The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-02-18
BY Paul Scuder

al of one hundred dollars. Deliveries
are to be made in October when the
rearing pools at the hatcheries are
drained. Equal distribution of the
bluegills will be made in the Water
works quarry, Buckeye and National
! Quarries.
Couriosity as TO the temperature OF
the National quarry was satisfied
when Club member Theodore Schultz
stated that on Feb. 10 water coming
into the generating plant registered
46h degrees. Water at this temper
ature will find fish activity at de-
gree to interest the crappie fisher
man. The crappies are the best bet
for early spring fishing, and in the
National they will bite earlier than in
most streams and lakes. This is a
result of the quarry being used as a
cooling reservoir for the power COM
| pany, and due to this fact is at its
| best earlier in the spring, and at the
/ beginning of the winter period and
late fall. Catches of bass have been
made in the past on Christmas day
with the use of live bait. War re-
strictions have closed the quarry for
| fishing for the duration as measure
of precaution. Anglers find it hard
to restrain themselves from fishing
in the communities best fishing hole,
but cooperation with the company is
at high degree. That the ban on
fishing will be lifted in the future is
the hope of all sportsmen, and with
this idea in mind the club has been
continuing the restocking program.
Last year around 500 three to five
inch bluegills were released in the
quarry in October by the club. This
year approximately 800 large breeder
bluegills have been ordered from the
Wayne Lakes Hatcheries for release
this fall in the National. Last year
number of 10 to IA inch breeder crap
pies were also placed in the quarry.
The crappie under right conditions
can reach a weight of 51a pounds,
and bluegills weight of 21s pounds.
Here is hoping that our restocked
fish will have at least reached these
record weights by the time we are
permitted to again use the quarry!
Sportsman Roy Clements of r. R.
No. 2, Bluffton, was the only hunter
IN the area able to bag wood duck
last hunting season. While hunting
in the Phillip Moser woods his dog
chased up the duck from small
pond. Thinking the bird was ring
neck, he blazed away and brought the
bird down. Not being sure as to
whether the duck was included on the
game list, Clements checked up with
Game Warden j. j. Johns and he was
informed that one of the birds a day
was allowed in an aggregate bag limit
of ten ducks. The law also states
that only one is allowed in possession
at any time.
The wood duck is handsome Amer
lean bird, the male having large crest
and plumage which varies with green,
purple, black, white and chestnut.
The duck is easily identified as it has
a habit of twisting its head from side
to side in flight. This duck also nests
in hollow trees which accounts for the
fact that Clements was able to chase
it up in the woods. Other names for
the duck are Summer Duck, Woody
and Squealer.
Clements has the specimen mount
ed. A few years before he was able
to bag an American Coot. This bird
he had stuffed also and has it on dis
play in his home.
Jess Basinger of Jenera, former
BlufftOn barber was pleased to hand
Silas Diller his Dollar for renewal of
his sportsmen club membership. He
appreciates all the club is doing to
improve hunting and fishing condi-
tions of this area. He says he hopes
to better his last years catch of
thirty-six bass. The greater per cent
of the fish were caught in the Buckeye
quarry, casting with the use of arti
fetal bait.
January arrests-Lester Bailey,
chief of the Law Enforcement Sec
tion of the Ohio Division of Conser-
walton of Natural Resources, report
ed to Conservation Commissioner Don
Waters today that Ohio game pro-
tectors made 66 arrests in January.
Convictions totalled 66 and fines
amounted to $1,970, with $335.55 in
costs, of which justices of the peace
hearing the cases suspended 1926 in
fines and $20.70 in costs.