GEORGIA VOL. 3, NO. 7 I JULY, 1968 H ~GEORGIA ;~, -;, GAME&FISH Biologists Right On Uniform Deer Season July 1968 Volume Ill Number 7 Wanted: Man for soft job. High pay. Short hours. Win friends and influence people. Please everyone. Receive bounteous praise of public for job well done. Never be criticised unjustly, or described in vile terms. Apply to Governor's Office. Room 201, State CapitoL In case you' re wondering, that job description doesn't apply to membership on the State Game and Fish Com- mission, which is one of the quickest ways to get on the hotseat that has been invented by man. The Commission is made up of 11 men appointed by the Governor for seven years of tightrope walking between the The Mountain Lion Trophy Conservation Communications Award - 1967 The Georgia Sportsmen's Federation. Contents demands of the public and sportsmen and the recommendations of their Department's trained, experienced wildlife biologists and other personnel. New Worlds To Conquer . . . . . . . . . .. .... J. Hall Count Your Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marvin Tye 4 Unmasked : The Spotted Bass Since the Commissioners are not themselves professional career wildlife managers, they must rely on the advice of men who are, while at the same time representing the interests of sportsmen in their congressional district. Leon Kirkland & Jim Morrison 6 Should Commissioners bow to pressure from politicians, Houseboat Holiday . . . . . Dean Wohlgemuth 10 landowners, or some vocal interest group in setting a How to Stock Raccoons Marvin Tye 12 Outdoor World . . . . . . . ..... . 15 Sportsmen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 hunting season not recommended by the Department's biologists, many sportsmen don't hesitate to roundly damn them for cowardice, conniving, stupidity, or all three. On the other hand, should the Commissioners go along with Sportsman's Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 the recommendations of the biologists on an issue which Lester G. Maddox Governor disagrees with their own opinions, these same sportsmen blast away at the Commission for being "dictatorial, unfair, undemocratic, highhanded," etc. George T. Bagby Director, State Game & Fish Comm ission The latest demonstration of the pitfalls in trying to represent sportsmen, contend with politics, and still conserve wildlife is the fracas now bubbling in southeast COMMISSIONERS Georgia over the State's first uniform opening of the deer season in five years. Rankin M. Sm ith , James Darby Since this year's uniform opening date of November 4 is Chairman Atlanta- 5th District William Z. Camp, Sec. Newnan-6th District Richard Tift Albany -2nd District William E. Sm ith Americus -3rd Dist rict Charles L. Davidson , Jr. Vice Chairman Vidalia-1st District J . B. Langford Calhoun-7th District Judge Harley Langdale. Valdosta - 8th District Clyde Dixon Cleveland - 9th District Leonard Bassford two weeks shorter than last year's southeast Georgia season, some deer hunters and some sportsmen's groups in the area are calling for the Commission to change the regulation and open the season two weeks or more earlier than the rest of the state. This would be unwise for a number of very good reasons. Georgia's game biologists recommended shortening the season in the lower coastal plain area and making it uniform Avondale Estates-4th District Augusta -lOth District with the opening day in the rest of Georgia in an effort to Jimmie Williamson Darien -Coastal District improve deer hunting in the future there . Their recommendations are a step in the right direction toward accomplishing that goal, even though some sportsmen don' t TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION realize it yet. Jack A. Crockford , Assistant Director Leon Kirkland , Fisheries Chief Hubert Handy, Game Management Chief Charles M. Frisbe, Supervisor, Marine Fisheries Robert S. Baker. Special Services Coord inator Surveys by game biologists reveal that the Southeast Georgia section has more acres of deer habitat than any other section of Georgia, although it is not as high a quality as middle Georgia. And deer are more numerous there than LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION B ill Cline continued on page 16 Deputy State Chief, Atlanta David Gould Deputy State Chief. Brun swick ON THE COVER: Biologists of the State Game and Fish Commission begin their annual inventory of Georgia 's lakes GEORGIA GAME & FISH STAFF J1m Mornson . Ed itor Dean Woh lgemuth. J. Hall, Staff Writer Staff Writer Ted Borg Photographer Marvin Tye, Staff Writer and streams. For the full story of population studies and their purpose, see Marvin Tye's "Count Your Fish ... Before You Catch Them" on page four. The cover photo of a blockoff net being placed across the mouth of a cove on Lake Blackshear is by Jim Morrison. ON THE BACK COVER : A cool view during a hot July day Georgia Game and Fish is theofficial monthly magazine of the Georgia Game and Fish Commis sion, published at the Commtss ion 's offices. 401 State Capitol, Atlanta. Georgia 30334. No advertising accepted. Subscr iption s are $1 for one year or $2.50 for three years. Printed by Stei n Printing of the Juliette Milling Company dam on the Ocmulgee River at Juliette, between Macon and the Lake Jackson ' Company,Atlanta, Ga. Notification ofaddress change must include both old dam. Locally, the dam is a popular swimming, picnicking, and new address and ZIP code, with 30 days nottce. No subscr iption re ques ts will be accepted without ZIP cod e. Articles and photographs may be and fishing spot. Photo by Ted Borg. reprinted. Proper credit should be given. Contributions are welcome, but the editors assume no responsibilityor liability for loss or damage ofarticles. photographs. or illustrations. Second-class postage paid at Atlanta, Ga. PHOTO CREDITS: Ted Borg 1, 2, 3 , 10, 11 ; J . Hall 15 ; Jim Morrison 6t. , 9b. ; Marvin Tye 4 , 5, 14. Photos by Ted Borg SIX FA THOMS! The author and diving partner Roy Carpenter (left) demonstrate one of the forms of underwater communication used by divers. Though the water here is much too clear to need this type of signalling, in dark or murky water, divers can communicate with each other by tugging on a line stretched between them. I eased over the big moss-covered Jog and looked around. The boil was just ahead, and I could see the edge of the deep hole, down where the spring was. There was a heavy growth of vegetation starting to my right and continuing around to the far side of the boil. I turned and glanced over my shoulder to make sure I was clear of the Jog. When I looked back, I almost jumped out of my skin. The bass was inches away, peering directly into my faceplate. He was big, at least eight pounds or better, and with his big mouth opening and closing so close to my face , he looked enormous. We stared myopically at each other for several moments, and he even moved a tiny bit closer to see better. It was obvious he was puzzled. I swear he even tried to furrow his brow, so intent was his concentration. He moved again , turning slightly sideways, eyeballing me suspiciously, his fins moving gently in the water. Finally, I could stand it no longer. Very slowly I extended my arms, fingers outspread. When I reached to touch him, he moved away, not far, just enough. Again he stared at me, his attention riveted on the bubbles rising above my head. Then with a disdainful swish of his tail, he turned and swam nonchalantly away. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Herb grinning at me. Heck, I couldn't tell whether he was grinning or not, with a mouth full of regulator. But his bubbles sounded sardonic. He had eased up behind me and had been watching. " Herb" is Herb Wyatt, Regional Fisheries Supervisor for the State Game and Fish Commission and, among other things we seem to have in common, he and I share a passion for diving. Right then, we were at his "private sanctuary," Ossawichee Springs, near Bowen Mill, Georgia. Herb has a proprietary attitude toward the springs. Few divers go there , mainly, I suppose, because few people know about them anymore. There used to be a recreation area there, with a pavilion and amusement center and such. But it has long since faded into oblivion, the buildings have fallen , and few signs remain of its more prosperous past. Or perhaps that was the problem. Maybe it wasn't prosperous enough. Anyway , not many people visit the place now except occasional picknickers and fishermen. Herb drops by periodically and dons his gear to drag the beer cans out of the spring, or just to dive awhile when he feels the need to find a little solitude and unwind. Even with a partner close by, diving's good for that problem. The feeling of peacefulness and quiet ... so rare in modern society's hectic pace, is just one of the many attractions that make diving the popular within its waving green morass, sudden- followed to fmd him tearing off his ly emerging and disappearing as silently mask and regulator. as they came. It is a world where even a " J, it's a rare fish!" he exclaimed. sunken log or a rotting stump, cursed When I got him slowed down enough from above because it lurks sightlessly to be intelligible, I found out that he to bend a prop or shear a pin or capture had just seen what is indeed a very rare a favorite lure, becomes a sleeping giant, fish . .. the only species of its type in strange and misshapen, slumbering in his the world. And strangely enough, living IT COULD BE the Creature From the Black Lagoon, but every item of a diver's gear is important. Strapped to the author's back is the tank of air, watery cave while small creatures dart and hide among the tresses of his mossy hair and a giant bass waits nearby for the unwary. It is a world of a profusion of colors, strange hues altered by the diffusion of sunlight, constantly moving shadows, the sudden darkness of a passing cloud overhead . .. colors that are never seen outside the underwater world, for when they are removed , they change, fade and become lifeless. here in Georgia in insignificant Ossawichee Springs. Herb stayed on the surface to mark the spot, and I went under to have a look. There, lying cooperatively on a small bed of gravel was a little fish about five or six inches long, resting on its pectoral fins. I looked him over carefully, even went around to his other side to examine him from there, and finally surfaced, very much unimpressed. compressed under 2,000 lbs. pressure. The hose extends to the regulator under his chin which will be held in his mouth, and controls the flow of air from the tank. The rubber "wet suit" keeps him warm in cold water, and around his waist, lead weights counteract the bouyancy of the suit and his body and Sound poetical? Yet, as I write this, I am confronted by the inadequacy of my description, for this is a world one has to enter, to see, and for a brief time , to be a part of, to really comprehend. And yet, even then , there is so much beyond comprehension, even beyond imagination . "What's so special about him?" I wanted to know. I became much more interested when Herb assured me we had just seen a critter that a lot of ichthyologists would "give their left arms to see." I decided to go back for another look, and I must admit that suddenly that little brown allow him to submerge. Rubbing saliva It is perhaps easy to see that such a fish seemed to assume a totally different over the face plate of the mask keeps it world can be intoxicating, that it con- appearance. He was in the same spot, as from clouding up under water. tains fascinations that draw the ad- though he could care less about our sport that it is becoming. That, and the exquisite feeling that somehow you are entering worlds where no one else has been before you .. . worlds that are strange, alien , and where even the most commonplace things may suddenly become breathtakingly beautiful. There's no question about diving opening doors to new worlds, for the underwater realm is one of the last frontiers for man's exploration. And he doesn't have to go far to fmd it. There's a world of discovery right at our fmger- tips. It's amazing how different a body of water looks when viewed from beneath the surface. Take Ossawichee Springs as an example. From the bank, the water has a greenish cast, seemingly murky. venturous, and for these reasons, diving is winning new members to its ranks every day. Somehow, it becomes addictive, and even the smallest, most insignificant body of water may become a challenge, for it may contain something that the diver has never seen before. To illustrate this, let's again go back to Ossawichee Springs. Certainly as springs go, this is no real prize. And to divers who have descended into the fabulous areas of the Pacific, the South Atlantic, and swum through the tropic reefs of the Bahamas, the Divers' Paradise, this place might not even be worthy of consideration. But note. Herb has dived into Ossawichee numerous times. He is familiar with its flopping about. I mean, he had dignity . Perhaps you understand. We examined the area closer, and in a few minutes, had discovered not one Ossawichee Darter, but several, all within a space of two or three square feet. Yet Herb had never before seen them, and we might return many times without seeing them again. This then is diving. A world of fascinations, of discovery , of new learning, a world where man is just beginning to intrude. And the fact must be marked that he is an intruder. For man , in the water, is in a totally alien environment, and he must never forget that. Even though all life began with the sea, and all landbound life forms emerged at some time from her watery There is a dark area about twenty feet from the edge. Once in the water, however, and everything is changed. The water is clear, the bottom sandy and clean, and the "dark area" turns out to be the entrance to a small cave through which the spring boils up from the ground. There are fish which swim unconcernedly by, or hover close, fascinated by this strange creature that has invaded their world, mysteriously blowing so many pretty bubbles. There appearance, and with much of the aquatic life that lives there. Yet on this dive, Herb and I discovered not two springs, as he had previously thought, but so far, a total of seven within a space of a few hundred yards. Four of these springs were larger than the two he had first known about, and one of them, at least, contained some really big fish, as fresh water fish go .. . bass, jack and bowfin of six, eight, ten pounds and more. womb, we are now so far separated that we can never return, just as the baby cannot return to the mother from whom he was delivered. Man has always been drawn to the water ... in ships, in suits, and in strange devices. This is not strange, in view of the fact that so much of the world is comprised of water, and what lies within and beneath it is so little understood. But it is really within very recent times that man has begun to is an eel that suddenly emerges, startled, But the large fish aren't always the explore this world in depth. And the then just as quickly slithers behind the most unusual. Sometimes big things things he has seen and found have made rocks to peek shyly at the alien. come in small packages. Such is the him want to see and learn much more. .. This is a world where strange " Ossawichee Darter." Diving has always been a fascinating plants ... eel grass, elodea, mermaid- We were swimming along, looking, activity. We read about pearl divers who grass, and a host of vegetation forms examining everything within sight, when dive deeply in search of the valuable grow in weird profusion, to reach out suddenly, Herb seemed to go crazy! For oysters, with nothing but their courage and clutch at hoses and gear, and serve a moment, he looked like a frenzy of and mighty lungs to sustain them. We as sanctuary and hiding places for fish foam and flippers, and then he got so listen spellbound to tales of deep-sea that come and go and live their lives excited, he popped to the surface. I divers who descend in armored suits and 2 massive helmets, free to move, to work, a diver can use, and many of them are through the mountains or going up in a to explore, yet so dependent upon the greatly desirable as well as being invalu- fast elevator. The pressure is from the fragile lifeline of air that connects them able safety aids. Among these are the outside, it is much more rapid and like an umbellicus to the world ... and depth gauge, waterproof watch for pronounced, and may result in implod- oxygen ... above. There is also the determining length of a dive, diving suit, ed ear drums and unconsciousness. As I "snorkel," a rather simple, insignificant either a "wet" suit for dives to approxi- can personally attest, it very definitely device, merely a tube with a mouthpeice mately 150 feet, or a "dry" suit for produces some excruciating moments of on one end to be held in the diver's deeper exploration. These help keep the sheer agony. There is "nitrogen nar- mouth while the other end extends diver warm. A compass is highly desir- cosis," produced by the effects of nitro- above the surface. This enables man to able, for underwater, everything looks gen under pressure in the blood stream. swim around, to look at the world alike and there are few "landmarks" to Often called "Martini's Law," it is based below, and even to make shallow, tell where you're going. And the diver upon the proposition that each fifty exploratory trips within the limitations needs a good knife ... not so much for feet in depth a diver descends is roughly of his lung capacity protection or swashbuckling, but equivalent to gulping down a dry But it was the development of possibly to cut himself loose from a martini on an empty stomach. Thus a SCUBA equipment, or Self Contained snag or entangling weeds before his air diver at 100 feet, though he be an Underwater Breathing Apparatus, that supply runs out. absolute teetotaler, has the effects of really opened the way to a better As for the dangers of diving ... many "tee martoonis" rolicking about his understanding of the underwater world, chapters in many books have been system. How soon he succumbs to this, for with such equipment, the diver has devoted exclusively to that subject. and how many "martinis" he can con- greater freedom of movement and travel sume in depth is just about equivalent and is less dependent upon connection to the individual's capacity for com- with the surface. Developed largely by sumption of actual liquor before passing Jacques Cousteau, renouned undersea out. That this may be dangerous is explorer and researcher, SCUBA has illustrated by the story of a diver who made diving a sport rather than a was sent down to perform a task at 250 hazard, and brought the underwater feet or so. He seemed to be getting world within the reach of the amateur. nothing done, in spite of the most Diving is easy, and almost anyone can abusive persuasion sent down from do it. Yet it would be a gross misstate- above, and finally he advised surface ment for me to say that it is so easy it is tenders through his telephone in a simple, for there are difficulties and drunken voice that he was trying to dangers involved, and the expert, as well work but "that ___ air as the beginner should continually be wary of them. There are rules to follow, hose keeps getting in the way! I'll get it done just as soon as I can cut this __ and a lot of capable people are lying in watery graves because they forgot, or chose to ignore them. Ignorance of the rules is an even more terrible, and equally fatal error. - - - thing out of my way!" He was quickly hauled up. Of all the dangers that are real and imagined to the diver, in my opinion the greatest is panic. Frequently this results To discuss diving in any depth is impossible, for there are large volumes Using a special underwater camera can from inexperience and lack of knowbe tricky, the author discovered, for ledge, but even the most experienced devoted to the subject, and numerous courses taught on its methods. And this distances are difficult to judge accurate- diver can lose his head in a frightening ly. But it's a wonderful way to record situation, and many have died as a is exactly where the beginner should those unforgettable scenes and experi- result. A diver should be emotionally start .. . by taking a certified course in ences. Strapped to his wrist is a depth stable, able to think clearly in moments diving instruction. Experience is a poor gauge and compass. It's nice to know of stress, for sooner or later, such substitute for this instruction , for a where you're going! Fish are frequently moments will arise. person might dive for years before fascinated by the streams of bubbles I have talked about the wonders, the . ~ suddenly being confronted by a situation which proper instruction would coming from the regulator, and follow the diver closely, trying to figure them thrills and the pleasures of diving, and they are many. I have mentioned some equip him to recognize, and handle. out of the dangers of diving and they are present, there's no fooling with that Equipment is the next question , and Among those most commonly imagined fact. If you are interested, if you're in again I would defer this answer to the are from fish such as sharks, moray eels, good health and you like adventure , trained diving expert, the instructor or barracuda and other assorted livestock, then I heartily recommend it as one of to a diving shop. It can be easy for the and in truth, many of these are not to the finest sports yet devised for man's novice to select the wrong kind of be trifled with. One problem, known to amusement and edification, for beneath equipment for himself . . . too much of many people as the " bends," results the surface of the water lie many new one type, too little of another, and just from too rapid expansion of air in the worlds yet to be explored and con- as with automobiles or refrigerators, lungs, forcing bubbles into the blood quered. there are expensive brands and the stream and possibly into the brain. "Air Just remember one thing. From in- "cheapies." How much you want to embolism" is a rather unpleasant experi- side a nice dry boat or at the comfort of spend may depend on what kind of ence, and an unprofitable way to die. your dining table, a fish is something for diving you want to do, and how much "Squeeze" is a more common problem, you to eat. As a diver, whether you eat you think your life is worth. resulting from the pressure of the water him or become an entree on the pisca- Basic SCUBA equipment will consist as the diver descends. The diver should torial menu yourself, depends upon of a regulator, through which the diver be able to "clear" his air passages .. . knowing that in the underwater world, breathes compressed air at a controlled the sinus cavities and eustachian tubes you are the alien, the invader, and very flow, air tank, which contains his supply leading from the ear, by forcing air much out of your element. Remember of air, face mask, weight belt, flippers or under pressure up into them. Otherwise, that, and the skies . .. or perhaps better "Frog Feet" to assist him in swimming. he finds himself in the reverse of the stated .. . the depths, and the wonders , There are numerous other articles which sensation you may feel when traveling are limitless. ,_ Count Your Fish Before They Are Caught! By Marvin Tye Fish population studies performed by the Georgia Game and Fish Commission's fish biologists are among their most beneficial and least understood management tools. A fish population study is conducted by placing a large block-off net completely around the mouth of a two-acre cove or inlet on a large impoundment. This small section of a much larger body of water is then treated with a chemical called rotenone which kills all the fish in the confined area. The fish are removed from the water with smaller clip nets and weighed and measured. They are also checked for disease, parasites, or other abnormalities. Information derived from the population study is used to formulate new management techniques. According to Leon Kirkland, Chief of Fisheries for the Game and Fish Commission, the study has two primary purposes, (1) determining the present population and (2) determining what changes have taken place. If any problems are developing, proper management steps can be taken to correct them. Kirkland says the population study is only one of many tools used by biologists to determine management practices. Also taken into consideration are creel census results, age and growth studies, limnological studies, and ne.tting studies. A limnological study is an examination of the physical and chemical properties of the water. Some sportsmen seem to believe that population studies ruin their fishing. Kirkland says that rotenone kills fish by causing blood capillaries in the gill membranes to contract and thus bring on death by asphyxiation. The chemical is not harmful to humans, and fish taken by this method can be eaten with no fear of harmful results. Portions of the lake not enclosed by the net do not receive enough rotenone to be affected. 4 Fish population studies reveal which species of fish are pre~ent in any lake. This mixed bag of catf1sh, crappie, bass and other fish was taken from Lake Blackshear. Biologist Dan Holder, left, describes findings to biological aide Paul Loska who records results. State Representative Janet Merritt of Americus attended this population study to observe the operation. The rotenone in the treated area is diluted by the end of the population study and the treated area soon returns to normal. All the fish a certain lake will support will be found in that lake at all times. Fish reproduce rapidly and will soon fill any void caused by a population study. Fisheries biologists compare the population studies to a farmer taking a soil sample. This small amount of soil removed does not ruin the farm. Neither does the small amount of fish removed during a population study ruin the fishing. In fact, other fish soon move into the affected area and natural reproduction fills any gaps. A fish population study could also be compared to a merchant taking inventory. The merchant can simply remove his stock from the shelves and make an accurate count of each item on hand. For the fisheries biologist, it is not so easy. The only way to get a complete count of each fish of each species to be found in any large impoundment is to take samples by use of the population study. It is assumed that fish in one portion of the lake would be found in similar proportions all over the lake. Experience of fisheries biologists over the years seems to bear out this assumption. Fish begin surfacing shortly after application of rotenone. This usually begins within 15 minutes. These fish are collected in dip nets and taken to a sorting table which has been set up a short distance from the water. Individual fish of each species are measured and a record is kept of the number of fish of each size group- usually divided into increments of one inch. Each size group is weighed to determine the average size of each individual. Although they are killed at the time of the application of rotenone, some fish sink to the bottom of the lake and do not surface until the next day . These are retrieved at that time and shortly thereafter the nets are removed. Georgia lakes on which population stu dies are being held this year are Seminole, Blackshear, Sinclair, High Falls, and Allatoona. Each major lake in Georgia is checked once in the spring and again in the fall , normally on two to three year intervals. Similar studies are -- periodically made on rivers and streams. Fish killed by rotenone are retrieved with longhandled dip nets. Biologist C. B. O'Neal measures a large catfish taken from Blackshear. Fish taken in population studies are weighed, measured, and checked for diseases or other abnormalities. Dan Holder checks weight of catfish taken in Blackshear study. Smaller fish are weighed in groups, and an average weight per individual is determined. 5 unmaslled: the spotted bass ASuspicious Looking Cousin of the Largemouth Shows Biologists and Fishermen He's Quite a Fish. By Leon Kirkland and Jim Morrison (Leon Kirkland, presently th e Chief of Fish eries of th e State Game and Fish Commission, was th e Project Supervisor of reservoir research activities at the time th e Spotted Bass Project was undertaken-) Closeup view of a typical Al/atoona spotted bass with a tag in his back. The tags were part of a Game and Fish Commission research project designed to unlock the mysteries of the spotted bass. Members of the Cherokee County Game and Fish Club helped sponsor the Commission 's spotted bass tagging project by raising tag prize money and publicizing the fishing contest. Harvey Mulkey of Canton served as the Club's project chairman, helping to distribute posters around Lake Allatoona. GEORGIA BLACK BASS L LARGEMOUTH BASS Fishin g rodeos an d scientific investigations ordinarily don' t go han d in hand, but a fishing contest on Lake Allatoona north of Atlanta has gone a long way in that direction, at least as far as the average fisherman is concerned. Thanks to the unusual contest, the results of the Game and Fish Commission survey of spotted bass fishing on All atoona have poin ted out the best techniqu es fo r lan ding the scrappy spotted bass, often confused with his more common cousins, the largemouth bass an d the smallmouth bass. When we decided to make an in tensive survey of spotte d bass fishing on 2. SPOTTED BASS 6 Allatoona, we asked a local sportsman's has this horizontal line down his side, group, the Cherokee County Sports- while the Smallmouth has a series of man's Club, to sponsor a contest as a dark vertical bars. means of determining what the habits of Another way to tell the largemouth the spotted bass actually are. As a means of getting complete re- from the smallmouili bass is by the length of the upper jawbone. In the ports of tagged fish catches during the adult largemouth, this bone extends survey , the Club offered prizes ranging well back behind the rear of the eye. In from $1 to $500 for tags turned in by cooperating sportsmen. Special prizes were given for specific numbers on the ilie smallmouili and spotted bass, the jawbone stops directly under the eye. In order to learn more about this tags for more incentive to the lucky relatively unknown species, plans were angler who might otherwise keep the made to tag a large number of spotted news of his tagged fish to himself. bass to see what happened to them. At Allatoona fishermen responded ilie same time, largemouths would be enthusiastically to the challenge. As far tagged so results from both species as can be determined, practically all the could be compared. tagged fish caught were reported during In Georgia the spotted bass occurs in When contacted to aid in the project the contest. real abundance only in Northwest with a tag contest, the Cherokee County In fighting and eating categories, the Georgia's Allatoona Reservoir. Thev are Sportsmen's Club eagerly responded. In spotted bass doesn' t take a back seat to taken in the Coosa, Chattahoochee, and a short time, the club had raised more his more well-known cousins, the large- Tennessee River drainage areas and than $2,500 by donations from club mouth bass and the smallmouth bass. occasionally from Lake Burton and its members, businesses and concessions to When hooked, the spotted bass doesn't feeder streams. However, for practical pay rewards for the tags turned in . jump as frequently as the largemouth , purposes, Allatoona is the only reservoir One dollar was paid for each tag but he pulls with more strength and in Georgia, and one of the few in the turned in and a weekly prize of $10 was endurance for his relative size. Like the nation , that is dominantly populated given for the highest number turned in smallmouth, the spot fights well with with spotted bass. Some largemouth during the week. Large prizes of $25 to tremendous power under the surface. bass are also taken , but over 90 per cent $100 were offered for specific tag The spotte d bass pulls his weight on of the bass caught there are spotted. numbers, with a $500 grand prize. the table, too. His meat is very firm and Originally the largemoutl1 bass was The only remaining problem was how light in color, with an excellent flavor. dominant in Allatoona, but over the do you catch 2,000 bass for tagging? Although the spotted bass doesn' t years ilie spotted bass has managed to Electrical equipment is usually used in reach as large a size as his cousins, he take the lake from his larger cousins streams and small ponds, but none had has nothing to apologize for as a sport since impoundment in 1949. been designed for efficient use in cap- fish, although 5 or 6 pounders are Most biologists are surprized that the turing bass from a large reservoir like considered trophy-sized catches. spotted bass has been able to sustain a Allatoona. As a result, we built our own The present Georgia record is a six higl1 population in an "old" reservoir electrical outfit for catching bass and pounder taken by Elton Elrod of like Allatoona. That fact may be of other game fish in large impoundments. . Cartersville in Allatoona on February unsuspected significance to future After much experimentation and testing 11 , 1967, but fish weiglling seven and Georgia fishermen. we finally came up with a rig that would eight pounds have been unofficially Although he is rarely recognized , the do the job. reported. Field & Stream Magazine spotted bass is a native Georgian. He is The "shocker," as we call it, is created a new category in their fishing often confused with his close relatives, powered by a gasoline generator with contest for the spotted bass last year, ilie largemouili and smallmouth bass. boosters to step up the current flow. and an eight pounder from Smith Lake He resembles both in physical appear- The shocker can be set so that fish are in Alabama has been recorded as the ance and habits. Some anglers mistake stunned for only a few minutes, after world's record. him for a cross between the two, al- which they come to and are as good as The spotted bass has generated a iliough this never occurs. new. With this machine we were able to good bit of interest because of its ln general appearance the spotted capture up to 40 bass an hour. In a few success in Smith Lake, a new reservoir bass more closely resembles the large- weeks, 2,000 spotted an d largemouili that is very popular. But Georgians have mouth. A fanllliar nickname for the bass were caught and tagged. been catching spotted bass for years, largemouth, "Old Linesides," comes The contest idea was a good one, frequently without knowing what kind from the dark line that runs down ilie since almost all the tags recovered by of fish they were catching. middle of each side. The spotted bass fishermen were turned in . A careful 3. REDEYE BASS Top Fin Joined 4. SMALLMOUTH BASS 7 study of the tagging results shows good spotted bass fishing starts about the last week in March. The fishing starts off with a "bang," since the fust week of good fishing yielded as many tags as any later period. At the beginning of the season most of the fish are caught up the small creeks, almost to the headwaters. Most of this type of fishing is done with floats using minnows or live worms for bait, fished three or four feet deep. Good fishing continues through March, April, and well into May. Following the excellent fishing in the upper reaches of the creeks during this time, the fish move back down to the lake and congregate on the shallow points and underwater islands. Here they are taken primarily on live salamanders, commonly called spring lizards. The bait is fished with a sinker or split shot twelve to eighteen inches ahead of the bait. The lizard is retrieved very slowly with frequent stops and pauses. On feeling a "tap," the line is quickly slackened and the fish allowed to run with the bait. There are many opinions as to when to set the hook on a running fish . Some anglers prefer immediately after the run starts, while others wait until after the fish has stopped and starts to run again. My experience indicated that the striking time must be varied according to the time of year. In the early spring, the lizard is often dropped by the spotted bass after only a short run. Later in the year the bait will be kept and swallowed readily. If that advice doesn't work when going lizard fishing, then save some of your choice expressions for when you try setting the hook on a running fish and the line goes slack! Lizards, minnows, and live worms accounted for about 75 per cent of the tagged spotted bass taken in Allatoona. However, this heavy preference for live bait doesn't necessarily mean spots do not take artificial lures readily. Jigs of various kinds are effective when properly fished, as are deep running baits such as Bombers and Waterdogs. The plugs are trolled over the points and islands just over or occasionally bumping the bottom. Casting the shoreline with small Bombers is also very effective during April and May. During the hot summer and early fall months the fish stay down deep and are rarely caught. The deep running plugs are most often used during these periods. At this time of year the Etowah River offers the greatest potential for spots. Drift fishing on the river from about 15 miles above Canton to the head of the lake is very good. Fish can be caught in the river all year, although spring and fall are better. Drifting, casting, or fly fishing around the old leaning trees and under the overhanging foliage is rewarding activity. When the leaves start turning in the fall, the spotted bass once more become active in the lake. The fish start feeding to store fat for the cold winter months. Minnows and worms are most effective during this period fished off the rock points. Another effective tactic on spots is "jump" fishing while the bass are feeding on shad at the surface. This productive strategy is often overlooked by most fishermen. Standard procedure in jump fishing is to cruise good locations in the "late afternoon while the water is calm, looking for surface feeding activity. When the fish are sighted, the boat is quickly run in close to the feeding fish and the lure cast into the school. Spoons are generally most effective in jump fishing because of their distance and accuracy. The spoon should be worked by allowing it to flutter down on a semi-slack line for a few feet, retrieved a few turns, and permitted to sink again. Don't retrieve the spoon immediately to the boat in a straight line. One of the most exciting moments in jump fishing is finding out what you have caught. Since Allatoona also abounds with white bass feeding in the same manner, they are often caught along with the spotted bass. At times the two species are found feeding together on a school of shad. According to the statistics gathered in the fish tagging contest Allatoona spotted bass fishermen are very efficient in capturing their quarry. The greatest catch was of three-yearold fish. In the nine months from March 1 to December 1, fishermen caught 41 per cent of the three year-old spotted bass tagged. 25 percent of the two-yearold fish, 30 per cent of the four-yearolds, and from 30 to 40 per cent of the fish five years and over were caught. This means that the fish are harvested at a good rate and yet there are a sufficient number left to maintain continued good fishing. Another interesting fact uncovered by the study is that a good percentage of the fish, 56 per cent, were caught in the middle of the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., contrary to most fishermen's ideas of bass fishing, since early morning and late evening are generally thought to be the best times by experienced bass fishermen. However, late afternoon did account for most of the remaining fish with only about six per cent being caught in the early morning. Spinning gear was most often used for catching tagged bass, with approximately 78 per cent of the results. Pole and line was second with 12 per cent, casting tackle accounted for six per cent, and fly rod fishermen took the remaining four per cent of the tagged fish. Most of the fish were taken at a depth of 3 to 4 feet. 88 per cent of the tagged fish were taken less than 10 feet deep. No catches were reported over twenty-five feet deep. In comparing the tag returns of spotted bass with those of largemouths tagged at the same time in Allatoona, the two fish were found to be very similar in habits. A higher percentage of the tagged spotted bass were caught than largemouths, indicating that- they bite as well or better than their more widespread cousin. This is very important in a game species and is one factor that had been in question concerning the spotted bass. The reaction of the spotted bass to topwater plugs was very evident in this study. Of 258 tagged spotted bass caught, not one was reported taken on a topwater plug. About 5 per cent of the largemouths were taken on topwater plugs. Both species showed the same prefer- ence for live minnows, lizards, and worms over artificial bait. Other data on the two species were so similar comparison showed little variation, although studies of the growth of these two species in Allatoona show the largemouths grow somewhat faster than the spotted bass. Reproduction of spots appears to be very good in Allatoona, as shown by the ability of the spotted bass to maintain a high population and at the same time give up a high percentage of the population under heavy fishing pressure each year . One of the most important facts brought out by the study is that the spotted bass has been able to maintain itself in abundance in an old impoundment where the largemouth has faltered. The spotted bass has done this in spite of the very heavy fishing pressure exerted on the lake from nearby large population centers. The only two ways in which the spotted bass appears to be inferior to the largemouth is in its slightly slower rate of growth and the fact that it does not reach as large a size. Other studies are in progress at the moment to fmd out more about this fish , but from the present information, it looks like the spotted bass may be a species that could help provide better bass fishing in some of the other impoundments where it does not now occur. So if in the future on your favorite lake or stream you catch a suspicious looking bass that, after a tremendous battle comes reluctantly to the net, examine him closely ; you may have been introduced to a fellow Georgian, the spotted bass. - Not just grown-ups enjoy r"" Gan1e & Fish ... GIVE YOUR KIDS ABREAK! Make checks payable to Georgia Game and Fish Commission 401 State Capitol Bldg. Atlanta 30334 One year $1.00, three years $2.50 Spotted bass and largemouth bass were captured for the Allatonna study with a specially-designed electric shocking machine. Author Kirkland is standing in the front of the boat, ready to dip up fish stunned by the long electrodes hanging down into the water from the poles on the bow. The Allatoona study showed that the spotted bass is a first-class game fish that is no harder to catch than the largemouth, except with topwater plugs. Although spots don't grow as fast or get as large as largemouths, they may be the answer in providing continued good bass fishing in old lakes with heavy fishing pressure where largem outh fishing is poor. 9 If you're tired of the land, why not live on the water! Houseboat Holiday By Dean Wohlgemuth ' -==--- A h ouseboat is a little big for maneuvering around a cove or over a crappie bed, but passengers who like to fish can get in a few casts when the urge strikes. You'd have thought we were loading the Queen Mary , embarking on a voyage of at least three months. There was fishing tackle , camera gear, lawn chairs (which, for the duration, became " deck chairs"), food, and everything else we thought we might possibly be able to squeeze in some use for on a houseboat. Game and Fish's photographer, Ted Borg, and I were moving our families into the shining new 44-foot Drifter houseboat at Galt's Ferry Landing on lake Allatoona. It was Friday, and we were loading up for what we hoped would be a "typical" weekend cruise aboard the floating house. I started the big inboard-outdrive motor and very carefully backed the boat out of its moorings in the slip, and we were off for a weekend of floating, fun and cruising. The craft, which seemed huge in my hands- l'm not used to anything bigger than a runabout- slid easily across the lake surface and as my hand pushed the throttle forward after clearing the landing area, the motor responded strongly. Soon we were cruising down the main channel of the Etowah River arm of the lake. Arrangements for the cruise had been made through LeRoy Dobson of Marine Distributing Company, Inc. , of Buford, distributors for Drifter houseboats. LeRoy is also president of the Metropolitan Atlanta Marine Trade Association . He had made the demonstrator houseboat available to us to do a feature for Game & Fish Magazine. Before we struck out on our own, we had good instruction on the operation of the houseboat. LeRoy's brother, Tom Dobson, operator of Galt's Ferry landing, had taken us out for a short shakedown cruise. And he had carefully tutored me on the art of maneuvering the huge boat in and out of the cramped quarters of the slip. Gradually it came to me that handling the houseboat was almost exactly like handling a runabout except, of course, on a much larger scale. You took things slower and easier. But all the same principles apply. The first day of the trip was spent cruising. We stopped for lunch, then just drifted awhile before heading back toward our landing. We saw a good deal more of the lake than we normally would have on a fishing trip. It's unlikely we would have ventured on such a long cruise in a fishing boat. On the second day , we decided on finding a more leisurely use of the houseboat than cruising. Finding a quiet cove, we dropped anchor. After lunch, and an hour or so of just loafing on deck and a little casting from the stern, Ted and I decided to do a little fishing. We untied the small aluminum fishing boat which we'd lashed alongside , and eased in closer to shore for some casting. Meanwhile, the families worked on getting a suntan on the top deck. A huge cloud began to form on the horizon , so Ted and I quickly headed back to the houseboat, made the fishing boat fast , and cranked up to head for home port. As we swung out onto open water, I could see the rainstorm approaching. Full steam ahead! There was no outrunning the rain . It caught us within a mile. But no problem. All hands ducked into the cabin and all kept warm and dry as we enjoyed the ride back home. Hoping I could remember the formula for docking the boat, I eased into the slip cautiously. In went the boat easily , as if an old pro were at the helm. Houseboating, we found , is a pleasant recreation for families. There's plenty of room aboard for whatever you feel like doing. Other boats on the lake passing by wave a friendly greeting. A cool breeze comes off the lake. The world seems at peace. But if you find you don't like your neighbors, it's easy to move your floating lake cottage- just pull up the anchor and turn the starter. There may be new adventure, just around the bend! ..- 10 Appetites are good on the open water, so the family waits impatiently for service! Houseboats have all the comforts of home for eating and sleeping. Sightseeing is good from topside, too. Warren Wohlgemuth points out the sights to sister Cheryl Kay. Before venturing out on his own at the helm, author Wohlgemuth gets instruction in handling a big 44footer from Tom Dobson, operator of Gaits Ferry Landing, home port for the vessel. 11 A happy coon hunter, and his dog, and a successful hun t. The raccoon popula tion of Georgia should provide plenty of sport for future generations- IF indis crimina te illegal stock ing is stopped at once! How to Stock Raccoons ~ and regret it By Marv in Tye There are many hunters throughout Georgia who thrill to the exciting sounds of their trained dogs in pursuit of the wily raccoon . The almost musical baying of the hounds on an otherwise silent fall night must be heard to be really appreciated. At the moment the raccoon population of most of the state is healthy and should provide plenty of sport for the future. According to many wildlife authorities, the biggest threat to the raccoon population is the group of sportsmen who hunt them. This danger does not lie in overhunting, but in the introduction of raccoons from other areas of the state or from other states into North Georgia. According to Dr. Frank A. Hayes, director of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, this importation of raccoons could introduce several diseases not now found in the North Georgia raccoon population. The diseases most feared at the moment are rabies and encephalitis. Three instances of unusual behavior in raccoons were recorded recently at the University. A raccoon attacked William Harvey of Forsyth. Harvey killed the animal with a stick. The raccoon showed symptoms of encephalitis. Another raccoon fell from a tree near Buckhead in Morgan County. Charles Bell noted that the animal was acting sick, so he turned it over to the Game and Fish Commission. The raccoon was unable to stan d. It would grasp its rear feet with its fore paws and draw them fo rward. The animal lived for two days at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study headquarters before being put out of his misery on May 17 of this year. This raccoon also was a victim of encephalitis. The third report came from South Carolina, where a raccoon was found wandering on the grounds of a motel in Beaufort County. The owner of the motel contacted conservation officers who captured him. The raccoon would lie on its back, grit its teeth, shake all over, recover, and then repeat the entire process. Examination at the University of Georgia showed that he also had encephalitis. Dr. Hayes said that several recent reports of such cases could indicate an outbreak of encephalitis in certain areas. An outbreak of this kind might be confined to the local area. However, indiscriminate transporting of raccoons from one area to another could spread an unwanted disease which coul d greatly reduce the entire raccoon population . Dr. Hayes also stated that the strain of encephalitis foun d in the raccoons was not the dreaded sleeping sickness, but an entirely different strain. Dr. Harold Hubbard of the Department of Microbiology at the University's School of Veterinary Medicine is more concerned about rabies. He says that this dread disease is prevalant among raccoons in parts of Southern Georgia an d Florida and seems to be spreading northward. Once started, an out break of ra bies is hard to stop. Since the first re ports of rabies in certain south Georgia counties several years ago, other reports have continued to come in from the same general locations up until the present. It is obvious that rabies is still present in these locations. A rabid raccoon, or a raccoon with any other brain inflamation, does not behave the same as a normal coon. The rabid animal will walk right into towns, up to farm houses, and generally seems to seek human company. The normal wild raccoon shuns humans and is more likely to be found further off the beaten track. Rabies affects the brain and causes any animal , including humans, to behave in a very unusual manner. Rabid raccoons are much more likely to come into contact with people than those which are not rabid. A rabid raccoon which wanders into someone's yard is likely to be mistaken for a pet. It will not seem to be wild. Remember, the rabid animal does not act like a normal wil d animal. The average person will walk over to the raccoon and try to pet it or pick it up. Dr. Hubbard tells the story of a south Georgia man whose dog attacked a rabid raccoon on the man's property. Immediately after killing the raccoon, the dog turned upon his master an d bit him. The man had to undergo prophylactic treatment for rabies, a very painful series of injections. The dog may have had saliva from the raccoon mixed with his own. This might have transmitted the disease to the owner. A raccoon trapped in a rabies-infected area might have been exposed earlier that same day. At that time he would appear perfectly normal. Frequently symptoms of rabies do not appear until as much as three weeks after the animal is bitten. At that time, the rabid animal could be treed in his new environment. The south Georgia incident could be repeated with tragic results. The edges of many Georgia towns now border woodlands that harbor a raccoon population. A serious outbreak of rabies could pose a threat to small children in these towns. Tennessee has been plagued with a rabid fox problem for several years. It is not known if raccoons pass this disease on to foxes , but there are those who believe it could happen. In addition to raccoons and foxes, there are an undetermined number of feral dogs estimated at 300,000 or more ranging across the state. If rabies should ever spread to 40 rabid foxes were reported there during February of this year. Dr. Dreesen and others are concerned that the range of rabid foxes in Tennessee and the range of the rabid raccoons in Georgia may overlap before the two outbreaks are ended. There is now a buffer zone between these two, but indiscriminate restocking of raccoons from the rabies-infested areas could bring the two ranges together. Dr. Dreesen fears an outbreak of rabies like that of 1946 when 392 dogs, 268 foxes and 148 other animals, a total of 808, were reported to have rabies. All of these were in Georgia. A large percentage were in the Atlanta area where there are a large number of stray dogs. What are the dangers to humans of such an outbreak? Ninety persons in Project Leader Ted Kistner and Research Assistant Jack Connell of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia's School of Veterinary Medicine observe a captured raccoon to detect signs of abnormal behavior. these animals also, no other form of Georgia were treated for bites by rabid wildlife or domestic livestock would be or suspected rabid animals in 1967. This ' entirely safe. number could rise sharply with an out- Another man who is concerned over break like that of 1946. the problem of rabies in raccoons is In addition to rabies and encephalitis, State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. D. raccoons have been known to carry W. Dreesen. He says that of 1,275 several other diseases including anthrax. raccoons examined from 1963 to the It would seem to be much wiser to present time there have been 375 positive cases of raccoon rabies reported. Seventeen cases have been reported this year. Dr. Dreesen views this in much the same way he would view an iceberg. Only a small percentage of the mass of the iceberg is present above the surface. The great bulk of the formation is not preserve a healthy population of raccoons in a particular area than to import animals that might also bring in a disease or a number of diseases that could possibly wipe out the entire population and have serious side effects on the humans and other animal life. Wildlife biologists say that introduc- Parasites are removed from the body of a raccoon. Parasites from one geographical area may be transferred to another by hunters who move captured raccoon into new areas. For instance, ticks on raccoons may transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever. seen. It would stand to reason that only ing raccoons into an area with an a small proportion of the rabid raccoons established population is an unsound are ever reported. undertaking anyway. Large populations The present outbreak of rabies start- of raccoons exist in South Georgia ed about 1952 or 1953 in Southern naturally , because there is plenty of Florida an d was first reported in south food an d water in these areas. Georgia in 1961. Since that time, it has Raccoons feed largely on aquatic life . been moving steadil y northward. The Where there is not enough water to map accompanying this article shows sustain these creatures, there are just the Georgia counties in which rabies in not going to be many raccoons. Biolo- raccoons has been reported since 1963. gists say that no matter how many The areas that are not shaded may raccoons are imported into an area, only contain rabid raccoons, there just have not been any reports from these areas. a certain number can be supported by the natural foo d in that area. The surplus number will soon die, or disease due to starvation will set in . The present season for hunting raccoons in North Georgia runs from October 15 to February 28. Some bi ologists believe that this season is too long. They say that in early October young Ted Kistner examines the brain of a raccoon for signs of diseases such as rabies or encephalitis. Raccoons may carry several other diseases including anthrax. Native North Georgia raccoons are generally healthy, but diseased raccoons being stocked there by misinformed hunters may change this picture. raccoons have not left the parents to fend for themselves. Many times a female raccoon an d her young will be treed an d several will be killed at once. ,,. If the season were started in December, more mature coons would be taken . The family groups would have broken up by that time. Dr. Dreesen believes that after it has Tennessee an d West Virginia have r become well known that rabid raccoons laws making it illegal to transport rac- are foun d in a certain location , natives coons fro m one area to another. Georgia Jack Connell looks at raccoon lung of that location simply kill any sus- has the same laws, but in many cases tissues under a microscope, seeking picious looking raccoon an d do not they have been ignored. The conserv- damage caused by disease. Masks must bother to report it. ationist can only hope that this situ- be worn by laboratory personnel to Last year approximately 400 rabid ation will be correcte d before it is too prevent their contracting the animals' foxes were killed in Tennessee. About late. .- diseases. Plantation Manor Children Get Fishing Lesson,Tackle Frank Carter, a manufacturer's re presentative for several large sporting goods companies, and himself a renouned and widely travelled fisherman an d sportsman, recently came to Plantation Manor Home for Children at Conyers, to present the youngsters a donation of fishin g rods, reels and tac kle. Carter gathered the children together on the bank of their small lake for a couple of hours of instructions on casting with the new equipment, how to rig their lines, and methods of fishing. After the demonstration, the children were all eager to try their luck, and the banks of the Jake have been populated with determined young anglers ever since. As evidence of their success, all 32 children recently enjoyed a fish fry , with the fish provided by the youngsters themselves! The largest catch to date is a two and one-half pound bass landed by one of the smallest boys. Maybe it all comes from having a good teacher! Among the items donated were Zebco rods and reels, My Buddy tackle boxes, Glen Evans lures, and floats and sinkers from the Ideal Company. the outdoor world Bowhunters Post Reward for Poachers The Georgia Bowhunters Association has announced that it is posting a $5 0.00 reward on poachers to help the State Game and Fish Commission en.: fo rce game laws during the special archery season or during a managed archery hu nt . Richard Parker, president of the GBA, made the announcement in the monthly publication of the Association, the Long Drawers. Under the terms of the offer, any person would be eligible to receive the reward for giving information to the State Game and Fish Commission leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in illegal killing of deer, turkey, or bear during the October archery season and on management area bow and arrow hunts. Parker said that the reward idea grew out of reports that some violators were illegally killing deer with a gun during the archery season and claiming the animals were killed with a bow, even though it is illegal for an archer to carry a firearm while hunting. " I don't believe trat any true sports- man would do anything like that," Parker said. "This reward is just an inducement to archers and other persons as well to tum in any of the handful of game hogs who are violating the Jaws and trying to give the majority of honest archers a bad name. We feel that legal archery hunting during the special season doesn't hurt the deer population, and we don' t want to see a small group of outlaws ruin it for everybody. " The Georgia Bowhunters Association has more than 600 members in 50 affiliated archery clubs throughout Georgia. Marine Toilet Inspection Augmented inspection teams are again checking toilet-equipped pleasure boats on Georgia's waterways in a continuing and intensified program of enforcement of the state's marine sanitation regulations, according to R. S. " Rock" Howard, Jr. , Executive Secretary of the Georgia Water Quality Control Board. The stepped-up, statewide inspection program, initiated on a limited scale last summer, will continue throughout the boating season. Boat owners whose craft are found to be in compliance with the marine sanitation regulations will be issued a certificate of inspection. The regulations derive from the Georgia Water Quality Control Act which requires that marine toilets be equipped with suitable waste treatment devices and that these units be in operating order. The regulations apply to all boats, houseboats, boathouses and "visiting" watercraft from other states- any craft equipped with a marine toilet. "Results of our sampling of high use recreational waters such as Lakes Allatoona. Clark Hill, Hartwell, Lanier, Walter F. George and other large impoundments indicate these waters are clean as well as aesthetically beautiful," said Howard. " In 1960 there were only 24,000 watercraft of 10 or more horsepower registered in Georgia. By 1967 that fi gure had grown to 84,000. More boats mean more potential sources of pollution , especially when a growing percentage of these craft have toilet facilities aboard. Our increased marine sanitation enforcement effort is necessary if we are to continue to have clean, healthy and attractive recreational waters." 15 On a recent shad fishing trip to the Ogeechee River, I was appalled at the amount of chemical foam one could see floating on top of the river. I was told that the chemicals hunters in Georgia is drastically increasing eve.ry year, this is especially important. were released by a paper mill shortly up the In addition, reproduction studies river. I was also told that the famous and once made by Georgia game biologists in the fabulous redbreast fishing of the Ogeechee has now almost completely disappeared. It's time years of 1962, 1963 , and 1964, show i Georgia sportsmen woke up to the fact, that that deer breed on the Georgia coastal Letters to Sportsmen Speak Game & Fish welcomes expressions of opinion from its readers. Letters should be as short and concise as possible. Due to limited space, not all letters can be used. unless something is done, we are going to lose one of our greatest natural heritages-our rivers. Congratulations to Georgia Game and Fish for doing such a fine job in trying to awaken the public to their own plight. Robert Lee Rene Athens, Georgia The State Water Quality Control Board is doing a very good job under the circumstances in attempting to clear up water pollution and to prevent future pollution from occurring, but they will require the active interest of the public and of politicians if they are to fully succeed. islands from September 5 through October 30, and in the five counties surrounding Fort Stewart from October 1 to November 10. Thus, opening the season on October 15 would mean subjecting deer in most of Southeast Georgia to active harassment of their breeding by dogs during most of the rutting period, cutting breeding and reproduction. At the same time, many fawns are still with their mothers in October. Pine Tree Food? This is an individual opinion. I have hunted for rabbit and squirrel in the past, say ten years ago. But now I feel guilty when I hunt for squirrels, because the poor little things don't have any means of survival. A squirrel can't live on pine burs. The paper companies should be placed responsible for some means of support for what little wildlife we have in North Georgia: walnuts, pecans, or any food bearing plant I have enjoyed reading Game & Fish for the past year, and I am renewing my subscription for three years. In my opinion, Game & Fish is the best. I would like to see some articles on wild turkey, bear, and more articles about our Georgia deer. W. K . Richardson Decatur, Georgia Part of the demand for an early season in Southeast Georgia stems from the South Carolina deer season, which opens on August 15 in some counties, September 15 in others, and November in still others, all with the use of dogs legally allowed. It is argued that what can be done in South Carolina is just as sensible for Georgia. This just isn't the case. that would pertain to the wildlife in any particular area. I wish I had the authority to ask the questions and make some suggestions. For one thing, most of the land in South Carolina that opens August 15 is in private ownership on a few large Huewell Davidson Alto, Georgia plantations, where hunting is tightly controlled and regulated. Few hunters Women Fishermen? I wish to take exception to the part of your article concerning women fishing behind the fish hatchery at Lake Burton (Trout Time, April '68). I have fished for trout for the past five years here in Georgia in streams ranging from rough, rough __ ,_ _ _ _ _ __ (My husband said that if I let this name get out he would-well, get upset. Just take my word for it; it's rough.) Creek in Northeast Georgia to just plopping along in a boat on the Chattahoochee River-well, not exactly plopping when you consider it was a canoe and we put in at the dam, and my husband had on boots so he wouldn't have to get out at the rapids. So guess who flopped around on all those rocks guiding the canoe? We also fished the Chatooga in a canoe below Burl's Ford, near Earl's Ford. Of course, we've also fished Cooper's Creek, Rock Creek, Tallulah, etc. Number one, I feel that I have amply proved that I am able-bodied, and number two I certainly hate to be classed with the handicapped persons. Although being classed with a person too young to require a license is rather flattering at my age. However, I have had my share of fun at that short stretch of water. To be honest though, I haven't always caught fish so I'm glad that I can still fish there. I don't know what my poor husband will do though, standing there watching me catch fish. Mrs. R. E. Mosby continued from inside front cover they have been in the past, and are spreading out. But bag checks of hunters indicate that the area is not producing nearly as many deer as it could and should. One of the reasons for this is the extraordinarily long season that has been allowed there in past years , coupled with the greater effectiveness of legal use of dogs for deer hunting in a long 81 day season, compared with the one week of no dog hunting allowed in some Georgia counties in North Georgia with more deer and better habitat. On top of this, the season has opened on October 15 for the past two years while the rest of Georgia was opening on about November 4 , meaning that hunters from all over Georgia descended on it to hunt the two weeks before their own seasons opened. Some of these hunters have dogs themselves, and others hunt with friends or relatives who have them. Many " semi-professional" deer hunters make every opening have access to the land, and the hunting pressure is relatively light, compared to areas where the land is more accessible to hunters without stringent controls by landowners. Very little of the land in Southeast Georgia is protected so well. As a matter of fact, game biologists in both South Carolina and Georgia don't think that the South Carolina deer seasons and regulations, set without biological advice by the legislature rather than the Commission, are necessarily the best for most areas of South Carolina, either. It's common knowledge in the South Carolina counties bordering Georgia that many of their deer come across the Savannah River into South Carolina, providing South Carolinians with deer hunting where they otherwise would not have any , except for Georgia's better conservation program. This is especially noticeable in the areas opposite the middle and north Georgia counties where deer hunting with dogs is not allowed , compared to the adjacent South Carolina areas where deer are dogged out each year. It is the job of the Game and Fish Tucker, Georgia day they can, greatly increasing hunting Commission to do what is best for Pollution Problem I was delighted to find in the April, '68, edition of Game and Fish an article on shad fishing. This is a sport few people know much about. Unfortunately, unless something is pressure on an opening day that is different from other areas of the state . This is the reason that a uniform opening day state-wide helps to spread out hunting pressure and keep it from Georgia's wildlife resources. In the long run, that is also the best thing for Georgia's sportsmen. Hunters who criticize the Commission for taking the best advice available to it from its profession- done about the wholesale wasting away of our fresh -water rivers by pollution, there is little chance of more sportsmen ever enjoying the excitement of catching a battling shad on a light spinning rod. being concentrated in any one area , especially one that needs less hunting, not more, to help produce better future deer hunting. Since the number of deer al biologists should first consider all the information available before passing judgment on whether they have been wronged or not. - J.M. 16 Sportsman's Calendar EVENTS TH IS MONTH A meeting of the Georgia Gun Clubs Association, Inc. will be held July 27, at Green briar Auditorium, Greenbriar Shopping Center, in Atlanta. SEASONS NOW OPEN Mountain Trout Open Stream Season - April I , 1968 through October IS , 1968. Creel Limit- Eight trout of all species per person per day. Possession limit eight trout. Fishing Hours - 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset on all open trout streams. Trout fishin g is allowed at night on all large reservoirs. Management Area Stream Season - May I, 1968 through Sept. 2, 1968 on designated days only as shown in the chart. For a complete set of trout fishing regulations and directions to managed streams and the most popular open streams, write to the State Game and Fish Commission, 40 I State Capitol, Atlanta, Ga. 30334. Lake Trout Season - There is no MANAGEMENT STREAM SCHEDULE Management Area BLUE RIDGE CHATTAHOO CHEE CHESTATEE LAKE BURTON WARW DMA N St ream MaJ June JUIJ August September Jones Wed ., Thurs. (Sun. , Sept. 1) (Artificial Lures) Sat., Sun. Wed. , Thurs. Sat., Sun. (Sat. , Aug. 31 ) (Mon .. Sept. 2) Montgomery Wed., Thurs. Sat., Sun. Wed., Thurs. Sat., Sun. (Thurs. , Aug. 1) Nimblewill Sat., Sun. Wed ., Thurs. Sat., Sun. Wed., Thurs . (Sun., Sept. 1) (Sat., Aug. 31) (Mon., Sept. 2) Noontootley Wed., Thurs., Wed. , Thurs ., Wed ., Thurs., Wed., Thurs., (Sun., Sept. 1) (Artificial Lures) Sat., Sun. Sat., Sun. Sat., Sun. Sat. , Sun . (Mon ., Sept. 2) (Catch and Release) Rock Creek Wed. , Thurs., Wed., Thurs., Wed., Thurs., Wed ., Thurs., (Sun., Sept. 1) Sat., Sun. Sat. , Sun. Sat.. Sun Sat. , Sun. (Mon., Sept. 2) Chattahoochee Sat., Sun. Sat. , Sun ., Sat. , Sun. Sat., Sun. Wed . (Sun. , Mon. Sept. 1 & 2) Dukes Wed., Thurs. Wed. , Thurs . Wed ., Thurs. Wed. , Thurs . Boggs Wed., Thurs. Sat., Sun. Wed., Thurs. Sat. , Sun. (Thurs. , Aug. 1) Dicks Sat., Sun. Wed ., Thurs . Sat. , Sun. Wed., Thurs. (Sun ., Sept. 1) (Sat. , Aug. 31 ) (Mon., Sept. 2) Waters Sat. , Sun. Wed ., Thurs . Sat., Sun. Wed ., Thurs . (Sun., Sept. 1) (Sat., Aug. 31 ) (Mon., Sept. 2) Di cks Wed., Thurs. Wed., Thurs. Wed ., Thurs. Wed .. Thurs. Moccasin (Not stocked) Sat., Sun. Sat., Sun. Sat., Sun. Sat. , Sun. (Sun ., Sept. 1) (Mon., Sept. 2) Wildcat Sat., Sun. Sat. , Sun . Sat., Sun. Sat., Sun. (Sun., Sept. 1) (Mon., Sept. 2) Finny Wed., Thurs. Sat. , Sun. Wed., Thurs. Sat. , Sun . (Thurs ., Aug. 1) Sarahs Sat., Sun. Wed. , Thurs. Sat., Sun. Wed ., Thurs. (Sun., Sept. 1) (Sat., Aug. 31) (Mon .. Sept. 2) Tuckaluge Wed ., Thurs. Sat. , Sun. Wed., Thurs. Sat. , Sun. (Thurs ., Aug. 1) Walnut Fork and Wed ., Thurs . (Sun ., Sept. 1) Hoods Creek Sat., Sun. Wed., Thurs. Sat., Sun. (Sat. , Aug. 31) (Mon., Sept. 2) closed season on trout fishing in Georgia lakes with the exception of Dockery Lake. Lake Trout Fishing Regulations- 14 inch minimum size limit on all species of trout in Lakes Blue Ridge , Burton , Clc~rk Hill , an d Lanier. o size limit on trout in other lakes. SEASONS OPENI NG NEXT MONTH Squirrel Early Season- Aug. 15, 1968 through Sept. 7, 1968 in the following counties only: Dawson, Fannin , Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, and White. Bag Limit- 10 Daily JULY 1968 AUGUST 1968 TIDE TABLE HIGH WATER LOW WATER HIGH WATER LOW WATER Oav A.M. HT . P.M. HT. A.M. P.M. JUL Y-A UG. 1968 Oav A.M . HT . P.M. HT. A.M. P.M. -- 1. Mon . 11 :37 5.9 11 :55 6.4 5:31 5:55 2. Tues. 12:31 6.1 6:19 6:55 3. Wed . 12:49 6.2 1:31 6.4 7:13 7:55 4. Thurs. 1:43 6.0 2:31 6.6 8:13 9:01 5. Fri. 2:43 5.9 3:37 7.0 9:18 10 :07 6. Sat. 3:49 5.9 4:43 7.3 10 :13 11 :07 7. Sun . 5:01 5.9 5:49 7.7 11 :07 ... 8. Mon. 6:01 6.1 6:49 7.9 12:07 12 :07 9. Tues. 7:01 6.3 7:43 8.1 1:06 1:07 10 . Wed . 7:55 6.4 8:31 8.0 2:01 2.01 11. Thurs. 8:49 6.5 9:19 7.4 2:49 2:55 12. Fri . 9:43 6.5 10:13 7.4 3:37 3:49 13. Sat. 10:31 6.4 10:55 7.0 4:25 4:37 14. Sun . 11 :25 6.3 11:49 6.5 5:13 5:25 15. Mon . 12:13 6.2 5:55 6:13 16. Tues . 12:31 6.1 1:01 6.1 6:43 7:13 17 . Wed. 1:19 5.7 1:49 6.1 7:31 8:07 18. Thurs. 2:07 5.3 2:43 6.1 8:25 9:01 19. Fri. 2:55 5.1 3:37 6.1 9:13 9:55 20 . Sat. 3:49 4.9 4:31 6.3 10:01 10:49 21. Sun. 4:49 4.9 5:19 6.5 10:50 11 :37 22. Mon. 5:43 5.1 6:07 6.7 11 :37 23 . Tues. 6:31 5.2 6:49 7.0 12:25 12:30 24 . Wed . 7:07 5.4 7:25 7.1 1:13 1:07 25 . Thurs . 7:49 5.6 8:07 7.2 1:55 1:55 26 . Fri . 8:25 5.9 8:37 7.2 2:31 2:37 27 . Sat. 9:00 6.1 9:19 7.2 3:07 3:19 28. Sun. 9:43 6.3 10:01 7.0 3:43 4:01 29. Mon . 10:25 6.5 10:43 6.8 4:25 4:43 30. Tues. 11:13 6.6 11:31 6.6 5:01 5:31 31. Wed . . - . 12:07 6.7 5:49 6:31 GEORG IA COASTAL WATERS HOW TO USE THESE TABLES The calculations are for the outer bar. Find the reading for the desired tide . In the table below find the number of minutes to add to correct for the place you are going to fis h or swim. The outer bar calculation, plus this correction, gives the correct reading for the point desired . Adjust For Daylight Saving Time By Adding One Hour CORR ECTION TABLE The times given are for Savannah River entrance (Tybee). Hrs . M in . Savannah (High)..... . . . . 0 44 Savannah (Low). " 57 H ilton Head , S. C.. . . . . 0 10 Thunderbolt......... . ... . 0 20 Isle of Hope.. . .... . 0 40 Warsaw Sound..... .. .... 0 00 Ossabaw Sound. . . . . . . 0 05 Vernon View..... ....... . 0 35 Coffee Bluff... . . . .. . .... . . 0 55 Ogeechee River Bridge. . .. . 3 50 St. Catherine Sound. ...... . 0 25 Sapelo Sound.. ...... . .. . 0 00 Brunswick Bar. . ...... . . 0 00 JULY AUGUST First Quarter 3 1 Full Moon 10 8 Last Quarter 17 15 New Moon 25 23 1. Thurs. 12 :19 6.3 1:07 6.8 6:43 7:31 2. Fri. 1:19 6.0 2:01 6.8 7:43 8:43 3. Sat. 2:19 5.8 3:19 6.9 8:49 9:49 4. Sun. 3:31 5.7 4:31 7.1 9:55 10:55 5. Mon . 4:49 5.8 5:43 7.4 10:55 11 :55 6. Tues. 5:55 6.1 6:3 7 7.4 .... 12 :01 7. Wed . 6:55 6.4 7:31 7.9 12:49 12:55 8. Thurs. 7:49 6.7 8:19 7.9 1:43 1:49 9. Fri . 8:31 6.9 9:01 7.7 2:31 2:43 10. Sat. 9:19 7.0 9:43 7.4 3:13 3:25 11. Sun. 10:01 6.9 10:25 7.0 3:55 4:13 12. Mon . 10:49 6.8 11 :07 6.5 4:37 4:55 13. Tues. 11 :31 6.6 11 :43 6.1 5:19 5:37 14. Wed . .... 12:13 6.4 6:01 6:25 15. Thurs. 12:25 5.7 1:01 6.3 6:43 7:19 16. Fri. 1:07 5.4 1:49 6.2 7:31 8:19 17 . Sat. 2:01 5.1 2:43 6.2 8:25 9:19 18. Sun. 2:55 4.9 3:43 6.2 9:25 10:13 19. Mon . 4:07 5.0 4:43 6.4 10:19 11 :07 20. Tues. 5:07 5.2 5:37 6.7 11 :07 11 :55 21. Wed . 6:01 5.5 6:19 7.1 11 :55 22. Thurs. 6:43 5.9 7:01 7.3 12 :43 12 :43 23. Fri. 7:25 6.3 7:43 7.5 1:19 1:31 24 . Sat. 8:01 6.7 8:1 9 7.6 2:01 2:43 25 . Sun. 8:43 7.0 8:55 7.6 2:37 2:55 26 . Mon . 9:20 7.3 9:37 7.4 3:19 3:43 27 . Tues . 10:07 7.4 10:19 7.1 3:55 4:25 28. Wed. 10:55 7.4 11 :07 6.8 4:37 5:13 29. Thurs. 11 :43 7.3 5:25 6:07 30. Fri. 12:01 6.4 12:43 7.1 6:19 7:13 31. Sat. 1:01 6.0 1:55 7.0 7:19 8:25 To re port violations or if you need assistance in the Coasta l Area - Call-State Game & Fis h Commission , Brunswick, Georgia, P. 0 . Box 1097, Phone 265-1552 , Savannah 233-2383 , Richmond Hill 756-3679 .