JULY VolJK NoI[ OFFICIAL PUBLICATION MONTANA STATE FISH 6 GAME DEPARTMENT :^^-- dairies to a ^UYiontana J^ad By FLOYD L. SMITH. J— /ITTLE lad with cheeks of tan, willow pole and battered can, Dangling worms on bent pin hook, into depths of babbling brook. Basking under smiling skies, 'midst the buzz of salmon flies. Laughing eyes reflect God's plan, for the future and the man. L, ^IKE unto his watchful Dad, Joys of fishing lure the Lad, And when Dad sets ideals high, Sonny forms the binding tie. Woods and waters, pals they roam. Students both of Nature's own. Minds and men are moulded there. Free from taint of carnal air. u, NDER canopies of green, 'Mongst the bowers where birds preen. Sonny follows in the trail. Blazed by hands that never fail. And when Daddy sets the pace, Son is quickened in the race. Sportsmen worthy of the name. Keen to save the fish and game. D. 'AD, the sportsman, guides the boy. Teaching him the outdoor joy. Schools him in clean ways to win. Causing hearts to beat akin. Treasures of the Treasure State Are surpassed by thoughts elate. And they pause at Bryant's shrine. Mindful of his wholesome line: TO A WATER FOWL "He who from zone to zone Guides through the boundless air thy certain flight. In the long way that I must tread alone. Will lead my steps aright." Vincent E. Wilham, Jr., of Helena, when at the age of 6, casting for big ones in Clancy creek. Page Two MONTANA WILD LIFE The Official Publication of The State Fish and Gj ime Commission VOL. IV 1 iELENA, MONTANA, JULY, 1931 No. 2 'irap^ shooters GMher M , tt'liei |§ In Jely S. G. Tonkin President TRAPSHOOTING eutUusiasts of Montana and sister states will gather for the an- nual championship events of the Mon- t a n a Sportsmen's Association at Bil- lings, July 17, IS, and 19. and if the prevailing indica- tions may be taken as a criterion, the state shoot will be one of the most suc- cessful in the his- tory of the event. Extensive prepara- tions have been com- pleted by the Bil- lings Rod and Gun Club for the staging of the three-day program which centers around their new home where about $10,000 has been expended. Trapshooting enthusi- asts are listed among the keenest and squarest sportsmen of the state and nation. It's a game where cheating and violation of the ethics of sports- men are taboo. Under the leadership of President S. Garfield Tonkin, well known Mon- tana sportsman, members of the Bil- lings club are ready to act as hosts to shooters from the east and west. Assisting President Tonkin, other offi- cers are: Charles O. Campbell, vice president: Theodore W. Johnson, sec- retary, and Mayor Arthur Trenerry, treasurer. Other directors are John B. Coppo, George Selvidge, and Richard A. (Dick) Prater. Jack Keenan, staff writer of The Bil- lings Gazette, recently prepared a keenly interesting review of activities of the Billings club, and its splendid new quarters. Much of the material utilized in this article has been taken from Mr. Keenan's review. When the club was first formed the traps were out near Mountview ceme- tery. There was no shelter and in bad weather none but the boldest chal- lenged the clays. Homes began to spring up shortly and before long the club moved to the north. Again harried by the encroachment of Billings home owners who com- plained that their Sunday morning naps were ruined by the rat-tat-tat of gun- fire, the club decided to solve the prob- lem in one move, and forthwith trans- ferred its traps to a grounds near the Midland Empire fair buildings. Two years ago George W. Swords, long prominently connected with the program of the club, donated a tract adjoining Boothill cemetery. Here, within a stone's throw of the famous old burial ground, and on a slightly higher knoll, the clubhouse stands. From its southern windows one may gaze down on the winding Yellowstone river and if memory is long enough, again sketch in the de- tails of the ghost village of Coulson, now as dead as any of its citizens resting beneath the boulder monument in Boothill cemetery. The club reeks with the romance of the old west. Just below it, the Yellowstone highway descends a long hill, through a steep-banked coulee. Here, tradition has it, six or seven of Boothill's occupants departed life when outlaws' guns enforced unwill- ing obedience upon a stage driver and his passengers. Atop a huge stone hill, which now has taken unto itself the dignity of a mountain, lies the grave of Captain Luther (Yellowstone) Kelly, alone at last on the one hill which he loved above all others. Here, on lonely nights before even Coulson's rowdy existence was thought of, the famous old scout communed with nature and kept a close watch on his scalp. On this high hill, says another tra- dition, the Indians were wont to scan the valley for foemen. When the white men came, their scouts and trappers were not adverse to taking refuge in the holes of the stone cliffs, while on many occasions fugitives from hasty western law, kept watch on pursuers from the lofty perch. Rawlins Host at Wyoming Shoot DATES of the Montana and Wy- oming State Trapshooting Tour- naments have been arranged to permit shooters to attend both. The Montana state shoot will be held at Billings. July 17-18-19. The Wyoming shoot is scheduled for Rawlins. July 10-11-12. Wyoming offers $300 in trophies and $700 in cash added prizes. Both shoots will be held under A. T. A. rules. Of- ficers of the Wyoming State Sports- men's Association are: H. Hansen, president: Bob Ehlers. vice presi- dent, and Bob Orr, secretary-treas- urer. Officers of the Carbon coun- ty (Wyoming) Gun club. under whose auspices the Wyoming shoot will be held, are: R. D. Ehlers. president; Ed Sears and Lloyd Rus- sell, vice presidents; H. Hansen, secretary-treasurer; Ed Hjgley, field captain, and Joe Wirth. range of- ficer. C. H. Smith Secretary The clubhouse is built of peeled logs. A veranda runs along the north side, while almost the whole of one end Is made of a giant fireplace, built of native stone. The interior is in keeping with the exterior. The barked logs are unadorned, the door is remin- iscent of the old latch-string type so well known to our earlier settlers. The fireplace is the only means of heating. But in its yawning mouth a half dozen fair-sized "chunks" crackle merrily on cold days, sending a welcome warmth to all corners of the big room. Trophies of successful hunts adorn the walls. On a rafter is perched a huge owl, a counsel of wisdom, look- ing every bit as annoyed with his pres- ent company as on the day he was tumbled from his tree. The coat rack is a deer's skin. The pegs are the hoofs of the animal. A rack fashioned of logs serves to hold the guns when not in use. Some days there are not enough spaces and the rack is designed to accommodate close to 100. Even the window shades are in har- mony with the general scheme. On each shade is pictured a duck in some familiar pose. The fire screen likewise carries out the thought of the decora- tor, who was Tom Molesworth of Cody, Wyo. Mr. Molesworth drew the designs for the blinds and fashioned the screen himself. It is of fine mesh, on which is the scene of a hunter and fisher- man asleep in their boat while a duck nestles on the hunter's gun and a fish nibbles at the angler's bait. The club is the direct descendant of all the sportsmen's organizations that have come and gone since the rails first came to Billings, and not the least important of its purposes is that of preserving the traditions of the ear- lier days. The west of ox carts and cattle trails and the west of paved roads and luxurious automobiles seems close when guns are sounding a requiem over the graves of those who died by rifle and pistol. And if such a thing be possible, the shades of those who "kicked off with Page Three iVL®NTANA "WEiu© mf; their boots on" must smile happily as they watch today's trapshooters per- form feats that would arouse the green- est envy of the men whose victims lie under the monument of Boothill. Not that every shooter approaches the accuracy of Frank Weatherhead, who for five successive years retained the state singles championship for the Billings club; nor "Mendy" Mendenhall, who carried off the title at a cham- pionship tournament after breaking 100 straight targets in the regular event and then going out straight in five suc- ceeding shoot-offs before his opponent missed one bird of the final string. Nor are all as proficient as Roth- rock, Campbell, Fultz, McRae, Davies, Selvidge, Coffa, Prater and other rank- ing shots, but since the first Billings trap club was organized Billings has had its share of marksmen. That it will continue to develop champions is indicated by the average scores of boys who compete in junior events. Framed by the rugged background of Kelly mountain, and overlooking the winding Yellowstone and the site of Coulson, the ghost town, the club is perhaps one of the most complete and modern of any in the country, and certainly in the west. Floodlights are to play an important part when the scattergun marksmen of four states gather in July for the annual state shoot. Although the reg- ular events will be shot off during day- light, special night programs are out- lined. Back through the years, almost to the days when Boothill was still the Billings Offers $1000 Added Cash BILLINGS has extended her hos- pitable arms to shooters of the state and northwest for the state trapshooting tournament. July 17-18-19. Charles O. Campbell is general chairman in charge under direction of President S. G. Tonkin. The Billings Rod and Gun club has set aside $1,000 in cash as added money in different events and will also award a number of trophies to become the personal property of the winners. The night of Friday, July 17, will see a special 50-bird race under the flood lights, the first at- traction of the sort ever held in Montana. Residents of Billings are preparing to do everything within their power to aid the Billings Rod and Gun club stage the most interest- ing tournament in the history of Montana clay target sport. burial ground for Coulson's reckless citizenry, there have been sportsmen's clubs in Billings. With the years and threatened extermination of wild life the purpose of the clubs changed until now fully as much time is devoted by the Billings Rod and Gun club to ad- vancing the ideals of real sportsman- ship as to hunting, fishing of "clay target busting." There was a time, however, when sportsmen had no worries over the diminishing supplies of game and fish. Antelope could be sighted in all parts of the valley, big game abounded in forests which teemed with deer and elk, while every stream was crowded with trout, the like of which has all but passed from the memory of man. That was before the influx of set- tlers, before Billings had swapped its dusty streets for bitulithic paving, and horses for automobiles. Gunmakers, too, still believed that a double-barreled shotgun was sufficient for duck hunt- ing, while big game hunters by the very limits of their weapons stalked their prey instead of shooting it from unheard of distances. With the coming of automobiles, awk- ward as they were in a country that had yet to substitute round-up trails for graveled highways, the game began to dwindle and before many seasons sportsmen of Billings, as well as all over the state, were burdened with wor- ries that have increased with the rav- ages of years. The first rod and gun club of which there is a record came into existence almost with Billings. Although known as the Yellowstone Rod and Gun club, few of its members were anglers for the pure sport of the thing — there was then too many fish and far too easily hooked. This club passed out of existence and was fol- lowed by the Billings club. For years, in fact until the Billings Commercial club was created, the Bil- lings club held a commanding place in the community's social affairs, and many of the old-timers' most pleasant (Continued on Page 7) Representative Squad of Billings Rod and Gun Club Leaders W. K. Moore S. G. Tonkin Charles O. Campbell Ted W. Johnson Arthur Trenerry WHEN Montana trapshooters gather at Billings July 17-18-19 for the state tournament, they will be greeted by these leaders of the Billings Rod and Gun club and their asociates. The club has assets of more than $10,000, which includes its beauteous grounds, and does not owe a dollar. W. K. Moore, twice president of the club, is an active member of the Montana State Fish and Game Commission. S. Garfield Tonkin, president of the Billings club, is also president of the state sports- men's association and of the South- eastern Montana Sportsmen's Associa- tion. Charles O. Campbell is vice presi- dent of the Billings club and life mem- ber, as well as general chairman of state shoot arrangements. Ted W. Johnson is the amiable secretary of the Billings club. Arthur Trenerry, treas- urer and past president, served two terms as mayor of Billings and is an indefatigable worker. Page Four i iVLOMTAHA d'WSILIO) MFB III III liiiiii i ""'II /■" /t and Grounds ill Page Five i^ONTAMA §0m "WEIUP ILIF The V^lee of G^imie Birds to Fariniiers By Jay 0. Diiimoinl, Helena. Federal t roj) .Statistician SIDE from the senti- mental value of wild life to agriculture there are many ways in which the winged beauties and furry creatures repay agri' culture for shelter and food they require. Farmers once regarded wild life about them as something en- trusted by nature to their custody and the food that was eaten by this adopted family was given generously without thought of cost. In those days, even though scare-crows were used to frighten hun- gry birds in newly seeded fields, and other sources of crop damage by birds and rodents were recognized in a gen- eral way by farmers, no one had ever cast up a total of the board bill of such visitors and no concerted action was talien by farmers to eliminate any of the less welcome boarders. However, with the march of events and the development of such campaigns as "swat the fly" there developed simi- lar movements among farmers to "ex- terminate the gopher and rodent" and make war generally upon insect and bird and animal pests. Like all such movements in early stages, little dis- crimination was made at first as be- tween the real offenders and all who were suspected of being offenders. In time a more reasonable attitude developed wherein it was recognized that certain of the wild life on farms not only was causing little actual dam- age to crops but on the other hand was more than compensating for its keep by destroying bugs and other insects that were a menace to crop yields. With this development there arose a general classification of wild life ac- cording to what was detrimental to agriculture and what was either not materially detrimental or actuallv bene- ficial to the farmer. The new class of outlaws included various kinds of rodents, a few birds and some of the larger animals of predatory type. Most of the so-called game types of birds and animals con- tinued to be included in the class of wild life for which extermination is neither desirable or necessary. In other words, despite the fact that ducks will occasionally visit grain fields and that deer will sometimes "bark" trees and elk will occasionally help them- selves to hay stacks, farmers on the whole do not begrudge such losses of crops. In fact, it is a rather common thing for farmers and stockmen to come to the aid of game life and pro- vide feed in times when climatic con- ditions or other emergency may threaten lives. Farmers and stockmen as a class are brothers "under the skin" with the city sportsman who thrills to the touch of rod or gun; and counts the days when they plan their pilgrimages into the world of wild life. The business man who, like the truant school boy, ducks out one tine day, despite the pile of work on his desk, finds a counterpart in the farmer who in simi- lar mood sneaks away during the busy growing season to his favorite trout holes. Farmers and stockmen as a whole would maintain game wild life if there were no other compensation than merely the satisfaction of the old urge to match wits against the instinctive cunning of the game bird or the game animal. In other words the agricultural people, nature loving and living close to the heart of nature, are what nature has intended man to be — true sports- men. Scarcely a murmur of complaint has come from the farmer who loses grain to the duck flight or valuable hay to the hungry elk. In his unselfish interest in the game animal the farmer and stockman can expect in return only the reward of a sportsman. But from the game birds as a whole the farmer received a co- operation that makes their presence on his place one of mutual profit. Farmers Bulletin Xo. 497, issued in 1924 by the U. S. Department of Agri- culture, describes the food habits and relation to man of 19 species of game, aquatic and rapacious birds. Upon findings quoted in this bulletin most of the following comments on food habits of a few of the more common game birds are based. They are designed to show that from a purely practical standpoint birds and especially game birds have an economic value as well as an esthetic value. The Prairie Chicken The prairie chicken is not only a prized game bird by huntsmen but as an efficient destroyer of farm pests any farmer would profit by having these birds reared on his farm. Almost 15 per cent of the bird's food is weed seed including such pestiferous seeds as fox tail, smart weed and rag weed. More than 10 per cent of the diet consists of rose hips. A few of the fruits are eaten but more than a fourth of the feed is browse. The prairie chicken is fond of grain but takes it from stubble. The bird is also fond of insects, eating almost any kind of grasshopper, also locusts and crickets. The menu includes especially some insect pests well known in Montana, such as potato bugs (Colo- rado beetle) army worms and cut worms. The California Qnail In the fruit growing regions of the west coast states, the California quail is abundant. Although this game bird is fond of grapes, little complaint has been made by fruit growers, for the reason that it also eats large quantities of seeds of noxious weeds and a large number of pests such as ants, cater- pillars, flies, spiders, and counting minute insects, the total list is some- thing over 280 varieties. The fruit diet of the bird on a yearly basis made up but 2.3 per cent of the total, according to analysis of stomach contents. The Grouse The grouse, a wild and wary bird, eats a diet in agricultural sections quite similar to the prairie chicken, together with considerable wild fruit and browse. Introduced Pheasants Mixed praise and criticism has been directed at the introduced pheasants that are accused of digging sprouting corn, oats, barley, beans and other crops. They are said to drive chickens away from feed and to even kill young poultry. Most of such complaint, how- ever, has come from eastern states where agricultural crop land is a larger portion of the total land than in the west. While it is true that these pheasants will eat crops, much depends upon the proportion of land under cul- tivation and the quantity of wild food available, since the birds' diet also in- cludes considerable of weed seeds and insects. In Montana their crop depreda- tions are not considered serious. Gulls Early Mormon history recites a story of how the gulls devoured the crickets that threatened to eat up the first grain crop, seeded by the Mormon settlers. Gulls, while not game birds, are farm assets enough to deserve mention. Their food habits, so far as known, are all beneficial to the farmer. They are great grasshopper eaters and can catch them on the wing and will even follow the plow to pick up grubs and beetles turned up. Wild Geese Wild geese subsist almost entirely on green forage such as that eaten by" cat- tle. The summer pasturage and win- ter feeding grounds of these birds are well beyond the boundaries of Montana so that our concern is chiefly the diet when in flight. Geese in flight like grain fields but are seen mostly in the stubble picking up waste grain. Mallard Ducks Like wild geese the diet of mallard ducks in summer and winter feeding grounds is of little interest to Montana farmers. In flight ducks, like geese, eat at the most convenient lunch count- ers, but prefer to stay on water, pro- vided natural feed is sufficient. Their actual damage to grain fields is prob- ably not large in the aggregate. Several years ago a Montana farmer with a government seed loan wrote the seed loan office that a flock of mallards had eaten most of his grain crop and since the ducks were the "floating property of Uncle Sam" he thought he should be reimbursed. The seed loan official replied that since the origin of these ducks was Canada, he could not grant the claim that they were the floating property of Uncle Sam, and that they might as justly be considered the float- ing property of the Canadian govern- ment. Page Six Trapshooters Gather at Billings In July (Continued from Page 4) memories concern tlie club and its jovial membersliip. But liunters and fishers are a liardy breed. Tlie true disciples, those who were willing to get up long before dawn and drive a buckboard miles to fishing or hunting grounds, found the polite gestures boring, lacking in the sense of competition that is the salt of life to wielders of the rod and gun in all ages. One by one these kindred souls gath- ered together. Trap shooting was just coming into prominence, back in the nineties, the "Gay Nineties" of the Gib- son girl and high-wheeled bicycles. Dr. W. A. Allen was one of the lead- ers in the founding of this gun club. Among those who flocked to the doc- tor's standard were George Soule, H. F. (Doc) McFarlin, his brother, C .S., J. D. Whelpley, M. G. Mains and J. W. Vaughan. Of this nucleus at least two remain devoted to field and stream. They are Dr. Allen and "Doc" Mc- Farlin. The accepted target in those days was the glass ball. Not unlike the type made famous by the deadly shoot- ing of Col. William F. Cody in his "Buffalo Bill" circus, the balls were shot from traps at terrific speeds and a man who could "go straight" could almost close his eyes and bring down a flying quail. Evenings the "gang" would congre- gate on the vacant ground to the east of the Joe Zimmerman home and break glass balls. With the encroachment of buildings, the shooting grounds was moved fur- ther east and it was then the gunners were introduced to clay targets, today the standard clay pigeon. The club was loosely organized. It never was christened and with the advent of the flat clay pigeon, it nearly ceased to function. Conductor A. E. Anderson and Jim Juhl of Billings later organized a trap shooting club for railroad men. It prospered for a time but with the shifting of employes came the deser- tion of the club. About 1897 and 1S9S another club functioned, using the grounds at South park. The next club to flourish was formed by W. A. Selvidge. He served as its first president and the organization was more or less formally known as the Selvidge club. L. C. Babcock. also a prominent business man, served as sec- retary. This was the only sportsman's or- ganization in the city as the new cen- tury dawned. Trap shooting became increasingly popular, although as yet the sportsmen had done little more than talk about game conservation. There was still tremendous resources of wild life and although everyone agreed that something should be done to protect it, little in the way of prac- tical conservation was initiated. During the first decade of the new century the Selvidge club continued alone In its field. Then, so gradually Wily Hun Plays Trick on Chink S' that none was at first aware of it, the structure began to crumble and by 1912 the club was practically disbanded. Aroused by the threatened extinction of wild life, sportsmen in all parts of the country were banding themselves into clubs formed for the redemption of wild life and its propagation in for- est and field and stream. Billings fell in with the movement early in 1913. Trap shooting was re- garded as an excellent outlet for the natural desires of hunters who other- wise would be afield, and almost from the date of its formation the club had its private traps. At the first election atfer incorpora- tion W. K. Moore, for many years a leader in the game conservation move- ment, was elected president. He served for several years and during his time the club became known as one of the strongest supporters of legislation tend- ing to curb the relentless taking of fish and game. Mr. Moore now serves as a member of the state fish and game commis- sion and is particularly interested in developing wild life resources of the state as a whole. Of recent years he has devoted much of his time to studies of migratory fowl. There are probably 100 regular Bil- lings shooters and at least five times that number of occasional shooters. The diminishing number of wild birds is a big factor in the conversion of many a hunter into a trap shooter, and it is likely that the clay gunners will gain a .constantly growing number of v.^r-i-uits. The modern history of the club dates back to 1921, when Mayor Arthur Tren- erry was elected president. Club mem- bers avow that the figure of Mr. Tren- erry is perhaps the most outstanding of all those who have contributed to the organization. Mr. Trenerry served until 1927, when George Longanecker took over the reins for a one-year term. S. Garfield Tonkin became president in 1928, and is serving his third term. He is also president of the state asso- ciation with C. H. Smith of Butte as secretary. Mr. Smith has held this position for more than 40 years. OME fellers are so confounded lazy that they shudder at work and deliberately pass the chores by slipping their jobs to some more cour- ageous associate. Here's a picture taken by Kenneth R. Roahen near Moiese, Mont., showing how Mrs. Hun- garian partridge laid 5 eggs in the ground floor apartment occupied by Mrs. Chinese Pheasant, who was moth- ering five eggs — and now the Oriental lady is clucking over the variegated assortment. When she finds that some of her offspring originated in Czecho- slovakia and some near Hong Kong, the result will be pitiful. Mr. Roahen, who is United States game protector in Montana, has visited the nest sev- eral times and writes that the female Chinese pheasant is always doing the work while Mother Hungarian is no where in sight. A GOOD EXAMPLE The newly crowned Emperor of Abys- sinia reveals himself as an enlightened ruler. He has suspended permits to kill game in much of his realm. This has in recent years become one of the world's most famous big game hunting sections. Foreign hunters have brought money into the country, but the Em- peror realizes that money cannot bring back native wild life, once it is de- stroyed. It's a lesson w^hich more "civilized" countries took a long time to learn and haven't yet mastered. "Now," said the college boy to his dad at the football game, "you'll see more excitement for ?2 than you ever saw in your life." "I doubt it," replied the old gent, "that is exactly what my marriage li- cense cost me." Page Seven W. A. Brown, Great FaYls.. Commissioner Jos. L. Kelly, Anaconda.. ..Commissioner M G^innie Coonnmissioe W. K. Moore, Billings.... Commrsszoner E.A.Wilson, Livingston..Comm^ss^oner T. N. Marlowe, Missoula, Chairman R. H. Hill, Helena, State Fish and Game Warden, Secretarxj Official Publication of the State Fish and Game Department. Published Monthly at Helena, Montana Floyd L. Smith, Editor Subscription Rate $1 per Year — 15 cents per Copy Advertising: Rates on Application Copy for advertisements subject to approval of State Commis- sion and must be in the hands of the editor at the .State Capitol building:, Helena, on the 15th day of the month preceding pub- lication date. VOL. IV JULY, 1931 NO. 2 LACK OF OXYGEN KILLS FISH WHILE fish culturists of the Montana State Fish and Game Department are constantly engaged in study- ing piscatorial problems of spawn-taking, eyeing, hatching, distribution and water content, other problems continue to arise that require solution. An outstanding example is that of the lack of oxygen content in many Montana lakes, most notable being conditions at Gravelly Range lake in Lewis and Clark county. In many land- locked lakes where there is little disturbance of the water, where the depth is great alid the contour of the bottom strangely formed, the oxygen shortage becomes apparent. Suffocation of fish is the result. Many salmon and trout have been planted in this little mountain lake, yet only at certain times of the year do they rise to the surface. Some dead fish have been found. Bass and perch have re- cently been planted there for experimental purposes and the lake closed to fishing until further order of the com- mission. Decomposition of vegetation absorbs a great amount of oxygen at times when the oxygen content of lakes is at low ebb, it is stated. Similar problems confront the fish culturists of Michi- gan. Driven up by lack of air, thousands of choice game fish, bass, blue gills, pike and perch, suffocated when Jones lake, a 25-acre lake almost within the Lansing City limits, lost its oxygen. Indications of fish suffering were noticed first when a number of adult fish were found dead and thousands of last year's hatch, principally speckled bass, warmouth bass, and golden shiners on the surface of the water were gasp- ing for air. Although of the opinion that the condition was due to lack of oxygen, the Department of Conservation made a thorough examination of the lake, taking samples of water at several points in various depths. It was found that the lake contained no oxygen except a slight trace at the sur- face. The tenip&rature ranged from S5 degrees at the surface to 58 degrees in 20 feet at one point. An outboard motor boat was placed in the lake to disturb the water and alleviate the condition until atmospheric conditions changed. Reports of this nature reach the department every sea- son. These reports are received generally following the spring break-up when the ice leaves the lakes, and later following the spawning season when water temperatures are high. This is generally found in the smaller lakes which have no surface inlet or outlet. High winds and rain usu- ally relieve such conditions immediately. HUNGARIAN WOULD BE NURSE MAID SUPERINTENDENT J. F. HENDRICKS of the state game farm at Warm Springs is conducting a series of interesting experiments. He is meeting with unusual success in rearing the top-knotted California quail. Like success is promised in rearing Hungarian partridges in captivity. Then he has successfully crossed the Lady Am- herst and Melanistic Mutants, two hardy long-tailed game birds of Asiatic origin. His principle troubles have been with Hungarians. The cock Hungarian partridge is one hubby who will fight his wife for the honor of being nurse-maid to his children. The mothering instinct is so highly developed in the male of this game bird that mating "Huns" often have hectic connubial days ending in tragedy or divorce, with the cock strutting proudly away with the offspring. This martial secret of the partridge family is a big rea- son the bird is increasing in America. It enables the young birds to survive even it the mother meets with some acci- dent, and also causes the female to bring forth two broods in a season, in a vain attempt to rear more loyal young- sters. But the lady has her day prior to matrimonial dis- illusionment. Unlike the female of some species, she makes no coy effort to conceal the fact that she is the chooser, but selects the lover she prefers whether he likes it or not. And game farm keepers have found that if they try to sell her on the idea of a mate not to her liking, that unlucky swain is fortunate to escape with his neck. After the birds have mated in the spring, however, and the female has laid her nest of approximately 23 eggs — an accomplishment at which even this motherly male can boast no special ability, the cock insists on incubating the eggs. Should the mother bird leave her nest, he takes possession, and it is often quite a task for the female to drive him -off again. As soon as the young hatch, the cock commences calling in his most coaxing manner, and soon all the chicks have deserted their mother to nestle under his wing. This often brings warm family dissension, but usually ends with the mother contenting herself with a second brood. "Now, I love fishing dearly. There is no sport like it for me, but th(>'Y APPLE SEED! There are no doubt those who recall old "Johnny Apple Seed," that charac- ter in Ohio's history who many years ago earned his peculiar name by his equally peculiar habit of scattering ap- ple seeds along the roadsides and tramp- ing them under ground with his heel. We need some "Johnny Apple Seeds" in Montana. But we don't want them merely to plant apple seeds, but to take a pocketful of white clover or other seed with them when they go a fishin' or a huntin' and scatter them in likely places to provide future food for game. Like the apple seeds, not all of the clover or sumac will grow, but the seeds that do not germinate will be eaten by the birds and rodents. Page Thirteen iViONTANA "WEIUP'MF Jerked Veeigoe I§ D^egeroims Diet By AVilliam M. Kusli. in Cliarge of Elk (Stiid.v in Yellowstone Xational Park D W. M. Rush , EER in the Yel- lowstone Park region are in- fested with encysted larvae of the dog tapeworm, according to findings of scien- tists who have ex- am 1 n e d numerous specimens, hence a warning is justified against eating un- cooked deer meat, Including dried and smoked venison, as it is possible that the encysted larvae in the muscles of the deer would de- velop into adult tapeworms in hu- mans as well as in dogs and coyotes. A number of the Yellowstone Park deer came to the winter range last fall in poor physical condition. Provi- sions were made tor feeding hay and cottonseed cake at Mammoth, and 28 deer were fed here regularly dtiring the severe part of the winter. As early as January 3, two fawns showed symptoms of heavy intestinal worm infestation, and powdered to- bacco was mixed with the cottonseed cake as a remedy. The animals ate the remedy readily but as the symp- toms were not abated one fawn was killed on January 26 and it was found to be heavily infested with tapeworms of the genus Moniezia. On January 27 one fawn was cap- tured, placed in confinement, fasted for 12 hours and given 120 grains of powdered areca nut in five capsules. A domestic sheep-mouth spreader and capsule forceps were used in admin- istering the drug. After another pe- riod of 12 hours this fawn was marked and released. On January 31 two fawns and on February 6 three fawns were similarly treated. One fawn was given a double dose of the medicine through mistake but showed no ill after-effects. March 27 a fecal examination was made of one treated fawn and one untreated one, using the "salt flota- tion" method. No ova were found in the feces from the treated fawn. Ova of one of the round intestinal worms was found in the feces of the un- treated fawn. Eight additional fecal examinations were made of five treated fawns, and three untreated does. In the feces of one treated fawn one ovum of the tapeworm was found which would indicate that the treat- ment was not effective in this case. Segments of tapeworms were found in the feces of one untreated doe, the remainder of the samples being negative. While this experiment of treating juvenile deer for teniasis gave no conclusive results as to the effective- Mail Your Dollar for Wild Life FOLLOWING an appeal to mem- bers of Sportsmen's clubs through- out the state, asking that they co-operate in making MONTANA WILD LIFE the sort of magazine they desire, hunters and anglers are responding in a gratifying manner by mailing their dollar for 12 monthly copies. If you have overlooked send- ing in your subscription. DO IT NOW. Sincere efforts are being made to place before Montana sports- men a comprehensive monthly re- view of activities of the State Fish and Game Department. Every Mon- tana resident ovaes it to himself to keep in touch with this constructive program by reading MONTANA WILD LIFE. ness of 120 grains of powdered areca nut in ridding the animals of the parasite, it does show the practicabil- ity of effective treatment in the future. Dr. Prank Nelson of the Montana State Veterinarian's staff, gave valuable ad- vice and assistance in the experiment. A male two-or-three-year-old deer, in very poor physical condition, was killed near Blacktail creek on March 10. Besides the usual infestation of lung worms and deer bot-fly larvae this animal was found to be heavily infested with encysted larvae of the dog tapeworm, taenia ovis, in the muscles of the back and legs. The adult form of this tapeworm develops in the coyote, from which the forage and water used by the deer becomes contaminated by the millions of ova passing out of the coyote with its feces. In the deer the avo develop to the larvae stage and beocme en- cysted in the muscles. The life cy- cle of the tapeworm is completed when the coyote (or rather animal) ingests the raw meat of the deer, as the encysted larvae pass to the intes- tines without being digested and de- velop to the adult tapeworm. The fact that deer in this region are infected with encysted larvae of the dog tapeworm justifies a warning aeainst eating uncooked deer meat, including dried and smoked venison, as it is possible that the encysted larvae in the muscles of the deer would develop into adult tapeworms in humans as well as in dogs and coyotes. Larvae of another dog tapeworm (Cysticerus pisiformis) were also found iu the jackrabbits of this re- f'ion. Black Bass For Montana Lakes HIS Majesty, the Black Bass, is soon due to occupy a pedestal of es- teem among Montana anglers who now deem the fighting rainbow the gamey rival of the fisherman, it plans of the State Fish and Game Depart- ment materialize. Under direction of fish experts of the department, 1,940 adult bass have been seined from Nine Pipe reservoir near Missoula and trans- planted to smaller lakes and potholes where they will thrive naturally where food is plentiful. The bass were trans- planted just before they were ready to spawn. At the great warm water pond cul- tural station at Fort Keogh, near Miles City, one of the largest of its kind in the nation, bass, pike, catfish and simi- lar warm water fish are permitted to spawn naturally and the fingerlings then transplanted. A shipment of 350 adult bass ready to spawn was sent to the Fort Keogh pond from Nine Pipe reservoir to serve as brood stock. Oth- ers will be planted in Lake Como near Hamilton and the Clearwater lakes in the Blackfoot area. Perch are being seined from Jones lake near Ovando and distributed in the state for the benefit of the youngsters who wad up a pieCe of dough and pull 'em out. Many have been planted in Lake Helena and in the Missouri river near Cascade. SERVING-- 118 Montana Cities and Towns THE MONTANA POWER CO. Page Fourteer iVLONTAHA •^^siLB of: Poison Ivy POISON IVY, to some unfortunate persons, is the bane of the good old summertime; to others more fortunate, it is simply another weed. Some people are so susceptible to its blistering venom that immediate contact with the plant is not neces- sary in order to bring on a case of poisoning; merely stopping in the vicinity of a patch of it will cause infection. Exceptional cases have been known where cases have developed in the wintertime, simply from handling firewood that had been cut and piled where this plant was plentiful. On the other hand, there are many persons who can pluck and handle it with bare hands with no apparent poisoning — they are fortunate indeed. Many remedies and preventatives have been advocated and used; some are excellent with some people and useless with others, some are suc- cessful under certain circumstances, and without avail under others. There is one unfailing preventative — learn to recognize the plant immediately and when you see it, keep away from it. It is easily recognized by the observant — there is no other plant with which it should be confused by an observing individual, although many persons do not distinguish between it and the in- nocuous common woodbine. Poison ivy is a low growing vine- like perennial plant that seems to pre- fer a sandy soil, although not confined to such a soil entirely. It grows most commonly and profusely on sandy roadside and lakeside banks, frequently on open ground bordering woods, and occasionally in open woods. It seldom grows to a height of over IS inches, usually sprawling over the ground, and covering it with its shiny, bright green foliage. The shiny green may some- times be dulled by a coating of dust, or by a dry spell of weather. The leaflets are always three in number, as contrasted with the five of the woodbine; the edges are com- paratively even, except tor an occa- sional indentation, whereas the leaves of the woodbine are very ragged and saw edged. The last year's stem growth is short and woody, light brown in color — the new growth a bright green. It is well to carefully inspect the summer houses, campsites, and tem- porary camping spots for patches of this disagreeable weed. In the case of summer homes and permanent camp- sites every vestige of poison ivy should be grubbed out and exterminated — one thorough cleaning will not get it all KIFLKS HE.MODKLKl) S|iriii^l'ield and Kmsrs reinmlekMl into sportinu rifles, $5.0(1 lo $10,011. .Viiiiiiu- iiition. .'JO-OG. $2.50; 30-40 Krag:, $:{.50 Iter 100 rounds. T. W. HILDEMA> Kenwood Helena as it increases by means of under- ground runners very similar to quack grass, and several sessions with the grubhoe are necessary before it will be entirely eradicated. Even if it has grown in the vicinity of your camp for many seasons without any annoy- ance, you may have visitors who will be most thoroughly poisoned by what has been considered a weed of no moment. There is some confusion between the terms "poison ivy," "poison oak," and "poison sumac." The latter two ap- ply to a member of the sumac family which sometimes grows to a height of 15 or 20 feet, and is almost invariably found growing in swampy forest lands, whereas our common sumac seldom grows on anything but dry land. The red upright fruit cluster of the ordi- nary sumac is well known ; the fruit of the poison sumac is waxy white and drooping. This shrub should be avoided as much as poison ivy; its habit of growtli in marshy, swamp/ lands tends to keep accidental contact with it reduced to a minimum com- pared to the prevelance of poison ivy. There is no universal remedy for poison ivy inflammation; a solution of lead acetate or "sugar of lead," is most commonly used to allay the in- flammation— the best cure is to know it and keep away from it. A Shocking Story Clubs Line Up In Predatory Race EIGHT clubs of Montana sportsmen have signified their intention of competing for the $500 in prizes of- fered by the State Fish and Game De- partment in the annual predatory bird and animal campaign. The list is still open and other clubs desiring to com- pete are urged to communicate with the department for information and lit- erature. Clubs already in the running are those at Augusta, Laurel, Plenty- wood, Medicine Lake, Glendive, Babb, Helena, and the Sidney Rifle club. Cash prizes will be paid to clubs securing the largest number of points in the killing of common enemies of wild life of the state. >0 SELKCTIOX Desk Sergeant: "Guilty or not guilty?" Burglar: "What else have you?" SNOOPING bears don't care much for electric shocks, according to Alfred H. Povah, Yellowstone Park naturalist, who writes the following comment in Nature Notes from the park: "The men from the fish hatchery had made all preparations for a record haul of eggs. The traps were placed in the most advantageous spots in a number of creeks and all that remained was to await the run of the trout. In Big Thumb creek, where a good catch was usually made, although the creek showed many fish on their way to the spawning ground, the trap was empty. A few eggs scattered along the creek bottom just below the trap told the story — bears. "A bear may be cunning but two can play at any game. A means must be devised to save the fish and thus as- sure a plentiful supply of eggs. The trap was enclosed in a fence of wire screening about three feet high. In- side this and about one inch distant was strung a single strand of heavy copper wire. This was connected with two large storage batteries, hidden in a box near by, in such a way that when the wire screening was pushed psainst the copper wire an electric con- tact was made. The fact that the ani- mal, in reaching the trap, had to stand in water, assured an outlet for the electric current through the animal. "No witnesses were present to re- cord the astonishment of the first fish- hungry bear but the success of this method of protecting the spawning trout was shown by the fact that the week after the electric shock-dealing apparatus was installed the trap vras full of fish when the men from the hatchery came to collect the eggs. I ■have heard the use of a similar silent guard suggested for garbage pails in the park." XOT AM', THAJiKS! Office Boy — There's a salesman out- side with a mustache. Executive — Tell him I've got a mus- tache. Clerk: "And you get an extra pair of pants with this suit." Scotchman: "Throw in an extra coat and I'll take it." SPORTSMEN- Recognize this as Headquarters for All Hunting, Fishing and Camping Equipment THE MONTANA HARDWARE Department of Anaconda Copper Mining Company, Butte, Montana Page Fifteen Sec. 435%, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Helena, Montana Permit No. 27 i^ONTANA "WEIL© MFB /^■ meetijnos of sportsmen BF. GERRY, educational secre- tary o£ the department, attended • the following meetings and spoke on work being done by the Montana State Fish and Game Department in an effort to perpetuate Montana's wild lite resources. The need of co-operation among sportsmen's clubs with the de- partment and the Montana Sportsmen's Association was stressed. Several new clubs were started and some were re- organized during May. Practically all the clubs in the state are carrying on more activities than at any time in the past and more fully realize the need of organization and co-operation. April 27, Livingston — Pictures of fish and game taken by the department photographer were shown to 1,400 pu- pils and adults in the afternoon. At a joint meeting of the Kiwanis, Rotary and Commercial clubs held in the eve- ning, pictures were shown to 40 mem- bers and plans were made for the form- ing of a sportsman's club. April 30, Libby — Three hundred pu- pils enjoyed the pictures in the after- noon and 125 attended the evening meeting. Libby has one of the most active clubs in the state and many Sportsmen's licenses have been sold there. The new state fish hatchery located near Libby is one of the finest in the state. The Libby club has re- leased many elk in the territory. May 6, White Sulphur Springs — At a meeting held in the afternoon, attended by 300, plans were made for a new sportsmen's club. The territory offers many problems. May 7, Lewistown — About 300, in- cluding pupils and adults, enjoyed the pictures in the evening. The Lewis- town club has always been active in the control and destruction of preda- tory birds and animals. The club has been co-operating with the city in beau- tifying the grounds around the state fish hatchery. May 8, Havre — Pictures were shown to 1,000 in the evening. Sportsmen of that territory are showing a great deal of interest and are taking advantage of every opportunity to build up the wild life resources of Hill county. May 12, — Glasgow — A crowd of 1,100 enjoyed a musical program and the pictures in the evening. The Glasgow club is interested in the perpetuation of migratory waterfowl. May 13, Poplar — Five hundred pu- pils and adults enjoyed the pictures in the afternoon and evening. Being on the Fort Peck Indian reservation, the sportsmen of that territory have many problems to work on. May 14, Sidney — The pictures were shown to 325 pupils in the afternoon. The evening meeting was held in the court house and sportsmen from Sid- ney and nearby towns met after the program and made plans for a county sportsman's club. Sportsman Packs Fish to Ponds ZEAL of Montana sportsmen in stock- ing streams and doing everything within their power to maintain the game and fish supply against the con- stantly increasing inroads of civiliza- tion, is again demonstrated in the fol- lowing letter from A. C. Baumgartner of Great Falls: "I have read the letter of Hi Larsen in the June issue of MONTANA WILD LIFE in regard to packing fish on the back to mountain lakes. "In the summer of 1929 I built a cabin under the falls on Lick creek in the flats of Wood creek 4% miles from Benchmark in the Lewis and Clark forest. I found seven beaver dams above the falls of Lick creek with no fish in them. I cut the top out of a five-gallon oil can and put a wire bail on it, took my flyrod and went up Wood creek and caught eight Eastern Brook trout from 7 to 12 inches in length. These I placed in the oil can and packed one mile to my cabin where I put them in a small pond. I made five trips that way and by night had 40 trout in the pond at the cabin. "The next morning I packed these fish on my back over the hill a half mile to the beaver dams on Lick creek and planted them. "Last fall I took a trip to the dams to see how they were doing and found plenty of fish there, some of them as large as 2% pounds. "It is a hobby of mine to plant fish in any stream or pond where they will live and I am glad to see that other people are doing the same thing." May 15, Bainville — Two hundred pu- pils enjo.. ed the pictuies in the after- noon and they were shown at the theater in the evening to nearly 400. The sportsmen there are to be con- gratulated upon their club, better known as the Fish House Gang. About 20 attended a meeting after the eve- ning program. May IG, Scobey — The pictures were shown in the theater in the afternoon to 425 pupils and adults and again in the evening to about 150. An effort is being made to reorganize the club at Scobey. May IS, Redstone — Regardless of weather more than 200 came in to see the pictures in the evening and a good meeting was held after the program. The club has a membership of 24 and an effort is being made to increase it to 50 this year. May 19, Plentywood — The pictures were shown to 450 in the afternoon and 600 enjoyed the High School band concert and pictures in the evening. Many of those attending drove more than 50 miles. May 20, Glendive — The educational secretary spoke on Montana's wild life resources at the Kiwanis meeting at noon. In the evening the pictures were shown to 800. The Dawson County Rod and Gun Club is very active and the merchants of Glendive have put up many prizes for the predatory bird and animal contest. May 21, Miles City — Pictures were shown to 300 in the evening at the Elks' Club. The club is not over-look- ing anything that will better hunting and fishing conditions in that territory. May 22, Forsyth — The pictures were shown to 400 pupils in the afternoon and to 200 adults in the evening. The Forsyth club has an unusually large membership this year and is headed by Judge Freeman, one of the most ardent sportsmen in Montana. May 23, Hardin — The educational sec- retary attended the meeting of the Southeastern Montana Sportsmen's As- sociation in the afternoon and pictures were shown to 150 in the evening. DEER INCREASIlVfci SPORTSMEN of northeastern Mon- tana assert that deer are increas- ing along the Missouri and Yellow- stone river bottoms; also that quite a few are being killed each year by poachers. SCARCITY OF DUCKS DUE to the drought the small lakes in the eastern part of the state are low for this time of year. Few ducks are nesting in that part of the state. At Bowdoin lake few ducks or nests were found and from indica- tions northeastern Montana will not have its usual hatch of local ducks. The sportsmen in that territory are much opposed to the new federal law setting the opening date of the duck season Oct. 1 instead of Sept. 16. They feel that many of the local ducks will have left by Oct. 1, which will deprive them of one of their principal sports. The educational secretary spent several hours with Lars Angvick who lives near Reserve and represents Sheridan county in the senate. Mr. Angvick is an ardent sportsman interested in wild life conditions in northeastern Montana. CLUB MEMBERSHIPS MORE than 30 clubs have signified their willingness to affiliate with the Montana Sportsmen's Asso- ciation for 1931 and from present indi- cations about 45 will be affiliated be- fore the end of the year. This num- ber will increase the membership by 100%. There are many activities to be completed during the last six months of the year. Page Sixteen