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MAY 1959 20 CENTS OUTDOOR HAROLD W. HANDLE Governor CRAWFORD F. PARKER Lieutenant-Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture

INDIANA CONSERVATION COMMISSION James M. Tucker, Paol Chairman Dr. Harry J. Reed, Lafayette Kenneth M. Kunkel, Ildianapols ;, . William Shaw, Knox Kenneth Marln, Director

Division-Directori Division-Director State Parks - Kenneth R. CouII Geoiogtal Survey - Dr. Charles F. Deiss Fish and Game - Hugh Gra Entomogg- John J. Favinger State Forest - Ralph F. W'i co Engineer - Henry C. Prange Water Resources - Charles -i.. >..H.. i asin.Wm C. Burnsge Public Relations - John V. Seller rs m. Enforcement - John D. Rawlins Ac caubtin- Iarold B. Smith Oil and Gas - Homer R. Brown State Park ,Ins - lone F. Harrington

CONTENTS GOOD FISHING LOCATIONS ...... -.-...... -. 1 ADVICE TO ANGLERS ON KEEPING BAIT WORMS ...... 4 - DUNELAND_ .-...... 6 MAPLE SUGAR CAMP...... -...... 10 MUSKRAT DAMAGE -PREVENTION AND CONTROL-.- 11 BOATING SAFETY ...... ------16 NEWSOGRAM ------...... ------18 ELMER ------...... ------...... ------20 FLATBOATING: CIRCA 1830...... ------21 "A NEW LEASE ON LIFE" - BROWNSBURG CONSERVATION CLUB ------24 CONSERVATION IN THE NEWS ...... ------. 27 EDUCATION: CONTEST WINNING ESSAY...... ------28 FIELD TRIALS AT VERSAILLES STATE PARK ...... ------30 FILE 13 ------...... ------...------32

W. L. THOMPSON, Editor MARJORIE J. GROVER, Associate Editor MAC HEATON, Art Editor RIA ZOOK, Circulation Manager HERMAN MACKEY, Photo Editor

OUTDOOR INDIANA COVER Branta canadensis, the Canada Goose, na- Vol. II, No. 11 May, 1959 tive to North America from the Arctic to Published monthly by the Indiana Department of Mexico. A migratory game bird known for Conservation, 311 W. Washington St., Indianapolis its judgment, strategy and fidelity. Mates 9, Indiana. Subscription price $1.50 a year. for life and will protect mate and brood Second-class mail privileges authorized at Indian- apolis, Indiana. with its own life. Preparing for a swim, the Permission for reprinting material from this issue is wary gander will lead the month-old gos- hereby given with a request that proper credit be lings and the watchful goose will guard the given. flock from the rear. Color photo by Frank Wallace, State Entomologist Emeritus. FISHIINIl LOCATIO NS

fever that has been HAS COME to do something about that fishin' T buildingHE TIME up during the long, cold winter months. Poles ready? Gear in A-1 order? Got your favorite fishin' hole picked out? If the answer is "No," to the last question, here's a list of spots you might try. They were good last season and there is no reason to believe they won't be again this year. If it is impossible to get to some of these good spots, don't be discouraged. Have you tried the deep holes in the creek that runs through your back forty? Above all, don't neglect the 42,000 farm ponds that dot the Hoosier landscape. To further your fishing success, the Indiana Department of Conservation, through its state fish hatcheries, has released more than one and a quarter million warm water fish, including about 50,000 trout and 460,000 wall eyed pike. The pleasure's all yours!

NORTHEAST silver bass, channel cats, perch, cisco net- ting. Wawasee Lake: largemouth, small- ELKHART (COUNTY)* mouth, rock bass, bluegills, red-ears, perch, northern pike, crappies. Webster Lake: Hunter Lake: bluegills, red-ears in spring. largemouth, bluegills, red-ears. Winona St. Joseph River: rock bass, smallmouth, Lake: largemouth, bluegills, silver bass. northern pike, channel cat, walleye pike. Tippecanoe River: Elkhart River: largemouth, smallmouth, rock bass, small mouth, rock bass, channel cats, northern largemouth, northern pike, bluegills from pike. millpond south of Goshen to intersection of LAGRANGE* St. Joseph River at Elkhart. Atwood Lake: largemouth, bluegills. Cedar Lake: largemouth. Dallas Lake: large- KOSCIUSKO* mouth, smallmouth, northern pike, cisco Caldwell and Spear Lakes: bluegills in sum- netting. Fish Lake: cisco netting. Big mer. Chapman Lakes: largemouth, blue- Long Lake: bluegills, largemouth, perch. gills, perch. Dewart, Hoffman, Palestine Royer Lake: largemouth, bluegills, crap- and Wabee Lakes: for largemouth and blue- pies, red-ears. Little Turkey Lake: large- gills. Pike and Ridinger Lakes: northern mouth, bluegills, northern pike. North Twin pike, largemouth, bluegills. Syracuse Lake : Lake: largemouth, smallmouth, bluegills. largemouth, bluegills, red-ears, perch. Tip- South Twin Lake: largemouth, northern pecanoe Lake: spring and fall for large- pike. Wall Lake: largemouth. Westler mouth and smallmouth, bluegills, red-ears, Lake: crappies.

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Pagel NOBLE* NORTHWEST Baugher Lake: bluegills. Bixler Lake: crappies-spring and fall, largemouth- LAKE* AND PORTER* spring and summer. Bushong Lake: blue- gills year 'round. Gordy Lake: bluegills Lake Michigan: smelt with nets and seines. and largemouth-summer. High Lake: LA PORTE* largemouth. Jones Lake: crappies. Knapp Lake Michigan (off Michigan City): jumbo Lake: cisco netting. Lower and Upper Long perch with minnows. Pine Lake: large- Lakes: largemouth, bluegills. Port Mitchell mouth bass-spinning and casting; bluegills Lake: northern pike, largemouth, bluegills, with live bait. crappies. Smalley Lake: largemouth, blue- gills. Sylvan Lake: largemouth, bluegills, MARSHALL* AND FULTON crappies. Tippecanoe River: northern pike, small- STEUBEN* mouth bass and rock bass. Lake Mixin- kuckee: bluegills and bass. Brown and Jimerson Lakes: largemouth, blue-gills, red-ears. Clear Lake: largemouth, NEWTON smallmouth, bluegills, red-ears, perch, cisco Willow Slough: bluegills and crappies with netting. Crooked, Fox and Pleasant Lakes: worms, minnows and flies. largemouth, bluegills, perch. Eaton Lake: buegills in summer. Golden, Otter and Sil- STARKE ver Lakes: largemouth and bluegills. Ham- Bass Lake: silver bass with minnows and ilton Lake: largemouth, bluegills, northern casting baits. pike, crappies. Hogback Lake: northern ST. JOSEPH* pike, largemouth, bluegills. Gage Lake: northern pike, walleye pike, largemouth and St. Joseph River: smallmouth bass by fly smallmouth bass, eisco netting. Lake and bait casting. George: northern pike, largemouth, blue- gills, perch. Lake James: northern pike, EAST smallmouth, largemouth, bluegills, perch, UNION crappies, cisco netting. McLish Lake: cisco Whitewater Park Lake: bluegills, crappies, netting. Big Otter Lake: largemouth, blue- largemouth. Blue, East Fork, White, Mus- gills, cisco netting. Pleasant Lake: large- catatuck, Driftwood and Whitewater Rivers mouth, bluegills. Snow Lake: northern pike, and Big Indian Creek: all good for small- largemouth, bluegills, cisco netting. Big mouth and largemouth bass and early Turkey Lake: largemouth, northern pike, spring sucker fishing. bluegills, crappies. WHITLEY* CENTRAL Blue, Goose, Loon and Shriner Lakes: all HAMILTON good for largemouth bass and bluegills. Morse Reservoir: smallmouth and pan fish. Cedar, Crooked, Round, Troy Cedar and Wilson Lakes: for largemouth, bluegills and MARION red-ears. Geist Reservoir: bluegills, crappies, channel catfish. NORTH CENTRAL JOHNSON AND SHELBY HUNTINGTON* Flatrock and Blue Rivers: catfish, crappies Wabash River: channel cat. Salamonie and smallmouth. River: channel cat, largemouth and small- mouth. WEST CLAY MIAMI* Strip mine pits: very good for largemouth Wabash and Mississinewa Rivers: channel and bluegills. Eel River: channel cat and cat. Eel River: rock bass, smallmouth, large- most native species. mouth. PARKE WABASH* Wabash River: trotline for channel cats, Long and Round Lakes: bluegills, large- also largemouth and smallmouth bass. Big mouth. Luken's Lake: northern pike, large- Raccoon, Little Raccoon and Sugar Creeks: mouth, bluegills. Salamonie River: channel fine smallmouth, rock bass, channel cats, cat. suckers, crappies and sunfish. WHITE* AND CARROLL PUTNAM Lakes Shafer and Freeman: channel catfish, Big Walnut, Little Walnut, Deer Creek and and silver bass with worms, minnows and Mill Creek (below Cagle Mill Dam): early soft crawfish. Tippecanoe River (from Lake stream fishing for smallmouth, rock bass, Freeman to Wabash River): channel catfish channel cats, crappies, flathead, carp, suck- with live and prepared baits, and small- ers. Albion Lake and Quarry Pit: red-ears, mouth bass. largemouth, bluegills and crappies.

Page2 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 VERMILLION SPENCER Strip pits (around Blanford) : bluegills, Lake in : nice small- crappies and bass. Wabash River: trotline mouth and pan fish. for channel, flatheads, largemouth and smallmouth bass. WARRICK Strip pits: largemouth bass, bluegills and VIGO erappies. Izaak Walton Lake (West Terre Haute) : very good crappie fishing.

SOUTH CENTRAL *TROUT STREAMS AND GREENE LAKES IN INDIANA West Fork and White Rivers: trotline and hand line for channels. Strip pits (in Lin- (Dept. of Conservation, 1959 Revision) ton area): famous for largemouth, bluegills, red-ears and crappies. Also lakes and pits Lakes have been stocked with over 56,000 in Shakamak and Greene-Sullivan Forest. legal size (7 inch) trout, largely rainbow and some brown, from the Curtis Creek JACKSON Trout Rearing Station at Howe, Indiana. Starve Hollow Lake: bluegills, crappies, largemouth. ADAMS (COUNTY): New Corydon Pit. LAWRENCE ALLEN: Little Cedar Creek and Willow Indian Creek: smallmouth and rock bass. Creek. East Fork, White River: trotline for chan- BENTON: Washburn Pit. nel, flathead, white perch. Below Williams DELAWARE: Bell Creek. Dam: white perch. ELKHART: Baugo Creek, Cobus Creek, Emma Creek, Little Elkhart River and MONROE Solomon Creek. Griffey Creek Lake: crappies, largemouth HUNTINGTON: Lake Clair. and bluegills. Lemon Lake: largemouth, JASPER: Curtis Creek. crappies, bluegills. Bean Blossom and Salt KOSCIUSKO: Chapman Lake, Shock Creek: all native species. Lake, Silver Creek, Yellow Creek Lake and OWEN Walnut Creek. Cataract Lake and Mill Creek (especially LAGRANGE: Adams Lake, Buck Creek, Cataract Falls, upper and lower): large Curtis Creek, Dallas Lake, Emma Creek, species. Eve Lake, Fennel Lake, Fly Creek (E. numbers of all southern Indiana Fork), Graveyard Run, Harding Run, Mar- Flatheads up to 50 pounds. tin Lake, North Twin Lake, and Lake-of- the-Woods. Olin Lake, Oliver Lake, Pretty Lake, SOUTHWEST Pigeon River, Shipshewanna Creek, South Twin Lake, Still Lake, Troxel's Run, Tur- DUBOIS key Creek, Walcottville Creek, Westler East Fork: rough fish. Jasper Lake: good Lake and Yonker's Ditch. bass and pan fish. LAKE: Eagle Creek and Fancher Lake. GIBSON LA PORTE: Little Kankakee River and White, Wabash and Patoka Rivers: fine Trail Creek. trotline for all native species. MARSHALL: Lake Maxinkuckee, Meyer's Lake and Pretty Lake. KNOX MIAMI: Izaak Walton League Pit. White River, both forks, and Wabash River: NOBLE: Bluegrass Creek, Clock Run, Dia- good trotline for all native species. Some mond Lake, Latta Creek, Little Long Lake, old beds produce sport fish. Springfield Creek, Spurgeon Creek, Tippe- canoe River and Wawaka Creek. MARTIN PORTER: Crooked Creek and Salt Creek. Hindostan Falls: very good for several spe- RANDOLPH: Limestone Lake. smallmouth and rock cies. Indian Creek: STEUBEN: Eaton Creek, Fawn River, bass. Pigeon River, Lake Gage and McLish PIKE Lake. East Fork, Patoka Rivers: good rough fish- ST. JOSEPH: Grapevine Creek, Judy ing. Strip pits: largemouth, bluegills and Creek, Potato Creek and Willow Creek. crappies. WABASH: Luken's Lake. WASHINGTON: Cave River and Sinking POSEY Spring. Hovey Lake, Black River: bass and pan fish. WHITE: Big Creek. Wabash, Sandy Slough, Black River: trot- WHITLEY: Cedar Lake, Crooked Lake line for rough fish and perch. and Shriner Lake.

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Page3 advice to anglers on how to keep

by WALTER L. THOMPSON Editor

IN THIS DAY AND AGE Of spinning crawlers show themselves above rods, casting rods, fly rods and ground, they are hard to locate dur- hundreds of assorted artificial baits ing the hot dry summer months un- (everyone of them guaranteed to less special preparation has been catch fish), the most popular and most made. To insure a steady supply of consistent fish-catcher is the lowly fishing worms, many an ardent fish- earthworm in all its varying species. erman takes steps to keep a supply If you don't think so, just ask any during those hot months. That is young fisherman who, for his first what this article is about-how to bait, uses common worms . . he keep fishworms for your summer use. brings home fish, too. There are several varieties of To substantiate the importance of earthworms but the most popular earthworms as bait, we now have ar- ones used for bait are the ones we are tificial plastic worms so constructed concerned with here. The three most that even a suspicious inhabitant of commonly used are common garden the watery depths is easily fooled. worms, nightcrawlers and redworms. There is also the night-crawlers har- The same procedure for keeping any ness, a device constructed to stretch of the three may be followed. the worm full length instead of The worm bed can be placed either bunching it up on a single hook, the indoors or out. Indoors it should be popular method of use. located in a dark cool place. Out- But with all this artificial bait, the doors it should be placed where it is live earthworm is still the most popu- sheltered and shady and protected lar. Easily gathered by day in the from the direct sun at all times, cov- early spring by digging in moist ered if necessary. The bed must be places, or by night when the night- kept moist at all times but not soggy

Page4 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 a healthy supply of living bait...

and should be covered when heavy mixed through the compost before it rain occurs. The best container is a is moistened. Fill boxes about two- wooden box. Remember to have all thirds full or two inches from the top. seams adequately sealed to prevent A bed constructed this way can sup- the worms from escaping. Dimen- port up to 500 of any of the common sions for boxes to be used outside worms mentioned and is now ready should be 14"x18"x6" deep. Boxes for your worm supply. this small can be stacked if held apart To continue feeding the worms by small blocks to allow for ventila- through the summer, a mixture of 5 tion and drainage. Boxes should be lbs. of commercial rabbit food (pel- supported above the ground by at lets), 1 lb. of soybean meal and 1 lb. least six-inch blocks. For inside use, of sugar should be moistened to form boxes can be larger; 3'x2''x1 ' a crumbly mass then stirred into the deep. Drill several small holes in the culture. Worms will also thrive on bottom for drainage and cover these foods such as kitchen and garden holes with fine copper wire mesh. A fruit and vegetable waste. framed top cover of hardware cloth If you are going to keep night- should be used. If you like, this can crawlers or gardenworms, you should be hinged and fastened with a com- build your boxes as soon as possible mon screen door hook. Because the so you can take advantage of the easy bed must be kept damp continually, gathering that is possible only in the drainage is most important, otherwise wet spring months. The little red- the culture material will sour the feed worms usually have to be purchased and kill the worms. from a bait dealer but sometimes they Now that you have your box or can be found in old decayed cow boxes, as the case may be, you are manure piles. Keep your worms in ready to fill them with bed material. different boxes for easy access to the Place a layer of alfalfa hay or other species you want to use at the mo- hay on the bottom; this prevents the ment. compost from sticking to the bottom It might be well to add here, that and promotes drainage. A good mix- keeping worms alive in the bait box ture for the bed is made of equal after you take them from the worm parts of rotted maple leaves, decayed beds is also important. The bait box cow manure and screened topsoil. should be metal, lined with ' 4 -inch Peat moss can be substituted for the cork that is coated with paraffin, maple leaves. This is also the time to filled with damp sphagnum moss. add the food required to keep the Keep the bait box out of the hot sun worms alive and healthy. For each -worms can not stand heat. A bur- cubic foot of fill you can use a half- lap sack over the box, kept wet, will pound of cornmeal or one-half to one help lower the temperature inside the pound of mash. This should be box. 0

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Page5 I i ;1 " ,, It i~s ~ Ii ;i i, :i"t

INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK

Page6 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 byIN F HARNTONo. Stat InnpPar ti; N : RGON01TNn~t Aisa wefre hymc aindtsterh&;;IC far trech,screen of san ath lit e a rvis e hTah 7 x zr hilS afrrii i~dII th s~utc ig s Eeliiis tlk tat fftr

lxtutrLae 1lich-atf r at~ n«ra. he untfisatifn f or iti frntn CtyMihi o tlar-, p~taly \c eidc ra alssbl C;IJginlly itiUI a NI(~- 1frelwl-sn chrd l~d-h7t s~ c utChcgo G r wdIla n }

x "'hpareafinclude ?xTItIV_p )ika ~i f h 7~a t

0)fj1\ : e ars th a1 sli v(: ; <>Fl rt h;cnit o h tal liap nt dne , hr ills an i; ser-~lS ,11 ilAay 11ti h 14 M " ~ ~~~Ofm~SaVI lhako thwSC lCc''i I1 U ie 'titi (coe.T thylwpa a esw ees a p n 11sdsaep rl-vihvoesat The National Dunes Association was formed and soon met in Chicago with the Honorable Stephen T. Mather (then Secretary of the In- terior) pursuant to action for a na- tional park. Unfortunately the on- coming World War directed the at- tention of Congress to affairs more urgent; and the fact that there ex- isted no precedent for the purchase This beautiful shoreline view, typical of of federal park lands doomed the much of the lakefront, is a favorite of plan to failure. photographers and painters alike. In 1919 Governor James P. Good- rich and , Director of The Prairie Club of Chicago is the Indiana Department of Conserva- credited with being the first group to tion, took up the matter seriously. In take the stand that the Dunes region 1923 a Dunes Park Bill was intro- be saved from destruction and be duced into each house and in support preserved in its wild state as a play- of this action Mrs. Frank J. Sheehan, ground for people. This club, an or- Dunes Association Secretary, deliv- ganization of nature students and sci- ered a lecture to the House holding entists, had made frequent excursions the legislators' interest for two hours. to the Dunes, and the "Beachhouse" Her influence and arduous support now a famous landmark on the lake has merited special recognition. Dur- front was built by some of its mem- ing that session a law was passed pro- bers. This first agitation dates back viding for the purchase of lands to to 1912. It evidently found a respon- be known as Indiana Dunes State sive chord in many, for individuals and clubs made themselves heard on Park and providing a tax of two mills on each two hundred dollars the subject, newspaper stories ap- peared and many Hoosiers close to worth of taxable property. In 1925 Tom was purchased from Mr. the area joined the movement. The Mt. interest quickened when it was sug- John O. Brown, the deed bearing the in December 334 gested that Mt. Tom would be sold date August 27; acres were added at the west end of for its sand just as the famous "Hoo- park- sier Slide" was levelled at Michigan the Park including a concrete and ninety-two leases on City. In 1916 the Potawatomi chap- ing place ter of the D.A.R. at Gary passed a houses and tracts, returning the reve- resolution favoring the creation of a nue to the State from that time on. Dunes Park. The chapter held its Soon an announcement from Judge picnic at the Prairie Club Beachhouse Elbert H. Gary, President of U. S. and on July 16, 1916 a large group Steel Corporation of Gary, of a gift met at Waverly Beach to form an or- of $250,000 stimulated the acquisi- ganization to push the park idea. As tion of land. Samuel Insull, Jr., do- a small child, the writer attended with nated a strip of land 500 feet in her father, Mr. Flynn, and a group of width extending from the South local interested residents of the area. Shore Electric Railway to the Park

Page8 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 entrance, making a direct approach to can Plan and during May and early the gate possible. Also through a June overnight lodgings and a conti- gift Mr. Insull made it possible to nental breakfast are available. carry the heavy cables underground The Dunes Hotel, located on the to supply the electric needs of the beach, opens late in May and remains area. The total cost of the Dunes open through Labor Day. Here dev- Park lands was approximately $1,- otees of sun, sand and 000,000. water enjoy the finest beach in the Middle West. The hotel, a concrete fireproof build- PARK has the largest TODAYattendance DUNES of any of the parks in ing, allows families to dress for the beach, thereby simplifying the vaca- the system. Its facilities, parking, camping, sewage disposal are taxed tion for dad, mother and the small so heavily during June, July and Au- fry. On Thursday evenings square gust that there is an immediate need dances are held out under the stars. for the development of another acces- Delicious meals are served in the sible area at the eastern end of the Pavilion to hotel guests and Park park. This should include a new road, visitors. The Pavilion houses a well- parking area, a beach installation and stocked gift shop, soft drink and boat ramp. With the increased popu- lunch concession and boasts a mod- lation of northern Indiana and the ern, well equipped kitchen. proposed industrialization in that sec- Many families of nearby urban tion, the need for this development areas lived at the dunes through the grows daily. The beauty of the park summer months before it became the would not be lessened since the Indiana Dunes State Park. It has marshes, forests, and dunes are pri- often been said that once a Hoosier marily in the center section. has dunes sand in his shoes, it always The late Frank V. Dudley has remains there. This must be true since captured the beauty of this area and old residents, vacation guests, casual placed on canvas for all time the visitors and the staff alike, return shifting sands, colorful shadows, and year after year. unpredictable waters of Lake Michi- This year at gan. Mr. Dudley was one of the men the New York travel show in conjunction with who worked with Colonel Lieber to the Indiana Toll Road Commission, preserve this acreage. (Mr. and Mrs. a week's va- cation Dudley spent many hours in a cottage at Dunes State Park for two within the boundaries of Dunes State people was awarded as a prize. Park and graciously received all More than anything else in this guests who stopped for a restful visit. practical age there is a need to realize the power of beauty as a creative the force. Happy is the citizen who can INN, located near D UNESIDEeast gate and Tremont station, find a refuge such as this. 0 opens in late April or early May for visitors. A provincial farmhouse with sleeping cabins nestled in the farmyard welcomes those who wish quiet and relaxation. Beginning in June the Inn operates on the Ameri-

Dramatic contrasts and stark realism.... the "blow-out," dead forest and valiant scrub growth. MAPLE SUGAR CAMP

students find study of "sap to syrup" a sweet subject...

down to amber syrup. The pupils do T HEfrom ART the OF sap MAKING of the MAPLEsugar mapleSYRUP all the work on the project. They tree and the delicious reward of tast- even cut the wood that keeps the fires ing the genuine product, is disappear- going under the evaporators, and find ing from the Indiana scene. Not so it takes about 50 gallons of sap to for the pupils at Orchard Independ- make one gallon of maple syrup. ent School in Indianapolis. The school Then it is time for the big event- has its own grove of sugar maples a pancake party is held where the and in late winter when the sap be- youngsters make their own pancakes gins to run every class, grades one and try out the syrup. It is a great through eight, takes part in the an- occasion and even "Clyde," their billy nual "sugaring." It has been a school goat mascot, joins in. project for twenty years and is under This entire project is an educa- the supervision of Fred Lorenz. tional-vocational activity. The chil- In February, when the sap begins dren also learn to identify other trees to ascend from the roots, each class in the school woodlot and have an op- taps as many trees as possible during portunity to study nature just before a regular class period. Buckets are spring fully awakens the woods. hung on the spouts or "spiles" and as (Pictures appearing here are Second the sap is collected, each class boils it Grade Pupils.) *

May, 1959 Page10 * OUTDOOR INDIA NA M USKRATStrappers AREderive IMPORTANT approximately AND VALUABLE a quarter-million FUR ANIMALS. dollars Each from year pelts. Indiana For this reason they are protected by law, but in some places they are destructive and must be controlled. MUSKRAT Prevention and

r DAMAGE Control by DAVID M. BROOKS Research Biologist, Pittman-Robertson Project

two to four litters each year average in Indiana FARMhas mushroomedPOND construction since the droughts six to eight young per litter. of 1951 and 1952. Ponds are built Muskrats are most active at night. primarily as water reservoirs for live- Evidence of their presence is indi- stock, irrigation, and recreational by their houses, burrows, drop- uses. Muskrats find them ideal places cated pings, and the cuttings of plants on to live since they need only a place which they feed. They will feed on with permanent water and feed on farm crops such as corn and soy- nearly all vegetation that grows in or beans grown near their watery homes near water. Most farm ponds are and will eat available garden vege- large enough to support muskrats. tables. Their digging sometimes roils There is a movement of muskrats the water making it less attractive to in late summer or early fall when swimmers and at times even detri- new places to spend many search for mental to fish. Most muskrat prob- similar movement the winter. A lems, however, result from the bur- just be- sometimes occurs in spring rows and tunnels. Whenever musk- water fore breeding season and new rats are present in a farm pond they populated. Muskrats areas become are a potential threat to the earthen and build houses of cattail, sedge embankments. Their burrows may other water plants, or dig burrows. weaken these structures and on oc- they Where steep banks are present casion they dig completely through Entrances prefer to live in burrows. and allow the impounded water to below water are usually 6 to 18 inches escape. level but may be deeper. A tunnel leads to a dry nest chamber above Muskrat burrows along drainage water level. Tunnels may be only two ditches constitute a hazard to farm- or three feet long in new burrows, ing. The burrows cave in as farm but where several generations of machinery passes over them and muskrats have lived, systems may be equipment may be mired or damaged. quite complex extending a hundred The soil excavated in digging the feet or more with many entrances burrows is deposited in the ditch, and chambers. Muskrats are prolific; necessitating early ditch recleaning.

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Pagell PREVENTION new chamber above the water level. Such activity in a poorly constructed fill may result in muskrats burrowing of preventing THE IDEAL METHOD completely through the dam or the muskrat damage to earthen em- nest chamber may be so close to the bankments is to make them com- back side that a break-through re- pletely muskrat proof. A hard core sults. Figures 1 and 2 show proper or shell either of metal or cement and improper construction of earthen would accomplish this but the cost is embankments. usually prohibitive. Embankments can be built in such manner that few A good sod cover on top of em- muskrats will attempt to burrow and bankments will bind the soil together if some do, no appreciable damage and lessen the chance of burrows and will result. When the inner or water dens caving in. Reed canary grass side of the structure has a slope ra- has an extensive root system and will tion of three to one, that is three feet grow in wet areas next to the water wide for every foot high, muskrats as well as drier sites on top of the fill. will seldom burrow into it. But a Livestock and farm machinery should gradual slope requires much more fill be kept off the structures so that ex- material than is necessary to impound isting burrows are not collapsed. water and is seldom used. Each time a den caves in muskrats To be relatively free of muskrat will dig a new one, and each addi- damage, earthen structures built to tional burrow weakens the structure. hold water should have a minimum A farmer may do well to protect the width of 20 feet at water level and banks along a drainage ditch from should be three feet or more higher livestock by fencing off all but small than the water. A spillway of suffici- openings where the stock can water. ent size should be installed so the A multiflora rose fence can be water level does not rise more than planted along the irregular sides of a six inches during times of heavy ditch at less cost than a conventional rainfall. When water rises and floods wire fence can be built. These prac- a muskrat nesting chamber they re- tices will prevent excessive amounts model the burrow by extending it of soil being deposited in the ditch by deeper into the bank and building a muskrats digging new dens and will

SOD COVER

2 . 3 D 3 DEN

20 FT. MIN. 1 NORMAL WATER LEVEL 23 FT- PREFERED r DOSE NOT RISE MORE THAN 6INCHES)

FIG- I PROPER CO INSTRUCTION OF EMBANKMENTS

NEW DEN FLOODED DEN

3 FT. ', HIGH WATER LEVEL MORE THAN 6 INCHES LESS THAN NORMAL WATER LEVEL Z 20 FT

STEEP BANK ENCOURAGES z, .wer BURROWING

FIG-2 IMPROPER CONSTRUCTION OF " EMBANKMENTS":*:..-"'" prevent ditch bank erosion. The life bide; naphthalene flakes or mothballs and usefulness of the ditch will be are also effective. Chemicals are lengthened and saving the expense of placed in a series of driven holes (a early recleaning will offset the loss of crow-bar is good for forming these a narrow strip of land along the holes) two to four feet apart the en- sides. Time wasted getting equipment tire length of the embankment, one out of cave-ins will be eliminated. and a half to two feet below water level and about two feet back from Woven or welded wire fencing the edge of the water. Four or five placed on the face or incorporated ounces of the chemical is placed in embankment will act as a pre- into an each hole and dirt tamped in so the ventive barrier to muskrats. Since gases will penetrate the soil. Insert- fencing is in contact with soil and the ing repellents directly into existing water its effectiveness will last only dens will drive muskrats away. Pre- it rusts apart. Heavily galva- until ventive treatment of this nature wire should be used since it nized should be made early in April and resist corrosion. Mesh must tends to again in August, previous to the not be over two inches or muskrats spring and fall movements. can get through. When laid on the embankment face, wire should be six Sometimes muskrats may be dis- feet high, the top even with the high couraged from living in embankments water level. If shorter wire is used by removing the more desirable food muskrats may burrow under. When plants-cattails, bulrushes and ar- wire is placed vertically within the rowhead-from the area. Removal structure, it should extend at least may be manual or chemical. four feet below water level. An effective barrier, recommended by A. H. Cook of the New York Conservation Department, is made of CONTROL asbestos cement boards, four by eight feet, set into the embankment verti- HE MOST ECONOMICAL and efficient cally as close to the water's edge as method of removing troublesome possible. Mr. Cook recommends they muskrats is trapping. The sale of extend two feet above and two feet pelts taken during the open season below the normal water level. How- will in part offset the trouble of trap- ever, it would seem more effective if ping and the damage they have the boards were placed even with the caused. No. 1 traps are most com- high water level and extended up to monly used. Stop-loss traps have ad- four feet below. A continuous smooth ditional jaws or bails to hold the ani- surface of asbestos board across the mal firmly and prevent it from twist- face of an embankment is impervious ing or tearing out of the trap. Many to gnawing. Take care that breaks different types of sets can be used and junctions do not present a gnaw- effectively depending on the trap site. ing edge. One of the most common is known Chemical repellents keep muskrats as the "slide set" (Fig. 3). Well used away from embankments but are only slides or paths show where muskrats temporary. The U. S. Fish and Wild- come out of the water for food. A life Service recommends calcium car- trap is set in the water an inch or two

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Pagel3 below the surface, at the end of the be placed in a muskrat runway lo- slide and as the animal enters or cated by observing the masses of air leaves the water he places his foot in bubbles under the ice along its path. the trap. It is not necessary to camou- A variation is made with a platform flage the trap as muskrats are not for the trap, at right angles to the suspicious. The muskrat will imme- board which is then set vertically. diately plunge into the water and. if Muskrats can be taken through the the trap is properly staked out, will ice with a single tine spear. A steel drown. The stake with trap chain rod, /8 to ~2 inch diameter, about should be placed in water at least a four feet long, is sharpened to a ta- foot deep or the muskrat may twist pering point and a handle attached. its foot off and escape. In shallower (Fig. 5.) A straightened tine from water a drowning stick will help. This an old-fashioned dump-type hayrake stake is placed six to eight inches makes an ideal spear when fitted with from the trap stake. The muskrat a handle. Two men should work to- will wrap the chain around the two gether spearing muskrats. One tramps stakes, shortening it, and drown. the bank to scare them out of the bur- A bait set (Fig. 4) is made by set- rows while the other stands over a ting a trap in shallow water along the runway ready to spear them as they edge of a pond or ditch. Bait-a piece emerge. The muskrat is impaled, a of ear corn, apple, or carrot-is at- hole chopped around the spear and tached to one end of a stick and the the muskrat pulled out. Spear holes other end is stuck into the bank so decrease the value of the pelt but this that it is about a foot above the trap. is of minor importance when the pri- In trying to reach the bait the musk- mary purpose is to rid the pond of rat will step into the trap. muskrats. The new Conibear, killer type trap If areas where muskrat trouble oc- (Fig. 6) can be used in place of the curs are adequately trapped during older leg-hold traps. The muskrat is open season, damage will be mini- killed instantly and no provision is mized. If special control is needed to needed to drown it. They are effec- remove animals which move in dur- tive as bait sets, when bait is placed ing the spring, they should be trapped on the trigger bar. They also should during April and early May. At this prove especially efficient at burrow time they have established breeding entrances. territories but have not given birth to a litter. Ice formed over the pond or ditch interferes with normal trapping meth- When it is necessary to remove ods. Effective underwater sets (Fig. muskrats at times other than during 7) can be made by fastening a trap open season, permission must be ob- to a board six inches wide and placing tained through the local conservation bait above the trap. The board is officer. A written permit should be then slid through a hole cut in the ice secured stating a definite period when and shoved into the bottom at a 45' specific control methods may be em- angle so that the trap is about six ployed, and disposition to be made of inches below the ice. This set should any animal taken. 0

Page 14 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 V-~L5

FIG. 4 BAIT SET

D 4-4/2 FEET INCH -- WOODENG HANDLE S LT 3/- ~ - STEEL ROD WITH TAPERED FIG.5 SINGLE TINE MUSKRAT SPEAR POINT

FIG. 6 CONIBEAR KILLER TRAP FIG. 7 UNDER ICE BOARD SET

,ggm',I11 //, Water skiing without a life preserver and without a second person in the boat facing the skiier are unsafe practices. Exceeding 10 miles per hour within 200 feet of shore is in violation of motor- boat regulations and liable to fine.

The correct way to water ski: Skiier wears a life preserver, a second person in the boat faces the skiier and the When a wise boater has a question driver of the motor boat stays well be- motorboat regulations, he makes inquiry. yond 200 feet from shore. servation Lake Patrol will gladly answer I

A heavily loaded boat ing over the side, feet . . these are sure wa, happen.

Page16 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 Sa .

Unsafe practice and very dangerous to other boaters; cutting too close at high speeds and circling other craft. It is a violation subject to fine to circle a still fishing craft.

Starting at high speed and passing the docks at high speed are both vio- concerning safe boating practices and lations under the law regulating speed y. The Enforcement Officers of the Con- to a maximum of 10 miles per hour his questions. within 200 feet of shore.

at with occupants play- dangling in the water 'ays to help an accident

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Pagel7 I

~i

by Jack Allen, Leader, Wildlife Research

ON RESEARCH, RECORDS AND RESULTS

An extraordinarily wise gentleman once expressed

belief that conservation is an attitude, not a technique. obli- Without doubt he was correct, for skill unguided by

true that philo- gation spawns monsters. It is equally sophies and attitudes tend to bog down unless translated into action guided by know-how. Research is not a pain- less answer to wildlife restoration but a tool employed

to channel efforts to do things better. It is thinking of tomorrow instead of yesterday. It is an attempt to co- operate with biological laws-not kick them in the teeth.

LAB AND FIELD WORK - Wildlife agencies as well as plants

and animals are products of heredity plus environ-

ment. Patterns for healthy programs are formulated

from basic developmental research, but are maintained

and grow only on tedious bookkeeping-type inventories,

harvest records, and production figures. Importance

of continuous maintenance of annual surveys is under-

estimated until we recall that 20 years ago no one

had any idea how many hunters trod our fields or what

they bagged, Administrators have daily need for cur-

status of game species. Most state game divisions

lean toward field studies, while universities, re-

search units and experiment stations are producing

quality basic research. Both are essential in main-

taining a progressive wildlife program.

TROUBLE SHOOTING - Primary objective is to develop new

management programs, evaluate and improve old ones.

But much of our effort is drained in attempts to

limit unfruitful ventures dumped in Department's lap.

Chukar partridge--native of barrens of Himalayas,

Coturnix quail--migratory Asian, and San Juan rabbit

-- plague of Europe and Australia, each consumed three

Pageo 18 " OUa DOr n R NIArNA May, 1959 biolgis yer tatn coud hv ensetdvlpn

TTd sex ration studies pointed

outexpndailty f cckpheasants. Longer seasons, lrrbp 20,00 more birds in hunter's wtral production. Release hatat rquirements pinpointed futility Pheasants are now frankly reasd on put- -tae basis or in habitat suitable for survival. Wteowl migration dates and flight pattersarekeytomethods of diverting flights eastardproidin duks or hunters left high and ry in cntrl and eastern districts. Declining de- mand for f , c with~ rising muskrat and beaver sis from production to contol.Furearr sudis developed practical land-

owne daageconrol. Rbbits, quail and habitat go

handinand Don-t-eath habitat improvement pro- s citing r all-out measures that are available to landowners,

clubssporsmen Fox ount studies show 750 thou-

san dolarexpndiureinperiod when fox populations

roseandfel wit mootoous regularity regardless

of padric r nmbe untied. Deer distribution

and ortlit infrmaionprovided management recom- cby 30 per cent first year

appiedandkil 20 pr ent last fall. Wild turkey

floc esablshedforfirt time since Civil War will

serv asresrvoi fo fuure brood stock and trans-

platso ohe wodedaras. Ruffed grouse range

extededandplan fo father trapping and trans-

' FRPENY PNNY Les tha 5 er cent of Fish and Game

expeditresgo t gae search plus fish investi-

gatins.Dolars ave testing wildlife restora-

tio prcedreson smllscale, rather than sinking

larg i sus unkownvenures, constitute savings far

oveshaowig eserchcots. We think you'll agree

tha smllegmnt f sortman's dollar used for-re-

May, 1959OUTDOOR INDIANA * Pagel19 dere mister tomsun if you no eny good bass ball play- ers weuns wud be much obliged if youd send them down hear cauze we- uns aint got to meny. old soot case has got up a teem frum the fillin sta- shun an the judge has got one up to repersent the volintear fire deepart- munt and they played there furst parin an i sed hit only counted 2 runs. game to weaks ago on the dimund at well weuns shut the game down fer the skule house. they played ball over a har and finly compermized by frum 12 nune to milkin time and the countin 3 runs. them fellers dont no scoar was tyed up 37 all. well mister eny thing about bass ball. tomsun they deesided to finish hit up last sundy afternune sos they started weuns bit kitchin sum perty nice to play agin at 12 nune and up to white perch down past the swift milkin time hit wuz tyed up agin 76 water riffles in the west fork on little to 76. now mister tomsun weuns had minners. redwings yungest boy who a meatin an we cant deeside whuther they call mitten foot ketched a shuvel the pickers aint no good or whuther hed the other night that wayed 31 the batters are the best in this part pounds ever body asked mitten foot of the state cauze hit aint no fun to what he ketched his shuvel hed on an set thru a bass ball game thats tyed tell but he cumed over to up all the time. he wudn't night straight and borryed old albert you cant git neether soot case ner an went possum huntin sos i persenly the judge to foller the rools. Birdwell think mitten foot is usin haf growed who plays short stop fer soot case possums. wuz up to bat an when old horse keep up the dokter who wuz pitchin throwed the well mister tomsun the clubs bass ball fer him to strike at old bird- good werd and tell eny of me to help out well hit hit over in old missus ter- that if theyuns need them to let you no willigers timuthy medder an befor the on enything fer truck feelder got the ball back birdwell had and ile ketch the first bread run around the bases 4 times. now out of town. mister tomsun they counted 4 runs yer fren fer the fillin stashun boys-i wuz um- el mer

Page20 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 Condensed from "A Pioneer History of Indiana" by Col. Wm. M. Cockrum (1907)

7/atboatiq circa 1830

Many prosperous farmers loaded THEdiana HEYDAY was from OF FLATBOATING 1830 to 1860. in Be-In- their own boats. In other cases a boat fore 1820 the boatmen usually had to would be loaded with the produce of walk back from New Orleans or row a whole neighborhood. Boating was a boat against the stream. After that a profession with some. The boatmen date they could return on the steam- began by cutting fine big poplars for boats. New Orleans was the wonder- gunwales. As soon as they were sea- land of the West. A trip there soned they were hauled to the landing meant as much then as a trip to Eu- and the boat built. The boats were rope now. not loaded usually till the first of There is scarcely a state in the March. As soon as the water was Mississippi Valley so well situated right all hands and teams in the for this trade as Indiana. The Ohio, neighborhood were summoned and the Whitewater, the Wabash to Hunt- the work began. The women came ington, the White as far up as Muncie and cooked for the men so they could and down to Columbus, with hun- eat right on the ground and lose no dreds of their tributaries, were the time. Chickens, geese, turkeys, veni- thoroughfares. It was customary for son, pork, hogs, cattle, whiskey, corn, the boatmen to gather into fleets of meal, flour, stoves, lumber, all were ten or a dozen and go down the Mis- stowed away in the boat and sent to sissippi together. New Orleans.

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Page21 Of much historical significance to the early growth and wealth of the Hoosier state, this once honored profession is now but a romantic memory.

amount of mud was piled on the edge BOATS was TOquite MAKE an ONEundertaking. OF THESE They were farthest edge and carried over a large usually from 60 to 80 feet in length. which was intended to sink it. Then A fine, large straight poplar was a check line was fastened to the selected and after it was cut, two limb or fork of a tree and two or faces were hewn. Then it was turned three yoke of oxen hitched to it. down on large logs and split in The framework for the body was halves, hewn down to from 12 to 15 made very securely and the siding inches thick, thus making both gun- nailed on. Strong joists were put on wales out of one tree. The two ends top of the framework from side to were sloped from 6 to 8 feet so the side to hold the decking. A center bottom had a boat shape that would girder, lengthwise of the boat, rested run much faster in water. The gun- on a post every 6 or 8 feet. This wales were hauled to the boatyard girder was higher than the outer and placed on rollers. The distance walls so that water would run off the apart, the width of the boat, was deck. usually from 14 to 16 feet. Girders There were three long oars. The were framed into the gunwales every steering oar had a wide blade; fas- 8 or 10 feet and securely fastened by tened to a post on the back of the strong pins. Small girders or sleep- boat this oar was used as a rudder. ers, to receive the bottom of the boat, The other two oars were used as were pinned into the cross sills every sweeps to propel the boat and to pull 18 inches, even with the bottom of the her out of eddies. gunwales. The bottom was made of It took a month to run out of the one and a half inch lumber, the Orleans, length to reach from outside to out- Wabash down to New would sell their load of side of the gunwales where it was where they then sell the boat. These securely pinned and then caulked. produce and boatmen were a jolly, generous, light- The old Indiana flatboat builders hearted set of men and would often used hemp for caulking, driving it be- lash their boats together and float for tween the planks with a chisel made several days and nights on the lower for the purpose. Another bottom of Mississippi. was laid that held the inch lumber The pioneers made location where in place and added strength. caulking there was plenty of good spring the bottom was finished it was When water, but later they had two objects ready for launching. This was done in selecting their homes; first to be by boring large auger holes in the near a mill or a good mill site; second, logs the bottom rested on and turn- a river where a flatboat could be ing them with spikes until the logs loaded with produce. The money paid would roll and carry the boat into the for this produce on the lower Missis- waters. sippi plantations and in New Orleans The boat, having been made bottom brought great prosperity to the Indi- upward, had to be turned. A large ana countryside.

Page22 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 him who embarks on the troubled waters of public life. He feels that on his return to his home he is master as it were of "all he surveys." He can, sitting round the bright and blaz- ing wood fire, relate city scenes or adventures of travel to his credulous neighbors and, although he may not do it with the elegance of a Willis or the fidelity of an Irving, he does it in language understood by his audience and in accents which never fail to in- terest. He knows that he may aid at the "log rolling," join the "apple bee" frolic, go to the "corn hoeing," "corn husking" or "coon hunt" of his neigh- bors, or indulge in any other amuse- ment or occupation which his fancy may dictate. To use an independent, though not very elegant expression, he knows full well that when he gets home he may do just as he "d--n pleases." But let us take another view of him on the levee. See with what pity he regards those who are con- The following article from the fined to the unchanging monotony of New Orleans Picayune, reprinted in a city life, and observe how he de- the Logansport Herald October 1, spises uniformity of dress. He has 1839, shows how well the Hoosier just donned a new blue dresscoat with flatboatman was regarded in New silk linings and flowered gilt buttons. Orleans. His new pants look rather short for the present fashion, but this is easy HE IS FRANK, FREE AND GENEROUS to account for. They were of stock- his ut- -of a noble nature, and ing fit or French cut at the instep, ter unbelief in deception and chican- and thinking they pressed rather ery, too often make him the dupe of closely to be comfortable, he has cur- the dishonest and the victim of the tailed them of some six inches of vicious. We do love to see a Hoosier their fair proportions. He carries a roll along the levee with the proceeds dozen new shirts-some colored and of the plunder of his flatboat in his some of white or linen in his hand, pocket. It is the wages of industry- but he glories in still sporting the the impulse of of labor performed at same unpolished peg boots and the his own free will; and no lordly ec- woolen, round-topped, wide leafed clesiastic or titled layman dares claim he set out from home. a cent of it. He feels the pride of his hat in which place and would not barter his situa- The Hoosier says, or rather seems to tion for the empty popularity or the say-A life in the woods for me- unenviable notoriety which is often and his happy independent life attests the recompense of statesmen or of the wisdom of his choice. "

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Page23 "ANew Lease on Life!"

by DON J. RICHER Brownsburg Conservation Club

dig a deep hole and give the club's HOWconservation CAN WE clubBRING to alife? dormant That remains a decent burial. was the question facing a small group Today the club owns twenty acres of men-all that was left of a club- of land, a new 50 x 24-foot clubhouse more than three years ago. and it has more than 150 members The Brownsburg Conservation Club whose activities can be described as had lost its lease on the land where anything but dead. What's more, its clubhouse was built and all its fa- everything is paid for. cilities. Everything was gone except According to one member, "This a few pieces of equipment and a little amazing turn of events didn't come more than four hundred dollars in about because of a miracle but the treasury. The club was about as through a lot of hard work, a lot of lively as a minnow floating belly-up in fun and a lot of argument." To this stagnant backwater. another member added, "It also was Only a few members showed up at because of a belief in conservation." the rented meeting place to consider This belief is what it took to literally the seemingly hopeless task of breath- pull the club up by its own bootstraps. ing life back into the dead carcass. This is the way it happened. With a depleted membership, no fa- The few remaining members de- cilities to raise money, plus the bitter cided the club needed a place of its experience of having worked for own-someplace that wouldn't be years for a club only to see it all dis- taken away from them. appear, there is little wonder that After several sites were considered some thought it would be fitting to and rejected, a long-time member,

Page24 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 John W. Doyal, offered the club And how? That's when the argu- twenty acres for $5,000. About ten ments started (and they continue to- acres were tillable. The rest was bot- day). Some members consider a tom land bordering on White Lick meeting a failure if there isn't at Creek and land grown up in brush, least one good argument. Enthusiasm timber and thorn trees. Because this rather than the inability to get along was the best site available for the with each other is what causes the money, the club decided to buy. disagreements. It usually ends up A thornier problem than Doyal's with everyone talking at once and the thorn trees, however, was how to president pounding on the table for raise five thousand dollars. The club order. After one member got enough came up with a plan to assess each of this nonsense he persuaded the member thirty dollars payable in a club to adopt Roberts Rules of Order. lump sum or at ten dollars a year for When you are short of funds you three years. At the time it was an don't hire work done; you do it your- audacious decision because there self. The hard work began by build- weren't enough members left to raise ing a road and clearing the brush that much money, and few thought it to make way for the clubhouse and would succeed anyway. But the offi- trap. The fun began, too, because it's cers decided to push ahead and the impossible for a group of men with a members backed them up. common interest to work together like this without having a lot of fun. The plan was mailed to every ac- tive, delinquent and former club Farmer members proved particu- member. Active members rang door- larly valuable to the project because bells and collared friends to get new they know how to do a little bit of members. It wasn't easy to talk a everything. And they have heavy man out of thirty dollars when all equipment. Unexpected aid from you could offer him was hard work friends and strangers helped immeas- and the privilege of enjoying a non- urably. A list of donors of labor, existent clubhouse. But the member- skills and material would be impos- sible ship roll grew and it wasn't long be- to compile, there are so many, fore enough cash was raised to make and some are anonymous. For ex- ample, a complete the down payment and enough more stranger visited the club grounds pledged to get a loan from the and learned there was no Brownsburg bank to buy the land. well. "You drive a stake where you want it," he said, "furnish the So now the club owned twenty casing, and I'll drill it for you." He acres of land, a debt to the bank, and did, too, a 150-foot well with a flow a nearly depleted treasury. As new of 600 gallons an hour. members joined plans were laid out But no club can function on gifts for a road, a clubhouse, a still board, and dues alone. What is needed is a traphouse, a lake, a picnic area and a game refuge. But which comes first? And what kind? And where should each be put?

Trap shoots held once a month prove an excellent source of revenue. an active membership and a way to it was learned that drinking and make money. The Brownsburg Club gambling are death to a club so they has both. Most funds come from trap are taboo. shoots which are held the fourth Said one member, "We've got a Sunday of each month. The club nets good thing here and it's going to get about a hundred dollars a shoot, plus better." profits the members' wives make on Where does the club go from here? the sale of food. There is still plenty to be done on When the shoots began, the women the grounds but other projects are al- sold sandwiches and coffee and be- ready in the planning stage. Now that fore long their profits enabled them to the club has a base of operations, members are considering completely equip the kitchen with ways to push conservation and to be an asset new appliances. The wives are not to the community. The club grounds affiliated but are as interested as their have been made available to all local husbands in making the club a suc- scout groups. A series of small dams cess. along White Lick Creek to improve How do you maintain an active fishing and to conserve water are be- membership? You begin to get the ing considered. Building a bird and answer by listening to what the mem- game refuge on school property to supplement science courses bers want. The long-range plans have and to provide children with an easily ac- something for everyone including the cessible place for field trips is one women and children. Right now the idea which has already taken root. trap shoot is the main attraction but On a 4-acre tract three dozen red the picnic area, the lake and the mod- pine trees have been set out and over ern clubhouse will increase member 1,200 plants and shrubs including participation greatly. One officer re- high-bush cranberry, Russian olive, marked, "We want the kind of club multiflora rose and japonica lespe- where a man won't be ashamed to deza. Green and cover strips still to bring his family." From experience be planted will include Korean and sericea lespedeza and sorghum. Because the club knows conserva- tion is so important, it is investigat- ing a way to send a local teacher to the summer conservation school at Versailles. The purpose is to tie in conservation material with appropri- ate course in grades one through twelve. All of this sounds ambitious for a club that three years ago was flat on its back. But if the accomplishments of these past three years are any in- dication of the future, the Browns- Young conservationists Dick Scott, Mitch burg Conservation Club will get Wohlmuth, Jimmy Yearwood and Doug the McKinney survey their work with pride. job done. 0

Page26 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 LT. LANGLEY HONORED BY SCOUTS GIFT PRESENTED TO GOVERNOR For his work in teaching Boy Scouts AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK gun safety, Lieutenant Robert Langley, PROCLAMATION CEREMONY Conservation Department Post 5, was When Governor Harold W. Handley presented a plaque at the Annual Recog- officially proclaimed March 15-21 as nition dinner of the Central Indiana National Wildlife Week, as a part of the Council of Boy Scouts of. America. impressive ceremonies he was presented with a beautiful leather bound volume containing a ten-year collection of the National Wildlife Federation's conserva-

Lieutenant Langley's program reached the more than 20,000 Scouts of the Cen- tral Indiana Council. Each Scout received a study packet and actual training in safe tion stamps. The gift was presented by handling of firearms. Colonel Fillinger, William Colpitts (standing, left), educa- chairman of the Council in Health and tional advisor for the Indiana Depart- Safety, presented the plaque. 0 ment of Conservation and state co- chairman for National Wildlife Week. CONSERVATION CLUB HAS Kenneth Marlin (right), director of the BOOTH AT SPORTS SHOW Conservation Department, was present at the signing of the proclamation and the The Porter County Conservation Club presentation. promoted conservation recently when they maintained a booth at the Sports- The theme for this year is "Conserva- man's Show held in the Memorial Build- tion in the Schools." Programs were con- ducted in all sections of Indiana in ob- ing at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. March 14. servance and many long-range programs were instituted. 0

CLUB COMMENDS OFFICER BOOTS Conservation officer Robert N. Boots received a letter commending the out- standing assistance he has provided the Fort Harrison Rod and Gun Club the last two years. Major Michael E. Rem- bijas (left), past-president of the club, and Brigadier-General Frederick J. Ken- dall (right) presented the letter of appre- ciation at a special meeting February 11 at the Fort Harrison Officers' Club. 0

The booth and project were promoted by Conservation Officers Charles Black, assisted by Officer Martin R. Duies. Club members manned the booth, handing out pamphlets and copies of Outdoor Indiana. Several members of the Conservation De- partment visited the booth during the one-day stand. Pictured here are Charles Horner, federal conservation agent; Lt. Howard Webb, Sgt. Richard Barton, and Superintendent John Rawlins, Indiana Department of Conservation, Enforce- ment Division. 0 Why Conservation of Natural Resources Is Important to Everyone

EDUCATION SECTION My guest author for this month's Edu- cation Section is Linda Jane Tatum, 6th grade pupil, McCalla Elementary School, Bloomington, Indiana. Linda is the winner of the essay contest, for grades six through eight entitled "Why Conservation of Nat- ural Resources Is Important to Everyone," which was conducted through Outdoor In- diana. The second place winner is Stephen E. Lipken, grade 8-A, School 66, Indianapolis. Both winners receive a subscription to Outdoor Indiana along with the other prizes they are awarded. Linda Jane Tatum Bill Colpitts

WE LIKE TO THINK of our world wise farmer returns to the soil those as a large and bountiful home. But ac- plant foods that his crops take out of it. tually the earth's area is small compared Since the pioneer days, conservation with the number of human beings on it. has been one of man's greatest needs; For each of the more than two billion but it has seldom been practiced. there is an area of persons in the world, When the early settlers came to Amer- only about five and a half city blocks. are covered by ica, they found a land of tremendous Four of these blocks natural wealth. Nothing they had known water, because oceans, rivers and lakes in Europe prepared them for the abun- surface. Only cover most of the earth's dance of fertile soil, the luxurious for- one and a half blocks are land. This is to live on-and most of it ests, the great lakes and rivers, the rich not much land mineral deposits, and the varied wildlife. is desert, unfit for any use. Only one three-quarters of For a long time Americans believed that large corner lot, about resources of for growing crops. About there were more natural an acre, is good the North American Continent than they of this size are covered with three lots would ever need. It was common to hear useful trees. people speak of America's "inexhaustible When we realize how small each per- resources." son's share of the world is, we begin to see the importance of conserving our re- As the settlers of the United States sources. We must also remember that moved westward across the land, they the world's gifts are not ours alone. We cut down or burned forests, plowed up only borrow them for a lifetime. There- grasslands, and killed many kinds of fore, we must conserve the world's re- wildlife. Wasteful hunting methods killed for the use of future generations almost all the bison, beaver and many sources other animals. of men. Their share of the world will be even smaller than ours because the An even greater waste of natural re- population of the world is increasing so sources took place later, when the United rapidly. States began to grow into an industrial Whenever possible, we must replace nation. Mines were dug in such a way the resources we use. A good forester that only part of the copper, iron, and cuts trees only where other trees will coal in them could be taken out. In grow to replace those he has cut. The petroleum and natural-gas fields much of May, 1959 Page28 * OUTDOOR INDIANA the gas was burned to get rid of it, in- stead of being stored for use. Great for- I. U. Credit Courses in ests were cut down wastefully. Only the finest, straightest timber was used. Other Outdoor Education to Be trees that might have been used were Held at Bradford Woods left lying where they fell or were burned to clear the land. Fires started by care- Leadership training in outdoor ed- less lumbermen destroyed millions of ucation, conservation, recreation and acres of valuable trees. Repeat fires have killed billions of young trees and kept camping will be offered in seven grad- new forests from being started. Such uate courses for credits this summer wasteful practices almost completely de- stroyed the great hardwood forests that by Indiana University at Bradford once covered the northeastern United Woods near Martinsville. States. Bradford Woods, a 2,300-acre for- Much of the rich soil in the United States is being destroyed by improper est developed by Indiana University farming. It is estimated that we have and the Riley Memorial Association, already lost one-third of the topsoil of is national headquarters for the the United States. Every raindrop that falls on unprotected ground carries more American Camping Association; its soil away. Cutting trees and plowing on library is open to students. Chil- sloping land have made it more difficult for water to soak into the soil. Instead, dren's camps in operation this sum- the water rushes off the land into the mer include the James Whitcomb rivers, carrying the valuable soil and Riley Camp for handicapped chil- causing destructive floods. dren, University Day School Camp, The rich grasslands of the Great Plains Boys' Clubs Pioneer Camp, and once supported millions of wild animals. But most of the shoulder-high grass of Camp Bradford (Boy Scouts). pioneer days grows no more. In some places too many cattle were grazed on The program in brief: INTER- it until worthless weeds took over the SESSION-June 1-12, School Camp- land. Other millions of acres of grass- ing and Outdoor Education, 2 credits. land were plowed under for growing wheat. This was done in spite of the SUMMER SESSION I-June 13- warnings that the soil would blow away. July 17, Planning and Administration When dry lands came in the 1930's, more than 800,000,000 tons of topsoil were of Social Recreation, 22 credits; stripped off the Great Plains wheatlands Camping Administration, 22 credits; by the wind. The huge clouds of soil- dust were carried so far east that they School Camping, 22 credits; Field settled on ships at sea. Many millions of Problems (by arrangement). Five dollars were spent to save the soil that credits maximum. II-July 20-Au- was left. gust 7, Outdoor Recreation, 22 Such great tragedies of waste have credits. POST SESSION-August served to warn the people of America that this "land of plenty" could become 10-22, Workshop in Conservation Ed- a country of starvation and want. The ucation, 3 credits. people are learning the need for the wise and careful use of their resources. Faculty members include Reynold Conservation is the concern of all E. Carlson, Robert Tully and Prevo governments-national, state and local. It Whitaker, with visiting resource is the concern of the doctor who saves leaders from the university, the De- human lives and of the teacher who helps mold useful citizens. The forest ranger partment of Conservation and the in his lonely fire tower and the farmer State Board of Health. terracing a hillside are working for the same cause. So is the social worker, the For full information on curricula game warden, the city planner and the and crime fighter. To each of us conservation fees write the Resident Director, means personal responsibility for the wise Bradford Woods, Martinsville, Indi- use of resources in our own homes and ana. Reservations should be made communities. Conservation is truly every- body's business. * well in advance. *

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Page29 FIELD TRIA LS

A Growing Event at Versailles State Park

Trophies were presented to owners T MarionHE ANNUAL County SPRING Pointer TRIALS and Setterof the of the winning dogs. Winner of the Club held on March 7-8 at Versailles Amateur Puppy event was "Oh State Park, attracted over 100 dogs Johnny" owned by James Dotson, and their owners, plus a good number Shelbyville, Ky. Second place went of interested onlookers. to "Twinta Jo Jo" owned by Maurice There were three classes judged; Freeman, Lexington, Ky., and third the Amateur Puppy Trials, a 20- place to "Jimmie" owned by Melvin minute course; the Amateur Derby, a Johnson of Martinsville, Ind. 30-minute course and the Open All Amateur Derby winners were: first ages trial, a full hour course. Birds place, "Rip" owned by Charles Smith used in the trials were native to the of Louisville, Ky.; second place, area. "Sandy Schoors" owned by George

Left to right: Amateur Derby 2nd place, "Sandy Schoors"; 1st place, "Rip." Amateur Puppy 1st place, "Oh Johnny"; 2nd place, "Twinta Jo Jo", and 3rd place "Jimmie."

Page30 " OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 Stewart of Versailles; third place, "Wahoo Chief" owned by Perry Calendar Grey of Battle Creek, Mich. Field competition dates scheduled The Open All Ages was won by for the summer, fall and early winter "Satch-A-Mo," Wm. Jarrett of of 1959 at Versailles State Park fol- Zionsville, owner. Second place was low. taken by "Dotland Penny" owned by G. Dotson, Shelbyville, Ky., and third May 24-Dearborn County Beagle place went to "Spec Rohn" owned by Club Clarence Cattlet, also of Shelbyville, June 7-JoMar Beagle Club Ky. June 14-Dearborn Beagle Club Judges of the events were Virgil Gunlock, Chicago, Ill.; Farrest July 5-JoMar Beagle Club Henry, Zionsville, and Bob Bramlett, July 12-Hoosier Beagle Club Heber J. Cassidy and James Sloo, all August 2-JoMar Beagle Club members of the Club. August 19-23-Eastern Indiana Bea- gle Club August 27-30-Hoosier Beagle Club September 6-JoMar Beagle Club September 13-Dearborn Beagle Club September 26-27-Indiana Field Trial Association October 4-Jo-Mar and Hoosier Beagle Clubs October 7-10-Southeastern Indiana Fox Association October 10-11-Clovernook Pointer & Setter Club October 11-Dearborn County Bea- gle Club The judges: Virgil Gunlock, Forrest Henry and Bob Bramlett, standing; October 17-18-Anderson Bird Dog Heber J. Cassidy and James Sloo, in Club front. October 24-25-Lawrence County Pointer & Setter Club Versailles State Park has become November 1-Marion County a mecca for hunting dog field trials Pointer & Setter Club in the past few years, and becomes November 7-8-4th Regional Shoot- more and more popular with dog ing Dog Trials owners as time goes on. This success November 15-JoMar and Dearborn can be attributed to the efforts of Beagle Clubs George Stewart, superintendent of Versailles State Park. Through his December 6-JoMar Beagle Club efforts the area for the trials was set December 13-Dearborn County aside and developed. Beagle Club "

May, 1959 OUTDOOR INDIANA * Page31 FROM FILE 13

AS A TWIG IS BENT . . . SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL READ Everett Combs, of Washington, Ind., OUTDOOR INDIANA-School children probably has an inferiority complex about of Miami County will have the privilege his fishing skill by now. Taking his four- of reading Outdoor Indiana through the year-old son, Terry Lee, on a fishing trip, unselfish generosity of the Miami County Everett came out second best. Terry Council of Conservation Clubs. The or- caught far more bluegills than Dad. ganization recently subscribed for two Everett wanted to put most of them back, magazines for each school in the county but Terry wanted to show and brag Twenty-eight schools in the county will about his catch, just like any dyed-in-the- be the recipients of the magazine for wool fisherman. The cat had a good meal, their school work. The project accom- and Terry learned more about the sport plishes several things, namely putting of fishing. conservation education in the school, add- ing to our subscription lists and acquaint- ing the youth with our Indiana Depart- ment of Conservation. We heartily commend the council for this project.

FISH FRY--The Elkhart County Council will sponsor an original Jonal Fish Fry on June 6 at the Wakarusa High School. Serving will be from 4 till 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $1.50 for adults and 754 for children. The Council will also sell Outdoor Indiana at their booths during the county fairs. . . SO GROWS THE TREE * 0 0 The experts agree that the future of conservation lies with the youth of our Outdoor Indiana country. They should be encouraged by 311 W. Washington St. the story of James Quackenbush, Jr., Indianapolis 9, Indiana nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. James Dear Sirs: Quackenbush of Shoals, Ind. During the I am wondering if you could help me. open squirrel season, James killed 11 Years ago my grandmother had a recipe squirrels with his .410 Stevens shotgun. for softening the bones of fish in which While he was in the woods hunting. she used vinegar in some way. So far I've James probably learned more about na- been unable to find anyone who ever ture than any classroom could teach him. heard of doing this. Our future sportsmen and conservation- It made the bones real soft like they ists come from experienced boys like are in canned salmon. Maybe you have James. some oldtimers taking your magazine that know how this was done. Sincerely, John L. Martin R. R. 2 Ligonier, Indiana PROJECT-The Elk- MAN SIZED If anyone has a tried and proven recipe hart County Council and conservation club of that county are taking on a man- such as Mr. Martin refers to, we'll we glad to publish it. sized project. The plan is to reclaim Yel- low Creek lake. The project calls for re- moval of vegetation which chokes the 12-acre lake, installing facilities for fisher- men, a scientific replacing of fish accord- THANKS A MILLION-The Marion ing to the producing power of the lake County Council sold Outdoor Indiana and the removal of all present fish, so a subscriptions at their booth during the controlled fish population can be main- Indianapolis Sports Show. As a result, our tained. lists are 187 subscribers larger. Just think how our lists would soar, if every Nice work boys-That is sound conserva- club or council would take that much tion action. interest.

Page32 * OUTDOOR INDIANA May, 1959 Dear Editor of Outdoor Indiana: State Entomologist Retires I have just finished reading the Feb. issue of your nice little Mag. I am 65 PAUL T. ULMAN, Associate State yr's old and am a farmer. Have been a hunter and fisherman all my adult life, Entomologist, after 33 years of con- so I think I should know the meaning tinuous service, retired from his ac- of Conservation and also the crying need for it. I read with interest how our tive duties March 31, 1959. Born in money from revenue was spent and it Ohio, he attended the State College seems as though we are doing fairly well in that respect. I also believe we of Washington. He was connected have a very good department at the with the Indiana State Entomologist's present time and I admire Col. Marlin very much, but hated to see Bill Barnes Office for two years, before the estab- leave as I think he was a very able man. lishment of the Indiana Department (Bill didn't leave, but devoted full time to Federal co-ordination problems.) of Conservation. He is a veteran of Was glad to see by your map that World War I and served in France quail are doing so good in our state, with the U. S. Army Engineers. for I don't see hardly how they can with all the cover being destroyed by bull- After his war dozers and other reclaiming devices. service, Mr. Ulman I wish we could say as much for our was connected with the Michigan De- rabbits. I have never in all my years partment of Agriculture. But in 1926 saw such a rapid decline in their popu- lation. The question is, can we do any- he returned to the Indiana Depart- thing about it? You spoke of quail hunt- er's outnumbering the rabbit hunters, ment of Conservation, taking charge that may be true. But in my locality of the European Corn Borer pro- there are ten rabbit hunters to one quail hunter. gram. For many years he has been in We for a time were able to buy from nominal charge of nursery inspection Missouri, that source is gone. I have advocated for some time that the limit and Japanese Beetle control. of rabbits should be reduced to two. There is as much meat or more on two Mr. Ulman is an honorary member rabbits as two pheasants. Our Posey Co. Council went on record at our last meet- of the Indiana Association of Nur- ing to ask the state for such a reduction serymen and the Indianapolis for Posey Co. You wrote in one of your Land- issues about the swamp rabbit. I believe scape Association. He is a member you had the size a little large as 7 lbs., 2 ozs. was the largest I have seen to date. of the Indiana Academy of Science, There may be some larger that I have Entomological Society not seen. But this rabbit is just about be- of America come extinct due to the hunting pres- and American Phytopathological So- sure. That is a shame, as he was a fine sporting animal. It was real sport to run ciety. He is a charter member of the them with a beagle pack. I have never Indiana Gladiolus Society. He plans been able to kill one, then run him again. So sure would love to see a closed season to continue to operate Ulman's on them. Flower Garden near Noblesville, In- The picture in your mag. about those rabbits being sold on the market made diana. me very angry. Would love to have some of them alive to release. Well that about JAMES A. CLARK, Assistant State winds up all I have to say. Hoping you all the success in the world for your mag. Entomologist since 1941, will assume and am looking forward to my next copy. most of Mr. Ulman's duties. Mr. I remain yours for better conservation. Clark served four years in the U. S. L. B. Welch, Griffin, Indiana. Army during World War II, most of A4 million Thanks, Mr. Welch, for your it in the South Pacific theatre. He is fine letter. We could use more Conserva- tionists like you.-Editor. married and has two daughters. * INDIANA CONSERVATION PROPERTY GUIDE

K STATE PARKS 1 Bass Lake State Beach 2 8 Richard Lieber SState Park 4 Chain-O-Lakes State Park Project 5 * 6 Indiana Dunes S tate Park 7 Kankakee River State Park 8 Lincoln State Pa rk 9 McCormick's Cre M C 1 G A N 10 Mounds State Pa rk LAK MICHIGAN 11 Pokagon State P 12 Scales Lake Stat e 13 Shades State Parrk a ...... ****** 14 Shakamak State P rk 15 Spring Mill Stater ate Par -- so 16 Tippecanoe Rivere Park* .* -.- *...*. 17 Turkey Run Stat 18 Versailles State iP k°n. *K riEbgrlne s \3 l 19 Whitewater Statee arkFrs ai\ d STATE FORESTS--N 1 Clark State Fore. 2 Ferdinand State a oUN NAe .rt G ,S.. . F 3 Frances Slocum State Forest 2 6 31 3 I 4 Greene-Sullivan S 1 5 Harrison State F rest 12 1 i, a , , rest & Nursery ' 2. 6 Jackson State Fc s22 F 7 Jasper-Pulaski State Nursery t ,Wbh 8 Martin State For 9 Morgan-Monroe est P 10 Owen-Putnam Stlate Forest Fsar- Ri 11 Pike State Forest 12 Salamonie River

13 Selmier State Fo - r 14 P re serv

ESTATE GAME FARM 1 Beaver Lake Pratirie Chicken State Refuge S PE R S " ",... / 2 Glendale State G ame Preserve . R.S 3 Hovey Lake State Fish & Game Area I j 4 Jasper-Pulaski Sitate Game Farm & ^ Preserve

5 Kankakee State ( ame Preserve Wiwl n 3 6 Muscatatuck StalteeGame Farm 4 C ,, s ,, , i. " 7 Tri-County Statee FishFarm & &Game Preserve Area cr T.key s6, '"re 8 Wells State Game 9 Willow Slough Sttate Fish & Gam e ... , . . . . Area h & Game Area a s 10 Crosley State Fis

0 STATE MEMORIALS 1 Angel Mounds 2 George Rogers C 3 Corydon Capitol er 1 a 4 Gene Stratton Pc Stte Fores Brewn31 n Semmbele 0... 5 Indiana Territor 6 James F. D. Lan 7 Limberlost ndl Hniis ao. 8 Nancy Hanks Li l > a m 2s, 9 New Harmony 10 Pigeon Roost 11 T. C. Steele 12 Tippecanoe Battle Fish & Game Area 31 13 Whitewater Cana 14 Wilbur Wright

* STATE FISH HATCHE uing s1aon s t fr s . in a a m a .n u s 1 Avoca Hatchery 2 Bass Lake Hatch 3 Curtis Creek Tro 4 Driftwood Hatch 5 Fawn River Hat. 6 Ferdinand Hatch 7 Maxinkuckee Hat 8 Riverside Hatche 9 Scales Lake Hatc

10 Tri-Lakes Hatche "i 47 c " - 11 Wawasee Hatcher

* POINTS OF INTERES 1 Constitution Elm 2 Deam Oak

These properties are administered by the Indiana Department of Conservation

* Inns open year 'rou