Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-10

| see no reason why people should not
have chance to capture these large fish,
unless Mr.. Bracket, in his extreme svmpa-
thy wishes them to die of old age. His re-
marks about farmers burning their seed corn
and wheat, feeding their last potato to their
pigs, &C., are far fetched, that they are
simply ludcrous. Mr.. Bracket declares
that Mr.. Skillings' letter was full of errors
and misstatements; say that every word of
it is true. So much for difference of opinion.
Mr.. Bracket asks in sneering way if it is
from such men as Mr.. Skillings, that hotel
keepers, steamboat men, stage drivers and
guides, (whom he charges Mr.. Skillings with
defendng) depend on for their patronage?
am happy to answer this question for him,
with an emphatic yes.. Each year Mr.. Skill
lings visits the lake region with party of
friends and leaves a large amount of money
behind him. Last year to my certain knowl-
edge he visited the lakes three times, and
had friends with him each time, land they all
spent their money freely. And | will go
farther and say, that have not the slightest
doubt that in the last ten years Mr.. Skillings
and his friends have spent three times as
much money in the lake region as ever Mr..
Bracket did.
Quoting from Mr. Brackets letter again,
he says: II learn that the only persons
who are advocating change of close time
from its present date, to the first of October,
are parties who are actuated by purely selfish
motives" On behalf of numerous sports
men, both of Maine and other States, who
only want Legitimate sport, and who have
asked'me to defend their rights in this matter,
deny the charge. Ii is false and mistaken
one, although will do Mr.. Bracket the jus.
tice to say, that have no doubt but what he
thought he was speaking the truth But
l do not think he has had so good chance
as have had I'd get at the general opinion of
the Maine people upon this subject. Even
the fish commissioners in their last report,
recommend that the close season shall not
commence until Oct. LIST. hope, sincerely
that the members of the present legislature
will consider the Importance of this question
to the business interests of the State, and put
off the commencement of the close season
until October LIST or 18th, the latter date
would be better. From careful estimates
made last fall after the fishing season was
over, found that the change of the close sea-
son kept at least fifty thousand dollars out of
the State, that would otherwise been left in
it.
Near the close Of his article Mr.. Bracket
says, "We are willing to help you in protect
ing your fish," and just here is where the
laugh comes in. For the last five years Bos-
ton and New York parties have been altogeth-
er too niiiing to help in this direction, and a
certain clique in each city have done their
best to have the fish laws of Maine made to
suit them. They are all wealthy men, and
can go to the lakes whenever it suits
their convenience, and they intend to try
in the future as they have in the past, to mo-
nopolizc the Maine trout fishing to the utter
exclusion of other sportsmen, many of whom
can only leave their business in the fall. But
these gentlemen will find in the long run that
they have an uphill job on their hands.
In closing, would like to correct few
wrong impressions that some people have in
regard to the Rangeley Lakes and similar wa
tiers in Maine. While the trout fishing is one
of the principle attractions in bringing peo-
pie to these places, it is not the only one
The beautiful scenery, the pure, invigorating
air, change of food and manner of living, all
combine with the fishing, in making the
Rangeley Lake and Moosehead regions, a
paradise for tourists and sportsmen. The
very fact that in the last five years, the
character of the travel to these places has
undergone rapid change, proves my asser-
ton. Fifty per cent. of the travel in the last
two years, has been tourist travel; people
who come simply for pleasure and to see the
country, who do not bring any tackle with
them ana VINO care nothing about fishing
whatever Where one lady visited these
places five years ago, ten come now.
Secondly, of all the fishermen with whom
I am acquainted who visit the lakes in the
fall, and by the way know a great many,
none of them make practice of indulging
in wholesale destruction of trout that may
happen to be on the spawning beds.
Thirdly, there are ten times as many fish
destroyed in the spring as there are in the
fall.
Fourthly, with the close season holding on
until May or June, there is no danger of the
lakes of Maine being depopulated by fair
fishing, especially when you take into con-
sideraton the number of trout being artf-
cially Matched that are turned into these wa
tiers each year. The commissioners also should
have more funds to work with, and | hope
this Legislature will double their appropria-
ton. But my letter has already largely ex-
Gee led the length l intended it, and | will
close by saying, that hope you will give this
an insertion, and let the public get an idea OF
the other side of this question.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES A. J. FARRAR.