The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-18
DAILY PRESS.
AND.
Saturday Morning, January 10, 1853
DestrnciiOn OF Trout in Moose lead
H.uke
PORTLAND.

Mr.. Chenery whose good taste and love of
wild and beautiful scenery induced him to
pitch his tent several years ago on the shore
of Moosehead Lake, says that a lot OF villain
Gus pot hunters have taken this winter from
the waters OF this lake .ftty tons OF trout tor
the metropolitan markets. Such statement
would be received IN other civilized countries
with incredu!ity. And Mr.. Chenery asks,
What other civilized people would tolerate
such reckless, wasteiul rascaity? The Della
ware and all other rivers up to Canada line
once swarmed with salmon; where are they
now? The waste lands OF Long Island and
New Jersey were once abundant with pinnated
grouse, and they, too, have succilmbed to the
rapacious rascality OF the pot hunter. And
such, in the end, must be the fate OF all our
fish and game, unless our people are taught
that their protection by law is not ineonssl-
ent with republican liberty
Mr.. Chenery talks like a sensible, earnest
man. He spends portion of his time about
the shores OF this noble sheet OF water, and
witnesses this wanton destruction of trout
a destruction powerful enough to make old
lzaak Walton turn over in his grave, il such a
demonstration were possible. Carloads OF
these beautiful trout are killed every autumn
and at the time, too, when they are about
spawning and are not half so good Tor the ia
BILE as at other seasons of the year. Trout
that have been swimming about in the water
during the summer months-and especially
when they are taken from their spawning
Deds-are not luxury Tor the table. At such
seasons it is better to let them alone and per
NIT them to propagate their own species.
The streams and lakes of Maine we've once
filled with trout. We can well remember
when these beautiful fish sported in many OF
the rivers, brooks and ponds within a short
ride OF our city. And where are they now ?
The angler may make a days journey and
then he will find hardly enough to furnish a
single meal.
We have often wondered why our farmers
do not make flshponds and raise their own
trout as well as their pigs and calves and
lambs and chickens. 1t is just as easy to do
it on many farms and much less expensive
True, all farms are not favorably situated ioI
such work, but then hundreds and thou
sands are thus situated. There is no State
in the Union where so many such privileges
are to be found as in our State. In riding
over the country how many excellent chances
we have seen for making trout ponds but q
few rods from the doors of the farm houses
And how often We have wished we could oc
cupy one of these privileges. There are thou
sands of localities which our farmers might
tmn to profitable and pleasing account in
this direction. And we felt safe in assuring
them il they would improve them for such
purposes they would never regret it, and
would wonder why they had not done such
work before.
Although il may be true that all farmers
are not anglers and care but little for wild
sports, yet we believe there are but few who
would turn up their noses at dish Of well
fried trout. Such dishes our Maine farmers
can have set before them it they will only
prepare for it. In many localities the ex-
penss would be small and The labor light. II
would be very pleasant exercise for "a farmer
10 take his hook and line in the early morn
ing and catch few trout for his breakfast
And we feel quite sure his wife would
m1st cheeriully cook them for the sake OF
having some to- eat herself and il he were
so disposed, he might bring some Of them 10
market along with his chickens and other ar
ticles. He would find ready sale and good
price. ..-4l-J