NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/831879
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 39 JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 39 1913 – Passage of the federal Migratory Waterfowl Act prohibited spring waterfowl hunting. The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 provided additional protection. 1917 – Soon after World War I was declared, at the request of the National Food Administration, the Commission established a seining crew to harvest fish to help feed the nation. In the first 18 months, the crew seined 125,000 pounds of carp and buffalo fish, which were sold for one or two cents per pound. The crew was disbanded in 1971. 1919 – The Game and Fish Commission became a division of the newly created state Department of Agriculture, which aimed to make abundant fish and fowl an important source of food, just as corn and cattle. 1919 – All school sections in the state were declared game and bird reserves. 1921 – The agency was reorganized as the more independent Bureau of Game and Fish within the Department of Ag. 1921 – The legislature created the State Park Board within the Department of Public Works, and set aside one section of school land in the Pine Ridge for Chadron State Park. By 1930, the park had 10 cabins and a swimming pool. 1921 – Laws were revised to allow fishing through ice, which to that time was prohibited, for all species except trout and pike. 1923 – Arbor Lodge, the mansion and grounds of J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, and Victoria Springs, the log home and store of Judge Matthews near Anselmo, were added to the state park system. Arbor Lodge later became a State Historical Park, nine more of which were added: Fort Kearny, Fort Hartsuff, Fort Atkinson, Buffalo Bill Ranch, Champion Mill, Bowring Ranch, Ash Hollow, Rock Creek Station and Ashfall Fossil Beds. 1925 – The Bureau began to establish a statewide system of recreation grounds to supplement the state parks. In 1925 and 1926, recreation areas were acquired at Goose Lake, Walgren Lake, Rat and Beaver lakes and Fremont Sandpits "to provide fishing and hunting for the thousands of Nebraska citizens who desire such outdoor recreation." 1926 – First issue of Outdoor Nebraska, precursor to NEBRASKAland Magazine, was published. 1927 – The grouse bag limit was reduced to five, ducks to 20 and geese five. 1927 – Bag and size limits were established for game fish and heavy fines imposed for the use of nets or traps to catch fish. 1927 – All fees received by the Bureau from sale of permits were directed to funding the fish and wildlife department, making the Bureau self-supporting. 1927 – Hunting from an auto was prohibited. 1927 – A three-day pheasant season, Nebraska's first, opened in October in Wheeler and parts of Sherman counties. In 1928, a 10-day season was held in nine central Nebraska counties. Canada geese were abundant in the early 1900s and hunters took advantage. In this 1908 photo, Albert Schatz, Jack Stack, driver in background, Keith Neville, Governor of Nebraska from 1917-1919, A. P. Kelly, and Henry Rassmussen show off the 29 Canada geese they took on a hunt on the North Platte River between Sutherland and Paxton. NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES