Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-11

DR.. Middleton Goldsmith, Of Rutland, is
one Of the Fish Commissioners OF Yer
mont. He has the most admirable quail
ties for such a position. He is a gentle
man of large culture, Of varied intelligence,
of unusual common sense, Of perfect,
practical knowledge of the subject matter
which is entrusted to his oversight, of the
bon6ommie Of Bcthune, and the gentle
enthusiasm and practiced craftsmanship Of
an Izaak Walton There is nothing re.
ating to the culture and catching Of fish and
game, that is not as familiar to him as the
a. b. C. to a successful teacher in primary
school. Such a man as Dr. Goldsmith is
worth more than mountain Of gold to the
State Of Vermont, if his fellow citizens, less
intelligent than he on the subject on which
he teaches would sit at his feet and learn
the lessons which flow from his lips.
Most of US know nothing about the
method or possibility of enriching our State
by the cultivation of its waters. To those
Of us who have been wont to look upon a
brook merely as watering trough for cat.
tie, or means Of irrigation to the land, or
fine feature in our rural scenery, or as
the delightful resort of half.dozen tiny
trout that are to be hunted by all the fish
ermen Of town, it seems almost incredible
that most Of the brooks Of our State, count.
less in number as they are, could be made
productive Of an annual revenue Of ont
hundred dollars PER mile. Yet one only
needs to read an article Of DR.. Goldsmith S
just published, on this subject, to be con-
WINGED that 10 the waters of our State there
are possible treasures, great as can be won
from all the land through which they flow.
If he is a benefactor Of his race who makes
two blades Of grass grow where one grew
before, he certainly must also stand in the
same enviabe position who can teach us
how to populate our streams with thous-
and trout, where only one poor fngering
once lived precarious and hunted life.
It would almost seem truism in politi-
cal economy that the animals, whether game
or fish, that furnish food TO us, should be
perpetuated, and therefore, should be ad-
equately protected against wanton and
wasteful slaughter. If there was no own
ership any where in cattle, or swine, or sheep,
but men might hunt and destroy them
wherever they could find them, it would
not be long before these useful and domestic
animals would be utterly extermnated.
The only principle or law which saves them
from complete destruction is the right q
individual ownership. The owner can pro-
tect them and is interested in protecting
them. We are thus able to preserve aud
increase our stock of domestic animals, and
they yield a large sum to the wealth of the
State, as well as to its comfort and civiliza.
ton
Now, what is needed, is for the State to
give the right of property in fish and game
to those on whose soil or in whose streams
they may be found. All fish and game
should belong to him on whose domain they
are found, and the owner OF brook should
have as much right to the trout in it, as he
has to the water that flows in it. And as
no man can legally come into his domain
and use his brook, so no one should have a
right to enter his territory and catch the
trout that swim in his brook, or shoot the
game that is to be found on his farm. |
any one should gain the right to do this i
should be by contract and agreement will
the owner. Thus the owner Of streau
would be as much interested in protectn
its inhabitants, as be would be in guardin
his sheep or his cattle. Legislation woul
no longer be powerless to protect fish an
game from wasteful destruction and UTE
determination. Every owner Of the SO
would be an efficient guardian of his pro
erty and of the public rights and advantag
His farm would not be worth any the lee
because the brook that flowed by his hou
would furnish him food every day in t
year, or would rent annually to a spor
man for fifty or hundred dollars per mi
He would keep it stocked with trout
easily as he could keep his sheep-fold fill
with lambs, or his larder with beef, or
granary with corn.
To the political economist the preser'
ton and increase of fish as food, the u
izing to the highest extent the running q
standing waters Of the State, is matter
pressing importance. 1t is q misera
mistake to let so large possible resources
wholly undcveloped, or be wantonly I
permanently destroyed. To the lan'
proprietor it is a question Of the grea
enhanced value of his property. To
sportsman, and this is by no means ID
thought Of, it is question of sport or
sport. Under our present system, W
legislation is absolutely poweress to prot
our fish and game, or to furnish pc
sufficiently numerous and strong to Gu
the public interests in respect to tn
there is no hope of saving one trout in all
waters. That beautiful fish, so ravish
to look at, so dainty to the taste, 50 cleo
to the anglers touch, is doomed to ann
lation; creature of the past, to be c
brated only in the memory, to live onll
our cherished regrets and commomora
songs.
The only effective system for the pre-
walton Of the trout, will be the reyiva
the old law of individual ownership on
enclosed lands. That will make his br
as valuable to the farmer as his mead
and give him the right aud power to
tect it against all trespassers or to leas
at his pleasure. There is a brook, says
Goldsmith, 10 Canada, so narrow tina
man could jump over it for most of
way, which would rent for one hume
dollars mile. Some pools or salmon sire
m m