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Zurich Herald, 1940-10-03, Page 2Saving Ontario's Natural Resources (NO. 10) By G. C. Toner Ontario Federation of Anglers THE MASKINONGE Our largest freshwater game fish is the maskinonge, or as it le called nearly everywhere, the muskie. These fish grow very large; in recent years a few have been taken in our lakes that weighed nearly 60 pounds but there are early records of 80 pound monsters from Ontario. Muskies belong to the pike fam- ily and look very much like the common northern pike. There are, however, important differ- ences betweeie the two fish. The head of the muskie is larger than the head of a pike of comparable size; the muskie has the lower part of its gill covers and cheeks entirely unsealed while the pike has scales all over its cheeks. Ex- amination of the cheek scales is the method used by the biolo- gists who wish to distinguish be- tween the two fish. LARGEST IN ONTARIO The range of the maskinonge in Ontario includes the shore- lines of most of the Great Lakes, the Trent Valley canal and its connecting lakes, Lake Simcoe, Lake Stoco and the Moira river, the Ottawa river and its larger tributaries, the upper St. Law- rence, the French river and many of the lakes of the Rainy river district. It is not abundant any- where but some are taken each year from most of these lakes and and rivers. Personally, I have found the best angling for mus- kies along the St. Lawrence from Prescott to Lake St. Francis. Maskinonge spawn over the 'weed beds in the spring. In some regions spawning occurs as soon as the ice leaves the shores; else- where the breeding run may not take place till bate May. In the actual spawning act the female, attended by several males, scat- ters the eggs in very shallow water and leaves them unattend- ed. This method of spawning is of considerable consequence in the conser vaton of the fish as I will show later. HOW MUCH THEY EAT Maskinonge have a voracious appetite, feeding almost entirely on other fishes. The larger they grow the more food they need and a big old-timer willneed erer fish eaeh year to keep Maskinonge of 25 to 30 pounds in weight are said to be about 15 to 18 years of age. If you are interested in numbers try figuring out how many fish a muskie will have eaten during its lifetime if it weighs 35 pound when caught. The answer will probably show that several tons of other fishes have been needed to produce the one maskinonge. Fugitives Flee To Switzerland Land Is Becoming Melting - Pot of Refugees — Escapes In and Out of Country Con- tinual Escape! It's a magic word to millions in Europe, Thousands, tens of thousands, try it. Some succeed. More fail. • Success in many cases bas meant ' only new capture and new escape attempts. Failure has frequently meant death. Since war began Switzerland has been the goal of many an escaped war prisoner or concentration camp captive. MANY WAR PRISONERS Under international law escaped war prisoners cannot be turned back by a neutral state. No such laws protect concentration camp prisoners. German aviators who fell In Tirane burned their planes and hiked to Switzerland, taking days for the trip. German infantrymen have reached Switzerland, too. From Germany, however, came many more escaped prisoners, for Germany had more prisoners. Aus- trians, Czechs, Poles, French, Bel- gians, Netherlanders, Danes, Nor- wegians and British trickle Into t!'witzerland by night and day, us- ing a hundred disguises, a thous- and tricks to travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to liberty. BRITONS ARE RETURNED Of all those who escape, only the fate of the British is clear onee they arrive in Switzerland. Return to his country once he reaches this neutral soil is easy for the Briton, It's not so eaey for the rest --for theirs are conquered, occupied countries. . What happens to these men of Occupied countries depends entire - ay upon cases. If they have friends in Switzerland, they might be per - Vatted temporary liberty. If Choy have friends abroad they might be lucky enough to get visa's and transportation out. Canadian Troops On Guazd In Historic Newfoundland Transported silently and efficiently by destroyers of the Royal Canadian navy, Canadian troops have taken up positions in historic Newfoundland. Some destroyers were not able to get close to shore and the troops and their equipment had to be landed from small boats. - Carrying their weapons with then, these soldiers are shown as their boat passed away from the side of the destroyer. THE WAR -WEE K—Commentary on Current Events FRONTS ARE OPENING UP IN .AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST Britain has "enjoyed the last Pause" in the war, and the Axis offensive will be carried out now against the entire British Empire, the Essener National Zeitung said last week in summarizing the Rib- bentrop-Ciano talks in Rome. The conversations in Berlin immediate- ly following doubtless dealt with Spain and its entry into the war; the Italian assault on Egypt; a German push down through the Balkans towards Britain's vital oil wells in the Middle East. Strong warnings were issued to Egypt and Greece to renounce their ties with Britain. Air War Of Attrition United States military experts were of the opinion last week that a. major attempt at invasion of Eng- Tatnd this .ya1l ha n-sb-eired by the Alis in fav' , a big dr n'e in the eastern Mediterranean and in Africa. They declared that the Bat- tle of Britain for the present had become the Siege of Britain -- an aerial war of attrition against the British people While more spectac- ular military operations against British strongholds took place else- where. A deiayin.g factor in the new Ax- is program was seen to be close political connection of events in Africa and the Middle East with events in the Balkans. Italy ob- viously needed bases in Greece be- fore jumping into Africa with both feet, but an explosion in the Bal- kans might bring Turkey into the was and upset Mussolini's calcu- lations. Demobilization of Syria was a3Eo seen necessary to the Axle plans. To Last Through Winter? Both Berlin and London admit- ted that the air war over England might be expected to go on all win- ter. His Majesty Icing George VI addressing the British people re assured them once this was made known. "After our present trials," he declared, "will assuredly come victory." The Government named - lately set about ordering construc- tion of 1,000,000 bucks in London's air raid shelters and announced the commandeering of shelters in in- dustr-ial establishments for the use of the public — the people of Lon- don could not continue indefinite- ly sleeping on subway station plat- forms. Lifeline From U. S. ,Besieged, truly, the people of Great Britain yet had one wide- open avenue through which to get +supplies. Food, ammunition, planes, kept Doming in vast quantities from the United States (40 per cent of II. S. -manufactured planes were going to Britain). Between Britain and the U. S. last week evidence multiplied• of tightening co -open• ation, military and economic. Corps. of British specialists were in the States, working with Army, Navy, Defense, on behalf of British pur- chases, consulting and exchanging information. In Washington, a genuine war spirit was abroad, partially obscur- ed by election talk and prepar- ations. The belief everywhere seem- ed to be that the United States was likely to be involved in Eur- ope, at a not far distant date, pos- sibly fighting in a "shooting war"; most certainly in an economic war with Germany and Italy .. , Collaboration In East And Japan? Reported U. S. col- laboration with Britain in the dee fense of their Far East possessions was followed by Secretary of State Cordell Hull's warning to Japan that the status quo in Indo-China was being upset. He declared: "The position of the United States in disapproval and deprecation of suck procedures (the invasion of French Indo-China) has repeatedly been stated," but gave no indica- tion of the Government's plans, aside from the loan of $25,000,000 to the Chinese Government, Was the United States really beginning to talk tough, and mean it? Was the United States ready to risk war with Japan? War -Week At Home Canada, drawing closer to the United States, was considering new steps toward mutual defense, pre- paring to sign the St. Lawrence seaway pact, at an early date .. Definite action in regard to the Western w'heat problem, which ap- proached the proportions of a first- class emergency, was reported in Ottawa quarters to be impending. Farmers hoped something would be done immediately about the rec- ord graiu crop which was leaving to be stored in schools and other public buildings out west . , . Big cities of the Dominion were told to stay on daylight-saving time indefinitely, and, whether they lik- ed it or not, rural and small-town residents of Canada faced the pos- sigility that they aright have to go on "fast time" for the winter, too. FINLAND!' German troops land- ed at the Finnish port of Vasa, midway up the Gulf of Bothnia, The landing followed Finland's sub- mission to Germany's demand fol• troop facilities to aid in her oc- cupation of Norway. DM Russia agree to the German action? Know of it in advance? Were the Nazis getting ready to jump off fox Ice- land? CHINA: A big move in the Shaugbai area by the Japanese was viewed as not unexpected, invoiv- iag possible seizure of the inter- national settlement and the French concession, if the United States didn't follow up their tough talk about the invasion of French ludo - China. BRITAIN:. The British Govern- nient will continue the evacuation of ehildren to America despite last week's torpedo disaster,. FRANCE: The Pertain regime in unoccupied France might soon als- appear, It was hinted at Rome. A new disposition of Frencdi terri- tory with a new government to ad- minister it, Is expected. JAPAN: New York Times' cor- respondent Hallett Abend declared that Adolf Hitler appeared to be on the verge of successfully forc- ing Japan into an unwilling full - fledge alliance with the Reiclr. Ad- apting frank "or else" tactics, (Abend said) Hitler is demanding that Japan immediately enter upon full participation in the war against Britain and join an iron -bound pol- itico-ecouo•mie alliance with the Axis powers. RUSSIA: Heavy Russian military concentrations and manoeuvres in the region of Odessa, with Soviet Black Sea naval forces also gather- ing on a preparedness basis, were reported from Budapest. These de- velopments were believed prompt- ed by Russia's uneasiness over the Iron Guard Government in Ru- mania whose territory has been guarauteed by Germany, and by Moscow's fears that the Axis pow- er:; were planning to carry the war more directly in the Near East. BALKANS: Turkey and Greece exchanged diplomatic confidences in the face of an Axis threat to sweep them clear of "nests of in- triguing Englishmen." Their ally in the old Balkan Entente, Yugo- slavia, was auth oritatively report- . ed to have "reaffirmed loyalty to the Rome -Berlin Axis," Territorial concessions to Hungary and Bul- garia were believed being planned by Yugoslav "appeasers." TURKEY: "If the Italians try to take over Syria, the Turks will be there one hour before they arrive," an authoritative spokesman said in Istanbul upon the return of the Turkish ambassador to Rome. Eche Book Shelf '"ESCAPE" By Ethel Vance One of the most exciting adven- ture stories you will ever read, is "niece -pa" by Ethel Vance. You will thrill to this tale of loyal Germans risking their lives to thwart Nazi brutality — about a woman betray- ing the man she loves — in a des- perate plot to save from execution a woman they hardly knew. As fiction, the book is different from any other you will have come across because it reads, in its cir- cumstances, like the most exciting happenings in real life. It's con- vincing to the limit. The book formerly was $2.50, but It is now available in reprint form at a much lower price. "Escape" . . . by Ethel Vance Toronto: Little, Brown and Company. Ontario Boasts Marriage Jump Big Increase This Year Over Last, Especially In the Month of July — Due to National Registration Marriages in Ontario during July showed a decided increase prior to national registration, according to the provincial secretary's depart- ment. The average was 182 a day compared with 105 a year ago. Total marriages for the month were 5,013, compared with 2,840 a year ago, In June there were 4,928 and a year ago 3,589. In Que- bee, during June there were 4,718, oe at the rate of 157 per day. 10 PER CENT RISE As between Ontario and Que- bec, according to federal statistics the increase during 1939 over 1933 is about equal, there being a 10.8 per cent increase in Quebec and a 10.6 per gent increase in Ontario, in 1939 there were 34,657 weddings in Ontario and 28,911 in Quebec. In 1938 there were 30,008 in Ontario and 25,044 in Quebec. Whippoorwill Elusive Bird Few Dusk flage Ever See the 131rd of Master of Calnou- Although Iovers and poets often have noted the song of the whip- poorwill, the bird itself has come almost as near to achieving com- plete invisibility as any living crea- ture. The whippoorwill is masterfully camouflaged, according to Dr. Win- sor M. Tyler in a Smithsonian In- stitution bulletin, and it is not "one person in a Hundred" who has ever seen one. It is a bird of the "dusk and the dark," migrating between Florida and the Northern climates and travelling entirely by night, he said. HAS CURIOUS HABITS Only recently, according to Dr, Tyler, has close observation brought to light many of the whippoorwill's curious habits. It builds no nest but lays its eggs on the ground, depending on the flickering shadows of the wood- lands over the background of dried leaves to conceal them, The newly hatched chick, almost exactly the calor of the dead leaves, remains essentially invisible, and the young are found almost exclusively by ac- cident. The melancholy refrain which is repeated over and over, is continu- ous from dusk until 9:30 and from 2 a.m. until dawn, John Burroughs, the naturalist, once counted 1,053 such repetitions. tUWHAM .. s Cobalt Scouts have. presented the Red Cross with a cheque for $20.00 raised by the sale of waste paper. * * * _ Rover Scouts of the 3rd Ham- ilton Crew have made it a Crew "quest" to 'seek out Old Country boy war guests who are in the city, to invite them to connect themselves with Wolf Cub Packs or Scout Troops. The first pur- pose is thus to widen their circle of friends and help prevent homesickness. * * * A radio set was a much appre- ciated gift of the Scouts of Ver- milion, Alta,, to the Vermilion Hospital. * * * The successful application of splints to the broken leg of a girl, and her safe removal to a hospital, brought commendation for two Scouts at Port Hope, Ont. The break, a spiral frac- ture, was suffered during play. * * * Bombay Boy Scouts pay regu- lar visits to orphanages and other children's institutions. They sponsor also a monthly "Chlid- ren's Day" of games and other VOICE O F T H E PRESS THE WOMEN ARE LOST !Since the eclipse of Paris, there's no one to tell a woman where her waist is. —Toronto Star. —0— BOOKLESS HOMES The bookless house or the house with a few books obviously not bought for reading, is not an un- common spectacle in any country, Yet the money spent in frivolities In a single year would provide ev- ery home in the land with a library of the wit and wisdom of the ages. —Guelph Mercury. —0— LAZY PARKING Double parking of passenger cars is quite without excuse, and of- fending drivers should be prose- cuted vigorously. The offending driver parks In a second line be - cense he is too lazy to find him- • self a legal parking place and walk back to his destination, and for offenders in this class there is no justification for police leniency. —Ottawa Journal, ONTARIO COALITION? There is an impression abroad that Mr. Hepburn and Col. George Drew, the Conservative leader, are getting together to form same kind of coalition Government, Col. Drew has been strangely silent since the last Federal election, and r. Hep- burn must know that his position • has been greatly weakened. by his attacks on the Federal Prime Min- ister. Some new alignment may be in the making. and it would not be at all surprising if the two lead- ers should agree to join forces, —Goderich Signal. entertainment for poor .'hil'iren of the city. * r The Boy Scouts of India are continuing their campaign of education in sanitation and acci- dent prevention for the benefit of backward village communities. During a "Road Courtesy Week." held by the Scouts of Kolahapur, the boys manned all important traffic points, and used loud speakers, leaflets and placarrds "to develop road sense and re- duce accident.." Devil's- Island Is Disorganized Twenty Devil's Island convicts landed at the small island of Vieques, near Porto Rico, last week, The numerous escapes this year are attributed to disor- ganization of the French penal colony by the war, causing guards to relax vigilance. LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher usuanmsommunimmir orzommrearairammr simoatansavirsomorAtir afeii�//�ma.Y1ls rim_awasecrouumosii�l■illsalfilamcdominslif (Oa�uaasoaiuh6 1898, l7 reed Nober) ' Y2s.�sit�E12e "Maybe all little chickens do go to bed at sunset, but doesn't the old hen always go with them!" REG'LAR FELLERS -- Swoosh MOM SAtb WE COULD LET TINY SLEEP IN OUR ROOM TONIGHT! STAY UNDER THE BED, TINY OLE BaY!ITS NICE AN' WARM -MERE By GENE BYRNES