice fish in the one-pound class, his frying-pan size just right for the beginnings of a fish feed.

Once we found how the fish wanted the plug served up, we had it made. Ed and I soon had a half dozen bass each from the same area. All through the action, our feathered friend sat nonchalantly by watching the show.

With enough bass on the stringer for a good fish fry, we changed over to crawlers rigged on a tandem hook. After 10 minutes of changing retrieves we finally found that if we fished them very slowly, letting the crawler sink almost to (continued on page 55)

AUGUST, 1965

THE SPORT OF MAN

From crude music maker to a precision arm, the longbow has twanged an epic of greatness

TO SAY that the bow ranks with the discovery of fire and invention of the wheel may bring frowns from even the millions of American archers hooked by the sport. But whether you're a back-yard target shooter or bona fide game killer, you'll agree that this noiseless instrument is the kingpin of a fun-filled diversion that boasts a long and fascinating history.

The ancestor of today's powerful bows was probably little more than a thong between the ends of a supple stick. More than likely, it was first meant to provide music for some lonesome caveman until its projectile potential was inadvertently discovered. Exact dates of the bow's debut have been pretty well pegged to the Azilian culture of Southern France about 10,000 B.C. Cave paintings of Altamira, Spain along with Carbon 14 dating bears this out.

Some historians question whether necessity was the mother of invention in the case of the bow. The spear was doing a pretty good job on the huge, slow-moving animals of the Neanderthal man's time. But there were environmental developments arousing interest in throwing the spear farther and straighter. With the passing of the glaciers came the forests, a habitat conducive to such speedy animals as the deer. These species plus shades of organized warfare brought a demand for the bow.

Whether the bow brought on an arms race or factional disputes with the spear advocates isn't known. This all took place before written history. It's even uncertain how fast the bow spread. Findings indicate there was a tremendous time lag between the bow's appearance in Europe until utilization by the American Indians about 500 B.C. This isn't too slow, however, when you place it in the million and a half years of human history. The bow spread to almost all parts of the world, with only such isolated places as Australia and parts of New Zealand being missed.

Geography influenced proficiency in the use of the bow. Witness the skill of the nomadic hunters and warriors of the Asian Steppes, Argentine Pampas, and American Plains. These treeless and grassy flats spurred the use as well as the development of the bow. Timbered regions usually had the opposite effect, retarding archery ability. The Iroquois Indians of eastern North America contradict this theory, however. They were well-respected bowman in spite of the forests.

The bow found fertile ground as a weapon of war. Tribes and kingdoms rose and fell, depending on their troops' dexterity with the bow. The weapon was probably an "equalizer" comparable to the six-gun of western fame. Until the bow came along, it was usually the biggest, loudest, and meanest fellow who had his way and was the leader. With this weapon an average man could hold his own, regardless of size, strength, or status.

Probably 80 per cent of the bows used throughout history were designed to take game. The bow made its best contribution back in the prehistoric days when man 14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland lived to hunt and hunted to live. The bow can also claim some credit for taking man off the hunting circuit. In the early days some tribes found it was easier to plant grain and keep animals confined. Not only was this easier than chasing their meals, but it was also more conducive to the comforts of family life. But when these folks settled down to farming and village life, they were often set upon by other tribes not yet so inclined. These attackers sought to help themselves to the fare and would have been more successful if it wasn't for the bow. Even though the villagers were inferior archers, they had the advantage of fortifications.

For those who preferred to roam for food like the Indians, the bow continued high on the priority list. Then came the horse, which added mobility to the archer's assets. It seemed the ultimate had arrived. Even such innovations as the use of poison arrows could not match the effectiveness of a mounted archer.

The horse had much to do with the evolution of the bow. The need for a shorter weapon readily wielded from the back of a horse inspired the composite bow in Central Asia, as did the shortage of wood. This composite bow had a wooden body with reinforcing strips of bound sinew. It was during this period of the infamous Mongol hordes, about 500 B.C. or earlier, that the classic recurved design came into being.

As their 14th century victories indicate, the English held to and became masters of the longbow. A few American Indians may have had the recurve, but the straight bow with a loose string predominated. Neither the long nor a straight design was as scientifically sound as the recurve, a principle proven by today's engineer-designed and stress-tested specimens. Nevertheless, the English and the American Indian can share credit for establishing the bow in this country, a beginning leading to an estimated 14 million American archers of one kind or another today.

Although fair shots and an interesting match for cavalry and settler in many instances, the Indians weren't as sharp with the weapon as their Hollywood reputation would lead one to believe. Along with the flat-form bow, the Indians limited themselves with such systems as the pinch draw. This involved pulling back the arrow with the thumb and forefinger, as opposed to the much more effective three-finger release of today. Much of the Indian's prowess probably came from creeping close to his game or adversary and lowering the lethal boom.

Despite limitations in range and striking power, the Indian kept the white man at bay, notably in the open country of western Nebraska. Here an able warrior unleashing a half dozen arrows against an unsheltered musketman's single shot had an advantage, especially if that first rifle blast missed. When the repeating rifle came the odds (continued on page 56)

AUGUST, 1965 15

BUILDING BEHLENS

Columbus success story runs gamut from gadgets to giant steel structure

EVEN WITH all of his mechanical talents, Fred Behlen of Columbus was not a likely candidate for a top slot in the high-powered industrial world. A farmer and milkman, Fred lacked the time and resources to make a splash in the manufacturing business but he did have four sons and a workshop. From this combination grew Behlen Manufacturing Company, a dynamic, multi-million dollar plant with over 600 employees and annual sales in the $15-million category.

Fred's son, Walt, heads up an operation that turns out buildings and farm and industrial products used around the world. Now 86, Fred is honorary director of the company that has nearly 3,000 stockholders and over 1,200 dealers throughout the Midwest. They handle Behlen products from storage bins to power-steering devices. Hundreds of contractors, company representatives, and dealers around the country market the frameless steel building that houses everything from a candy factory in Italy to a public auditorium in North Dakota.

The long road that began in the crowded family garage now leads to two sprawling factories on Highway 30 just east of Columbus. It is a story steeped in 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland the best tradition of free enterprise and NEBRASKAland perserverance.

All of Fred's boys were receptive to his mechanical and inventive ideas, but it was Walt who took to them like a duck to water. However, it was with mixed feelings that Fred watched his son soak up the principles so puzzling to most youths. Walt was hampered by an illness that would force him to quit school at 13. But the same determination that would carry the Behlen trade-mark around the globe was already at work. The future chairman of the board finished high school at the age of 23 while working for the railroad. He then worked for an express company for 16 years, moonlighting in the family garage with his various inventions.

Failure, hardships, the frustration of inanimate machinery; and whimsical markets did not deter the inventor-machinist who would bundle up in heavy clothing to put in long, cold hours in his shop. First came the "one-minute soldering iron" in 1934. This was a colossal failure, business-wise, but was an inspiration of sorts since it gave Walt something tangible to put on his letterheads. Walt and his brothers marketed a cornhusking hook in 1936 that met with small success.

That same year Walt invented a lid clamp for wooden egg cases that was to give him the hook he needed to hang on. Although nonspectacular, these two-for-39-cent clamps were the roots of the Behlen Manufacturing Company. Walt was still working for the express company. He was not quite ready to sally worth during those depression years into the unpredictable business world.

In 1939, while on his express route, he found out about a need for steel toe caps for wooden-soled shoes. These were worn by workers in certain industries. He conceived the idea of turning out the caps on an old press previously acquired for the manufacture of husking hooks. This successful venture enabled Walt to quit the express job in the fall of 1940. He and Fred formed a partnership in 1941 and began manufacturing small products as a full-time operation.

In 1944 the company scored on a rubber husking roller made from scrap tires. This was one of few Behlen products not invented by Walt, but it still carried AUGUST, 1965 17   his production flair. Another agricultural-linked product, ear-corn ventilators and crop driers, were added to the Behlen operation.

BUILDING BEHLENS

By this time brothers Mike and Gilbert were ready to come into the fold. Mike was out of the Air Force and Gib was ready to give up railroading. Their older brother was already on his way toward presidency of a Kansas oil company. The Behlens, with Walt at the rudder, were ready for the postwar boom. Soon the company was occupying seven buildings in downtown Columbus.

"We were really spread out in those days, stacking stuff until it was reaching out into the street," recalls Walt, whose casual dress and first-name acquaintance with his factory workers suggest his nearness to the men. "We were getting by with murder, but you know how towns are. Industry is what they wanted, so nobody bothered us."

In 1946 the four Behlens incorporated and built a new 200-square-foot building east of town on the Columbus Industrial Site. This plant has now spread to over a 200-by-700 foot factory a few miles east of there. Some local folks viewed this first giant building with skepticism. "Behlen will never make it . . . they've over-built," was the belief of many.

But the Behlens had an ace in the hole. It was the Behlen corncrib that would soon be springing up across the Midwest like mushrooms in a wet spring. The crib sold so well that it paid off the $140,000 loan for the building in six months. That same year portable grain driers and bins were added to the Behlen farm line.

The product that would catapult the Behlen name from Nebraska to construction sites over the world came in 1949. It was the Behlen building, a frameless steel structure. The basic components of this new type of building were heavy corrugated sheet metal steel panels. Each piece bolts together, forming both the walls and roof. This eliminates the cumbersome structural steel of conventional buildings. Gone were the load-bearing columns and supports that inhibited builders since Pyramid days. The Behlen building enabled fast erection, strength, and vast spans of uncluttered interior space.

Over 50 of these buildings, including Walt's home, can be seen in Columbus. (continued on page 54)

18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

A MAN NAMED OLDFIELD

NEBRASKAland's writing warrior counts coup from beach head to silver screen by Richard Cote

THE COMMANDING OFFICER at Fort Crook, Nebraska looked at the papers before him, frowned a bit, then looked up at the newly-promoted reserve officer who had been ordered to report for a year of active duty.

"Just what was it you did in civilian life?" he asked.

"I was a newspaperman . . . gabbed on the radio," was the reply.

"What did you specialize in?"

"The movies ... I was a motion-picture editor."

"What do you do on a job like that?"

"I saw every film that came to town.'

"Every film?" the CO questioned. "You must have seen a lot of B pictures."

"That I did, sir."

"Well," said the colonel with the air of a man struck by a bright idea, "I've got just the spot for you. I'll give you B company."

And so the country got the services of Barney Oldfield, and NEBRASKland another world-famous son, who would rise to the rank of colonel in both the Army and Air Force. The Tecumseh-born native not only wrote about history, he helped make it when he and the Army joined forces in 1940. Behind him was a marathon-watching record for the Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star of more than 2,500 movies in five years.

Don't confuse NEBRASKAland's Barney Oldfield with the racing great. As a lad of four, when Oldfield first met the racing driver, the original Barney said, "People will ask if you and I are relatives. Tell them you're my cousin."

Years later, when the younger Barney was just as famous, the elder racer was asked if he knew the Colonel. "Know him?" said the old champ, "He's my nephew."

Barney is conservative with money but flamboyant in everything else. He once walked upside-down on his hands for two blocks down a Lincoln street to pay off an election bet. He has been a farmer, a stake driver for Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey circus, a waiter, dishwasher, and general handyman. Later he became a radio commentator, Hollywood publicist, newspaper columnist, radio and TV guest star, Army officer, Air Force officer, and the first newspaperman to be a paratrooper. He also pulled stints as AUGUST, 1965 19   a theatre usher, part-time speech writer, author, and scriptwriter for movies, TV, and radio.

A MAN NAMED OLDFIELD

Barney's movie-watching feat made Ripley's "Believe It or Not", and since this made him a legitimate Ripley freak, Barney's city editor assigned him to fulfill four performances as a carnival monstrosity so he could write a story on how it is to be ogled at by a curious crowd. He was also featured in "Strange As It Seems" for taking his wife, Vada, to 529 dances in 3V2 years but never dancing with her. He still doesn't dance.

Barney's graduating class at Elk Creek High School in 1928 had only two graduates, he and Earl Tucker. They flipped a nickel on who would be class president. Barney won.

From Elk Creek, Barney came to the University of Nebraska, majored in journalism, and received an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in 1932. At the University he met the pretty coed Vada Kinman. Not long afterwards she became Mrs. Barney Oldfield.

When the war came along, his weapon was a typewriter which is now enshrined in the Overseas Press Club in New York. The First, Third, and Ninth Army mobile press camps and the fabulous Press Club of Berlin, were born in that old machine. It even went along on a sales-pitch parachute jump by Barney prior to the Normandy invasion to convince the wary war correspondents that a typewriter could survive a hard landing if they elected to go airborne. He finally talked 16 of them into trying it. One was Walter Cronkite.

That old typewriter made 14 Atlantic crossings, 4 over the Pacific, and was with him in 32 countries. It was borrowed by 75 war correspondents, including famed Ernie Pyle, to type out their own obituaries. Barney used it to write one of the greatest war stories of them all—the capture of 20,000 Germans in one bag by a platoon leader and his 24 men.

War correspondent Victor O. Jones wrote later that Barney "never believed in having his war correspondents rough it more than duty required."

"His was, I'm sure, the only press camp that had a three-piece civilian orchestra that played background 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland music during dinner each evening," Jones wrote. One castle used by the scribes had a 10,000-bottle wine cellar. Jones asked for and got a room adjoining it.

But outside the press camps it was another matter. When Foster May, of Omaha's WOW radio, went to the continent, he went to Barney's press camp in a castle near Munchan-Gladbach. The Rhine had just been crossed, and Barney was looking for the next place to install the press. He took Foster along. Just after crossing a Rhine pontoon bridge, an 88 shell whizzed overhead and landed in a field 200 yards to their right.

At the next corner, they met a graves-registration sergeant with a truckload of dead who was asking direction to the nearest cemetery. Foster paled a little, then whispered hoarsely, "Gee, Barney, aren't you breaking me in a little fast?"

After VE Day, Barney went to Berlin as public relations officer for the First Airborne Army. While there he handled press relations for the Potsdam Conference, founded the Press Club of Berlin, and helped reunite movie star Marlene Dietrich with her mother after a war-long separation.

After the war, Hollywood claimed Barney. In the publicity department at Warner Brothers, he was responsible for the presentation of such stars as Errol Flynn, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, and a youngster named Elizabeth Taylor.

He was recalled to military service in 1947 and given a regular Air Force commission which carried him through service in Korea. He also served with NATO in Europe and later as director of information services with NORAD. There one of his duties was the radar tracking and safe escort of Santa Claus on his annual journey. He received the Legion of Merit medal upon retirement in 1962. Back in civies, Barney went to work for Litton Industries, Inc., in Beverly Hills, California, as Director of Corporate Public Relations.

What lies ahead? One thing at least is predictable.

Sometime in the late spring of 1967, some sophomore in ROTC at the University of Nebraska will be front-and-centered in the final (continued on page 56)

AUGUST, 1965 21

OF CHICKS AND HENS

When neighbors offspring runs riot, brooding pheasant spurns motherhood for the quiet life by C. Phillip Agee Federal Aid Co-ordinator

THERE COMES a time in any parent's life when the noise and confusion of the children is just too much to bear. This is true, not only among human types in modern-day suburbia, but with of all things, pheasants as well. Research has shown that mama ringneck cannot take the clamor of all the gay young chicks. When this happens it may cause her to give up or at least control the size of the hatch of her next brood.

Game technicians have learned this and other interesting information from research conducted at pheasant-research areas in the Clay Center-Harvard area. Work has been going on there for the past 10 years. As new facts are gained from the intensive-study program, they are brought to bear on the Game Commission's pheasant-management efforts.

The fact that hens are bothered by young ringnecks is a story in itself. Pheasants concentrate their nesting activities in areas where there is vegetation for concealment and reasonable freedom from disturbance. In spring when nesting begins very little of the landscape may offer good concealing cover. Such is the case in Clay County where 9 of every 10 chicks hatched will come from nests in roadsides and winter wheat. This is the only significant cover that meets their requirements. As nests begin to hatch, nearly all the chicks are brooded in the same cover that is still occupied by hens that have not yet completed incubation.

Research has shown that pheasant reproduction rose when nesting cover was dense and dropped when it was sparse. It made little difference if there was a very large number of hens. The nesting cover still determined how many chicks would be produced on the study area. Based upon all information at hand, it appeared that as part of the hens brought off their broods, others often abandoned their nests, their incubation interrupted by chicks which belonged to other hens. In years when cover was dense the hen was more effectively concealed. Disturbances did not become critical until a large number of chicks had been hatched.

This interruption idea is not entirely new. Studies have shown that certain birds will abandon incubation when they are confronted with strange young. The apparent explanation of such action is that the hormone system is triggered by this association, advancing the adult out of the incubation phase preparatory to caring for young birds.

Research technicians don't buy vague indications. Studies were begun in the Clay County area to find if pheasant hens could be caused to terminate incubation efforts by association with chicks that weren't their 22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland own. If this could be done, Game Commission technicians needed to know what level of association was effective.

Experiments were conducted on wild hens nesting in their natural environment. It was vastly more difficult to study wild pheasants than to use penned game-farm hens. Game-farm birds, bred and reared under crowded conditions, do not necessarily react like wild birds.

Long, careful probes for nesting hens were made at the Clay County site. When a nesting hen was located, she became a subject of experiments to test her reaction to foreign chicks. Would she continue her stoic incubation or would she react in such a way that her own nesting failed? Only experiments could tell.

To test the effect of the sound of chicks, two or three young were placed in a pen completely hidden from the hen by vegetation, but within easy hearing distance. Even with food and water always available these chicks peeped almost constantly. Five hens were subjected to this verbal bombardment while they incubated their nests. All five hatched their eggs and left with their families, apparently oblivious of the sounds.

A second group of hens was used to test the hens' reactions when they could see and hear the chicks. A wire cage was suspended on stakes above the vegetation within four feet of each nest. Nine nesting hens were subjected to this treatment. The picture began to change. Only one successfully hatched her young. Four nests were destroyed by predators while the remaining four abandoned their nests before the eggs hatched.

But there was still a question. Was this change due just to the chicks or did the cage and the human activity cause it? Seven additional hens gave the answer. These were treated just like the previous nine; cages were erected and regular observations were made. However, no chicks were placed in the cages. The hens showed no response, and finally all seven hatched and led their broods away.

The last experiment exposed 11 hens to chicks which were free to move about them. A low wire pen about 14 feet in diameter was constructed around each hen. The biddy accepted the new surroundings readily and hopped over the 12 to 18-inch sides whenever she approached or left the nest. But small chicks placed inside were unable to leave.

Not 1 of the 11 hens which associated fully with strange chicks was successful in hatching her own eggs. Nine of the nests were abandoned and the other two were destroyed by predators. Four additional hens were subjected to pens and human disturbance identical to the eleven. All were unaffected, hatching their eggs on schedule.

Does all this boil down to just a demonstration of an interesting bit of pheasant behavior? Technicians believe not. This willingness to abandon a nest when chicks are present could well set a rigid limit on the number of hens that will produce chicks in a patch of cover.

It is easy to see that where suitable cover is limited, several hens may nest in a small patch of vegetation. However, due to its small size and sparse vegetation, this patch may have a capacity of only two or three broods. When that number is reached, further hatching may be virtually impossible. This is conjectural, for researchers do not know how often this is a problem. But it appears that it can be a limiting factor which operates where land use is intense.

How can this be corrected to produce a larger crop of young? The answer seems to be in reducing the disturbance factor. This could be accomplished by providing larger acreages of nesting cover or seeing that better quality vegetation and forbs on the existing acreage are there to do the trick. One thing is for sure, however, if you succeed in reducing disturbance it will be only temporary. If more nesting cover, better concealment, and less disturbance produce more chicks, the disturbance will occur again. Of course, this is a problem that most Nebraskans wouldn't mind facing.

These experiments point out that the key to more pheasant production is good cover for nesting and hatching. Give the ringnecks suitable nesting sites and the birds will take it from there.

THE END AUGUST, 1965 23

INDIAN POWWOW

Pounding drums, dancing feet of Omaha and Winnebago recreate spectacles of primitive splendor Photography by Gene Hornbeck and Lou Ell

FIRST YOU HEAR the council drum. Its pulse-stirring bass throbs through the trees and booms across the hills. Above the drum is the chant of singers, their voices rising and falling in ancient cadence. Adding its muted bit to the crescendo of sound is the soft shuffle of moccasined feet.

Amid the flickering shadows, the dancers leap and whirl, their forms half-blurred in a frenzy of motion. Colors flash and spin in a kaleidoscope of primitive regalia. NEBRASKAland's Indians, the Omahas and Winnebagos, are holding their annual powwows. This August, the Omahas will stage their three-day dance marathon at Macy on August 13 to 15. The Winnebagos will take center stage on the 16th and whirl through a six-day extravaganza at Winnebago. These thrilling and colorful events attract thousands of visitors.

In the next 14 pages, Outdoor NEBRASKAland recaptures the color, excitement, and primitive splendor of these rituals that have their roots deep in tribal traditions. Indians from all over the West are welcome guests at the powwows. Each announces its presence with a traditional dance that has identified the tribe since the days when the Indian was lord of the land.

24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland  

TRIBAL COSTUMES and regalia that are carefully stored for most of the year are worn with pride and regal dignity during the annual powwows. Brilliant with beadwork and bright with ribbons, the unique garb has strong religious and tribal significance. The Omahas, a Plains tribe, decorate their garments with the thunderbird, star, and pyramid of the western Indian. Their colors run to the reds, tans, and grays of the prairies. The Winnebagos, orginally forest dwellers, favor the leaf, swirl, and stem motifs on their garments. Their shades are the blues, greens, and yellows of a more verdant country.

Skills in the making and decorating of tribal finery is passed on from generation to generation to preserve a dimming heritage. To the old, the gay headbands and the glittering necklaces are reminders of the past glories. For the young the beads and bracelets are colorful trappings.

The powwows offer all Indians a great opportunity to show the world that the Indian is a colorful figure whose arts and skills contribute much to the rich heritage of their big and fascinating nation.

AUGUST, 1965 27  

INDIANS WEAR the white man's garb for most of the year, but when powwow time comes they proudly don the dress of their forefathers. Their costuming is as authentic as experience and research can make it.

A chief's warbonnet is a magnificent creation of eagle feathers tufted with many "coups". Every feather, tuft, and bead has an exact placement in the headdress. The fringed and decorated buckskins are as carefully tailored as an expensive suit, for a chief must be every inch a chief before he appears.

Even yet-to-be-tried braves are decked out in true-to-the-feather replicas of their ancestors. Anxious parents make adjustments by the dozen before the youngsters answer the call of the drum.

Once in the arena, the fully costumed dancer is a rainbow of flashing, scintillating color with blue, gray, red and black predominating. A prancing warrior, resplendent in primitive finery, is an awe-inspiring figure.

28    

TODAY'S POWWOWS are a reunion of the scattered tribes, just as in the past. Omaha, Winnebago, Sioux, and other tribesmen acknowledge their introductions with a short dance instead of a bow. Family groups stroll around exchanging greetings with old friends and displaying their costumes.

The powwows at Macy and Winnebago are held in natural amphitheaters which add realism and atmosphere. For the Indians, powwows mean reunion, fun and fellowship. For the whites, powwows are reincarnations of a lusty past.

 

DANCING AT THE powwows is largely improvised. Each participant reacts to the drum and chant in his own way. Some shuffle, some prance, others leap and pirouette. Contrary to popular belief very few of the dances are "war" dances. Except for the Sioux, who put on spirited performances, most of the other Indians stick to the more staid routines.

Mixed dancing is rare among the Indians. The Tall Corn and the Rabbit dances are exceptions. More of a couples' march, the Tall Corn dance represents gratitude for the growing crops. The Rabbit dance is the get-acquainted opener that usually leads off the powwows.

The women are the first to enter the ampitheater. They dance in time to the drum until the braves filter in and then gradually withdraw to the outer rim of the dancing circle.

Although the Indians obviously enjoy the dancing their faces remain impassive and expressionless. Occasionally a ripple of applause is heard when dancers execute a particularly difficult routine. For the most part, however, the dances are silent affairs, except for the drum, the chant, and the tinkle of bells worn on arms and legs.

AUGUST, 1965 35  

THE FUTURE of the colorful powwows rests with the very young and the very old for both groups have the desire and the determination to keep them going. Powwows to the young are fun and they give them their very best. As the youngsters become adults some of the enthusiasm wears off.

Patriarchs of the various tribes are anxious to keep the old traditions and rituals alive. They recognize and appreciate the greatness of the Indian and his tremendous impact on NEBRASKAland and western America. They hope to keep this awareness of a great heritage in the minds of the young adults. Then it will pass on from generation to generation without losing any of its lustre. The old-timers have the wisdom and the knowledge of all the glorious yesterdays. All they need is someone to accept and transmit the culture, traditions, and lore of the Plains Indian to the future.

Both age groups are doing a fine job in NEBRASKAland. This August the Winnebagos will hold their 99th consecutive powwow. The Omahas have an equally creditable record. If the future is a reflection of the past, the powwows at Winnebago and Macy will continue to bring pleasure and a rich insight to all in NEBRASKAland.

THE END 36 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

THE PRICE IS BLOOD

by Mrs. Paul Druery

THE FIRST THUNDER of the new year meant more than rain to the Skidi Pawnees. Roaring out of the clouds was the voice of Paruxti, the messenger of the supreme Pawnee god, Tirawa, announcing the season of planting and calling the Indians to their sacrificial duties.

The start of NEBRASKAland's windy, wet spring meant preparing the seed corn to put it in the ground. But the 15-year-old Sioux Indian girl held captive in the Skidi camp cared for none of this, for her fate was in the stars. The girl's captors had told her that a feast would be held in her honor when the Morning Star called "Mars" by the white missionaries and "Opirikata" by the Skidi, chased the other stars from the heavens.

Life as a prisoner of the Pawnees had not been bad for the girl. She had been well fed during her six-month imprisonment, and had not been sent to the small fields with the women to loosen the earth for the planting of corn, squashes, beans, and pumpkins. The girl wore the same garments as the Pawnee women, but she remained Sioux at heart and missed her people. The young maiden began to daydream about the great feast in her honor and to wonder if she might be promised to one of the Skidi braves, who wore their hair fashioned into the form of a curved horn, stiffened with paint and fat. Some said the horn, or "Pariki", had earned the Pawnees their name, though they called themselves Chahiksichahiks, or "Men of Men".

The girl had been terrified of her captors at first, for she learned they belonged to the Skidi or "Wolf' band, which held itself somewhat aloof from the other three Pawnee tribes that roamed the Platte River Valley. She had heard vague stories in her home camp among the Sioux about terrible things the Skidi did to honor the Morning Star. But the first days of terror had passed, and after half a year, her apprehensions were dulled.

She could still remember the day of her capture Her mother's frightened face as the attackers' horses charged out of the glare of the early-morning sun was deep in her mind. Dragged outside the warm tepee by her mother, the girl had been nearly blinded by the sudden, harsh brightness. Her ears were deafened by the sound of war-whoops and the clash of battle The young maiden's mother had tried to save the girl but a Pawnee horse struck them both to the ground Pain slammed through her head when a slashing hoof struck and she remembered the yelling brave who pulled her mother's body away The girl spun into unconsciousness as Pawnees reaped their booty of scalps and horses.

In the Pawnee camp, she discovered that the Skidi treated their women better than the Sioux did theirs, 38 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland though the Pawnee squaws did most of the work. The Skidi men were often gone in search of buffalo to add to their diet of vegetables and corn.

How different from those of the Sioux were the earthen lodges of the Pawnees' home camp. One of her earliest recollections after her capture was the sacred white buffalo skull gleaming in the half-light of the lodge. Several large skin-wrapped bundles hung above it. She did not realize then how significant those bundles were to become during the final months of her captivity.

Legend had it that the sacred bundles had been given to the village's first woman ancestor by one of the gods. Each contained two ears of "Mother Corn" and a number of other articles, some of them secret. Protruding from the sacred bundles were pipestems and arrows. The bundle was "awake" when it contained the corn, which was removed and shelled for seed in the spring, to be replaced in the fall.

It was time for the purification of the bundles, a ceremony performed once at planting time and again in the autumn. A summons went out from the priests for the people to bring their gifts to the Mother Corn. The red-painted braves who bore the gifts were required to be in good favor with the gods before they could bring their presents of new robes, moccasins, hair cord girdles, and dried buffalo meat.

The priests and bundle keepers were secluded in the medicine lodge for four days after the gifts were brought. Then they dug a pit which they lined with white feathers. A bowl of water was placed near the pit, and around it the head of a fierce-looking gar fish, a turtle, and the heads of birds.

The young Sioux watched as the Mother Corn was placed in the pit. Once this was done, every man, woman and child raced to the river where they leaped in and splashed in the water. It was then she could have escaped, but lulled by promises, she did not make her play.

As the days passed, the Pawnees turned their attention to the sky. She could sense from their actions and the little courtesies extended to her that a special ceremony was fast approaching. One night there was more activity than usual, and she heard that this was the time when Morning Star would drive all the other stars from sky.

The next morning, the girl went willingly from the earthen lodge when the Pawnees came for her. Several times along the way she waited impatiently while her escorts paused to offer a prayer. As the group made its way past the waiting faces, her eyes danced with anticipation. Suddenly cries of derision broke the silence. The shout picked up and swelled into a hostile roar. The maiden held back, not understanding.

Terrified, she tried to break away but the path was blocked. Heavy hands seized her shouders, forcing her to the medicine lodge and the waiting pit. Behind the pit was a menacing scaffold of crossbeams supported by two upright logs. The girl's wrists were bound to the crossbar, and the tribe drew back.

The horrified girl struggled against the buckskin thongs that lashed her to the rough scaffold. Sensing that death was close, she pleaded with her captors, claiming that her people would pay well for her release. But the enraged mob would not be denied its sacrificial victim. The Sioux's screams subsided to sobbing moans as the crowd shouted for the sacrifice to begin. Limp and exhausted, she waited helplessly for the final act in the bloody drama.

A lone brave stepped forward with an arrow fitted to his bow. Taking careful aim, he sent the shaft on its deadly course to the girl's heart. A moment of silence followed, then the air buzzed with arrows, all aimed at the still form. Spectators and participants alike joined in a screaming frenzy, bellowing threats against the hated Sioux Nation and tearing at the mutiliated body of their captive with bare, bloodstained hands.

After the excitement finally abated, the blood of the sacrificed victim was sprinkled on the Mother Corn, to give the seed life for its growth struggle. The Skidi breathed easier now, for the gods were on their side and the fertility of the earth had been insured. The Morning Star would smile.

For the first time on August 6, Genoa, the Pawnee Capital of NEBRASKAland, will re-enact the bloody sacrifice, but with a much happier ending for the selected victim. Even so, the realism and pageantry of the once grisly event will bring chills to all.

THE END OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland proudly presents Hie stories of its readers themselves. Here is the opportunity so many have requested —a chance to tell their own outdoor tales. Hunting trips, the "big fish that got away", unforgettable characters, outdoor impressionsall have a place here. if you have a story to tell, {of it down and send it to Editor, OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland, State Capitol, Lincoln 68509. Send photographs, too, if any are available. AUGUST, 1965 39

GAME OF TAG

by Bob Thomas Area Fisheries Manager Metal strips and plastic discs aid technicians' study of growth, movement, and final fate of fish

IF YOU ARE fortunate enough to catch a NEBRASKAland walleye or a northern pike with a numbered tag in his jaw, don't think you are having hallucinations. The decorated catch may be worth a prize. Even if it isn't, you are still a winner and have helped to improve NEBRASKAland's already excellent fishing.

Thanks to tagging, fishery technicians are learning more and more about their finny charges. Within the past 20 years, tagging and recovery of marked fish have become popular and important tools in the science of fish management.

The trick of tagging is not new. The first successful attempt began more than 90 years ago when Charles G Atkins tagged Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River of Maine. Development of the technique was slow since suitable material for tags was lacking. In the last two decades, modern technology has come up with a variety of efficient devices that do not hurt the fish or hamper his normal activities.

Typical of fish tagging operations in NEBRASKAland was the 1965 project at Sherman Reservoir near Loup City. This relatively new impoundment was 40 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland stocked with 250,000 northern pike fry in 1962. The following year, 100,000 fingerlings joined the earlier plant. Northerns up to nine pounds have found conditions to their liking in the fertile waters of the impoundment.

This spring technicians trap-netted a number of northerns and marked them with a metal jaw tag. The tagged northerns were returned to the water. To spark angling interest and enhance the return of tags, a Loup City lumber firm is offering cash prizes for the return of certain numbers. As the tags come in, fishery technicians will be able to evaluate the growth rate, movement, and angler success ratio of the Sherman battlers. Similar programs have been carried out in other NEBRASKAland lakes.

While tagging is still the most common method of marking fish, many other techniques are used, such as clipping of fins, opercles, and jaw bones. Other techniques include branding, tattooing, dyeing, radioactive tracers, chemicals to make certain internal organs visible to x-rays, and attachment of a battery-operated radio transmitter. Nebraska fishery researchers are presently working on a novel transmitter which is powered by the fish's gastric juices.

Tagging consists of fastening a piece of metal, plastic, or other material to a fish. uccessful tagging requires that the tag remain permanently attached, that it does not cause increased mortality, and that it is readily noticeable by whoever catches the fish.

Numerous types of tags have been developed for specific purposes and kinds of fish. Those used in Nebraska include self-piercing metal strap units, circular metal bands, circular colored plastic bands, and disc dangler designs. Strap and circular tags are normally AUGUST, 1965 41   attached to the jaw bone of the fish, while the disc dangler is attached by running a monofilament nylon line through the back. All tags in Nebraska are numbered to insure future identification of individual fish.

GAME OF TAG

Fin clipping consists of cutting off one or more fins. Studies have shown that removing a fin does not seriously handicap the fish. This method has several disadvantages compared with tagging. It is obvious that individual fish cannot be recognized. A tagged fish, however, has his individual number and when he is captured can be easily identified. A fin-clipped fish can only be identified as belonging to a certain group. This method is normally used in studies where the fishery technician plans to sample the recovery of marked fish for himself, while anglers are relied on to report tag wearers. A clipped fin can be overlooked by the angler and even if he did notice the missing fin, he might not recognize its significance.

Fish are tagged to study migration, changes in populations, and survival of stockers. Some anglers know that tagged fish are here but few know or wonder why. At the present tagging studies are being carried out on the following species in these Nebraska waters: smallmouth bass and walleye in Lake McConaughy, walleye in Maloney and Johnson reservoirs, northern pike in Red Willow and Sherman reservoirs, and trout in McConaughy and streams tributary to the North Platte River in the panhandle.

Walleye tagging studies are designed to gain information on movements in the reservoir systems and the rate of angler harvest. Movement of tagged walleyes out of Johnson Reservoir though the outlet canal and powerhouse is relatively low. Returns from 131 walleyes tagged in Johnson during 1964 show 15 per cent caught in the reservoir and only 0.7 per cent caught below the powerhouse. Movement of tagged walleyes out of Maloney Reservoir through the outlet and powerhouse is similar to movement out of Johnson. Returns from 274 walleye tagged in Maloney during 1963 show 15.4 per cent caught in the reservoir and 0.7 per cent caught below the powerhouse. No movement of tagged walleye has been recorded so far from Lake McConaughy.

Tagging of trout in McConaughy and in streams tributary to the North Platte River in the panhandle started in 1963. To date results indicate a spawning migration of mature rainbow from McConaughy into panhandle streams. Information on harvest and mortality is not yet available.

Tagging of smallmouth bass concerning angler harvest and movement is being carried out at Lake McConaughy. Results have been hampered by the difficulty in capturing large numbers of smallmouth for tagging prior to the fishing (continued on page 54)

OUTDOOR NEBRASKAIond 43

PUTTING ON THE DOG

Rugged duplicates of hunting situations, field trials push canine savvy to the limit

NEBRASKAland has been bitten by the field-trial bug, as more and more owners are anxious to put their prized dogs through their paces. Here in Nebraska, where easy hunting had its start with the buffalo and continued on to the present mixed-bag abundance, the working dog has been slower gaining recognition. Fortunately field trials are helping to change this by showing the have-not hunters what a good dog can do in helping to bring home birds.

Field trials are contests among dogs directed by their handlers under actual hunting conditions. The events have all the trappings of a county fair, track meet, fox hunt, and Marine Corps training session tied into one. The dogs are put through a variety of tests under all types of terrain. These include speed, obedience, loyalty, intelligence, initiative,style, and perseverance.

As a sport, trials differ from most others. There is no gate to bring in revenue as in baseball games or even bench shows. The officials for the events are paid expenses by the sponsoring club. Dues and entrance fees help make ends meet.

A dozen different dog clubs are sponsoring trials here. Some are sanctioned by the American Kennel Club. Others are training trials that don't offer a lot in status or spectator attendance, but still give the owners a chance to show what their dogs can do.

The Game Commission is giving its full encouragement to the trials, realizing that they enhance hunting and help cut down losses from crippling. Land in the Salt Creek recreation areas is provided for trials and the department is in the process of buying more land or working out management agreements with landowners for other field-trial areas.

Each trial is a colorful and fascinating event. Seeing a pointer flash into picturesque stance or an obedient retriever take off eagerly to bring back game are real sights to an outdoorsman's eyes. Judges analyze the performance of the canines according to the characteristics expected of them. This is often done on horses, notably in the case of pointers, because they cover a lot of ground.

Generally speaking, trials are divided between retrievers and pointers and setters. The retriever group includes the Labradors, goldens, Chesapeakes and Irish water spaniels. The pointer-setter class takes in such breeds as the English pointer and setter, Brittany German shorthair, and viszla.

The field trial is geared to develop the best qualities of a given breed and determine the best performers 44 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland among the dogs in competition. This has been its purpose since the first session was held in England back in the 1860's. When the sport moved to America in the 1870's, the standards became even more rigorous. Under the critical eyes of the judges very few faults or infractions get by and many a dog loses out in the final round for a mistake. Like unabashed drill sergeants, handlers direct their charges over the tedious terrain by whistle, voice, and hand signals.

Retriever trials here go back 25 years and pointer tests 17. Three retriever clubs keep interest rolling practically year-round. Training trials among the Grand Island, Omaha, and Lincoln clubs are conveniently dovetailed to allow inter-club participation. The Nebraska Dog and Hunt Club of Lincoln holds trials on the fourth Sunday of each month, January through June. The Omaha or Missouri Valley Dog and Hunt Club holds its sessions the second Sunday of each month, February through June. The Nebraska Championship Retriever Trial, sponsored by all three clubs, is held in September and the top performer is the state retrieving champion. This event rotates among the three clubs and draws entries from all over the state.

Lincoln's Nebraska Dog and Hunt Club is typical of the retriever organizations. This group holds its trials on a 100-acre tract near the north edge of the capital city. The land includes bullrushes, open water, heavy cover, small ponds, open fields, timber, and about every other type of imaginable terrain.

"We have conditions and trials that take in everything that could possibly happen on a day's hunt," observed Walt Somerhiser, long-time member of the club. "Some of the retrieves we put our dogs through may seem silly, but you would be surprised how often a hunter will find himself using these same techniques on a regular outing."

Pointing and setting breeds get their share of attention, too. Interest in the English pointer has grown with each hunting season. Twice a year for the past 17 years, for example, the Husker Bird Dog Club of Lincoln has held field trials for its quail-seeking canines. Presently, they hold their American Field sanctioned meets near Kramer.

Omaha's German shorthair group has been going strong for 14 years. It holds an annual AKC licensed trial. The Lincoln shorthair group has been organized for the last two years. Though it does not as yet hold sanctioned trials, it holds fun or training sessions about once a month, except during hunting season. The Lincoln club shares its field-trial area near Raymond with the Irish Setter Club of Nebraska. Irish setter enthusiasts hold mostly fun trials about once a month during the summer.

Listing all of the clubs and field trials in Nebraska is impossible. There are such long-time groups that have passed their peak but still stay active like the Three Rivers Spaniel Training Club of Omaha. Although its members don't hold sanctioned or licensed trials anymore, they generally have monthly training sessions and quarterly fun or club trials. Then there are such fast-growing groups as the Nebraska Viszla Club which is only two years old but has some 40 members.

It's not surprising that hunting dogs and field trials find a fertile field in NEBRASKAland. The state abounds in game, but sports the kind of heavy cover that encourages the use of a good dog. That the sportsman should discover pleasure in putting his dog in field trials only points up the many side-benefits^ of NBRASKAland.

THE END AUGUST, 1965 45

FREMONT'S CAMPING PARADISE

Geared to meet every outdoor demand, this growing complex is hospitable and relaxing host by Gary Grimmond

IF GOLD is where you find it, then put down Fremont State Recreation Area as a bonanza. For the thousands of summer tourists and eastern Nebraskans who have discovered the recreational luster of this 800-acre lake and tree-dotted playground, it's a camper's paradise. For the casual outdoorsman who wants to get away from the confines and turmoils of the city, Fremont is a place to relax. The action-seeking camper who craves the splash of boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing will find them all in one convenient package here.

Located on the edge of the state's heavily populated metropolitan area just three miles west of a point where U. S. Highways 30 and 77 converge, Fremont is a natural magnet. It may not have the wilderness grandeur of a national forest or even the special attractions of the Nebraska state parks, but it has accessibility and recreational facilities that would bring a top grade in anybody's camping book.

Much of the land is pegged to the camper even though sight-seers and swimmers account for a high number of visitations. This can hit 15,000 on a long weekend. Twenty fresh-water lakes are within easy reach. Some are well-stocked with a wide variety of fish, others are developed for boating, swimming, and some for all water sports. Eight of the lakes are on the north of U. S. 30 side of the park and 12 are on the south side across the Union Pacific railroad tracks. Most of the north side is available to campers

Because it lies parallel to U. S. 30,' Fremont gets a steady flow of tourists. Camp sites are somewhat limited on the south side, but two sites have been de veloped specifically for the cooking and sleeping-out 46 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland visitors. The south side is the camper-boater's baliwick, for there are three interconnected lakes.

One of the two south-side camping areas was just developed last year. It points up the Game Commission's efforts to meet the needs of the growing number of campers under its planned parks program. This new site is on what is almost an island of sand and required some painstaking engineering and construction. Truckloads of gravel and dirt were hauled in to make a road and "pull-offs".

Sand can be a problem in this new area, even to vehicles with easy-riding camping rigs. Campers should take care not to get their units off these conveniently staggered pull-offs or the road since they may get bogged down. Such caution isn't as essential on the rest of the area, for it sports a good growth of grass to go with copious cottonwoods and a scattering of ash and evergreens.

Although rustic and sedate in the grand manner of the Platte Valley that cradles it, Fremont yields to AUGUST, 1965 47   comfort and conveniences. There are over 10 miles of rock and graveled roads and eight boat ramps among the four boating lakes. Two lakes are equipped with lights and docks. The area has a dozen water pumps and some 200 picnic tables. Fireplaces include waist and ground-level types. These are located near the tables, and there is a good wood supply. Sanitary facilities include two new cement block toilets, built last year.

FREMONT'S CAMPING PARADISE

Playground equipment includes three sets of swings, teeter-totters, merry-go-rounds, and horizontal bars. Two concessions provide for tourists' wants for practically any needs.

Fishing is foremost, but water skiers and powerboat buffs are right at home here. With some of the finest sand beaches around, it's only natural that the area would have swimming. The three-beach complex is marked by signs and deep-water buoys. With safety in mind, work has been done on the swimming lakes with sand from the shallow areas being dredged into deep water.

Dubbed as a "high density use area", a system of zoning for the diverse activities keeps confusion to a minimum and peace prevailing. Because of its proximity to the Omaha-Lincoln areas, Fremont is probably the most popular camping and water-sports facility in Nebraska. Even though the Salt-Wahoo lakes and Two Rivers State Recreation Area have relieved much of the pressure, Fremont still carries a heavy load of visitors.

Just how many people frequent Fremont is difficult to determine. Estimates claim 300,000. There is no charge for camping at the area, so the tenters and trailerites come and go as they please. Park Superintendent Leon Stine has counted as high as 255 units on his early morning tallies. He has special praise for the out-of-state visitors.

"They sure do a good job of cleaning up when they leave," he remarked. "I guess they are accustomed to cleaning up in more regulated camping areas of other states where they have to pay." Stine notes that there is a marked trend from tent camping to camper-trailer units.

Fremont Lakes Recreation Area is open year-round. However, the rush season starts with the Memorial Day weekend and climaxes on the Fourth of July weekend. Labor Day is usually the final crush.

Although there are always a few campers and a lot of fishermen early in the spring, the heavy play doesn't really get going until after school is out. Family fun is one of the main attractions at the area, and Fremont, with a population of 17,000, is only five minutes from the recreation area. The city provides campers with supplements of entertainment, stores, and churches.

There's no question that conveniently located and well-developed Fremont State Recreation Area will continue to play an important role in NEBRASKAland's expanding camping picture. After all, the family that plays together, stays together, and what better place to play than Fremont?

THE END 49

Pinches AND HANDFULS

No guess and by-gosh camp cooking when you follow this grab and go system by Lou Ell

SITTING IN the cook tent on a Pine Ridge hunting trip, I couldn't help but marvel at the way our outdoor chef was putting together the supper biscuits. There wasn't a measuring cup or a spoon in sight as he busily scooped up fistfuls of flour, pinches of baking powder, and gobs of shortening. Hot from the oven, the product was as tasty as any I've ever eaten. I knew his measuring technique was something I needed to add to my go-light camping methods.

Actually, the handful-and-pinch technique was par for the course back in great grandmother's time. While exact amounts vary according to the size of the individual hand, proportions are surprisingly accurate, and that is the important factor.

Now a bulky measuring cup and extra spoons in my camp gear have been replaced by the following reminder, typewritten on a small card:

2-finger pinch—Vz teaspoon 3-finger pinch—Vz teaspoon 4-finger pinch—1 teaspoon 1-fistful—V4 cup 1-finger gob—V% teaspoon 2-finger gob—1 teaspoon 3-finger gob—1 tablespoon

Here's a typical camp biscuit recipe, with the conventional measuring method on the left, and compara- tive pinch and fistful on the right.

1 c. flour—4 fistfuls Vi tsp. salt—2-finger pinches Va c. milk powder—1 fistful 1-tsp. baking powder—4-finger pinch 3-tbls. shortening—3-finger gobs

Preliminary testing of this measuring technique should be done in your home kitchen. Confidence in its use can only come through actual practice. Failure at the kitchen range is a much smaller calamity than one in a Dutch oven beside the campfire.

As you sling your camp grub together, you'll notice that a pinch of salt, sugar, or other granular substances "drains" from between the fingers as it is transported from package to mixing bowl. If that distance is too OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland great, you'll end up with less than full measure of that ingredient in the recipe. To compensate, group the bulk items close to the bowl, and transfer the amounts quickly. Flour, pepper, and other powdery items cling together in full pinches much more readily, and therefore don't present any problem.

When you measure butter, shortening, etc. by gobbing, have the material reasonably soft, bend the fingers to bring all the tips into a straight line, and then dip no deeper than the first joint. One final thought. If you've been gutting fish or other game, out of deference to fellow campers who will be eating your cooking, wash your hands first.

THE END 51

SNAKES ALIVE

ON MANY A warm summer's afternoon the buzz of a hissing-mad rattlesnake has sent more than one outdoor fan packing. Man's retaliation on the slithering kingdom is often devastating, with almost everybody figuring that reptiles are natural enemy No. 1 and fair game. Even hardy outdoorsmen who have a brush with one of these scaly critters shudder at the thought of being bitten. Few people, however, realize how beneficial most snakes really are.

Here is a chance to get to know some striking characters VETERANS! SUBSCRIBE TO THE ONLY PUBLICATION EDITED SOLELY TO SECURE EVERY POSSIBLE BENEFIT FOR ALL VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING 1. A Federal Bonus for service in the Armed Forces during World War II, the Korean Period, and the Cold War at the rate of $3 per day for regular duty and $6 per day for time in combat zones, P.O.W. Camps, or other highly hazardous duty. 2. Higher Disability Compensation and more realistic Dependency Allowances for ALL Disabled Veterans and their families. 3. A greatly improved Life Insurance Program; and many more objectives. FOR A YEAR'S SUBCRIPTION SEND $5 IN CASH, CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO VETERANS' VOICE LANG BUILDING — 356 S. E. SECOND STREET FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA DEPT. 123 MATCH THEM UP Western hog-nosed snake Ring-necked snake Graham's water snake Massasauga or pigmy rattlesnake Copperhead Bull snake King snake Coachwhip Plains garter Prairie rattlesnake Black rat snake

Of the 25 different varieties in NEBRASKAland, 11 are definitely beneficial, feeding primarily on rats, mice, and destructive, granary-robbing pests. Only four are poisonous, including the timber, pigmy, and prairie rattlers, and the copperhead.

Since so many people know so little about reptile habits and appearances, it's only natural that few recognize the snake they sometimes meet. This month OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland presents 11 of these reptilian neighbors for you to identify.

Each snake has certain characteristics which make recognition easy. Some, such as the black rat snake with his sleek dark hide, will give the novice snake buff little trouble. Others, like the brightly decorated but harmless plains garter, can be stumpers.

A bull snake may look deadly, but he's harmless. The bull's pointed head, yellow-like ground color, and square black spots are a menacing combination for the uninitiated. Another frequent neighbor, the Graham's water snake, makes his home on many NEBRASKAland waterways. Twenty per cent of his total length is tail and his belly markings of dark gray to bright orange set him apart from his lethally-fanged brethren. The nocturnal king snake is unique with his combination of smooth scales, patterned blotches, and belly markings. A prowler of the dark, he is seldom seen in the daylight.

The rare copperhead confines himself to the southeastern part of NEBRASKAland. Plates on the top and deep pits in the sides of his head, along with its coppery color and the absence of rattles, identifies this seldom-seen viper. The western hog-nosed snake comes by his name honestly. A native of dry areas, his shovel-like snout makes him easy to identify. Commonly known to "play dead" when threatened, he rarely bites, even in his worst moods. Aptly labled is the coachwhip. This limber, smooth-scaled reptile grows to a length of six feet or more. In contrast, the Massasauga or pigmy rattler is the smallest of his kind here. This two-foot stick of dynamite is best avoided for he packs quite a wallop for his size. His horny rattles or buttons and runty size set him apart from the clan.

The benevolent ring-necked snake is easily identified by the light band around his black neck. The most numerous of the state's poisonous reptiles, the prairie rattlesnake, reaches an average length of 4V2 feet with some growing up to seven. Though he closely resembles the western diamond-backed rattlesnake, his tail patterns do not contrast as sharply with those of his body as on his famous relative.

Now break out the flute and basket and let your snake charming instincts guide you. You'll find the answers on page 55.

THE END Offers the Midwest's most complete GUNSMITHING SERVICE HYDRO-COIL STOCKS All available models carried in stock and skillfully installed. VENTILATED RIB INSTALLATION Poly Choke Feather-Aire ribs installed on all popular shotguns. CHOKE INSTALLATION Poly-Choke, Lyman Choke and Cutts Compensators installed to correct barrel length and specifications. REBARRELING High grade Douglas barrels used for all installations. CHAMBERING Reamers for most popular calibers and some wildcat cartridges. REBLUEING Careful polishing and quality blueing, using Western Gun's own exclusive Deep Blue 15 formula. CUSTOM RIFLE CONVERSIONS Special ists on Springfield and Mausers. SCOPE INSTALLATION Drilling and tapping done on Forester jig to insure perfect alignment. Scopes aligned with a SweanySite-A-Line. STOCK WORK Quality Fajen stocks used exclusively, custom fitted and carefully inletted. RECOIL PAD INSTALLATION Pachmayr pad of correct type installed to exact length required. Dealers write for 221-page catalog of Gunsmithing and all shooting goods supplies. WESTERN GUN & SUPPLY CO. Dept. 0-8 3730 No. 56, Lincoln, Nebraska 68504 53

GAME OF TAG

(continued from page 43)

season. Studies using fin clipping as a marking method are being carried out on northern pike in Maloney, Jeffery, and Johnson Reservoirs. In 1964, large fingerling northern pike, reared at the North Platte hatchery, were marked by clipping the dorsal fin and stocked in these waters. Objectives of the study are to evaluate survival of large fingerling northerns and their contribution to the anglers' creel.

Enders Reservoir was stocked with large fingerling walleye in 1964. These fish were marked by clipping off a portion of the opercle. Objective of this study is to evaluate survival of the larger fish.

Fish technicians depend upon anglers to report the catching of tagged fish, so don't throw the tag away or put it in a tackle box and forget about it. Check locally with Game Commission personnel or concession operators on the lake where the fish was caught.

Prizes are offered for tagged fish at Scottsbluff, Ogallala, North Platte, Lexington, and Loup City. Even if you are not interested in a prize please send the tag, including date of catch, name of lake, and location where caught, to the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68509. You will be doing yourself a favor by helping to improve NEBRASKAland fishing.

THE END

BUILDING BEHLEN

(continued from page 18)

Thousands more are in use in such countries as Australia, Italy, France, Spain, Mexico, Canada, and several South American countries. They all come from Columbus where they began 54 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland as 5 to ten-ton rolls of sheet steel. These rolls come from steel mills in the East and occasionally from Europe. Galvanized, aluminized, plastic, or paint-coated according to their use, the sheets are processed into panels for an array of building designs. Processed panels are shipped out by train and over 50 company semitrailers.

Behlen's products run the gamut, from custom-made machines on down to load-bearing curtain walls and even Geiger counters. Farm products have been the mainstay of the company and still bring a rush each harvesting time. But the agricultural market is a changing one and right now the company is in a transition from grain-storage buildings to commercial and industrial structures. Several years ago the grain-storage business fell off because of changing government farm and grain programs. This had its effect on the Behlen Company.

"We were like the horse-collar manufacturers when the tractor came along," explains Walt. "We're taking this move in stride. Just as new invention spurred our past progress, research and development is under way to provide future growth."

Walt Behlen holds the guiding reins of the mammoth operation. He's still aflame with creative and mechanical ability, creating a glow that has made Behlen and Nebraska bright beacons in the construction and industrial world.

THE END

BIG BASS

(continued from page 13)

the bottom before cranking, the hungry bass hit well.

"That's enough of these youngsters," Ed called from across the slough. "Let's head downriver and try another pond. Maybe we can get into some bigger bass." It was nearly five o'clock by the time we hiked back to the car. After getting permission we drove down to the edge of a large cutoff that the rancher had diked into a ranch pond. We noticed another fisherman trying his luck along the edge and he came ashore as we asked how many he had. Clem Ballweg had two.

"They have been hitting real well," he said. "I've just been fishing about a half hour. I picked up eight a couple of nights ago in here and this evening looks like it should be good."

Answers: SNAKES ALIVE 1. Water snake 2. Coachwhip 3. Ring-necked snake 4. Black snake 5. King snake 6. Massasauga or 11. pigmy rattlesnake 7. Copperhead 8. Bull snake 9. Western hog-nosed snake 10. Plains garter snake Prairie rattlesnake Answers: RECREATIONAL ROUNDUP (July) 1. Lewis and Clark Lake 2. Scouts Rest Ranch 3. Old Fort Kearny 4. Victoria Springs 11. 5. Walgren Lake 6. Harlan Reservoir 7. Valentine Refuge 8. Two Rivers 9. Dead Timber 10. Stolley Park Lake McConaughy

Using the small minnow, I landed a foot-long bass on the first cast.

"Looks like another Utopia," I called to Ed, as he waded ahead of me.

"Could be," he answered, "I have taken a lot of good fish out of this pond, but don't think we will catch one every cast."

His words were to prove more than prophetic as we worked the pond for at least a half hour without another strike. Changing lures we both snapped on crawlers and worked into the shallows along the west end of the pond. Ed had a good fish on for the first jump and lost him. I landed another in the foot-long class, and then, almost at sundown, Ed hooked into a two-pound scrapper and landed him after a five minute tug-of-war.

It was 15 minutes later, as I was trying to tempt one that had given me a rise, when Ed hooked the three-pound bass, the largest of our fishing excursion on the Cedar.

New cutoffs replace the old, but the bass always find water and habitat to their liking. The fishermen always have new waters to explore. They are lured on by the thought that they will find the hangout of the old man of the river, that one big bass they have played a thousand times in their minds, but never brought to shore.

THE END AUGUST, 1965 55

RANCH REARED BOBWHITE QUAIL CHUKARS RINGNECK PHEASANTS GERMAN SHORTHAIR POINTERS Bourn's Game Farm LEXINGTON, NEBRASKA Your 1965 Hunting Guide Special Hunting Section SEPTEMBER OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland On sale August 25 DON'T MISS IT 7Vit-0~7Vo*d A terrifm bait for • • . WALLEYES APPIES IORTHERNS At your sporting Roods dealer or order direct, cents, postpaid. 0-WOOD MFG., Seward, Nebr.

OLDFIELD

(continued from page 21)

review of the cadets to win the first of the Kinman-Oldfield scholarships which Barney and his wife have set up in honor of their parents. If the military science program is ever abolished the scholarship will go to journalism students.

The first scholarship begins in 1967 because that is NEBRASKAland's Centennial Year. The Oldfields want to point people toward the challenges of our second century of statehood as well as an awareness of the past. Even the scholarship has flair, for it came about in true Oldfield style.

The first $1,000 came from winning a bundle from Groucho Marx on his "You Bet Your Life" TV program, and since that start the fund has received money from Barney's book, "Never A Shot In Anger" which describes the roisterous and rambunctious war correspondents. Additional funds have come from appearances on "To Tell The Truth", where he served twice as a liar, "Password", and "Strike It Rich". A scripting chore for Walter Cronkite's CBS "20th Century" called "The Road To Berlin" also added to the stake. Magazine pieces and speeches also help. As Barney dreams up other schemes, the scholarship fund will get its stake.

Barney has traveled a lot of miles since he gambled for the class presidency at Elk Creek but as he told a recent graduating class at his old high school.

"No matter whether you settle on a farm here or encircle the globe a hundred times, your roots will remain in Nebraska and you can never pull them up. And these roots, rather than being little things, can be the biggest things of all!"

As for Barney, even after 60 changes of address, these roots are still in NEBRASKAland.

THE END

SPORT OF MAN

(continued from page 15)

changed forever. Like other developments, the bow gave rise to some quaint customs. Among South American natives it was the practice to eat the arm of an enemy so that his archery ability would become yours. Other tribes of a cannibalistic bent felt that a dead enemy shouldn't be deprived of his most precious asset in the hereafter. Thus they ate everything but the thumb and forefinger of the arrow hand.

Roman warriors used the bow for sport, but were slow in utilizing the weapon in warfare. They suffered several defeats against archers. Emperor Commodus developed a crescent-shaped head for his arrow, which he used to decapitate ostriches on his hunting trips. He's also remembered for his crowd-pleasing trick of having a condemned man tied to a stake, turning a hungry lion loose on him, then killing the beast with an arrow at the dramatic moment. For added interest the emperor would sometimes do this feat sitting down.

Up until the 16th century and firearms, the bow played a leading role in warfare. But even the armor-piercing crossbow couldn't compete with gunpowder. The repeating crossbow might have turned the trick for awhile, but it never spread from China. But what the bow was losing in war it was gaining in sport. This was apparent back in 16th-century England when great archery tournaments were held and hunting was becoming popular.

Archery has never really fallen out of favor and is sometimes referred to as "the sport of man since time began". Now with modern materials and the rise in recreation and the outdoors, its popularity and potential seems unlimited.

Today's bows with their tremendous killing power make their predecessors seem like toys. The synthetic revolution of recent years has capped centuries of experience and evolvement with a dazzling luster and fuctionality. In the last dozen years the bow has gone from the traditional curved design of natural wood to the full recurve style of laminated wood and fiber glass. These improvements have made modern bows more accurate, easier to shoot, more powerful, lighter, and economical.

The bow's place in history is guaranteed and its future is bright. Target shooting and hunting provides a ready niche for the weapon. Archery ranges run from the back-yard variety to the highly formal tournament layouts. Bow hunting is becoming commonplace. From big-game deer on down to bunnies, the archer in Nebraska and other states has as much if not more sporting opportunity than the gunner.

As population pressures mount and the availability of open hunting land decreases, this historic instrument of skill will be even more popular. Like the wheel and fire, it will continue to serve man in a variety of new and exciting uses.

THE END 56 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

NEBRASKAland TRADING POST

Classified Ads: 15 cents a word, minimum order $3 November Closing Dote, September 1 BOATINGFIBERGLAS CANOES. Three exciting models. Easily assembled kits. $29.95 up (factory direct). Free literature. Riverside Canoes, 5803F Victoria Avenue, Riverside, California. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE. Amazing new liquid plastic coating used on all types of surfaces interior or exterior. Eliminates waxing when applied on Asphalt Tile, Vinyl, Linoleum, Vinyl Asbestos, Hard Wood, and Furniture. Completely eliminates painting when applied to Wood, Metal, or Concrete surfaces. This finish is also recommended for boats and automobiles. No competition. As these are exclusive formulas in demand by all businesses, industry and homes. No franchise fee. Minimum investment—$300. Maximum investment—$7,000. Investment is secured by inventory. Factory trained personnel will help set up your business. For complete details and descriptive literature write: Chem-Plastics & Paint Corporation, 1828 Locust, St. Louis 3, Missouri. CAMPING EXCELLENT overnight parking. West Chadron, one block off Hiway 20. Clean warm showers, restrooms. Laundry. Picnic ground. Mobil Manor Court. LIGHTWEIGHT camping equipment for summer or winter. We specialize in Down-clothing Down-filled sleeping bags, tents, climbing equipment and a large selection of domestic and imported boots. Suppliers to expeditions, government and individuals. Send $.25 for catalog to the Ski Hut, Dept. NL, Box 309, Berkeley, California. OUTDOOR CHEFS: Fyr Starter. Lifetime aluminum; 11" high; guaranteed to light charcoal in 5 minutes. Uses no fluid; carries everywhere. $2.50 postpaid. Box 78, Brecksville, Ohio 44141. DOGS REGISTERED German Shorthair pups. Well marked Out of good hunting stock. Reasonable prices". Edg Weigel c/o Lee Ranch, Amelia, Nebraska. Telephone 925-2411. AKr BLACK LABRADORS. Spring and summerCpup^C$50up. Two fine dogs at stud Few started dogs. Best hunting and field {rial bloodlines. Kewanee Retrievers, Valentine, Nebraska, Telephone 402-376-25^____________ HONEST experienced, dependable bird-wise, setters and pointers at closed season pnces Started dogs and puppies. Ira Gnste, Route 8, Memphis, Tennessee. REGISTERED Vizslas, Drahthaars: Started dogs. Stud service. Frank Engstrom, Grey Eagle, Minnesota. CHESAPEAKE pups, champion-sired champion stud service. Clyde Rigby, 1511 jum Street S. E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. BEAGLES, fully trained $35. Started, $25. Pups, $20. Good gun dogs, ten days mai. Hayes Beagle Farm, Route #1, Darden, lennessee, Telephone 847-2087. FISH BAIT MEALWORMS (Arkansas Giants), 300, $1. 1,000, $3. 3,000, $6.75. Selected breeders 100, $3. Jon Bait, Box 13, Marked Tree, Arkansas. FISHERMEN: Catch all the white bass you want and your limits of sauger, walleye and northern. Use a white or yellow SKITTER JIG. Send $1.00 and receive two V4-0Z. jigs postpaid. SKITTER PRODUCTS, 205 South 15th Street, Norfolk, Nebraska. SEINES, gills, twine, fishnets, hooks, commercial fishing supplies. Catalog. Nichols, 500 Layton, East Saint Louis, Illinois. GET MY booklet "Raising Redworms Successfully in the North". Grow them larger. Complete. $1.50 postpaid. John Strange, Route #1, Delton, Michigan. AFRICAN Nightcrawlers—3\2", $11.75, 1,000.4" up $12.50, 1,000. Postpaid. Formula treated for conditioning and toughening, Clif's Worm Hatchery, Lawrence, Kansas. MARIBOW fishing jigs. For Sale. Assorted colors, 25 cents each, 5 for $1. Order now. Marion Teeters, Walthill, Nebraska. 68067. GUNS & AMMO NEW, USED AND ANTIQUE GUNS, send for list including Browning O & U's, Weatherby, Winchester, Ithaca, Colt, Ruger and others in stock for sale or trade. Send large self-addressed 10 stamped envelope or stop in, Bedlan's Sporting Goods, just off U.S. 136, Fairbury, Nebraska. REBORING, Rebarreling, Chambering to all standard and wildcat cartridges. General gun-smithing. Prices sent on request. Hoffman Gun Shop, Bucklin, Kansas. CUSTOM rifles, military conversions and sporterizing. A specialty general gunsmithing, muzzle loaders, accessories, supplies. Write stamp for reply, J. W. Carlson, Crofton, Nebraska. PRECISION Air Arms, Ammunition, and Accessories from Europe; World's Finest. New Discount Catalog, 5?. Air Rifle Headquarters, Grantsville, West Virginia. MISCELLANEOUS BE PREPARED—Repair now. Inexpensive, reliable service. Cameras, meters, binoculars. Send insured. Free estimate. Modern Technical Repairs, 550-C Westbury Avenue, Carle Place,, L. I., New York. 11514. STONEGROUND CORNMEAL. Most complete line Health Foods. Many processed daily. Come see us or write. Brownville Mills, Brownville, Nebraska. WIND SOCK: 6" ring, 24" sock, 28" mast. Brilliant red or yellow weatherproof nylon. Nicely styled. A real gift for the air-minded. Satisfaction guaranteed. Weather Watch, P. O. Box 287, Arnold, Nebraska. 69120. PLAYBOY will be listed in the first catalog of collected magazines soon to be published. Request prospectus and sample pages (Playboy, Mad. All Star Comics). William Ostfeld, 343 N Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois. 60610. SCUBA EQUIPMENT BOB-K'S AQUA SUPPLY, Nebraska's largest scuba dealer. U.S. Divers, Sportsways, Voit, Swimmaster, Scubrapro. Air Station, Regulator Repair. Telephone 553-0777. 5051 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, Nebraska. TRAPS COLLAPSIBLE Farm-Pond Fish-Traps: Animal Traps, postpaid. Free information, pictures. Shawnee, 3934-AX Buena Vista, Dallas 4, Texas. OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air SUNDAY KGFW, Keorney (1340 kc) 7:05 a.m. KTTT, Columbus (1510 kc) 7:30 a.m. KRGI, Grand Island (1430 kc) 7:40 a.m. KVSH, Valentine (940 kc) 8:00 a.m. KXXX, Colby, Kan. (790 kc) 8:00 a.m. WJAG, Norfolk (780 kc) 8:15 a.m. KLMS, Lincoln (1480 kc) 9:05 a.m. KBRL, McCook (1300 kc) 9:45 a.m. KODY, North Platte (1240 kc) 10:45 a.m. KIMB, Kimball (1260 kc) 11:15 a.m. KMA, Shenandoah, Iowa (960 kc) 12:15 p.m. KOGA, Ogallala (930 kc) 12:30 p.m. KFOR, Lincoln (1240 kc) 12:45 p.m. KCNI, Broken Bow (1280 kc) 1:15 p.m. KMMJ, Grand Island (750 kc) 1:40 p.m. KUVR, Holdrege (1380 kc) 2:45 p.m. KHUB, Fremont (1340 kc) 4:40 p.m. KNCY, Nebraska City (1600 kc) 5:00 p.m. KRVN, Lexington (1010 kc) 5:40 p.m. KTNC, Falls City (1230 kc) 5:45 p.m. MONDAY KGMT, Fairbury (1310 kc) 1:00 p.m. KSID, Sidney (1340 kc) 6:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY KJSK, Columbus (900 kc) 1:30 p.m. KCOW, Alliance (1400 kc) 4:30 p.m. SATURDAY KCSR, Chadron (610 kc) 6:00 a.m. KOLT, Scottsbluff (1320 kc) 11:45 a.m. KAWL, York, (1370 kc) 12:45 p.m. KHAS, Hastings (1230 kc) 1:00 p.m. KRFS, Superior (1600 kc) 1:00 p.m. KWRV, McCook (1360 kc) 1:45 p.m. KBRX, O'Neill (1350 kc) 4:30 p.m. KMNS, Sioux City, Iowa (620 kc) 6:10 p.m. WOW, Omaha (590 kc) 9:30 p.m. DIVISION CHIEFS Willard R. Barbee, assistant director Glen R. Foster, fisheries Dick H. Schaffer, information and tourism Richard J. Spady, land management Jack D. Strain, state parks Lloyd P. Vance, game CONSERVATION OFFICERS Chief: Carl E. Gettmann, Lincoln Ainsworth—Elvin Zimmerman, 387-2143 Albion—Wayne Craig, 395-2071 Alliance—Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance—Leonard Spoering, 762-1547 Alma—William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe—Don Schaepler, 962-7818 Bassett—William O. Anderson, 2941 Benkelman—H. Lee Bowers, 423-2893 Bridgeport—Joe Ulrich, 100 Broken Bow—Gene Jeffries, 872-5953 Columbus—Lyman Wilkinson, 564-4375 Crawford—Cecil Avey, 228 Crete—Roy E. Owens, 826-2772 Crofton—John Schuckman, 388-4421 David City—Lester H. Johnson, 367-4037 Fairbury—Larry Bauman, 1293 Falls City—Raymond Frandsen, 2817 Fremont—Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Gering—Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand Island—Fred Salak, 384-0582 Hastings—Bruce Wiebe, 2-8317 Hay Springs—Larry D. Elston, 638-4051 Kearney—Ed Greving, 237-5753 Kimball—Marvin Bussinger, 235-3905 Lexington—Robert D. Patrick, 324-2138 Lincoln—Leroy Orvis, 488-1663 Lincoln—Norbert Kampsnider, 466-0971 Lincoln—Dale Bruha, 477-4258 Nebraska City—Max Showalter, 873-7155 Norfolk—Robert Downing, 371-1435 North Platte—Samuel Grasmick, 532-9546 North Platte—Roger A. Guenther, 532-2220 Ogallala—Jack Morgan, 284-3425 Omaha—Dwight Allbery, 558-2910 O'Neill—James J. Hurt, 336-2268 Ord—Gerald Woodgate, 728-5060 Oshkosh—Donald D. Hunt, 772-3697 Ponca—Richard D. Turpin, 2521 Stanton—Robert C. Oman, 439-2412 Tekamah—Richard Elston, 278R2 Thedford—John Henderson, 645-5351 Valley—Daryl Earnest, 359-2332 York—Gail Woodside, 362-4120 AUGUST, 1965 57

CHAIN PICKEREL

notes on Nebraska fauna ...

ONE OF THE most popular game fish of eastern United States has been introduced recently into NEBRASKAland waters. Throughout the East the fish is called the chain pickerel in the northern section and the "Jack" in the south. In early days, it was called the "Federation Pike", an allusion to the chain of thirteen linked rays which were stamped on certain copper coins.

The chain pickerel, Esox niger, is a sporty member of the pike family and closely resembles NEBRASKAland's top predatory game fish, the northern pike. A 58 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland handsome fish, the pickerel can be distinguished from the northern pike by his cheeks and gill covers which are entirely scaled and his greenish color marked with numerous horizontal lines and streaks in a netted patchwork pattern. Eight sensory pores are found under the lower jaw. The northern pike sports ten. There is a dark band below the eye which may be faded in older fish.

A scaled-down cousin of the northern pike, this champ from the East is a natural for NEBRASKAland's fertile ponds by Bruce McCarraher Area Fisheries Manager

In over-all physical shape the chain pickerel is very similar to the northern. His ideal habitat is shallow ponds and lakes where submergent vegetation is common and waters range from slightly acid to light alkaline. Chemical and physical conditions do not seem to be as important in restricting the home habitat of the pickerel as in less tolerant species. Water temperatures of 75° to 88° are preferred in the summer with survival recorded for surface temperatures at 90°. It has been found in some states that pickerel are able to maintain populations in acid waters where the pH was about 4.5. Under the more alkaline values of Nebraska's waters (pH 7.5 to 9.5), the newcomer should grow well.

They appear to grow better than the northern pike in smaller impoundments, a characteristic which prompted the Commission to import them for experimentation into Nebraska ponds. The chain pickerel, although smaller than either the muskellunge or northern pike, exhibits all the fighting traits of his larger cousins. The lightweights strike hard on artificial and natural baits, lunge and dive to throw the hook, and perform the typical aquatic gymnastics of their more sought-after relatives.

A solitary fish, pickerel do not school when moving around a lake. Adults can normally be found in both deep and shallow water either day or night. They spawn as two-year-old fish in marshy or flooded areas containing aquatic plants. Spawning takes place shortly after the ice cover melts and the shore waters start to warm up. Since all members of the pike family are random spawners, the lack of parental care reflects a high egg and fry mortality for the pickerel in his natural habitat. One of the most important needs for successful reproduction is a stable water level during the spring months, since both eggs and fry are often stranded if the water level drops a foot or more.

The import may reach 24 inches and scale four pounds. Since the fish was introduced in Nebraska in 1964, there is no accurate growth data available. However, growth rates in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and North Carolina indicate that first-year fish will reach 6 to 8 inches and up to 14 inches by the second year. Best pickerel on record is a 9-pound 5-ounce, 29.5-incher taken by ice fishing in Massachusetts. Since many of the east coast lakes are comparatively low in basic productivity compared to prairie waters we can expect good growth in most of our ponds. In spite of heavy angling pressure, the pickerel appears to be able to hold his own if adequate spawning grounds are present.

A pickerel's food habits are very similar to the pike's. While in the early fingerling stage he feeds viciously on small insects but quickly converts to a fish, frog, and crayfish diet after reaching six inches. In addition, this forager is cannibalistic and will not hesitate to devour his smaller brothers and sisters. Where populations overlap, we may expect natural hybridization to take place between the chain pickerel, northern pike, and the smallest member of the group, the grass pickerel. The hybrid resulting from a chain pickerel cross with northern pike is a handsome fish and has merit for stocking in larger ponds and small natural lakes.

Pickerel caught in clear, cool water have white, firm meat, and the delicate flavor common to all members of the pike family. They should always be skinned rather than scaled. If the fish is properly cleaned, many of the small nuisance bones are eliminated.

The value of this streamlined scrapper in our present fisheries management program will depend upon results from experimental releases made last year and in the future. He appears to have a definite place in the NEBRASKALAND fish fauna structure and shows the most promise for small impoundment management. It may be that a chain pickerel, bluegill combination will provide a top ticket in waters where bass do not furnish effective predatory control on expanding bluegill populations.

THE END AUGUST, 1965 59

GORDON

Heart of God's Cattle Country

Whether you fish, hunt for game or rocks or arrow heads, or just want to relax and enjoy the scenery and historical lore, you will never forget your stay in Gordon. Good accommodation and a wealth of recreational activities are available the year round.

See Nebraska's most colorful show—the 80th annual Sheridan County Fair and Rodeo, August 27-29. Enjoy the unusual and outstanding beauty of the best cattle country in the world . . . the Sandhills, in God's original setting. Shell Lake, Nebraska's prettiest; the scenic Pine Ridge area, boasting more natural timber than any other county in the state.

See the Sandoz Fruit Farm, the home of Mari Sandoz and Old Jules in its original setting. The famous Badlands, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre are but a short and pleasant trip from Gordon.

Few areas offer such mixed-bag hunting and fishing as you will enjoy in Sheridan County. The year-round angling (including trout), pheasant, grouse, duck, turkey, and deer hunting rank with the best in the nation. Come visit Gordon soon. You're always welcome.

For more information write to: GORDON COMMUNITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Tourism and Information, Gordon, Nebraska