The Portland daily press., 1882-05-20
The Enforcement of the Game
Laws.

LIZ 11A1lOA SO11AOAU Va VA4'0 ~ cSAAAO
Laws.
1t is well, no doubt, to occasionally direct
public attention to certain laws, to prevent
them from becomming obsolete and inopera-
tive through neglect. Our game laws belong
to this class, and their value is a matter of
Importance as the season approaches when
their force is to be determined by actual ex
perience. Mr.. Lucius L. Hubbard of Cam
bridge, Mass, has brought the subject up by
letter in recent number of Forest. and
Stream, in which he pleads for better en-
forcement of the game laws of Maine in the
interest of the many against the selfishness
of the few. He meets the argument that our
forests lakes, streams and hunting grounds
are a source of great income to the people,
which can be increased by a modification of
the present restrictions-by carefully pre-
pared statistics, proving that under our pre-
sent laws, the income from the pursuit of
game can be largely increased and the fear
of determination removed until the forests
of Maine shall have become farms and game
driven away for want of shelter. Mr.. Hub
bard's statistics are based on the actual ex-
periences of a body of thirteen hunters, Gov
ering period of five summer seasons spent
in the moose regions Of Northern Maine, and
are reduced to the following proposition:
Let us now see how much two enterprising
hunters get from a months work in the early
spring on the moose grounds. -Four instances
have been known in recent years where par
ties of two hunters each have thus taken, out
of season, an average of 20 moose per party.
Suppose the carcases of 20 moose weigh 1900
pounds dressed, and that half of this meat,-a
large PORTIONS sold at logging camps and else
where at cents per pound. The profit would
be $780, The hides, if saved and brought to
MARKET would bring $40 each, or $500 more
$500 in ALL Deducting $50 for expenses, we
have $3.50 as the net profit to each man. Ac-
cording to our table, 20 moose, if killed by tour
lists in one season, would bring into the State
over $1,000, and distribute among 286 guides
1900, or $50 per man!
Mr.. Hubbard, following out the law of pro-
duction and natural decrease, demonstrates
that if the 20 animals referred to we're pro-
tected in the close season for five years, their
capture would bring into Maine over SOC, 900,
distribute among the guides $35, 900 of that
sum and still leave nucleus of 20 moose to
keep the supply good for generations to
come; in short, the two hunters destroy in
one month, at profit of $500 to themselves,
aself-perpetuating source of income, which,
if protected, would yield to them and their
brother-guides $1,000, and to other citizens of
their State 81 900 yearly, for an indefinite
time.
Now if it was possible to carry Mr.. Hut
a,,& f,Y,. Il
number of sportsmen who visit Maine out
of season for the indiscriminate slaughter of
smaller game and the destruction of birds
and fishes, his position would be impregna-
BILE and his facts convince every reader of
the necessity of more careful enforcement
of our game laws. 1t is not the true sports
man nor the economic professional that is to
be feared, but large class of tourists who
seek only present enjoyment in the midst of
seeming plenty and ignorantly or wilfully
violate law and disregard individual rights.
The State of Maine is becoming yearly
more popular resort for tourists and sports
men. Thousands of dollars have been in
vested on the banks of our lakes and
streams in the purchase of lands and the
erection of buildings, which are visited by
their owners during the open season for
birds and fishes, and who pursue their sport
intelligently. The game laws of the State
were enacted to prevent indiscriminate de.
struction, to secure food and create legiti-
mate industry, and all who have pecnniary
interest in the subject should unite their
efforts to induce IA hearty co operation in the
enactment of proper game laws and make
provision for their rigid enforcement.