The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-09

The Annual Report OF the Fish and
Game Commissioners.
New Suggestions Made Regarding
Penalties for Breaking the Laws.


The annual report Of the fish and gams
commissioners Of Maine, Messrs. Z. NJ. Still
well and Henry o. Stanley, Is In the hands
OF the printer. This report covers 1885 and
1886, the two years since the last session Of
the Legislature Of the State, when many In
portant changes were made In the fish and
game laws. The commissioners say;
The past two years have severely tested
the new fish and game laws then enacted.
while the increased peeuniary benefit TO the
State has evidenced the wisdom and fore
sight Of our lawmakers. Five millions of
dollars Is not too high an estimate OF the
money expended in our State by our summer
visitors In 1885. This year the tide OF travel
to our sporting centres has been far In excess
Of any past precedent, and the press has 10
one voice pronounced II double, as also its
consequent expenditures among our peOpls
and on our lines Of travel.
The primary attraction for this living tidal
wave has been and Is our fish and game and
which would never have found It's way here
nad II not been Induced By that powerful al
lurement. That the wonderful Increase IL
our product Of fish and game should have rs-
suited from the very imperfect protection the
commissioners have been able 10 extend to
IT.. from the limited and inadequate appr0pri-
alton OF the Legislature, has eycited surprise
and wonder from every State Of our Union.
Perhaps much OF our success has arisen
from the intelligence and enlightenment OF
the great mass Of our people, which leads
them to yield obedience 10 any reasonable
law, where the benefit TO them Is so
directly apparent, II the means Of know
ing and understanding II is placed within
thelr reach We are widely quoted and re-
ferred to as the only State In the Union that
has sensible code Of game laws, effectively
enforced. The commissioners have enforced
the laws 10 the full extent Of their apprOpri-
alton, and have been obliged then and there
to stay their hands. The extent Of our juris-
dictioD Is over 5000 square miles OF terrific
ry. Our duties are tO.exercise fostering cars
over all the fish and game, and 10 promote lts
protection and increase, by rigidly execu-
ting such laws as are enacted BY the LsQis-
lature; TO visit all parts Of the State, and
note the workings Of the laws; 10 INTRODUCES
new and valuable species Of fishes TO 0ur
waters; TO order fishways wherever we deem
them necessary, and to see that the wardens
do their duty In enforcing the laws. Our
appropriation by the last Legislature was
$500 per annum for the biennial term. This
sum gives small fraction over n cents per
square mile Of our territory to pay for all
our work. The boundaries Of one-half Of
the State over which we are expected 10 ex-
tend our protection and care are upon the
Dominion OF Canada and the province OF
New Brunswick. To hunt OF shoot In New
Brunswick requires a license Of $50. Her
AhAau1 anu HtI ttLlktHs anu LuU3n
Of Canada, Kill our game in close time,
crust hunt our moose, break all our laws
with impunity, and escape beyond
the reach Of our authority. This is.why we re-
qulre good and efficient guard on our boun-
daries. Within our own limits our present
appropriation Of $500, which Is the largest
eyer made for our department, Is only suffIc-
lent TO do little In each county Of the State.
Ihe open resistance to the authority OF the
state In Washington county, by an orga-
nized band Of outlaws, who eliminated their
career OF crime by coldblooded murder,
commenced two years ago Ia attempting the
lives OF wardens, In destroying stock. Ia
burning houses and barns, girdling trees, de-
stroying gardens, and seeking TO intimidate
by sending letters threatening life II the en-
forcement OF the laws was not discontinued
The dignity Of the State demanded a rigid
performance Of our duty. Two Of the crimi-
nails have been tried and convicted, and. un-
less gross corruption prevail. will be con-
signed TO the state prison al Thomaston. 10
involved 0ne-half Of our whole years re-
sources, and we have been obliged 10 with
hold our annual subscription Of $500 for our
usual supply Of salmon eggs, beside other
economies and sacrifices necessary 20 keep
within our appropriation. even at the ex-
peese OF our usefulness. Is there any one
interest IN our state that pays back directly
10 the people so large yearly return as the
department OF fisheries and game? Wouid
an appropriation OF 5000 be too large q sum
to pay out for a yearly return Of $1,000, 600?
Inc report speaks al length Of the expert
mentS used in securing salmon eggs at Seba
go lake, matter which the PREss a short
time ago treated at considerable length
In regard TO this matter the report says.
We anticipated taking but few fish from
which 20 obtain eggs, inasmueh as there are
left but few fish In the lake, but our surprise
was great when these few fish, by their large
average size OF 10 pounds to lall taken. Weld
ed las the unlocked for result Of 100000
eggs. 1t may be worthy Of note that one fe-
una Ia Eeh In
pounds. One huge male fish OF wonderful
beauty weighed 27 pounds. From the pres
ent fiattering point Of view, Appearances
would indicate that we may here look for our
future supply OF land-locked salmon eggs, Of
Increased numbers and less expenditure Our
supply Of Grand Lake stream or Schroeder
salmon eggs for 1885 was 10000; OF these
1000 were hatched at Rangeley, $4,000 al
Enfield, 1900 at Weld; and distributed az
varied points where the applications were
most imperative and the localities unques-
tionable. In the present year Of 1856 we
had return OF $4,000 as our portion from
the Grand Lake works. OF the distributing
Moosehead and planted BY MIRO A. Denner,.
1900 az Bridgton, and planted In Peabody
Pond, Se0ago waters. At Weld, $1,000 wers
hatched; 10000 were planted In Auburn
Lake. 1900 In Wilton Pond, 10000 in Horn
Pond in Lexington, and the balance In Weld
Pond.
On the deer subject the commissioners say;
we require square incorporation law
There are enough deer for all, and the law
has made fair apportionment Of three for
each. One moose, two caribou and three
deer Is the appOrtionment made by our Leg
islature for each man. The running OF deer
by dogs Is intended 30 insure their slaughter
without any work or skill on the part OF the
hunter. Every deer in a county can thus be
killed by few men banded together The
law should be amended by making IL punish
able with fine and Imprisonment to kill a
deer In the water, as well as hunting and
killing with dogs. Many moose have, doubt
less, migrated into our State from other
forests, but there has been very marked
increase in their numbers In our own woods.
Notwithstanding this one favorable feature.
we fear their early and utter extermination
unless the Legislature viii give MS both
money for enforcement and laws to control.
The slaughter OF moose OF all ages and sexes
the last two years BY erust-hunting pOachers
has been most pltiful Thirteen moosehides
taken last spring by one Indian guide were
lately found in his possession"
Concerning the moose, the commissioners
say; THE high market value OF the moose
skin Is as great a temptation to the idle yag-
abond pOacher as Is well-flled safe 10 M.
brother the professional eracksman. Many
OF the guides, all who are Indians, after
earning good wages from their employers.
and after the season is over, seek out the
wintering yards Of the moose, and il the
snow crust Of spring slaughter all. ewes
down to the worthless calf. II the yard is
haRdy to winter camp Of lumbermen. the
meat Is sold.
III far away, they are killed for their skins
alone. The whites and Indians, both our
own or neighboring scoundrels, are engaged
m this destruction Of our moose The few
bulls killed by our visiting spOrtsmen.
would never eNterminate the race, for rarelv
Is COW moose killed. as they DO not CONS
to the call Of the hunter It Is the destrue-
tion Of the cows by the crust hunter that IL
TO lead to their utter determination. II not
summarily stopped by the enforcement OF
severe laws. A penalty OF $500 and slx
months imprisonment should be the mIldest
punishment for killing COW moose at any
time. We think a term Of imprisonment
should be added to all our penalties. as the
bearing OF the money penalty Is neceSsarilv
unequal in its application tO all criminals
The poor man Is more severely punished hv
81 fine than the wealthy by SlOO In these
cases Imprisonment cures the evil MANY
Of our visitors have the hardihood to bring
hounds with them into our State. boldly
acknowledging that they intend 10 break onr
laws. viii not our Legislature give us ths
means to punish this insulting defiance to
our State laws2 Give us a law that will
compel them 10 give bond Of 500 for each
and every dog, with two resident sureties
or deposit that amount In the hands ~ ths
city marshal, or the game warden. or ons AZ
the commissioners. The money 10 he for.
feited IL the dogs are used for illegal puy.
| poses OF sold within the State"