We do not think that any industry in North
Carolina has as large a percentage of employees
who like to hunt and fish as does Ecusta. Every
year the number of sportsmen increases, while the
chance of adding to the family larder decreases.
In the "good old days” there was plenty of fish
and game for everyone, but with utter disregard
for the wild creatures that roam our woods and
fields and swim in our lakes and streams by over
ambitious sportsmen, we have found it necessary
to protect and restore our wildlife.
For sometime the North Carolina Department
of Conservation and Development has been con
ducting a Game Restoration Program, and it is
paying off. Tar Heels spend between fifty and one
hundred million dollars a year because they want
to hunt and fish. So, it becomes the problem of
every citizen to assist in the conservation and re
storation of wildlife in the State.
To assist in this program, Ecusta is conducting
a wildlife restoration program at the 350 acre
Camp Straus. Already 3,000 Multiflora rose and 2,-
000 Bi-color lespedeza have been planted to furn
ish food and cover for quail and other small game.
Seventy acres of grassland are maintained for deer,
the results of which has already proved encourag
ing. In the cutting of undergrowth and fire trails,
the workmen have been very careful to leave the
nut trees for squirrel and other game. Rearing
pools are being planned for fingerlings, so that our
lake can be restocked every year.
Multiflora rose, an import from Asia, is en
abling the bob-white to hold its own against
weather, predators, and food conditions. This rose
is of the bush type and grows to a height of six
to eight feet. The seedlings are planted one foot
apart in single rows. After about two years, the
hedges will become a source of cover and food
for the small wildlife found in North Carolina.
With the advice of Charles H. Hopkins, Di
rector of Public Relations of Olin Industries and
one of the foremost authorities of Wildlife Con
servation in North America, we should have one
of the best programs in the State.
Mr. Hopkins was recently presented by Gover
nor Stevenson with the Illinois Conservation
Award, the first time this single recognition has
been accorded by the Department of Conserva
tion for outstanding service in that field.
The August issue of AMERICAN FIELD had
an article of over 3,000 words on Mr. Hopkins,
and it had this to say about the award: "No honor
was ever more richly deserved. Throughout his
distinguished career, we have admired Charley
Hopkins, ever since his colorful stories of the
Quail Futurities back almost thirty years ago. He
was identified with a Muskogee Newspaper at the
time and his inimitable reports and descriptions
of the class contenders in the keenly contested Fu
turities left an indelible impression. It is almost
twenty years since he authored anonymously book
lets on the management, restoration and propaga
tion of upland game birds, brochures of such
significence that the AMERICAN FIELD hast
ened to reprint the material soon after its original
publication. The inspirational leadership he has
provided in game restoration activities through
out the North American continent has etched his
name and deeds ineffaceable in conservation his
tory.”
Camp Straus will always be closed to hunting
of any kind. Under our program, wildlife can live
and propogate throughout the year without being
molested.
’3^-''
■ I'
Rex Byrd and Bob Bolt, State Biologist of the Wildlife Resource Commission,
check on the Multi-flora rose at our camp.
1