mnn a Tun : &\V. m^mEmr^m """ri'ht PiMcatkn of the GEORGIA STATE GAME & FISH COMMISSION *myj ^m^^m iUTE AC RE HINTED .', I, ^ OUTDOORS BY FULTON LOVELL Director . Georgia's motorboat safety law is only a few years old but its provisions have been practiced by boaters for some time. For example, having a life preserver around for emergencies is one precaution wise boaters have taken. Actually, the provisions in our law do not infringe upon the enjoyment of boating. They simply provide for the safety of boaters who may not be wise enough to take the necessary precautions. The law has few requirements that a boater who wants to be safe would not ordinarily do anyway. One of the most frequently violated provisions is the one that requires a Coast Guard approved life preserver for each passenger aboard. This may be a life jacket, boat cush- ion or any other device that bears the stamp of approval of the U. S. Coast Guard. It does not include ski belts although these are required for all water skiers who are participating in this fast-grow- ing sport. Wildlife rangers issued many warning tickets to violators of the preserved provision during 1961. The rangers have made many cases for this violation this year. In fact, persons failing to have a Coast Guard approved life preserved have been the biggest single violation of the law. Other provisions in the Georgia law require boaters to follow a prescribed set of "rules of the road," have running lights for night boating and all boats with motors in excess of 10 horsepower must be registered with the Commission. Information on Georgia's motorboat registration and safety laws may be ob- tained from the Commission's Public Relations Division, 401- State Capitol Building, Atlanta, Georgia. Ten Million Walleye Eggs Are Loaded In Game-Fish Plane For Trip To Georgia Walleye odds increase,- 71 lakes get new fish The odds 61 catching a walleye in Georgia will soon increase by 10 million. That's the number of walleye eggs the State Game and Fish Commission imported from New York for subsequent hatching and release into suitable north Georgia lakes. This is the fourth year in a ten year program of mass releases in the lakes. Last year, almost ten million fingerlings were planted in suitable waters. Of these, Lakes Lanier and Allatoona received two million each. The recently imported eggs will be hatched at the Commission's Lake Burton facility, where special equipment has been set up to handle the eggs. Since walleyes are coldwater fish, and spawn in cold, swift water, hatchery conditions must simulate natural conditions before the eggs will hatch. "As soon as the eggs hatch, we will release fingerlirtg walleyes in Lakes Bur- ton, Blue Ridge, Hartwell, Nottley, Clark Hill, Lanier and Allatoona," said fishery biologist Howard Zeller. "Our stocking program has showed en- couraging results in all these lakes. Lake Hartwell perhaps has been the best according to the reports we have kept showing the number of walleyes caught and their growth rate." Zeller said. Earlier this year, an 11% pound walleye was taken from Lake Burton by Atlanta angler Jack Hogg. This is the largest walleye ever reported in Georgia Zeller said the Lake Blue Ridge has a natural spawning wallaye population and that Lake Hartwell, one of the state's newer impoundments, gives indications of establishing one. The walleye appears in moderately deep, ccol water near rocky shorelines or gravel bottoms. They spawn when the water approaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit in shallow water over rocks, gravel or sand bars. Walleyes do not build nests and are -- known as random spawners scattering their eggg haphazardly and leaving them to their fate. Female walleyes release from 25,000 to 300,000 eggs, depending upon the size (Please Turn to Page 3) : Always Keep Arms Straight; Hold Onto The Rope Remember To Flex Your Knees Rules may be old stuff, but they protect boaters With more boats of all kinds and sizes on Georgia lakes and rivers than ever before, the Georgia Game and Fish Com- mission has come up with a complete list of "rules of the road." Commission Director Fulton Lovell said the rules for boating may seem old stuff to many but "it's amazing to observe the great majority of boaters who fail to practice them." The department is the agency charged with registering boats on Georgia's lakes and rivers and enforcing the rules of safety. "In boating, just as in driving, it is essential that all skippers know the right thing to do in heavy traffic," said Lovell. "Every boater, regardless of whether he's a weekender or an eberydayer, should know these basic rules of boat- ing." The Commission's "rules of the road" 1. Always bear to the right when meet- A ing another boat to avoid collision. boat should always give way to another in its "danger zone" by altering its course. The danger zone is that area from dead ahead to two points abaft the -- starboard beam in other words, a boat approaching from the right. 2. When overtaking or passing another boat, always steer clear of it. If your craft is larger or has a deep draft, it is good manners for the skipper of the smaller boat to pull over and let the larger craft pass. 3. Sailboats have the right-of-way over power beats. In the unlikely possibility, however, of a power boat being overtaken by a sail, the power boat has the right-of-way. 4. In passing near a sailboat, do so slowly and on the leeward side, or the side on which the sail is carrying the main bcorn. 5. Courtesy always requires that racing boats (sails) be given a wide berth. 6. Fishing boats, with nets, lines or trawls out, whether anchored or underway, should be passed with caution. 7. Fishermen should never anchor in a channel. 8. Boats going downstream or down current in moving water have the right- of-way over boats going upstream. 9. Power boats have the right-of-way over tugs and barges but it is wise to yield to them because of their poor maneuverability and lack of speed. 10. Always investigate any hint of trouble in case of accident or mishap. Serious accidents demand immediate ac- tion. 11. Use common sense afloat. It's the safest and best policy. Lovell summed it all up this way: ''use of common sense afloat is the basis of every safety tip and feature that can be offered." * Skiing popular with all ages The Georgia Game an