The Portland daily press., 1885-03-09
SEALS IN CAsCO BAY.
The Dsbn.o in the senate ON the Seal Bill.

The DebnIe in the senate ON the Seal BILL.
On Thursday morning, March g. the seal bill was
called up by Senator Bearce from Oxford. 1t will
be remembered that in the preceding week the
House had refused to pass the compromise bill
agreed on by the petitioners and the remonstrants,
and offered by Representative Hale Of Portland,
which left the seals protected in the western part
of Casco Bay and voted for full repeal of the act
of 1877.
Hon. Charles W. Smith, Senator from York,
moved to non-concur with the House, and also
moved to substitute for the House bill the COM
promise bill agreed on by the parties.
Senator Smith said Mr.. President,-The seal Is
Arctic animal originating in the Polar regions,
where he attains great size, sometimes 20 feet
in length and is Of great value both for his fur and
oil. He diminishes in size, value and numbers as
the latitude decreases, and is rarely seen on this
coast beyond the Saco entrance.
Southwest Of the Kennebec seals are valueless
and comparatively few. OF course, their food is
fish, but the quantity of fish consumed by seals in
Casco Bay is inappreciable. The idea of seals
frightening away fish is preposterous. Every Sen
ator knows that the early explorers of our coast
found our bays swarming with all kinds of fish and
great abundance of seals on the eastern shores Of
the State. For nearly half a century the fish have
land coast. do not understand that either fisher
men scientific scholars agreed about the
cause of this change. Many have attributed it to
the use Of seines and porgy steamers. have never
heard the decline Of the New England shore fishery
charged to seals, which are as have sad scarcely
to be seen on half the New England coast.
The seal is warm blooded and is obliged to come
to the surface to breathe every few minutes and it
equens ledges near the shore TO sun itself and TO
sucke its young 1t is very intelligent, playful and
afectionate; is easily tanned. but very timid and
easily frightened off. Its presence the ad-
joining Portland adds greatly to its attractiveness
IN the neighborhood of summer resorts.
Mos men OF refined sensibility. familiar with its
habits, would no more think Of shooting seal then
baby. 1t takes a good shot to kill seal in his
proper element, but any fool can butcher them on
lodges, especially when sucking their young.
On the west coast Of Casco Bay, near Portland,
are summer residences and hotels, which add large
ly to the beauty and value of all that coast and in
1877 an act was passed for the protection of seal in
that locality.
Those cultivated and inhabited shores had be-
come dangerous from the discharge of firearms Of
on Sundays, holidays, and almost every summer
afternoon, frequented these waters in floats and
skitis. For eight years no complaint was heard,
but this winter few petitions have come In from
fishermen in Casco Bay. asking for a repeal
But, on sober second thought, they, OF their own
accord offered to withdraw their petition so far as
the extreme western end of the bay concerned,
and suggested a compromise, exempting about six
miles OF tine coast east of Portl and embracing the
town Of Falmouth and part of Cumberland. This
compromise was accepted by the remonstrants, but
for some unaccountaOie reason, The House refused
matter in their own way, and have passed full re-
peal of the act of 1877 against the wishes Of all par
lies concerned. Such an interference with a local
matter has not been attempted by this legislature in
any other case. do not see why we should do 1t in
this instance.
Senators, is it worth while Just as we are abont to
separate to insist on the extermi alton OF the small
family of seals which still fingers In the western end
OF Casco Bay at the extreme southwestern limit
where seals can exist agant the protest OF the resi-
deuts aud occupants of those shores and against the
desire of all parties interested? Shall go out OF
faFrxu aN6rr7 oEnu Nnv vhf
mand OF gentlemen who live at a distance and whose
interests cannot possibly be promoted by inter
ference with the rights Of others?
Hon. Thaddeus Simonton, Senator from Knox
said:
Mr.. President-I have a few words to sya in oppo-
stion to the attempted repeal of the law protecting
seals in Casco Bay. 1t is q movement in the wrong
direction and ought to fail What is the history Of
the law no in force protecting seals from wanton
obstruction in that bay?
The tendency in Portland until within few years
was to build seaside residences ano summer hotels
on the Cape to the southwest of that city towards
the open But of late several gentlemen have
begun to build and improve on the inclosed bay in
Falmouth and umberland towards the northeast.
his fact ia evidence of that movement which ere
long will make our entire rock bound coast. former
y SO worthless and desolate, the most Valuab part
of our territory unless it be the shores Of charm
ing inland lakes This disposition is not to be dis
couraged but fostered and promoted. These gentle
men of taste and public spirit are not public
mics, but public benefactors; as much so as those
who help to build up any of our other great indus
tries.
One of the attractions to those building cottages
along these shores and to those coming among un
from the heat OF the cities and the interior and
more Southern cimes, is the presence of the seal.
AmphibiOus in their nature they frequent the
ledges of our shores and swim in companies from
one ledge to another summing themselves occasional
ly in sight of many spectators. The seals in Casco
Bay have no commercial value; the fur bearing seal
is found further North and East. Few are seen
West of the mouth of the Kennebec and none
further South than the Saco. They do not frighten
or injure appreciably our fish, The early voysgers
speak OF our Eastern waters full of fish and seal.
The same Is true OF Alaska, Labrador and New
foundland, the seal abounds there and the waters
are alive with fish They subsst on fish, it is true,
but the number consumed is infnitesimal. One Of
the most successful practical fishermen of the
State Mr.. Herrick of Swans Island. member Of
the present House, said to me The other day: son
any bay where the consumption of fish by seals Is
appreciable it would be waste of time to attempt
prosecute hshing."
This effort to put upon the poor seal the decay OF
our coast fisheries is new idea, heard of be-
fore this Legislature. Year after year the shore
fishermen besieged our Legislature for protection
from the senes and porgy steamers as the guilty
portes and the generous and grRtuitous services oe
one OF the leading remonstrants to this repeal
secured the passage OF an act in 1880, now found
| on our Revised Statutes chapter 40, section II.
which has driven seines and porgy steamers out OF
our baYs, from kittery Point to Quoddy Head.
When Judge Goddard was securing that legislation
did any fisherman name the seals of Casco Bay as
the enemies of the fishermen? Nothing Of the
Kind The practical fishermen of coast have no
such complaint to make. To learn what are thu
sentiments OF our coast fishermen, many of whom
with several. Mr.. Herrick of Swans Island Mr..
Rodick of Bar Harbor, Mr.. Lewis Of North Haven
representing in the present House Of Representa-
Ves tine of the important fishing districts Of tho
state all tell me they never heard of the destruc-
i've character of seals or any complaint against
them until they came 10 this Legislature.
My own home is by the seaside and can corrobo-
rate their testimony. These complaints are new to
me also and have had to journey 43 miles into the
interior to hear the seal called "sea-wolf des-
i tructive TO our shore fisheries. At Camden, now
1 fast becoming one of the most desirable watering
places on our coast, with its union OF sea and lake
scenery visitors view with delighs those inter-
esting creatures half animal and half fish as thew
swim in schools or bask lodges. They are nok
ferocious but sportVe Intelligent afectionate and
/ very doce.
| A few years ago some of our fisherman cansbt q.
1 young seal, and he became the pet of the haThor
i They have an eye as mild, fascinating and heantf
full that of Greeian maiden ana onr tovvnsr,oa.,
would soon think Of shooting lamb snortin- T..
the spring time on the great bouldeIs az tba 6nI
sides as TO Kill seal on one of our ledpes Tha ne
ttiOners aud remonstants all belong on Casco ~
and having agreed on House bill no which issSsss
the seals a protection for about sly miles ~ AZ
coast near Portland. hope that the fnoSon 81 IN.
| Senator from York to substitute that comnromiss
| bill for number 06 will prevail '--'-'S
Ihat is evidently what the people in that locality
DESIRE ami as seas do not migrate from one nav ~
another, like rumselers, am incined 20 favor
local option" in this case. W "''-
TOWN ELECTIONS.