VOLUME 3 MAY 15, 1944 NUMBER 5 Cresco Wild Catfishing Should Be uTops" This Life Club Does y S C . Off• A Good Job ear, ay onservatlon 1cers . ----- By ELMER DAVIS Cresco Wild Life Club Virtues of Fresh In the summer of 1943 Cresco was confronted by the same prob Chicken Blood lem that many other towns and cttles face sooner or later. Their main recreational area for boat Bait Extolled mg. swimming, fishing, and pic "Goin' fishin' " to more than nicking that was privately owned half of Iowa's quarter million was to be disposed of. fishermen means a trip to a near The land and water had been by nver, with a day (or night) occupied by three generations of spent in tempting channel catfish the Salisbury family, and under with a baited hook. This is par their ownership the public had ticularly true during these days free and almost unrestricted use of gas and meat rationing because of the entire farm for recrea of the fact that within "A" dis ttonal purposes. In the summer tance of any place in the state Jf 1943 the last of the famtly de there is a good catfish stream, :ided to quit farming. and in each of these streams there All agreed that the land should are plenty of these whiskery, ra Je purchased and preserved as a tion-free fish. Jublic park. Everyone had a dif Recent stream surveys have erent idea as to procedure and In wadmg and bnngmg the bail to the fish, instead of waiting for the fish to come to shown bountiful supplies of chan !onsequently nothing was done. the bait, light weight tackle may be used and very little or no weight. nel cats in all age groups, from :nsomuch as the land was to be fry to "lunker" adults. During :old and there was a chance that the past winter perfect water he timber would be cut off and How Soil Conservation Aids Wildlife stages and clear ice made it pos 1 possibility that public use of the sible for conservation officers to it 1 trea would be prohibited, was make fish population checks on leemed advisable to take steps By HUGH H. BENNETT with grasses or legumes, the ani long stretches of streams during ~ d or immediate acquirement of the Chief of the Soil Conservation Service mal populations come back. When their regular patrols. The offi he makes a pond for fish, or for >roposed park area. (Reprinted from Audubon Magazine) cers have verified the fisheries [ All discussions w o u n d up watering the stock, the birds im surveys and report seeing vast mediately begin to gather. I could U ike discussions about the weath If you think that soil special numbers of legal size catfish lying ists are primarily interested in go through the whole list of fifty ~ r-Iots of talk but nothing done. almost motionless under the clear f n August, 1943, a few bold mem- soil and how to save it, you are nine land use measures which we ice. Conservation Officer Paul •ers of the Cresco Wild Life Club right, but you must go a little employ in our nationwide pro Leaverton of Humboldt hesitates ecided that their club could and farther, and think of a soil man's gram of soil conservation, and I to report the number and size of 10uld put over the project. They interest in wildlife - for practi believe that every one of them catfish concentrated on the Up cally everything he does in the would show some benefit to wild per Des Moines River in the vi ot a 60-day option on the land life. nd went to work. The purchase way of soil and water conserva cinity of Rutland "because I am a tion pays extra dividends in If you travel at home or abroad, fisherman myself and, knowing rice for the land and water area you cannot escape seeing on e. ranted was $2,000. birds and other animal life. If the general reputation of anglers, he strip., crops a field, the breed every hand the relationship be I am afraid to tell the truth; but A list of names was made of ing-bird populations shoot up. If tween proper and improper land they were thicker than cobs in a ublic-spirited citizens who might he protects the woodlands that use and animal life. This is strik feed lot". ive financial aid, and solicitors hold the soil, he saves the habi ingly noticeable in Latin Amer Conservation Officer Harry rere appointed to see them. In tat of birds and other creatures. ica where steep mountain lands •ss than a week financing was Rector believes "if the average If he restores the vegetation on have suffered severely from ero- fisherman could see some of the
tation. W1thout cor- fenced and planted to
reel vc measures being b I a c k locust, and
taken, the gully would s h ow s clearly the benefit to wildlife of continue to e!lcroach
upon the productive so1l conservat1on prac- bees S C. S. Photo. adjoining land.- S. C.
S. Photo.
first agency, public or private, to New York, found that breeding field margins, competmg trees Soil Conservation Aids recognize a distinct type of agri birds outnumbered those of sm- prevent normal crop yields and CContmued from Page 33) cultural land best suited for the gle-cropped fields by two to one. thus, with thin or no cover of sion, and particularly where for production of wild animals and Strip croppmg creates an "edge vegetation, open the way for sen mer perennial streams have dried wild plants. Our surveys of the effect", a condition that is usu- ous erosion. But the establish up as the result of the eroswn production capabilities of farm ally accompanied by an mcreast.. ment of desirable, adaptable following careless deforestation and ranch lands show that there m kinds and numbers of the am· shrubs in this zone prevents tree and cult1vation of mountain and are more than 33,000,000 acres of mals living there. Farmers in soil encroachment, provides a tur n hill country. In such places, marsh, swamp, stream and ditch conservation districts have estab- row for farm equipment, and also wildlife-both bird and mammal bank, gully and canyon, rock out lished, with the assistance of produces admirable wildlife habl -has become very scarce. For crop and odd corners which are technicians of the Soil Conserva- tat. example, in the severely eroded not suitable at all for tilled crops, tion Service, at least 3,500,000 In addition to plantmg trees, Andean section of Ecuador, as livestock forage or timber. But acres of strip cropping On the farmers in soil conservation dis between Loja and Quenca, and in these lands are admirably adapt basis of the trends shown by the tricts are protecting nearly 2,000, the state of Lara m northern ed for use by wildlife. They are studies, th1s should mean about 000 acres of woods. This may Venezuela, wildlife has become truly wildlife lands and, although three-quarters of a millwn more mean more than two million ad exceedmgly scarce. A few birds the simple Jand management birds on the cultivated portions ditlonal birds in the nation 's farm and mammals are to be seen oc measures applied on them are de of America's farmlands. Of real woodlands. ca!>ionally, but there 1s such a signed primarily to control soil sig~ificance is ~he fact tha~ in a I Another example of the wild scarcity of food and so little cover erosion and to conserve rainfall, :>tnp-cropped f1eld the habitat IS hfe benefits of conservation that there is not much chance for they nevertheless contribute in relatively stable. Normally, only farming is shown by much of the therr survival no small way to the increase of the positwn of the strips, and not work that has been done to con Any effective conservation pro wildlife. For instance, in help the varieties of crops will change f trol and prevent gullying. Let gram, such as iS being given ing farmers control 350 miles of from year to year with•. for e~ - 1 me tell you of one instan ce, on a h more and more attention in these eroding stream banks through ample, lespedeza sandwiched m farm in the Piedmont country. regwns and m other parts of the establishment of suitable between strips of corn and cotton. The gully plantings of shrub les South America and Mexico, woody and herbaceous plants, In solid fields there is a major pedeza and other woody plants would have a beneficial effect. on these plants were specifically se change nearly every year because practically halted erosion the wildlife, especially birds. More lected for their value as food and field rotahon puts a field in hay first season The following win over, any cons1derable Improve shelter for wildlife. one year, corn the next and so on. ter a covey of nine bobwhite quail ment with respect to numbers of In gullies, strip-mined areas. Trees and shrubs have been established headquarters in one Olt bird life undoubtedly would be and various odd spots, farmers planted on more than 700,000 end of the gullied area. Despite tht beneficial because of increased have devoted a minimum of 75,- acres in soil conservation dis- heavy snows, they over-wintered lyt depredations by the b1rds upon 000 acres-for the most part only tricts. These plants convert without loss. A second covey of Ill insects harmful to agriculture. two or three acres in a place-to worn-out crop lands and steep 15 birds uhhzed the other end of 62 When about 10 to 15 years ago, specific wildlife plantings as an slopes into useful, s01l-conserv- the area. In yet another near by eat I was studymg soil conditions integral part of their soil conser ing woodlands and br ush-lands. gully there were six birds. Cot 1 and working on the establish vation work. Even greater acre On such a piece of land in Cali- tontail rabbits quickly estab C{,~ ment of Improved varieties of cane ages have been allowed to revert fornia, A. C. Hawbecker and R. lished themselves in the gullies Pot in Cuba, following the disastrous to native vegetation through pro M. Bond made a study of the ef- once stabilizing vegetation grew Ne spread of mosaic disease through tection from fire and livestock, as feet of vegetation on birds. They there. On this farm the final rep fields of crystalina cane, it was part of the broad program to de found that a few years after score showed an addition of three b~r: e\·erywhere evident that bird life vote every acre of agricultural planting trees on an abandoned coveys of quail to the three cov had greatly depreciated in those land to the purpose for which it crop field, 14 species of birds eys origmally present before the ~ areas from which practically all is best adapted-and to avoid any were nesting on the plantation adoption of a conservation pro beE the forests had been removed. In land lying out of productive use. and 26 kinds were using it for gram. The number of individual S!Ql passing from cleared country-as We of the Soil Conservation food and shelter. An adjoining, birds, as well as the number of the cane fields-into remaimng stands Service are not in the business of comparable field in an eroded, coveys, was practically doubled; rea of timber, the change from bird ormthological research, but we essentially barren condition, not the number of quail r ose from 30 ha, poverty to abundance was about do have enough information at yet planted to trees, supported to 58. llor as noticeable as the change from hand to indicate that many land only seven nesting species and In the western range country, the a treeless condition to heavy management practices actually was used by only 18 species for the Service has found that sound que forest. do increase very largely the num food and shelter. In Ohio, Dam- livestock management practices tn! Although the chief aim of the ber of birds. In Ohio, C. A. Dam bach, investigating the birds of such as deferred and rotation tal Soil Conservation Service is to bach and E. E. Good have studied ungrazed woodlands as contrast- grazing, revegetation and stock bee help farmers produce more and the effect of stnp cropping on ed to those found in woods ex- ~ng to suit the carrying capacity ran better crops and at the same time birds. They found 140 per cent posed to livestock, reported 19 of the forage, are essen tial to the Ye~ conserve the good earth as a con more breeding birds in fields species in the former and only conservation of soil and r ainfall. C()~ tmuing rich natural resource, we strip-cropped with corn, small six in the latter. These practices not only result 10() learned early in the game that gram and hay than on equivalent Another practice of great bene- in more meat but produce more Pt~ some land should be treated pri acreages of similar land planted fit to wildlife is the planting of birds, as indicated by Gale Man ho marily for wildlife, smce it was solidly to crops of a given kind. shrubby borders in the poor crop son in a study of the effect of re her best adapted to such a use. The J . K. Terres and E. C. Murdoch, zone between woodlands and vegetation on the small bird tu Soil ConscrYation Service was the studying strip-cropped fields in croplands Along the shaded (Continued to Page 37, Column 1 ) Pa PAGE THIRTY-SEVEN
When all the farms of the n ation Mink Study Bulletin Free are properly treated for the con servation of soil and water, one "An Analysis of Mink Preda result will be a hundred per cent. tiOn Upon Muskrats in North increase m bird life. As a re Central United States", by Dr. sult there will be, also, an Paul L. Errington, has been enormously greater protection of printed and is available free in crops from the ravages of insect single copies by writing to Iowa life. State College, Ames. The book But to give facts about the con let IS rather technical, but never set vation of soil and its benefits theless should be m the library for wildlife, IS to tell only part of of every trapper whose special the story. This story cannot be mterests lie in either mink or 1 complete without paying a trib muskrats. ute to the people on the land. Errington's studies, begun prior Owners and operators of agricul to 1932 and continued to the tural land have joined to attack present time, while revealing the problems of erosion on a co mmk predation on muskrats, in operattve basis and with a wise dicate also "that little increase 1and use approach. Consider in revenue from muskrats would I what this means in terms of total be gained by deliberate repres conservation! Sion of minks m north-central First, it means that farmers areas where the muskrat pelts are have to do "conservation thmk taken in fall and winter". The Soil Conservation Service 1s not en the buseness of ornitholog1cal research, but it mg" before a district is organized has enough enformat1on on hand to indicate that land management practices do increase To secure this 125-page book When the majority of farmers let write directly to Iowa State greatly the number of birds in the soil conservation d1stricts. This remarkable photograph within a given area think in of a nesting ruffed grouse was taken en Allamakee County, Iowa. College, Ames, for Research Bul these terms, the establishment of letin 320. a soil conservation district pro others. A large number of these vides them with a practical ve Soil Conservation Aids ponds have been fenced and are htcle for translating thoughts in catfish that are caught by this (Continued from Page 36) now bordered by vegetation at to action. And it is important to method are lying in the center of populations in Arizona. Monson tractive to shore birds, marsh note, at thls point, that wherever the channel and sampling drifting found twice as many birds on oirds and waterfowl. Wlld ducks a distnct has been organized, it objects as they come to them. well-managed range land as on and other birds nest along the has resulted from the democratic After one sample of a blood bait a comparable over-grazed area. margins of many of these ponds. process of people banding to that has been lost by the up Projected to the 10,000,000 acres In certain areas, the Soil Con gether in a cause in which the stream fisherman, catfish strike under good grazing management servation Service is concerned majority of them believe. with a viciousness that is seldom in soil conservation districts, we particularly with administering Second, in "thinking" conser attributed to this species of fish. might reasonably expect to find public lands which are protected vation, the farmers are thinking To the good house frau: When nearly 3,000,000 more birds on as wildlife preserves. In the not only of soil and moisture con the "brute" begins to pace the the western range as a result of Buffalo Lake Land Utilization servation, but of conservatiOn of carpet or boxes Junior's ears for the application of soil conserva Areas in the Texas Panhandle, health, of effort, of wildlife and spilling the soup, suggest that he tion practices. you may see more than 5,000 other land products, and of the go fishing. If he returns late, Pasture improvements on land cranes in the fall-and in some gamut of factors affecting their covered with blood from head to amountmg to 2,500,000 acres prob years they establish winter head lives and operations. This move waist, slaps a stringerful of ably have benefited such species quarters on this tract. At Lake ment augurs well for any sound "tackle-busting" catfish on the as the meadowlark, grasshopper Marvin and Lake Fryer, also in conservation undertaking, for clean linoleum, and you gather sparrow and field sparrow, al Texas Panhandle, many Missis when a large segment of the the words "Big Sioux" or Wapsi though at the expense of certain sippi kites nest. The rare New population believes in a course pinicon" from his hysterical gib other birds as catbirds, brown Mexico duck is protected on a of action, that course of action is berings, don't faint. He hasn't thrashers and song sparrows. A project in the state from which very likely to be adopted. been scalped. He has only met typical improved upland pasture It takes its name. In the spring To date, farmers in 45 states a Sioux or Wapsipinicon river in southwestern Ohio harbored and fall, in some areas, you may have organized 989 soil conserva fisherman who has taught him 62 pairs of breeding birds for see tens of thousands of ducks tion districts, embracing 563 blood catfishing. and geese of at least a dozen spe million acres of land. Within each 100 acres. cies, white pelicans, white-faced this area there are about two and "Clinch Knot" for Nylon You can well imagine what the glossy ibis, avocets, long-billed a half million farms. It takes construction of thousands of farm curlews, gulls, terns, egrets and no stretch of the imagination to Fishing Leaders ponds has meant to bird life. In other herons and many of the see that with this great body o.f New York, Terres and Murdoch smaller shore birds. farmers and ranchers behind the report that eight more species of Prior to the establishment of conservation movement, better birds were using the pond en things are in store for the wild virons than were present before the six permanently protected areas in the Texas Panhandle (to life of the nation. These men the pond was built. And you and women hold within their need only visit the thousands of taling 12,283 acres including 3,- 031 acres of water surface) there hands the means to apply sound stock-watering reservoirs built in land management measures bene the range country of the West to was only the 5,809-acre Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge to serve ficial to wildlife on half a billion realize that an area which may acres. have supported only a pair of the migratory birds of the south horned larks, or nothing, before ern Great Plains flyway. the pond was built, is now fre Today, birds are protected on quented by a dozen species. With a dozen state refuges which have Catfishing "Tops" in soil conservation districts a to been established on federal lands PAGE THIRTY-EIGHT IOWA CONSERVATIO N 1ST two revolutions of the crank out through the exhaust port. requ1re a little more oil, than - shaft) in any one cylinder. Further travel of the piston un four-cycle engmes. But outboard Perhaps it would be well to covers by-pass port "C". The motors are small and at the most, Know Your take a look at this two-cycle compressed vapor charge now in even m larger sizes, reqUire only principle, to sec just how the en the crankcase I S instantly re a few cents worth of fuel per hour Outboard gine operates, because most out leased, flowing through the by or per day so fuel economy is of board motors are built that way pass port mto the cylinder and little consequence. The four and this has been found the type directed upward by the deflec cycle type of engine as used m Motor which in the long run gives the tor. The incoming fresh charge automobiles, for example, mu:;t ~------' 'most dependable operation com continues to force the burned be economical and besides must WHAT IS AN OUTBOARD bined with low cost and long gases out of the cylinder through operate at partial loads and at :MOTOR? life. the exhaust port and into the at low-to-high speeds smoothly. In the course of development On the first upward stroke of mosphere to complete the cycle. Two-cycle engmes have not been of many mechanical products, a the piston (1), a partial vacuum One may well ask why it 1s that used in automobiles because it is standardization of f o r m has or low pressure is created in the outboard motors are two-cycle more. difficult to get such per evolved. One sewmg machine> crankcase. As the piston prog while most other commonly used formance from a two-cycle en mechanism looks about like an resses m its upward movement engines are fow·-cycle. TherP gme of comparable SlZe. other on the outside-because and nears the end of the stroke, are several reasons Great strides have been made over a period of years 1t has been intake port "A" IS uncovered Smce the two-cycle engine, in in recent years in improving the found that IS the best way to causing fuel vapor from the car each cylinder, has one power im flexibility of outboard motors. make a sewing machine. In gen buretor to flow into the crank pulse per revolution and smce New methods of controlling fuel eral and fundamentally all auto case- "B". The crankcase is now there IS no camshaft, no valves mixtures now permit consistent mobiles made today are alike, fully charged. (Three-port type.) with their operatmg parts, the low operating speeds as well as with four wheels, a left-hand The piston on r<.'aching the end two-cycle engme m small sizes high power output at high speeds. steering wheel, an engine m of the stroke reverses its direc may be built w1th considerably An ease of starting, one of the front, drive on the rear wheels. tion and begins a downward less weight per unit of power bugaboos m early years, has Yet, there have been three-wheel movement - covering or closing output. And light weight in an really ceased to be a problem in cars and cars With engmes mount (2) intake port "A". On its con outboard motor 1s of prime Im view of modern magnetos, Im ed under the front seat. tinued downward movement, the portance for ease m carrying, at proved carburetors, better mix Outboard motors are built vapor charge in the crankcase is taching and operatmg. Compact ture control, and new precision "that way" because it seems to compressed until the piston nears ness 1s also important. in the production of parts. It 1:.. be the best way. There have the end of the stroke, when the For the same power output the probable that the two-cycle en been outboard motors built with by-pass port "C" IS uncovered. two-cycle engine is lower in cost, gme has made more progress 111 horizontal crankshafts but all of This instantly releases the com too It lends itself to low-cost the outboard motor field than in them now have vertical cranks. pressed crankcase charge, which manufacturing processes such as any other except in very large There have been motors with flows through the by-pass into die-castmg; it Is simple in de cylinder ''D"-bcing directed up sign and has few parts. D1esel power units where the battery ignition, yet nearly all of prmciple 1s extensively used. an them today have magnetos. All ward by the piston deflector pro As a general rule two-cycle en vided for this purpose. gines burn a little more gasolme, J ohnson Motors Ol outboards now have a powerhead m or engme mounted at the top and On the following upward stroke (3), the vapor now having been d( carried above the transom (stern) nu of the boat by a clamp bracket transferred to the cylinder 1s STAT~ PARK CUSTODIANS attached to the transom; a shaft compressed and prepared for ig Backbone State Park ______L. J . Schmidt, Strawbeny Point, Iowa nition. However, during this that extends downward into the Dolliver Memorial ------· ------H G. Lathrop, Lehigh, Iowa water; and a gear case enclosing period a second charge has been drawn into the crankcase through Geode State Park ______------R. E. Sloan, Danville, Iowa right-angle bevel gears which Lacey Keosauqua State Park ____ H. J Schlotfeldt, Keosauqua, Iowa dnve the honzontal propeller intake port "A". There are now shaft, to the outside end of which two charges-one compressed in Lake Macbnde State Park______L. F. Reed, Solon, Iowa 1s the "pusher" type of propeller. cylinder "D" and the charge m Lake Wapello ______J . A. Babcock, Drakesville, Iowa An outboard motor 1s a boat pro the crankcase. Ledges State Park ------M. L. J ones, Boone, Iowa pulsion power plant which 15 At the end of the compression McGregor Areas ______M. J. Peterson, McGregor, Iowa complete in itself with self-con stroke, a spark, created by the Pahsades-Kepler State Park______c F Meyer, Mt. Vernon, Iowa tamed engine, gasoline supply, magneto, jumps the gap between P1lot Knob State Park ______Harold D. Cole, Forest City, Iowa ignition and starting apparatus. the pomts of spark plug "G" Springbrook State Park _____ W. K. Garrard, Guthne Center, Iowa It Is detachable from the boat Igniting the compressed fuel va Stone Park ______H. N. Anderson, Route 3, Swux City, Iowa as (one of its most important fea por in cylinder "D". The vapor Up tures). m burning expands rapidly, Waubons1e State Park ------Vacant The engine or powerhead 1s an forces piston "F" downward (4) W1ld Cat Den State Park ______E. 0 Richman, Muscatine, Iowa to deliver power required to turn Bellevue State Park ______L. C. Ernest, Bellevue, Iowa ~ mternal combustion engine; it l burns its fuel m the working the propeller. Power, however, Black Hawk State Park ______L. D. Wright, Lake View, Iowa is not delivered throughout the Ambrose A. Call State Park ______Paul W1lle, Algona, Iowa lllE cylinder. Most outboard motor be engmes are of the two-stroke entire length of the stroke; some E c h o v a II ey Sta t e p ar k ______E R B a 11 ard , Wes t U n10n,· I owa ar, cycle type (two cycle) differing time is required to rid the cylin- F ort D e f 1ance s tate p ark ______E G . Harrison, Estherv1"11 e, I owa lea m prmciple of operation from d er o f b urne d gases an d to re- ceive a fresh charge from the Lake Ahquabi State Park __ ·------W. E. Myers, Indianola, Iowa ~ the common automobile, truck, crankcase for the succeeding Lake Keomah State Park ______E. V. Sullivan, Oskaloosa, Iowa set tractor or inboard marine engine power impulse. M1ll Creek State Park______Henry Imwiehe, Paullina, Jowa an of the four-stroke-cycle type Sla which has mechanically operated As the piston travels down- Oak Grove State Park ______Raymond Hughes, Hawarden, Iowa ward on its power stroke, the Oakland Mills State Park ______F C. Cory, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 0 valves and but one power Im lee pulse for each four strokes (or fresh charge previously drawn Pammel State Park ------Vacant 1'h into the crankcase is being com- Pine Lake State Park ------W. R. Chastain, Eldora, Iowa lea 1 2. 4 pressed. Red Haw Hill State Park ______L. A Strohman, Chariton, Iowa ti~ Notice width of exhaust port Sharon Bluffs State Park______Lowell Houser, Moulton, Iowa I~ "E" and by-pass port "C"-"E" Walnut Woods State Park ------W. A Tallan, Commerce, Iowa Pre is considerably wider than "C"; Wapslpimcon · · Sta t e p ark ------J . E . Rho d y, A namosa , Iowa agl therefore, piston "F" on nearing Gull Point State Park ------.0. L. Fulton, Milford, Iowa 'I'r the end of its stroke uncovers the Lost Island State Park ______Fred McMillin, Ruthven, Iowa exhaust port somewhat earlier Swan Lake State Park______Ben Hulsing, Carroll, Iowa its Most outboard motor eng1nes are of the than it uncovers the by-pass port. Wanata State Park ______Ezra Rohrbaugh, Peterson, Iowa two-stroke-cycle type, doffering in principle A comparativC'ly high pressure Maquoket? Caves State Park _____ Harold Morgan, Maquoketa, Iowa exists within the cylinder at this I Josh Htggms ArE;a ------Wm. Leggett, Cedar Falls, Iowa of operation from the automobile or in . . . Lake of Three Fires State Park ______Harry Krug, Bedford, Iowa ~ board marine engine. These drawings show time, _consequently, at pa~~ 1 ~~ un- Farmington State Park ______H. H. LaFollette, Farmington, Iowa the principle by wh ich your outboard motor covermg of exhaust port E , the Beeds Lake State Park______E. A. Saxton, Hampton, Iowa operates. burned gases commence to flow Clear Lake State Park ______J. Z. Stevens, Clear Lake, Iowa IOWA CONSERVATIONIST PAGE THIRTY-NINE And as the line cut curlicues IThinkest: Thou This among the waters and dashed blinding spray along the shore, An Unusual St:ory? he did cast leviathan out upon the bank, and behold! he hadst a Yea, Verily dogfish! And then he d1dst vehemently It came to pass, as the winter berate the game commission for snows slowly melted away and allowing such fish to usurp the fly t1me drew nigh, that the wimpling waters, which should Sage of the Sand Hills became enshroud only the festive trout. psychic and there was given to And he didst cast upon the wa nun power to see through brick ters the anathema of the barren walls and to view that which lay fig tree and did bewail loudly behind them. He gazed in the the paucity of the finny tribe and direction of the fading northern decrees of fate. lights and saw a stately edifice, Then did he add unto his other ..tnd therein was a luxurious sins the sin of presumption in apartment known as a sanctum. that when he was appointed a And he beheld seated therein at a torch-bearer of intelligence to a desk his ancient friend, the edi bemghted world he thoughtest to tor, who appeared sore distressed renig, and he said unto himself, Po.son ivy occurs 10 two forms-as a vine that climbs over fences, up telephone poles and sad. Herein are related the ''Lo, I will be a fisherman." and tree trunks, and as a small plant or shrub. The easiest and surest method by which VISIO ns of the Sage. Behold, and he did hie him to po.son ivy can be told is by its foliage . The editor was musing at his the fishmonger and tendered him • desk, and he didst gaze at the the shekels of his weekly toils, 1 Lamzy Divey, Too, found in all parts of the plant and sunshine and say in his heart, and the fishmonger did abstract secreted by the leaves and bark. "Lo, the winter is over and gone. from his fish boxes sufficient But: You Beware of The poisonous oil is more abun The t1me of the singing birds is therewith to regale the stomachs dant in the spring and early sum come and the season will start of the entire neighborhood. And The Poison Variety mer, but at any time of the year May 15." And the days went by he did thereby prove his Walton a susceptible person may be poi even so, and the Sage looked ian prowess and did regale the Every person who frequents soned. All parts of the plant are again, and the editor was joyous minds of the assembled multi woods and fields should familiar poisonous to the touch. and didst exclaim in his soul, tudes with new ones concerning ize himself with poison ivy and Infection is by contact with the "Stone walls do not a prison the big one that didst get away. be able to recognize it positively plant only. Ivy poisoning can make. Neither do perpendicular And the record of the Sage of and instantly. It is doubtful if not be "caught" by touching the iron bars inserted in window Sand Hills can be established of any picnicker, fisherman, or affected portions of another per casings and door frames consti ficially by the scales of the fish other outdoor enthusiast is im son's body. If leaves or foliage tute a birdhouse. Why shouldst monger who received the shek mune to 1vy poisoning, and it is are burned, the oil is volatized, I serve the God of Mammon? Are els. And life was ever so and it doubtful if anyone is affected by and anyone inhaling the smoke or not the fish biting?" is even thus to us.-Ed. C. Volk merely walking or even brushing getting the smoke into his eyes Then didst the formulator of ert in Dubuque Telegraph-Her against the plant. In most cases may be severely poisoned. public opinion stride from the ald. where poisoning is thought to The seriousness of contact with loathsome precincts of the sanc have occurred w1thout actual this plant and the after effect tum. He didst array himself in contact, it will be found that sap cannot be overstressed. A seri all the glory of the sport shop, Merit Badge For of the plant has gotten onto one's ous case of ivy poisoning can re and his wife did pack for him a skin by indirect means, as from sult in hospital confinement goodly hamper of gastronomic Rabbit Raising the hair of a dog, horse, or other ranging from days to weeks. delights. And he didst add there animal that has crushed the As a step to encourage produc If proper measures are taken unto the snakebite antidote, and tion of domestic rabbits to swell plant, or from the handles of tools the flea eradicator, and he didst or from one's own shoes after immediately after contact, the the nation's meat supply, the Boy danger of poison may be avoided. rub his goodly person with oil Scouts of America have offered walking over and crushing the outwardly and didst properly lu lvy. A person who believes that he a merit badge for rearing these has handled this plant, or that his bricate his interior. Thereon his animals. The requirements, set Poison ivy occurs in two forms, lovely spouse did convey him by as a vine that climbs over fences, clothing or tools may have been up through the cooperation of the in contact with it, should wash car to the forks of the road U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, up telephone poles and tree which leadeth unto the brook of trunks, or as a small plant or all exposed parts with a very are as follows: strong solution of laundry soap, Cheron and gave him gracious 1. Properly house and raise a shrub. parting with the words, "Enjoy Perhaps the easiest and surest high in alkali content, rinsing it litter of rabbits, from mating of off and washing again. If this thyself to the fullest, and I will doe until marketing time for the method by which poison ivy can call for thee when the shadows be told is by its foliage. Its leaves is done immediately, the poison litter. will be removed. A void using dwindle." 2. Explain the use of breed and are ordinarily divided into three And he didst depart to the leaflets; they are ordinarily soaps containing oil; they may know about one breed used for spread the poison. Water alone brook rejoicing and cast muchly meat, one for fur, and one for taken by the average person as and long in vain. And after he separate leaves, although actu may also cause the poison to wool. spread. hadst walked 10 miles, the weari 3. Keeping a breeding record, ally the three leaflets and the ness in him did make bare to him stalk on which they rise make If you have contacted poison a feeding schedule, and a finan ivy and have not been aware of the emasculation which the mod cial record. one leaf. These leaflets have no ern automobile h ath wrought. teeth at all, or a few coarse teeth. it, and have not washed with Many 4-H Club members are The young shoots and young laundry soap, you may, within a He then did seat himself to pon also engaged in rabbit production leaves in the spring are a beau period of from one to 14 days, der and permit the red ant to work projects, the Fish and Wild tiful red in color, turning to a experience a rash, blisters, itch meander up his trouser leg and life Service announces. lusterless green as the season ing, etc. It is best to seek medi invade his comestibles. Then only progresses. In the fall the foli cal aid, and to follow the direc didst he remember the sins of age again turns to a brilliant red. tions of your doctor in the treat his youth, when he earnest in Several of the smallest mam Truly a beautiful plant, for all of ment. with strings of fish a yard long mals and birds possess a relative its vicious character. Red ordi Despite its unpleasant features, and didst exceed the bag limit. ly larger and heavier brain than narily means danger, which poison ivy fills an important And now when he lookest for man. For instance, while the hu should be sufficent warning not place as a wildlife food. The ber their descendants, he bewailst man brain averages 1.9 per cent to touch this plant. ries are eaten throughout the fall greatly because dead ones can of the weight of the body, the The plant is very poisonous to and winter by many varieties of not reproduce. brain of a rat constitutes 3.6 per touch and causes serious inflam birds, and the leaves and twigs Yea, he didst exclaim loudly cent, that of the marmoset 4.5 mation of the skin. The irrita are eaten by deer, domestic live and in despair, didst cast again, per cent and that of the hum tion is caused by an olio resin oil stock, and rodents. and suddenly he hadst a strike! mingbird 8.3 per cent. I ~ t - . - [ PAGE FORTY IOWA CONSERVATIONISf Fishing Tackle Shortage State Park Cabins For Song of the Earthbound • • • Looms for '44 Season Overnig ht Family Use The spell of spring is Many of Iowa's state parks have Iowa anglers m 1944 w1ll be in the wind tonight cab1ns for overnight use at very faced w1th a shortage or com moderate rates. On Monday plete aol>ence o1 most tackle here And strange, exultant through Friday inclusive, rates torore cons1dered essential to ...... longings seek re .. .. lease, are $2.50 per day per cabin. Sat sport ushmg. A survey o1 tackle urdays and Sundays cabins are stores cti s c 1 o s e s that many As down from out a $3 00 per day per cabin. The ...... stormy, rain-washed shelves that formerly had held a ...... ~ ...... • • weekly rate per cabin is $12.50 w 10e assortment are now empty ' sky. Cabins accommodate four per or at . . 1east partly oarren. There comes agam sons. Cots are supplied for ad .Pnor to the war most Iowa the cry of wild ditional persons, and a charge of tackle stores were well stocked, • geese . 25 cents per day per person IS ana. these large stocks were added -Polly Madden made for all over four persons. to when 1t oecame apparent that The state park overnight family raw matenals would o1 necessity cabins are completely equipped go mto war production. At the except for linens, pillows, and present trme, however, most food. Reservations may be made tack1e supplies have been de SCHEDULE OF STATE PARK LODGE RENTALS" with the resident park custodian pleted, and there is small pros Park Summer Rate Sundays & in charge of the area. pect that there w 1ll be any re Per Reservation Holidays Ledges- ·Boone, Ia. • . . • ...... 2 cabins plenishment unt1l after the close Stone Park ------ $5.00 By Reservation Backbone-Lamont, Ia...... 18 " VO or the war. Walnut Woods ----- 5.00 By Reservation Pine Lake--Eldora, Ia...... 5 " Lake Wapello--Drakesville, Ia . 12 " - 1 here are very few steel rods Lake Ahquabi ------ 4.00 By Reservation Lake Ahquabi-lndianola, Ia.. . 9 " avauaole, these of the hghter or Mill Creek ------ 4.00 By Reservation Pee Clear Lake ------ 5.00 By Reservation Springbrook-Guthrie Center, Ia. 6 " ··stamped'' vanety. Practically Dolliver Memorial Lake of Three Fires-Bedford, Ia 6 " ali solid steel rods are gone. South Lodge ---- 4.00 By Reservation Lacey-Keosauqua-Keosauqua, Ia. 6 " Yau Bamboo rods of good Tonkin North Lodge ------2.00 By Reservation Dolliver Memorial-Lehigh, Ia. . . 2 " cane are extremely rare, and the Central Lodge ___ _ Open to Public at No Charge Of small stocks of second and third Fort Defiance ------ 4.00 Open to Public grade rods have been well picked Lewis & Clark ----- 4.00 By Reservation Manufacturers Will Mend over. Pine Lake ------ 4.00 By Reservation 2.00 Open to Public Your Fishi ng Tackle Manufacturers of first grade Pammel ------ A. A. Call ------ 3.00 Open to Public No need to despair if your fa bamboo rods are out of business 3.00 By Reservation Heery Woods ------ vorite fishing rod has been brok A 1 until metal ferrules and imported Gull Point ------ 5.00 Open to Public 3.00 Open to Public en. You might be able to get it Sllffill cane are available. Automatic fly Bellevue ------ may reels are a thmg of the past. Palisades Kepler ---- 5.00 Open to Public fixed. Word coming to us from There are, however, a few of the several of the largest tackle mak State * All reservations to be made with park custodians. It IS cheaper single action reels avail ers IS that they are doing their best to keep all fishing tackle (,111 0 able - not enough, however, to m tij begin to supply the normal de serviceable. Most rods can be mand. BE PATIENT, FISH repaired if all the parts have ar a 1 been preserved. The difficulty r~g.or The persistent angler may un· The fishing bug has got me, is in setting ferrules where these F c cover a few fly lines, mostly level It's 'bout that trme of year, have been lost. Steel rods pre ~.) a rather than tapered, and m the So I'm getting things together sent a difficult problem, and un even more unpopular sizes. Nylon and And fixing up my gear. ttl after the war it will be im H,rt spun silk bait-castmg lines are s elte My rod needs some repairing, possible to properly repair or on some dealers' shelves and are replace them. ttu\·e being augmented by lrmited sup My reel has lost a screw, My lures are kind of shaggy, Reels are not only impossible to an~ plies of lines braided of newer to obtain, but it is equally dif Vlul1el and untned plastics. But still they ought to do. ficult to get repairs. If you own Mch, Silkworm leader and Japanese My slicker needs some patching, a good reel, guard it well. It is !Wed gut are both off the market; how My boots leak just a bit, worth its weight in gold. How Eve1 ever, there is a limited supply of But my good old pipe is still all right, ever, if your reel does need some no otJ nylon leader material. And I guess my hat will fit. repair, send it in now to the origi !:a lure Trout flies and casting plugs nal maker. If he has any order lhc s appear to be plentiful, although I've checked my outfit over, parts on the shelf it will be fixed. Spite c good hooks are scarce. Good It's good for quite a spell, Otherwise you will have to wait IUalJy treble hooks and the hollow For just what year I'll get to go for the end of the war.-Daven Prt~ pointed and hand-honed hooks Is something I can't tell! port Democrat. My ' -Sabula Gazette. town are as scarce as dodo birds. The I cheaper, spear pointed hooks ap Parks pear to be available in most Common Toad Friend have ~ stocks, as are sinkers, cotton lines, Of the Victory Gardener Prov1d floats, stringers, and other inex WILD DUCKS IN SPRING occupy pensive bits of tackle. Music of whirring wings aloft VIctory gardeners should not are P Ph:ce