The Portland daily press., 1880-03-04
Cumberland Game and Fish Protective

Cumberland Game and Fish Protective
Association.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Permit me to occupy por-
ton OF your valuable space in favor of the
above named association.
In the first place the need that such an asso-
citation should exist and be of value is appar-
ent, for, of all the states in the east, Maine
affords the finest fishing and shooting. With
in her spacious domains are thousands of acres
still unknown to any one except the surveyor
and lumberman, yet this is not to last forever
Every year witnesses new and wider encroach-
ments upon the wilderness of forest and lakes
Every year opens up the industries of the state
and not many years hence Maine will find her
scattered plantations and now unoccupied
townships wheeling into position, demanding
the privilege and consideration to which their
industry and resources will entitle them.
With all this will come the influx of nu-
merous population and those haunts of game
and fish that have, and do now, afford secure
breeding places, will be broken up and mi
grafton further south or west will ensue. Our
sportsmen well know that game and fish have
OF late years been seriously interrupted in their
breeding and spawning in this county, perhaps
no more now than formerly, but we notice it
more now.
What finer sport or more healthful than to
throw the fly on some quiet pond and after
the rise, how the clicking reel thrills us as we
feel the lengthening line GO out, and how our
hearts glow with triumph as we slowly wind
our prize home; or to wander among the
meadows in merrie June and see the length
ening string of trout as the reward of our
labors What is more exciting and strength
giving than with ready gun to beat up and
down prolific cover, or through the perfumed
woods for the timorous game?
Within the few years past the decrease in
game has been only too noticeable. Nor is it
due to bad seasons or to a lack of legislation,
but it is owing to laxity of principle. Men
who would be ashamed to do a dishonorable
act, especially men who live in the country,
will, whenever the opportunity occurs, kill
game in breeding season and night after night
with torch and spear butcher the spawn and
fish without mercy, forgetful of Justice to their
prey or to themselves and when we consider
the natural obstacles which impede the in
crease of fish and game, we find but small
percentage escape peril to attain to ample
growth, and then let this percentage be de-
pleted by the prohibited gun and spear and we
are not surprised at the scarcity of our game
and fish; also the natural intelligence of the
bird warns it to beware of the place of its for
mer disturbance in breeding, and in county
SO populous as this the game have as single
ACoOAp OuV W SOo AuA oiiCI away lIOill buc
of men. The men who already compose the
Cumberland association are among the leading
men in their professions in the city and look at
this matter in the true light and desire to pro-
tect the game and f, fish during the time they
brought to Justice; and hope all true sports
men throughout the county will join with
them in this enterprise, which should be
grand success because in this county a large
number of our leading men are adept in these
sports and should aid with sympathy and in
huence.
This association is not shooting club, but it
is just what its name implies, and if in years
to come it can show the growth that kindred
associations have shown in neighboring states
then the mission of its founders will have been
attained; for while in our infancy and youth
when in more senses than one we were help
less and needed protection and nourishment,
SO in the case of game and fish while weak of
wing and tinyiof substance, let us see that they
have the protection they need so that when
the gunner and fisher ply their sport there may
be some semblance of fair play. Let US give
the bird the benefit of the doubt.
H. M. SYLVESTER