The Portland daily press., 1889-02-21
HOW LoBSTERS MUST BE MEASURED
AS Set Forth In Some Proposed
Legislation on the Subject.
Additional Terror for Men Who Hunt
Moose with Dogs.
Important Matters Before the Fish
and came Committee.
Especial to the Press.l


AUGUSTA. Feb. 2O--The fisheries and game
committee in their important session this
afternoon, acted on two very important mat.
tiers, the lobster question, and the amend
ments to the game laws of the State that
relate particularly to moose, caribou and
deer. On the lobster question the commit
tee is divided. Senator Hinckley, the chair
man will report a simple bill making no
change in the present law except to repeal
the close time. Mr.. Smith of Jonesport will
on the other hand report bill making much
more important changes. That bill is as fol-
lows:
Section lit is unlawful to destroy, buy,
sell, expose for sale, or possess, any female
lobster in spawn or with eggs attached, at
any season Of the year under penalty of
$40 for each lobster so destroyed, bought,
sold, exposed for sale or-possessed.
Section at is unlawful to catch, buy,
sell or expose for sale, or posses for any pur-
pose between the 1st day Of July and the
first day of the following February, ana
from the first day of April to the first day of
the following May any Holsters less than 101
inches in length, alive or dead, cooked or un-
cooked, measured in the manner as follows:
Taking the length of the back of the lobster
measured from the bone Of the nose, to the
tail, the length to be taken with the lobster
extended on the back its natural length, and
any lobster shorter than the prescribed
length when caught, shall be
liberated alive at the risk and
penalty of one dollar for each lobster SO
caught bought, sold, exposed for sale, or in
possession not so liberated. Provided, how
ever, If it appears that he intended to liber-
ate them In accordance with the provisions
OF this act, he shall not be liable to any of
the penalties herein provided for, though he
may have failed from any cause, not within
his control, to so liberate tnem. The pos
session OF mutilated uncooked Holsters shall
be prlma facie evidence that they are not of
the required length.
Section provides for marking the own
er,s name on all lobster cars and traps,
Section 4-No person or corporation shall
can or preserve any lobster less than nine
inches In length between the first day of
July and the first day of the folio wing May,
under penalty of S. for every lobster SO
canned or preserved, and further penalty
of $500 for each day ON which such unlawful
canning or preserving is done; provided, how
ever, that 1t shall be lawful for dealers to
preserve In pickle or vinegar, such surplus
stock as for good reasons, cannot be disposed
OF otherwise. An allowance Of five per cent
TO be made on Holsters that have been put in
cars or boats by mistake or otherwise.
Section 8 provides for the receiving of
penalties when short Holsters are seized by
an officer.
Section GAIL fines and penalties under
this act may be recovered by indictment or
action OF debt and together with all forfeit
ures shall go to the county in which the Of
fence Is committed, and suit must be COM
menced within thirty days of the time the
offence was committed.
Section 7.-All laws, acts, parts of acts, or
resolves previously enacted relating or per-
a 1rfr m In Aala all
preserving OF Holsters are hereby repealed.
Section S.-This act shall take effect when
approved.
The bill to amend the game laws of the
State makes some very important changes.
The following sketch of the bill shows how
the committee recommend that the laws
stand in future:
An act to amend chapter 80 r. s., relating
10 moose, deer, caribou and other wild game.
Section Would amend section 9 Of the
chapter so that it would provide that who
3ver hunts, kills or destroys with dogs any
moose, or in any manner hunts, kills, de-
'tr0ys or has in possession any cow moose or
any part thereof forfeits 500 for every
moose so hunted, killed or destroyed
)r had in possession, and no person shall be-
tween the first days of January ard October
n any manner hurt, catch, kill or destroy, or
have In possession, any bull moose, or any
part thereof, taken In close time, under the
same penalty. [The effect of this is to give
cow moose continual protection.]
Section provides the same penalty for
catching any deer or caribou ss for hunting
pr destroying the same, and makes it unlaw-
Iul for person to hunt with "a dog" as we'll
as with dogs"
Section amends section II of chapter 80,
r. s., to read as follows: "Whoever has in
possession any such animal, or part thereof,
between the first days of January and Octo-
Der shall be deemed to have hunted, caught
and killed the same contrary to law, and be
liable to the penalties aforesaid; but he shall
not be precluded frCm producing proof in
his defence that such animal was hunted,
caught or killed in open time"
ANY of1cer authorized to enforce the game
laws may search for such animal or part
thereof, subject to sections IL, 13 and IA Of
chapter 132; and the warrant may be issued
On his own complaint.
Section and section II of chapter 30 by
leaving out that part which gives the bodies
lf moose, caribou or deer illegally killed to
,he prosecutor.
Section strikes out all of section 13 of
chapter 20 X. s., and substitutes this very
different section. "Whoever, during close
close time buys OF sells any moose, caribou
Or deer, or any part thereof, and whoever
transports from place to place any such
animal or part thereof during close time, or
In open time. except animals or parts thereof
N possession OF the person who lawfully
caught or killed the same, open to view,
labelled or tagged with the name of said
person, plainly written or printed thereon,
shall forfeit the sum of 500 for each moose
and $40 for each caribou or deer or part
thereof so bought, sold, carried or trans
ported. and whoever with intent to aid
another in such transportation, takes
possession of any such animal or part
thereof, or permits his name to be used on
the label, or tag attached thereto,
shall be liable tc the respective
penalties aforesaid Such animals
or parts thereof being transported in open
time by common, carriers or other persons, so
labelled and tagged, and accompanied by the
person who lawfully caught or killed the
same, shall be deemed to be in the possession
)f such person, and not in the possession of
such common carrier. Whoever, by false
sends or induces a common
,arrier, or other person, to take any such ami
NAL, or part thereof, to transport shall pay
line OF not more than $40, and be lmpriS-
)ned not exceeding 20 days.
Section strikes out section 10 of chapter 80
and substitutes this very different section:
"All game hunted, caught, killed, de-
stroyed, bought, sold, carried, transported,
DR. found In possession of any person or cor
noratlon, In violation of the provisions of
this chapter, and amendments thereto, shall
be liable to seizure, and in otse of conviction
Tor such violation shall be decreed forfeited
the same for consumption in this State.
Section strikes out section 16, and substi-
tutes section providing that all game war
1ens shall wear badge, and without process
arrest persons found violating the laws, or
who have violated them.
Section amends section 81 of chapter 80
BY adding the penalty for the transportation
as well as for the killing or selling of wood
cock, ruifed grouse or partridge. But an ex-
ceptlon Is made for the owners who are TO
transport such game.
Section strikes out section 20 of chapter
80, and put in its place a section which COM
pletely revises the present system of DISPOSE
tion Of fines by providing that all fines and
penalties shall go one-half to the prosecutor
and the other half, with costs, to the county
where the action is Brought The rest of the
section provides details as to the method by
which the fines shall be paid to the prosecu-
tors or the counties.
Section 10 repeals all acts, or parts Of acts,
Inconsistent with these amendments.
CENSuRE BY CANADA.