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ORME commission BRUM
Vol. II
PORTLAND, OREGON, JUNE, 1947
No. 6
Log Jams a Problem
Trying to keep the streams of Oregon
free from debris and log jams is taxing
the capacity of not only the Oregon State
Game Commission but the Fish Commis-
sion as well, and in some instances the
Highway Commission.
Especially in Tillamook county are
these log jams giving considerable trouble
due to the fact that in 1933 the big Tilla-
mook fire occurred and every six years
since then there have been large fires in
this area, causing the burnt snags to fall
into the streams. Also, since the beginning of the war, sawmills and logging
operations have sprung up like mushrooms in the Tillamook area and have resulted in a considerable amount of debris
being placed in the streams. However, the
Fish Commission, the Game Commission,
and the Highway Commission have un-
dertaken a cooperative program to remove log jams from the Wilson River and
its tributaries.
In the fall and winter of 1945-1946
there were removed from the Wilson
River and its tributaries seven log jams
altogether. In addition to this, there were
four log jams removed by logging opera(Continued on Page 3)
By ELLIS MASON, Field Agent, Harney County
The American antelope or pronghorn is of American origin and has the
distinction of being the only species of antelope existing in the New World
at the time of its discovery by the Europeans. It differs so widely from the
many Old World species that it is classified in a separate family and is not a
true antelope. The first records of antelope were published in 1723 relating
to a hunt of 1540 in Mexico. Historical records relate that antelope originally covered practically the western half of the United States from Mexico
to Canada, including all of the open sage-brush country of eastern Oregon,
over not only the valley and plains area,
but the open mesas and flat top of the
central part of the Cascade Range. A few
were found in the Rogue River Valley by
early explorers. Records are few and far
back for the immediate valley of the Columbia River, but it seems possible that
they were kept out of this valley even in
prehistoric times by the numerous In-
dians living along the river.
The early expeditions into what is now
Oregon made little mention of antelope,
mainly because the explorers rarely en-
tered the open plains country, where
these animals were most abundant. On
December 5, 1825, Peter Skene Ogden, on
his way from Wallowa to The Dalles and
up the west side of the Deschutes River,
mentions in his journal an antelope
killed by an Indian about a day's journey
south of the present town of The Dalles,
the first meat he had been able to obtain
on the trip. Again, on January 24, 1826,
Ogden records two antelope killed as his
party of trappers proceeded slowly up the
North Fork of the John Day River. In his
several trapping expeditions during the
few following years, the Blue Mountains
country to Snake River and along the
Malheur and Owyhee Valleys, and in the
Malheur and Klamath Lake section, he
rarely mentions antelope. As beaver were
his principal quest, this may have been
only from lack of interest in other game.
In 1915 Stanley G. Jewett made a careful survey of the antelope in eastern Oregon and sent a full report to the Biological Survey (Fish and Wildlife Service).
In the country lying east of Warner
Lakes and south to the Nevada line in
Lake county, he estimated approximately
1,000 head of antelope; in Malheur county,
500; Harney county, 300; Cook county,
30; and Klamath county, 10; a total of
1,840 for the state.
In 1940 popular estimates of the antelope population in Oregon indicated over
20,000 animals. During the last two years,
Game Commission personnel have conducted aerial surveys of the more impor-
tant antelope ranges which are in the
southeast quarter of the state, with Harney and Lake counties maintaining probably 90 per cent of the total population.
The results of observations made on these
recent surveys indicate that there are not
over 10,000 antelope in Oregon at the
present time.
Life History
There are four sub-species of the
Aerial view of antelope herd in Callow Valley
prong-horned antelope found in America.
(Continued on Page 4)
Page 2
JUNE, 1947
Game Administrators To Hold
The Supervisor's Column
Conference in Santa Fe
Again we have had another opening day of the fishing season in Oregon. The
weather looked favorable. Every person, large and small, who could get away purchased
his requirements for tackle and gassed up the jalopy and started for his favorite stream.
The fishermen scattered far and wide throughout the entire state.
We have had a very early and open spring and the season is at least 30 days advanced. The coastal streams were low and clear and at about May 15 level compared
with the water conditions in ordinary years. As the fish in the coastal streams are
almost entirely anadromous and start back to the ocean in March or early April, it
was a wonder that there were as many fish available as there were.
Many of the streams in the central part of the state were high and roily on account
of melting snow in the mountains.
The 1945 angling license sales were at an all time high, approximately 207,605. The
1946 figures, not yet available, will top this figure by at least 25,000 and the license
sales for 1947 are sailing to a record high. Licensed sportsmen in Oregon constitute
22.14% of the population. In many other states 10 to 12% is considered high. From
authentic information that we can gather, the fishermen in many places were standing
so close together that the distance between them was only a few feet. Where before
there have been quite a few fishermen, there were now hundreds of them. Any one who
knows fish and fishing will realize that such a situation favors the fish and not the
fishermen, as the fish are all scared to the bottom and refuse any bait or lure. Consequently, there were gripes from the fishermen. Some of them fishing in streams close
to Portland placed the blame on lack of stocking, stating positively that the Game
Commission had not stocked these streams for five years at least. As these nearby
streams were mentioned in particular, we think it might be well to give the stocking
records of Dairy, Scoggins, Gales and McKay creeks and Necanicum river, which are
as follows:
Stream
Dairy
1941
4,410
1942
10,500
1943
15,000
1944
28,500
1945
15,147
4,928
5,250
7,560
5,100
5,000
8,970
4,400
2,736
9,920
9,920
7,672
1946
9,000
1947
2,520
(legal) (legal)
Scoggins
(legal) (legal) (legal) (legal) (legal) (legal) (legal) (legal)
Gales
10,126
McKay
Necanicum
5,100
7,650
(legal) (legal) (legal)
4,560
7,000
(legal)
(legal) (legal) (legal) (legal)
5,100
4,860
(legal) (legal)
25,134* 10,240
1,633
12,600
(legal) (legal) (legal)
24,783
13,816
8,550
2,520
4,094
(legal) (legal) (legal)
26,820
9,045
(legal)
5,040 19,800*
5,000* 15,040
8,550
20,740*
Note: *Indicates steelhead; other figures represent cutthroat.
You will notice that many of the plantings are marked legal, which means that the
fish were held over the winter and were from 6 to 10 inches in length. One of these fish
equals a great many of fry and fingerlings and to say the least were available the
opening day for fishermen.
We have had some good reports of fishing in these streams since opening day which
bears out our statements that the fish were there but not disposed to bite the lures
offered. Also, the weekly fishing reports received since that time from fieldmen and
State Police officers seem to indicate, in all parts of the state as far as we can see,
that the fishing is about as it has been in past years; perhaps more fish being taken,
but distributed among more fishermen as the case will be from now on.
This department has taken all wild eggs available for hatching purposes as well
as getting a good supply of eggs from our own brood stock, and unless some unforseen
trouble arises, we will be able to plant more fish than any time during war years. But
remember Oregon is not a frontier state any longer and henceforth competition will
always be keener in both fishing and hunting.
The Eight Inch
Trout Limit
The eight-inch trout limit in the coastal
area has brought forth a number of inquiries as to its purpose. Its main objective is to give protection to the fingerling
salmon and steelhead on their migration
down to sea. Most of these young salmon
and steelhead are under eight inches in
length.
With the exception of the Columbia
river and its tributaries, that part of the
Rogue river and its tributaries above the
Ferry Hole and that part of the Umpqua
river and tributaries above the highway
bridge near Scottsburg, the eight-inch
regulation is in effect in all waters that
drain directly or indirectly into the Pacific Ocean, including bays, lakes, streams
and their tributaries.
its 27th annual conference in Santa Fe,
N. M., on June 4, 5 and 6, it was announced by Elliott S. Barker, Pres-
ident of the Association and State Game
Warden of New Mexico. The program he
has just completed with the able assistance of Ben Glading of California, secretary of the association, Barker said, will
include three general sessions, four technical sessions and a final business session. General sessions are scheduled for
the forenoons each day and the technical
sessions in the afternoons to avoid conflicts as much as possible.
The proposal being advocated by western live stock associations to obtain legislation authorizing stockmen to purchase
the one hundred and forty million acres
of public domain lands will be the big
controversial issue, President Barker said,
for most game administrators and sports-
men are reluctant to give up the rights
and privileges that wildlife interests now
have on these public lands. In his desire
to see that all sides of the question are
presented at their conference Barker has
1940
15,000
10,500
The Western Association of State
Game and Fish Commissioners will hold
invited Mr. Dan Hughes of Montrose,
Colorado, chairman of the Joint Live
Stock Committee on Public Lands to present the stockman's side of the proposal,
while Ross Leonard, director of the Game
Commission of Utah and Association Vice
President, will present the Game Administrators' side. It is expected that George
Godfrey, president of the New Mexico
Cattle Growers' Association and Floyd W.
Lee, president of the Wool Growers' As-
sociation will be present. Leaders of
sportsmen's and conservation organizations will also participate in the discussions.
Other speakers at the general sessions
will include I. T. Bode, Missouri president
of the International Association of Game
Fish and Conservation Commissioners,
Lester Bagly, Game Commissioner of
Utah; C. N. Feast, director, Colorado
Game Commissioner; Don Clarke, State
Game Warden of Washington; H. L. Reid,
director Arizona Game Commission; Emil
Ott, director California Game Commission; Hugh B. Woodward, president of
the New Mexico Protective Association;
Eugene V. Bennett, president of the California Duck Hunters' Association; Albert
Day, chief of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and others prominent in the wild-
life management field. One full half-day
will be devoted to full discussion of the
present precarious waterfowl situations.
While headquarters will be at the La
Fonda Hotel many of the sessions will be
held at the Saint Francis Auditorium,
and the others in the Coronado Room at
the La Fonda. Registration will begin at
the La Fonda at 8 a. m., June 4.
Contrary to common belief, insects
compose the larger portion of the humming bird's diet.
JUNE, 1947
Rough Fish Control at
Lake of the Woods
As a part of an over-all program to
control and, if possible, eradicate undesirable species of fish in many of Oregon's
lakes, the Game Commission has undertaken a program at Lake of the Woods
in Klamath county designed to remove as
many of the rough fish as possible so that
this lake will offer a more suitable habi-
tat for trout.
Reports indicate that this lake provided
good rainbow fishing for several years
after the original introduction around
1915. Rough fish were known to be present in the lake prior to this time and appeared to be the same as the "chubs" inhabiting Klamath lake. Unfortunately, in
1922 several species of spiny-rayed fish
were introduced, ostensibly to provide
more diversified fishing. At about this
same time eastern brook trout were introduced, and several years later, silver
and chinook salmon. The lake furnished
fair trout and spiny-rayed fisjiing for a
few years after the latter had been
planted, after which the trout fishing be-
gan to decline. Repeated stockings of
trout and salmon in relatively recent
water slough at the north end of the lake
a one-inch mesh chicken wire fence was
stretched across the neck of the slough
to trap the fish congregated inside. After
the water level had lowered later on in the
summer, this area was poisoned with very
satisfactory results. However, a large
population of undesirable fish remained in
the lake at the end of the season and it
was decided to institute more comprehensive measures this year in an effort to reduce their numbers to a minimum.
A Field Agent is now stationed at the
lake and is carrying out control measures
that are proving quite successful. A two-
way trap, approximately 10 by 19 feet
and constructed, of small mesh wire, has
been installed in the 'north-end slough
where the majority of the rough fish con-
gregate. Fish entering or leaving the
slough are taken in the trap. This trap
has not only proved extremely effective
in this manner, but it is also serving as a
source of fish food for our fish hatcheries.
Twenty-three hundred pounds have already been removed and transferred to
the Butte Falls fish hatchery. It is anticipated that several tons of food will be
acquired in this manner during the season. Along with the trap operations, other
years have been of little avail in improving the fishing.
A survey of the lake in 1941 disclosed a
complicated fish population picture with
twelve species included and yellow perch
predominating. Limited control measures
were undertaken in 1942. Spot poisoning
with rotenone accounted for several hundred pounds of carp and yellow perch.
methods of control are being used. Gill
during the war because of the lack of per-
spawn from the mud bottom or vegeta-
t' Control operations had to be discontinued
sonnel. Last year after large numbers of
the rough fish had moved into a shallow
Page 3
netting has resulted in the removal of
several hundred adult perch. Concentrations of undesirable fish in the shallow
water areas not frequented by trout are
being disposed of by the use of poison.
One very effective means of control as
far as the perch are concerned has been
the removal of perch spawn. This is ac-
complished by dipping the strings of
tion with a hand net. Seven quarts of
spawn were collected in this manner in a
Yellow perch in gillnet
matter of forty-five minutes.
The continued application of these control measures combined with adequate
stocking should provide better trout fishing in the future.
Log Jams a Problem
(Continued from Page 1)
tors who had caused debris to be placed
into the streams. Three of these jams
were removed from Jordan Creek. There
are a number of jams farther up this
creek which have been on the agenda for
removal by these Commissions as soon as
the crews can get around to it. In addition
to these jams, there were other jams removed by a logging concern in the North
Fork of the Wilson River.
The Game Commission in the winter of
1946-1947 removed from the Nehalem
River three additional log jams. The
cleaning-up crew, as it is called, is just
completing the removal of three more
large log jams from the Yachats River or
at least removing the bulk of the jams by
blowing them apart so that the first high
water will carry out whatever debris is
left in these streams.
The Game Commission has a stream
improvement crew that is operating constantly in the removal of obstructions of
this kind.
One of the strangest animals in the
world is the solenodon, the habitat of
which is confined to Cuba and Santo Do-
mingo. By many he is considered the
"missing link." In structure he differs
from all other living mammals, and combines many of the features of the moles,
rats, ant-eaters, shrews, bats and true
Fish trap at Lake of the Woods for trash fish control
carnivorae. Few have ever been captured
alive and those few have lived but a short
time in captivity.
Page 4
JUNE, 1947
after the herds break up, the does run together in bunches of from 2 to 25 while
Oregon Antelope
the bucks are found singly or in small
bunches up to a dozen. As each doe ap-
(Continued from Page 1)
The Oregon antelope belongs to the Antilocapridae family, the genus of Antilicapra, the species Americana, and the sub-
proaches the period of giving birth to the
young, she goes off by herself, but often
only one or two hundred yards from the
remainder of the herd. A few weeks after
the birth of the fawns, the does begin to
species Oregona. The antelope is about
the size of a small deer, its average
bunch up and soon the bands are to-
weight being about 110 pounds; they are
very slender, graceful and swift. The average height at the shoulders is about 40
gether again.
During the summer it is common to
find a buck with each band of does and
fawns. The buck at this season seems to
do considerable herding of the company.
In winter the bucks and does intermingle
in various proportions, and at that time
the bands are frequently breaking up and
inches, tail four inches, and the horns
averaging about 11 inches. The male and
female are similar in color, being mostly
cinnamon buff or rich tan with strongly
contrasted black and white markings on
head and neck. The sides of face, base of
neck and ears, breast, stomach, inside of
re-forming.
Pronghorns consume a wider variety of
forage plants than domestic animals. This
legs, rump, and the two bars on the
throat are white. The antelope are re-
consists of the following in the order
markable for the wonderful flashlight dis-
play of the great white rosette of long
hairs over the rump, which are raised at
will until it is the most conspicuous ob-
ject on the landscape, or it may be relaxed down until it is scarcely noticeable
at a distance. In the very young, these
white hairs of the rump are concealed by
a thin layer of fine, brown hairs, which
disappear within a few weeks when the
young are able to escape enemies by running with the mother. Few animals afford
such wonderful contrasts in directive and
protective colorations, or such perfect
adaptation to the open country.
Both male and female have horns. The
horn sheath is grown around a bony core,
being shed each year similar to the ant-
lers of deer and elk. The horns of the
bucks are shed soon after the rutting
season is over. A new skin begins to
grow over the flattened bony horn cores
and pushes off the hard outer shell. This
new hairy, black tissue grows, thickening
and hardening, first at the tip, then gradually downward during the winter and
following spring, until new sheaths cover
the entire horn core. Oddly enough, there
is a prong on the horn sheath which does
not show on the horn cone underneath.
Each normal horn has one flattened
prong and recurved tip. The horns of the
male are usually about 11 inches long
while those of the female are usually just
short stubs that are scarcely noticeable
at a distance.
Rutting season usually begins early in
September and reaches a peak between
September 15 and 20. Antelope are similar to deer in that the strongest, most
vigorous male usually runs with a group
of does and fawns. Among antelope this
may vary from one to ten or even more in
number during rutting season. The buck
then attempts to fight off all other males.
The younger bucks usually hang around
the outskirts of the band indifferently or
wander from one band to the other. They
are polygamous and the does mate in the
second fall after birth. The gestation period is from 230 to 250 days. Antelope dif-
fer from most big game animals in that
the season during which the young are
born extends over a very short period of
Buck Antelope
time. The first and last fawns of the season are seldom dropped over two weeks
apart. In Oregon the fawns are usually
dropped between the middle of May and
the first of June. There may be a high
have weaned their young by September.
The antelope is by choice a creature of
the high open plains, depending for protection on remarkable vision and speed.
The prominent eyes on opposite sides of
the head look forward and backward apparently catching the slightest motion on
the whole horizon. They are animals of
small home locality, and a permanent resident there when climatic conditions and
food supply permit, as is the case in the
southern part of its range. But in the
colder regions, it is driven to journey in
search of better conditions; and though
these movements are as often northward
as southward, they are seasonal and somewhat regular. Throughout most of south-
eastern Oregon the antelope merely go
back and forth from higher and lower
given: browse plants, weeds, and grasses.
In some areas sagebrush forms the staple
diet of the antelope. It is eaten at all seasons of the year, but in winter when forage is short it is particularly sought. Except on fenced ground, there are few complaints of competition for food between
domestic animals and antelope; many of
the plants they feed upon are seldom used
by cattle or sheep. Although antelope
drink regularly when they can, especially does at fawning time, it is reported
that they can subsist and reproduce on
succulent forage alone where circumstances permit.
Management
The most important problem in management of antelope is to control the deci-
mating factors so that there will be a
higher rate of productivity that will provide a greater surplus to be cropped for
human benefit. In measuring productivity
one must first obtain essential data such
as breeding habits to determine possibilities of increase of the antelope; then determine the limiting factors and their effect upon productivity. If we were to picture the unimpeded increase rate common
to the antelope it would be very high as
compared to other big game animals as
they breed at an early age, often bear
twins, and reproduce once a year.
We know that animals do not increase
at this high potential rate because perfect conditions never exist. The limiting
factorsthings which tend to pull the
levels during various seasons of the year.
The herd of approximately 1200 animals
that summers on the east slopes of Hart
population downare of extreme importance in any management plan. Factors
Oregon-Nevada line in the vicinity of Big
Spring Table. This migration takes place
kill, and accidents, are important drains
that could be limiting the antelope num-
Mountain migrates east across Guano
Valley to the flat table land along the
in the fall soon after the first stormy
weather occurs, usually during the latter
part of September or October. Before migrating they generally bunch up in herds
of 50 to 200 animals and occasionally
much larger. They remain in large herds
throughout the winter. Usually during
March or the first of April the antelope
return to their summer range and break
up into small groups which spread widely
over their range. During the early spring
which destroy, such as hunting, predators,
diseases and parasites, starvation, illegal
bers.
Little is known of the diseases of ante-
lope and numerous autopsies of Oregon
pronghorns have revealed few parasites.
Authenticated records of diseases have
been limited to a few cases of Keratitis, a
similar disease to pink eye in cattle and
not fatal from all current reports.
The coyote has proven to be the most
important predator. During the last
(Continued on Page 7)
JUNE, 1947
May Meeting of the
Game Commission
The Commission held its regular
monthly meeting at its office in Portland
on May 10, 1947.
?en eite Za4 "6191e4
How To Be Alluring on a Fishing Trip
or
E. W. Goff, foreman of the McKenzie
trout hatchery for many years, was appointed to the position of superintendent
of hatcheries.
In response to the request of The Cloroben Corporation for permission to treat
weeds in Blue Lake and other waters, it
was decided that the Commission would
have no objection to such action in Blue
Lake provided that the written consent
was obtained from the interested landowners. With reference to other waters,
it was decided to continue the matter for
further consideration until additional information could be obtained.
Mr. C. W. Scott, president of the South-
western Sportsmen's Association, was
present and asked that an explanation of
the reason for the eight-inch trout regulation be given to the sportsmen in the
coastal area.
The following applicants for the game
division of the State Police were added to
the recommended list:
Page 5
Bait Your Man
By "GERTIE" WEBSTER
First, remember fishermen are in a
class by themselves and are always rec-
ognized by their distinctive clothing. You,
however, being a novice (and we presume
this is your first "fishing" trip) may dispense with some of the more exotic trappingssuch as flies in your hat, hip boots,
creel, etc., because you wouldn't be fooling anybody anyway. Better yet if you
can retrieve some old things from the
moths or purloin some of brother's more
battered shirts, since fishermen, being peculiar people, do not believe in new cloth-
ing. This I know will take great will
power as I'm always tempted to shop for
exposure. So whether you select flimsy
little garments, the neatly tailored ones,
or even the long handled trap door kind,
don't get caught unaware. However, heav-
ily boned "garments" can cut your wind
and hinder your flexibility in picking
yourself up.
Now don't be alarmed, but the gentleman, who in the city helps you in and out
of cars, across streets and opens doors,
is no longer a gentleman in that sense of
the word. He's a Fisherman. Bear this in
mind at all times, for he is now a "Su-
perior Being." Perhaps the old Caveman
days has something to do with it for
now you have to shift for yourself.
It might also be a good idea to bone up
a little on fishing vernacular; such as,
using a "Flying Caddis" (or is it "Flying
Tackle"). Eggs and worms are self explanatory though I shy away from them.
Ramon Arnold, La Grande.
Donald Eugene Chase, Portland.
Curtis Herbert Ruecker, Salem.
The game department was authorized
to proceed with the setting up of upland
game seed stock refuges in eastern Oregon and in connection therewith, there
also was authorized an extension from the
Hermiston farm of the open field method
t of raising pheasants on such seed stock
refuges.
Bids submitted for the construction of
hatchery residences were rejected as being excessive.
It was decided to purchase two prefabricated houses, one each to be placed at
the Cedar Creek hatchery and Hermiston
game farm.
A bid for construction of ponds at the
Hood River hatchery was rejected. The
engineer was authorized to have the work
done by force account if possible.
The next meeting will be held Saturday,
June 14, 1947.
Fish and Game Exhibit at
Travel and Sports Show
At the Portland Travel and Sports
Show held May 10 to 18, the Game Com-
mission displayed its fish and game exhibit that has always been a popular attraction at the Pacific International Exposition held each fall.
One-half of the exhibit consisted of the
large fish pond, another pond for water-
fowl, and a series of small aquariums
//'' showing a variety of game and food fish.
The other part of the exhibit had pens
containing game birds, deer and raccoon.
One feature different from the usual fall
exhibit was the clutch of newly hatched
chicks in the pheasant pen.
a new costume. For instance like the one
I saw on the blond hussy last yearwho
was actually fishing. She would probably
look good in anything anyway, so why
bother.
High heels, of course, are not to be
worn with this outfit as they seem to enrage some fishermen. Dresses, too, can
be embarrassing as I've found when
caught in the briars or when you have to
be fished out of the river. I prefer to have
rips in my britches.
That brings us down to unmention-
ables. Here you can have your choice, and
no one should be any the wiser. But bear
in mind the thought of that unpredictable
Dry fly fishing or wet fly fishing, it's all
the same to meit's all wet. I limit myself
to terms like "still fishing" and "trolling"
and let him argue the merits of any other
kind of fishing, if there is any. Also when
he mentions "lures," he's not talking about
you. It's still fishing he's talking about.
Never mind, he really doesn't expect
much intelligent response from you. He's
merely flaunting his own knowledge and
trying to impress you with the fact that
it takes "skill" to catch fish. I generally
mumble some unintelligible reply inter-
spersed with a few of the words I've
(Continued on Page 8)
Page 6
JUNE, 1947
Tagging Yearling Rainbow
Notice of Hearing
Trout at Rock Creek
Pursuant to provisions of Chapter 39,
Oregon Laws 1947, the annual hearing of
Hatchery
the Oregon State Game Commission with
In an effort to acquire factual information regarding the migratory tendencies
of the "fall spawning" or Utah rainbow
trout released from the Game Commission hatchery at Rock Creek into the waters of the Umpqua drainage, 375 or 2.7%
of a recent planting of these fish were
marked by means of small, colored, plastic discs which were fastened to the back,
immediately behind the dorsal fin. One
tag bears the words "Ore. Game Comm."
and the other tag is numbered.
It is also hoped that information of
value will be forthcoming from this experiment regarding the return of planted
fish to the angler's creel. Wholehearted
cooperation of sportsmen will be necessary to make the work worthwhile, since
the area involved is considerable and the
manpower and transportation to check
that area is limited. It is requested that
anglers who catch tagged fish or larger
"cannibal" fish with tags in their stomachs, return the tags, together with the
date and approximate location of capture
of the specimen to the Game Commission
Field Agent at P. 0. Box 451, Roseburg,
Oregon.
reference to regulations governing the
taking of game birds, game and fur-bearing animals will be held at ten oclock, Friday morning, July 11, 1947, at the headquarters of the Commission at 1634 S. W.
Alder Street, Portland.
After the Commission makes its final
findings, the regulations in regard to seasons, bag limits and methods cannot be
changed until the following year.
Upper Clackamas
River Opens
On May 17, the Clackamas river and
its tributaries above the Three Lynx
Power Plant opened to angling. This includes the area upon which the Clackamus river study is being made. A large
number of fin clipped legal sized trout
have been planted in this area, and with
the prevailing weather the early season
angling should be better than usual on
this stretch of water.
The Game Commission is asking the
cooperation of anglers fishing in the
study area in holding their trout, with-
out removing the heads or fins, until they
June Calendar
have been seen by field agents of the
General trout season ....Apr. 26-Oct. 15
Tidewater trout season . . June 15-Oct. 15
General Cascade lake
season
May 24-Sept. 21
Diamond lake
June 7-Sept. 14
Todd and Sparks lakes . . June 28-Sept. 21
North Twin lake
May 24-July 20
South Twin lake
June 28-Aug. 24
Davis lake
June 28-Sept. 1
Salmon and steelhead over
20"
Entire year
Jack salmon under 20"
Entire year
Spiny-rayed fish
Entire year
Bear
Entire year
Cougar, wolves, other
predators
Entire year
Note: Exceptions listed in official synopses of hunting and angling regulations.
Game Commission either at the checking
station or in the camp grounds. All the
hatchery trout are planted to be caught
but a record of the marked trout is de-
sired. For the same reason if anyone
catches trout with missing fins in other
parts of the Clackamas, it will be appreciated if a postcard is forwarded to the
Game Commission at 1634 S. W. Alder,
Portland 8, giving information as to
where the fish was caught and which
fins are gone.
The female mosquito is "more deadly"
than the male.
After hopping off, fleas turn and travel
tail-first through the air.
Summary of Federal Aid Activities
Since the passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act which sets aside
a small portion of the excise tax on firearms and ammunition to be pro-rated back to
the states and territories for wildlife work, the United States Congress has appro-Photo by Ray Wood.
Fish marked in the manner described
ranged from five and a half to eight
inches in length and were liberated into
the upper portions of the North Umpqua
and the South Umpqua and also Calapooya Creek during the second week in
May. Prior to the opening of trout season,
a planting of approximately 63,000 rain-
bow trout was made in this drainage
basin.
In addition, some salmon and cutthroats have been tagged in the lower
priated $10,091,054.53 for this purpose. Of this, the State of Oregon has received $296,398.42 as its share, pro-rated to it on the basis of area and number of hunting licenses
sold. Regulations included in the Federal Aid act stipulated that these funds could be
used on three classes of work: (1) Surveys and investigations; (2) land acquisition;
(3) development. The decision as to the type of work to be done under these appropriations is left to the various states. Table No. 1 shows how the states have made use
of this Federal Aid money since it first became available during the fiscal year 1939.
The amounts under "Coordination" indicate money spent by the federal government in
administrating the program.
Oregon entered into this Federal Aid program as soon as it was started. One of
the requirements of the Federal Aid act is that for every $3.00 appropriated the State
must put up $1.00. Table No. 2 gives the fiscal federal appropriation, the money that
the state set up to match this appropriation, and the operating budget thus made available. It also lists all the activities that have been carried on in Oregon under the Federal
Aid program and the amount of money obligated to each activity.
river. At Rock Creek hatchery, 133 adult
steelhead were tagged and released after
spawning. Some of these fish have al-
ready been observed at Winchester Dam.
At Smith River Falls, steelhead also were
tagged during spawning operations.
4.1111)IP00.Norimmwomoll.mq..monoImmr4
The Conservation Pledge
"I give my pledge as an American
to save and faithfully to defend
from waste the natural resources
of my country-its soil and minerals, its forest, waters and wildlife."
>11111...wwooo4+
Fiscal
Year
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
*Totals and
Table No. 1
NET OBLIGATIONS BY TYPE OF PROJECTS
Surveys and
Investigations Land Acquisition Development
Amount Pct.
Amount Pct. Amount Pct.
$ 241,183.27 50.5 $ 130,419.37 27.3 $ 105,578.43 22.2
584,668.26 40.6
817,011.04 38.3
361,880.55 19.3
321,018.49 21.4
210,686.56 21.2
143,589.07 21.0
415,405.47 42.0
356,860.17 24.8
544,372.08 25.5
843,136.48 44.9
709,957.69 47.1
484,774.28 48.7
244,121.29 36.0
225,815.44 23.0
499,068.28 34.6
704,217.81 33.0
564,632.18 30.1
364,963.55 24.3
240,963.44 24.2
227,713.35 34.0
264,033.71 26.0
Total
$
477.181.07
1,440,596.71
2,135,109.53
1,876,102.79
1,504,342.63
995,119.89
669,429.16
993,172,75
Percentages . $3,095,442.71 30.7 $3,539,456.80 35.1 $2,971,170.75 29.4 $10,091,054.53
*Total includes $484,984.27 spent by federal government in administration.
(Continued on Page 8)
JUNE, 1947
Oregon Antelope
the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
an intensive winter control program on
scarce; consequently coyotes during fawn-
these critical antelope ranges. The effectiveness of this program may be reflected
in this year's antelope crop.
In summary, it may be stated that ante-
and require more food.
The Hart Mountain National Antelope
Refuge located in Lake county was estab-
spotted throughout the available antelope
habitat and these excellent game animals
should be provided every opportunity to
increase and spread over the vast expanse
of desert range available in Southeastern
(Continued from Page 4)
few years, rodents have been extremely
ing time have turned to feeding on the
young antelope. At this season of the
year the coyotes are raising their young
lished by executive order on December 21,
lope density is low and distribution is
Livetrapping and transplanting has
proven successful in Texas and New Mexico where a surplus was present and suit-
able habitat in other areas were understocked with antelope.
The use of a light, single engine air-
plane has proven to be the most efficient
method of determining population trends,
herd composition, and distribution of antelope in southeastern Oregon. Herds can
easily be located while flying at an altitude of about 500 feet; and, under most
conditions, each herd can be observed
from 50 to 100 yards altitude to obtain
classification. The antelope is the fastest
hoofed animal in North America. Their
average speed is about 32 miles an hour.
e One often hears of them being checked at
60 miles an hour; this is probably true
with a few animals for a short distance,
but I have never checked one that traveled over 40 miles an hour.
With the present high powered fire
arms the antelope is more vulnerable and
easier to bag than any other of our big
game animals. This is especially true
when all sexes and age classes are legal
so that the hunter can flock shoot at long
ranges with the hope of knocking down
one of the group.
what can be done with the water resources.
Fisheries and recreational interests will
be there to make a stand to conserve the
valuable migratory fish runs of the
Rogue. High dams on the main channel,
which are detrimental to fish runs, will
be vigorously opposed.
Staff Conference for
Game Field Agents
The annual staff conference for the
field agents from the thirteen game districts of the state will be held in Portland
on June 26, 27 and 28, P. W. Schneider,
director of game, announces.
The men are called together once a year
to discuss the work that has been done
and go over the plans for the ensuing sea-
son. Talks also will be given by department heads and outside speakers on pertinent subjects.
indicated at a similar period. On the basis
of recent studies, it appears that weather
and predation are the major factors affecting fawn survival. Of these factors
only the predators can be controlled. Recognizing the need for control of coyotes,
the Game Commission cooperated with
12,630.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Big game activities during the past
month included completion of winter census data and measurements of forage utilization plots on problem ranges. All game
herds wintered in good condition and no
heavy winter losses have been confirmed.
*
*
*
of upland game refuge were signed up
under the seed stock refuge program in
the Willamette Valley and other areas are
under consideration in Wasco, Umatilla,
Wallowa and Lake counties.
*
1634 S. W. Alder StreetP. 0. Box 4136
Portland 8, Oregon
Members of the Commission
E. E. Wilson Chairman
Corvallis
Theodore R. Conn
Lakeview
R. D. McClallen
Enterprise
Kenneth S. Martin
Grants Pass
Dr. Geo. A. Cathey
Portland
F. B. WIRE
State Game Supervisor
MIRIAM KAUTTU
Secretary and Editor
Permission to reprint is granted provided
proper credit is given.
*
The new laws passed by the last legislature become effective July 5 except those
having an emergency clause.
*
All dead-trapping for beaver was discontinued in March and April and the
eight trappers employed the year around
are now surveying streams for trans-
planting sites in preparation for the livetrapping program this summer.
*
Published Monthly by the
Oregon State Game Commission
ments indicated a survival of approximately 1 fawn to 5 does, by September.
In 1946 a ratio of 1 fawn to 3 does was
the time the season is over the total figure will exceed last year's catch figure of
During the month of April, 3,400 acres
sion limited the bag to bucks only in 1945.
This change of procedure was readily ac-
and reduced the high crippling loss which
previously occurred.
A low survival of antelope fawns was
reported in 1943-44-45. In 1945 measure-
Game Commissions. It is probable that by
Field agents of the Game Commission
report a fair breeding stock of pheasants
and quail in most counties and if weather
conditions continue favorable through the
months of May and June, a good crop of
pheasants and quail may be anticipated.
Oregon State Game
Commission Bulletin
greatly increased the value of the sport
gathered by checkers of the Fish and
The United States Bureau of Reclamation plan to hold a hearing on the Rogue
River water-development project some
time in the near future, probably in June.
The hearing will involve a report of their
findings to the people of the Rogue basin
for the purpose of informing the people
numbers were decreasing and a high crippling loss was resulting from indiscriminate long range shooting, the Commis-
hunters who recognized that the measure
Sports fishermen had taken approxi-
mately 10,500 chinook salmon in the Willamette river below Oregon City falls up
to the middle of May according to figures
Hearing on Rogue
River Dams
Recognizing the fact that antelope
cepted by a majority of the antelope
This and That
The game farms have been at the peak
of the hatching season and the four farms
are expected to produce approximately
60,000 pheasants during the 1947 season.
Additional birds will be reared for release
by 4-H Club members.
Oregon.
1936. This refuge, together with the
Charles Sheldon Antelope Refuge in
northern Nevada, forms a well balanced
project for conservation of the antelope
in northwestern Nevada and southeastern
Oregon, as they include substantially the
entire fawning grounds and summer and
winter ranges of many of the animals of
this species frequenting the region.
Page 7
*
*
A disappointment to many was the
failure this year of the Sandy river smelt
run. This is the eighth season since 1929
that there has been no run of smelt, the
other years being 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937,
1938, 1939 and 1944.
*
*
Bills of interest to wildlife agencies
now pending in Congress include H. R.
1693, Federal Aid to Fisheries Act, which
will provide funds for fisheries projects
by excise tax on fishing tackle, similar to
the present Pittman-Robertson Act for
game projects; H. R. 1155, which pro-
poses to transfer without cost surplus
war areas to public agencies for wildlife
and conservation purposes; and H. R.
2857, which provides that publication of
conservation departments may be entitled
to second-class mailing privileges (this
would make a wider distribution of this
BULLETIN possible at less cost).
Oregon State Game
Commission Bulletin
1634 S. W. ALDER STREET
P. O. BOX 4136
PORTLAND 8, OREGON
RETURN OR FORWARDING POSTAGE
GUARANTEED
POSTMASTERS
IF ADDRESSEE HAS
REMOVED AND NEW ADDRESS IS
KNOWN. NOTIFY SENDER ON FORM
3547. POSTAGE FOR WHICH IS
GUARANTEED.
Federal Aid Activities
(Continued from Page 6)
For the Lady Angler
Table No. 2
Money Obligated by Projects
Amount
State Money
Fiscal
Obligated Total
Share Available Type of Projects
Year
1939 .. $19,250.23 $6,416.74 $25,666.97 Beaver Transplanting . . $4,898.56
Spring site development
5,199.64
for sage grouse
Federal
Appropriation
Total
$10,098.20
10,309.00
1940 .. 30,281.25 10,093.75 40,375.00 Beaver Transplanting ..
Spring site development
Establishing pheasant
refuges in Will. Valley .
.
7,861.78
.
8,900.00
29,230.78
1941 .. 49,519.26 16,506.42 66,025.68 Beaver Transplanting .
Establishing pheasant
refuges in Will. Valley
Survey of State Game
Resources
Resources
Summer Lake
Land Acquisition,
Camas Swale
Camas Swale
8,000.00
49,000.00
35,000.00
35,750.00
10,100.00
53,697.25
1945
.
.
24,456.80 Development at
Summer Lake
8,294.00
8,294.00
1946 .. 21,374.70 7,124.90 28,499.60 Land Lease at
Summer Lake
Development at
Summer Lake
Acquisition at
Camas Swale
Study of Game Damage
Control Methods
650.00
6,927.45
4,431.75
7,373.85
19,383.05
Lease at
1947 .. 55,360.81 18,453.60 73,814.41 Land
Summer Lake
Development at
Summer Lake
Maintenance at
Summer Lake
Acquisition at
Summer Lake
Pheasant Survival study
Total $296,398.42 98,799.47 395,197.89
to bending exercises. This, really, for me
is the most exhilarating part of the sport,
because if I can outwit the Izaak Walton
often enough I rarely get hooked in the
seat of the pants but once.
Be a lady. Don't by all means, drink up
all the "snake bite antidote." Etiquette
seems to demand that you leave at least
"two fingers" for the sportsman, Yes, I
know what you're suffering and going
through. So I've solved that problem very
neatly. I take my own along. Of course,
this is kept under cover so that when you
fall in the river, it is only because you're
a helpless female. This dunking usually
offsets the effect of the "antidote" and
63,797.25
18,342.60 6,114.20
flying lines and fish hooks and tangled up
ing day, I always enroll in a course of
gymnastics, paying particular attention
46,299.20
70,750.00
1944 .. 20,667.36 6,889.12 27,556.48 Land acquisition at
Summer Lake
Land acquisition at
in his big feetbut let you speak above a
whisper! But just remember as mother
always said, "All men are just grown up
boys and we must humor them."
You will also be very busy dodging
fixing up their fishing gear before open-
57,000.00
1943 .. 25,186.89 8,395.63 33,582.52 Land Acquisition,
any noise you make is met with surly
tackle. So, while the boys are all busy
7,552.93
62,752.13
1942 .. 56,415.32 18,805.11 75,220.43 Beaver Transplanting .
Survey of State Game
In other words, keep your trap shut!
This really hurts, but upon arriving at the
stream you will find that fishermen have
the quaint notion that fish have ears and
glances. Of course, HE can splash around
8,060.00
3,000.00
for sage grouse
Seeding Tillamook Burn
(Continued from Page 5)
picked up. This leaves the impression that
I'm a smart girl.
350.00
59,804.02
226.92
850.00
2,126.00
63,356.94
$384,662.35
you can carry on from there.
Maybe you've set up camp. Here you
can be very useful. Some fishermen have
the idea that you have come along as
camp cook and flunky. I generally squash
that idea in its infancy by pretending ignorance (which isn't hard) or being completely helpless or by just simply issuing
orders. After all this is a man's world and
he caught the fish, didn't he ? So, here you
avoid all activityjust steer clear of the
tent poles and don't throw wood on the
fire, it might land in the frying pan. But
if you can't get out of it, graciously assent
to help wash dishes. I usually manage to
limit myself to merely drying them.
0. K. so you're in solid now. My advice
iscall up that boy friend who buys his
fish at the fish market (avoid the frozen
kind, they may get you in trouble). Because if you don't you're either going to
be a fisherman too or marry the guy and
stay home while he buys his fish at the
fish market!