4 NEBRASKAland

SPEAK UP

NEBRASKAland invites all readers to submit their comments, suggestions, and gripes to SPEAK UP. Each month the magazine will publish as many letters as space permits. Pictures are welcome. —Editor.

NO RAW DEAL-"In response to Mr. Pafford's letter in the February NEBRASKAland I would like to report that my experience with Nebraska's pheasant season was just the opposite. I read the advertisements, paid the $21.50 license fee, asked the landowners to use their property to hunt, received permission, hunted, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

"Friends and I have hunted in Nebraska on three different occasions and have had excellent success. Mr. Pafford stated he asked permission to hunt approximately 20 times and was refused in all but 2 cases. We asked at least twice that many landowners and were never refused. Many landowners were very co-operative and pointed out the best areas to find pheasants.

"In my more than 40 years of hunting and fishing I have found that most landowners are fine individuals. The small minority who refuse access have generally had a sad experience. Some hunters, who are not true sportsmen at all, seem to think that the purchase of a hunting or fishing license gives them the privilege of going where they please to hunt or fish. They refuse to respect the owner's property or his rights. They drive into his fields, tear down his fences, leave gates other than as they find them, shoot near livestock and buildings, and have little respect for any rules or regulations." —Herb Hockstrasser, Fort Morgan, Colo.

COLD ROMANCE-"I want to thank you for the fine job you did on The Melting Heart in the February NEBRASKAland. Now I shall be known as an ice-cooled, incurable romantic, and I'm not sure this can be said with accuracy of anyone else. Not with the same intensity, anyhow." —Col. Barney Oldfield, USAF (Ret.), Beverly Hills, Calif.

ACCENT THE POSITIVE-"We have entertained out-of-state hunters for several years, with good success. This past season two young men came from Florida. They arrived Sunday morning after the season's opening, and left Thursday noon with their limits. They had never seen or hunted wild pheasants previously, but they were both experienced quail hunters and excellent marksmen, and were very careful in observing both the game laws and the rights of the farmers where they hunted.

"It has been our belief that out-of-state hunters are more careful than local hunters. We visited these men recently in Florida, and they are making plans for a return trip to Nebraska this fall for more hunting. So you see, all hunters do not go home dissatisfied." — Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Hill, Broken Bow.

NINE-YEAR-OLD POET-"My son, Milon Mackey, who is nine years old, won a superior rating on his poem at the Cumings County Fair at West Point. Lavonne Miller, his teacher, said he should send it to your magazine." —Mrs. Vernon Mackey, Bancroft.

NEBRASKAland by AAilon Mackey I see the cornfields so very green, Where once the pioneers crossed the plains. I see the wheat so golden yellow, Where once the Sioux and Pawnee fought I see cattle grazing on the hills, Where once herds of buffalo roamed. I see the Capitol reaching toward the sky, Where once the settler built sod houses. I see Omaha, Nebraska's largest city, Where once the fur trader had his post.

KILLER —"Would you please publish the rulings regarding fishing floats (the canvas-covered inner tube type worn by fishermen.)

"I have heard via grapevine that fisherman have been fined for not wearing life vests and carrying a sponge. The life vest I can see but what reasoning calls for the sponge? How big does the sponge have to be —large enough to sponge up an entire lake? How about a whistle in case you would want to paddle past another fisherman?

"Has the Game Commission considered that, if all these things apply to fishing floats, they must also apply to all swimmers using air mattress, tubes, and other devices." - Westley H. Geiken, Gothenburg.

Since fishing floats are not vessels the only regulations applying to the users of these articles are those that apply to swimmers and fishermen in general. Life jackets or life vests are therefore not required by law, but since inflatable tubes can deflate rapidly from punctures or faulty valves, common sense would require the wearing of these lifesaving devices, even if they are not mandatory under the law.

Sponges or bailing buckets are required in all types of vessels in the event they should spring a leak or swamp. Since your float is not a vessel, this regulation does not apply.

Your float or any other inflatable device is what we call a drowning device, and extreme caution should be exercised with this type of apparatus.— M. O. Steen, Director.

GLEN L. EVANS TRUSTY TRIO SELECTION Made in the WEST for fishermen EVERYWHERE! GAD-ABOUT Wobbler Distinctive bill-shaped blade produces an exciting new w-o-b-b-l-e action that gets 'em all! Choice of feather or rubber skirt streamers. Sizes and color patterns for ALL fish. Spin, cast or troll. SHYSTER Spinner World-famous spinner with a reputation for results! Always available at your dealer's. Sizes and color patterns for ALL species of fish. COLORADO sP inner A perennial favorite — successful year after year. Be sure to carry several Glen L. Evans Colorado Spinners in assorted sizes and finishes with treble or double hooks. Write FOR CATALOG OF SUCCESSFUL LURES DEPT. N TESTED PROVEN WANS LURES DEALERS Manufacturers of the famous Evans TROLLING RIGS GLEN L. INCORPORATED CALDWELL, IDAHO 83605 MAY, 1967 5

EATING HIGH ON THE TRAIL

by Lour Ell

THE OLD-TIME HUNTER and camper maintained his strength with the three "B's"- bacon, beans, and bannock. It required a cast iron stomach to subsist on such fare, but it saved worrying about what to have for the next meal.

Today, the amazing freeze-dry process and improved conventional dehydration methods have changed this dreary picture. Prowlers of the boondocks can carry an amazing variety of featherweight, nourishing foods that make up into as tasty a meal as they enjoy at their own home table. Would you believe you can stock your camper trailer with chunks of fresh meat that need no refrigeration or other special handling, and that they will stay unspoiled for years? Or vegetables, light as thistledown, that can be poured from a polyethelene bag into a cup of water, absorb the moisture within minutes, and become near garden fresh?

Most people have been introduced to freeze-dry products even though they were unaware of it. Those flakes of strawberries, peaches, or other fruits that are mixed with your breakfast cereals are common examples of freeze-dry products. The flakes absorb the proper amount of moisture from the milk and add a special burst of flavor to breakfasts across the world.

Since the freeze-drying process is similar for all foods, let's follow an eight-ounce steak from the butcher block to campsite.

First, the meat is quick frozen, as it would be for a cold-storage locker. It is then popped into a vacuum dehydrator, where the ice crystals are evaporated without becoming liquid. With 98 per cent of the moisture 6 NEBRASKAland removed, the size and shape of the meat is still unchanged, but it has become a porous, sponge-like object which weighs little more than the pocket coins it costs. After packaging in air-tight, moisture-proof containers, the meat is ready for shelf storage.

At some future date, perhaps years after the processing, the meat is placed in a pan with the proper amount of warm water. In a few minutes the water filters back into the steak, and you have fresh meat, ready for cooking.

Several manufacturers now package a variety of their foods into meal units to feed two or more people. Campers and vacationers need do nothing more than total up the number of meals, select their packaged foods, fill up the water tank, and head for the boonies.

A number of firms in the freeze-dry field supplied a quantity of their hunter-camper oriented products to camp cook David Keller of Ogallala and me for separate field testing and comparison. We followed cooking directions on the packages, and came away from our campfires with smoke-bleared eyes and stuffed stomachs.

Wilson Packing Company of Omaha furnished us complete meal packages and individual items in the freeze-dry line. Their beefsteak dinner contained freeze-dry sweet corn and conventional dried mashed potatoes and gravy in addition to the meat. The steak and corn cooked up well for both of us and the taste and texture were satisfactory.

Wilson packs the meat items in conventional tin cans, and we felt that a rip-strip opening would be a convenience. Campers and back-packers lose sight of pesky can openers on the trail. We wondered, too, if rectangular cans of lighter weight (Continued on page 46)

HAS WHAT

[image]

Snyder has what it takes for vacation fun!

New Modern Designed LIFE-Liner The ideal fiber glass carry-all top for sportsmen or commercial users. Completely weather resistant. After years as the "best in the field," now the sleek "Sleeper" is improved for even greater, more challenging service.

[image]

Recently christened...already a favorite for fishing, hunting, or just pleasure boating. Smooth lines with chrome trim, mini-decks and two cushioned seats. Built to salute Nebr. Centennial. Write for complete details. Dealerships open Ty $288.00 Full 32 high. Large side windows which open with screens; 8 windows in all. Self-insulated. White color-impregnated. Bolts on to pick-up box. Optional window arrangement. NEW It LIFE-Kraft Dressed-Up Brother to the SHARK "always look for the GREEN" LIFE-Line Products FIBER GLASS CO. (New Plant) 4620 Fremont Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68504 a leader in fiber glass manufacturing Builders of Life-Lined tanks for farm and commercial use basement window caps and other items. CAN WE PRODUCE YOUR PRODUCT? NEBRASKAland's SAVINGS HEADQUARTERS Mr. Green Thumb's home at Union Loan and Savings is your home when it comes to savings in NEBRASKAland. Your savings earn a big current rate of 41/2% compounded quarterly and they're insured up to $15,000 by an agency of the U. S. government. Union Loan and Savings has three savings centers waiting to serve you. For added convenience, save by mail. WESTERN NEBRASKA EASTERN NEBRASKA UNION LOAN AND SAVINGS UNION LOAN AND SAVINGS 1610 First Avenue, Scottsbluff 209 So. 13th—56th & O, Lincoln MAY, 1967 7

MAY Roundup

Cheery month opens the door to a season of fan. Hullabaloo of century is at Omaha

FIFTY BANDS will march in a gigantic parade on May 16 when Omaha observes the stated 100th birthday from May 13 through 20. Other planned activities include fiddlers on the street corners and dancers twirling in square dances. Ethnic groups will feature their old country heritage in costumes and foods. Czech kolaches on one corner will vie with smorgasbords on the next.

Downtown stores will go back to the customs of 100 years ago with frontier false fronts and clerks dressed in the styles of that era. Horses and buggies will clomp along the modern paved streets and fringed surreys will be available for romantic rides. Judging will be held for the beard-growing contest which began March 1. In contrast to the stagecoach rides of yesterday will be a demonstration by the "Thunderbirds", the U.S. Air Force precision flying team.

For another glimpse at Nebraska of the 19th Century, visitors can view the exhibit, "Ribbons, and Laces, and Frontier Town Graces" on display from May 1 through June 20 at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Centered on the fineries of frontier living, this exhibit includes clothes worn in Omaha's early days, fine art objects, and tea tables. Two other collections at Joslyn beginning May 28 continue the Centennial theme. A retrospective exhibit of paintings by the noted Indian artist Oscar Howe, and "The Bostwick Collection: Early Omaha", a group of photographs, will be on exhibit until July 9.

Horses will thunder down the stretch at Ak-Sar-Ben beginning May 5 and continue to pound the turf until July 4. The track is silent on Sundays and Mondays.

Visitors to Ralph Mueller Planetarium in Lincoln will see the past 100 years in another perspective. A "Century of Stars" sky show, a reenactment of 100 years of celestial drama on the Great Plains, will be featured from May 29 through August 27. "Solar Spectacle", a sky show on the sun, ends May 28.

Rock hounds join the Centennial parade of events May 12 through 14 at Kearney. First in a series of shows sponsored by the Nebraska Association of Rock Science, is the Centennial Rock. Show at Kearney State College. It will feature agates, crystals, fossils, Indian artifacts, petrified wood, arrowhead making, gem faceting, and demonstrations in rock cutting and polishing. One hundred dollars in prizes will be awarded for the best displays featuring Nebraska's materials.

Railroad and river commerce made the city of Brownville a thriving river port in the mid-lSOO's. On May 28, residents of the city invite visitors to share a day-long revival of the town's former splendor. Horse-drawn carriages and styles from before the turn of the century will be featured.

Even rabbits get into the Centennial act. On May 6 and 7 the Centennial Rabbit Show will be held at Bethany Park in Lincoln where raisers of pedigreed rabbits will compete for breed trophies. Sweepstakes will be offered in several breeds. Sponsor of the show, the Nebraska Progressive Rabbit Breeders Association, expect about 200 rabbits to be entered.

Golf, tennis, and track fill the high school sports menu this month. Hebron hosts the Class A teams in the State Sand Greens Golf Tournament on May 6. Franklin gets the Class B teams. On May 18 and 19 the State Tennis Tournament will be held at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Norfolk and Lincoln are the sites for the class A and B State Grass Greens Golf tournaments on May 19. High school track stars meet at Kearney May 19 and 20 for the invitational state meet. On May 22, Omaha and Lincoln will host Class A and B State Baseball tournaments.

Lincoln Community Playhouse will offer light entertainment with its May production of "The Fantasticks". This musical fantasy by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt follows the theme that children can fall in love only with parental disapproval. Eight performances are scheduled for May 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21.

May's calendar signals more than the arrival of spring. A month of festivity opens the door to a season of fun for all in NEBRASKAland.

WHAT TO DO 1-31 —Exhibit, "Ribbons, and Laces and Frontier Town Graces", Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha 1-May Fete, York College, York 1 —Centennial Print Exhibit, Lexington 1-26-Centennial Print Exhibit, Mullen 1-Sept. 15 —Pony Express Station and Museum Opening, Gothenburg 4-5 — Spring Musical Production, Midland College, Fremont 4-6—State Industrial Education Fair, Kearney 5 — May Fete, Peru 5-6 — University of Nebraska Health Fair, Nebraska Center, Lincoln 5-6 — University of Nebraska Play, "Scapin", Howell Theatre, Lincoln 5-8—Centennial Community Art Show, Minden 5-21-Play "The Fantasticks", Community Playhouse, Lincoln 5-July 4—Ak-Sar-Ben Horse Races, Omaha 5 — Iberian Dance Theatre, Concordia Teachers College Seward 5-Director Fritz Lang's Film, "M", Sheldon Art Gallery, Lincoln 6-Centennial "Scout-O-Rama", City Auditorium, Fremont 6-Centennial Square Dance Festival, Pershing Auditorium, Lincoln 6-"The Mooreheads, Master Magicians", Union College, Lincoln 6-7 — Centennial Rabbit Show, Lincoln 6-State High School Class A Sand Greens Golf Tournament, Hebron 6-State High School Class B Sand Greens Golf Tournament, Franklin 7-Film, "Sullivan's Travels", Sheldon Art Gallery, Lincoln 7-Girl Scouts Centennial Celebration, Civic Auditorium, Omaha 7-Centennial Saddle Club Trail Ride at Lakeview Ranch, Cambridge 7-Czech Spring Festival, Sokol Auditorium, Omaha 7-13—Centennial Armed Forces Week 9-York County Extension Club Centennial Celebration, Stromsburg 9 - Doane Night Relays, Crete 12-13-University of Nebraska Play, "Waiting For Godot", Howell Theatre, Lincoln 12-13-Play, "Major Barbara", Concordia Teachers College, Seward 12-14-Centennial Rock Show, Kearney State College, Kearney (Continued on page 46) NEBRASKAland HOSTESS OF THE MONTH Patricia Meyer

Spring rains will never daunt the spirit of NEBRASKAland's May Hostess, Miss Patricia Meyer. This bright-eyed young miss is active in outdoor sports, particularly swimming, tennis, and traveling. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Meyer of Scribner, she is a sophomore at Midland College in Fremont where she is majoring in English. Miss Meyer enjoys reading novels, but also finds time to participate in a variety of college activities, including Tri Phi, various sorority committees, and WRA (Women's Recreational Association). The dark-haired beauty was a contestant in the Miss NEBRASKAland Pageant last June.

8 NEBRASKAland

RIDERS OF THE WIND

Rough country, weather make flying, landing impossible. Catch is, Dr. Morgan is aloft

FOOT BY FOOT, the German KA-6 sailplane's altimeter unwound with maddening regularity. Its relentless creep backward told pilot Dr. Donal Morgan of McCook, Nebraska, that his assault on one of the highest awards available to a sailplane pilot was close to failure. The award Morgan sought was his third gold diamond. To win it, he had to pilot his engineless craft at least 310.5 miles.

His only power was a combination of rising air currents, gravity, and wings. He had plenty of gravity and plenty of wingspan, but no rising air masses. At this rate, touchdown was only minutes away. Quickly checking his other instruments, Morgan turned his attention to the variometer, an instrument that measures updrafts and downdrafts. In each of its two glass tubes rest a green ball and a red ball. During ascent, the green ball rises. During descent, the red one floats up.

Since releasing from his tow plane at McCook until he entered the Sand Hills country northeast of Gothenburg, Morgan's flight was full of "green air". 'But the deeper he penetrated the rugged hill country the more "red air" he found. Morgan's only consolation was knowing that his instruments were working. The altimeter and variometer cross-checked and verified each other.

Three years before, Morgan might have argued long and loud that he would never be in such a predicament, even after he and his friend, Len Boyd, and a couple of other McCookites made a special trip to Kansas to get their glider riatings. As Morgan put it, he never figured on getting so "hooked" on sailplaning.

"I don't think that Len or I knew then that we would be so interested in soaring, but it is so much more challenging than powered flight. You're not thinking about what you're going to do tomorrow. When you're soaring, you're concentrating on getting the maximum out of that flight and not what you're going to do on the next one."

Shortly after getting their ratings, the McCook men incorporated as the Nebraska Soaring Society, (NSA). Not too long after that, the four-member club grew to six. With the feeling of young success under their wings, the NSA bid for and won the right to host the 1964 National Soaring Championships at McCook, a first for Nebraska.

From McCook's original four incorporated members, soaring in Nebraska has grown to include 6 other clubs with about 60 active sailplane pilots. Springer Jones of Mitchell is president of the NSA. Soaring clubs have sprung up in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, Fremont, Omaha, and O'Neill. With the surge in soaring activity, the McCook club made its corporation the foundation of the state organization. The members adopted a title, The McCook Soaring Association (MSA), and joined the NSA.

10 NEBRASKAland MAY, 1967 11

Following the 1964 triumph as host to some of the biggest names in soaring, Morgan and Boyd set out to capture the coveted C gold badge and its three accompanying diamonds. Winning these internationally recognized prizes takes the kind of dedication and skill that would stop the average man. To win a gold badge, a pilot must fly his sailplane on a flight of at least 5 hours duration, make a flight covering at least 186.5 miles, and must gain just under 10,000 feet of altitude from the lowest recorded altitude of the flight.

One gold C diamond is awarded for a goal flight of at least 186.5 miles. In a goal flight, the pilot must declare his destination in writing, and his checkpoints must be verified either with pictures taken with a sealed camera or by two witnesses who saw him land.

A second diamond comes with successful completion of a distance flight of 310.5 miles and the third with an altitude gain flight. To win this award, the pilot must fly to an altitude of not less than 16,404 feet above the release altitude.

The awards are administered by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) of Paris, France. The American counterpart of the FAI is the National Aeronautic 12 NEBRASKAland Association (NAA) and its soaring division, the Soaring Society of America (SSA).

The McCook club's first glider was a Schweizer 2-22 with a glide ratio that allowed it to fly 18 feet forward for every foot of drop. It was followed by a Cherokee II that had a 26 to 1 glide ratio. Then came the German KA-6 whose 31 to 1 glide ratio gave Morgan the incentive to fly into the Sand Hills in the hope of finding lift where meteorological signs said there was none. He was over the hills but he was red-balled and sinking. Eagerly, Morgan searched below for a dark patch of ground that might be sending up the warm air columns that sailplane pilots call thermals.

A sky full of fleecy clouds is the sign of active thermal weather, but the only thing breaking the endless blue expanse of this day were the wings of the sailplane as it inched silently earthward.

Morgan was still studying the pale countryside when the corner of his eye caught a flick of the green ball. The thermal was so weak that Morgan's physical senses failed to detect it. But the sensitive variometer picked it up and told Morgan it was strong enough to lift his craft. Morgan banked nis craft and began circling, working the weak updraft for every foot it was worth. With luck, and a few more thermals like this, he might reach Madison, Minnesota, well over 310.5 miles from McCook.

Morgan left the thermal after milking it for every inch possible and set a northeast course. With a more comfortable altitude, he surveyed the country ahead for thermal possibilities. Satisfied that he could make several more miles, he settled down to enjoy the silence of powerless flight that only sailplane pilots know, when something on the horizon caught his attention.

The usually misty horizon had changed. Instead of silky vapor, the horizon was blurred and murky. It might be mid-afternoon dusk, and it might be a cloud bank full of snow. Another hour would tell. But for the moment, with the explorer's urge to know what lies beyond the far hill, Morgan pushed on.

Meanwhile, as the pilot struggled for distance in the air, his land-locked counterpart, Boyd, was haying troubles of his own. For this flight, the duties of "ground crew" fell to Boyd. The ground crew's responsibilities are not so glamorous as the pilot's, but they are vital to the success of any sailplane flight.

The ground man does everything from attaching the towrope to Tuning the wing. A sailplane has only one wheel, which presents a balance problem when the craft is on the ground. Someone has to pick up one of the plane's wings and run with it until the sailplane stabilizes during the first few feet of towing. This done, the ground man becomes the chase crew. Prior to the flight, the ground man and pilot go over the proposed flight. While the pilot attempts to cover the route in the air, the chase crew follows on the ground. Both maintain contact with a small two-way radio, and if possible, the man on the ground keeps the sailplane in sight.

So long as the man on the ground can see the glider, he can offer flight suggestions based on down-to-earth observations. On flights like Morgan's where time aloft may approach the eight-hour mark, the man on the ground often carries the burden of keeping the pilot's spirits up.

"It's like talking a pilot down when the weather is bad, only in reverse," Boyd explained.

Most sailplane pilots who have made marathon flights agree on at least one point. Regardless of the heady experience of soaring, it can get lonely up there. The silence, eloquent and awesome at first, begins to work on a man.

Under the right conditions, or at high altitude, the air temperature hit 45° below. Metal in the craft creaks and groans as though someone were crawling around inside the fuselage. Even the whine of a truck's tires screaming along the highway below drifts up like a haunting voice to work on a pilot's imagination, seemingly pleading with him to come down.

Boyd let these thoughts slip through his mind as he drove northeast, pursuing his friend. His mind was further troubled that he had lost sight of the glider, and that his last radio contact had come as Morgan flew into the sparse Sand Hills country, just north of Gothenburg.

Since then, Boyd had driven from Gothenburg to Lewis and Clark Lake in the northeast part of the state. Besides not knowing which way to go, Boyd was getting concerned about that growing gray line on the horizon. Boyd knew that if Morgan were still aloft, he was heading into weather that looked more and more like a snow-bearing squall line. And if the pilot had run out of lift (Continued on page 48)

MAY, 1967 13

'HOLE HOPPING' FOR CATS

by Chuck Davidson Vern Hoaglund is no bank fisherman. He keeps on the move to find 'whisker' hotspots on the Platte. Experience pays dividends

OLD WHISKERS had me in a bind. He raced downstream, claiming the slack of my six-pound-test monofilament like he owned it. And for the moment his claim bettered mine. Before I was fully aware of what he was doing, the angry catfish had bowed my spinning rod around the tree limb which supported me above the Platte River.

"Hey Vern!" I yelled to my partner on the bank above. "How in heck am I going to bring in this pole-bender against the current? If I were over there I would have a chance at him."

"If you were over here, you wouldn't have a fish on," Vern retorted. He was so right.

Tightening the tension I slowed the brawler's downstream dash to a steady tug. I looked at the tip of my overarced rod and wondered what would happen.

It had all begun when a likely-looking cutback on the stream's opposite side had enticed me to crawl out on an uprooted tree over the river. From the shaky limb it was possible to get a natural drift into the deep hole below. I made it and the bending fiberglass testified that it hadn't been a bad idea. I had had to inch my way out and cast upstream and I didn't realize it, but that spelled trouble. My first cast hadn't produced, but the second attempt fell exactly where I had hoped it would. I knew I was "in".

Taking the bait deep into the cutback, the current slacked my line as the crayfish bait passed beneath me. Resistance reached my fingertips. Snag or fish?

Wham!

The line sliced sharply toward the brushy undercut and I knew it wasn't a snag. I countered, knowing it was a good fish. Discouraging his tree-tangling moves was one thing, bringing him to bay against the swift current was another. I tried to "skim" him in, but it was useless. He had plenty of fight in him, and I. could tell he wasn't going to give up easily.

Then, the mad cat made his dash for freedom, taking out line until the drag slowed the critter into control. I managed somehow to swing my leg over the limb in a more workable position and faced downstream, though I nearly went into the river. The move accomplished little, for my rod and line remained on the upstream side.

I had learned a world about catfishing from Vern "Shorty" Hoaglund in the few hours we had been together. But right now, my bank-docked friend wasn't much help. In fact, the only advice I wangled from the Brady, Nebraska farmer was to pass the rod under the limb and play the cat on the downstream side. My precarious perch made the task easier said than done.

I was still grabbing for the rod tip when the line headed upriver, and I was on the "right" side of the situation. I was gaining ground slowly (Continued on page 53)

I GET MY KICKS OUT OF RABBITS

by Dick Budig Predators and bad weather cheat us out of our hunt in the hills. So we went down on the flat where the real action was

MARK'S SUDDEN move stopped Don and me as we moved down the lee-slope of a dry wash. Our companion, bracing against the howling wind, raised his scoped .22 lever-action and started shooting.

We couldn't hear the shots above the numbing gale, but by following Mark's line of sight, we could see a zigzagging cottontail scoot a slalom course through the lead barrage.

"He missed," Don grunted as the cottontail's white rear flashed down a hole. We didn't know it then, but we should have paid more attention to that bunriy. Had we gotten his message, we could have gotten a much better start on a most unorthodox rabbit hunt.

My two companions, Don Gable Jr., 17, and Mark Schmeeckle, 16, both of Gering, make quite a pair. After a season together as halfbacks on the Gering High School Bulldogs, they understand each other.

Between studies and athletics, Don and Mark are always busy, but they still manage to get in a lot of hunting for whatever is in season. They had a new idea for cottontail hunting. Their plan was to move into the Wildcat Hills about 15 miles south of Gering, and use the big-game method of glassing ridges and slopes. They invited me to go along, and after a long siege with the books at the University of Nebraska, I was more than willing.

"Hunting this way is mostly for sport," Mark conceded as we worked our way into the hills.

Mark's lever-action was equipped with a variable 3 to 7X scope. Don carried an autoloading .22 with a 4X glass.

Don's long stride suited him for working the heights, but the strapping 190-pounder was still recovering from a knee operation caused by a high-low tackle, so he scouted the valleys and cuts.

That's all any of us did —scout, look, glass ridges, and probe the shadows under rusty cedars and green, long-needle pines. As the morning wore on, an overcast began moving in from the northwest. The light went thin on the slopes and gloom settled beneath the trees to make glassing extremely difficult. Once, the sun found a hole in the clouds, and we glassed desperately for huddled-up rabbits but all we saw were eight mule deer, prancing over a ridge about 500 yards away.

By the time our stomachs growled high noon, the thermometer had slid several notches. The west wind had built up to a gale and began picking up the salt-size sand and flinging into our faces.

"That's the way it goes. Mark and I go after ducks and we get pheasants. We go after rabbits and we see deer," Don said philosophically, as we plodded along.

"Sometimes it's like that. The Wildcats have plenty of coyote and bobcat and it doesn't take long for the small-game population to become wary, once the predators claim a few square miles of hill country," Mark replied.

As a last resort, we turned our glasses south to the flat land that rolls away to the oil fields in Banner County. Hunting the flats might not be as much fun as trying to find rabbits on the slopes, but we felt that we could find a few bunnies. But, until Mark kicked out that first cottontail, things were even slower on the flat than they had been in the hills.

After that lone clover chomper disappeared, there was nothing to see except oil well pumps monotonously rising and falling, winter-gray sage, and spiny soapweed. Once we were away from the protecting hills, the wind cut mercilessly through our clothes. None of us admitted it, but we let the gale guide us. About a mile ahead there was a tumbleweed-clogged fence row. We told ourselves that besides hiding cottontails, the fence might protect us from the relentless wind. Had we paid attention to that first rabbit, we would have had our eyes on the sage and soapweed instead of the inviting cover of the fence.

Maybe it was the bitter gusts that made us as numb in the head as we were elsewhere, but it wasn't until the second bunny scurried from under Don's foot that we got the message. The boy's autoloader made chuffing sounds against the wind as he sent several long-rifle slugs after the fleeing rabbit.

Don missed and was about to insult his own marksmanship when Mark's lever action went up. My numbed ears picked up the wind-muffled sound of his shots as he chalked up another string of misses.

"I don't know what we're doing, but it must be right," Mark commented as we held a strategy powwow.

"Maybe right for finding, not for hitting," Don returned.

One thing was clear. Every rabbit we had seen came straight out from under a soapweed or sage bush. What's more, the bunnies that had scampered were the ones we had almost stepped on. Half frozen, we had found it easier to stumble over and through the brush than to side step it. Unwittingly, we had discovered that there were plenty of rabbits after all. It was just a matter of getting them to move.

As we talked, Don and Mark used a dime as a screwdriver to remove the scopes from their rifles.

"We'll need open sights if this is the way it's going to be done," Mark explained.

Our new-found knowledge changed our methods. Instead of spreading out, we closed ranks and stuck together. We noticed that the cottontails, like pheasants on a windy day, were breaking upwind. Sticking together would give us a more concentrated fire power. The action, and the likelihood of more, took the crystal-cold edge off the wind. We were ready for the rabbits.

16 NEBRASKAland  

But at this stage of the game, we still counted on the cottontails doing half the work. We lumbered along, quartering into the wind, nudging sage and soapweed with our toes and letting our rough denim trousers rake the brush.

Up close, the brush that had looked promising earlier was so scraggly that a betting man would have given five-to-one odds that we were wasting our time. I was about to say that the sage couldn't hide a sparrow when a cottontail sprinted out and went straight for about 15 feet. Just as Don and Mark put their sights on him, he pulled a belly-hugging turn.

Don and Mark used up three or four rounds before they adjusted to shooting without scopes. One of the slugs caught up to the rabbit and crumpled him.

"They're not sitting tight," Don said, picking up the first take of the day. "They're glued down."

"That one didn't get up until I stepped on him," Mark added.

Now we had the message that the first rabbit had tried to give us when we first started out. We weren't going to spook these Banner County bunnies by walking around them or by crunching past their forms. If we wanted anything like a respectable bag, we were going to have to poke, prod, and kick the rabbits off their haunches. Wistfully, we turned into the wind and looked back across the mile we had covered.

"We must have passed up 50 rabbits between here and there," Mark lamented.

Ahead of us, the dry wash petered out into a broad bottom. A small swell, covered with clumps of soapweed and scrawny sage, rose to our left. A springtooth harrow, a one-way, and a duckfoot, clogged with wind-driven weeds, sat at the far edge of the rise.

We may have overlooked a mile of good hunting, but we made up our minds that this little swell would not go unprobed. Again, we changed our method of operation. The boys carried their firearms in one hand and a stick in the other. Every clump of sage or soapweed with more than three sprigs got a whipping. Don and Mark soon discovered that it took too much time to drop their sticks and get off shots in the suddenly populated oil field, so they started kicking the yucca stands. Mark actually launched a rabbit out of his form with his boot. Surprised by the kick the bunny started circling. Ripping along at top speed, he sipped around in an ever-widening arc. Mark peppered away until he finally stopped him. When it was over, the youth took "five" to unwind.

18 NEBRASKAland

Ten paces farther, Don shook a cottontail out of a bristling soapweed. This one surprised us. He passed up his chance to escape and went with the wind on a flight that took him past both of the boys. Had the rabbit gone the other way, the end man would have been the only one who could have gotten off a shot safely. Don's last round slowed him and Mark dropped him. We had pretty well covered the swell and were discussing the possibilities of another hunting site when Mark came up with an idea.

"Let's check out that farm machinery," he urged.

Don and I glanced over our shoulders. Weeds were piled up beneath the equipment, but not so heavy that we couldn't see patches of daylight among them.

Mark read our thoughts, but persisted. "Let's try it anyway. You never know."

Reluctantly, we took up positions while Mark rattled the springtooth without results. Don and I relaxed a little, but Mark didn't give up. Careful not to bark his shin on the steel framing, he shoved his foot into more of the cracker-dry weeds. Before he could regain his footing, a cottontail burst into the open. This time, Mark's slug slowed him, and Don's shot rolled him.

Still not quite believing what I had seen, I tacked into the wind to retrieve the rabbit. When I turned and started back, I discovered that Mark and Don had become believers. With sharp young minds, trained to think in the quick-change atmosphere of school and sport, my two hunting buddies weren't about to ignore any more chances. By the time I joined them, they had launched a double-team assault on the second piece of equipment.

I figured our ruckus had pretty well emptied the game from the small patch by now, and I was about to say so when Mark and Don bounced out another cottontail. He got away.

We couldn't stop now without checking the weeds under the duckfoot. Don dropped back while Mark pitched a clod into the bramble. The third cottontail came out like he was rehearsed.

Don and Mark were getting the hang of holding their shots for a split second to let their targets get far enough out so that swinging on them wasn't a problem. Both boys triggered short bursts simultaneously and it was impossible to tell whose bullet tumbled the mechanically-oriented rabbit.

They exchanged quick, complimentary glances as they strode over to pick up the clover chomper. And so it went. We missed some, hit some, and probably overlooked as many more as we continued to hunt the woody slope. After the eighth cottontail folded, we decided to call it a hunt.

In the fading light of the wind-driven overcast, we did a little mental arithmetic to give us an idea of our success ratio. It came out pretty bad on an hourly basis and worse on a cartridge-per-rabbit ratio. Certainly, eight hoppers in seven hours isn't for thumb-in-the-vest bragging but it satisfied us. We had lost count of the rabbits we had seen on the hunt but guessing on pure numbers, it was a lot. Our rabbit-seen-to-rabbit-got score was mighty low, but from another angle, though, we figured our success to be pretty high. We had learned some new tricks about rabbit hunting, got a lot of shooting, and had plenty of meat for the table.

More important we had learned that the cottontail is a pretty sporty little guy, always willing to give you a second chance at turning early failure into later success.

THE END MAY, 1967 19

THE QUEEN OF QUIVIRA

In Sixteenth Century, Spanish searched in vain for mystical land. Today, they would find a royal wealth, more precious than gold

FRANCISCO VASQUEZ Coronado is reported to have led his Spanish soldiers to Nebraska in search of the magical land of Quivira. Back in the 16th Century this was rumored to be a land of milk and honey, a land where even the poorest ate from dishes of wrought plate and bowls of gold. Like young men everywhere, the soldiers dreamed of the queenly lasses they would find in Quivira.

The Spanish searched diligently for this land of paradise, but in vain, for it was a myth.

Had the Spanish come to Nebraska in the 20th Century, they would have found riches more precious than silver or gold and girls more regal and beautiful than the renowed Queen Isabella. These are the queens of NEBRASKAland.

In old Europe, a queen was born into a royal family as a princess, and only when she reached maturity or at the death of her parents, did she gain the crown. But today's queens are of every age, from the teen-age Nebraska Junior Miss to Mrs. Nebraska, mother of six.

20 NEBRASKAland      

Nebraska's queens no longer reign only over provinces or kingdoms. Their sovereignty is much more diversified. Their royal regalia represent not only the products of the land, but the state itself, and in some instances Nebraska's society and culture. In addition to a Honey Queen, Wheat Queen, Miss Dairy Princess, and others; Miss Nebraska, Miss Ak-Sar-Ben, Mrs. Nebraska, and a Nebraska Junior Miss are proud members of Nebraska's royalty.

Miss Nebraska, Patricia (Patti) Lee VanHorne, was born in York on St. Patrick's Day. The blue-eyed, blonde-haired miss has the luck of the Irish when it comes to winning talent and beauty contests. Her winning ways began at Hastings High School when she was a freshman and weren't interrupted when.she moved to the West Coast with her parents two years later. Mr. and Mrs. Charles VanHorne live in San Jose, California, but Patti returned to study at the University of Nebraska, where she is now a sophomore.

Her winning streak continues to run the gamut in collegiate activities. She was named Miss Lincoln and then defeated all rivals to become Miss Nebraska in the 1966 competition. Patti won the title over 35 contestants while competing in four categories — talent, swimming suit, evening gown, and personality. This 20-year-old is 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall, and weighs 118 pounds. Talent carries twice as much weight with the judges as the other three categories, and Patti proved her competence by winning a trophy for the girl with the most talent potential in the Miss America competition at Atlantic City. Nebraska's representative also earned a $1,000 scholarship. Patti VanHorne, Miss Nebraska, is as precious in Nebraska as pure gold was in the famed land of Quivira.

Early historians and modern scholars do not agree about where the Spanish believed this mystical land was actually located, but the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben keep alive the traditional view by placing it in Nebraska. This organization crowns the King and Queen of Quivira each fall in the state's most elaborate social function.

The 72nd Queen of Quivira, Miss Mary Helen (Sunny) Durham, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Durham of Omaha. Sunny is not only the Queen of Ak-Sar-Ben, she's also the Queen of first grade at Paddock Road School, where she teaches after graduating from the University of Nebraska last year. She is used to royalty, as she was a Princess in the 1965 coronation at Ak-Sar-Ben. This 5-foot, 7-inch queen has brown hair and hazel eyes, and weighs 132 pounds. The 22-year-old shares her love of football with her parents, two sisters, and a brother.

There are queens in the land of Quivira who go unrecognized. Queens who deserve the affection and loyalty of its two million constituents and the applause of the entire nation. These are the mothers who have raised their offspring to be kings in the law, the arts, and the sciences. Mrs. W. J. Bryan was such a queen, the mother of William Jennings Bryan, the outstanding Nebraska spokesman for women's rights, prohibition, income tax, and progressive legislation. Another queen mother was Mrs. S. B. Pound, whose daughter, Dr. Louise Pound, became a promoter and author of Nebraska folklore, sportswoman, and literary figure. Frank North, overland freighter, cattle pioneer, and developer of the Sand Hills, owed much to the encouragement of his mother, Mrs. Jane North.

Mrs. Angeline M. Sudyka, of Omaha, is the mother of six. She is also a queen, but in her own right and not because her children are famous. Mrs. Sudyka is the reigning Mrs. Nebraska of 1966. Last summer, in keeping with her philosophy of "family first", Mrs. Sudyka and her children set out from Omaha on a "See Nebraska First" vacation. They followed the original route of the pioneers along the Platte River on the Oregon Trail to Scottsbluff. According to Mrs. Sudyka, the adventure of discovering tourist attractions which were previously unknown to them made their pride in Nebraska all the greater.

Mrs. Sudyka designs craft projects for blind citizens, including the Nebraska Centennial centerpieces produced by the homebound sightless. She is also the official dressmaker and hair stylist for the collection of Nebraska First Ladies dolls on display in Omaha. Mrs. Sudyka enjoys painting, out the versatile homemaker shares this talent with her three-year-old daughter, Peggy, who helps the other five Sudyka children, ages 12 to 6, paint scenery for the children's marionette show. The family is working on a new show for the Centennial.

The Miss Nebraska Czech Queen also has a show of her own. Janis Kovar does a pantomine on popular songstress Barbra Streisand, which helped her win her queenly honor. Janis comes, appropriately enough, from Wilber. The 18-year-old started her run of honors last May when she was named first runner-up to Miss Crete of 1966 over 12 contestants. During the July Czech festival, Janis was crowned Miss Wilber Czech Queen, and less than a month later, she whirled off with the title of Miss Nebraska Czech Queen. She was judged on personal interviews, pose, appearance, original costume design, and talent. She will relinquish her crown this summer.

Janis is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward lj, Kovar of Wilber. After a whirlwind of high school accomplishments, she is now studying cosmetology in Lincoln. But she still has time for sports, especially football, and says, "Dancing to a modern beat is a favorite activity."

Dark brown hair and green eyes helped Nanci Shook of Omaha win the title of Miss Wool of Nebraska. This 5-foot, 8-inch lady modeled two outfits to outshine her competitors and become royalty. The daughter of Mrs. John S. Small and Mr. W. E. Shook, Nanci is also Miss University of Nebraska, MAY, 1967 27   where she is a sophomore. Summers she works as a lifeguard and swimming instructor, and as an instructor for the National Cheerleading Association, which took her to seven mid-western states last summer. The queen makes most of her own clothes.

Miss Nancy Coufal, also a sophomore at the University of Nebraska, represents the Nebraska Shorthorn Association as a queen in the land of Quivira. As Nebraska Shorthorn Lassie Queen, Nancy traveled to Chicago for the International Livestock Show where she competed with 20 contestants to be named Alternate International Lassie Queen.

Nancy, 19, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Coufal of Seward, producers of purebred Shorthorns. Nancy was a 4-H member for 10 years, winning the Champion Shorthorn Market Heifer trophy at the 1964 Nebraska State Fair. In 1965 she showed the Grand Champion Market Steer at the Seward County Fair.

Nebraska queens aren't limited to local recognition only. Nancy Ann Simmons brought national honors to Nebraska when she won the title of Miss Rodeo America for 1967. In addition to the national title, she won two of the three divisions of the competition — personality and appearance. The auburn-tressed Nancy, 22, won three All-Around Cowgirl awards in 1966 as a member of the University of Nebraska Rodeo Association. Nancy graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Education in January, 1967. Her parents are Dr. and Mrs. E. Simmons of Omaha.

Nebraska's Dairy Princess, Kathy Oberle, comes from a farm home. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Oberle, farm at Eagle, but Kathy is now living in Lincoln where she is studying at the University of Nebraska. The former Miss Block and Bridle is a senior and an honor student. This July, Kathy will represent Nebraska in the National Dairy Princess Contest in Chicago.

Miss Becky Glover of Grand Island is also an honor student. She was named Nebraska Junior Miss and Outstanding High School Senior girl against more than 20 contestants judged on scholastic activities and beauty. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Glover, Jr., of Grand Island, Becky is state women's tennis champion in the 18-and-under division, and 1966 winner of the Kennedy Physical Fitness Award.

English queens of past centuries often went on great fox hunts to keep themselves physically fit. Others, such as Queen Victoria, feasted and grew fat. But 20th Century queens are more likely to be active, working women, as are Nebraska's Potato Princesses. Sharon Kyker of Lincoln and Sandi Hancock of Omaha had a job to do along with their honors as royalty. They conducted a market feasibility survey for the Nebraska Potato Council, testing how well NEBRASKAland potatoes sold in Lincoln and Omaha.

Each princess is also a student. Sharon, 22, is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska, studying sociology and political science. She will go into urban planning upon graduation in 1968. Sandi is a senior at Omaha University. A commercial art student, she earned a bevy of queenly titles on campus, as well as Miss Omaha of 1962.

It takes a honey of a girl to become a queen, whether she is blonde or brunette, short or tall. Nebraska's Barbara Lavaley is the state Honey Queen, and her blonde hair and blue eyes are reasons enough. She was as busy as a bee during high school and was crowned Lincoln County Honey Queen in 1965 by winning three purple and one blue ribbon in the annual 4-H Honey Baking Contest. Barbara, a nine-year 4-H member, went to the Nebraska State Fair with one of her 4-H demonstrations. Her sweet accomplishments include five gold medals and several Ak-Sar-Ben awards. The 18-year-old miss is now attending secretarial school in Grand Island. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Lavaley, live in Sutherland.

Out of western Nebraska comes the state Wheat Queen, Pamela Rae Foster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Foster of Grant. The 17-year-old high school senior is touring the state promoting Nebraska-grown wheat. She's well qualified to speak as she has won numerous speaking contests and honors in 4-H club demonstration competition. After graduating from high school, Pam plans to study fashion designing or merchandising at the University of Nebraska.

Nebraska men can be justifiably proud of their queens. These 12 are only a partial list of reigning Nebraska royalty. Miss Nebraska Centennial, Nancy Griffin of Atkinson, and Miss NEBRASKAland, Patricia Knippelmier of Auburn are not included in this list since they have already appeared in previous issues of NEBRASKAland. Each queen is a fine tribute to the group she represents, but of course, the queen of queens is Nebraska's first lady. Thirty-one first ladies have reigned over the governor's mansion. Only once, for a short five months in 1901 when Charles H. Dietrich was a January-to-May governor of Nebraska, was the mansion without a first lady.

The Queens of Quivira are a versatile lot. If they have but one common characteristic, it is that they are all women. And what is a woman? According to one well-qualified woman watcher:

"Every woman is a queen when she has to be and a tyrant when she wants to be. A woman is both a joy and a black despair and it's very difficult for a mere male to separate the two. A woman is a creature of moods and paradoxes. She's gay at a wake and cries at a wedding. She's the soul of valor in the face of catastrophe and climbs a wall at the sight of a mouse. She's as fierce as a tigress defending her cubs and as gentle as a spring rain.

"She's a mystery, an enigma, a sometimes thing. Nobody can understand her and yet everybody tries. She's a woman and without her, the world might be the better but it sure wouldn't be as exciting."

So there is no pat answer to the question, "What is a woman, and what is a queen?" But one thing is certain. Nebraska women are queens, all.

THE END 28  

NATURE'S WAY

by Bob Thomas Fisheries Section Chief Some fish are good parents up to a point. Others couldn't core less. Bass, bullhead, catfish rate well as dads

TELL A MAN that he is a good father and he will swell with pride at the praise. Tell him that he has the parental instinct of a largemouth bass and he will probably bounce four knuckles off your nose. Yet, both statements are equally complimentary. The male largemouth bass, along with many other members of the sunfish family, is a good father. Channel catfish and the bullhead rate high in the dad department.

During the spawning season, some fish guard the eggs and the young for various periods of time. Others complete spawning and go on about the business of living with nary a second thought about their progeny.

Among the more protective fathers is the largemouth bass. He's a busy fish when the spawning urge hits. First, he selects the nest site and sets about preparing it. Normally, he finds a spot near the shoreline of his watery home in depths of one to six feet. Largemouths aren't too particular about the foundations of the nest. Mud, silt, or sand bottoms are O.K. Sometimes, this hardworking fish will select a nest site among the roots of aquatic plants.

Bass fan out a circular depression in the bottom with their fins and tails and then go courting. They coax females to the nest where the ladies deposit their eggs. The male fertilizes them with milt and then stands guard until hatching occurs. During the incubation, the male circulates water over the nest and keeps it clean by fanning action of his fins. Woe to the interloper that distrubs him during this period. A bull bass will take on any trespasser and usually come out the winner.

The period between spawning and hatching is a critical one and any abrupt change in the environmental surroundings can raise havoc with the nest. Since bass usually spawn in relatively shallow water, a small drop in its level can force the male to abandon the nest. If the draw down exposes the nest, the eggs are subject to dehydration. Even if the eggs escape this peril, their hatching potential is reduced because the male is not around to clean the nest and aerate the spawn. A sudden drop in temperature will also cause the male to abandon the nest.

After the fry are hatched, the father guards them for a while before he turns them loose to face the uncertainties of the world. If the bass was grouchy and aggressive during incubation, he is doubly so 32 NEBRASKAland the fry period. He'll scrap it out with anything in this period and will square off against an adversary three times his size.

Then one day, he gets tired of baby sitting and goes berserk. He slashes through the cloud of fry, scattering them like wind-blown chaff. Some of the startled youngsters end up in their father's stomach. Although this sudden reversal sounds cruel, it is part of nature's scheme. The surviving fry are dispersed to lessen the peril of total annihilation by a hungry pike or a school of foraging bluegill.

Other members of the sunfish family which includes the bass follow much the same procedure during the spawning period. If you ever have the chance to watch a bluegill guarding his nest, you're in for a dramatic and sometimes surprising experience. He's a tiger with boundless energy and spunk to match. He uses every weapon he has to foil the threat and in many instances a bigger, larger fish will flee rather than tangle with this compact bundle of parental indignation. Other NEBRASKAland fish with well-developed fatherhood characteristics are the crappies, the green, redear, orange-spotted, and pumpkinseed sunfish; the Kentucky spotted bass, the rock bass, and the smallmouth.

The catfishes and the various bullhead rate high as protectors of their offspring. Like the bass, it's papa who has all the responsibility. The clan spawns in the late spring and early summer.

Intensive studies of the channel catfish have revealed much about their spawning habits. The male makes the nest in a hole in a bank, beneath a submerged object, or in some other similarly secluded spot. A model father, the male catfish cleans the nest site until the bottom is firm and free of loose particles. He then coaxes a female to the site.

Her eggs adhere to the bottom of the nest and to each other to form a firm gelatinous mass. The male hovers over the nest during the incubation, fanning the eggs, and chasing away intruders. After the hatching, the male guards the fry for a few days before abandoning them. Since lack of suitable nesting sites can seriously curtail the reproduction of channel cats, the Nebraska Game Commission is experimenting with submerged milk cans as hatching havens.

A favorite word of crossword puzzle fans is redd, the name given to a trout nest. The distaff side does the nest building in the trout kingdom. The hen fish selects a spot on coarse gravel, fans out a nest, deposits her eggs and after fertilization by the male, covers the eggs with more gravel.

Each of the trout vary their nest building and spawning to some degree. Brown and brook trout spawn in late October and November while the rainbows spawn from early winter through early spring. Female browns and rainbows are energetic fish. They actually build a series of nests, using the loose gravel from one to cover the other downstream.

A brook trout is more efficient. She uses her anal fin to sweep gravel in from the edges of her nest. Both methods achieve the desired effect — to cover and protect the eggs during incubation. Newly-hatched fry of all trout are on their own.

parental duties very lightly. In this love-them-and-leave-them category are drum, walleye, northern pike, and white bass. These fish depend upon environmental features to protect the eggs and fry. Generally, they are prolific spawners, depending upon their numbers rather than protection to maintain the species.

In Nebraska, successful walleye reproduction has occurred along dam faces and shoreline with rock rip-rap. Wave action provides needed aeration. Males accompany the females to the shallows and the eggs are scattered at random in the selected spawning areas.

Northern pike are not good parents but they are fussy about their spawning sites. Fortunately, many of Nebraska's Sand Hills lakes meet their requirements. Northerns need heavy cover for spawning and they find it in the cattails, rushes, fragmites, and sedges that fringe the lakes.

White bass scatter their spawn in inlet streams and probably along shorelines in water that is one to four feet deep and then get on to other activities. Apparently their system works for there is no dearth of white bass in Nebraska.

Suckers, carp, and some others of their ilk are as casual as the white bass about insuring the future of their species. They spawn when they feel the ancient urge and from then on, the youngsters have to shift for themselves.

Millions of them fail to make it but enough survive to insure the continuity of the species for that is nature's way. Only the strong shall survive.

THE END MAY, 1967 33

LAKE MARY RANCH CAMP

Vacation away from mom and dad is sure-fire hit with kids. Platte Valley is ideal setting

TELEPHONE POLES speed past the windows of the station wagon, as two youngsters watch them go by in anxious anticipation. Their gear has been packed for what seems like ages, but finally the long-awaited moment is at hand. They are on their way to camp and two whole weeks without mom and dad.

In some states, this is an oft-repeated scene come summer. Such was not the case in Nebraska, at least, not until recently. Now, however, Nebraskans are awakening to the potential of this area of vacationing. There are ranch and farm vacations for the whole family or kids only, and the newest addition is an honest-to-goodness summer camp of the Adirondack variety for youngsters 9 to 15 years old.

Nestled in a veritable forest of cedars on the banks of the Platte River, north of Aurora, is Lake Mary Ranch Camp. Proprietors Bud and Mary Ann Pence welcomed 63 youngsters to the idyllic retreat last summer, and they expect that number to double this year.

While there are other children's camps of various kinds in Nebraska, Lake Mary is perhaps the most ambitious undertaking. Several years ago, Pence enacted our opening scene when taking his two children to camp in a neighboring state. He was much impressed by his own and the children's experiences and started thinking about a similar enterprise in Nebraska.

"My wife and I were confident that we had a much more ideal location for sudi a camp right in our own backyard," Bud mused.

He had been mulling over the idea for a summer camp for children before the out-of-state trip, and the excursion provided to be the motivating force. Thus, Lake Mary Ranch Camp emerged from the realm of possibility into reality.

The 1,100-acre site selected for the camp lies in the scenic Platte River valley just 2 miles east and 1 mile north of the Central City Platte River bridge. Seven spring-fed lakes not only enhance the area but also provide swimming, boating, fishing, and water skiing for the youngsters.

"There was plenty of work for us to get the old farmstead in shape," Bud noted. "We had to tear down old buildings, fix fences, and generally spruce up the area before we could begin building."

They started in the fall of 1965, and general construction got under way in April, 1966. It was a struggle, but all was in readiness when the first campers arrived for the opening camp session on June 19,1966.

Special "bunkhouses" were constructed for the boys and girls, each on a different lake. Special pains were taken with the kitchen and eating areas, and all facilities had to get the Nebraska Department of Health stamp of approval. The old caretaker's house got a face-lifting and was turned into the craft shop, office, store, and camp bank.

by Elizabeth Huff photographs by Cliffs Studio, Aurora Nebraska

Each camper is allowed $10, which is deposited in the "bank". Youngsters draw on this money for their supplies, souvenirs, and sweets, but they are allowed to spend only 15 cents a day on candy and soda pop.

"The kids are more careful with their money than most of us think," Bud observed. "Most of our campers last year had two or three dollars left at the end of their camp session."

Some people tend to think of summer camps as glorified babysitting services. Such is far from the case at Lake Mary. While mom and dad may benefit from a week or two away from the kids, the youngsters also derive much from the experience. In addition to the sense of independence instilled by a time away from home, the children meet nature first hand and are introduced to such things as horseback riding, archery, canoeing, rifle marksmanship, and various arts and crafts. Rifle instructor at Lake Mary is Major Harold Wanek. Retired from the U.S. Army Infantry, Wanek was head coach for the Fifth Army Pistol Team for five years and is a certified National Rifle Association instructor. Other counselors and instructors are also well qualified for their posts, for a great deal of time and investigation are spent on their selection.

In addition to the Pences, there are two girls' counselors, two boys' counselors, the camp director, cook, assistant cook, rifle instructor, riding instructor, and wrangler. Various clubs from Grand Island come out occasionally to give demonstrations on such activities as skin diving and archery. At the end of each two-week session, a horse show or rodeo is held for the youngsters and their parents. Branding time provides a special treat, especially for the "city" kids. The camp is located on land still used for grazing, and sleek black angus cattle are usually unconcerned observers of the nearby goings-on.

Although there is a schedule of activities, it is not always rigidly adhered to. There are times for swimming, riding, boating, archery, hiking, trail rides, eating, sleeping, and just plain goofing off. While the children are supervised at all times, they are allowed a certain amount of freedom.

"We try to adapt to the moods of the youngsters," Pence notes. "They don't always want to do things at a specific time, and we want them to feel that this is their vacation — which it is."

Every camp must have a mascot, and Lake Mary is no exception. The privileged character at LMR is Vanilla the Rabbit. Perhaps the most popular member of the staff, Vanilla has received letters from last year's doting campers, and one little girl even enclosed some lettuce for him. The pampered bunny is far from the only wild "critter" on the premises, however. Lake Mary abounds in all sorts of wildlife, including deer, raccoons, turtles, pheasants, cottontails, jack rabbits, quail, and more than enough panfish in the lakes to keep the neophyte anglers happy.

MAY, 1967 35  

Preferred pastimes, however, are horseback riding and swimming. Quite naturally, the children soon find favorite mounts, and horses are assigned by drawing to avoid hard feelings. Youngsters must saddle their own animals and take care of their own tack at the "Saddle Club" by the corral. Shows, rodeos, and riding instructions are given in the official-size arena. It measures 200 feet by 65 feet (the same as Ak-Sar-Ben), and it has a sand bottom to soften any falls.

There are campfires at night, and for those so inclined there is an overnight camp out, where grub is cooked over an open fire. The children are hiked around and around through the "deep, dark woods" to the outing site, but their excursion into the wilderness actually winds up less than a quarter mile from the main camp. For added excitement, Lake Mary has its own private "ghost town". Back in the woods are the ruins of an old homestead cabin, and the campers delight in visiting this "spooky" remnant of Nebraska's past on one of their after-dark forays.

The cedar-studded area has more than just ghost towns and dense woods. It is one of the most picturesque locations in central Nebraska, and the Pences have known it a long time. Even before Lake Mary Ranch Camp had become an idea, the Pences and their own three children had been summering at this wilderness retreat. Nature created a storybook setting here on the Platte, and now youngsters from across Nebraska and the nation have an opportunity to enjoy its bounty.

Most of the children at Lake Mary last year came from Nebraska, and there were also some from Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Among the campers were professional wrestler Vern Gagne's two youngsters.

"This was a new experience for us as well as for the children," Bud pointed out. "We were a little apprehensive about homesickness, but we were lucky. Only one little girl showed any signs at all. The first night she pulled her bunk over next to her older sister, but the next evening her bed was back against the wall like the rest of the girls. On the other hand, the two little girls from Pennsylvania had been sent to camp by their grandmother and wanted to stay for another session. When they checked with grandma, she told them they had better check with mother on it. They didn't get to stay, and one of the girls cried when she 36 NEBRASKAland had to leave. Another girl from Lincoln came for one week, and when it was over she wanted to stay for another. She got permission and ended up staying four weeks. She only left then because it was the end of camp."

Obviously, Lake Mary made a hit with the small fry. In fact, the Pences have a number of letters of appreciation from both the youngsters and their parents. One little girl wrote:

"I very much enjoyed my week at camp. I believe you have the most wonderful camp that I have ever been to. I would like to thank you for your hospitality. That is all I wanted to say."

"We have also had some complaints from the adults," Bud chuckled. "They have been complaining because they can't come, too. I've even had some suggestions that we have a special session just for the parents."

The number of campers per session ranged from 5 to 25 the first year of operation, with a total of 87 camper weeks. However, there are facilities for 50 youngsters (25 boys and 25 girls), and there's plenty of room for expansion.

One of the highlights of the first summer for the Pences was a stop by 40 American Field Service foreign exchange students on their way home to their respective countries. The teens were in Aurora July 3 and spent the Fourth of July at Lake Mary. When they were leaving, they told the Pences that it was their most interesting stop en route home.

A camp must be licensed a year for membership in the American Camping Association, and recently the Pences received notification of their acceptance in the Nebraska Section of the ACA. This, too, is a first, for Lake Mary is the first private camp member of the Nebraska ACA Section.

Early to bed and early to rise and safety first are the maximums at Lake Mary. An ordinary day begins at 7:30 a.m., with the flag raising at 7:50, and ends with the evening program at 7:30 and lights out at 9:30. Parents are instructed before hand what items are needed like sheets, blankets, socks, and sweatshirts. Youngsters may enroll for as short a period as a week or may come for the entire nine weeks. Sessions actually run two weeks with a final one-week session. This year, Lake Mary opens on June 18 and closes on August 19. Tuition is based on a one-week stay with discounts for longer stays. A 10 per cent reduction is offered when two or more campers come from the same family. Bud's wife, Mary Ann, handles all of the reservations and inquiries. Their home at 1913 M Street in Auroroa is a pretty busy place right now.

THE END Editor's Note: For a listing of camps for rrkids only" and ranch-farm vacations, write the Game Commission, State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509. MAY, 1967 37

NEBRASKAland FISHING ...THE NORTHEAST

Fishing variety is area's middle name. Haven tor lunkers, waters hold seven state records, one international record

HOW WOULD you like to catch a channel catfish that spans more than nine inches from eye to eye? Fish the upper stretches of the Missouri River long enough and hard enough and you may do it. Ralph Adair of Macy caught a 31-pound, 12-ounce channel cat on November 30, 1961 whose head was more than a hand span wide. If this cat seems a bit on the small side, how about Ralph Jones of St. Helena, who took a 79-pound blue catfish from the Missouri on March 12, 1966?

You may never latch on to lunkers like these, but you will find plenty of fishing action in District Three, a sprawling chunk of angling opportunity in northeastern Nebraska. Fishing here runs the gamut from four-ounce bluegill in a tiny farm pond to big-river catfish, so large they don't need the benefit of exaggeration to be whoppers.

Seven state records and one international record for various species have come from District Three's waters. Mrs. Betty Tepner of Plainview holds the international crown for sauger with an 8-pound, 5-ouncer taken on October 22, 1961. Betty caught her once-in-a-lifetime sauger in the Missouri River, not far from the confluence ol the Niobrara River. Her prize slammed a minnow. Other record-holding fish from District Three include largemouth bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, carp, sturgeon, paddlefish, and yellow catfish. Angling methods vary from snagging to flyrodding and catches include every species from the ages-old paddlefish to stocked brown trout.

If big-river or big-lake angling is not your dish, don't despair. There are plenty of small rivers, sandpits, streams, state lakes, and even a power canal to tempt your line. Name just about any freshwater species except muskies and District Three can provide them. There's a fish for practically every lure and bait in the book. If you want to be the purest of Simon Pures, try snagging in the Missouri River from October 1 to April 30. It's fishing at its hardest, but its devotees claim there's nothing like it.

Queen water of District Three is Lewis and Clark Lake, a giant artificial impoundment on the north edge of Nebraska. Fishing here is a grab-bag proposition, for you never know what may Be nosing around your favorite bait or chasing your pet lure, but there are definite times when certain fish predominate.

Sauger and walleye are probably the tastiest fish in the lake, but they are not the only ones by any means. Sauger fishing gets good from late March to the last of April in the upper reaches of the lake. Minnows ana jigs are the favorite come-ons with boat fishing having a slight edge over shore fishing as the best method. If you are not a boater, try jigging along the rocky ledges. A white jig, handled carefully, will put fish on the stringer but if you haven't mastered the art of jigging, try a minnow hooked through the lips or through the gills and back below the dorsal.

Small hooks, the lightest sinker that will hold your bait down, and a deft touch with the line are all assets when trying for these finicky fish who bite with a will-I-or-won't-I attitude. Lyle Sawatzke of Crofton fishes Lewis and Clark Lake or its tailwaters about 300 days a year and he claims that "feel" is the most important part of sauger fishing. He should know, he keeps half the town supplied with fresh fish. Lyle will tell you that sauger are moody and feed by streaks. Hit them right and you're in. Hit them wrong and it can be a long and luckless day. Last year, Lyle was having a bad day when an 18-pound northern came along to brighten things up.

Walleye are similar to sauger in feeding habits but seem to bite with more enthusiasm and seem slightly more partial to jigs. If you troll, troll slowly. Eight-pound-test monofilament on an open-faced reel, and a heavy-action rod are pretty good combinations. Crappie are usually the first to kick off Lewis and

Crappie are usually the first to kick off Lewis and Clark's spring and summer fishing. In the spring, they are taken in good numbers in the South Shore, Deep Water, Weigand, Miller Creek, and Devil's Nest areas.

Angling for this popular fish can be fast and furious if you hit it right. At Lewis and Clark, the dedicated crappie takers consider May, June, September, and October the best months. Minnows hooked behind the dorsal and held a few feet off the bottom are good baits. Up-and-down adjustment of the bobber to find the right depth is advised. Crappies have delicate mouths so don't pressure them or you'll lose a lot of them when the hook pulls out. Jigging is another technique that will put crappie on the stringer. Experiment with various sizes and colors until you find the right combination. For variety try a No. 1 bronze spinner if the water is clear and a silver one if it is murky.

Crappie like to hang out at the inlets of creeks and around submerged trees, so don't pass up these spots, especially in the spring. Devotees of ultra-light gear claim crappies are made for them. Use small hooks and light bobbers for crappies are sensitive biters and are quick to detect the resistance of a heavy bobber. White bass and crappie fishing below the dam hits its peak about the middle of May. Minnows and small yellow or white jigs are the most productive baits and lures.

For pure enjoyment it is hard to beat white bass and fortunately for Lewis and Clark anglers, these MAY, 1967 39   popular fish are on the upswing. Two of the hotter white bass areas are South Shore and Weigand. White bass fishing begins about June 15th. Try minnows and jigs and you'll be in business. Trolling is the accepted way to find a school of these voracious feeders. Sauger are showing up at the same time and in the same areas as the white bass, so the weekend fisherman has an excellent chance of winding up with a fine, mixed stringer. Catfish fans will find action around Santee. Summer fishing for the whiskered ones is usually good below the dam.

It would take a volume to describe all the fish and all the fishing techniques found at Lewis and Clark Lake but among its offerings are crappie, sauger, walleye, northern pike, drum, white bass, carp, and channel catfish. Skipjack or goldeye are also part of the fish population. For species, times, and methods, refer to the chart that accompanies this article.

Upstream from Lewis and Clark Lake, the Missouri winds its way through some of the more scenic areas of eastern Nebraska. Spring and fall fishing for sauger and walleye at the mouth of the Niobrara River is excellent. To fish it successfully, you should use a heavy casting or spin-cast outfit with a 10-pound-test line. Add about two ounces of lead to get to the bottom as the current is quite fast with water depths around 20 feet. Two-to-four-inch minnows fished on droppers is almost surefire for this fishing. The Missouri offers a lot of fishing to those who work this stretch but its bounty is for those who know the ways of the big river. Catfish, walleye, sauger, some crappie, and white bass are the game fish most often taken. April brings a good sauger run near the Nebraska-South Dakota border. One hot spot is just east of the community of Gross.

Fishing the Missouri River is like fishing the ocean, you never know what to expect. One cast may bring in a 12-ounce crappie, the next a 40-pound flathead. The river is full of fine game fish but it needs knowing to take advantage of its many offerings. The first timer will do well to ask or better yet - angle an invitation from some of the knowledgeable fishermen in the area.

If you boat the Missouri, make sure your craft is a staunch one and that you have plenty of shear pins for your outboard. Sawyers, hidden bars, and floating debris are hazards, but don't let these minor annoyances stop you from sampling some of the best fishing in the country.

Minnows, worms, chicken livers, beefsteak, chicken entrails, corn, and prepared baits have their place on this river. When crayfish are available, use them. Jigs, spoons, and spinners are probably the most popular artificials but don't discount the plugs. Boats are a real help but bank fishermen won't go hungry. Heavy gear is good insurance on this river where 10-pound-test lines are none too heavy. They can mean the difference between fish in the skillet or the sad story of the one that got away.

Oxbows and cutoffs are usually hot spots for river nshermen. Some of these have been dignified by names and have boat ramps and concessions. Others are nameless and remote, known only to the "river rats" and their particular friends. Among the popular spots on the upper Missouri is Crystal Lake, just west of boutn bioux City. Crystal contains crappie, drum, 40 NEBRASKAland bluegill, carp, gar, and bullhead. Close to teeming population centers, this lake gets plenty of family-type angling pressure, but try the north end of the lake for bullheads with a gob of worms on your hook and you won't be disappointed. If you like to outguess carp, try a kernel of canned corn on a small hook and fish without a sinker. Don't be in a fuss to set the hook when old leather lip picks up the bait, he's quick to drop anything with a string on it. Soft-shelled crayfish fished on the bottom will put some drum on your stringer.

Another good fishing area is Omadi Bend, northeast of Homer. This 400-acre oxbow has a state-owned launching ramp for boaters. Its south end opens on the Missouri and it may at any given time harbor any fish found in the big river. It has a reputation for black crappie. Hit it in the spring and fish around the trees on the west shore. Crappie are schoolers and if you catch one, chances are you'll be in business for quite some time. Omadi Bend isn't one-hook water, there are snags and underwater obstacles that can cost you lots of terminal gear, but don't let economy spoil your fishing. Camping and picnicking facilities are available.

For change-of-pace fishing at Omadi Bend try a rubber worm for gar. These fish aren't fit to eat but they are good strikers and hard fighters.

Down on the south end of District Three, there is Decatur Lake. It rates well with the ice-fishing clan but that's no reason to ignore it during the warm months. Walleye, crappie, northern pike, bluegill, drum, and channel catfish are among its offerings. Fish around the pilings for crappie and catfish. Jack Maryott of Decatur is the man to see for the lowdown on the lake. If he doesn't know, he knows somebody who does.

So much for the Missouri. It has a wide variety of fish in its depths and its big enough to accommodate a lot of anglers without crowding. The river is a smorgasbord of angling surprises and if you haven't fished it, you're missing an experience.

Inland from the Missouri, there's a 50-acre lake called Grove that offers fair fishing for some species. Located 2 1/2 miles north of Royal on U.S. Highway 20, Grove has largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill, bullhead channel cat, and once in awhile a few trout from Verdigre Creek which empties into the lake. It is probably the prettiest lake in District Three and is a popular recreation spot but fishing pressure isn't excessive. There are some fine largemouths in this lake but they are sophisticated and it takes a savvy fisherman to entice them.

Last summer, a certain angler consistently took good bass from Grove with surface plugs. Finally, he revealed the secret of his success. It was patience. He would make his cast and wait and wait before he began his retrieve. After a cigarette or two, he would get around to working the plug. His waiting game paid off with two or three hefty bass every time out.

For the impatient, bluegill in the shallows and bullhead on the bottom can provide fast action. A black bug and a flyrod will bring out the mad in bluegill right now. For those who prefer worms, a piece of ordinary garden hackle on a small hook will trigger plenty of bullhead fun. Some channel cats at Grove Lake will go six pounds or better with big minnows on setlines the most reliable takers. This lake MAY, 1967 41   stratifies and fish are seldom found below 15 feet. Try various depths until you find the right one.

Other small lakes in District Three include Lake Babcock and Lake North, both north of Columbus. It's pretty hard to beat these small impoundments for family fishing fun. Carp and bullhead are the summer-time favorites at Babcock, while the menu at Lake North is more varied. Crappie are popular in the spring with small minnows the usual bait. Crappie attractors will be installed in the lake this summer.

Drum aren't the greatest of fish but they slam bait with a satisfactory sock and are stubborn fighters. Lake North drummers rely on soft-shelled crayfish for their catches. White bass are also a treat at Lake North. They are taken in the spring and fall by casting and trolling. Spoons and minnows are the best magnets for them. White doll flies are worth a try when the linesides are running.

To the uninitated, fishing in a canal may seem like fishing in a pail, but the Loup Power Canal is 33 miles of darn good catfishing. The power canal starts northeast of Fullerton and enters the Platte River just east of Columbus. Flathead catfish are May-to-October possibilities and some of these will go up to 40 pounds. Ihese old lunkers prowl the trash racks and the tailwaters of the various dams for food, so these are the spots to try. Setiines baited with three-to-five-inch green sunfish or big minnows are good baits.

Fishermen who are a little blase about catfishing should latch on to one of these big flatheads. It takes a heavy rod star-drag reel, and 40-pound-test line to hold one of these old boys when he feels the steel. This 42 NEBRASKAland flathead fishing isn't for the impatient for these whiskery gents are pretty careful about grabbing everything that comes along, but once in awhile they will make a fatal mistake.

Channel cats are another prize on the Loup Power Canal. If you want the ultimate in fun, try these fish on a light flyrod. A small treble hook buried in a gob of prepared bait and drifted into a likely looking spot can trigger all sorts of surprises. Other fish in the canal include drum, white bass, carp, and walleye. May and June are considered the top months tor walleye. Crappie fishing is fair to good in the spring along the riprapped sides of the waterway. Old-fashioned still fishing with minnows gets the nod.

District Three is an accommodating fishery in many ways. For those who like river fishing but don t care for the immensity of the Missouri, there are several rivers that offer fine angling for largemouths, catfish, and northern pike. Some of the better bass spots are sloughs along the picturesque Cedar River. Flies, plugs, minnows, poppers, and worms will bring bass in. Fish the shallows in the spring and then work deeper water as the weather warms up. Other fish in the Cedar include channel cat and carp.

Northern pike are not the primary species in the Elkhorn River but they are the most spectacular. These streamlined predators hang out in the sloughs and will smack spoons with enthusiasm. The old black-and-white spoon with its trailing treble is as good as any artificial ever made. The Beaver and parts of the Niobrara and Loup rivers are considered good catfish waters. A newcomer (Continued on page 54)

NO. NAME SPECIES, BEST TIME, AREA, METHOD, AND BAIT 1 Grove Lake Bluegill, all year, entire lake, casting, still fishing, worms or artificials. L. M. bass, June, July, October, submerged brush piles, deep water, casting, plugs, minnows. Channel catfish, summer, old channel. Still fishing, minnows, worms. Bullhead, entire lake, summer, still fishing, worms. Walleye, deepest water, May, June, trolling, minnows and jigs. Crappie, May, June, and September, submerged brush, still fishing, minnows. Boats can be used 2 Lake Ericson Crappie, bluegill, carp, carp sucker, catfish. Lake scheduled for renovation in 1967 3 Dead Timber Bullhead, entire lake, summer, still fishing, worms 4 Crystal Lake Bullhead, summer, north end, still fishing, worms. Carp, summer, north end, still fishing, corn. Drum, summer, north end, still fishing, crayfish. Boats can be used 5 Omadi Bend Crappie, spring, near trees, still fishing, minnows. Carp, entire lake, summer, still fishing, corn. Channel catfish, summer, deeper water, still fishing, worms, minnows. Boats can be used 6 Lake Babcock Carp, entire lake, summer, still fishing, corn. Bullhead, entire lake, summer, worms and minnows. Boats can be used 7 Lake North Crappie, entire lake, spring, still fishing, minnows. Drum, entire lake, summer, still fishing, casting. Worms, crayfish. Channel catfish, entire lake, summer, still fishing. Live bait. Walleye, entire lake, spring, trolling, casting. Spoons, minnows. Carp, year round, entire lake, still fishing, corn. White bass, entire lake, spring, early fall. Trolling and casting, spoons and minnows. Boats can be used 8 Lewis and Ciark Lake Crappie, inlets, May, June, September, October, still fishing, casting, minnows, jigs. White bass, along dam, rocks, bays, spring and fall, trolling, casting. Minnows and jigs. Walleye, same area as white bass, spring and fall, trolling, casting, minnows and jigs. Sauger, same as walleye. Channel catfish, deeper water, May to October. Still fishing, bait casting. Minnows, worms, crayfish, prepared baits. Drum, entire lake, summer, still fishing, worms, minnows, crayfish. Carp, entire lake, summer, still fishing, corn, worms, prepared baits. Boats can be used 9 Decatur Lake Walleye, entire lake, winter and spring, trolling, ice fishing, minnows. Crappie, around pilings, spring, still fishing, minnows. Carp, entire lake, spring, still fishing, corn, worms, prepared baits. Boats can be used 10 Niobrara River Channel catfish, below Spencer Dam, May to October, bait casting, setiines. Live baits. Boats can be used 11 East Branch of Verdi gre Creek Rainbow, brown trout above Grove Lake at Royal. All year. Fly fishing, spinning, artificials, worms, minnows 12 M. Branch of Verdigre Creek Brown trout, upper five miles, N.E. of Page. All year. Fly fishing, spinning, artificials, worms, minnows 13 Steel Creek Brown trout, upper eight miles, N.E. of O'Neill. All year. Spinning, fly fishing, artificials, minnows, worms 14 Big Springs Creek Brown trout, upper two miles, north of Orchard. All year. Fly fishing, spinning, artificials, minnows, worms 15 Loup Canal Channel catfish, Genoa to Columbus. May to October, casting, set lines, artificials, worms, and minnows. Flathead catfish, below powerhouses and trash racks. May to October, casting, setiines, live baitfish. Drum, entire length, April to October. Bait casting, crayfish, worms. Carp, entire length. All year. Still fishing, corn, worms, prepared baits. White bass, Monroe to Columbus, spring and fall. Usual lures and baits. Walleye, below Monroe powerhouse. May to June, casting, minnows. Crappie, rocky areas, still fishing, minnows 16 Missouri River Species available include those found at Lewis and Clark Lake, in addition, paddlefish can be taken from Yankton to Blair, October to April. Regulations subject to change. Sauger available from September to May. N. Pike, entire river, April to October. Bait casting, spinning. Minnows, spoons, underwater plugs, jigs. Flathead catfish, Yankton to Blair, May to October. Setiines, bait casting, live bait fish 17 Beaver River Channel catfish from Petersburg downstream, May to October. Bait casting, setiines. Minnows, crayfish, prepared baits. Carp, ail year. Still fishing, corn 18 Cedar River Channel catfish from Ericson downstream. May to October. Bait casting, setiines. Minnows, crayfish, prepared baits. Carp, entire river, ail year, still fishing, corn. L. M. bass, upstream from Ericson in sloughs. May to October. Casting, spinning, still fishing. Plugs, flies, poppers, minnows 19 Elkhorn River Channel catfish from Atkinson downstream. May to October. Bait casting, setiines. Usual catfish baits. Flathead catfish from Pilger downstream. May to October. Setiines. live bait fish. Carp, entire river. All year. Usual methods, baits. L. M. bass and N. pike in the sloughs. Spring and summer. Bait casting from shore 20 N. Loup River Channel catfish, Burwell Mill Dam and downstream. May to October. Bait casting and setiines. Live and prepared baits. Carp, Burwell Mill Dam and downstream. All year. Corn and prepared baits favored 21 - Farm Ponds and Sand Pits L. M. bass, entire district, spring and fall. Casting, still fishing. Usual lures and baits including frogs. Bluegill, entire district, spring and fall. Flies, poppers, artificials, live baits. Channel catfish, entire district. Spring, summer, fall. Bait casting, worms, minnows, prepared baits. Black crappie, entire district, spring. Still fishing, minnows.

A CRIMSON CLOUD billowed from behind the boat, staining the coffee-colored Missouri River a brilliant red. The dye mingled with the waters in an ever-widening arc as the current caught and swirled it about, quickly dissipating its bright hue. And that was part of the experiment —to see how long the dye would retain its color before dilution faded it into nothingness. The dye soon lost its color but the men concerned were not worried. Delicate instruments would see what they could not.

Last year, approximately 100 men from several agencies including the Nebraska Game Commission, conducted two unique time-of-travel studies on the Missouri River to learn how fast the water actually moved. The tests were the biggest and most extensive of their kind yet attempted. One study was made in October during the barge season when the river was "high", the other in December when the river was "low". By timing the interval between dye injection and its arrival point downstream, the experimenters got a good idea of the river's speed. The 800-mile test was under the overall supervision of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Dye is the speedometer that cheeks a river's pace. Down-stream cities are safer, thanks to the 800-mile, 6-day tests

One practical application of the tests is the protection it may provide against unexpected and potentially dangerous contamination of the river. By knowing the rate of flow, river watchers will be able to predict with reasonable accuracy when the slug of contamination will pass a given point. Knowing this, they can alert towns that draw their raw water from the river to shut down intake pumps until the danger passes or is diluted below the hazard level. This isn't a final answer to the problem of unexpected contamination, but it is a safeguard. Two excessive fish kills on the Missouri River due to unexpected pollution pointed up the need for accurate knowledge of the river's flow rate. Some time ago, fertilizer was accidentally spilled into the river at Sioux City, and as this contaminant passed downstream, excessive fish kill was reported in its wake. Similarly, in 1964, a chemical was introduced into the river at Kansas City which killed many fish in the lower river. Fortunately no humans were affected by the unexpected contamination but the risk is always there. It is doubtful if fish could be saved from such sudden contaminations, but the danger to people can be greatly lessened.

The tests covered the Missouri River from Yankton, South Dakota, to the mouth of the river in Missouri, and took six 24-hour days to complete. A total of 10 injection points and 25 monitoring points were established along the river. Samples were taken by boat, with buckets dropped from bridges spanning the river, and from the raw water intakes of cities. Approximately 1,500 samples were taken during each of the tests. Of the 10 injection sites, 4 bordered Nebraska —Yankton, Sioux City, Omaha, and Nebraska City. Sampling sites were at Ponca State Park, Sioux City, Decatur, Blair, Omaha, Plattsmouth, Nebraska City, Brownville, and Rulo. Besides taking samples, the workers also took regular water temperatures.

Samples were taken at 15, 30, 60, and 120-minute intervals to establish arrival of the dye's lead edge, the periods of peak concentrations, and the departure of the trail edge at the check points. Researchers found that flow was relatively slow in the upper stretches where the river has not been channelized for navigation. During the October test, the flow rate from Yankton to Sioux City was two miles per hour. From Sioux City to Omaha, it climbed to an average of three miles per hour. From Omaha to Plattsmouth, the speed had climbed to 4.4 miles per hour. It held around the 4-mile mark down to Rulo, and then gradually tapered off to about a 3.5-mile clip. As the river continued on south and east through Missouri, it slowed more, in spite of tributary and run-off influences. The December rates of flow were significantly less than October's, showing that "high" and "low" water has some influence on its flow rate, especially in areas of channelization and stabilization.

Chemistry and electronics teamed up to make the test successful. The dye, Rhodamine BA., is fluorescent, harmless to plants and animals at low concentrations, and virtually tasteless and odorless. It was dumped into the river from five-gallon cans. Although it soon lost its color, its fluorescence was durable enough to be picked up by the delicate fluorometers used to check the concentrations.

A fluorometer is another of the miracle instruments sired by modern electronics. These compact but highly sensitive instruments are capable of detecting less than 1 part dye in 10 billions part water. Fluorometers were set up in motels along the study route to eliminate as many outside influences as possible. One of the main considerations was a fairly consistent source of power to produce the strong light of known wavelength which is the key to the fluorometer's accuracy.

A side mystery developed in both tests. An unknown substance that apparently fluoresced at the same wavelength as the dye was picked up at certain locations along the river. This hit-and-miss agent was detected during both tests, but it was not identified. Later studies may reveal what it was and where it came from.

These two long and involved projects will contribute much to man's knowledge of the river and its characteristics but even more important, they proved that various agencies co-operating with each other can get the biggest of jobs done and done well.

Both tests meant hard, meticulous work from the word go, but everyone concerned realized their importance and contributed to the projects' overall success. The old Missouri is still a river of mystery, but each year she reveals more and more of herself as determined men continue to challenge her secrets.

THE END MAY, 1967 45

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WHAT TO DO

(Continued from page 8) 13 —Film "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe", Sheldon Art Gallery, Lincoln 13—Track meet, University of Nebraska and University of Missouri, Lincoln 13-20—Centennial Days, Omaha 14 —Lilac Festival, Madison 18-19—State Tennis Tournament, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 19-20—Baseball, University of Nebraska vs. University of Oklahoma, Lincoln 19-21-Centennial "Gateway to the West" Parade, Blair 19-21—Centennial National All-Arabian Horse Show, Fair Grounds, Lincoln 19-20-State High School Invitational Track Meet, Kearney State College, Kearney 19-21-Washington County Centennial Parade, Blair 20-Centennial Days Band Contest, Omaha 21-Centennial Rural School Picnic, Emerald 21—Centennial Rural Life Sunday and Campground Meeting, Nuckolls County 22-Historical Society Centennial Dedication, Table Rock 22 -Class B State Baseball Tournament, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 22-23-Class A State Baseball Tournament, Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha 26-28-Centennial Celebration, Howells 26-June 1-Centennial Opening of North Platte World War II Service Canteen, Union Pacific Depot, North Platte 27 - Outdoor Band Concert, Concordia Teachers College, Seward 27-Blue Valley Iris Day, Crete 27-Centennial "Blue and Gold Day", Keya Paha, Rock, and Brown counties, Ainsworth 27-28-Centennial Celebration and Carnival, Howells 27-28-Nebraska Centennial Coin Show, Cornhusker Hotel, Lincoln 27-30-Centennial Celebration, Wauneta 28-July 9—Exhibit, Oscar Howe Paintings, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha 28-July 9-Exhibit, "The Bostwick Collection: Early Omaha", Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha 28—Centennial Spring Festival, Brownville 29-30—Jaycees Junior Champs Statewide Track Meet, Gothenburg 29-August 27-Sky Show, "Century of Stars", Mueller Planetarium, Lincoln 30—Centennial Whoopee Day, Emmett 30—Centennial Memorial Day Youth Day Rally, Fort McPherson Cemetery, Maxwell 30—Homecoming Day, Washington 30-September 4 — Centennial Indian Dances every Sunday, Boys Training School, Kearney 31-Mid-States Federation Track Meet, Cozad 31-Nov. 1 — Centennial opening of Sioux Indian Village, Red Cloud THE END

EATING HIGH

(Continued from page 7)

wouldn't be better. Precious space in backpacks fills rapidly when packed with round containers.

In the other Wilson dinners, freeze-dry green beans were the vegetable while apple sauce provided a spicy desert.

With some freeze-dry items, like meatballs and ground-beef patties, you simply open the can and pour boiling water over the contents. One minute later, you pour off the excess water, and eat. The meat- balls are satisfactory when served with spaghetti or noodles, but both of us agreed that the hamburger patties needed additional seasoning. These last items are precooked before dehydrating, and there is no opportunity to cook them to your specific taste. Too much handling after dehydration will crumble them so they should not be stirred too vigorously before serving. Crumbling though does not alter their basic taste. We found 46 NEBRASKAland them a fine main dish when simmered in Gravy Quik.

A final test of Wilson foods was scrambled eggs and ham. Both Dave and I had made up our minds beforehand that we wouldn't like them. This attitude stemmed from unhappy experience in other vears with dried eggs. Determined to be fair, we followed cooking directions explicitly. A small can of freeze-dry diced ham was soaked the proper amount of time and the eggs mixed in as directed. Surprisingly, both of us agreed that we could eat the finished product several times on a week's trip without tiring of them. The eggs had far less of the strong taste that was common to dried eggs of previous years. Our diced ham provided adequate seasoning, but it was not as tender as fresh ham. This may be the reason for it coming in tiny cubes and small packages.

Bernard Industries have a large list of camper foods, all packed in tough, foil-lined envelopes. A week's supply for four people can oe stored in a cubic foot of space. This allows compact stacking in the undersize cupboards of most small camping trailers. When the dry mix is dropped into a cooking pot, the foil envelope is used to measure the water. Many dishes that need no cooking are mixed directly in the envelope and save plenty of dishwashing.

While there is variety in their supporting items, Bernard's main courses run heavily to the starches, like macaroni, spaghetti, and rice. At first glance, one might feel that they would be more economical if bought at any supermarket, but this is not necessarily so. Many market mixes need additional butter, tomato sauce, milk, or fresh egg to complete them. Bernard emphasizes "Nothing to add but water", and while other additions are up to the camper, they are not necessary. The superior packaging, along with the reasonable portions of Bernard's, make them serious contenders in the camp larder. One of the items Dave and I considered different in the Bernard line was the "Vacuum dried beef, with peas and carrots in gravy". Spooned over a husky biscuit from the reflector oven, it provided a very satisfying meal.

Seidel's Trail Packets feature items like beef and gravy with noodles, beef hash mix, and chili beef dinner, all packed in polyethylene bags. These bags are reasonably tough, but after they had jarred around in my car for a time, some sharp corners of the noodles penetrated the Dag, and the excessive rubbing dimmed some of the directions on the packs. Had I packed the envelopes to prevent the friction, or enclosed them in cloth bags, these two problems would have been eliminated.

I enjoyed a plate of Seidel's Beef Hash while watching a blazing Nebraska sunset from a rock beside the Niobrara River. Anyone who likes hash would prefer huskier chunks of beef than the granules used in this mix, but after a hard day afield, the average hungry hunter probably wouldn't notice their size. Some thought might be given to using freeze-dry pieces for us nitpickers who do.

Half a state away, Dave and his guest, Tom Ervin, were preparing a supper of Seidel's precooked beans, freeze-dry cream-style corn, and garden peas. To keep from being total vegetarians, Dave dumped a can of freeze-dry ham into the beans. Both men happened to like beans and ham, but they agreed that adding a little fat, such as a strip of bacon, would help. Animal fat cannot be dehydrated, therefore it can't be included in a mix.

Seidel's products, as those of other companies that sell individual packs, makes it easy to plan your menus. Ready-packed meals may give you hot chocolate when you prefer coffee, or corn muffins when you want baking-powder biscuits. Chuck Wagon Foods cater to Scout groups with their prepackaged meal units, and because of this, their servings might be considered skimpy by an average adult. Dave and I agreed that this was also true in other prepackaged fields. A meal marked "feeds four", is about right for three, and allowances must be made. From 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of dehydrated food per person per day is a good planning base. This is slightly more than some sources recommend, less than others, but a satisfactory one for an average adult.

Chuck Wagon's Freeze Dry meats are of Canadian manufacture, and those furnished for testing were of the coarsely chopped type. Their line of meats include other brands of similar products that rehydrate to about four times their dry weight. The granular packets they supplied are primarily meant as a flavorsome addition to stews, casseroles, and macaroni-type dishes, but I cooked, separately, a packet of the ground beef and one of the chicken to test their flavors.

These packets weighed 3 1/4-ounces each, and rehydrated into roughly 2 heaping tablespoons of meat per packet. Their beef retained the flavor of fresh meat fairly well, but it was tough and gristly. The chicken resembled a mixture of gizzards and tougher, darker-fleshed parts of the fowl. It's unfair to say that this is indicative of all their meats, but it was true in this instance. A two-camper meal pack rated as well as others from other companies, and had the strongest packaging of all. They were packed in a corrugated cardboard box which adds much unnecessary bulk where space saving is a requisite. If I were to carry Chuck Wagon foods in a pack, I would prefer them sealed in a flat kraft envelope.

Dri-Lite Foods do not supply regular meal packets at all. A sheet of suggested menus with a price list is sent along, and you take it from there. This firm has a long and solid reputation in camping circles for consistently fine and tasty products. Dave, Tom, and I gobbled down a four-man pack of Dri-Lite freeze-dry Beef Stroganoff complete with sour cream dressing at a final campfire session. A light spring snow fell and hissed in the fire that blazed before a reflector oven where Dri-Lite biscuits, stuffed with rehydrated freeze-dry pork patties were baking to a golden brown. While we sipped at our special blend of campfire chocolate, Dave looked over the MAY, 1967 47  

NEBRASKA'S FINEST Lake Mary Ranch is a new summer camp created to provide the utmost in summer recreation and education for your children. Experienced camp directors supervise each activity, and give individual attention to each boy or girl. Let your children have the fun of their lifetime. 1 Week Session $ 75.00 2 Week Session 145.00 3 Week Session 210.00 4 Week Session 275.00 for free brochure and reservation contact: LAKE MARY RANCH CAMP LAKE MARY RANCH CAMP c/o Mary Ann Pence 1913 M Street Aurora, Nebraska km "Beyond the Call " One of the unsung heroes of your own community is your local independent insurance agent. He probably doesn't have the Congressional Medal of Honor, but he surely does deserve the heartfelt thanks of the people of your city. He offers service "beyond the call of duty" — service represented by the extra things he does for you without payment. Being a local man, he is the first one you look tor to do work on the school board, hospital drive, or public-safety campaign. He is a local unsung hero, a member df— yourndependent f agent The Nebraska Association of Insurance Agents yo u rIndependent Insurance |ag e nt SERVES YOU FIRST Insurance Iagent SERVES YOU FIRST THE BEST OF THE WEST... NEBRASKAland on Parade Miss NEBRASKAland Pageant Buffalo Bill Award NEBRASKAland DAYS Championship Rodeo Powwows Best Western-Dressed Kids Parade Wild West Shows Free Feeds Fast-Draw Championship Camp-Out Muzzle-Loading Championship Old-Time Camp Meetings Fun For Everyone 1967 NEBRASKAland DAYS JUNE 18-24 IN LINCOLN

Dri-Lite order blank. He checked off some other items he wanted on his summer pack trip, such as instant sweet potatoes, fig slices, gingerbread, and beanaggin. While we finished what remained of the best meal of the series, these were some of the conclusions we reached on modern campfire grub:

No matter the brand, most freeze-dry meats were acceptable, if one couldn't have the real thing. At present, meat processed by this method is quite expensive. Dave figured that one brand of steak cost 25 cents per bite. We decided freeze-dry foods fit best into situations requiring extreme reduction of packing weight, and long periods of storage under all temperature conditions.

The "garden fresh" vegetables fell somewhat short of that happy goal, but certainly they were more desirable to carry than canned products, which they greatly resemble with proper preparation.

Meal packs are the campers' convenience foods. They could be improved with larger portions, and sturdier packaging to withstand the beating of the trail. We agreed that a company whose food was the least expensive had the best tasting products of all.

We agreed that you shouldn't depend entirely on dehydrated food for all camping needs. You need a change of pace now and then and a can of store-bought fruit can taste twice as good out in the boondocks as it ever did at home.

Finally, those who just know they won't like anything that is "dehydrated" should back up and look at their own kitchen shelves. Those dry mixes, macaroni and noodle dinner combinations, and mashed potato granules are exactly the same as those in camp food. They've just been fancied up in a prettier box.

With our tests complete, Dave complained that he had gained an even 10 pounds. To support his statement, I noticed that my own waistline was bulging a bit. Which all helps to prove that, foodwise at least, campers have never had it so good.

THE END

RIDERS OF THE WIND

(Continued from page 13)

somewhere back in the hills, he was probably on foot, hoping to find a telephone before dark. By pre-arrangement, once radio contact is lost, the chase crew stops every hour and calls a number, usually back in the town from which the flight originated. Thus, if the pilolrhas landed without talking to his chase crew on the radio, he can still tell them where he came down.

Yet, Boyd was hopeful that Morgan was still airborne. One of Nebraska's many facets is its predominantly good soaring weather, even on cloudless days in the Sand Hills, but this country gives sailplane pilots problems because of its size and land use. In other parts of the state, where more ground is farmed, glider pilots rely on the plowed fields for lift.

The dark soil absorbs heat from the sun and radiates (Continued on page 52)

48 NEBRASKAland MAY, 1967 49

THE BOBCAT

NOTES ON NEBRASKA FAUNA ... by Harvey Y. Suetsugu District Game Supervisor Men and hounds who underestimate this big-footed prowler are in for a real shocker. He can rough and tumble it with the best

AWAY BACK WHEN, many a woodsman's heart skipped a beat as the cats of North America m m caterwauled beyond his campfire. One of them was Lynx rufus, commonly called the bob-tailed cat. The bobcat is widely distributed throughout the United States and Mexico.

He is a medium-size animal with a short tail and generally weighs between 15 and 25 pounds. Specimens weighing up to 40 pounds have been reported.

Primary range of the bobcat in Nebraska is in the northern and western parts of the state. Among his favorite haunts are the Wildcat Hills and the breaks along the North Platte River, the Pine Ridge and "badlands" area. Some are found in the Niobrara and northern Missouri River counties. Caves in the ledges and rocks serve as den sites.

Like other members of the cat family, the bobcat is a highly curious fellow. This factor sometimes leads to his undoing. The use of a predator call has been used as a method of arousing his curiosity and attracting him within gun range. Some NEBRASKAland sportsmen hunt him with trail hounds after a fresh snow. Trappers here find him worthy of their steel.

Few are fortunate to observe bobcats during their forays for food as the species are primarily nocturnal. During moonlight nights a bobcat may be observed in an alfalfa field or around haystacks where rodents abound.

A bobcat's natural food consists mostly of available rodents, with rabbits and hares his favorite prey. But, locally available small mammals and birds are eaten. Although bobcats prefer freshly killed meat, carrion is eaten.

While rabbits and hares are major food sources, the bobcat will eat what he can catch. Deer remains dominate his diet especially after a hunting season and probably represent carrion. Porcupines are another entree on the cat's menu. Skunks, mink, fox, reptiles, fish, insects, and vegetation are occasionally taken. Food is stalked by sight rather than scent. Thickets and hiding places are searched with care and the cat usually looks over the areas before proceeding through them. Old stubtail's keen eyes and ears examine every detail of the woods and catch the slightest movement and sound. At times the bobcat watches patiently for hours from a vantage point.

When prey approaches, the bobcat flattens, then rushes suddenly forward. At other times the prey is ambushed on the trail. Leaps of seven or eight feet are not extraordinary. If a prey cannot be taken in a brief chase, the bobcat gives up and resumes the search elsewhere.

Mating begins in January or February in northern regions, but may be later farther south. They squall and yowl like amorous alley cats and have a varied song with great range and volume. A successful male after serenading his lady fair, goes off to find other females.

The gestation period is about seven weeks and the litter is from one to four but two or three are average, their birthplace is most likely to be in a rock ledge or cliff, but occasionally it is in a hollow stump or log, or in a standing tree.

Kittens are well-furred but are blind until they are nine days old. The young are weaned in June but stay with their mothers until autumn, learning the ways of the wild. Young bobcats usually stay together as a family through their first winter and then separate to go it alone.

A cat's natural enemies are few. Those who do tangle with him usually limp away as a cornered cat will spit, hiss, growl, scream, and back up his fight with his claws which are formidable. Dogs cornering a cat may have eyes, legs, and bellies laid open before they realize what hit them.

Tracks are spaced about 8 to 16 inches apart when the bobcat is walking or trotting. When the cat is running, his paw marks will vary from four to eight feet. Paw prints are more rounded than those of a coyote or a dog and seldom show any claw marks.

Although seldom seen, the presence of these active predators adds spice to NEBRASKAland's outdoor scene. Anyone who sees a bobcat in the wild cannot help but admire this efficient and independent predator.

THE END

THE FUN ROAD Take the road to fun and excitement, travel US 81 Pack up your gear and head for some of the best hot-spots to be found on the NEBRASKAland vacation and recreation trail. Start with the Lewis and Clark Lake and then head south to see the North Lake, near Columbus, the Pioneer Memorial Lodge in Geneva, and Hebron's Little Blue Lake and Recreation Area. At every stop you'll find fine accommodations with friendly people eager to make your vacation the most enjoyable one. For more information write to the chamber of commerce in each community. Norfolk Madison Humphrey Columbus Shelby Osceola Stromsburg York MeCool Junction Fairmont Geneva Bruning Hebron Chester 8 THEY'RE OFF ... Be sure to be on hand in Columbus August 8-September 5 for the 21-day racing season. From there the horses move to Madison for 13 days of racing, September 8-24. Land of Lewis and Clark Niobrara State Park Fishing Golfing Camping Missouri River Niobrara River Devil's Nest Maiden's Leap Water Sports Hunting Niobrara

RIDERS OF THE WIND

(Continued from page 48)

it upward, sometimes for several thousand feet. As a general rule, the lighter the ground or its cover, the less lift. However, thermals are not the only means of lift.

Sailplane pilots use ridges, weather fronts, and mountain waves as altitude-gainers. In ridge flying, a pilot uses updrafts created when moving air deflects off a line of hills or bluffs. In flying a weather front, a pilot lets his craft be carried aloft by fast-rising warm air that is being displaced by the heavier cold air.

Probably the most exotic of the four methods is mountain wave soaring. Similar to ridge soaring, pilots maneuver their crafts into the wave of air that blows over a mountain range. Using skill and experience, they ride the wave like an elevator.

Boyd recalls an experience he once had in a wave near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Before leaving the wave, he reached an altitude of 26,100 feet.

"I got into the wave, and just sat there. As Colorado Springs fell away, I watched Denver slide under my right wing. It was quite a sight."

The mountain country to the west is a boon to Nebraska soaring. Similar to the Great Wall that kept people out of China, the mountain ranges help separate weather systems. Generally, Nebraska gets its weather from high and low pressure systems sliding along the eastern slope of the mountains.

Sailplane pilots can stack up a lot of miles by properly working the high pressure systems. By riding the clockwise winds, and flying a triangular course, a pilot can cover enough miles to win awards and stay in his own backyard.

Boyd and Morgan once had quite an experience attempting to use a weather system. Morgan had just taken off from McCook when he got into a strong thermal. Boyd, following with the car and towing the trailer for the sailplane, made radio contact shortly thereafter. Morgan was over Marion, Nebraska, at that time and going like blazes, Boyd recalls.

Fearing Morgan would get too far ahead, Boyd drove hard across Kansas. To make matters worse, the two had gotten their signals crossed about which telephone number to use. By the time Boyd pulled into Buffalo, Oklahoma, he had decided to try another number.

Much to his dismay, he learned Morgan had run out of lift on the other side of Marion and had landed at an abandoned farm near Oberlin, Kansas, 30 miles south of McCook. As it turned out, Morgan had tried to raise Boyd on the radio, but VHF radio is a line-of-sight transmitter and once on the ground has a very short range. Boyd was philosophical about his unexpected trip.

"It's all part of the game," he said. "It may not sound like it, but the chase crew feels just as important as the pilot. It would be a mighty long walk if the pilot had to carry that plane home on his back."

Contemplating a moment, Boyd added, 'You have to remember, that next time 52 NEBRASKAland it might be you up there, and your buddy down on the ground. He'll do for you what you'll do for him."

Basically, what one buddy will do for another is the sort of sportsmanship that has given soaring a shot in the arm in Nebraska. Usually, during the state's long period of good soaring weather — early spring to late fall — any one of Nebraska seven clubs will be hosting a soaring meet, planning to host one, or planning to attend one.

In addition to pilots from other states, the meets attract tourists, which is usually O.K., with sailplaners. Besides soaring, the one thing pilots enjoy second best is talking about it.

The two questions that pop up most frequently from onlookers is safety, and "How do I get started soaring?" according to Boyd and Morgan.

Getting started is no problem. The McCook men advise interested persons to get in touch with their nearest soaring club. Potential soarers are granted a license first, and then begin flying. Joining a club brings the cost down. It takes about 200 flights with no previous flight training to get a glider rating, and considerably less with a powered-flight rating.

Safety is another matter. "All the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) is interested in is whether you can take the glider off, bring it around, and land it safely," Morgan said. But inside the select society of soaring pilots, safety takes a higher place.

"Our self-imposed rules go far and above anything like the FAA's," Boyd said.

One of those self-imposed rules concerns safe altitude. Stated simply, the rule says you should find a place and land, when, taking into consideration the lay of the land, it is unsafe to continue.

But, Morgan wasn't thinking about past experiences or club affairs as he flew into the teeth of that ominous-looking bank of clouds. He didn't want to land for the ground was more than rugged and looked decidedly unfriendly. He was 1,500 feet high and with that 31 to 1 glide ratio, the pilot could make another 7V2 miles even if he didn't find more lift. Seven and a half more miles might bring him over friendlier country. Besides, he had an idea on how to beat that squall line.

"I thought I could go under it," Morgan recalled later.

But once under the lip of the clouds, lift disappeared. Icy pellets of snow and sleet hammered at the canopy, so Morgan used his remaining altitude to turn around, fly out, and pick up some warm, uplifting air. Changing to a more northerly course, the pilot skirted the bad weather, still hoping to eke out enough air miles to collect his distance diamond. Once beyond the clouds, Morgan decided against turning east toward Minnesota. He was reasonably certain he had flown more than enough to win his diamond, and he began looking for a place to let down.

Ahead, lay a small town with a flat area close by and Morgan nosed the KA-6 down. As he leveled off on his final approach, he noticed that his chosen landing field was the De Smet, South Dakota, golf course. Within five minutes, 50 kids had surrounded the glider. Within the hour, the whole town turned out. After securing his craft, Morgan phoned McCook.

When Boyd arrived, the two men loaded the glider on the trailer and headed home, Morgan had 20 more miles than necessary to win his diamond, and Boyd had the satisfaction of knowing that his friend had not quit when quitting seemed like the only way out.

On May 1, 1966, Boyd and Morgan became the 464th and 465th men in the world and the 51st and 52nd in the United States to win gold badges and all three diamonds. But that night, on the long trip home, neither man thought much about the days ahead. Both were tired. One had lived for almost eight hours in the atmosphere of eagles, and the other had done nis best to keep him there.

THE END

HOPPING FOR CATS

(continued from page 15)

but steadily until my whiskered foe found a small green twig. His wrap-around tactic was enough to give the tiring battler a reprieve.

Climbing on up the limb, I felt pretty ridiculous —a fisherman treed by a cat. But it was the only way out. I let out plenty of slack and crawled on, eventually clearing the branches with my rod and jumped to the ground below. My adversary was still resting, so it was easy for me to wade into the water and snap the twig. I reeled in my catch, feeling both proud and silly. He was a good heavy fish and although neither of us had brought a scale, Shorty estimated the cat at 2 V2 pounds.

Moseying downstream, I found a shallow crossing where I could rebait and string the flopping fish. As I did, I reflected the mornings activities and found them good.

From day's beginning, the Platte River Valley near Brady had hinted of a perfect trip. Dawn's slightly overcast sky was one reason, for here, cool weather in mid-July is rather rare.

As Vern and I bounced up the road, a white-tailed doe bounded across our path, leaped a fence, and disappeared. We took her as a good omen and scanned the area, hoping to see another. Small pools lined the road, remnants of a night-time downpour that had washed the valley into a hundred shades of sparkling green.

As we rode, I found myself looking forward to our day with even more than the usual fishing fever, even though my previous excursions for catfish hadn't set too well. In fact, I had been downright hardheaded about it. If someone mentioned catfishing, I gave them up as "Sunday dunkers". A short talk with Vern, however, renewed my interest. His fishing methods were altogether different from those I had used for channels, and the more he told me, the better it sounded.

Vern's farm is south of Brady, so he knew the stretch of river we were to fish like the back of his hand. It's easy to know Vern, too. He's a down-to-earth guy, likable, and easy to know. His somewhat rugged features belie the fisherman's gentle and quiet nature but when the talk rolls around to fishing, he's a fluent conversationalist.

We pulled into a farmyard and received permission to use a soggy dirt road which took us to within 200 yards of the stream. Vern had his hip boots on in a flash and it didn't take him much longer to assemble the rest of his gear. He travels light, a flyrod and automatic reel, split shots, hooks, stringer, and an old bucket half filled with crayfish. Not knowing what to expect, I played "copy-cat".

I am a regional representative for the Nebraska Game Commission's Information and Tourism Division and at the time I first met Vern I was unprepared for fishing. However, I managed to roust up a spinning outfit and some stink bait so we were on our way.

We hit the stream, but Vern didn't slow down for another 30 yards. When we did stop, my host had his line out before I knew we had arrived. Deer and coon tracks were everywhere along the shorelines and back in the meadow, we heard a quail whistling a familiar tune. It was a wonderful day to go fishing.

"Looks like a good spot," I said, wondering how I would get a fish out of the thick brush if I did catch one. A couple minutes later I found out.

Vern's sharp "missed him" alerted me and as I turned I saw him lift a nice hefty cat onto the high bank, his flyrod straining with the dead weight.

"I thought you missed him?"

"I did," Vern replied. "The first time. But he came back for more and got himself hooked good."

It had taken Vern less than three minutes to prove his skill as a catfisherman and I was beginning to get the idea. The fish were in the brushy holes where roots and brush can tangle your rig, but if you don't get hung up and get a bite, jerk the fish out fast before he gets a chance to burrow into the tangles. I wasn't exactly equipped for this kind of angling but I was sure going to give it a try.

I started pumping questions at the veteran angler. "What test leader are you using?"

"About 10 or 12. You need at least that or you'll lose a lot of fish horsing them out of the brush," Vern replied.

"This is kind of a favorite spot of mine. Two years ago I took 10 keepers' here, but most of the time you only take one or two from each hole. Just have to fish each one out, then move on to the next."

Which is what we did. As we weaved through the trees along the bank, I saw the value of Vern's hip waders. The water was warm, but gunk on the bottom made bare-foot or tennis-shoe wading unenjoyable. Breast waders, on the other hand, were too bulky for bank walking and were not really necessary for crossing the ordinarily shallow Platte. But that day the south branch was running quite full.

"Either the rain brought it up or else irrigation water is being run in," Vern MAY, 1967 53   explained. "Whichever, it's good. Makes the water a little murky and fish can't see as well. And, it stirs up more food so the cats start feeding. That's what we want."

I agreed and we moved on. Holes full of fallen cedar and other brush were obviously Vern's favorite fishing spots.

"They like the dead water around these cedars," he told me later. "They can lay there all day and let their food drift right to them. That's what we have to do with the bait. Cats also like undercuts in the bank, but I've had the best luck in dead-water backwashes."

"How long," I asked, "do you try each place?"

"That depends. One hole will produce three or four, the next, none. Like I said though, you'll usually take one or two. Then I'm satisfied to move on. Sometimes if I've been there a few minutes without a nibble, I'll bait up a worm or grasshopper to see if the chubs are hitting. If they are, you might as well go on to the next hole because you can almost bet you won't catch a cat."

Continuing upstream, we came to a large bend in the river and I could see that high water had been busy there at one time or another.

"Last spring's flood filled in some of these holes, washed out others. Each time you have to relearn the stream. Yes sir, that flood was enough to last a lifetime," Vern lamented, dropping his crayfish between the branches of a submerged cedar. Almost immediately, he was getting strikes.

"Hitting like a bluegill," he told me. "Must be a small one. You can tell for sure if you glimpse one of the little devils. They're usually blacker than coal. I'm satisfied that these are little catfish, not worth keeping, so we'll move a little."

I'd had only one hit on the stink bait and had failed to wait out the channel cat's pick-up-and-run tactic, so I didn't refuse when Vern invited me to use his crayfish which he called crawdads. I watched as he baited up. He hooked the crawdad through the tail, leaving the crustacean alive and kicking.

"I used to pinch the claws off," Vern said, "but I think these little ones are better with them on. I've tried other baits too, but always fall back to crawdads. In my mind, they're the best."

I took a closer look at Vern's rig. He adjusted the two split shots moving them higher on the leader.

"Remember the cat is a bottom feeder. That's why you should know the depth of each hole and make allowances," he explained.

"Still whenever I can, I like to give the crawdad a little slack so he can move around natural like without being held down too much by the weights," Vern continued.

The Brady farmer caught a couple of chubs, and moved on to a new position on the same bend. Imitating my teacher, I cast out and in seconds felt the steady pull of a cat.

"Get him out of the hole fast," Vern warned as he saw me set the hook.

Heeding the advice I hefted the fiesty fish from the water, trusting the rod and line would hold. The cat was pretty small, so it worked. Still, he broke the ice for me.

About the same time, Vern pulled out one which shook the hook off after he was banked.

"Hey, come here!" my friend yelped grabbing at the escaping cat.

"Oh, well, he was way too small," he consoled himself as the fish flopped back into the river.

Seconds later Vern landed a better fish, then another, and from then on the cats came easy. He became a bit choosy about the size, and although we didn't tangle with any tackle-busters, Vern's weighty stringer soon began to slow his pace. The deep holes near the cedars produced the bulk of our catch except for one which my partner took from an undercut bank.

"I was lucky on that one," he told me modestly. "The current just swept the crawdad back to where the cat was waiting and he took."

After I landed my "tree-cat", Vern hooked into a monster that wouldn't budge. His broken-tipped rod, used only for "hole hopping", went double. Any chance of landing the weighty foe was negligible for the fisherman was perched on a steep ledge with no way down to the water's edge. As the battle wore on, the fish began to show his color. Vern had foul-hooked a carp. My companion's momentary disappointment changed to elation as the silvery battler gave a second effort and took off like a jet. Vern had handled such encounters before and his experience showed as he skillfully wore down his opponent. Finally, the carp surfaced and Vern lifted him, but the distance was too great, and the fish tumbled back into the Platte's sparkling water as the hook pulled out.

"Just as well," Vern smiled. "With all these good-eating cats to carry, I would have tossed him back anyhow."

We hit one last hole on the way back where my host took his tenth fish —the legal limit. We had covered a lot of ground in the half-day jaunt, but every inch had been a ball. Vern's fish ran between a pound and a half and two pounds. Just right for frying.

As we exchanged goodbyes that afternoon, I had the feeling that I would soon be back. Meanwhile, I had a lot of words to eat because I knew that the next time a friend called me to go catfishing, I would go. That is, I would go if we went hole-hopping on the Platte.

THE END the COMMON GROUND for Red Willow Reservoir Medicine Creek Dam Republican River Swanson Lake Free Camping Grounds McCook is right in the center of NEBRASKAland's best fishing and boating on Highways 6, 34, and 83. It's the convenient place to stay with plenty of modern accommodations. Make McCook your headquarters for a summer of water fun. For information write McCOOK CHAMBER of COMMERCE COLLINS AsmaL 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 golf course just around the corner Live and frozen bait. WRITE FOR FREE BROCHURE or phone reservations 785-2298 Elwood/ Nebraska Ideal Vacation Land of the Midwest BOGNER'S Motel and Steakhouse Here is your one-stop center for vacation fun. Enjoy the comfort of lovely air-conditioned rooms and choice steaks, sea foods, and chicken at our adjoining restaurant. Both Off and On-Sale beer and liquor available. Direct route to the lake. Jet. Hiway 12 and 98 Crofton, Nebr. GREAT IDEA! INDIVIDUAL PACK Mustard-Catsup-Syrup-Jellies-Dressings-Etc. Send $2.00 for sample assortment and price list. Satisfaction Guaranteed. campAides Dept. B-l Box 53932 Lincoln, Nebraska 68505 Mercury and Johnson Outboard Motors Boats, Trailers, Marine Accessories and Campers Wholesale and Retail airwenj boat (^ompanij Hiway 81 Norfolk, Nebraska BREE MOTEL AAA Approved Air Conditioned Telephone and TV in Each Room For reservations: 371-5622 South 13th Street Norfolk, Nebr.

FISHING, NORTHEAST

(Continued from page 43

should contact area anglers before tackling them for they are constantly changing and last year's deep hole might be this year's shallow. Of these three rivers, the lower Beaver is probably the best for catfishing. Since these streams flow through private land, permission to fish them is required.

No summary of District Three fishing would be complete without mention of Dead Timber Lake, situated two miles 54 NEBRASKAland northeast of Scribner. Bullhead are the major species in this 50-acre spread. Outstanding scenery makes Dead Timber a popular recreation spot.

Trout in District Three are spotty but there's one stream, the east branch of Verdigre Creek, above Grove Lake at Royal, that doesn't have to take a back seat to any trout water. It's a fine brown and rainbow fishery. A typical trout stream, it is heavily stocked and harbors some fine fish although the biggest of them won't come easy. Local fishermen have a proven technique. They drift small worms into the likely-looking spots and do surprisingly well. For those who consider worms for trout an abomination, flies and spinners will take their fair share of fish. Overhanging grass, willows, and cut banks are usually worth a probe. A quiet fisherman can fish downstream but the accepted upstream cast and drift back are probably the best trout producers. The east branch is stocked because it gets heavy pressure but after a week or two, the hatchery trout get just as spooky as their wildspawned brothers.

Other trout fisheries in District Three are the middle branch of the Verdigre, Steel, and Big Springs creeks. These are brown trout waters and are relatively limited in scope but for the trouter who knows his business, there are some mighty fine fish for the taking. The chart will give you an idea on where to start.

It would take an atlas to list all the sand pits and farm ponds in District Three. They offer some great fishing for largemouths but finding them can be a problem. Practically all of them are on private land and permission to fish them is a must. A few minutes conversation with a farmer or rancher may put you next to some of the greatest smallwater fishing in Nebraska.

If you don't think these small ponds and pits can't support big fish consider this. On the second day of October, 1965, Paul Abegglen, Sr., of Columbus decided to do a little bass fishing. He went out to a small sandpit only a few minutes out of town and started casting a black spinner.

Somewhere down in the pit, a 10-pound, 11-ounce largemouth was waiting. He and Paul had quite a session before it was over but the bass now occupies a plaque above Abegglen's mantle. Every time Paul looks at him, he smiles for that bass is a Nebraska record and so far he's fended off all challengers. You may not take a record breaker from these ponds and pits but it's a cinch, you'll get some great fishing whether your target is bluegill or bass.

Next month, NEBRASKAland goes fishing in District Four, the land of big reservoirs and big fish.

THE END NEXT MONTH NEBRASKAland Magazine visits the land of reservoirs in southwestern Nebraska. Fourth In a series, this article will give helpful hints on fishing the state's big impoundments VALENTINE JAYCEES' 1884 Day Celebration & Fishing Derby 2-Days of Fun For Young and Old The Valentine, Nebraska JayCees' will sponsor: Saturday, April 29th —Carnival for Kids — Tug- of-War Contest — Horseshoe Pitching Contest & A Fishing Derby the 29th & 30th. Registration for fishing derby starts Saturday 12:00 Noon to 12:00 Noon Sunday. Weigh-in by 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening-30th. Registration — Benson Standard Service, Highway 20, Valentine. Over $600.00 worth of prizes. The Valentine American Legion Post will sponsor a dance and beard contest on Saturday evening. See you in Valentine, April 29-30, 1967!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 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 Gypsy Bait OR NO COST MAKES FISH BITE Mysterious aroma of Gypsy Fish Bait Oil Compound makes smell feeding fish wi-1 through thousands of smell organs covering their bodies. One drop on lure or live bait works in fresh or salt water whether you still fish, cast, spin or troll. Really works. Only $1.98 (3 for $4.98). Commercial pack, 7 for $10. Cash orders postpaid. If C.O.D. postage extra. Draws fish to your bait or money back. FREE: Handy water resistant pouch with every bottle. EXTRA BONUS: Free Book "99 Secrets of Catching Catfish" with order for 3. Order from: WALLING KEITH CHEMICALS, Inc., Dept.36-E P.O. Box 2112 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Cambridge, Nebraska HUNT AND FISH WITH US AT Medicine Creek Lodge (Wesi Side of Medicine Creek Dam) Boats, Bait, Fishing Supplies, Hunting £r Fishing Permits, Cafe, Cabins and Year Around Service Phone 697-3774 Vacation Fun L Planning A Vacation? HORSES, FISHING, CABINS Ranch-Style Meals Sena* the kids or bring the family. Write for brochure NEWMAN'S GUEST RANCH Stuart, Nebraska McBride Fish Hatchery Fingerling Northern Pike Walleye Bass Bluegill Channel Catfish Crappie Trout Orders for Northern Pike and Walleye must be received before the end of May contact: Don McBride Orchard, Nebraska 68764-Phone 893-375 MAY, 1967 55   INC. NEBRASKAlander Tourist Information Center 116 EAST NORFOLK AVENUE NORFOLK. NEBRASKA The Place to Stay On McConaughy Comfortable cabins Trailer parking Cafe Water sports equipment Groceries Fishing tackle, bait Evinrude Chrysler Boats & Motors, Starcraft Boats SPORTS SERVICE Kingsley Dam Ogallala, Nebraska GUARD DOGS ATTACK DOGS Will your dog actually protect you and your family, or is he just a pet? Would you like to turn him into a first rate guard dog? For information and brochure, sent $1 to: AMERICAN GUARD DOG ASSN. 10112 RUSH ST. BOX 3421 SO. EL MONTE, CALIF. MAGNIFICENT SCENERY- COLORFUL EVENTS ON THE OLD WEST TRAIL

OUTDOOR ELSEWHERE

Rare Trout. A Pennsylvania fisherman at Beaver Falls recently turned some heads while angling for trout. He caught a trout and wanted to return it to the water, but he had nothing to cut the leader with. He decided to bite it off. As he put the fish up to his mouth to bite the leader, a voice shouted across the stream, "Gosh, buddy, you better cook it first."— Pennsylvania

Speedy Decoy. While checking a spread of 100 duck decoys, a hunter and his son noticed one of them moving steadily downstream. Baffled, the pair watched the decoy chug away. Taking pursuit the two hunters eventually captured the runaway and to their surprise found an eight-pound bass underneath it.— Michigan

What Price Obedience? One hunter worried about his pointer being too hard-mouthed with birds. When the dog grabbed a partridge he just dropped, his owner shouted, "Let go of that bird." The pointer dutifully opened her mouth, and the bird flew away. —Iowa

Runaway Boomers. Pilots flying in and out of Whiteman Air Force Base at Sedalia, Mo., have chicken every Sunday, or Monday, and throughout the week. What's more, they really don't want these chickens at all. They are prairie chickens, or prairie grouse, and they are using the main Whiteman runway as a booming ground. The term "booming ground" has no military significance. The male chickens trying to entice the females at this time of year, strut, and utter a booming sound.

There is military significance, however, in the fact that these chickens picked this spot, about halfway along a two-mile runway. Airplanes have been damaged and, because the booming ground is in a slight dip where pilots can't see the birds in time to avoid them, it is likely that other planes will be damaged.

As a temporary remedy, SAC headquarters in Omaha and the Missouri Department of Conservation have given permission to harass the birds with shotguns. Charles E. Shanks, game chief for the conservation department, said it is unlikely that many birds will be killed, but they may be discouraged. As a permanent remedy, Shanks has advised later live-trapping of the birds and alteration of the habitat on the base. Without a place to live, he said, the birds will move. —Missouri

Hard Hunts —For the hunter who is never happy except when he is suffering, here are some offerings to make him leap with joy. Some of the toughest outdoor fun in the United States can be found in hunting ruffed grouse in the wet tag alder runs in the northern lake states, or on Appalachian mountainsides in dense cover, or Chukar partridge where birds can sprint up desert mountainsides to their hearts' content. Also the red fox is a sneaky quarry "walked down" by the hunter in late winter in wet or crusted snow, while snipe and rail can give a real workout to waders in a soft-bottomed marsh. Late-season pheasants can shake the steadiest shot in horseweed thickets, willow bats, or unfrozen snow-choked potholes or marsh edges. Raccoons certainly get the breaks when the hunting is done in the dark of the moon, in wet bottomland thickets and gumbo fields, with a long-legged buddy, after a light supper.

Big game trophies are more prized if they are taken in these difficult circumstances. A mountain sheep shot in the classic way, by a man climbing to reach a watching ram. The black bear brought down with dogs in the Rockies where you can hardly ride or lead a horse. Elk hunted in the jungles of the devil's club and vine maple in the rain forests of western Washington. The white-tailed deer caught in heavy down-timber where there is just enough snow to make snowshoes necessary, but not room enough to use them."— Illinois

Football Fatal. If you want to live dangerously, play football. The sport appears to be more dangerous than shooting. A 5-year study by Travelers Insurance Company shows 777 hunting claims, as compared to over 4,000 football claims. In fact, shooting ranked last among the eight major causes of accidental deaths in 1964. Firearms accounted for 2,400 of the 105,000 fatalities. —Iowa

Golden Pocket. In Arlington, Texas, golfers have things rich. Even the duffers who drive into sand traps can't complain too loudly. The sand is gold-bearing and has been assayed at 54 cents a ton. The 8 tons of sand in each trap average $4.32 worth of gold. — Texas

Big Payoff. Littering in the Lake Erie area reached a dangerous stage and drastic measures were taken, according to the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers. Fines were set at not less than $500 with a maximum penalty of $2,500. Possible jail sentences ranged from 30 days to 1 year. A person reporting a litterbug can collect half the fine. — Michigan

Bewitched Hour. It's a pretty safe bet that Tom Valentino of Mattydale, New York, will be deer hunting at exactly 8:30 a.m. next December 6. At that exact hour and date he has shot record deer for two successive years.— New York

56 NEBRASKAland

NEBRASKAland TEADING POST

Classified Ads: 15 cents a word, minimum order $3.00. August, 67 closing date, Juno 1 BOATING KAYAKS—One-man $19.50; two-man $24.50; Sailboat $44. Exciting Sitka Kayak Kits known world wide for speed and safety. Assemble in one afternoon. Free pictorial literature. Box 78-N, Brecksville, Ohio. 44141. DECOYS SOLID PLASTIC DECOYS. Original Do-It-Yourself Decoy Making Kit. All Species Available. Catalog 25c. Decoys Unlimited, Box 69E, Clinton, Iowa 52732. DOGS HUNTING DOGS: German Shorthairs, English Pointers. Weimaraners, English, Irish, and Gordon Setters, Chesapeakes, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. Registered pups, all ages, $50 each. Robert Stevenson, Orleans, Nebraska. WANTED AKC PUPPIES and purebred kittens. Excalibur Kennels and Cattery, 908 North 40th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104—Bird Dog Specialists. TRAINING and boarding; all pointing breeds and retrievers. Field and obedience training. Special rates on year around boarding and conditioning. Occasional top bred pointers and retrievers for sale. Stud service. Individual concrete runs; best of feed and care. Platte Valley Kennels, Route 1, Box 61, Grand Island, Nebraska 68801. VIZSLAS: Registered pups for Sale. Ray Baker, B Plus Ranch, Arnold, Nebraska 69120. Phone 848-3347. WATKINS GERMAN SHEPHERDS, Route 3, Columbus, Nebraska. Outstanding Brown and Black Sire. Registered AKC and American Guard Dog. Service $75. Females—Silver, Sable, AKC. Puppies $60. Advance Orders. GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER PUPPIES. Whelped January 24, 1967. Sire—Champion Bruha's Mission Flying Wheel—BOB Westminster 1965 (Madison Square Garden). Dam-Ch. Doc's Duchess Grosshoax. J. H. Dunlap, M. D., 814 South 9th Street, Norfolk Nebraska. Phone 371-2175. FISH BAIT SUPERIOR Red Worms. 1,000, $6; 5,000, $27.50. Guaranteed. Inquire Worm Service, 1914 Lenox Avenue, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511. HIBRED Brown Nose, red trout worms mixed. 150, $1; 500, $3; 1,000, $5. Postpaid. Mink Ranch, Paxton, Nebraska 69155. AFRICANS—3y2" up, $11.50 per 1,000. Postpaid. Formula treated-conditioning and toughening. Clif's Worm Hatchery, Lawrence, Kansas. FISH LURES FISHERMEN'S SPECIALS Fly fisherman—for a limited time offer receive 12 (assorted colors) extra fancy Skitter streamers $5 postpaid—White bass spinners—receive 12 V4 oz. spinners $4 postpaid— Try Skitter's jig on white bass-walleye. Receive 2 U oz. jigs yellow-white $1 postpaid. SKITTER PRODUCTS, "205 South 15th Norfolk, Nebraska 68701. GUNS AND AMMO NEW, USED AND ANTIQUE GUNS. Send long addressed lOc-stamped envelope for list, or stop in. Bedlan's Sporting Goods, Fairbury, Nebraska. MAY, 1967 STONEGROUND CORNMEAL. Most complete line Health Foods. Many processed daily. Come see us or write. BrownviDe Mills, Brownville, Nebraska. COLLAPSIBLE Farm-Pond Fish Traps; Animal Traps, postpaid. Free information, pictures, Shawnee, 3934-AX Buena Vista, Dallas 4, Texas. NEW RIDING CAMP. Girls 8-16. Other sports included. $42.50 a week. Write for a free brocnure. Myers Albino Acres, Stuart, Nebraska. AUTOMOBILE BUMPER STRIPS. Low-cost advertising for Special Events, Community Projects, Resorts, Motels, Tourist Attractions, Organizations. Write for Free Brochure, Price List and Samples. Reflective Advertising, Dept. N, 873 Longacre, St. Louis, Missouri 63132. FOR SALE: 15' Fiberglass boat, electric start 40 hp motor. 13' Colorado Camp Trailer. Don Hume, Sidney, Nebraska. FOR RENT to families or groups vacationing in the beautiful Pine Ridge: Newly remodeled, completely equipped, fully modern log house on cattle ranch. Spectacular scenery. Points of interest within easy driving distance. Horseback riding and meals available. For information write, Richardson Hereford Ranch, Crawford, Nebraska 69339. Telephone 111M1. WANTED. Old Catalogs on hunting, trapping equipment, also fur catalogs. Top prices paid before 1929. Antiques, Box 183, Potter, Nebraska. BLUE FRONT CAFE welcomes you to spend your fishing or hunting trips at Lake McConaughy. Cabins with cooking facilities by day or week. Fishing tackle, licenses, trailer spaces. Phone or write for reservations, 284-4504 Ogallala. Grace Burnham. ZIP CODE DIRECTORY, will never go out of date. Over 35,000 listings. All 50 states. $2, Postpaid. "STANDARD", Dept. 93, Box 16213, Phoenix, Arizona 85011. FOR RENT: Large, modern, fully equipped cabin. Ideal family vacation spot. You'll enjoy fishing, hiking, outdoor fun on our ranch in the Pine Ridge. Write, Bob and Sharon Goff, Route 1, Box 89, Chadron, Nebraska. CABINS on western Nebraska lakes, Homes in Lincoln and other cities. High-Low Travel Trailers. Call or write: Liljegren Real Estate, 2471 Cornado Court, Sidney, Nebraska or Elwood, Nebraska. SCUBA EQUIPMENT BOB-K'S AQUA SUPPLY Nebraska's largest Scuba dealer. U. S. Divers, Sportways, Voit, Swimmaster, Scubrapro. Air Station, Regulator Repair. Telephone 553-9483, 1419 South 46 Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska. TAXIDERMY KARL SCHWARZ Master Taxidermists. Mounting of game heads Birds Fish Animals Fur Rugs Robes Tanning Buckskin. Since 1910. 424 South 13th Street, Dept. A., Omaha, Nebraska. GAME heads and fish mounting. 40 years experience. Cleo Christiansen, Taxidermist, 421 South Monroe Street, Kimball, Nebraska. FISH MOUNTING A SPECIALTY—Crappie, bass, trout, walleye, Northerns and other trophy fish. Two to three week delivery until fall. 20 years experience. Livingston Taxidermy, Mitchell, Nebraska. TRAVEL TRAILERS NICKELS CAMPER AND TRAILER SALES, Weeping Water, Nebraska. In Stock, pick-up campers: Freeway, Caveman Del Rey, Covered Wagon, Hill Crest. Pick-up covers: B & B Toppers. Travel Trailers: Bon Aire, Covered Wagon, De Camp. From standard to self-contained. We rent 8 and 10 ft. pick-up campers, travel trailers and tent type trailers. Over 30 units in stock. Open every day, evenings, and all day Sunday. Phone 267-4855 or 267-3195. When Writing to the Advertisers, Please Mention You Saw it in NEBRASKAland OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air SUNDAY KGFW, Kearney (1340 Ice) 7:05 a.m. KRGI, Grand Island (1430 kc) 7:40 a.m. WOW, Omaha (590 kc) 7:40 a.m. KMMJ, Grand Island (750 kc) 7:40a.m. KXXX, Colby, Kan. (790 kc) 8:00 a.m. KBRL, McCook (1300 kc) 9:45 a.m. KAMI, Cozad (1580 kc) 9:45 a.m. KMA, Shenandoah, la. (960 kc) 10:00 a.m. KODY, North Platte (1240 kc) 10:45 a.m. KLMS, Lincoln (1480 kc) 11:00 a.m. KIMB, Kimball (1260 kc) 11:15a.m. KVSH, Valentine (940 kc) 12:00 Noon KOGA, Ogallala (930 kc) 12:30 p.m. KICX, McCook (1000 kc) 12:40 p.m. KFOR, Lincoln (1240 kc) 12:45 p.m. KCNI, Broken Bow (1280 kc) 1:15 p.m. KUVR, Holdrege (1380 kc) 2:45 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. KCOW, Alliance (1400 kc) 7:00 p.m. KFAB, (Mon.-Fri.) Nightly 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. FRIDAY KHUB, Fremont (1340 kc) 5:15 p.m. WJAG, Norfolk (780 kc) 4:15 p.m. SATURDAY KCSR, Chadron (610 kc) 6:15 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. KBRX, O'Neill (1350 kc) 4:30 p.m. KMNS, Sioux City, la. (620 kc) 6:10 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—Max Showalter, 387-1960 Albion—Gary L. Baltz, 395-2516 Alliance—Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance—Leonard Spoering, 762-1547 Alma—William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe—Don Schaepler, 962-7818 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 Creighton—Gary R. Ralston, 425 Crete—Roy E. Owen, 826-2772 Crofton—John Schuckman, 388-4421 David City—Lester H. Johnson 367-4037 Fairbury—Larry Bajman, 729-3734 Falls City—Raymond Frandsen, 2817 Fremont—Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Gering—Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand Island—Fred Sa"ak, 384-0582 Hastings—Bruce Wiebe, 462-8317 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 Long Pine—William O. Anderson, 273-4406 Nebraska City—Mick Gray, 873-5890 Norfolk—Robert Downing, 371-2675 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—Kenneth L. Adkisson, 336-3000 Ord—Gerald Woodgate, 728-5060 Oshkosh—Donald D. Hunt, 772-3697 Ponca—Richard D. Turpin, 2521 Tekamah—Richard Elston, 374-1698 Thedford—John Henderson, 645-5351 Valentine—Elvin Zimmerman, 376-3674 Valley—Daryl Earnest, 359-2332 Winside—Marion Schafer, 286-4290 York—Gail Woodside, 362-4120 MAY, 1967 57   A SUMMER TREAT... The VILLAGE THEATRE AT BROWNVILLE & SUMMER STOCK STARTING JULY 4 EIGHT WEEKENDS SEASON TICKETS, PRODUCTIONS, SCHEDULE AVAILABLE SOON CENTENNIAL YEAR EVENTS MAY 28-SPRING FESTIVAL JUNE 3-LEWIS & CLARK DAY JUNE 11-PONY PULL AND HORSESHOE CONTEST JUNE 18-TOUR OF HOMES JULY 4-THEATRE OPENING JULY 16-FINE ARTS DAY AUG. 26-27 —FIDDLERS CONTEST SEPT. 17-ANTIQUE AUTOS OCT. 8-FALL FESTIVAL You'll like Brownville... where Nebraska begins! SPONSORED BY BROWNVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY For centennial FLAGS Flag Poles ACCESSORIES PENNANTS For all occasions U.S.-STATE-FOREIGN Special designing Flags FLAG HEADQUARTERS 2726 N. 39th St. Lincoln, Nebr. Phone 466-2413

WHERE-TO-GO

WHETHER YOU are a nature lover or just out for a pleasant stroll after a long winter, the Chet Ager Nature Center is the place to visit. The Center is one and a half miles west of the Pioneers Park entrance, and about five miles southwest of Lincoln's city limits.

The Center consists of approximately 40 acres of wildlife, complete with two rustic redwood buildings, the Nature Lodge and Activities Lodge. Many of the nearly 250 kinds of plants in the Center are marked and identified along the two and a half miles of chip-covered trails. Visitors can set their own pace while strolling or looking for any of the 160 species of birds that have been spotted there. Three small, man-made lakes harbor snakes, muskrat, turtles, frogs, carp, perch, and yellow bullhead.

This bit of nature is open year-round from 1 p.m. to 5, Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 5, Saturday and Sunday. Informative tours led by the city naturalist can be arranged by calling the Lincoln City Parks office for an appointment. Ten days advance notice will almost assure getting the time requested. Weekday morning tours can be arranged upon request. While several types of tours are available, the general tour encompasses a little of each of the following specific tours, birds, wild flowers, grasses, and trees.

Many birds, such as Juncos, Pheasants, Purple Martins, Grackles, Redwinged Blackbirds, Western and Eastern Meadowlarks, and Western and Eastern Kingbirds flock to the area. The most colorful of the birds to be seen at the Center are the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles. Numerous kinds of sparrows and Downy, Hairy, and Flicker Woodpeckers pick up a free meal at the Center's three feeding stations, while Greenwing Teal, Mallards, and Killdeers haunt the shores of the lakes.

A general tour includes a leisurely stroll around the area, although it is not covered completely. Tour groups are guided to either the woods or around the ponds and are free to stop and discuss what they see. This area is covered with plants typical of the wet prairie. A tour can also include the Pine Knoll, which includes Austrian and Ponderosa pine. Visitors are welcome to view the wildlife displays in the Nature Lodge.

To see the heights man can reach in giving nature a helpful boost, the tourist should visit the Bessey Division of the Nebraska National Forest, one mile west of Halsey. At Nebraska National Forest, which covers approximately 90,000 acres, one can see the results of man joining forces with nature to produce 22,000 acres of plantedtrees.

The National Forest, in Blaine and Thomas counties, is probably the largest man-made forest in the world. Popularly known as Halsey Forest, it is sometimes referred to as "The Oasis in the Desert" or "The Little Rockies". The district lies between the Dismal and Middle Loup rivers, covering an area that was once almost entirely "blow sand".

A 1965 fire swept the forest and covered some 18,000 acres before it was stopped. Flames turned 10,000 acres of green trees into charred, limbless posts. Since then, 600,000 trees have been replanted in the burned area. There is also some natural regeneration.

A self-guiding tour of the forest has been marked for the visitor's convenience. Tree-shaped metal signs along the route guide the tourist to the nursery beds, Nebraska 4-H Camp, Scott's Lookout Tower, research area, campground, and residential area, besides providing a scenic tour.

The Nebraska National Forest at Halsey is the culmination of a dream for Dr. Charles Bessey, eminent University of Nebraska botanist, and other early day foresters, who were convinced that a forest could be grown on the Great Plains. Even Teddy Roosevelt took hold of the dream, and as President in 1902, proclaimed the establishment of the Nebraska National Forest. A Colorado Blue Spruce, planted in 1902, stands just east of the National Forest office in tribute to the president who helped make a dream come true.

THE END 58 NEBRASKAland

COME TO HOLT COUNTY

Home of Nebraska's Golden Girl, Nancy Griffin, Miss Nebraska Centennial

Holt County, the hay shipping capital of the world, is a county of contrasts. Sand Hills and rangeland, 75,000 acres of irrigated farms, rugged bluffs, over 200 miles of riverfront, wild gamelands, trees, and innumerable streams.

Enjoy our genuine western hospitality —relax, camp, hike, fish in our many lakes, swim, golf, go horseback riding, boating, or water skiing, attend stock car races, rodeos, cattle auctions, visit White Horse Museum at Stuart, or one of our guest ranches.

Enjoy our genuine WESTERN HOSPITALITY! Nancy invites you to come and help us celebrate our special Centennial holidays: Whoopee Day — Emmet — Memorial Day — May 30 Ewing Feista-Ewing-June 2 and 3 O'Neill Rodeo-O'Neill-June 9, 10, and 11 Fourth of July Celebrations —Chambers —July 4 Stuart-July 2 to 4 Hay Days —Atkinson, August 4 and 5 Holt County Fair, Rodeo, and Centennial Day, Chambers-August 21 to 25 Pioneer Day —Inman —August 26 Page Community Day-Page-Labor Day, September 4 For further information and a free brochure write.- TOURISM DIVISION Holt County Centennial Committee Atkinson, Nebraska