Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-08
Game and Fish Association.

The Vermont Association for the Protection OF
Game and Fish held its annual meeting in the
General Committee room Wednesday afternoon.
The attendance was unusually large, demonstra-
ting the fact that public interest in these matters
is being very generally aroused
The usual routine business was transacted, and
a code Of bylaws was reported and adopted.
Senator Edmunds made some capital remarks
upon the beneficial results Of protection to black
bass in Lake Champlain, endorsing the theory Of
protection to the fullest extent.
Colonel Colburn, Of Manchester, recommended
that the association shohd take measures to fur
nish yonng fish to rcplenish our present depleted
streams Hethought thatat a very small expense
the number of trout can be vastly increased. lie
thought that the laws against entrapping part
ridges should be more rigidly enforced.
Dr. Goldsmith mentioned several instances Of
the restoration Of trout to depopuated streams by
private parties, at small expense. lie sincerely
hoped that all members Of the association would
fully observe the present game laws Of the state
and report to the proper prosecuting officers any
one who violated them.
1t was voted to hold the next meeting Of the
association at Rutland, on the first Tuesday Of
November, 1877.
The following board Of officers were elected for
the ensuing year: President, Middleton Goldsmith
Of Rutland; Viee-Presidents, George ,. Ed
munds Of burlington, John W. Newton Of st.
Alhans, 5. T. Gale Of Addison and W. II. Lord Of
Montpelier; Recording Secretary, II 4. Harmon
Of Bennington; Corresponding Secretary, NJ. C..
Edmunds Of Weston; Treasurer, b. B. Smalley OF
burlington, Directors, W. Y. W. Ripley Of Rut-
land, NJ ;. Colbun OF Manchester, lie Grand b.
Cannon Of Burlington, I, 5. Suanahan Of 81.
Adams, NJ. D. Gilman Of Montpelier, 4. D. tiedden
Of Orwell and Henry Fairbanks Of St. Johnsbury.
The following are brief abstracts Of the earnest
and convincing addresses Of Hon L, j. Phelps
and DIR. Goldsmith, delivered in the Hall Of the
House of Representatives, Wednesday evening
We trust they viii be carefully perused by ON
readers:
Mr. Phelps alluded to the healthful and invigor
atng influence of field sports both to the body and
the mind lie said that for men who led seden
tary lives, such exercise was positively necessary
and that he himself had passed the happiest day,
of his life in the woods face to face with Nature
in her primitive wildness. lie said that there
were many tracts Of land in Vermont now unpro
ductve and lying idle, which are admirably
adapted for the growth OF game and whicl
might be rented at good profit for shooting and
fishing There were members Of the Association
for preserving fish and game, who stood ready Il
lease lands for that purpose One great hell
towards the increase of game, was more stringen
laws. lie thought that partrdges should not b.
shot till October, and that deer especially SHOULD
| he protected.
lie denounced the vagabonds who now slaught
cred the deer, in and out OF season, and said tina
iithey could be suppressed, and deer imported, on
forests and mountains might, in few years, b.
full of the spotted herds
MIR Phelps address was replete with the grace
iul periods so peculiarly his own, and viii
which he adons the discussion of every subjec
he touches
DR. Goldsmith began by saying that II anybod
were to ask how much the game and fish of Vel
mont were worth, most people would answe
nothing, and to-day there was no doubt that tn
time spent in procuring pound of fish or game
was, so far as food was concerned, much les
profitable than raising potatoes Yetthe time wa
when our fathers depended for flesh food entrel
upon the forests and streams, and they managed
with the pelts taken, TO add much to the comfol
Of their little households but to-day fish an
rama have boeome an scarce that the snort INA
$50 -. -.
hshlhg anu huhung pio"sh' was pretty poe
sport. lie then went on TO discuss the questio
Of property in fish and game, and he thought the
- -. 81 a. ~ ,,,,,a,-,.,,.
"'o"oS '"i"e was 90 100 90 '"e "'V"'s '"'uo
cows and sheep and as much To be looked aite
Turning to Scotland and England he gave stat
tics showing what an immense revenue was pr
duced every year from the rent oil game aud III