The Portland daily press., 1891-10-20
SUMMER VISITORS SIN THE MOST,
But Professional Hunters and Lum-
bermen Help Along.
A New Workers. ideas Regarding the
Slaughter Of Came.
He Thinks Maine Forests Should Be
Better PolIced.

NEW YORK, October ia correspondent
of the Tribune, writing from Camp Fassett.
on Chamberlain Lake, Me-" has the follow
ing to say concerning the destruction OF
game in the woods Of the Pine Tree State,
which will be of interest to all sportsmen
who are accustomed to pay yearly visits to
this hunters paradise:
One word about the large game in Maine.
Deer are undoubtedly increasing In the re-
gion around the headwaters Of the Pen0bscot
and Kennebec rivers, and in the Allagash
waters, and possibly on the st. John, In
spite Of the fact that several hundred are
killed every year. Of caribou there are still
a goodly number. although unlawful killing
seems to have checked their increase. The
moose is disappearing; and for this. unlaw-
full killing is responsible. Maine has a.code
of game laws, which gives to hunters aud
visiting sportsmen the large and valuable
privilege of killing one moose, two caribou
and three deer during certain fall and win
ter months, beginning October ]. But the
laws prohibit shooting on Sunday, and be-
fore October /, and absolutely forbid, as 1t
is proper, the killing Of a COW moose at any
time or under any circumstances. This law
is not observed, and unless it Is enforced in
the future, and sharply, too, there will In
few years be an end of large game In Maine.
Who is responsible for the violations of
the lawp In small part, the lumbermenl In
the lumber camps which are established In
large numbers all through the great wilder
ness of Northern Maine every winter. there
are always few rifles. The men work too
hard on week days to hunt. but on. Sunday.
when hunting is absolutely unlawful, some
Of them, to vary the monotony. of the long
winters work away from civilization, 60 out
from some Of the camps and shoot; and they
have the game, yarded at that season in
snow four and five feet deep. at terrible
disadvantage.
In part, the professional hunters are re-
sponsible. No need to mention names. Ey-
cry one knows who they are. While out
trapping lawfully for mink. otter, beaver,
bear and foxes, they meet with large game
and cannot resist the temptation to kill for
the hides. far in excess of the number al
lowed to them by law. One man left eight
moose, stripped of their hides, on Soubungan
Mountain one winter. Another Is known to
have shot IA In one winter. Some of the meat
Is sold to lumber camps, but most of 1t is
wasted. Hundreds of stories like this are told.
The Indians Of Canada are even more
deadly enemies of moose, caribou and deer.
AT one time In Maine, the Indians, native to
the state, had right to shoot as they
pleased, because they were Indians. But
about 80 years ago that law was repealed.
The native Indians still shoot, however, a
great deal. some of them as though the law
still stood; and the Canadian Indians come
across the line In winter. slay right and left,
secure the hides, and In the spring load ca
noes or dugouts with their spoil and run their
loads into Canada, with no one the wiser for
it. This unlawful killing in the winter Is
dreadful waste. 1t Is done, In the main,
merely for the hides. The hide Of a moose
tanned and worked W, into moecasins and
sn0w-shoe lashes would bring about SIS. But
the meat, which must be abandoned In the
woods, is worth from $50 to $40; and the
head. when bull is killsd. will sell, mount
ed, for 800 to $780, Think of what Is
when a cow moose Is killed the increase Of
the game is checked beyond redemption.
But the worst sinners of all are the sum-
mer visitors. They do not kill the most, but
their example Is the most powerful. l can
speak Of this, being myself summer visit
or. In the comments by writers on this sub
ject, the summer visitor has heretofore been
gently treated. Every one of them who goes
into the woods spends from $50 to $500 on
his trip. Many of them spend more. Will
liam Zeigler of Brooklyn, great admirer Of
this magnificent region, and a constant visit
or. took out one party Of 35 friends and IA
guides to Caucomgom0c Lake last summer,
and another of 25 friends and IA guides to
Kipogenus Lake, and spent, it Is estimated.
nearly $1,000 in this princely hospitality.
These are large disbursements, and the ag-
gregate In the state is immense. The state
authorities seem to feel that this profitable
business OuBnt not TO O6 discouraged. IL
employs the guides, helps the railroads and
hotels, stimulates trade, and is great bene-
fit to the state. And the opinion seems to be
that II summer visitor kills few wild ami
mails out Of season, perhaps nothing ought to
be said about it, so as not to drive the visit
ors away. But, as summer visitor myself,
and one who has talked with others equally
anxious for antlers. think am justified in
saying that the state authorities take 4
wrong view Of this matter. The law ought
to be enforced peremptorily against the sum-
mer visitors; and If an honest attempt be
made to do so, against all classes alike, these
very visitors will be its most cordial uphold
ers.
1t Is useless to say the laws cannot be en-
forced. They can be. And if enforced In
proper, way. they. will be respected and
0beyed. If men like Wilbur r. Webster,
Jock Darling, Louis Ketcham, Con. Daho-
ney, Captain Sam Cole, Joe Francis, and
many other men Of standing, who know the
woods thoroughly, who can be named, were
employed as game wardens at salary Of
$1,000 or $1,000 a year, there woulo be ex-
tremely few violations of the game laws Of
the State of Maine,