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VOLUME 3 JANUARY 1s, 19 44 NUMBER Perch Family Made American ~grets Build Nests and Up of Numerous Interesting Members Rear Young In Rookery Near Sabula By E B SPEAKER • Superintendent of F1sheries No group of fishes in Iowa is Colony Consists of held in higher esteem than the larger members of the perch fam­ Between 700 and ily, the walleye pike, yellow perch and sauger. Equally in­ teresting in this group but too 900 Individuals small to serve as food are the 16 By JAMES R HARLAN l1ttle darters, many of whtch are go1·geously colored. Reprinted From Iowa B~rd Ltfe Walleyes are found principally For at least the second succes­ in the larger natural lakes, the sive year American egrets ar boundary r1vers, and a number known to have made their sum of the maJor inland streams. They mer home and successfully raised spawn early m April soon after their young in an Iowa rooker) the ice disappears, depositing The colony is located in the Mis­ their eggs aimlessly over rock or sissippi River bottom in Jackso1 gravel bars, after which they re­ County about three miles abov< turn to deeper water, leavmg the the town of Sabula and a mil eggs to develop unattended and west of the river channel prope the tmy offspring to shift for For a number of years egre• thE'mse l ves. have become increasingly corr. NaturE' has provided this care­ mon, after havini' been almost en less family with the ability to tirely absent from the state fc deposit enormous numbers of f'ggs nearly 20 years. Undoubted] to compensate for th0 Joss which Part of the Amencan egret nests in the Sabula rookery. Several birds may be seen these egrets were first-year yount invariably follows. These losses perched in the trees, and two have been caught in mid-air by the cameraman that had come into the state fror are caused by a multiple of fac­ southern rookeries to fish, anc tors, including abrasive action of were not from Iowa nesting birds wind and sand, predation by fish­ The fact that egrets were nest­ es and aquatic insects, and dis­ Market Hunting of Waterfowl ing on Iowa's Mississippi bottor ease. The size of the eggs varies was brought to the attention o considerably in different locali­ the writer in a casual conversa ties and among individuals. Eggs In ~arly Days--Slaughter tlon m the latter part of Jul~ 150,000 usually average from to By JACK W MUSGROVE • 1942, with Conservation Office 160,000 to the quart and shortly duck raft continued to increase D1rector, State Museum Blll Morf, who in the company o. after fertilization double in size. in size and number, the indis­ Don Edlen had found the colon} The incubation period varies in The glow of the early spring tinct shape of a boat, camouflaged earlier in the year. At that time direct relation to the tempera­ sunset touched with red the wings with rushes, glided from the they estimated the birds to num ture of the water. In Iowa the of waterfowl mtlling over the shores. In it were two shadowy ber 1,500 individuals, includin;, eggs hatch in about 12 to 20 days. lake. As darkness approached forms, one at the bow completing great blue herons. Insomuch a~ The tiny fish, or fry as they are the number increased until the the loading of a large swivel the birds were no longer in tht called, are about 3116 inches in sky was filled with the shadowy gun, the other manning an oar colony, it was impossible to verify length. They are transparent and forms. As they settled with the that pushed the boat silently the report or visit the nests that individually are scarcely visible mass of birds already at rest on through the thick vegetation to year. However, the nesting ob­ to the eye. the water, the clamor of their the open water. Ahead, the raft servation of Morf and Edlen for Development is rapid, and by voices could be heard for miles. of waterfowl crowded together 1942 cannot be questioned. fall the youngsters are from Here, in their favorite resting still unalarrned, unaware of the In late J une, 1943, in the com­ three and a half to six or more place, they fed and bathed, and approaching doom of many of pany of Garfield Harker of Ma­ inches in length. Normally, they conversed with their fellows. their numbers. quoketa, the conservation office1 lUBtQ~ * J~RSOtl, i) about one-th1rd of the area. The ! , * ~"DOPER. ROBT * .;,IME"'SON,l-1 nesting area itself was made up * JOPE;( \\lisa-* )STROM ~AE of some 40 trees covering approxi­ * F'A2>ER. LEST£~ * LYE. .EDWARD mately two acres The nests were * FIN;t... LAV£R"l * STARR,f"RAtl ~ placed for the most part m ex­ *r o:~:.JGEil.VW * ;:.TEMPEL £. * !':E. R CUARO * rrLU[Aivl D. ceedingly tall trees, w1th the low­ * lf"FMAN, (J * {0\JNul'>LOOD. M ( * t, OA' D* .JJTY AL&(QT than 50 per cent were still occu­ * v'IES oc,, * '' )R.F.WJ pied w1 th from two to four young. · ~ 5'0'l,TAfLOR It 1s the author's observatiOn that * AGO. rt.RL \Wd more than 60 per cent of the live * -l '~50N W A. An Amencan egret, almost fully grown, that tumbled ou t of its nest high up in a deaci \'".::01 nests were occupied by American * ';AY~!E t ottonwood - Photo by Herb Schwartz * ~ • ST£A. G(O egrets, the remamdcr by great is some five mlles wide at this the trees. It is in this eerie vast­ blue herons. No other nesting pomt ness that the egrets chose their birds were observed; however, Prior to the establishment of housekeepmg sites and built their Speaker identified two nests of the nme-foot channel, the bottom rookery. the black-crowned mght heron Egrets was mtersected by numerous The nests are built m a cluster the week before. the tal picture of these bottoms. fhe low-growing bush. The latter is creased in intensity and pitch. lake and sat quietly on a floatmg flat, timbered flood plam through m such profuswn as to appeal as Many of the adult birds, like log. ,vhich flows the Father of Waters a luxuriant cult1vated crop among ghosts, left on unhurried wings fin spines on the adult males. The Oklahoma Farmer-Stock­ though many of the darters are They inhabtt shallow rock riffles, man recently published two pic­ found m comparatively swlft where they lead an active preda­ tures, one of a washed-away streams, several spectes are tory life Then food consists of field The magazine offered a known to prefer qutet weed beds caddts-worms and other insect Newly hatched walleye p1ke are smalle• pnze for the best essay on the of lakes and open sand bars of larvae. The breed10g habits of than mosquito larvae, th~ fam11iar Wigglers two pictures The first pnze was large rivers. The group, '' hich this little ftsh are qutte umque of the ram barrel This small v1al conta1ns won by a Cherokee Indtan "•.rho ( 1s I estncted to eastern North They spawn m the swlft water several hundred day-old walleyes wrote this Amenca, Is httle known to most of rock nffles m Apnl or early "Both ptctures show the white May. The eggs, which arc ad­ only lheil eyes visible to the ob­ man crazy Make btg tepee anglers, and when occaswnally server. Its food conststs pnn­ hesive, are depostted by th~? fe­ Plow hill. Water wash. Wind taken in minnow nets are usually ctpally of small insect larvae. refer red to collectively as "sand male on the underside of rocks. blow soil; grass all gone. Squaw daib'. After fertlhzatwn the male drives gone, papoose too No chuck­ The breeding habits of many the female away and guards the away No pig, no corn, no hay, darters arc not kno""·n Some of nest until incuballon has been no cow, no pony. Indtan no plow • the darters take care of their completed He keeps the eggs Sand Darter land Keep grass. Buffalo eat. Indtan eat buffalo. Hide make eggs dunng the mcubation per­ free of sedtment by bnskly rub­ The log perch is the lai gc s t of wd while others, hke then larger bmg them wtth the nobby por­ the Iowa darters, frequently at­ tepee, moccasins too. Indian no make ten act. No build dam No cousms, the ""'alleye and sauger, tiOn of the dorsal fm. tam10g a length of SIX incht.s or gtve a dam All time eat. No deposit the eggs at random and more The color 1s olive gteen hunt job No httch-hike No ask do not attend them. Some lay above and silvery below, and the relief. No shoot pig Great comparatively few eggs, while sides are crossed wtth a number Spirit make grass Indian no others lay as many as 3,000 Most of darker green bars. It 1s ~orne­ of them breed in Apnl and May, times locally called the zebra waste anythmg. Indtan no work at which hme the males are most Fantail Darter fish In Iowa it is usually round Whtte man heap crazy "-Lake ortlhantly colored. in lakes and large rivers It 1s Park News. Space will not permit a com­ less frequently found m small pic te descnptwn of all of the streams L1ke the western John­ f A Laugh On the ( darters m this article, but a bnef ny and blackside darters, it is les~ descnpt10n and a few Illustra­ spectaltzed 10 its preference of Game Warden tions are g1ven for some or the I Ra1nbow Darter envtronment. Spawnmg occurs Accordmg to GeorgE. Bates, of ty ptcal ones. J The Iowa darter 1s typical of in April or early May, but little Boston, Mass., a game warden, For our purpose, darters may is known of its breeding hab1ts be classified into four general this group and lives in dense during the hunt10g season m weed beds. Ltke many of this m this state. The food of the log groups those living m (1) nifles, Maine, flagged a car that had type, 1t 1s bnlhantly colored. It perch consists principally of crus­ (2) weed beds, (3) large waters; two dee1 strapped to the running attams a length of about two taceans, small worms, Insects, board A man and a woman got and ( 4) the less speciahzed type. and msect larvae The first group lives almost en­ inches. The color of the sides and out and the warden asked the tirely m the rocks and riffles of upper parts of the body is hght usual questions. Then he no­ relative!} swift streams They green, fmely blotched with dark­ ticed both animals had been snot mclude the stnped fantail. or­ er green. There are from mne right between the eyes. Suspect­ angethroat, northern rambow, to 11 clove-brown bars on the mg that the dec1 had been sides extendmg along the lateral slenderhead, and gilt darters. Log Perch "jacked", or hunted at mght w1th line with squarish blotches of The second group hves pnmarily hghts, whtch is illegal, the war­ m weed beds and large quiet rusty red alternating with the den asked the woman at what waters of lakes and a few of the bars. The belly is greenish yel­ distance the deer were shot. She larger streams. This group in­ low to whtle. In late summer replted, "About 75 yards" I cludes the scaley Johnny, north­ and fall the colorallon is much The warden satd, "Okay, if less bnlliant than it is ir. the you're that good a shot, you j ern least, Iowa, and mud darters. Blackside Darter sprmg durmg the breeding sea­ The third group are usually As a group the darters are should be able to hit my watch at I son. It was named Iowa darter 75 yards." He paced off the dis­ found in large waters such as often referred to as the hum­ because the first specimen was the Mississ1pp1 R1ver and lower mmgbirds of the fish famtly. tance and hung his watch on a tree. The woman objected to 1 reaches of its tributaues. It m­ taken 10 this slate. Most of them are small m size shooting, but the warden over­ cludes the northern sand, crystal, and equipped with broad fins, I ruled her. Taktng quick aim, she and channel darters. The rourth pomled heads, and other physio­ shot and blasted the watch to group includes the less special­ logical characteristics whic'< en­ ' ized types, including the eastern able them to maintain themselves smithereens. Then the male passenger of the Johnny, log perch, and blackside. 10 the sw1ft, shallow water they Iowa Darter car spoke for the first time and They are widely distnbuted in usually inhabit. Some of the said, "Perhaps we should have Iowa and may be found in many nffle and sand bar species are In­ told you. We're demonstrators l different localities. The eastern conspicuously colored, blendmg Johnny darter is found in both wtth their surroundmgs, while for a firearms manufacturer, and on vacation "-From the Nation­ swift and qmet waters of the others are brilliantly colored. al Wtldlife Federation. large and small streams. It is Mud Darter Their small size and maneuver­ the mosl abundant darter in the The northern sand darter is one ability enables them to hide un­ stale The log perch, although of the most common species of its der rocks and in crevices, thus "I am sure that the book 'Wa­ confined principally to lakes and group. ll attains a length of avoiding the iarger fishes of prey. terfowl in Iowa' will be a wel­ Pastern nvers of considerable about two and a half inchec; and Peculiarly enough, some of the come addition to the library of all stze, ts also found in some of the is very slender and cylindrical smaller darters mhabit large, Iowa sportsmen Your 'Iowa smaller streams. The blackside deep bodies of water and some Conservationist' ts a very inter­ darter is commonly found in both The color is translucent and blends beautifully with the sand of the larger ones are taken from esting periodical and each Issue pools and riffles of the streams. tmy brooks. Apparently they af­ over which 1t IS found. Tht're 1s is received with pleasure"­ It is widely distributed in Iowa. a selies of 14 or 15 small squar­ ford a small percentage of the Manly, Iowa. The fantail darter is perhaps food of our larger fishes the most common of the riffle ish blue blotches along the back and s1dcs. It lives almost en­ spec1es in the state. It attains "Enclosed you w1ll fmd $1.00 "Am enclosing check of $1.40 the length of from two to two tirely over sand bars 10 the larger for which please send me a copy streams in Iowa and is capable of for which please send me your and a half inches, and the body of your 'Waterfowl in Iowa' and burrowing into the sand with re­ book titled 'Waterfowl in Iowa'. ts rather slender and somewhat Do you have anything along this the 'Iowa Conservationist' for compressed. The jaw projects markable speed Frequently they one year "-Waterloo, Iowa can be found thus hidden w1th hne on fish?"-Algona, Iowa strongly and the spinous dorsal I OWA CONSERVATIONIST PAGE FIVE ----~~------~------What's a Dog's Life, Anyway? Market Hunting (Contmued from Page One) WILD LIFE The peace was shattered by the RESEARCH loud explosion of the gun, fol­ lowed by the roar of wings and cries of alarm as countless hun­ dreds of birds took wirtg in uni­ son. On the water remained the qUiet bodies of the fallen water­ fowl, disturbed only by the er­ Cottontail Studies Project No. 568 " I wonder who ratic rushes of those hit but not Leader, GEORGE 0. HENDRICKSON onginated the s 1I I y killed, seeking the protecting Badger Food Hab1ts reeds or diving beneath the sur­ Edwm Snead determined the express•on 'leading a face of the water. But most of kmds and quantities of food the wheeling flock was unwilling dog's I ife.' Look at taken by the badger in Iowa by to leave the resting ground£ and the frequency of occurrence per­ the lazy mutt there in the quiet darkness settled at centages of food remams m 51 another spot, only to have the scats for the summer period, 1939, All he has to do •S sllllness broken agam by the m northwestern Iowa and ir 188 eat, sleep, and play m1ghty blast of the sw1vel gun. scats for the period from March Such were the practices of the l::i to December 15, 1940, m cen­ market hunters of watetfowl tral Iowa Ground squirrels many years ago when the only (67.67 per cent), mice (45.55 per thought was to obtam as many cent), colton tail (25.49 per <:ent), b1rds as possible. No laws gov­ and insects (27.10 per cent) were erned the shooting, and punt and ma.1o1 food Items m central Iowa. swivel gunning, a carry-over Of less Importance were birds, from the European way of hunt­ pocket gophers, and snakes. ing, were the easy methods by Traces of plant matenal were "I wonder who originated the "And the fuss you make over wh1ch large numbers of birds found in the scats. The most fre­ Silly expression 'leading a dog's a httle spot on the rug! When a could be obtained. F ortunately quent prey, the stnped ground life'," I remarked to the boss-at­ fella's gotta go, he's gotta go. these methods had not many squirrel, was taken in greatest home the other night. "Look at "And the kids around here! followers, but those who used numbers m summer when the the lazy mutt there. All he has Now kids are a great institution them killed countless thousands least number of mice were con­ to do is eat, sleep, and play." and I like 'em. And I like to play. of ducks, geese, and swans. sumed Insects, especially vari­ About that time the pup opened But there's a time and place for In some communities the guns ous ages of bumblebees, May one eye and growled, "I know I everything, and when I'm trying (Can we call them guns? In re­ beetles, and larger ground beetles am't supposed to talk, but I can't to take a nap ain't no time for a ality they were cannons.) sup­ wet e eaten m greatly mcreased keep quiet any longer. You've kid to be playful. plied plantation owners with proportions dUI ing the summer made that crack about leading an "And talk about eating! Listen, meat to feed their colored slaves. months. Data for northwestern easy life once too often. brother, any resemblance be­ Records tell of cases in which Iowa were much like those for "Do you think 1t's any fun tween food and that stuff you put slaves were fed canvasback till summer in central Iowa. Badger making an unholy show of my­ in my pan IS purely coincidental. the very sight of the birds was food caches were observed to a self to keep myself m your good "Furthermore, I wish you'd distasteful to them and other hmttcd extent particularly in the graces? start keeping a fire overnight. It types of food had to be found. sprmg. Besides acquiring food "Do you think it's any pleas­ gets darned chilly around here As the country became more on the ground surface and dig­ ure to jump up and wag my back at three and four o'clock in the settled there was a great demand ging prey from burrows, the almost half off every time you morning. for waterfowl on the city mar­ badger consumed many striped step in the house?" "Any time you're ready to kets. Many men followed hunt­ ground sqUirrels and cottontails "But I thought you liked me," change places, brother, just let ing as a profession, obtaining made more readily available by I protested. me know. I'm ready when you waterfowl for the markets in intermittent eo-use of the vari­ "Sure, you're a nice guy, but I are." town, where they were exposed ous types of previOusly formed get tired of telling you about it All of which goes to show that for sale at small cost in great badger excavations by both all the time. But if I didn't dogs are just as dumb as hu­ bunches. Often large shipments predator and prey. you'd say I was an ungrateful mans. They don't know when to distant cities spoiled before Although the badgers ate many wretch and didn't know which they are well off either.-Author reaching the market and were cottontalls, the badger in real­ side of my bone had meat on it. unknown. lost. ity aids the cottontail by provid­ ing shelter cover. In a 38-acre With so many market hunters h1lly bluegrass pasture, for in­ the entrances of newly dug badg­ tions of the forms exposing the in the field punt guns and swivel stance, several cottontails were er burrows. The cottontails by cottontails, cornered or chased guns became unpopular, not be­ repeatedly seen to use as sites of sitting erect in the various forms down the holes proper, to more cause of the destruction they forms the old, shallow badger ex­ were able to see above the ground dangers from attacks by badgers. meted out, but because little op­ cavatiOns and hollows of caved­ level. Nevertheless, a closely grazed portunity for the1r use existed in badger burrows. The forms In these examples two consid­ pasture with badger holes had because of competition. The use were well toward the middle of erations seem evident. One is more cottontails than a similar of four-, six-, and e1ght-gauge the pasture, which was sheared that the habitability for cotton­ pasture without the shelter cover guns became popular m water­ almost entirely of surface vege­ tails of overgrazed, badger-inhab­ provided by badger dens. fowl hunting, and the trend to­ tation tall enough to offer con­ ited fields was increased marked­ ward smaller gauges continued to cealment for a cottontail. Im­ ly through the provision of cover "I have long awaited such a increase as it became necessary to • mediately around the utilized in the form of badger holes and book as is described in the Trig­ shoot individual birds on the 1 cavities the grass was taller than depressions, and indirectly by the ger and Reel column of the Sun­ wing. Large gauges were useful a elsewhere, apparently a result of relatively taller vegetation fol­ day Register on the description only on groups on the water; such areas being avoided by live­ lowing the disturbance of the and identification of ducks. Am their excessive reco1l and the ex­ e stock. The more recent burrows, plant succession. The other con­ enclosing my check for one dol­ pense of loading them did not perhaps of the previous year or sideration is that rabbits making lar and hope to receive the book justify their use on flying birds. two, were surrounded by old use of such cover would be more in the near future."-Kelley, Constant advances were made stems of lesser ragweed and vulnerable to attacks by badgers Iowa. in the arms of the market hunter. other annual weeds that sprang occupying the range or returning Muzzle-loaders were replaced by up following disturbance of the to it. The mcreased vulnerabil­ ''I would like to have two more breech-loaders. The choke bore sod and remained through the ity would result from the preda­ copies of 'Waterfowl in Iowa' and was introduced, closely followed winter In other places, cotton­ tor's habit of revisiting former am enclosing my check for same." by the development of repeating tails were flushed from forms m excavations and from the loca- -Spencer, Iowa. rized of the much dreaded Dutch elm dy duck, formerly scorned by by epicures that only canvasback disease in the eastern states. The Expenment S t a t 1 o n, J hunters, became known as the appeared on the menus of the It is not known yet at just what through its staff m the botany dollar duck. Since the flavor of more famous hotels and restau­ time of year infection takes place, and plant pathology section, will these birds approached that of rants. Redheads and ruddies, the but generally to the casual ob­ select, direct, and supervise the personnel employed to investi­ the lordly canvasback, they were best substitute, were also reduced server the first evidence of In­ supplied to the restaurants and to a pitiful remnant. fectiOn Is noted durmg July and gate the wilt disease Laboratory hotels of the cities. Wood ducks, the most beautiful August. A slight wilting will be facilities, greenhouse space, and The large six- and eight-gauge b1rds in North America, were noticed at first on the very top office space will also be fur­ guns became mcreasmgly less sought not only for their plump branches or possibly the extremi­ nished by the Station, which will popular; rather the hunters de­ bodies, but for their plumage, so ties of one or two branchE:s on also publish the results of re­ pended more and more on the highly prized by fly fishermen the side of the tree. This 1s at search through Its regular chan­ smallest gun then m use, the ten­ both here and abroad. Wood first just a drooping and crink­ nels of publication. gauge. Already the use of de­ duck skins in prime condition ling condition of the green leaves. For the past several years the coys was popular, and many once brought $3.00 each from Gradually the leaves turn yPllow State of Wisconsin has been car­ stools of them numbered into the manufacturers of fine English rying on a Similar program of re­ hundreds. Spring was the fa­ trout flies. Many early duck baitmg. Were they to thmk of search, and It IS hoped that vorite season, as the birds were hunters speak of shooting wood the years of effort required to through correlation of fmdings easier to get and their bodies ducks on the evemn g flight till reestablish our waterfowl and in both states a practical control were in pnme condition, but re­ the gun barrels had to be sub­ bring them to their present day program can be worked out gardless of season, if enough merged m the water for cooling status, were they to think how Observations of lh1s disease few seasons these birds would birds could be secured, the mar­ and the juice of w1ld grapes, run­ have been made m Iowa for the 1'1 ket hunter was at work. Only ning from the throats of the beau­ last under the old practices, they past 12 years by Dr. I. E. Melhus, a those whose skill in hunting made tiful birds, made purple pools in would cease their clamor. Today, H ead of the Botany Department It 1t a paying proposition persisted the bottom of the boat. with our restrictions, you and I of Iowa State College, as well as ~ The days of market shooting can go to marsh and stream and in market gunning, but still by the writer. Dr. Melhus has ~ enormous numbers of b1rds were are gone forever, and the day enjoy duck shooting, but not as the made some preliminary studies of n killed. that saw Its close came none too man who killed for a livelihood, the disease m the vicinity of Mc­ I) Secrecy was the rule among the soon. Had it persisted, our mod­ exploiting selfishly for h1mself Gregor, Iowa. c hunters, they left no records. ern day guns and high-powered what really belonged to all. We The Conservation Commiss1on a Only in late years, therefore, has ammunition, coupled with the may enjoy our huntmg as s ports­ has attempted in the past to carry II enough fragmentary ev1dence drainage and plowing of n esting men should and m return must on tree sanitahon control meth­ .. grounds and feeding areas, would lend a helping hand m the resto­ ods in an effort to curb the spread been gathered to piece together ~ the story of the market gunner. have left few of our wildfowl. ration and conservation of our of the disease but has met with u From the few old-time market Many hunters unthinkingly de­ waterfowl, so that our sons and only partial success in some cases d shooters left today, we get tales mand more privileges in duck grandsons may also know the and complete failure in others. ll' such as bags of 450 ducks in one hunting-larger bags, live decoys, thrill of hunting wild ducks. The writer has found the dis­ p clay. mostly canvasbacks and red­ ease prevalent in all parts of the a) heads, or 150 canvasbacks m a These game guns of state in which black or red oaks Oi occur. I nfected oak trees have single day's shoot One man the past are, from killed 369 ducks in one day, an­ been observed in 29 state park ~ top to bottom eight­ areas rangmg from Waubonsie other 430 The greatest destruc­ ~ tion of geese recorded is 218 m gauge breech loader. State Park in Fremont County ... one hour's shooting, when the weight 12 oounds; in the southwest to the McGregor fc hunter ran out of ammunition: flintlock swivel gun Areas m Clayton County in the ..... northeast, and Farmington State he returned to finish the day with weight 86 pounds, ~~ 450 birds. Park in Van Buren County in the th bore diameter 23/e Fortunately market shooting southeast to A. A . Call StatE> Oj l•ndured only a short time after inches; 14-gauge ~uzzle-loader, a very popular gun among early day market hunters a IOWA CO N SERV ATIONI ST PAGE SEVE I'J When Others Desert, He Remains Rabbit Has Graced the Table Of Prince and Pauper Alike

By ANNA MARGRETHE OLSEN spots on the hver or spleen, burn Iowa has a large potential crop the carcass at once and wash the of cottontails if the following hands, knife and utensils more The one absolutely story, "Rabbits Is Rabbits", from ~horoughly than ever. the Iowa Conservation Commis­ 5. Cook the meat all the way unselfish fnend a man sion's bulletin quoting the Oel­ ,hrough. can have in tl,;~ sel- wein Register reflects conditions 6. Don't shoot cottontails for throughout the state: the sport of shooting only; plan fish world, the one "A victory gardener saw a rab­ to use the meat or leave them that n e v e r ceserls bit in his garden and wrote the ior someone who does. O.P.M. asking how he could get Ra bbit Cookery him, the one t h a t rid of it legally. By the time a reply arrived, advising securing a The cookmg and servmg of rab­ never proves ungrate- perm1t from his State Game Com­ bit meat with other game am· mals no doubt dates back tc an­ ful or treachercus, s miSSion, the rabbit had become stx. He wrote the Commission ~tqUJty. Rabbtt dishes graced the h s dog. and was sent an application to tables of the loftiest as well as fill out. By this time there were the lowliest. The earliest cook 38 bunnies. When the permit books consulted are English and was fmally received, the rabbit contam recipes for rab­ problem was 165 strong. He IS bits a nd hares. The earlies! book now satd to be trying to get a dates back to 1659, and is the pnority on a machine gun." ''Twelveth Edition". The book is These same cottontails can pay very small m stze, 2 mches by 414 for their feed by supplying non­ mches, with 140 pages. It is di­ • rationed meats to the gardeners vtded mto two parts, "I. A Choice One of the noblest tributes to Manuall, or Rare and Select Se­ desert, he remains. When riches and farmers they worried and the dog is part of an addrr:-ss to robbed last summer, as well as crets in P hysick and Chyrurgery. a jury made by Senator George take wings and reputation falls and II. A True Gentlewoman's to pieces, he is as constant m his contribute materially toward r e­ Graham Vest durmg the trial of lieving the scarcity of meats. In Delight Wherein is contained all a man who had shot a fine dog love as the sun in its JOUrney manner of cookery: Together through the heavens. If fortune 1942 some 1,216,000 rabbits net­ belongmg to a neighbor. The eu­ ting 2,140,500 pounds of food with Preserving, Conserving, Dry­ logy is so remarkable for its sim­ drives the master forth an out­ ing and Candying, very necessary cast in the world, friendless and were taken in Iowa by hunters. plicity and digmty that we quote for all Ladies and Gentlewomen". it m full: homeless, the faithful dog asks Wild Rabbit Meat Can Be Eaten no higher privilege than that of The following recipe is one of the "Gentlemen of the jury· The Safely four found in the book and might accompanying him to guard best fnend a man has m thi~ Tularemia, an acute infectious against danger, to fig ht against well be a present day modifica­ world may turn against him and dtsease caused by bacterium tu­ tion of stewed rabbit: become his enemy. His son or h1s enemies. And when the last larense, occurs under normal "A Stewed Rabbet-Cut your scene of all comes, and death his daughter, that he has reared conditions in over 20 kinds of R abbet m pieces and season it with lovmg care, may prove un­ takes the master in its embrace, wildlife, especially rabbits and wtth Pepper, and Salt, Thyme, and his body is la1d out away m grateful. Those who are near­ hares. Cold weather greatly re­ P arsley, Wmter Savoury, and the cold ground, no matter if all est and dearest to us, those whom duce ~; the danger of tularemia. sweet Marjoram, three Apples, other friends pursue their way, we trust with our happiness a nd However, tularemia is here to and three Onions minded alto­ our good name, may become trai­ there by his graveside will the stay according to specialists on gether, stew it till it be tender tors to their faith. The money noble dog be found, his head be­ the subject, and since man m ay w1th Vinegar and water, put a tween his paws, his eyes sad but that a man has he may lose. It become infected through cuts or piece of butter in, stir it together flies away from him, perhaps open in alert watchfulness. faith­ bruises when handling infected in your dish, put sippets in the when he needs it most. A man's ful and true even to death." rabbits, or by bites of infected bottom, then serve it up with the reputation may be sacrificed in blood-sucking ticks and flies, it head in the middle of the dish a moment of ill-considered ac­ "Every duck hunter in Iowa is highly important to exercise with sippets in the mouth." tion. The people who are prone should have one of these books." care at all times in handling and The two next oldest books date to fall on their knees to do us - Emmetsburg, Iowa. eating rabbits. Dr. G. 0. Hen­ back to 1726 and '27. They are honor when success is with us drickson, Project Leader, Wild­ more like our books of today in may be the first to throw stones "I see by the Wheatland, Iowa, life Research for Iowa, discusses size. "The Royal Cookery or the of malice when failure settles its Gazette that you have issued a in the November 15, 1942, issue of Compleat Court Cook by Patrick cloud upon our heads. The one book entitled 'Wate rfowl in the Iowa Conservationist the dan­ Lamb, Esq., near fifty years Mas­ absolutely unselfish friend that Iowa'."- Roundup, Montana. ger of tularemia from rabbits in ter-Cook to their late Majesties, man can have in this selfish Iowa and summarizes briefly how King Charles II, King J ames II, world, the one that never deserts to use wild rabbit meat safely King William and Queen Mary, him, the one that never proves "Send a copy of 'Waterfowl in under the following simple rules: and Queen Anne" appeared m its Iowa,' as soon as possible, please, ungrateful or treacherous, is his 1. Hunt cottontails only durmg thu·d edi hon m 1726. The fol­ dog. Gentlemen of the JUly, a as I want it for a birthday gift."­ lowing recipe no doubt refE"rs to Charles City, Iowa. cold weather, in late fall and in man's dog stands by him in pros­ winter. the musky or game flavor ot the perity and in poverty, in health 2. Take only fast-moving cot­ hare. and in sickness. He will sleep Forestry Chips tontails, which probably are "To :Make Civet of a Hare-Cut on the cold ground, where the healthy. off the Legs and Wmgs whole; wintry winds blow and the snow