The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-08-13

eral laws is Killed IN cOnSlueraDle hunlpel"' 80
have been sold in recent years at the rare u
three for a dollar Wild turkeys now much
scarcer than formerly, but their numbers His"l
be restored by proper protection. BO0whltes arc
still common.
Trapping is extensively practiced. Great NUM-
hers of raccoons and several dozens OF otters
are taken every winter. Smaller NUMBERS OIL wiz"
CATS OpOssums. and skunks are trapped
The Mississippi alligator. now rapidly disap-
bearing from the haunts Of man, has touhu lhe
OkefnOkee a gOOdly place in which to survive
For the student of herpetOlOgy the region NOUS
a vast and fascinating store of riches
The swamp waters abound in fish life, including
pickerel Iarge-mOuthed black bass and other
smaller bass shOrt-nOsed CARS, club suckers inuu
fish (Amia), various species of catfish, ana mum
erous killfshes. Among the recent discoveries
is a particularly dainty little fish, Lucana ON
mata which was previously known only from
few specmens taken in Florida; it enjoys the
distinction of being one of the very uniest Oh eA-
listing vertebrates
The wonderfully rich and diverse plant lie
of the OkefnOkee constitutes one of its greatest
charms and beauties. And herein one may per
ceive a veritable illustration of the Course OF Oeau-
ty"; for it is the magnificent timber OF the swamp
that furnishes its commercial value and has IN
vited destructive exploitation. There two
major types of forest grOwth-the pine barrens
on the islands, and the cypress bays occupy
ing inundated portions of the swamp.
The so-called pine barrens are open forests OF
long-leaf and slash pines, between whose stralght
and lofty trunks may look for distance OF
quarter of q mile in almost any direction. Inc
low underground consists principally of saw pal
metto together with profusiOn OF huckleDerrleS
and bueberries which form an important ele
ment in the food of many birds and mammals
One NAV find on some of the Okefinokee islands
where the "turpentiner" and the logger have not
vet penetrated, the southern pine forest In It's
finest glory. "
In the bays" which cover large portion OF
the swamp the dominant growth is the pOnC
cypress Probably nowhere else IN the "orI'
does if attain a heavier growth or finer proper
tiops Other trees in this habitat are the BLACK
gum. red bay, white bay sweet bay, and red ma
pie
There are a number Of other distinct types o
vegetation in the swamp, including hammocks
"sand scrub" sphagnOus boys and cypress ponds
each with charm of its own
For ten years past the very existence OF tn
Ol,eenokee in any condition worth preserving
80 bean threatened by rapidly extending CONNER
oi,I onerations until matters have now reache'
on ocute stage One lumber company, with I
great mill near Waycross, has already removes
Tho heavy cypress timber in the northwestern
ouarter of the swamp north of Billy's island. IN
company's railroad, with many orahches' nov
extends to the very nearI OI Tie swamp O0'"oS
t,lv's and FlOyd's islands. Another company ma
urpentined the magnificent pines on Billys lsian
and the Pocket Thus the area ALREADY deVa'
tated. probably comprises more than one huhore
souare miles; and there is constant menace
Industrial encroachment from all sides OF u
swamp. -
Fortunately, the entire area In which the n
novaI Of the timber either has been accOmptlshe
or is being planned, comprises only about Oh
third of the swamp This lies mainly in the nortl
western mart extending south to Honey island an
east TO MINES lake ana also through the pay
northeast Of Billy's island to FlOyds lslan'
EJovd's island, in the eastern part OF the SWAMI
is tbe most diversified and in some respects I'll
,noet interesting of the islands. The owners nav
Font II as a sort of game preserve, and 1t Is eV
dop+lv in no immediate danger of exploitation
plans are already being considered for DENIM
svstem of drainage operations TO De started "ll'
The timber has been taken out, Tor the purpo'
If converting the swamp into land suitaDle II
agricultural purposes.
So il appears that if OkehnOkee Is TO De save
IL must be soon.
In 1889 the state of Georgia sold OkennoKee
a numbering syndicate for 262 cents an acr
The pity of III