IT

BQJ)QSD&KL&

Number 6

Legal Opinion

State's Natural

Use
Df Refuge Funds

Resources Cited
By Gov. Jones

Restricts

Speaking before the annual con-

The Attorney General has ruled

all funds received from min-

vention of the Louisiana Police

Jury Association in Lafayette,
Wednesday, April 28th, Governor
Sam Jones, outlined an eight
point program for the future of

hat
;ral

on the RoekeFoundation Wildlife Refuge

exploration

'eller

md Game

Preserve must be ex>ended for the purpose of maintelance and policing of the preserve,
rhis was announced recently by

Louisiana and

Conservation Commissioner Joseph

McHugh in answer to considj.

funds from
be discovered on the
Preserve could be used for the
>peration of the Conservation Deirable speculation that
)il

that

may

that the fur industry of the

may be doubled. He stated
that continued protection and development of Louisiana's resources
State

The opinion was requested by

Hale Boggs, Attorney for the Con-

The

Department.

people.

so

jartment.

servation

its

conservation
of
the
Placing
Louisiana's vast natural resources
first in importance, the Governor
urged, among other things, utilization of additional marsh lands

greatest advantage would

increasing oil reserves
and the establishment of greater
refineries within the State.
to

its

result

At-

General's opinion stated

proceeds from the Preserve
shall be deposited in the State
..
.
Treasury earmarked into a spejial fund to be used for the exLouisiana's official Bird, The Pelican. This picturesque photograph
slusive purpose of preserving the was taken at the bird's natural breeding ground, Brown Pelican HatchParish.
wild game life on the refuge. The ery on North Island in St. Bernard
Act of Donation by the Rocketorney

in

;hat

feller

Foundation

provided

also

that

to

the

State

any available

surplus above the amount necessary for policing and maintaining

the preserve, may be used for

Southern Foresters Urge Public

Aid to Curb Forest Fires
(PHOTOS ON PAGE

He urged the replenishment and

restoration of fish, oyster, shrimp,
game and other wild life, both for
commercial and sporting purposes
in order to increase the attractiveness of the State for out-ofstate tourists and visitors, as well

as creating

new

business.

two points in the Governor's suggested program for a

The

7)

first

Greater Louisiana pertaining to

In the resolution the 12 South- conservation and utilization of
Adoption of resolutions urging
"having natural resources are as follows:
health.
the public to actively support the ern state foresters said,
the most severe
The Conservation Department appropriation of four million dol- passed through
'First. I suggest that we adopt
season of record is
fire
has received $89,350.00 from the lars in the national agricultural spring
program of land utilization.
forest
adequate
29,000,000
permit to conduct appropriation bill as approved by self-evident that
public

education

and

public

granting of a
mineral exploration on the preserve, and this has been deposited
in the State Treasury in a special
fund. This is the amount bid by
the Humble Oil and Refining Company for the exploration lease
on the 85,000 acre Rockefeller
Foundation Wildlife Preserve. The
lease

became

effective

March

and is for 100 days, at the end

of which time the State Mineral
Board is expected to offer it for
public bidding for development
purposes.

the bureau of the budget for

co-operative forest fire control and
urging passage of Senate Bill 45
which provides authorization for
the federal government to give

Louisiana has a total of

control continues to be the
acres of land, only 6,000,000 of
needproblem
forest
pressing
most
hich is now in cultivation, I
ing immediate attention."
therefore propose:
the
of
Division
Forestry
The
"(A) That a drainage program
Louisiana Department of Conserbe inaugurated which will bring
vation was hosts to the gathering
into cultivation an additional 5,and M. H. Anderson, Louisiana
000,000 acres of the richest alluState Forestry, took an active
vial lands in Louisiana.
part in the proceedings.
"(B) That the fur industry be
Feature of the Friday session
Governor Sam doubled by utilizing additional
fire

stronger financial assistance to the

extension of forest fire control to
all
of the state and privately
owned forest lands in the United
States, were features of the annual convention of Southern State was an address by
providing the proper
Foresters held in New Orleans, Jones. Forester Anderson intro- marsh lands
fresh water.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, duced Conservation Commissioner vegetation and
(Continued to Page S, Column 3)
(Continued to Page 7, Column 1)
April 15, 16 and 17.
j

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST

SAM

H.

JONES

JOSEPH

Governor of Louisiana

L.

McHUGH

Conservation Commissioner

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST
Published Monthly in the interest of conservation by the
Louisiana Department of Conservation
126 Civil Courts Building, New Orleans, La.

John

L.

Conner

Executive Assistant

to

Isaac D. Chapman
Editor

Commissioner

Permission for publication of all material in this issue is granted on condition that we receive marked
copies and that credit be given
any illustrations reproduced. Contributions and photographs will be welcomed. Each should be accompanied by
stamped return envelope. Proper credit will be given on all material accepted.

Volume

MAY,

1943

Number

service of the highest type in both of these undertakings.

off to you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate.

By JOS.

L.

McHUGH

During recent weeks, it has been incumbent upon me as Commissioner, to attend two national conferences pertaining to the important problem of increasing the nation's oil production. At both
the Interstate Oil Compact Commission Conference held in Wichita,
Kansas, and the National Conference of Petroleum Authorities held
in Washington, the seriousness of the oil situation was impressed upon
us. To help alleviate this situation, and to stimulate the search for
new oil reserves, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, who is Petroleum Coordinator for the nation, has been trying to get a substantial increase in the price of crude oil. The OPA has not done
anything about it, and in view of the President's recent "hold the
line" order, reports from Washington indicate that the OPA will turn
down the request. The seriousness of this oil problem cannot be overemphasized. Many high petroleum authorities share the opinion that
the nation faces a critical shortage of current producible oil which
will hamper the war effort. The crux of the problem lies in the fact
that drilling and operation costs have constantly risen while the price
of crude oil has remained at a low level. Under these circumstances,
the oil drilling business, which at its best, has always been a big
gamble, has now become even less attractive to independent oil
operators and investors, with the result that many oil operators have
curtailed their activities, putting their money into farm lands and
other investments. In addition, the oil industry is confronted with
the problems of obtaining necessary materials, such as steel, and likewise the manpower shortage, both of which are equally as serious in
other industries throughout the nation. The solution of such problems in a democracy naturally takes time, but I am confident that
they will eventually be worked out for the best interests of the entire
nation.

hat

I]

Considerable publicity has been directed recently toward thli

apparent pending doom of the Singer Preserve in Northeast Louisiana
as a wildlife refuge due to the fact that the virgin timber on ths
Preserve is rapidly being cut out for use in the war effort. Thl)
Conservation Department is thoroughly conversant with the situation
and has not been asleep on the job. Repeated efforts have been mad
to save this tract of land without success. We know, for example, tha;
the highest authorities in Washington, including the President of thl
United States, have been acquainted with the situation, and have bee?
unable to do anything about it. The President personally wrote
letter to Secretary of the Interior Ickes, who is in charge of thl
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, asking him to do whateve^
possible under the conditions to save at least a part of this uniquo
tract. Pressed by war time demands, Congress has refused to apprcj
priate any funds for this purpose, and there again the matter has bee:
stymied. We are making an effort of our own to purchase some par
of this tract for a State Wildlife Refuge with Pittman-Robertson lan.i
acquisition funds, and the matter is still in the negotiation stagei
During the years that the Department has protected the Singer PreJ
serve, large concentrations of deer and turkey have been developee
on these lands. The cut-over lands are supporting this wildlife as
result of the protection given by the Department. We have mad!
every effort to save and protect this area but conditions beyond ouj
control make it impossible for the Department to do any more.

CHINA ASKS FOR AND

RECEIVES SOME
LOUISIANA SLASH
PINE SEED

GAME COMMISSIONERS
TO MEET IN ATLANTA
The Southeastern Association o<
and Fish Commissioner!

Game
will

hold

meeting in Atlantai

The Division of Forestry of the Georgia on May 24, 25 and 261

Louisiana Department of Conser- according to word received by thi
vation recently received a request Louisiana Department of Conser

from the Director of the National

Bureau of Forest Research, Chung-

vation.

Federal officials of the Unitei

States Fish and Wildlife Servii
and conservation officials fron
a small amount of Louisiana Slash
the States of Louisiana, Arkansas
Pine Seed to be used for experiking, Szechuan, China, asking for

mental purposes by the

Government.

Tennessee,- Alabama,

Chinese

Mississippi,

Florida,

Kentucky!

Georgia

South Carolina, North Carolina

The request came through the and Virginia are expected to atl
Southern Forest Experiment Sta- tend the meeting.
Major James Brown, Directo:
tion.
of the Wildlife and Fisheries Di
In accordance with this request,
vision and Captain J. G. Appel
M. H. Anderson, Director of the
Director of the Enforcement Di
Forestry Division, stated that two
vision, plan to attend the meeting
pounds of Slash Pine Seed has
as representatives from Louisiana
been forwarded to the United
W. F. Dearman, Director of th<
States Forest Service who will Fish and Game
Commission
send same to the Chinese Embassy Mississippi is President of the As

The Louisiana Press Association is holding its annual convention

Opelousas on May 7th and 8th, and I want to take this occasion to
again express my appreciation to the newspapers of Louisiana for
their fine cooperation in helping us to publicise the importance of conservation in time of war. Time and again in this war the press of the
nation and of Louisiana have performed outstanding feats of public
service. To the newspapers goes the credit for the tremendous success
of the nation's scrap drive and the more recent history-making thirteen
billion dollar war bond drive. The Louisiana Press performed public for shipment to China.
in

My

sociation.

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST

Commercial Fishing
)uring First
A

Year

of the

on the take of the

and salt water fishery prod-

War

Field; the application of the Car-

report

esh

of Louisiana for 1942, the

year of the war, just cornled by the Conservation Depart-

its
rst

ent gives an interesting sidelight

the effect of the war on com-

ercial fishing in Louisiana,

when

impared with the record for the

evious two years.

complete compilation of the

for the years 1940,

oduction

1940 production, 83,409,675

pounds.
1942 production, 107,513,463
pounds.
While the take of shrimp for
1942 was less than that of 1941,
the value of the shrimp showed a
considerable
increase last year
over 1941.
The report on the sale of angling licenses for 1942 is not complete due to the fact that some
twenty parishes have not as yet
reported their sales to the Conservation Department.
However,
based on the reports already in,
and from indications the Department has received on the sale of

and 1942, is published at

bottom of this page. The comirison is very interesting.
Generally, it shows that the
ke and value of what is consided fresh water fish was higher
licenses for fishing
1942 than in the two years
parishes,
)41,

evious.

Most

salt water fish, with the

exceptions of such species

itable

catfish,

speckled sea trout, red

common

h and

salt water fish,

owed decreases over 1941.
Shrimp production in Louisiana
so showed a slight drop in 1942

er 1941, although

it

was an

in-

ease over the year 1940.

Shrimp production

in Louisiana
past three years, based on
ports kept by the Conservation
jpartment, show the following
r the

;ures

1941 production, 108,210,133

pounds.

Three

order and permit to dually comTri-State Mineral

plete and produce oil or gas from
a well in the Golden Meadow Hearing Scheduled

in State

For Rodessa Field

ter
Oil
Company and Phillips
A tri-state hearing of oil reguPetroleum Company for adoption
of
rules
and regulations and latory bodies of Louisiana, Texas
method of allocation of allowable and Arkansas, will be held in
production in the Elm Ridge Field Shreveport on Wednesday, May
12th, at 10:00 A. M. in the Washin LaSalle Parish.
Also heard was the application ington-Youree Hotel, for the purof C. I. Production Company, Inc., pose of adopting uniform rules
for issuance of an order to dually for the operation of the Rodessa
complete and produce oil or gas Field.
from the Company's Samuel Haas
The hearing will be conducted
Estate Number 2 well in the Pine
by
Conservation
Commissioner
Prairie Field; the application of
Joseph L. McHugh and represenRoy Lee, Trustee, for the issuance
tatives of the Regulatory Bodies
of an order to dually complete the
from Texas and Arkansas will
Crowell-Spencer Number

2 well in
join in the hearing with the idea
the Pine Pairie Field; the appliof adopting, as far as practicable,
cation of the Midstates Oil Corin the various poration and T. L. James Com- uniform rules for the three states
there is every reason to pany for issuance of an integra- as affects the Rodessa Field.
indicate an increase over the 47,- tion order pooling
these property
On the same day in Shreveport,
000 fishing licenses sold in 1941.
interests for production of oil and the Minerals
Division will also hold
gas from the Pettit Zone of the hearings on
fields in Caddo Parish.
Haynesville Field.
SEVEN MINERAL HEARINGS
These include the application of
HELD TUESDAY,
4TH
the Stewart Oil Company for the
The Commissioner of Conserva- ELEVEN PER CENT
issuance of an integration order
tion and his staff of mineral DECREASE IN FUR
for the pooling of property intechnicians conducted seven minAlthough complete figures are terests for the production of oil
eral hearings on Tuesday, May 4th,
not available, there is an indicated and gas from the Pettit Zone of
at the Monteleone Hotel in New 1
1 per cent decrease in the pro- the
Shreveport Field; the appliOrleans.
duction of fur in Louisiana dur- cation of the Bering Oil Company
The hearings included the ap- ing the 1942-43 season as com- for a permit
to drill Noel Unit
plication
of the Midstates Oil pared with the previous 1941-42 number
2 well in Caddo Parish;
Corporation for an exception to season. This is considerable less and the
application of J. M. HarSection 2, Order number 35; the than was expected, due to the un- per, Jr.,
for permit to drill Laneapplication of M. H. Marr and G. seasonably warm weather during Jordan
Number 1 well in Caddo
H. Vaughn for the issuance of an the recent trapping season.
Parish.

MAY

VALUE AND "TAKE" OF FRESH AND SALT WATER FISHERIES OF LOUISIANA

Water Fish

esh

rtfish

Jspergou
'oonbill
iffalo
esh Water Turtles
esh Water Shrimp
ogs

ayfish

iscellaneous

5aby" Green Turtles

:rrapins
irimp Hulls

W.

F. Species

iscellaneous: includes Gars,

dt

Trout

Fish
eepshead
ounders

:d

lappers

minion
lit

2,671,553
835,588
66,690
2,347,506
126,655
1,455,220
1,286,016
284,185
460,207

Value
240,439.77
41,779.40
10,003.50
112,375.30
18,998.25
145,522.00
321,504.00
22,734.80
23,010.35

lbs.

2,961,514 Trtls.
5,466 doz.
406,485 lbs.

9,533,620

German

29,615.14
81,990.00
8,136.90
1,056,109.41

lbs.

1941
Production
2,864,363
842,541
42,728
2,421,567
123,857
1,041,715
817,575
172,119
649,441

Value
358,045.37
42,552.46
7,263.76
173,725.36
18,578.55
125,005.80
204,396.25
17,211.90
51,055.28

lbs.

1,719,730 Trtls
1,674 doz.
255,128 lbs.

8,975,906

17,197.30
30,132.00
5,102.56
$

1,051,166.59

Carps, Drums, etc.

1942
Production
3,433,928
904,086
72,977
3,161,029
104,030
147,201
746,256
872,840
762,330

Value
lbs.

2,046,262 Trtls.

620 doz.
301,800 lbs.

549,428.48
72,326.88
3,648.85
316,102.90
7,282.10
25,024.17
186,564.00
69,827.20
30,493.20
20,462.62
12,400.00
15,090.00

10,506,477 lbs.
$ 1,308,650.40
2,046,262 Trtls
620 Terrapins doz

Water Fish:

itfish

S.

1940
Production

S.

Water

W. Fish,
Turtles..

abmeat

W. Species
ard Shell Crabs
)ft Shell Crabs

110,480
221,319
232,698
64,689
95,821
184,131
191,671
28,563
1,659,537

8,838.40
33,197.85
18,615.84
5,175.12
9,582.10
18,413.10
9,583.55
1,701.78
414,884.25

95,392
141,968
218,106
80,859
124,542
210,792
230,588
36,213
2,389,285

519,991.99
269,183.25
53,938.00

3,527,745 lbs.
2,177,743 doz.
73,868 doz.

843,113.24

lbs.

2,788,709 lbs.
1,794,555 doz.
63,938 doz.

lbs.

9,539.20
21,295.20
21,810.60
8,085.90
14,945.04
21,079.20
18,447.04
2,897.04
716,785.50

102,152
341,605
348,115
46,965
78,056
383,907
276,036
35,158
1,238,135

834,884.72
544,435.75
81,254.80

2,850,129 lbs.
1,578,365 doz.
57,644 doz.

$ 1,460,575.27

lbs.

5,107.60
68,321.00
52,217.25
4,696.50
11,708.40
88,296.61
22,082.88
3,551.80
619,067.50

875,049.54
338,220.00
86,466.00

2,814,971 lbs. Fish $1,299,735.54

1,636,009 Crabs doz.

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST

CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT'S
QUAIL HATCHERIES READY
FOR BUSY SEASON
Production of quail at the ConDepartment's Louisiana
State quail hatchery near Baton
Rouge for the 1942 season is under way, and the goal this year is

servation

6,000

quail.

Announcement

to

was made last week by

Consei-vation Commissioner Joseph

this effect

birds are in groups of 20 to 25,

segregated by sexes.
Following

the spring releases, the birds are

paired off and placed one pair to

a pen in the approximately 200
breeding pens.
In explaining the procedure that
is followed, Major Brown stated,
that within two weeks to a month

McHugh, following a conference with Major James Brown, after being placed in the breeding
Director of the Department's Di- pens the birds will start to lay and
vision of Wildlife and Fisheries.
each hen will produce approxiThis is the first seasonal opera- mately 60 eggs and some will produce
more than 100 eggs each betions at the Louisiana State quail
hatchery since the new $35,000 fore stopping.
In wild natural
brooder house and hatchery were surroundings the quail generally
constructed last year. With the raises one brood a year, laying 15
new equipment, this hatchery is to 20 eggs for the setting.
Therefore, the artificial surnow considered one of the finest
of its kind in the entire country. roundings and the practice of reThe Conservation Department also moving the eggs daily tricks
operates two smaller hatcheries at mother quail into laying the enNatchitoches and Lacombe. When tire year's output consecutively.
The eggs cannot be held for
these hatcheries operate at full
capacity, it can produce more than more than eight to 10 days without
reducing the degree of fer12,000 birds a year.
More than 2,500 quail from tility, so at periods of no longer
last year's stock, has been dis- than this maximum eggs are intributed throughout the state dur- troduced into the large, electricalThis in
ing the past few weeks. About ly operated incubator.
650 quail has been retained for cubator will hold 7000 eggs. It is
breeding stock at the various a special bit of equipment de
signed for this purpose.
hatcheries.
The eggs are in the incubator
The stock has been improved in
the past year by highly selective for 19 days, when they are transculling as well as the purchase of fered to a smaller incubator with
new stock from outside sources specially built trays so that the
so that birds from this year's young birds as they hatch out
hatch should be the healthiest find their radius of operations
closely restricted. This, it seems,
produced in years.
The flock is kept in a battery is due to the fact that the young
of 100 "holding pens", where the quail practically hits the tray runL.

Mating pens for egg production and holding pens for young

quail.

ning and within a few moments

of emerging into this world he is
ready to operate at very high

THANK YOU, CHICAGO,

BUT WE HAVE SOME

speeds.

ALLIGATORS

When removed from

the incuba-

The Department of Conservi

young quail are placed in
tion has received an offer froi
battery brooders similar to those
the Chicago Zoological Park t
used for young chickens.
But
supply Louisiana with some sv!
these wards of the state have a
hotel system that consists of five plus alligators they have in thei
tor the

which are 20 brooders possession.

The letter from the director 6
they are old enough
to withstand the rigors of fresh the park to J. N. Gowanloch, Chit
air, the back ends of the brooder Biologist of the Division of WiH
pens are raised, which gives way life and Fisheries Division, msi
to a modern, sunswept, back porch the offer, in the following words
on which the youngsters can
"We have here four
wings

in

each.

When

or five hui

frolic at will.

dred

Here in this modern concrete

and metal nursery the young quail

alligators

animals

of

kept for five to six weeks,

during which they become fully
feathered and are grown up in
every way but size.
They are
then placed in the holding pens
where within the next few weeks
they attain their full maturity
them at the express office
.nd late in fall about half of the
shipment wherever you wish."
crop is selected for release.
are

When

released

some

of

the

birds are sent to the four experi-

These have been broug^

to us by people traveling in th
South and if it is the plan of th
State of Louisiana to introduc
alligators in proper places, I wor
der if you could use some of the?
animals.
We would be glad t
crate them carefully and delivtsizes.

The answer is thanks,

same for thinking about

we have

plently

just th
us,

br

of alligators

i
mental sections in different parts
Louisiana, some in proper place
if the state where field biologists
and some not so proper!
are stationed.

Others are released on public

hunting grounds to bolster the
quail crop in any areas where it
may be "slipping" due to overhunting or other causes.
And

..-..

;..

CHICOT STATE PARK

TO OPEN ON JUNE 6TH

Chicot State Park, located eigk

finally many of the birds are
turned over to Louisiana wildlife miles northeast of Ville Platti
federation clubs who release them will open this summer for the firii
in understocked areas throughout time, on June 6th, it has been ai
nounced by William Wells, Actin
the state.
Director of the State Parks Con

CLOSED SEASON ON
FROGS DURING MAY
While many people may not be
aware of it, there is a closed season on the taking and selling of
bull-frogs and lagoon frogs durUpper photograph shows side view of the five Brooder Wings of the
quail hatchery; lower; a front view of the incubator, office, feed and ing the entire months of April and
work rooms.
May.

mission.

beautiful

lake,

comprisim

some 2,000 acres, has recentli

been completed. The park wi
have

10

nished,
tables,

cabins completely fu:

boats for rent, picn

barbecue

conveniences.

pits,

and

oth(

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST

Five

found him to

Dam

Building Beavers Thrive in Louisiana Under

danger."
is a rodent not unlike the muskrat, except larger,
with compact heavy body, aquatic
and noctura] in its habits. Its
pelage is a soft dense coat of fine
waterproof underfur overlain by
coarse guard hairs, the color varying from light tan to almost black,
the male being darker than the
female.
One characteristic of the beaver
is its cleanliness.
It can often be
seen washing and combing its soft
fur with the claws of its webbed
hind feet, this being accomplished
by the double combing claws which
can be found immediately beneath

atively

recessaiy to remove some of them

other areas because farmers
were complaining that the beavers
to

were eating up their corn crops.

The Conservation Department,

through Captain J. G. Appel,
Chief Enforcement Officer, dispatched several agents to work
in East Baton Rouge Parish and
for a period of time these agents
were busily engaged in trapping
the beavers and transferring them
to other areas where their numbers are not so great.

the nail of the two inside claws.

The fore-feet are

also used in this

operation.

This

is

the type trap used for trapping live Beaver.

The thing most distinguishable

about the beaver is its tail; broad,
flat and hairless, which has caused

Navy. Over a period

weeks, Ranger Wolfley and his
assistants trapped over 18 beavers
on the Amite River between Bay
Wood and Grangeville in East
Baton Rouge Parish and they were
later released in the Tangipahoa
of several

much
Many

discussion

as

to

its

believe

it

is

belief.

The menu of the beaver

last

fall

rows of corn nearest the

had been eaten by the beavers, who emerge from their habitats, attack the corn stalks and
then take the corn back home with
them.
that

river

haven't heard

is

also

muskrat.
The beaver being strictly vegatarian lives only on roots, barks
and various plant life. His tastes,
however, lean toward corn on the
cob, (which caused the farmers
complaint in East Baton Rouge
Parish)
green willow bark, and
roots, maple, aspen, and cotton(Continued to Page S, Column 4)
similiar

showed

much about

the beaver in Louisiana recently,

simply because of the fact that

use.

used in transporting mud to be used in dam

making.
However, nothing has
been found to substantiate this

River area.

You

little

The beaver

Baton*
people
in
but there were
it,
;o many beavers in East Baton
Rouge Parish last fall that it was
Not many
Rouge know

Investigation

ex-

two or three days he can be hand

fed and handled with compar-

Protection of Conservation Department

This work was under the supervision of Jake Wolfley, Conservation ranger, who is now in the

when not

be,

cited, usually friendly, in fact, in

to

that

of the

Transfer cage, showing

live

Beaver being transferred

to holding pen.

.j.

they are not as numerous as the

muskrat or some of our other fur
bearing animals. As a matter of
fact, while the beaver is not as
plentiful as in years past, they
have managed to survive remarkably well, because of the fact that
for the past twenty years or more,
the Department of Conservation
has rigidly protected these animals
by closed seasons and constant
surveillance so that today in the
parishes of East Feliciana, St.
Helena, East Baton Rouge, and
Livingston, along the Amite and
Comite Rivers and their tributaries, the beaver continues to
abide in large numbers.
In telling of his experiences
while engaged in trapping the
beavers, former Ranger Wolfley,

made

these observations:

Although a majority of the

beaver trapped were small, weighing from fifteen to thirty pounds,
he nevertheless found some to
weigh from forty to sixty-five and
even eighty pounds.
The Beaver is an example of how
Close-up of the native Louisiana Beaver, showing texture of fui
"In my experience with the Louisiana protects its animal life through wise conservation. There has been a closed season on beaver
have
Wolfley,
"I
beaver," stated
for more than twenty years.
.

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST
*

News

*
*
*
*
*

of Meetings and Activities of

Louisiana Wildlife Federation Clubs

^*******#*********************-X-*-X-***-3(-*'J!-****-3-****5

(Editor's Note

Under

this

heading
we will publish
each month reports of meetings

of the various conservation

and sportsmen organizations in the state, or
other reports of their activities.

rious

We

units

invite

the

va-

of the Louisiana

Wildlife Federation to make

use of this medium to in-

form

the

public

of

their

meetings and activities.)

EAST CARROLL FISH

AND GAME ASS'N HOST
TO NOTABLE GATHERING

Ducks Unlimited
Drive for Funds
Making Progress
A

number

large

of

Conservationist

bers

in

new mem-

have

30,000,000 ducks
issue of the Conservationist.
in 1937 to 100,000,000 in 1942
In the third congressional disis
the record to date, it was
trict a total of $119.00 has been
stated. Much work is needed to
raised up to April 29th, with
reach the goal of 400,000,000.
more funds expected. ConservaCommittees Named
tion agents have assisted in the
Dr. Johnson, the president, andrive and have distributed copies
nounced a list of committees for
of last month's issue of the Conthe current year appointed reservationist which carried detailed
cently by the board of directors.
information about the work of
The committees are:
Ducks Unlimited.

Membership

and lapsation F.
A. Cloutier, chairman; Smith Day,

In the third district, the work

of calling the attention of sportsF. A. Ellis, Sheriff J. H. Flournoy,
men and conservationists to the
The East Carroll Fish and Game Charles Harbuck, Harry
Robinson,
work of Ducks Unlimited was unAssociation was host to a notable Holmes Thurmond
and N. H. Wheder the direction of Supervisor
gathering- of state officials and

banquet held

annual meeting and

Entertainment and program
Lake Providence, Arthur Birdwell, chairman; A. B. spector

in

J.

C. LeBlanc.

Hunsicker,

C.

A.

Morgan.

were guests of the sportsorganization

at

the

gath- State's Oil

ering.

Allowable Cut

decrease in the daily

oil allowable for Louisiana during
CADDO WILDLIFE GROUP
May has been ordered by the state
ENDORSES BAYOU PROJECT conservation department in fixing
Ait a well attended meeting 356,170 barrels a day as permitted
Tuesday, April 20th, the Caddo production next month.
chapter of the Louisiana -Wildlife
This compares with a total of
Federation, unanimously endorsed 358,218 barrels a day under the
the Black Bayou dam project and April allowable, the decrease durinstructed its president, Dr. A. T. ing May to be around 2,000 barrels
Johnson, to co-operate in every a day.
way with the Caddo police jury in
Although the total state allowplans for the completion of the able for May has been reduced

dam.

Through

courtesy of Alfred
Glassell,
recently
elected
vicepresident for the entire southern
region, three newsreels of Ducks
Unlimited, depicting breeding

man

of

Ducks Unlimited.

CONSERVATION
SEAPLANE AVAILABLE
FOR USE IN ANY

EMERGENCY
Conservation Commissioner Joseph L. McHugh wants the people
of Louisiana to know that the'
Department's seaplane is available,
for use in any emergency.
During recent months, the seaplane, a small two seater, whiclf
is
capable of landing in small
streams, has aided in the rescue!
work of several drownings. Thea
plane has aided rescue parties att

slight

The plane has

recently

also been usedl

the performances off
missions for the Coastt
in

various
Guard.
Primarily the seaplane

is

usedl

for patrol activities for the

servation Department.

Con-

The seaplane may be obtained

C, spent the week of May

3rd in Louisiana, and delivered a
series
of
lectures under
the
auspices of the Forestry Division
of the Department of Conservaton, D.

tion.

Dr. Wheeler spoke in Mansfield,

Springhill,

Benton,

Minden,

DUCKS UNLIMITED,
New
I

sum

of

Dame

INC.

Street

Orleans, La.

hereby subscribe to Ducks Unlimited,

Inc., the

$..

slightly,

th|e allowable for South

Louisiana has been hiked a little,
South Louisiana's allowable is set

at 271,695 barrels or a little more

than the 270,604 barrels per day

during April.

and

Jonesboro.

CONTRIBUTE TO DUCKS UNLIMITEDUSE THIS SUBSCRIPTION BLANK

430 Notre

Contribute

in

for

use in emergencies, such as

rescue work, etc., at any time, by
communicating with the Conserpersons may subscribe according vation Department at its offices in
to
their means whatever they New Orleans.
wish. The money is used to improve duck hunting. Louisiana has FORESTRY OFFICIAL
a particular interest in this work VISITS LOUISIANA
because a movement is under way
Dr. H. N. Wheeler, of the United
to create a series of lakes in the States Forestry Service, Washing-

Governor Sam Jones discussed Parker, Chester Ray and Ashley

the economic outlook of the South Sibley.
in an interesting address.
The
Fish
Bill Bottom, chairman; L.
Governor brought with him to the K. Barney, Dr. Dorff Bean, Emmeeting Irvin S. Cobb, noted au- mett Haddad, E. E. Heister,
R. C.
thor and humorist, who was visit- Ridgeway and Dr.
C. W. Williams.
ing in Louisiana. Mr. Cobb delivGame and wild fowl^H. C.
ered a typical humorous Cobb Bryant, chairman; Jerome Fer- Canadian breeding grounds to be
known as Louisiana Lakes.
talk which kept the large crowd guson, A. C. Glassell,
G. C. MadIn Lake Charles, Crowley and
in a continual uproar of laughter. den, W. C. Taylor,
H. C. Teacle
Jennings, interested sportsmen in
Joseph L. McHugh, Conserva- and R. B. McWilliams.
those cities are raising funds for
tion Commissioner, delivered an
Reception A.
G.
Hammett,
Ducks Unlimited and a nice sum
inspiring address on the impor- chairman; John McW.
Ford, Maj.
tance of conservation in war- B. A. Hardey, Hunter Huckabay, of money is in prospect.
The subscription blank which
time.
Dr. Sam Kerlin, Sherwood Loe
appeared in the last issue of the
A large number of state offi- and Turner
cials

their

Parish.

The following agents assisted

Wednesday night, April 14th.
Fife, Charles Home, Will Mercer
in this public relation activity:
C. W. Lyon, president of the and James S. Reily.
Wilton DeCuir, Lionell Broussard,
Fish and Game Association, in
Legislation
and law P. N.
Maurice
Huval,
Charlie
opening the program, told of the Browne, chairman; Mayor
BouSam S. dreaux,
Winnie Platsmire, James
organization's activities in having Caldwell, Tom
Comegys, S. P.
Thaxton,
Cliff Reeves and Whitthe lake stocked, guarded, and Cousin, Huffman
Lewis and Claude
ney Vincent, and Wilfred Landry.
every effort made to have it
Prothro.
Each
person
subscribing
stream filled with fish that would
to
Publicity
Tom Hope, chairDucks Unlimited becomes a membe any fisherman's delight.
man; R. R. Bacon, W. C. Brewer,
Judge Frank Voelker was mas- Dr. George Garrett, H. Lane Mit- ber of the organization. There
are no set membership dues and
ter of ceremonies.
chell,
John

men's

those

Richard R. Foster of New.

Orleans is Louisiana State Chair-

White Lake in Vermilion Parish;;

at Cross Lake in Caddo Parish,,
Gordy Simon of Lafayette and In- and at Wildswood in Jefferson

less.

citizens at its

being reprinted

copy.

become enrolled in
Canada and showDucks Unlimited as a result of
ing the vast amount of work tothe publicity given to the drive
wards improvement were prefor new members in the April
sented.
From
grounds

is

month for the benefit of

who may have misplaced

this

accordance with your means.

Income Tax.

Deductible for

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST
on forestry and stated that such
a textbook covering all phases of

foresters Urge
Public Aid to
iurb Fires
(Continued from Page

oseph L. McHugh, who

resented the Governor.

He

Louisiana's

now
1)

resources

is

Mr. Watts, at the morning seshave been

turn
more fires in the South this year
than in recent years because "peosion, asserted that there

in

briefly with the subfarmers whose standard

f living- is below average and
aid that their standard of living
as a direct bearing on the maner in which forest problems must
ect

natural

in the course of prepai'ation.

dealt

of

want the forests to burn.

Farmers set fires themselves to

ple

get grazing lands for their cattle,"

he said. "Millions of dollars go
up in smoke so that hundreds of
dollars might be made."

e handled.

Unless the Southern states wake

up to the realization that because
in of lack of funds their forests will
reight rates, the governor said, go unprotected these things will
Too much of it, however, springs happen
com our own lethargy and in"Fires will catch in the forests
bility to
solve our own prob- near the Southern coastlines and
Asserting that the South
eing
discriminated
against

is

;ms."

ships

"The

sooner we begin to do
orae independent thinking and
cting and get to the point where
e say, 'We are going to solve
ar own problems,' the sooner we
ill
be solving them independntly," he said.
"We have been
fraid to speak out against inlstices; we have developed a sort
r

will

be

silhouetted

against

the horizon

for Axis submarines

torpedo.

Navy encampments

to

be in danger of partial or
total destruction by forest fires,
will

Governor Sam Jones addresses the convention of State Foresters.

and the future of Southern in- Left to right, Forester Henry J. Malsberger of Florida; Forester Massey
dustries will burn with every tree H. Anderson of Louisiana and Governor Jones.
that falls from fire."

The

above

predictions

were

of

Atlanta,

who has charge

of

and private forestry in the

inferiority complex of which Vei'mont, state forester of Ver- South; Frank Heyward, Jr., manf
ager of the Southern Pulpwood
e should be ashamed and for mont and president of the NaConservation
Association;
Dr.
hich there is no cause."
tional State Foresters' AssociaClarence G. Korstian, dean of
Lyle Watts, chief of the United tion, who was one of the featured

made by Percy

Merrill, Montpelier.

state

of forestry of Duke
Washing- speakers at the convention.
University; Brooks Toler, Forn, endorsed the governor's adJ. S. Holmes of North Carolina
ester of the Southern Pine Assoress and urged each member of is president of the Southern Forciation.
le group to be aggressive in ex- esters'
Association and presided
The convention was held in conressing his thoughts on forestry during the business sessions.
junction with the War and Conid reforestation "for that is how
Other speakers at the meeting servation
Committees
of
the
e progress."
included J. C. Kircher, Regional Southern Pine Association.
The Governor also declared that Forester of the U. S. Forest SerThe following state foresters
ouisiana should have a textbook vice in Atlanta; C. F. Evans, also
attended the convention: F. H.
tates forest service

in

Conservation Commissioner Joseph L. McHugh welcomes foresters

Louisiana. In the above photograph, left to right, are J. S. Holmes
North Carolina, President of the Southern Group of State Foresters;
srry Merrill, Vermont, President of the American Association
of State
iresters; Commissioner McHugh, and Lyle F. Watts, Chief of the
S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C.

the

school

Shreveport

Named

Man

Official of

Ducks Unlimited
Alfred C. Glassell of Shreveport

was elected a vice-president of

Ducks Unlimited at a recent meeting

of

New

the

organization

held

in

York.

At the meeting, President Will

Reid of Long Beach, California,
reported that Ducks Unlimited had
J.

established 103 waterfowl nestingrefuges in Canada covering 1,064,000 acres. With a continuing increase of membership of over
26,000 the organization will carry
on "in fulfillment of an obligation
which we owe to our brother
sportsmen in the service," declared
Mr. Reid.

Lang, Arkansas; Glen R. Durell,

Oklahoma; W. E. White, Texas;
Albert Leggett, Mississippi; J. 0.
Hazard, Tennessee; Jake Stauffer,
Alabama; H. J. Malsberger, Florida; W. D. Young, Georgia; Bill
Hammerlee, South Carolina; J. S.
Warning against the danger of
Holmes, North Carolina; Fred Peindiscriminate shooting and underson, Virginia, and M. H. Anwarranted slaughter of game underson, Louisiana.
der the guise of increasing the

NEW FORESTRY BOARD

NAMED BY GOVERNOR

wartime meat supply, Ducks Unlimited calls upon governmental

agencies to permit only normal
harvesting

of
surplus
wildlife
A new Forestry Governing
Board has recently been appointed "crops."
The warning against any moveby Governor Sam Jones.
The
members include P. A. Bloomer, ment that might lead to destruc-

W. T. Murray, Rochelle;
Holbrook, DeRidder; Ventress S. Young, Bogalusa; Ralph
W. Hayes, head of Department of
Forestry, Louisiana State UniverFisher;
C.

V.

sity,

ex-officio

member.

tion of the nation's

game resources

was issued following the annual

meeting of the
organization's
Board of Trustees. State branches

from coast to coast

sented on the board.

are

repre-

Conservation Commissio ner

Glenn L. Martin, Maryland airJoseph L. McHugh is ex-officio plane manufacturer and member
chairman of the Forestry Board of the board, declared that huntand Massey H. Anderson, Director ing and fishing were among the
of the Forestry Division, is sec- most desirable forms of recreation
retary of the board.

for

war workeis.

LOUISIANA CONSERVATIONIST

Eight

"(D) That our fish, oyster

paragraph he calls them crows,
and in the next blackbirds.) The shrimp, game and other wild lifei
Oklahoman then goes on to assert may be replenished and restoreci
that "srow meat tastes like roast both for commercial and sporting
duck," leaving us to wonder why purposes, increasing the attrao
he does not refer to this nuisance tiveness of our state for out-of-!
bird as a "nigger quail," or some- state tourists and visitors, as we^i
In the days of the depression,
says an Oklahoma City dispatch,
it

was

this

same Jess Pullen who

sang the praises of crow meat so

loudly and so persistently that

Natchitoches
Orleans
Ouachita

APRIL, 1943

2
1

pictures for the newspapers) and

Game

Fish

Commercial

Pishing

Without

and

and it has stayed down, as it

1
10 deserved, ever since. But this at2 tempt to stem the popularity of
1 our marsh hares, otherwise the
muskrat, will not succeed. Okla64 homa can't put anything over on

Vermilion
4

License
Catching

Washington
Webster

Possessing

10
Shrimp in Closed Season
2
Hunting at Night
6
Hunting Out of Season
Hunting Deer Out of Season... 2
Out of
Squirrels
Hunting
1
Season
4
Trapping Without License

Total

the Pelican State

to providing

LOUISIANA

EDITORS VIEWS

when

comes

it

food for the hungry.

We'll have our

own

assistant at-

torney general get out an injunction, or something, unless Jess

Pullen calls off his crusade for

64

Total

dealers

and wild blackberry vines as wea

a few restaurants featured it. But
numerous
hardwoods.
as
Ilf
10 the fad didn't last long. The old
Northern States, the beaver lives
5 superstition in regard to "eating
2 crow" got it down in short order in huts constructed with mud

Red River
St. James
St. John

19

BEAVERS

Plaquemines
16
Angling Without License
Using Illegal Tackle to Catch

crows.

grass,

Abshire, Cliff Ardoin,

Angelo Benandi, Charles J. Boudreaux, John Busalacchi, Sam J.
Chaze, Ernest Coats, Fred Cook,
Jackson L. Dorsey, W. W. Egan,
C. W. Elam, D. L. Farrar, T. H.

Avery

Forman,

Jr.,

E.

B.

Robert
Allen

Sintes,

J.
J.

(From the

The
its

The most

Oklahoma

is

doing

best to offer something in the

way

of competition for the Loui-

meat supply, but the

source

of

best

can do

it

is

characteristic trait ol

is

that of

more

dam

building)

closely identifies

1)

Journal)

Shrevenort

state of

ir

enough for three grown men m

walk across, being over 100 feet
long and made entirely of vines;
"(C) That an intensive forestry sticks and mud. It is indeed re<
and grazing program be adopted markable to see the type of wort
in the hill land; that cheap sources
busy fellows accomplish
these
of fertilizer and agricultural lime Working from down stream, thej
be developed within the state to begin at either side, working to"
assist in the development of pre- ward the middle until the strean
pared pastures for an increased is entirely blocked. They continue
(Continued from Page

Head, Lesma siana marsh hare as a potential

Hebert, Clarence Hood, R. I. Kennedy, John Lestrade, J. V. McConnell, Jas. E. McFerrin, Lawrence
Madere, J. 0. Mayeux, Earl Nugent. Robert J. Pertuis, H. A.
Pipes, Frank Ragas, Jack Stanfield,

COMPETITION

and

with the beaver than his ability

Some dans
to construct dams.
have been observed built strong!

Resources Cited
By Gov. Jones

MARSH HARE

sticks,

the beaver

State's Natural

IN

and

vines

winter this hut when frozen offers

complete protection against msjf
rauding animals.
However, th<.
Louisiana Beaver seems content to.
build its home on the bank of
small stream, the entrance being
below the surface of the water ana
extending upward toward the livs
ing chamber which is above thfj
level of the stream.

Nothing

AGENTS PARTICIPATING
APRIL, 1943 ARRESTS

business."

(Continued from Page 5)

stocked it, wood. The Louisiana Beaver haj:
luncheon clubs partook of it (with been found to bark yellow pine

meat

some

TYPES OF VIOLATIONS WHICH

WERE MADE DURING

new

as creating

thing of the sort.

is

to

suggest the

and that is cattle business.

eating of crow meat
to pile .on sticks, small logs, vineji
very puny, if you ask for our
"Second, I suggest that the re- and mud until the stream is em
opinion. As a matter of fact, we
sources of this state be protected tirely blocked; then they continui
have never heard of any human and developed to the greatest adto pile on sticks, small logs, vines;
Silva, Lawrence being
except a defeated politito our people so that
sods and mud until the stream
Swayze, Oliver cian who "ate crow," and none vantage
level.
Nffl

Taunton, Frank Trocchiano, Earl of these professed to have a liking

Vaught, Paul Votier, Elton Wil- for it. It was always a dish forced
liams.
upon them by the sovereign voters.
But now comes Jess Pullen, assistant attorney general of the
PARISHES IN WHICH VIOLA- Sooner State, pleading that while

TIONS OCCURRED AND

ARRESTS MADE

IN

APRIL, 1943

ii

"(A)

Our reserves

of

oil

may

raised to

the

desired

be increased and the greatest pos- only small twigs are used in thai
have
sible recovery may be made from construction, but observers
the known reservoirs, and still seen logs three to six inches il
3
feet
four
greater refineries be established diameter and two to
length woven into the dams 9
within our borders.
is impossible fo<
"(B) That our natural gas may expertly that it
the country endures a meat shortout.
preserved for the on3 man to pull them
and
protected
be
meals
age, "10,000,000 succulent
of developing the
beaver is,
purpose
primary
the
Trapping
Oklahoma
in
waste
are going to
He wants to kill the industrial possibilities of the state course, strictly prohibited and thej
alone."
of piping the gas to dis- are fully protected by the Stat
crows, not only because of their instead
sections already richly en- and the laws are rigidly enforced
meat, but for the further reason tant
with fuel reserves, and that However, the Department of Coifi
that they are feasting on the com- dowed
industrial empire man- servation, from time to time, ha
monwealth's war-essential peanut thus a new
synthetic rubber, safe- undertaken the task of thinnin;
crop. "It is time," sighs Mr. Pul- ufacturing
glass, plastics and solvents be out some of the more congeste>
len, "to revive the crow-eating fad ty
established.
areas and transplanting them t
of the early 30's. Why, if I had
"(C) That the full extent of sections where they will enjo
the priorities for the dynamite,
and at the sam<
and shot to kill them, I'd show you solid minerals may be determined more freedom
parts of th
how to put a crimp in the black by our geologists for use in the time propagate in
have heretofor
markets with the biggest blackbird ever-expanding chemical and al- State where they
been scarce.
market you can imagine." (In one lied industries of the state, and
!

Avoyelles

Bienville

Caddo
Cameron

3
2

Concordia

DeSoto

Evangeline
Grant

Iberia

Jackson
Lafourche

Livingston

Madison