a Page 2 FEBRUARY, 1955

NATIONAL WILDLIFE JANUARY MEETING OF THE WEEK DATES SET GAME COMMISSION National Wildlife Week has been set At its January meeting, the for March 20 to 26 and has for its theme State Game Commission elected Del- "Save America's Wetlands!" Goal of bert Gildersleeve of Baker as chairman Wildlife Week, sponsored by the Na- for the 1955 calendar year. He suc- tional Wildlife Federation, is twofold: ceeds J. H. Van Winkle of Oregon City. (1) to disabuse the public of the com- This is Mr. Gildersleeve's second term mon but erroneous idea that every as chairman. marsh or swamp is a nuisance area that Routine matters acted upon by the An index of the 1954 Game Commis- ought to be drained, and (2) to set in Game Commission at its meetings on sion Bulletins has been prepared and motion a series of constructive actions January 14 and 28 included the follow- copies are available upon request. designed to preserve or restore our liv- ing: *** ing wetlands. The new issue-of wildlife conservation Capital outlay expenditures author- Sauvie Island Management Area sta- stamps may be purchased from the Na- ized: $358 for wire pen to protect At- tistics show that during the past hunting tional Wildlife Federation, 232 Carroll lantic brood stock at Klamath hatchery; season 9,972 hunters killed 15,431 ducks, Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. $3,000 for new fish racks at Spencer 290 geese and 897 pheasants. The year Creek in Klamath county; $1,000 for before 9,774 hunters took 9,518 ducks, Printed copies of the official synopsis pheasant brood coops at E. E. Wilson 212 geese and 973 pheasants. of the 1955 angling regulations will be Management Area; $300 for wide angle *** available for distribution around the lens and field tape recorder for informa- The 1953-54 biennial report of the first of March. tion and education division and $500 for Game Commission has been prepared water ditch at Camp White area. for the current session of the legislature. Oregon State It was decided to file a provisional Others interested in having copies may protestagainsttheLincoln county obtain them by writing to the Commis- Game Commission Bulletin P.U.D. application on Drift Creek, trib- sion office in Portland. VOLUME X February, 1955 NUMBER 2 utary of Alsea river. Published Monthly by the *** OREGON STATE GAME COMMISSION A contribution of $266 was authorized A simultaneous count of waterfowl 1634 S.W. Alder StreetP. 0. Box 4136 toward the repair of the Oak Island was made during the first week of Jan- Portland 8, Oregon bridge owned by the drainage district in uary throughout the Pacific Flyway. MIRIAM KAUTTU, Editor order to provide for increase in capacity Each year under the direction of the U. H. C. SMITH, Staff Artist to 15 tons. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an effort is MEMBERS OF COMMISSION Consideration was given to report made to tabulate all of the waterfowl in Delbert Gildersleeve, Chairman Baker prepared by the Water Resources Com- Kenneth G. Denman Medford the flyway. Federal and state game man- Don Mitchell Taft mittee for the legislature. Director was agement agencies cooperate and in Ore- J. H. Van Winkle Oregon City instructed to present the Game Com- gon field men and officers of the Game Elmer H. Balsiger_ Klamath Falls mission's reactions and comments to ap- Commission, State Police and Fish and ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF propriate agencies and committees. Wildlife Service participated. Canadian P. W. Schneider_ Director C. B. Walsh ______Assistant Director Contract for construction of a fence provinces of the Pacific Flyway also took W. D. DeCew Acting Controller for the big horn sheep pen at Hart part. H. R. Mangold _Chief, Supply and Property Mountain was awarded to Robinson *** Arthur Higgs _ Attorney and Robinson, Caldwell, Idaho, who A banded valley quail released in C. J. Campbell ___ Chief, Basin Investigations R. C. Holloway Chief, Info. and Educ. submitted the low bid of $12,652. Ten March, 1953 near Grass Valley was killed John McKean Chief of Oper., Game Div. other bids ranged from $15,180to this past season across the Deschutes H. J. Rayner__ Chief of Oper., Fishery Div. $39,900. river, some 15 miles from the liberation George Kernan . Engineer Expenditure of $1,964 was approved site. REGIONAL SUPERVISORS *** Leslie Zumwalt, Region I, for grading of the abandoned ferry slip Route 1, Box 325, Corvallis at Sauvie Island to provide fishing Hunting success varied for the three J. W. Vaughn, Region IIBox 977, Roseburg access. controlled elk hunts held this fall. In L. M. Mathisen, Region III____ 222 E. 3rd, Bend Option for access property at Depoe the North Fork of John Day area, the W. H. Brown, Region IV__Box 742, La Grande 302 hunters who participated, bagged W. C. Lightfoot, Region V Box 8, Hines. Bay was not taken up. Proposed access Entered as second-class matter September 30, project at Yaquina Bay was tabled. 108 elks (10 bulls, 73 cows and 25 calves). 1947. at the post office at Portland, Oregon, This was a success ratio of 36 per cent. under the act of August 24, 1912. The Commission went on record as In the Walla Walla area, 302 hunters Please report promptly any change of not objecting to application filed with address. Send in both the old and new address the Hydroelectric Commission by the killed 163 elk (12 bulls, 99 cows, 52 with notice of change. calves) , making a success ratio of 34 per At the present time the Bulletin is circulated Western Craft Company mill for a free of charge to anyone forwarding a written proposed paper mill near Albany, if cent. For both of these areas 400 permits request. had been issued. In the Promise area of certain conditions were met. Wallowa county, 153 of the 225 permit- COVER The next meeting is scheduled for tees checked in. They took only 33 elk Trying to hook and land the wily steelhead March 11 at Corvallis. This is in ac- (1 bull, 22 cows and 10 calves), a suc- is favorite pastime of the winter angler. cordance with policy to hold a meeting These two are trying their luck on Salmon there every other year for the benefit cess ratio of 22 per cent. Heavy hunting river in Lincoln county. (Photo by R. C. pressure during the general season scat- Holloway) of the Department of Fish and Game tered the animals. Management students. 1955 ANGLIN REGULAT

By F. E. LOCKE, Chief, Stream and Lake Management

CHRISTMAStrees and twinkling Let us pass on to another angler who is drastic in protecting the cutthroat be- lights are but a memory, and the long also interested in determining an open- fore they have gone the way of the dodo winter nights ahead afford the angler ing day for the coming season. He is bird. Innumerable requests are con- an opportunity to reminisce of past sea- behind a desk piled high with recom- cerned with a uniform opening date. The sons' catches. The tackle box is brought mendations both from sportsmen and concentration of anglers resulting from down and plugs, spoons, flies, and reels fishery agents in the field. These recom- a split opening not only puts undue examined. There are fond recollections mendations cover all phases of fishery stress on favorite streams but makes as the rod is flexed, and an imaginary fly regulations. There is no time to dream fishing difficult for all, and many anglers is dropped into the crystal pool beneath of favorite trout streams, as all requests will have no part of it, indicating so in an alder shaded bank. Yes, the salmon have to be carefully read, evaluated, and letters to the Commission. angler too has strung his rod and placed if possible, integrated in a preliminary What's to be done about these diverse his thumb on the spool, leaned back in set of regulations. Let us sort through requests? First of all, let us examine the the chair, and is all set to haul back and this huge pile of recommendations and resource with which this regulation is let go with "Fish On!" There is great see what is suggested for the opening concerned. Studies indicate that the cut- anticipation as the clan of Izaak Walton date for the summer trout season. Yes, throat is not as plentiful as it once was, begins to think of the coming season. here is the letter from our fishing bud- and that it should receive some protec- Perhaps the calendar is examined and dies along with similar requests from tion from excessive angling. It is logical a week-end visualized as the perfect several sportsmen's clubs on the coast. to assume that this species should be spot for an opening day. We see letters from sportsmen in eastern harvested in greatest numbers when Fishing buddies discuss the previous and central Oregon requesting an open- they come into the streams from the season opening and agree that they ing along about the 1st of May. They ocean in prime condition, rather than would have a better cliance of taking indicate that even at that date some of at a time when they are returning to the coastal cutthroat if the season had start- the roads are impassable and a few rain- sea to recover from spawning. Small ed a few weeks earlier. Further discus- bow trout will just be recovering from downstream migrating steelhead re- spawning. Fishery agents who have moved from the stream by the angler sion reveals that they have the privilege worked on the coast and observed previ- of either attending the Game Commis- enjoying an earlier trout season will ous openings indicate in their recom- certainly not return to the stream as an sion hearings which are held in January mendations that a May 1 date is pre- and expressing their views to the Com- 8 to 10 pound adult a few years hence. ferred, as it permits some escapement of Small salmon too will be taken in greater mission, and/or submitting a written small steelhead which are on their way request. numbers with an earlier season. We see to the ocean. The brood cutthroat also that a later season would certainly be The local paper indicates that the first havelargelydisappeared from the beneficial to the cutthroat, steelhead, of the two public hearings will be held stream. Our fishing buddies were not and salmon. A May 1 opening will per- on Friday the 14th of January. Plans are aware that many of the blueback or mit a few large cutthroat to be taken on made to write a letter asking for an harvest trout they were fishing for last their way back to the ocean, but in gen- earlier trout season for the Oregon coast. summer and fall remained in the stream eral this opening affords adequate pro- They see no reason why an earlier open- over winter and would have been pass- tection to the run. ing date would harm the cutthroat, espe- ing out to the ocean about the time they Many problems concerning regula- cially if a uniform opening date were requested the season to be opened. An- tions are studied thoroughly before sea- requested so that angling pressure was other irate angler suggests that the Com- sons, bag limits, deadlines, and length distributed over the state. mission had better do something rather (Continued on page 7) REGON,

BEAVER: Traditionally the animal of the state, the beaver still is one of the most important furbearers. They are found along waterways in most of Oregon.

MUSKRAT: This little fellow is the nation's most important furbearer. Though individual fur prices are low, vol- ume sales raise the total value. He is found in areas with the beaver in our state.

OTTER: Playboy of the waterways is the otter. His fur is rated as one of the three top wild furs and he is one of the fastest swimmers of the group. He is found on the majority of the larger streams of Oregon.

MARTEN: An elflike face coupled with a curious streak mark this fellow. Often called the tree-top weasel, he is one of the most striking of the fur- bearers. Timbered mountainous re- gions are his home. RACCOON: Black mask and ringed tail are the trademarks of this well known furbearer. They are found in all areas of the state, with the eastern Oregon sub-species being one of the largest in the U. S.

RING-TAILED CAT: The ring-tailed cat has the most limited range of any of our fur- bearers. Only found in the south- western part of the state, he is even less apparent because of his noc- turnal feeding habits.

FISHER: This enlarged version of the mar- ten is quite uncommon in Oregon at present. No open trapping season has been held in recent years. He is a wilderness dweller and noc- turnal hunter, hence seldom seen.

MINK: Wild mink are found in most areas of Oregon. Their fur in prime condition is consistently one of the most valuable. They are the worst enemy of their streamside neigh- bor, the muskrat. Page 6 FEBRUARY, 1955

Walton lake (Ochoco national forest) Angling Regulation Changes to have general season and bag limit. Wickiup Reservoir open April 30 to Following is a summary only of McKenzie river closed from Hendricks October 9. changes made in the angling regulations, bridge upstream to Fish Commission which will become effective February 12, racks during time of operation. 1955 (not February 5 as printed in last Zone 6 Sandy river above Marmot dam closed Drews creek above reservoir closed. month's Bulletin). Complete angling to salmon. regulations for 1955 will be listed in the Lake of the Woods tributaries opened. 1955 Official Angling Synopsis, which Scott lake closed to fishing from motor boats. Lofton reservoir is open entire year will be available at license agencies and but closed to angling from motor boat. Game Commissionofficessometime Pine lake open July 1 to August 22. after the first of March. Wood river open from May 28 to Oc- middle fork salmon tober 9. closure above Dexter creek removed. Warm Water Fish Tributaries of Deschutes River above Zone 7 Warm Springs bridge open entire year. Zone 3 Birch creek (Umatilla county) below Diamond lake and tributaries closed. confluence of east and west forks closed Whitefish and Dolly Varden for steelhead and salmon. No bag or length limit. May be taken Lake creek, outlet of Diamond lake, Canyon creek (Grant county) below from any water open to trout, salmon or closed above the forks at hatchery. south city limits of Canyon City closed steelhead angling. Loon lake tributaries opened. for salmon and steelhead. No bag or length limit for Dolly Var- Umpqua river (north fork)closed John Day river below Indian creek is den except in Odell lake and they may from the Soda Springs dam down to a closed for salmon and steelhead April 10 be taken from any water open for trout, point 50 yards below power plant. to June 1. steelhead, or salmon angling. Umpqua river (north fork) and tribu- John Day river (south fork) below taries (exclusive of lakes) closed to an- Jackass creek closed for salmon and Summer Regulations for Trout, Salmon, gling in any manner other than with an steelhead. Steelhead, and Jack Salmon artificial fly from the presently estab- Lake creek (Grant county) opened Open seasonApril 30 to October 9 lished whiter deadline near the mouth of between Olive lake and what is known in all zones. May 28 to October 9 for Rock creek upstream to a point 50 yards as upper reservoir. lakes, reservoirs, and their tributaries below Soda Springs power plant. within national forest boundaries in the John Day river (middle fork) below Cascade mountains. (Includes Paulina Sunshine Guard Station is open to steel- mountains) Zone 4 head and salmon angling except from April 10 to June 1. Bag limitSteelhead and salmon 20 Bolan lake closed. John Day river (north fork) below inches and over including Rogue river Rogue river closed from the Gold Hill trout 20 inches and over-2 fish per day highway 395 is open to steelhead and Irrigation District spillway to a point 700 salmon angling except from April 10 to and 4 in possession or in 7 consecutive feet upstream from January 1 to July 15. days. Not more than 40 such fish in the June 1. aggregate of which not more than 20 McKay reservoir bag limit is 10 fish may be salmon in any calendar year. Zone 5 6 inches and over in length and 20 in possession. Zone 1 Deschutes river from Little Lava lake Rock creek (Gilliam county) below Beaver creek (Lincoln county) closed down to Deschutes bridge opened. highway 19 at Olex closed for steelhead to all angling from the bridge on high- Elk lake opened within a radius of 200 and salmon. way 101 downstream to the mouth and yards of mouth of Elk creek. Strawberry lake tributaries, exclusive the ocean within a 250 yard radius ex- Elk creek opened. of Little Strawberry lake, opened. cept from April 30 to August 31. Lake creek and tributaries (outlet of Umatilla river below Mission bridge Gnat creek closed from the Fish Com- Suttle lake) opened. open to steelhead and salmon angling mission rack to the mouth of Rock creek. Metolius river tributaries open from from January 1 to April 10. North fork of the Siletz river and the mouth of Lake creek down to bridge Walla Walla river below the conflu- north fork tributaries closed to all an- 99 on the river loop road. gling except from April 30 to June 30. ence of north and south forks open to Nehalem river closed from 200 feet Paulina lake is closed in that portion steelhead and salmon angling from Jan- from the dam to a line starting from a uary 1 to April 10. above ladder at Nehalem Falls down to point 400 yards north of the Paulina Narrows. lake resort boat house extending diag- Zone 8 Zone 2 onally across the lake to a marker 200 McKenzie riverLeaburg power- yards north of the boat dock in the Owyhee reservoir open entire year. house tailrace closed from powerhouse Forest Service camp grounds. Owyhee river closed for a distance of downstream 200 feet. General trout bag limit to apply at 200 yards below the dam. Walterville canal is closed for a dis- Sparks, East, Paulina, Davis lakes and Silver Creek reservoir (Moon lake) tance of 200 feet below the salmon rack, Crane Prairies and Wickiup reservoirs. open entire year. Bag limit is 10 fish and Walterville powerhouse tailrace Fall River closure invicinityof a day, 20 in possession. closed 200 feet below powerhouse. hatchery removed. (Continued on page 7) FEBRUARY, 1955 Page 7 REGULATION CHANGES by the Commission as being in keeping (Continued from page 6) with public desires. Zone 9 Regulations for 1955 have few major changes from those of 1954. Camp creek and tributaries (Higgins reservoir) closed. A change from the season limit of 20 Catherine creek below the city of salmon or steelhead over 20 inchesto a Union water intake is open to steelhead season limit of 40 fish, not more than 20 of which may be salmon, at first and salmon angling from January 1to appears June 15, except that portion from the to be a sizeable increase in the bag limit upper Davis dam downstream to a point of steelhead and salmon anda regulation 200 yards below the lower Davis dam is which would result ina tremendous in- closed to all angling the entireyear. crease in the over-all take of these spe- Eagle creek below the bridge at New- cies. An examination of salmon and steelhead punch cards which have been bridge open to salmon and steelheadan- returned to the Commission, however, gling except from April 29 to August31. Grande Ronde river below the bridge reveals that a relatively small portion of at Beaver creek open to salmon and the anglers even approach theseason steelhead angling except from April 10 bag limit of 20 fish and that thestate- to June 1. wide catch resulting from the increased Imnaha river below Freezeout bridge bag would be very small indeed. open to salmon and steelhead angling A regulation to be effective must be except from from April 10 to June 1. accepted by the public. The 20 fishsea- Minam river below Squaw creek is son bag limit introduced a number of open to salmon and steelhead angling years ago met with considerable opposi- except from April 10 to June 1. tion, and it was the feeling ofmany Pine creek below north forkopen to sportsmen that the regulation was too salmon and steelhead anglingexcept restrictive. This feeling has persisted not from April 29 to August 31. only with the few anglers whowere able Powder river below Thief Valley dam to catch their season limit, but also with open to salmon and steelhead angling many who had fished so few times that except from April 29 to August 31. it would have been impossible to legally Razz lake closed. 1955 ANGLING REGULATIONS catch an aggregate bag of 20 fish. Wallowa river below Lostine river is (Continued from page 3) The steelhead and salmon punch card open to steelhead and salmon angling was designed to obtain information on except from April 10 to June 1. limits can be determined. Integrating salmon and steelhead streams of Oregon. That part of Wallowa lake at the minor changes in the general broad set Observations relative to theuse of the head of the lake is closed to all angling of established regulations often becomes punch card indicated that therewas con- south of markers established by the a staggering task, as even small changes siderable reluctance on the part of the Game Commission. in the wording of one entry may neces- angler to use the card as itwas designed. Wenaha river below Crooked creek is sitate revisions of many paragraphs. It is thought that better cooperation open to salmon and steelhead angling Tentative regulations are made by the from the angler will be obtained byin- except from April 10 to June 1. Commission following the first public creasing the season bag limit. The punch hearing at which time reasons are given card for salmon and steelhead isa WINTER REGULATIONS for any changes made in existing angling relatively new management tool; hence, Zone 1... February 12 to 28, 1955, laws. Requests for changes are thor- it may be necessary to change regula- and October 10, 1955 to February 28, oughly evaluated before being rejected tions regarding its use from time to time. 1956. or adopted into the regulations. Final Anglers will be pleased to learn that the Zones 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9... February 12 regulations are released following the subsequent issues of the salmon and to April 29, 1955, and October 10, 1955 second public meeting. In general, the steelhead punch cards will be issuedon to April 29, 1956. more restrictive measures are intro- a calendar year basis to avoid the con- duced in the tentative regulations, and fusion which has been experienced in Zone 1 if changes are to be made between the the past as the result of a March 31ex- Cook creek up to south fork openedto first and second hearing, they are likely piration date. steelhead and salmon angling. to be less restrictive in nature. This is A summary of other changes ispre- Coos river (south) up to Cox creek not an infallible rule but one preferred sented on page 6. opened. Kilchis river open up to marker at upper end of county picnic ground. open up to Scotts Mills Thomas creek open up to highway 226 Salmon river open up to Van Hyning bridge. bridge above Scio. bridge, approximately 2 miles above Crabtree creek open up to highway Calapooya creek open up to bridge at Rose Lodge bridge. 226 bridge. Dollar camp. Eagle creek open up to marker at 'Zone 2 bridge below Dwyer falls. Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Abiqua creek open up to 200 feet be- open up to confluence Changes made concur with summer low fish ladder at Silverton water dam. of Abiqua creek. regulation changes. (Continued on page 8) Page 8 FEBRUARY, 1955 1954 FISH STOCKING

Cut- Steel- Silver Eastern Brown Lake Golden Watershed Rainbowthroat head Salmon Brook KokaneeTrout TroutChinookTrout Total 1 96,356 149,445 75,531 40,277 361,609 15,727 11,829 1,855 6,577 35,988 2 1,677,603 41,840 35,891 933,427 2,688,761 125,239 6,764 164 3,476 135,643 3 177,866 1,498 53,834 233,198 38,907 442 404 39,753 4 75,000 13,260 88,260 14,124 102 14,226 5 2,337,971 40,818 2,120,053 848,930 118,743 4,898 5,471,413 96,022 4,550 14,903 3,147 1,259 700 120,581 6 111,848 29,576 141,424 7,878 53 7,931 7 223,480 223,480 4,688 4,688 8 162,367 128,340 9,769 300,476 21,824 30 2 21,856 9 94,609 10,010 104,619 4,834 7 4,841 10 101,650 101,650 2,543 2,543 11 6,500 6,500 839 839 12 32,969 1,014 33,983 7,179 260 7,439 13 51,882 6,784 58,666 9,566 1,331 10,897 14 786,968 68,272 855,240 16,047 3,185 19,232 15 492,560 15,010 66,744 10,832 113,761 698,907 36,909 3,118 5,779 52 9,014 64,872 16 208,843 7,112 28,307 10,042 190,635 444,939 32,047 2,134 3,690 46 11,093 49,010 17 53,393 120,438 24,557 198,388 12,283 11,820 4,875 28,978 18 108,756 122,885 14,457 32,155 49,950 328,203 14,416 17,107 1,381 1,804 13 34,721 TOTALS 6,800,621 458,228 166,697 192,0403,247,0941,037,230 118,743 4,898 304,396 9,769 12,339,716 461,072 63,214 7,960 22,725 23,812 3,197 1,259 700 20,107 2 594,038 Note:Upper figures signify numbers of fish and black figures signify pounds of fish.

WATERSHEDS REGULATION CHANGES (Continued from page 7) No. Counties No. Counties UMPQUA RIVER SYSTEM 1 Clackamas, Columbia, Tillamook, 8Umatilla, Wallowa, Union. Yamhill, Washington. Trout season closed September 6 for 9Baker, Malheur, Union. North Umpqua and tributaries from 2Washington, Yamhill, Benton, 10Malheur, Grant, Harney. Steamboat Creek to Soda Springs dam. Linn, Marion, Clackamas, Polk, 11 Malheur, Harney. Lane, Douglas. ROGUE RIVER SYSTEM 12Harney, Lake, Crook, Grant. 3Multnomah, Columbia, Clackamas, Rogue river, exclusive of tributaries, Marion. 13Crook, Deschutes, Lake, Harney. below mouth of the Applegate open for 4 Hood River, Wasco. 14 Klamath, Lake, Jackson. trout over 12 inches, January 1 to 31. 15 5Sherman, Jefferson, Deschutes, Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Applegate river below the mouth of Crook, Klamath, Lake, Grant. Curry. the Little Applegate river (exclusive of 16Douglas, Lane. all tributaries and of that part of the 6Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, 17Curry, Coos, Douglas. Applegate between Laurel Hill Dam and Jefferson, Grant, Umatilla, Morrow. 18Douglas, Lane, Benton, Lincoln, Williams Creek) open for trout over 12 7 Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla. Tillamook. inches, January 1 to February 28.

Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin F STAN T. N 1634 S.W. ALDER STREET P.O. BOX 4136 217 SW ;3ERTi-IA CAVERTN PORTLAND 8, OREGON H I G 'N A Y P T A N !.) I i3O tE.Gc,irr