Seasons, bag and creel limits [1954]

EORGIA
GAME & FISH COMMISSION
FULTON LOVELL
DIRECTOR

GEORGIA GAME AND
FISH COMMISSION

HERMAN E. TALMADGE, Governor

LEONARD BAsSFORD, Chairman 1Oth District

J. 0. BowEN, Vice-Chm.
5th District

FRED C. JoNES 9th District

CASON CALLAWAY, JR., Sec. 3rd District

ALVA J. HoPKINS, JR.
8th District

RICHARD TIFT 2nd District

BILL AUSTIN 7th District

FRED D. BEASLEY Coastal
]AMES F. DARBY, JR. 1st District

J. D. PoPE
4th District
A. w. SMITH
6th District

FULTON LOVELL, Director

HUNTING AND TRAPPING
Seasons and Bag Limits for 1954-55
Opening dates begin with sunrise and closing dates end at sundown on dates specified.
QUAIL--The opening date on Quail will be Nov. 20, 1954, and the closing date Feb. 25, 1955, bag limit, 12 daily, 30 weekly.
TURKEY-Wild Turkey killed must be reported to State Game and Fish Commission in writing. Bag limit 2 per season. Opening date Nov. 20, 1954, closing date Feb. 25, 1955, in the following counties: Chattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee, except the Thomas Seawell Refuge, which is closed, Schley, Macon, Peach, Houston, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Washington, Jefferson, Burke, Emanuel, Johnson, Treutlen, Laurens, Bleckley, Dodge, Pulaski, Wilcox, Dooly, Crisp, Sumter, Lee, Webster, Terrell, Stewart, Randolph, Quitman, Clay, Early, Calhoun, Baker, Dougherty, Mitchell, Worth, Turner, Tift, Ben Hill, Telfair, Irwin, Berrien, Cook, Brooks, Colquitt, Thomas, Grady, Decatur, Miller and Seminole. Opening date Nov. 1, 1954, closing date Jan. 10,

1955, in the following counties: Screven, Jenkins, Candler, Bulloch, Effingham, Chatham, Bryan, Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, Wheeler, Montgomery, Jeff Davis, Appling, Liberty, Long, Coffee, Bacon, W a y n e , Mcintosh, Glynn, Pierce, Atkinson, Lanier, Lowndes, Clinch, Echols, Ware, Brantley, Candler, and Charlton. The remainder of the state is closed entirely.
RABBITS--The season for hunting rabbits shall be October 1, 1954 through February 28, 1955. Daily bag limit 5. Wild Rabbits killed in this state shall not be sold.
OPOSSUM-The opening date will be Oct. 1, 1954, closing date Feb. 15, 1955. No bag limit.
RACCOON-The opening date will be Oct. 1, 1954, closing date Feb. 15, 1955. No bag limit.
RUFFED GROUSE-The opening date will be Nov. 20, 1954, closing date Jan. 5, 1955. Bag limit 3 daily, 3 weekly.
ALLIGATORS--There is no open season over the entire State.

SEA TURTLES-There is no open season on Sea Turtles and eggs.
SQUIRREL--The opening date fs Sept. 1, 1954, closing date Dec. 5, 1954, in the following 12 mountain counties: Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Lumpkin, Dawson, Towns, White, Rabun, Habersham, and Stephens. Firearms limited to shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller and .22 Rim Fire Rifles in above counties. Opening date in all other counties is November 1, 1954, closing date Jan. 10, 1955. Bag limit, 10 weekly, in all counties.
BEAR-The opening date in all counties will be November 1, 1954, closing date January 10, 1955, except Catoosa, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, White, Whitfield, and Chattooga, which counties have no open season. No bag limit.
DEER (Buck only with visible antlers) The killing of doe is illegal at any time. It shall be illegal and a violation of this regulation for any person to knowingly possess the

meat of any female deer, after the same has been killed by any person, without a special permit for such possession from the State Game and Fish Commission of Georgia. It shall be illegal for any person to knowingly conceal the killing of any female deer by any person by accident or otherwise. Guns for hunting deer are limited to shotguns loaded with slugs or No. 1 buckshot or larger or to rifles using any center fire cartridge .25 caliber or above with the following exceptions: .25-20; .32-20; or .30 Army Carbine.
Opening date November 5, 1954, closing date November 20, 1954. Bag limit 1 in the following counties: Gilmer, Murray, Fannin, Pickens, Dawson, Lumpkin, Union, Towns, White, Rabun, and Habersham. It shall be illegal for any person to run, chase, or pursue deer with dogs for the purpose of taking the same in any of the above counties.
Opening date November 1, 1954, closing date January 10, 1955. Bag limit 2 with the exception of that portion of Bulloch County in which the bag limit is 1 in the follow-

ing counties; Washington, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Jefferson, Screven, Jenkins, Effingham, Chatham, Bryan, Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, Wheeler, Montgomery, Jeff Davis, Appling, Liberty, Long, Coffee, Bacon, Wayne, Mcintosh, Glynn, Pierce, Atkinson, Lanier, Lowndes, Clinch, Echols, Ware, Brantley, Camden, Charlton, and that portion of Bulloch County east of U. S. Highway #25 from Bulloch County line of the north to Statesboro, thence State Highway #67 to county line on South.
Opening date November 1, 1954, closing date January 10, 1955. Bag limit 2 in the following counties: Seminole, Decatur, Miller, Early, Baker, Mitchell, G r a d y , Thomas, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Berrien, Tift, Worth, Dougherty, Calhoun, Clay, Quitman, Randolph, Terrell, Lee, Turner, Irwin, Ben Hill, Telfair, Wilcox, Crisp, Stewart, Webster, Sumter, Dooly, Pulaski, Dodge, and Bleckley.
The season for hunting deer in Chattahoochee, Marion, and Muscogee Counties, except the Thomas Seawell Refuge, shall be December 1, 1954 through December 15, 1954. Bag

limit 1. The use of dogs in these counties is prohibited.
The season for hunting deer in Paulding and Polk Counties shall be from November 9, 1954 through November 14, 1954. Bag limit 1. The use of dogs in these counties is prohibited.
The season for hunting deer in the refuge located on right of Highway #80 from Claxton to Statesboro in Candler County to Highway #25 ; Bulloch County line of the north to Statesboro, thence State Highway #67 to Bulloch County line on south, shall be December 28, 29, and 30th, 1954. Bag limit 1. The hunting of deer with dogs on this refuge is prohibited.
All other counties in the State are closed to deer hunting.
Regulations on MIGRATORY GAME such as DOVE, DUCKS, GEESE, BRANT, RAIL, and COOT are the same as the Federal Regulations which will be published as soon as established. Shotguns must be plugged to limit

them to a capacity of 3 shells on both NATIVE and MIGRATORY game.
TRAPPING season on FOX, MINK, MUSKRAT, SKUNK, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, will be Nov. 20, 1954, and closing date will be Feb. 15, 1955. No bag limit. Trappers must report to the State Game and Fish Commission the number of hides shipped.
BEAVER and OTTER-The season for trapping will be Jan. 1, 1955, through Jan. 31, 1955 in all counties south of Carroll, Fulton, DeKalb, Walton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, and Lincoln. No bag limit. All counties north of and including Carroll, Fulton, DeKalb, Walton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, and Lincoln are closed to the trapping of Otter and Beaver.
These regulations do not apply to the Game Management Area in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Separate rules and regulations are promulgated jointly by the Federal and State Authorities governing the taking of Game and Fish on these areas and will be published when established.

It is unlawful to hunt in this State while under the influence of any intoxicating beverages.

FISHING REGULATIONS FOR 1954-55
All fresh water streams, lakes, and ponds of Georgia are open to legal fishing throughout the year with the exception of the trout streams of the following 12 mountain counties-Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White. Fishing in these waters is prohibited from November 15 through March 31, inclusive, each year. This regulation shall apply from the head to the mouth of said streams, and the mouth of those streams which flow into a lake shall be considered at the point where the stream reaches the body of the lake regardless of its level.
There is uo closed season on taking shad fish with rod and reel, fly rod, or pole and line. All species including white shad and hickory shad taken by the above methods cannot be sold.
Restrictions and limitations upon taking of fish in one day shall be as follows :

Rock fish or striped bass __________________ 10

Largemouth black bass __ ___ __ _ ________ 10

Smallmouth black bass _______

10

Rock bass _

10

White bass_

10

Kentucky or Red-eye bass __ _ ______ _ 10

Bream _------------------------------------------------ 35

Perch -------------------------------------------------- 35

Crappie

__ _______ ____ __ __ ------------- 25

Eastern Pickerel or Jack _________________ _ 15

Wall-eyed Pike _ _ ___________________ _ 3

Muskelunge ______

_ ________________ _ 2

Brook Trout ______ ______ ___________________ _ 10

Rainbow Trout

__________________ _ 10

Brown Trout ___ _

______________ _ 10

Shad _____ _______ _

______________ _

8

Total aggregate 45 in one day.

A person may not take from that portion

of the waters of Clark Hill Reservoir or have

in his possession any Bass fish of less than 8

inches in length measured from the tip of his

nose to the fork of his tail.

It shall also be unlawful for any person to

possess at any one time more than 45 fish in

the aggregate of all species named, and no

more than 10 Bass or 10 Trout of any or all species in the aggregate may be taken in one day.
SALT WATER FISHING
Shrimp-Sapelo, Doboy, Altamaha, St. Andrews, and Cumberland Sounds are open to commercial shrimp fishing with power drawn nets. All other tidal rivers, creeks and sounds are closed.
There is a closed season on shrimping in Georgia waters from Jan. 1 through March 15 each year. During this period, it is illegal for any person to have shrimp in their possession which count more than 55 to the pound with the head on; or to use a power drawn net for the taking of shrimp in the tidal or salt waters.
It is legal to drag a net no larger than ten feet in diameter at the widest part of its mouth for taking shrimp to be used or sold for use only as bait.
Oysters-It is illegal for any person to take oysters from the waters of this State, except

from private beds, from the first day of May through the 31st day of August, and during any season from one hour after sunset on Saturday until one hour before sunrise on the following Monday.
All distributors or dealers who sell oysters in this State shall pay an occupation tax as follows: one cent on each sixty ounces of canned oysters; two cents on each gallon of raw shucked oysters; and five cents on each bushel of oysters sold in the shell. Peddlers or hucksters who sell direct to the consumer are exempt from the tax, provided that no one person shall remove m o r e than ten bush.els of oysters in any one day for such purpose.
Prior to engaging in commercial oyster gathering, each commercial fisherman must each year obtain an oyster collector's permit from the office of the Supervisor of Coastal Fisheries of the State Game & Fish Commission.
Every person, firm or corporation owning or operating a factory for the canning of oysters, or a raw oyster shucking plant in

DIRECTIONS* FOR MAKING
Legal Fish Basket

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INa

7.l"
I
73"

z./. ;tfAIN CVLIN/JER WIRE YOKE
3.1-!.T FONNEL
Ji.Z~NP.FfJNNEL
5.6ATE LIFT
6.6ATE FRAME

CV T FROM 7~11 MATE~!IlL

*SEE PAGE 27

NO BASKET OR TYPE OF BASKET OTHER THAN THE ONES WHICH MEET THE ABOVE SPECIFICATIONS IS PERMITTED

this State is required each year to distribute upon the areas designated by the Commission a quantity of oyster shells not exceeding 332% of the quantity required by such cannery or raw shucking plant during the preceding open season.
An individual is allowed to take not more than two bushels of oysters per day for his own use when authorized to do so by written permission of the land owner.
Crabs-It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to take from the waters of this State, or to buy or sell, or to possess, any spawning crabs, during the month of February, March, or April.
Pompano-Nets used in catching Pompano from the outside salt waters of this State must be no less than 21;3" stretched mesh size.
It is unlawful to take or have in possession any Pompano which measures less than 9" in length measured from nose tip to tail fork.
Shad-The Commercial Shad fishing season is from December 15 to April 15 in the

St. Marys River, and from January 1 to April 15 in all other streams of the State.
Nets used in Shad fishing must be 3:Y2 inch or 4% inch mesh size when stretched. They
must be set so as to allow 1Js of the stream
width free for passage of fish, and must not be set within 150 feet of a net previously set.
During each week of the Shad season there is a closed time during which no shad may be taken with nets and no shad nets placed in the waters of this State, beginning at sundown Friday of each week, and extending until sunrise on Monday.
It is necessary for persons engaging in commercial shad fishing to have a commercial shad fishing license. The fee is $1.00 for residents and $10.00 for non-residents.
Having a net for the purpose of taking shad in any boat in or on the waters of this State during such time as the law prohibits the taking of Shad is considered prima facie evidence of guilt.
Nets, Use of-It is unlawful to take shrimp

or fish, other than Shad, with nets, other than cast nets, in the tidal rivers, bays and creeks of this State at any time.
Licenses-All boats engaged in commercial fishing in this State are required to be licensed and each commercial fisherman must also be duly licensed.
License fees are as follows:
Resident Commercial Fishing Boats: $1.05 for first 16 ft. of length and 4 ft. of beam, plus 20 cents for each additional ft. of length and beam.
Non-Resident Commercial Fishing Boats: Same as for Resident Boats plus $25.00.
Boat License Tags: 60 per pair.
Commercial Salt Water Resident Fishing: $2.00 per person.
It is required that all persons operating boats while fishing for shrimp or fish by use of nets upon any of the tidal or salt waters of this State to have a Commercial Net Fisherman's Boat Operator's License. These licenses are issued free of charge but are subject to revocation or suspension upon the

conviction of the holder for violating any laws or regulations pertaining to fishing with nets upon the tidal or salt waters of this State. These licenses must be upon the person of the operator while engaged in fishing or in going to or returning from the fishing grounds.

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RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR FISH BASKETS
No person shall use any basket for the taking of rough fish in any of the waters of this State without first having obtained a permit for each basket so used from the State Game and Fish Commission. Such permit shall be obtained by making application to the Commission on blank forms to be provided by the Commission and upon payment of a permit fee of $1.00 for each basket. A separate permit shall be issued and a separate application shall be made for each basket to be so used. Each permit shall be valid for the period of the year from April 1st through March 31st in which such permit is issued. Permits shall not be transferable.
Every basket used for the taking of rough fish shall distinctly show the name and address of the person using said basket by an official metal tag issued by the State Game and Fish Commission and attached to the top of the first funnel of the basket. Such tags

shall be obtained at the time of obtaining a permit by the payment to the State Game and Fish Commission of the sum of $0.10 which shall be the actual cost of the tag. Each such tag shall be marked to indicate the permit year for which the same is issued and will expire with the permit. No duplicate tags will be issued and the same shall not be transferable.
Permits shall be on the person at all times during the inspection of baskets and shall be exhibited on demand to any wildlife officer or other peace officer.
No permit shall be issued pursuant to these regulations to any applicant unless such applicant is the holder of a valid fishing license issued by the State Game and Fish Commission as provided by law. The provisions of this section shall apply to residents as well as non-residents and to holders of resident fishing licenses as well as to holders of non-resident fishing licenses.
Application for permit shall contain the applicant's name and address, physical description, name of the stream or lake where

the basket shall be operated, name of county in which basket will be operated, the name of the nearest town or city to such point, the name of the landing from which the applicant will depart and return when operating the basket, and such other information as may be required by the official application form.
Every person holding a permit pursuant to these regulations shall notify the wildlife ranger in the area where each basket is located, of the location and use of each basket while the same is in use, and the days or times when each basket will be fished.
All baskets operated pursuant to these regulations shall be inspected or "run" according to temperature of the water in order to prevent fish from dying in the baskets from lack of attention. From October through the month of April, such baskets will be fished or "run" at least once each seventytwo hours. From May through the month of September, all such baskets shall be fished or "run" at least once each forty-eight hours.
Rough fish are those fish that 98% of the

sportsmen don't try to catch, such as the various suckers, carp, catfishes, gizzard shad, hickory shad, the "mud" "black" or grinnel fish, gar and eels.
Game and sport fish must be released immediately into the water from whence they came. These fish are; rock or striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, bream, perch, crappie, pickerels or jacks, muskelunges, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and white shad.
Should any species of fish designated by regulations or laws of this State as game or sport fish be taken by the use of any baskets or basket permitted by these regulations, such fish shall be immediately returned to the waters from whence they were taken.
Upon conviction of any person for the violation of any of the provisions of these regulations or of the Act or Acts of the General Assembly pursuant to which these regulations are adopted, all permits held by such person to fish by the use of baskets in this State shall be forfeited and such person shall be ineligible to procure a new permit until

after the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such conviction.
The Commission or any of its authorized agents or employees may, for cause, revoke, suspend or cancel any permit issued pursuant to these regulations or refuse any initial application for a permit or any renewal of same. Upon such refusal, revocation, cancellation or suspension, the applicant or permittee may demand and obtain a hearing before any agent of the Game and Fish Commission authorized to hold the same. Such hearing shall be held in the county of such applicant or permittee's residence and the evidence taken at such hearings shall be recorded and be referred to the State Game and Fish Commission with or without the recommendation of the hearing agent, for decision and the said Commission shall decide whether the permit was properly refused, suspended or cancelled.
Records of rough fish captured by the use of baskets pursuant to these regulations will be made available by the operator of same within five days after each calendar month

of basket fishing for collection by any employee of the Game and Fish Commission. These records shall include total pounds of
fish captured and the use made thereof.
No basket shall be employed and no permit
shall be issued for the use of any basket with-
in this State failing to meet the following
specifications :
(a) The over-all length shall not exceed five feet.
(b) The circumference shall be from 68 inches to 72 inches.
(c) The shape shall be semi-circular with a flat bottom.
(d) The basket shall have two funnels. The first shall be located in the middle of the basket and shall have an opening approximately 18 to 20 inches in circumference at the smallest part. The second funnel shall be located near the mid-section and have a trap door where fish may enter but not return.
(e) Such baskets shall be constructed of wire having not less than one-inch mesh.

HELPFUL HINTS ON OPERATING THE BASKETS
1. Baskets set on sandy points are subject to "grounding" or sanding under. This usually results in the loss of the basket. This type set is very productive on a rising river.
2. In shallow water (where willows are present) the basket is not very productive except when the river is rising, although, carp favor such waters.
3. The turbidity of water has little effect on the catch of catfish, but the greater the turbidity, the less the catch will be on carp and suckers.
4. Due to the pressure of current on the trap door located on the second funnel, swift water is not as productive as the eddies of swirling waters.
5. Still waters, such as sloughs, and the opening of lakes are not very productive except during the rise and the fall of the river.

6. Mud bottom sets have proven to be the best for the capture of carp and suckers.
7. Rock bottom sets have proven to be very good for the capture of the channel cats.
8. Various kinds of baits may be used, depending upon the availability. Soybean meal cake, cotton-seed meal cake, peanut meal cake, shrimp-heads, and salt water scrap fish "pogie" which is high in oil content, have a great attraction for freshwater rough fish.
A four to six inch cube of the meal cake bait is a sufficient amount to bait each basket. The bait will weigh approximately three pounds. For example, 3 six-inch square of the cotton-seed meal cake held together by rubber bands cut from an old innertube, will help to keep the bait in a compact unit for better utilization of the bait. A fine mesh bag, in which onions or oranges are sold, have proven very satisfactory in preventing the bait from washing away.
9. The bait is to be placed in the portion

of the basket that is behind the trap door of the second funnel.
10. The open end of the basket should be facing downstream because the rough fish are facing upstream while seeking and eating food, therefore, the chance of their capture is easier.
No. 18 or 19 gauge wire will last much longer than chicken wire.

11. Location in Stream: Set them in natural runways of the fish. Sets placed in the stream channel and on the outside of a bend in the river, are excellent places.
12. Depth to Set Devices: The depth isn't as important as type of bottom, the velocity of the water, and the location in the stream. In warm water, place the baskets three feet or more in depth.
13. The way to Secure the Basket in Stream: One easy way is by using a piece of strong wire, attaching one end of the wire to the closed end of the basket and the other end of the wire to a tree, root, or a rock.
14. When to Fish the Baskets: Very profitable fishing occurs when the water temperature is between 55 F. and 80 F.
15. How Long a New Device Must Remain in the Water Before it Starts Catching Fish: Usually from four (4) to seven (7) days, but sometimes when a basket is set in a good location, it will make a good catch the next day.

ROUGH FISH

I-LONG NOSE AND SHORT NOSE GAR, 2-EEL, 3BUFFALO, 4--CARP, 5-HICKORY SHAD, b-QUILLBACK SUCKER, 7-HOG SUCKER, 8-LAMPREY,

9-STURGEON, 10--BLUECAT, II-CHANNEL. CAT, 12-FLATHEAD CAT, 13-BUL.LHEAD CAT, 14-REO HORSE SUCKER, IS-WHITE SUCKER, 16--00GFISH

I GIVE MY PLEDGE AS AN AMERICAN TO SAVE AND FAITH-
FULLY TO DEFEND FROM WASTE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF MY COUNTRY - ITS SOIL AND MINERALS, ITS FORESTS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE.
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