COVER PJGES FRONT COVER: A beautiful string of rainbow trout from the waters of Mocassin Creek near Lake Burton. BACK COVER: Russell Davidson, Jr., stands re- laxed as he awaits the strike of a rock bass near the Jim Woodruff Reservoir. Game and Fish Progress ------------------- 2 Highlights of 1955..------------------------------ 3 The Bowfin -------------------------------------------- 4 Violators Beware! ---------------------- _______ 5 Painting a Boat ------------------------------------ 6 Better Res ults in Fish Pond____________ . 7 Queen of Muddy Waters ____________________ 8 Safety is Sensible._______________________ __ ______10 The Jack -----------------------------------------------11 Poor Forestry ----------------------- ____________ __ 13 Lake Burton Hatchery ________________________14 Endangered Wildlife __________________________15 The Long Road Back____________________________16 Popular Pond Owners ___ ______________________ 17 Reciprocal Agreement ------------------------18 Jim Woodruff Reservoir______________________19 Publicity Depariment ________________________ 20 Poem _________ --------------------------------------------21 Counties and Fines ______________________________24 License Information ---------------------------25 Trout Stream Regulation!! ------------------ 25 Fishing Regulations ____________________________ 25 License Fees ----------------------------------------26 It is UnlawfuL ---------------------------------- 26 Commissioners -----------------------------26 Reaching Outdoors ----------------------- 27 LEGISLATURE AIDS GAME AND FISH PROGRESS DURING the Legislative Session of 1955, a way to help the Game and Fish Department from a budgetary angle was discussed by the governing officials of the Game and Fish Department and Legislative leaders. It was decided at that time that an increase in the hunting and fishing licenses for residents of the State was a more progressive way to help the Department since Georgia licenses were the lowest in the nation ($1.25 per year for hunting and fishing). Floor Leader Demark Groover, at that time assisted in the wording of this bill so it would be t he most beneficial to the Department in helping to bring about a more progressive program in conservation for the State. It was embodied in this bill that an equal amount as that received by the Department from its various sources of income should annually be appropriated back to the Game and Fish Department for its use. Since this law was effective last year and the hunt- ing and fishing licenses begin on April 1 of each year, accurate figures are not yet available on the amount of income expected. After July 1, 1956 an accurate / annual income can be computed. J In discussing this year's appro- FULTON LOVELL Director. Game and Fi sh Comm ission priations in the 1956 Session with Legislative leaders and the Governor, it was decided to in- clude additional monies in the annual appropriation and that the Governor would aid the Depart - ment from funds available in his office. House Bill No. 112 was introduced in the House by Rep. Groover . This bill is now a law and provides for a subsistence payment for all Enforcement personnel of the Department. The Governor has granted the Department additional monies in the amount of $120,000 an- nually which is earmarked by amending the budget to provide this additional subsistence. A part of this additional subsistence was gained by a new schedule of the Enforcement Division salaries which also means a tax saving. In addition to House Bill No. 112, Rep. Groover also introduced and sponsored House Bill No. 113 which provided for stronger Game and Fish laws and added new licenses that will help provide a better income to the Department. Some of these licenses include a license (Continued on P. 22) GEORGIA GAME AND FISH Spring Edition Bill Atkinson, Ed itor Sh ir ling Caldwell, Associate Editor Vol. S, No. 10 P ublis h ed by t h e Geor gia Ga me and Fis h Commission, 412 State Capitol, Atla nta, Geor g ia, in t he inte r est of Georg ia wild life and for fis he rm en, h un te rs. n ature lovers a nd conservation of n atu r al r esources. There is n o s ubsc ri ption fee--th is pub licatio n is free a n d is pa id for by t he purchase o f fis h ing a nd h unting licenses . Please notify us at once of any ch ange of address. Conten ts o f th is magaz ine m ay be r ep rinted wi t h p r oper c r edit . This publication we l com~s pictu r es . d raw ings. stor~es and art icles dealinK with outdoo r subj ects -for consideratio n . N o con t ri butions will be r etu rned unl ess solici ted by auth orized party re p r ese n t ing Game & Fish Comm ission and accompan ied by sufficient postage_. Entered as t hird class postage. 2 HIGHLIGHTS OF 1955 By TAD LANE The year of 1955 will be marked as a great year for the advancement of fishing in our state. From the clear, cool trout streams of North Georgia to the warm muddy streams of South Georgia, the Game and Fish Commission's Fisheries Division has taken great steps in bringing more and better fishing to the fishermen in Georgia. The trout stream project in North Georgia is steadily improving trout fishing. The fishermen in the state who enjoyed the trout fishing averaged 3.77 fish per trip. Many of the fishermen who tried for the wily rainbow and brown trout evidently passed the word of their good luck on to their brother anglers because records show that in 1955 there were approximately 1,000 more trout fishermen on the managemen"t area streams than there were in 1954. After the completion of the stocking program on One of the many fine trout streams that can be found in North Georgia. these streams there were approximately 100,000 rainbow, brook ang brown trout placed in these streams for the cold water fishermen to try their many lures and flies on. From the cold, clear waters of the mountain streams in the northern section of Georgia we take a look to the south and see that several crews of commercial fishermen started a new program to help bring a reduction in the rough fish in some of our major reservoirs. These fishermen are old hands at the job of using the large commercial seines. All operations that are carried on by these men were closely supervised by the Game and Fish Pond owners receive instructions on building ;~nd managing a fish pond. Commission so that nothing but rough fish were removed. These men, with the rough fish basket fishermen, have removed quite a few tons of rough fish from our streams and there is still a "long row ahead" in this program. Georgia's five modern hatcheries are considered among the best in the Southeast. Many improvements during the year have resulted in a great production increase in our stocking program. Along with 35,000 farm ponds in Georgia, 3,500 more have been added this year. There are appmximately three million bluegill bream and large mouth bass distributed to state farm pond owners from these hatcheries. We find that ponds help in many ways to increase the per capita income of the state by pond owners selling fishing rights; food for the table; recreation of fishing, boating, and swimming; watering stock; fire protection; and irrigational purposes. The Fisheries Division's population studies made on all the major reservoir's in Georgia brought al;>Out a great improvement in fishing in these fine bodies of water. Wall-eyed pike were introduced into three of them and thread fine shad were introduced into three others for a feeder-fish to improve the fishing. In our coastal waters there is a. group of qualified fisheries men working to try to bring about (Continued on !'age 21) 3 Likely habitat of the Bowfin will be a stream such as the one shown_above in the Okeefenokee Swamp. ~,4, ?lta4t ~ s~ - Despised by Fishermen, This Tenacious Fighter Feeds Almost Entirely on Fish. I F you were asked to name the mo t unpopular fi sh in Georg ia, the chances are you would choo e t he m udj ac k , cypress trout, prairie bass, gri ndle, dogfi sh, or blackfish. In all cases you would be naming the same fish- th e bowfin . Despised by fishermen , and fantastically destructive, this fish is one of the most powerful and tenacious battlers that ever wore a fin. It is a willing striker, delivering a terrific impact with the bait, after which it comes willingly towards the boat and begins a flurry of dashes and sprints and splash es water high into the air. The bowfin lives for a consirl- The Bowfin is easily recognized by the shape of its mouth and by the spot near the tail. The BoYifin erable period of time out of water and often when t hought dead will flounc e. It is one of the most danger ous of all fres h water fish for throwing plug hooks into fi shermen . Th e meat is soft with practically no flavor. Some natives call it cotton fish since the meat has a cotton-like texture. It is distributed throughout Georgia with the possible exception of lakes and ponds north of Atlanta. No definite r ecords have been kept hut some have been reported as large as 16 pounds or more. The bowfin spawns in the spring, mostly at night. It lives in deep water and everything moves out of its path. It has a round bull-like head that is armor plated, and steel trap jaws. It has rather small eyes, and a round tail. The bowfin shows a definite preference for under-water bait rather than top water. It is well equipped with sets of sharp teeth. It is known to kill any liv- ing thing in the water and in turn, is widely sought as a source of food for voracious alligators. Fishermen are urged never to use or take the young asbait. It would start a new and undesir- able population. We join other states in requesting our sports- men to destroy every grindle possible, since they have the habit of seeking food in the same manner as fish that are more apt to be caught in the rough fish baskets. On the whole, it is a dauntless and destructive enemy to all fish and especially the de- sirable game fish. His ancestors are fossilized; has no live relatives; can live in almost any kind of water, and his habits and a n atomy are unique. The male has a spot at the upper base of the tail fin that has an orange yellowed rim, while on the female this rim is lacking or the spot is entirely absent. One study revealed that 79 % of its diet is fish and the cray fish made up 18 % of the re- mainder. The Okeefenokee wa- ters are an example of how these fresh water murderers will ruin the fishing for bass, bream and perch. Some fisheries experts say that a five pound bowfin taken out of a lake will save 100 game fish. 4 VIOLATORS BEWARE! Georgia Wildlife Rangers have taken to the air B,- W. H. HOOGES Chief. Law Enforcement Division P.~o R~~! No, that's not the title of a television drama. It's the name now being applied to the rangers of the Georgia Game and Fish Commission-and it is very appropriate in its application. For the men in green have now taken to the air waves in their quest of law breakers and it's a lucky-and a very speedy violator who can outrun the Co mission's two-way radi o conttol cars and its rangers with their portable transmitter s. The new communication system has resulted in a fast, hardhitting team of law enforcement officers whose actions are coordinated with some 125 base, mobile and portable units. The rangers still do most of their work on foot, but they are constantly in contact with their local transmitting stations and are able to pin-point their activities at a moment's notice. My first experience with the Chief Hodges instructs one of his rangers while Secretary Gene Ragan takes notes. new system came several months ago on a trip with Ranger Talmadge Hollifield. As we coasted around the bend near Lake Burton the voice of Ranger Chief J. B. Bowling came in on the radio. "There are three deer hunters in a black sedan-probably headed your way," he said. "One of these fellows shot a doe and left it in the road. If you see them, call me back. I want to ask them some questions." We continued down the dirt road expecting to see the black sedan at any moment. Then we heard the District Office in Gainesville calling the ranger at Buford. "We have a tip that about 20 hunters are using deer dogs by the small lake. Check up." " Will .do;" was the reply. Shortly after, the ranger was back on the air. "You were right. Hunter s and dogs are here. Will need some help." In less than two minutes the Gainesville office had contacted several r ang- Ranger James Riden talks to Chief Hodges over two - way radio. ers and assistance was on the way. We heard other calls. A car had been parked on a mountain road -for several days. The Ranger was instructed to check up and see if the owner was O.K. Ranger Chief Palmer was asked to contact a Decatur hunter in a party and advise him of sudden illness at home. What a difference! In other years the Georgia Rangers were seldom in contact with each other except perhaps by chance meetings. In some instances it would take all day, maybe two days, to get in touch with the Ranger in the next county. Today, he is -less t han one minute away. Today violators are confused. Rangers can move in on illegal operations in a matter of moments. In some instances the Rangers get there ahead of the violators and are waiting for them in event they were forewarned. This new two-way radio operation will not entirely eliminate violations, but it will go far to discourage them. Dynamiters will never feel secure. Night hunter s will find little comfort in the thought that Rangers are (Continued on Page 21) 5 DOES YOUR BOAT NEED A NEW FACE? There's Nothing to it- Just go Through all the Motions of a Woman Applying Make-Up. The man who intends to paint his boat should have the patience of a Missouri farmer who owns a stubborn mule. Fifty per cent of his effort will be put forth scrubbing, patching and sanding before a paint brush comes into play. And if that's not enough, the rest of his activity will be punctuated by eight to 48-hour waiting periods between coats of paint. All this is not meant to sour the boat owner on painting, but merely point out the necessity to start early and go slow to insure a good job. For best maintenance, the boater should paint his craft yearly. If the previous paint job was a good one, this yearly maintenance chore will be relatively simple. But if last year's paint was haphazardly applied and the finish is checked and cracking over wide areas, the boat owner will have to resign himself to a major reconditioning. First thing to do is inspect the hull and decide whether it needs a major refinishing or just a few light coats to revive its original condition. Next, remove all hardware and other detachable items such as seats, locker doors, hatch covers and the like. Scrub off dirt, oil, grease and algae with mild detergent and water, hose it off and let it dry. If the finish was properly applied the previous season, all that remains is to sand the hull lightly and apply a coat or two of paint or varnish, whichever is appropriate. However, if the scrubbed surface is afflicted with large checked or cracked areas, the boat will have to be refinished completely (Continued on Page 21) ( 11 Removing the paint with an electric sander. Il l Filling the cracks and dents. (3 ) Applying the finish . 6 FOLLOWING THE GOLDEN RULE GIVES YOU BETTER RESULTS IN YOUR FISH PONDS! Let to~ ~'t ~dp tou to ?Ita~ to~ "Juk tj~to(,(,l. L et'Uje't The pond owner who lets his fri ends and neighbors fish in his pond is actually doing himself, as well as his fellow fishermen, a fav or. For, believe it or not, removing as many fish from a pond by fishing is just as important as selecting a good pond site, good construction, correct stocking and proper fertilization. Those who should know say that if a pond produces as much as 500 pounds of fish per acre, it is very necessary to remove by fishi ng all the fish possible in order that those hatched the present year may get enough food to grow into a large size by the next year. Every pound of fish removed leaves more food for the remaining fish and actually makes them easier to catch. By the same These youngsters had a good day 's haul in !he well managed pond at the Capital City Club . token, the smaller the number removed, the more difficult the large ones are to catch. Another thing, too, fish should be harvested as they mature, just like any other crop, in order to obtain maximum yields. It is interesting to note that experiments have proved that ponds are never ruined by overfishing when bass and bream are fished, because there are always many fish of spawning size left. If a goodly portion of fish are removed, those remaining have a larger share of food available and grow faster. If none, or only a few are r emoved, the old fish remain about the same size and the small fish have only a slight chance of reaching normal size. Remember, a small fish is not necessarily a young fish. He could be quite old, but just didn't have enough food to permit him to reach normal size. Intensive fishing need not wor- ty the pond owner in his consideration of maintaining a proper balance between his bream and bass even though there will be approximately 20 bream fishermen for every bass fisherman. The fish themselves will attend to maintaining their own proper balance if given the chance. A bluegill bream, one-half pound in weight, will form and lay as high as 51,000 eggs at one time. Then, according to food supply, it may spawn two more times during the year. A bass may lay as many as 40,000 eggs at a time, but seldom spawn more than once a year. When a person constructs a pond it is primarily for fishing and other forms of recreation. If he allows his neighbors to come in to catch an occasional "mess," he will not only be making more friends, he will be making his pond better for his own fishing pleasure. The genesis of the Carp in this country can be traced back to 1877 when it was brought to this country from Europe. Still as some people believe that the Carp came from Europe they will find that the original Carp came from Asia. In Europe and in Asia these fish are still considered a great eating fish as it is in certain parts of this country. The primary purpose of the transplanting of these fish in this country was a food fish for the ponds and also as a game fish. There was also a bit of doubt in the minds of some as to whether these fish would adapt themselves to our streams or not. If these people were still with us today they would certainly find that their beliefs were indeed foolish because these fish can now be fou nd in nearly every state in the United States. Georgia has certainly got an over-abundance. Muddy, luke-warm streams in Georgia make ideal feeding grounds and spawning grounds for these fish. In our streams these fish not only feed off of the vegetable matter found there but also animal matter such as worms, insects, crawfish and other matter of this nature. In the experimental commercial fishing program that was first started in Jackson Lake in But ts County the Carp caught average 8 pounds. There are tons of these fish in this lake where the fish ing had dropped to a very low ebb. Through a commercial fishing program that is now in practice on some of our major reservoirs in Georgia it is felt that with favorable publicity and backing of markets the Carp will not only be reduced in these ( 1) Checking the weight, number and kind . (2 ) A good day's work for any fisherman. (3 ) There 's no trouble pulling one in like this. (4 ) These are big enough to tell the truth about. (5) Loading them into the tub for the checking station (6 ) This one must have put up a good fight. lakes making room for game fish but a market for this fish at the fish markets will also become a money crop for local fishermen. Many people have found that Carp make a delicious food. These people have been handed down recipes for the cooking of this fish by their people. The art of cooking this fish has become a lost art and with a little help from fishermen here in Georgia this fish can once more grace the tables of many famil ies throughout the state. Whenever a new reservoir is opened in the warm water streams of the state it goes through a period when a certain type fish can be the only thing caught at these places. Sinclair Lake, the Georgia Power Co. reservoir in Baldwin County, had a year of extremely good Carp fishing and fishermen came for miles around to catch those "Bugle Mouth Bass" as they were dubbed. It was even rumored that the Game and Fish Commission had stocked this lake with these fish but nothing could be further from the truth. At the time this great Carp bonanza was going on the Game and Fish Commission was beginning a control program on rough fish in the streams of Georgia. One way of controlling these fish is being used b~ the Fisheries Management of the Game and F1sh Department. In spring when the Carp start on the spawning period they are watched very clo ely, and as the Carp get ready to leave the mall hollow that they have fanned out. . (Continued on Page 21) 9 SAFETY IS SENSIBLE by Comdr. Clay Clifton, USGG President, Water Safety Congress SPRING is a time of change. The dull, drab and dead surroundings of winter turn into the bright green of spring's new growth. It is fine to be out-ofdoors and a part of the new awakening of dormant life in field and forest and lake and stream. Spring is a grand time to be alive-yes, alive! Please take that "being alive" both literally and figuratively, because the Water Safety Congress is vitally concerned with drownings. Spring, we realize, also marks the beginning of the heavy usage of lakes and streams for recreational purposes and statistics prove that all too many people will drown before 1956 is out. The Water Safety Congress in reality is the result of a problem, a big one. This problem, that of drownings, still is with us. Water, like fire, is one of man's greatest blessings. Water, in fact, is a necessity of life. Yet, also like fire, it must be handled with care and respect. It can, and does, cause damage and loss of life. People probably will drown as long as they work and play on the water. People living . along sea coasts and near the Great Lakes, however, know and respect the water. Water wisdom has been passed along from generation to generation and drownings are held to a minimum. Creation of new, huge lakes in the South by Federal governmental agencies and private groups since the early '30's, however, has presented a new problem. Inland peoples suddenly were given access to new and greater water areas without the benefit of safe utilization of them. Almost simultaneously, people found themselves with more leisure time, greater incomes than were prevalent during the "depression daze," improved . modes of transportation and other incentives to use these 10 A holiday such as this can be fun provided the simple rules of safety are followed . lakes for fishing, boating, hunting, picnicking and a multitude of other recreations. Without the benefit of experience, many people were reckless and foolhardy. The result was a sudden upsurge in drownings-and the creation of the Water Safety Congress. Efforts of the Water Safety Congress are largely educational in nature and it is difficult, if not impossible, to eva! ua te them. Who, for example, can say how many people were saved from watery deaths by instructions they read, heard or saw as a result of information distributed by the Congress or the hundreds of interested people comprising it? The picture isn't entirely dark, however. Cold statistics indicate progress is being realized and for that we can be encouraged. All too often we regard each drowning as the separate tragedy it is without regard to the overall picture. The National Safety Council reports that the number of drownings as re.Jated to population is declining! The average number of annual drownings in the U.S. for the year 1903-12 was 9,000, or a rate of 10.2 per 100,000 of population. By 1948, the number of drownings had declined to 6,500 for a rate of 4.5. In 1954, the number was 6,200 for a rate of 3.9. This record, it should be pointed out, was achieved despite the creation of many new water areas enjoyed by a population with more and more leisure time. Were it possible to calculate the drowning rate on a usage basis, the decline in drownings probably would be even more striking than the previously-quoted figures indicate. What is the answer? Th e Water Safety Congress believes a strong, sustained educational program will produce the best results. It would appear that local or- ganizations should be best fitted to combat local problems. Most communities, for example, have local representatives of organizations already embarked on water safety pr,ograms on national, regional or state scales. These groups are the American Red Cross, Boy and Girl Scouts, Outboard Boating Club of America, recreation departments of city or county or state governments, the U.S. Coast Guard and its Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, Boys' Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, schools and colleges, etc. With members of these organizations as a nucleus, a water i'afety program can be developed using participation of such other interested groups as community safety councils, civic clubs, conservation clubs, P TA chapters, sporting goods dealers, state conservation and/ or game (Continued on Page 23) - Th e Jack If you have ever done much bass fishing, chances are that you have been shocked out of your wits as .your reel handle spins from your grasp and your plug or spoon was grabbe.d b~ a pair of long, strong, vtce~like jaws. You might even have had enough sense at the time to ask yourself, "What in blazes have I locked on to," before you set yourself in for a small scale bat~ tle royal. This particular sensation isn't restricted to the rod and reel fisherman. Many bait fishermen, sitting calmly in his boat watching a bobbing cork, has suddenly found himself tied into a "Bucking Broncho" of a fish that seemingly knows no end to struggle. And yet,-the scorn that is displayed by most Georgia fishermen towards this particular fish would put a woman's wrath to shame. This rough and tough customer, who is as mean as he looks, has been called about every bad name in the book; but here in Georgia he is known strictly as the Jack, or Jackfish. His real monicker is Chain Pickerel, the first cousinto the Northern Pike and the Muskelluge. In appear~ce, the chain pickerel is much hke other members of his family, since he is slim, long-jawed and camouflaged to perfection. ~long his sides he has very dis~mct markings. which give the Impression of links of a tire c~ain, hence the name, chain Pickerel. Its growth is fairly rapid, and under favorable conditions it ~eaches a length of 12 to 14 lnche~ within one year. Very few of this species attain a weight of five pounds; the average fish caught being from one to three pork strip over the pads where pounds. Though essentially a others prefer to use a plug. northern fish, the chain pickerel The era of light tackle has is very abundant in Georgia, the fallen right in line with pickerel largest populace being found in addicts who want to get the most the Southern part of the state. from this flashy scrapper. Taken Here the fish are very prolific on a light. cashing rod, fly rod, or and live, feed and spawn right the more recent spinning rod, the along with the large mouth black pickerel becomes an antagonist bass. capable of a. dozen new stunts. In some places the chain pick- The action comes fast in a erel will hybridize with two other . good pickerel lake or stream. forms - the mud pickerel and After tagging one a person barred pickerel. The mud and usually counts on getting an- barred hybrid are of no angling other. The most popular fishing importance, however, as they in Georgia. is plug casting or bait are dwarfs of the species. fishing with a casting rod and To try and say what the pick- reel, the ideal rod being between erel (or jack if you prefer) feeds five and a half and six feet long on would surely undermine his and weighing about five ounces. appetite. He will eat just about On fly rods it will pay to use one anything that will fit in his with a pretty good backbone in mouth and will try to eat a lot of it. A bass action rod is a. safe things that won't. Characteris- weapon; however, spinning rods tically it obtains its food by mak- are excellent pickerel rods as ing quick lunges, and grabbing they parallel the light bait cast- its prey sideways. in its mouth. ing rods in action. It has a habit of hiding among The chain pickerel has a. habit plants or brush from which it of lying, in the shallows with his rushes out with great speed to nose pointed shoreward if the seize its prey. It may be seen in marginal areas of a. pond or river the same identical place day are free of heaVY weed growth. afte~ day. Should the water be shallow and The technique of "jiggering" weed choked, he assumes the op- or "skin-bobbin' " is fairly well posite position facing the deep known although not ~s popular water, but still in the sanctuary today as it was a few years ago. of the weed bed. A 12-to-15 ft. pole, a short length After locating a productive of line, and a pork chunk or frog weed bed or hole, the successful is the standard equipment for fisherman will pick the fish off this method of the barefoot boy. the edges, gradually working to This manner of fishing has b~ the far side. come slightly obscure with the As previously stated, the pick- passage of time but you may still erel will take almost any lure, see a few old-timers bouncing a (Continued on Page 23) 11 Poor Forestry Can Mean Poor Fishing Improper Cutting Practices and forest fires Spell Trouble for Good Fishing Areas. By W. H. McComb, Chief, Forest Management, Georgia Forestry Commission Have you ever been in an area that seems populated with fin- ickey fish? It's probably an area that you were bragging about to your friends several years ago as "old fashioned fishin' hole," replete with fat bream, husky bass and other species which seem especially suited for frying pan fare. Now, however, it seems as if the fish in that area are too finickey. They spurn the liveliest of live bait; and even the old reliables in your fl y box get the "cold gill" treatment. What's more, even the fish population seems to be dwindling. The reason for this situation may lie in poor forestry practices either in the immediate area or, in an amazingly large number of cases, in areas far removed from the poor fishing grounds. This is best explained by point- Henily wooded areas provide vegetation for the waters whic h in turn provides a more ibundant supply of fish. Burned out areas such as this can ruin fishing in nearby waters. ing out that when forest landowners follow improper cutting practices and cut the timber off their land too heavily, rather than following wise selective cutting practices, the path is cleared for soil erosion. Soil erosion also comes about when large forest fires or repeated smaller ground forest fires kill the trees and vegetation on an area. Water for all streams and lakes travels down areas of land we call watersheds. When forests are clear cut without adequate replanting or when they are burned over, soil erosion follows. With soil erosion comes mud and silt. And mud and silt are death warrants for good, clean fishing areas. Water running into streams from barren land carries little food for fish. In forest areas, there is a better balance between the fish and their water supply. We know also that our forests shade the streams, preventing excessive summer heating. Since cool water is much richer in oxygen than warm water, the fisherman will find a more abundant supply of water life. Wildlife experts al s o a re agreed that in many cases a single forest fire near a lake or pond is enough to dwindle the fish population for years to come, if not kill it outright. In some cases, the extreme heat caused by the forest fire brings this about, while in other cases, the heavy layer of ashes and silt on the water acts as a toxic agent. Georgia's ardent fishermen long have held the reputation among forestry circles of being among our most ardent sportsmen. Care and caution with their camp fires and cooking fires and with cigarettes and matches while in or near wooded areas always has characterized their activities. As more and more Georgians come to carry this same attitude, the result will be inevitable - better fishing and better forests. 13 LAKE BURTON HATCH ERY One of the finest of its kind in the South, Lake Burton Hatchery released about 100,000 trout into the North Georgia streams in 1955. t l ! Entrance to Lake Burton Fish Hatchery. 12 ) From this spot the water is pumped into the Hatchery. 13) These men are feeding the trout fingerlings by spreading the food in the water with a feather. 14 ) As the trout get a little bigger, they are fed spec ial ground food . 15) Now ready for the big North Georgia Streams they are removed from the pond with a net. 14 ENDANGERED WILDLIFE; A RESULT OF GROSS NEGLECT The plight of many of our vanish ing species is but one of the final outgrowths of our abuses of the basic soil, w ater and plant resources. enjoyed. To others though, the the urgency for measures that conservation movement has rep- will conserve the productive ca- resented a cause of impractical pacities. WE in this country have grown to accept wildlife as a very important part of our heritageand its disappearance is considered to be one of the most serious ymptoms of the misuse of our lands. The possible loss of some thir- ty-odd different animals is one of the most shocking evidences of careless neglect of our country's rich resources. Today, man lives in a world of technology. He has almost unlimited faith in the abilities of research cientist s to solve his problems and satisfy his wants. He is confident that new gadgets will be invented every day to make his living easier. But with all the advancements of science we have never learned the art of living with each other in this "do gooders" who would stand in the way of economic progress and impair the free operation of the private enterprise system. It is encouraging that, despite challenges by those who question the need for protection of natural resources, the field has grown into its own. The many federal, state and local agencies, which now work to protect the public's interest in the land and to teach people how to manage them as a privilege of stewardship, are evidences of our progress. Authorities tell us that by 1975 there will be 230 million persons living within the continental United States. And despite our growing awareness of the rapidly increasing population, most of us do not recognize As for our endangered wildlife, the plight of many of these vanishing species is but one of the final outgrowths of our abuses of the basic soil, water and plant resources. Not many of us realize that we have less than 800 grizzly bears left in the United States, and that they could easily be lost from those few remaining areas where they are now making a last stand for survival. The tiny white-tailed deer of the Florida keys is another animal that has suffered invasions of its home. In 1949 the number of these animals had dwind led to 30. Timely action by state and federal wildlife agencies, coupled with that of local and national conserva- (Continued on Page 23) world without destroying our- selves and the natural resources that have made possible this technological progress. We have not outgrown a basic love for nature, the outdoors and its animals, but we continue to play the leading role in destroying it. Federal and state age n cies have come into being to take on the responsibilities for managing soil, forest, water and mineral resources. 'l'o some, the problem of maintaining these resources in a f ully productive and usable state was a matter of cold practicality. It was re- garded as a good business invest- ment and as a means of maintaining the high living standard which the A m erican people !he Georgia quai l is on e form of wildl ife that ~ ft~r from being ex t inct. Spec imen such as ~e .ue used to re- stock areas th roughout gill. 15 The Long Road Back John P. Blanchard By JOHN BLANCHARD Mr. Blanchard is Superintendent of the Columbia County School System. He is past president of the Little River Valley Wildlife Federation, past president of the Columbia County Game and Fish C1ub, and is one of the state's leading advocates of conservation. ,,,, 7(J 'lj4Ue ad~~~ tJf ~ ette HUt4t ~ ~ ttl. t~e ~~~- tJf tue~ ~~- OUR forefathers found a beautiful country when they first set eye and foot upon American shores. Crystal-clear, sparkling streams filled abundantly with fish and marine life were evident. Fertile soil with solid cover, a bountiful food supply and a forest of virgin timber, all of the necessary habitats for the preservation and propagation of wildlife, were present. The land and streams were laden with a tremendous supply of wildlife and fish, ready to harvest for food, clothing, shelter, etc. The task of building a new country was not an easy one. In the process of building homes, schools and churches and of formulating and developing a new system of government, our precious natural and wildlife resources were disregarded. The sharp cold steel of the axe felled the forests and, together with uncontrolled fire, devastated and played havQc with this precious resource. Improper land conservation practices made _barren and impoverished our once fertile soil. Land erosion turned the once clear, sparkling streams to dark and muddy waterways. Without thought of future generations, reckless pioneers de- pleted and, in some instances, totally destroyed some species of our wildlife population. The mistake of our forefathers was their complete disregard for the future and their apparent lack of foresight in protecting and preserving these inestimable riches in the form of natural and wildlife resources. For years we have reaped the vanity of these unholy practices. For some years our national government, state governments, local governments and their agencies have been busily engaged in the study of these resource problems. Interested citizen groups have joined in the study. Along with the research programs, definite action has been taken and is still being pursued by those concerned. National, state and local forest programs are designed to protect existing forests and advocate tlie planting of all available land in seedlings. The forest program is being enthusiastically endorsed by government agencies, farm groups, 4-H Club members, F. F. A. groups, conservation clubs, farmers and land owners throughout the nation. We will not only reap increased timber production but the forests will hold together our precious soil, afford cover for wildlife and will aid in keeping our streams clear. Through national, state and local departments and organizations, and farm groups, our land, like our forests, is receiving study and action. A terrace program, proper land practices and fertilization are not only aiding in farm production, but are providing more food for wildlife and helping to keep our streams clear and unpolluted. Proper forest and land practices insure conservation of water and protect our streams from the ugly forces of erosion. Clear streams, free of pollution, are ideal for marine and fish life propagation. As we continue the long, hard fight back to an abundant supply of wildlife, we must dedicate ourselves to the following: 1. We must re-dedicate ourselves to the restoration, conservation and preservation of our natural and wildlife resources. 2. We must respect and we must utilize the technical know-how of the experts engaged in the fields of forestry, land conservation and water and wildlife conservation. (Continued on Page 23) 16 Ponds such as 11.e one above provide scenic beauty as well as recreation. The proud owner of this pond is Sam i)uggan of Moultrie , Ga. Pond OYiners Are Popular Citizens By FRED DICKSON TH ERE is no wonder that many modern Georgia gentlemen value their fish ponds above country estates with sweeping lawns and pillard mansions. The owners of ponds that produce successful fishing always find themselves popular members of the community by offering sport for their friends. Farm ponds are also helping to raise the standard of living throughout Georgia. Pond owners sell fishing rights, thereby making the fish pond a source of cash ; ponds provide meat for the table, rec- . reation fishing, boating, and _wimming, along with water for livestock, for irrigation, and for scenic beauty. POND SITE Careful consideration should be given to the selection of a pond site because economy of construction, usefulness, and Produ~tivity of the pond depend upon Its location. The best adVIce on location and construction hould be obtained and followed. The selection of the site and manner of construction will govern the efficiency of management. County Agents and Soil Conservationists will aid you in selecting a pond site. If you do not plan to sell fishing rights, or furnish fishing for a large number of people, or use the water in irrigating crops, you need to construct a pond no larger than two or three surface acres of water. A pond should possess three characteristics - (1) A suitable topography (Lay of the Land) ; (2) adequate but not too much water supply; and (3) soil that will hold water. A suitable topography is one where most of the area of the pond is from 2 feet to 6 feet in depth. The ponds that have most of the area deeper than 6 feet are not as productive in fish as those that have most of the area less than 6 feet deep. NOT TOO MUCH WATER SUPPLY An adequate, but not excessive water supply, is very important. All water flowing from a pond is waste, carrying away fertilizer that has been applied to make food for growing fish. An ideal water supply keeping the pond water from fluctuating with no water leaving the pond. Make certain that .the soil will hold water. Avoid sites with rocks sticking out along the bank or with rock or shale ledges near the surface. Also avoid sites hav- ing sand, gravel, peat, limestone, or marl through which the water might seep. The pond should be constructed properly. All trees and brush should be removed from the pond site. The dam needs to be tied into a good non-porous subsoil to prevent seepage. Each pond needs a drain pipe to permit lowering the water level when repairs are necessary, and to provide facilities for piping water to stock-watering tanks or troughs. The dam should have a spillway wide enough to prevent the dam from washing away after big rains. (Continued on Page 24) 17 Reciprocal Agreement On April 10, 1956, delegates from the Georgia and Florida Game and Fish Commissions drew up. a reciprocal agreement for fishing rights on the waters located near the Jim Woodruff Reservoir. According to the agreement, Florida fishermen may use their licenses to fish in certain Georgia waters and Georgia fishermen may do the same in certain Florida waters. The agreement applies mainly to the waters of the Chattahoochee River, which is the boundary line separating Georgia and Florida. In the top picture above Fred Jones, chairman of the Georgia Game and Fish Commission, points out the reciprocal line to members of the Georgia-Florida delegation. Pictured below is a member of the Army Corps of Engineers explaining the flow of t he waters and the point where buoys can be placed. On the opposite page is a' map of the Jim Woodrutf Reservoir showing the waters affected by the r eciprocal agreement. 18 AB_A__M_A_ _._ AIDA JACKSOllN''' . ..Jj ~I\ ' /""'\ ' ,J.J ' 9 '\ Horntlrlft~ .,,I I I ',' ' \ \ ' .II : ".- .. ' ' \ ' ' ' ", I \ t :I --'.....,..,..J,t.J,. . . . .I ------t'-----;,---,-----..:I I\ A ,# ' I: ' , #)-1 # , I ' ' .- -- .' ' , -... I ._ I ,(. I .,~,..O.ellwood -~.............. r o. ~-!J/ -------.... ,--------- .....'.' ~ ~ LEGEND SHADED AREA INDICATES THE WATERS INVOLVED IN THE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT. JIM WOODRUFF DAM -- ~----- .--.,. 19 Publicity Department Acquires Full Staff WILLIAM J. ATKINSON Bill has been with the Game and Fish Commission since 1948 and has been with the Information and Education Department since 1952. Before taking over as chief of the department in January, he was photographer and assistant chief. As chief, Bill is charged with the responsibility of directing the duties of the Information and Education Department in order to keep the public informed of the many activities of the Game and Fish Commission. GLYNN V. WORLEY Glynn is another newcomer to the department and is in charge of all photographic work. Glynn is from Rabun County and comes from a family of avid deer hunters. He has been shooting wildlife scenes for a good many years, and has a wide knowledge of all types of wildlife. Previously, Glynn served with the U.S. Navy and held overseas assignments with a contracting firm. PAUL ANDERSON Paul needs no introduction to the people of Georgia-or to the people of the world for that matter. He has broken all weight lifting records bot h in the United States and abroad, and is generally considered the strongest man who ever lived. Paul took over as public relations man in March, and will visit organizations throughout Georgia to conduct programs on Georgia wildlife. SHIRLING !SAM ) CALDWELL Sam came with the department in March of this year. He handles all newsletters, press releases, and is the associate editor of the Game and Fish Magazine. Sam is a native of Atlanta and graduated from the School of Journalism, University of Georgia. Before joining the Department, Sam served as Information and Education Officer with the U.S. Army. CARLTON MORRISON Carlton has been with the department for the past two years. He handles all radio releases and produces the radio program "Georgia Outdoors" each week to 41 stations throughout Georgia. Carlton graduated from Emory University and was formerly an announcer with WSB radio in Atlanta. DELOYCE MANLEY DeLoyce takes care of the correspondence and secretarial work for t he department. She hails fr om Moul trie, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia before joining the Game and Fish Commission. 20 HIGHLIGHTS OF 1955 (Continued from Page 3.) better oyster crops for this section. Georgia's oyster beds have long been neglected by many fishermen but with the steady improvements that have been suggested it is t'elt that in the not too distant future Georgia will rank among the top states for oyster production. And last, but certainly by no means least, is a committee formed by Governor Marvin Griffin known as, "The Georgia Water Laws Revision Committee," to look into this big problem of uses and pollution of our streams and to make recommendations for proper and efficient laws to handle these matters to the best interest of industries, municipalities, farmers and the fish life. These are so~p.e projects that the Fisheries Division of the State Game and Fish Commission feel will bring about a bigger and better year during 1956 for the fishermen of our great state. RADIO RANGERS (Continued from Page 5) just a few minutes away. Violations already have been reduced. Men who poison lakes never seem to get over the shock of seein~ Rangers suddenly ap- pear. One shocking machine op- erator was nabbed two minutes after he started killing fish. "How on earth," he blustered '.'did you know I was here?" That Information, of course, is strictly confidential. Georgia, with modern equip- ment, collective effort and alert- !less, has a bright future in the Imp~ovement of hunting and fishmg. moving, TmhoedesrtrneiazmeldineRd~ngfaesrt force now is a hard-hitting unit as. claUl rgsaomf sreclarexaatteiodnb, ybubtatiht esyalwesimll efnin,dbtohaatt the finanoperators, campers, fishermen and tourist trade will pass on :nount of revenue that they never anticipated. As lakre and more houses are built around this great tfnisehd~1!telPgae1oamspleean.twoinllic realize that that cannot the be good Lord made duplicated by any As we follow the Chattahooch ee on its slow twisting way down to meet the plains we find that another great reservoir is being built at Fort Gaines. This great lock will halt the river again to form a reservoir to furnish power to the people of Georgia and create another 46,000 acres of first rate fishing waters for our fishermen . The Corps of Engineers will close t he gates to start filling th is a rea in 1962. When this lake is filled fishermen fro m Colum bus Georgia, will be able to get away fro m t he noise and the bu t ie of the city and enjoy a few hours of fishing and communing with nature. As we get closer to the rendezvous of this great stream with the Flint River at the site of the Jim Woodruff Reservoir, once more we see a fishermen's paradise in the making. Here at the juncture of these two great rivers that form the Apalachicola, another great reservoir will be built for power and eventually navigational purposes. This will be the smallest of the three reser voirs on our great river . It will have an area of 37,500 acres in which will be an assortment of fish that will set any fishermen to chomping at the bit to get a chance to try their own particular way of fishing. Still, no matter where dams are placed this great brown ribbon will continue to twist and wind itself down from the hills of Habersham to offer to those that wish a chance at some of the greatest fi shing waters to be found anywhere. BOOK REVIEW THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SPINNIN.G TACKLE Published by Crown Publishers, Inc., 419 Fourth Avenue, New York 16, N.Y. Price $1.50. This is a handy sized book on spin-fishing that is written clearly and is well illustrated. The author covers the background, mechanics and use of spinning reels, rods, lines and lures, discussions .of the habitats of trout, bass, pike, and pickerel, and courtesy on the water. The Complete Guide to Spinning Tackle would be of particular use to persons who are faced with the purchasing and using the gear for the first time. The discussions of the various components are good and much is to be gained from them. Sketches and photographs that are used to illustrate the text should be extremely helpful, especially to beginners in this popular fishing technique. 27 GEORGIA GAME AND FISH COMMISSION 412 ST A TE C A P ITOL BUILDING ATLANTA. G E O RG IA The University of Geor~ia Acquisitions Divis on Athena. Ga. SEC . 34.66. P . L . & U . S . POSTAG E PAID ATLANTA . GA . PERMIT NO. 15!