The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-07
THE FARM AND HOUSEH OLD.
The Preservation Of Game.

The Preservation Of Game.
Ifa lost or wandering traveller has ever
happened 10 enter the cabin of one of our
frontier settlers, with high raised anticipa-
tions of being regaled upon Robin Hood fare;
some savory morsel of venison or wild fowl
they have all at once vanished, when he has
seen set before him dish of beans and pork,
or some hard tack, or very likely the every
where-present cans of tin, with contents of
doubtful or unknown origin the sturdy Dor
derer meanwhile pointing to his unused and
rusty firelock, and denouncing the law
makers or law-breakers, for the unnatural
scarcity of game. So also, the explorer who
penetrates the depths of the forest; the
pleasure-seeker who searches for a new and
untrodden spot; the hunter who scales the
almost inaccessible slopes and SUBMITS of
crags and mountains; all tell the same story
of their wanderings, that they have hardly
seen anything worth charge of powder and
shot. Fortunately for the race of Leather
Stockings, they all passed off the stage in
serene and well-ripened old age, before the
coming Of the evil day; else they might in
despair have fastened their exit out of such
land and time.
No doubt this state of things is better than
to be compelled to wage daily war with
wolves and bears, or hawks and eagles, when
the farmer finds that all the crops he can call
his own and expect to safely house, are only
those which the tenants of the forest see fit
to spare him. Nevertheless, We believe that
when man has achieved the mastery over the
wildness and rudeness of nature, and her I'M
disciplined children, then he may safely re-
lax his hand, and yield somewhat to her new
dominion when it is shaped in accordance
with the laws of civilization, and in the in
terests of humanity. Thus, in the early set
t.ement of country, progress is made by
cutting down the forests, and by destroying
Wild animals; and then by and by, in an i'm
proved state of affairs, an advanced step is
again taken by planting forests on unoccu-
pied land, and by protecting game that may
lind shelter therein-so that, paradoxical as
1t may seem, civilization sometimes advances
by reverting to original types-by grating in
the wild stock.
So long as the strength and wealth of a
state depends largely, if not entirely, upon its
population-and that can only be increased
by an abundance of cheap and wholesome
f)od-it is the duty of good government
not only to remove all hindranees to its
supply. but also to make all practicable pro-
vision for apositive increase. Something has
already been accomplished in stocking our
interior waters with the old and new Yarie-
ties of fish; but the work thus far is merely
Introductory. More money ought to be ex-
pended and larger returns may be expected
and required. 1t is to be regretted that any
disposition is manifested to withdraw aid
from such promising undertaking-to back
down from manly beginning.
The larger part of land and water now un-
occupied is capable of producing something
suitable for the food of man. The land that
can be cultivated does it directly; if rough
and poor, it may feed some domestic animals,
and thus supply food; and when almost mac
cessible and worthless, if once clad with
forests growth, they afford shelter for wild
game. The argument for the preservation of
our forests mainly for the sake of wood and
timber may be strengthened by these addi-
tional considerations in the interest of farm
ers; that thus the tendency to drought is
diminished; that shelter is given to fruit
bearing trees; that they furnish covers and
preserves for such animals as will feed man,
and destroy many of the insect tribes that
lay waste our cultivated fields.
As our readers are aware, legislation for
the protection and preservation of game in
this country has only proceeded step by step,
and with slow progress; while in England
for. many ysars stringent game laws have
been in force. 1t is disgraceful to our modern
civilization that we allow our valuable game
10 be thinned out and some varieties entirely
destroyed, in order that few worthless
fellows may have some sport. Let the havoc
Of the few last years continue much longer
and the buffalo Oh the western prairies and
tie moose 10 Canada and Maine will cease
to have "local habitation and a name"
We have not referred to the English game
laws as wholly worthy of imitation as under
them favored class have been permitted "to
drive the deer with hound and horn" re-
CARELESS of others rights-nor would we de-
sire similar temptation and desolation ever
TO return, as when,
''The stout Earl of Northumberland
A VOW to God did make,
His pleasure in the Scottish woods
Three summers days to take,''
but our political economists and social scen-
fists cannot fail to derive instructive and
suggestive lessons from study of English
game codes and statistics.
In the list of game animals in Great Brit
ain rabbits take the lead; as they are con-
sumed largely by the working classes. As
their skins are used at home, and also ex-
tensiyely exported, the furriers report an an
nual sale to them of 30,0O0,000. The full
rabbit crop exceeds this amount; as the
skins from animals killed out of season are
OF no value, and therefore not sold. From
this basis, however, it is estimated that the
meat produced is 10000 tons. and that it
is worth $10,00O,0OO. The fur value is 49,
100000, making the total $13,75O,O0O. As
the game dealers sell about one hare for every
five rabbits, this list would represent valu.
alton of $2,5OO,oOO, Adding to the above,
the probable value of grouse, pheasants, par
tridges and other winged game and without
doubt it would exceed $15,OOO,OOO annually.
From careful evidence presented to the Sc
lect Committee of the House of Commons,
it was considered that the game product o.
the British Isles for food alone amounted an.
nually to $3O,OO0,OOO. Various witnesses
stated that the shooting rents average %
cents to the acre through the whole kingdom.
The deer shooting of u forests in Scotland
yield not far from one million of dollars year.
ly in rentals. The game laws add all this
wealth to the nation; without the laws there
would be no game and no income from it.
This product Of the forest is also side by side
with the richest and most productive lands
of the world, and without much damage to
them-probably less than results FROM ex-
pneeiya inraot dnnredationc