- Z - 
 
 
          started to wilt, and that he did not pull it for the 
          kernel, but for the cut worm or wire worm that had 
          caused the plant to die. 
               It was admitted, however, that the birds were too 
          plentiful and should be thinned out when fortunately 
          some one discovered that they could be trapped at night 
          by means of a spot light and net. 
               The department then under the supervision of 
         Mr. Frank O'Connell, Chief Bureau of Game and Fish. 
         issued permits to something like thirty trappers to. 
         catch them, giving them $1, for each bird delivered to 
         the express station. These permits were issued for the 
         month of March 1926, with the result that l5,,151 birds 
         were collected and planted in other sections of the state* 
               As could be expected the farmers then complained 
          that the birds which they had raised were being sold by 
          the state to professional trappersu or the reverse if you 
          please. The following year, 1927, permits were again 
          granted for birds to be taken from the same three counties, 
          but this time only to farmers or their tenants who could 
          make proper showing by affidavit etc. These were again 
          issued for the month of March and on the twelfth day when 
          30,000 birds were delivered the permits were cancelled and 
          the birds liberated in all parts of the state except what 
          is known as the sand hill district where an effort is being 
          made for the prairie chicken to survive the onslaughts of 
          civilization. 
               Following these wonderful catches an open season was 
          declared for three days in these same three counties during 
          October of 19V7 permitting the taking of five cock birds under

          strict regulations and again upwards of 3000 birds were killed

          and there is plenty of seed left, 
               It may also be said that the Legislature of 1919 made a 
          small appropriatýon for the purchase of ringnecks, but the

          price demanded by commercial growers, the area so large and the

          birds unaccustomed to their surroundings that progress was slow.

               It is very apparent to the close observer that within a 
          very few years the ringneck pheasant will be the outstanding 
          game bird in Nebraska."" 
 
 
 
     We are in receipt of information from our Canadian representative stating

that there is a fear existing in the Prairie Provinces as to the probable
loss 
of young birds owing to severe hail storms which were, in a way, local but
had 
been scattered from north to south in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 
     The hail was so severe in southern Saskatchewan that in one place it
killed 
over 150 sheep and maimed many others. Other instances were reported of hail

having killed two thirds grown blue geese, young ducks, etc. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                      GU.S