The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-05-26

If you want to practice conservation
and at the same time save your own
skin, you should be extra careful when
at night. Deer take silly notion to
cross the highway directly in front OF
your car and unless you are driving
at a moderate speed and extremely
alert, someone is going to get banged
up pretty badly. Don't let it be you!
Only recently a motorist crashed into a
deer while driving at a high speed.
The result? Outside of one fine dead
buck, a totally smashed car, a bruised
and badly shaken driver, and lot of
commotion, there wasn't much to write
about.
The next time you take drink out
of spring, be sure that it is spring
and not merely swamp seepage. Play
safe-boil your water.
John Peil, game warden at Tower, is
our idea of a real conservation officer.
John checked our group for licenses the
other day and impressed us with his
genial personality. In the olden days
a warden was always tough and some
one to fear, but with men like Peil on
the staff, people get to know and like
the wardens and nothing could be
better for conservation. Peil told us
the story of Silver Spot, 1415 pound
wall-eyed pike who comes into the
hatchery each spring. Old Silver Spot,
who has a silver spot on his side as big
as a half dollar, contributed quart of
eggs as her share of spawn this year
and has been in and out of the hatchery
at Tower since 1881. If you ever get
this famous fish on your hook you'll
get a lot of free publicity because a
number of movie firms have taken a
lot of film of old Silver Spot during the
past few years.
Doctors tell us sunshine is bene-
fetal. However, it would be well to
keep in mind that too large doses may
not only be harmful, but even fatal.
So be careful when you're trying for
that "life-guard" tan.
Arthur Grahame, nationally known
outdoor writer, tells us the mallard is
one of the slowest filters of all the ducks
and says their top air speed is approx
mately 55 miles an hour. The canvas
back is the fastest of all ducks and has
been timed at 70 miles an hour al
though they have been known to do 100
miles an hour with the help of a strong
wind or while Slanting down on de-
coys from height. The teel, although
considered by many shooters as the
fastest of ducks, isn't quite as fast as
the canvasback and has been timed at
80 miles per hour in easy flight and SO
miles per hour when frightened. One
Of the ducks most deadly enemies, the
duck hawk, is among the fastest birds
that fly. Down in Texas, recently, an
aviator diving at flock of ducks at a
speed of IT'S miles per hour was left
behind SO rapidly by duck hawk
swooping to its prey that he felt as if
his plane was standing still.
LII you should be fortunate enough
to hook a tagged fish, take the tag
and send it in to the Conservation
department. They'll appreciate it.
Herman C. Wenzel, conservation COM
missioner, announces the formation OF
statewide conservation advisory
council, with invitations extended to al
organizations interested in conservation
to appoint one of their members to the
board. The purpose of the organization
is to have all groups present united
program and support legislation thai
will permit the inauguration of a long
time comprehensive program of con-
servation and restoration. Heretofore
when conservation groups have ap.
peared before the legislature to secure
the passage of laws, they have otter