The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 27, 1969 Page: 2 of 6
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Itetria, Coypu Unusual Animal
Several weeks ago, I reported
that two fishermen had killed a
feamole mutria (myocastor
coypus) at Lake Mathis, that she
weighed 15 pounds and was
ready to bear three offspring.
The accompanying description
was first hand, unscientific, but
after some research, proved to
be fairly accurate.
The most informative source
material on this animal was
found in the Encyclopedia Brit-
anica and is as follows:
“Myocastor coypus. a large
aquatic rodent, native to South
America. Features that distin-
guish it from other members of
the family Capromyidae are :
size (up to 25 lbs-.); reddish
brown fur; long, round-tipped
tail, partially webbed hind toes,
short round ears, and smooth,
broad, orange colored incisor
teeth
These traits have given it the
misnomer South American
beaver; but it more closely re-
sembles a guinea pig or an agou-
ti. The mammary glands are
pecularily placed along the sides
of the back an arrangement
thought to be an advantage in
permitting the young to suckle
while the mother is surface
swimming. The nutria lives in
shallow burrows along the
banks of rivers and edges of
ponds,. It subsists largely on
aquatic plants, coming ashore to
feed, especially in the evening.
It is prolific, producing from two
to eight young at a birth, and
having as many as three litters
a year. “Prime nutria pelts are
of some commercial value but
require expensive processing. In
the late 19th century a high de-
mand for pelts led to the near
extermination of the species in
Argentina. Raising nutrias in
captivity in South America .be-
gan in 1922 and spread to many
other places. High prices were
paid for breeding stock, but the
pelts from ranch raised stock
were generally inferior, and
these ventures were disappoint-
ing. Some nutrias were turned
loose, others escaped, and popu-
lations became established in
the wild. In many countries to
which they were imported,
France, for example, nutrias be-
came a distinct liability, feeding
on cultivated crops, damaging
dikes and irrigation ditches, de-
stroying habitats of and compe-
ting with other wildlife. They are
established in several other Eur-
opean countries and in Canada,
and are a problem in parts of
the Southern United States.’’
That’s what the book says.
Game conservation personnel
state that the nutria population
around Lake Mathis has not be-
come a problem. Everbody
around the lake knows this to be
true, because if we had some
honest-to-goodness hungry nutria
here, we wouldn’t be plagued
with the water hyacinths and lil-
lies all over the lake. Now when
these king-sized rats do breed
prolifically in any given area,
they do cause a problem. Some
years ago, down in Louisiana,
these critters were a holy terror.
Lousiana being the greatest pro-
ducer of muskrat pelts (bet you
didn’t know that, did you?), not-
iced a marked reduction in musk
rats and a fantastic rise in nu-
tria caught in the Cajun’s traps.
Nutria will destroy muskrat
nests and luin the balance of
food supply in the swamps. Con-
certed eradication work had
greatly reduced the nutria pop-
lation in southern Louisiana and
muskrats are on the rise again.
Where man has tried to inter-
fere with nature he has blun-
dered. Like the importation of
rabbits to Australia, where they
are rounded up each year and
eliminated by the millions, at the
request of the farmers. Cat
squirrels were introduced to
England some fifty years ago
and have practically made the
native red squirrel extinct in
England. And examples go on
and on.
Incidently, check with State
Game Warden “Hap” Roberts
about seasons laws on nutria.
And for Pete’s sake, remember
that guns of any description are
not permitted on Lake Mathis,
even for killing coypus 1
Mariuel Huerta
Is Buried Here
On Monday
Manuel Huerta, 20, a lifelong
resident of Mathis, was fatally
shot in Humington, Fla., last
Wednesday.
Rosary was recited Monday at
the Juan Huerta residence here.
Graveside services were held
Tuesday at the Eternal Rest Ce-
metery.
Survivors include his. parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Jesus Huerta; and
two brothers, Jesus Huerta Jr.,
and Esiquiel Huerta, all of Math-
is.
Singing Cadets
To Perform at
Sinton School
The Singing Cadets of Texas
A&M. University will sing in the
Sinton High -&eh»*5t*’’At?ditorium
on April 11. They will be spon-
sored by the County A&M
Mothers Club, business firms
and individuals who are inter-
ested in A&M.
Proceeds will be u^ed for a
scholarship to A. & M., which is
presented each year by the Mo-
thers Club to a deserving boy of
San Patricio County.
Tickets will be $1.00 per person
and will be placed on sale March
7. Mrs. T. L. Sutherland, Mrs.
Don Tenill and Mrs. P. B. Ma-
honey, will sell tickets in Mathis.
Local
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schu-
macrer of Lakeshore Gardens
are leaving this week for several
weeks. They will be going to
Daulton, Ill.
Page 2 — NEWS — Mathis, Texas, February 27, 1969
Elaborate scientific apparatus is
being checked by Science teach-
er John Fuips in preparation for
the Science Fair, to be held in
conjunction with Public Schools
week next Thursday.
Marine Geological Center Granted
Site at University of Corpus Christi
The campus of the University
of Corpus Christi has been sel-
ected and approved for the lo-
cation of a U.S. Survey facility
and the General Services Admin-
istration offices-in Washington
and Fort Worth has arranged for
This Week
In Mathis
Feb. 20: Fire Department
8 p.m.
Feb. 20: Rainbow Assembly
Board 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20: Ladies Auxiliary
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: Masonic Lodge 8 p.m.
Feb. 24: Clubs and Library
board of directors 2 p.m.
Feb. 25: Ladies Bible Class,
Church of Christ 9:30 p.m.
Feb. 25: Rotary Club Noon.
Feb. 25: Woman’s Society of
Christian Service 3 p.m.
Feb. 25: V. F. W. 8 p.m.
Feb. 25: Business and Profes-
sional Women’s Club 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 26: Mathis Culture Club
a 10 year lease.
The building, to be located on
a one-acre site on the west side
of the campus, will be a one-
story masonry structure occupy-
ing 5,300 square feet. It will be
equipped with laboratory facil-
ities by the college.
This is the first in a series of
projected structures for research
related organizations .The build-
ing will serve as headquarters
for marine geology investigation
in the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean. It will house the
staff, which is expected to grow
to 12 to 15 within the next two
years, plus a supporting staff of
technical and professional assis-
tants. There will be laboratory
facilities to carry out sophisticat-
ed geochemical studies of the
sediments on the sea floor, ex-
tending from shoreline to the
deep ocean, and a rather exten-
sive geophysical program will
also be carried out.
Architectural drawings and
specifications are now being
complete preliminary to letting
bids for construction. Occupancy
is scheduled for September.
Early Times In Mathis
Mathis 10 Yeas Ago
Open house is planned for the
four main school buildings in cel-
ebration of Public School Week.
Parents and friends are invited
to visit any or all of the schools
throughout the week. Coffee and
doughnuts will be served every
•mornmg in the various buildings.
Jimmy Crouch was notified
this week he was among the
1,0000 U. S. High school students
in the National Merit Scholar
ship examinations. Crouch took
the test last spring when he was
a second semester junior at Ma-
this High School. Every member
of his class took the examination.
Katy Knolls was elected Sweet-
heart of the Mathis High School
Pirate Basketball Team.
Mrs. Billie Cox and Miss Dor-
othy Brown visited relatives in
Houston last week.
Woody Hicks has been elected
the Sweetheart of the Future
Homemakers of America.
J. B. Owens was injured Tues-
day morning at farm road 666
and 894 intersection several mile
southeast of Mathis. He required
hospitalization and his car was
demolished.
Mathis housewives were warn-
ed this week not to leave their
drying clothes unattended in a
downtown laundrymat. One
housewife reported that she put
several loads of clothing in a
dryer, when she returned 30 min-
utes later the clothing was gone.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Haley of
Ingleside spent the week-end
with the E. J. Crenshaws.
S969 - —.—
TEX^Wp»RESS ASSOCIATION
THE MATHIS NEWS
Published Every Thursday In Mathis, Texas 78368
jdlished By The Guthrie Publishing Co.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE ............. $4.00 PER YEAR
un s> Pat and Adjdining Counties. S5.QO Per Year
Elsewhere — State Sales Tax Within State)
H. H. McBride —--------------------------------------- Managing Editor
Entered as second class matter, Jan. 21. 1945-. at The Po^t offick at
Mathis, san Patricio County. Texas, under the Act of Conqrkss o»
March 3. 1879
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. ANY ERRONEOUS REFLECTION UPON THE CH AR AG
TER. STANDING, OR REPU FATION OF ANY PERSON. FIRM. OR CORPORATION.
WHICH MAY APPEAR IN THE MATHIS NEWS. WILL GLADLY BV CORRECTED IF 13
»» BROUOMT TO THE ATTENTION O<? THE “UBLISHF.RS
Advertising Rates Cheerfully Furnished on Request
20 Years Ago
Mathis Scout Troop 38 spent
Saturday at Camp Karankawa
with the main event of the day
being the passing of tenderfoot,
second class and first class re-
quirements.
Jerry M. Tobin, USN, son of
Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Tobin of
Mathis, is participating in sub-
artic war games in Alaskan
waters aboard the Aircraft Car-
rier USS Boxer.
Tre Rotary Club observed
Ladies night Tuesday with a
chicken supper and an old time
spelling match.
The inter-denominational call
to prayer will be observed Fri-
day at the First Methodist
Church.
The Study Club met Wednes-
day afternoon at the home of
Mrs. H. W. Tobin with 16 mem-
bers present.
Miss Alice Ramsower visited
Austin this week with her sister,
Miss Grace Ramsower, at the
University of Texas.
Mr and Mrs. Paul Chambers
are building a new house in the
Harlton Addition. They hope to
be able, to move in in early
April.
The San Paticio County Fed-
eration of Women’s Club will
hold its mid-year meeting at
the First Methodist Church in
Ingleside on Friday.
Sketching
Bv
J, I, N.
Periodically, the TV newscas-
ters tell us with the solemity of
a judge delivering a stiff sen-
tence, that the cost of living con-
tinues to rise. They mete out the
dreadful facts in small doses at
first by quoting the figure as
being something like one fourth
of one per cent. Unless my arith-
metic has been shot out from
under me somewhere long the
line, that percentage is not very
big, if, of course, it does not have
to do with the bubonic plague,
brucolosis or near-sightedness.
Then just about the time that
we are resigned to, and recon-
ciled with, one fourth, they de-
liver the “coup de grace,” by
reminding us that the cost of
living has been steadly and un-
eringly rising for the past 25
years, until now is somewhere
around double what it was when
it started this upyard climb.
Even before I heard the facts
quoted on radio and TV, I was
acutely aware that my house-
hold was using more money for
something, but like everything
else that goes wrong around the
place, I was ready to assume the
blame, and bear the consequen-
ces.
Before the girls grew up, got
married and left home, I did
most of the shopping from a list
that Kathryn gave me just be-
fore I left for this store. Some-
times I did think to look at the
list, but after reading it over
once, I always felt that I could
remember a dozen or so items
without much effort, and didn’t
bother the reference again, as
the wife usually explained each
item in detail as to brand, price,
which store, etc.
As a result of my neglect to-
ward the written grocery list, an
and even if I did refer to it, I
always got home with much
more than sent for. I always
blamed the groceryman for this,
because he had so much variety
so attractively displayed that I
couldn’t seem to resist picking
up a few things that Kathryn did
not specify. Even the garlic was
neatly packaged in two-to-the
box form, and I would always
think, “Now my wife surely
does make good chili, and she
always uses garlic in the receipt,
and who knows she may decide
to brew up a batch this week,
and I certaily wouldn’t want
such an important event to be-
come stalled just because we did
not have garlic.” I kept this up,
until one day she asked me if I
knew a wholesaler who would
take our surplus garlic off our
hands.
Just a few years ago, when I
was a boy, merchandising was
done in a rather different fashion
We carried our grocery list, read
it to the grocerman, who wrote
it on his sales pad, and then went
behind the counter, and gathered
the requested items up for us.
Sugar, unless bought in 100 lb.
bags was neatly sacked in a
brown bag. Pre-packaged beans,
potatoes, apples and the like
were unheard of, so they were
weighed and sacked before the
customer’s very eyes, and ev-
eveyrthing was behind a counter.
You might think that was a
clumsy way to do business, but
then shop lifting was not the
billion dollar a year business
that it is now..
Of course, living in town, we
got in the habit of buying bread,
milk and the like as we needed
it, and were never more than
a few blocks, if not closer to a
store where such could be had in
a few minutes. Yet, even a fast
mission for a loaf of bread prov-
ed both expensive and time con-
suming for me, as I always got
a little something more than the
bread, usually for the kids, and
more often than not, if my time
could be counted worth anything,
the trip was expensive. The kids
used to wonder what took me
so long to go for a quart of milk,
until the wife explained to them
that I had probably met some
one I knew, and who had time
to stop long enought to listen to
one of my favorite stories.
Well, it is expensive, living in
these modern times, what with
steak going at over a dollar a
pound as compared to 25 cents
for the same cut per pound a
few years ago. The difference
being, we didn’t have the 25
cents then.
I wouldn’t want to go back to
the days of bread and beans but
maybe half way back, at least
to the time when we weren’t
tempted with such mouth-water-
ing displays, in easy reach.
Local
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dehnisch
are in Houston with their daugh-
ter Mrs. Sharon Watson, of Bry-
an who underwent eye surgery
Monday night. She is reported Io
be doing fine at the present time.
Ted Moore spent several days
on the Bailey Ranch, out of Ca-
toula visiting L. L. Graham and
Family.
OICEH
89c
lb. 69c
18 oz. 35c i
No. 1 tall can 73c
37c
Skinners — Wide or mediumVan Camps, grated
25c
35c
35c
lb. 10c2 lb. 15c
15c
33c
49c
2 lb. $1.33
lb. 59c
... lb. 65c
lb. 69c
lb. 33c
33c
8 lb. bag 49c
PET MILK
TALL CANS
3 for 53c
Heavy Beef
Shoulder Round Roast
Armour USDA Grade A
Fryers
WHITE OR
YELLOW
HOMINY
300 can
Hershey’s Y2 lb. can
Cocoa
SNOWDRIFT
3 Lb. Can
ZESTEE, Qfs,
SALAD
DRESSING
or
SANDWICH
SPREAD
39c
Sugar 5 lbs
WITH GROC. ORDER
48 oz. Bottle
Crisco Oil
TEXAS
tomato
PUREE
43/4 oz. can
3-19c
FINEST MEATS IN TOWN
Hormel Bacon ........................lb. 69c
HormeJ—thick sliced
Bacon ...
Hormel
Franks
Heavy Beef
Seven Steak
Big, Firm
Bananas
Fresh
Yellow Onions
Cello, Crisp
Celery
Mg Russett
Potatoes
5 Lb. Cello
Oranges
WISCONSIN
Cheese
Red .Plum or
Grape Jam
Chum
Salmon
Cain’s Limit 1 Lb.
Coffee 59c
WITH $5 OR OVER PURCHASE
Cello Bag
Pinto Beans 4 lb. 49c
Lightcrust
Flour 25 lb. $1.89
WITH $5.00 OR OVER PURCHASEStarcrust
Biscuits 2 tubes 17c
FRESH
YELLOW ONIONS
I Noodles 5 oz. 15c *
Del Monte, 303 can 2 cans
Green Beans 53c (
Campbell’s No. 1 can
Tomato Soup 27c
Chef Boy-R-Dee, IS’/aoz.
Cheese Ravioli 35c
g Libby Sliced—1 V2 can
I Pineapple
g Hunt’s—20 oz. bottle
▼ Catsup,
(Del Monte—46 oz. canTomato Juice
3 oz. Box, Any Flavor
Jello 2 for 23c
I Libby Brown—14 oz. can
Baked Beans 17c
Pure Lard
. Hormel 41b. ctn 65c
I Hunt’s 2’/2 can
Fruit Cocktail 39c
t Scriptone—500 sheets
: Paper 89c tx.
■ Del Monte 15 oz. boxI Raisins
g Fab regular sizeI Detergent 29c tx
■ Mazola 1/4 lb. sticksI Margarine lb. 39t
▼ . Frank’s ground—-1 1/4 oz. can
Cinnamon
Del Monte 2 V2 can
Peaches halves or sliced 29c
0 0
00^*
REALLY LEAN
PORK CHOPS
lb. 69£
FRESH, HOME-COOKED
READY TO EAT - HOT
PIT BAR-B-Q
FRIDAY And SATURDAYBig Low Food Market To Limit Quantities
Specials For Feb. 27, 28 and March 1 only
London7s
Mathis Phone KI 7-2453
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McBride, H. H. The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 27, 1969, newspaper, February 27, 1969; Mathis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1206000/m1/2/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Mathis Public Library.