Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-11-22
GAME PROTECTION.
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE
PRESENT LAW.
KILLING OF DOES AND COW MOOSE
MUST BE LESSENED-THE FISH AND
GAME COMMISSION WILL ASK A
LARGER APPROPRIATION.

As the assembling of the legislature
draws near, the people interested in game
protection are considering what improve
ments can be made in the existing laws.
They believe that considing the wealth
the deer, moose and caribou, the State
should the more carefully protect the
game with the most effective laws posi-
BILE. There is still room for improvement
on the present laws, and various amend
ments are proposed.
1t is claimed by enthusiastic sportsmen
that the number of animals which one
hunter can take-three deer, one moose
and two caribou-is too large.
1t is claimed that the present liberal
laws allow too much hunting for the
market, and there are those who make a
business of stocking the markets with
venison and moose meat.
A hunter can take two persons with
him and the three can carry out nine
deer, claiming that each shot three.
Then the hunter can make another trip
with two new men and they can take six
deer, and so on, the gunner accompanied
each time by parties who have not killed
the number of animals which the law
allows them. In this manner it is pos
sible for market hunter to shoot as
many as he pleases.
1t is said that many guides follow this
plan. The sportsmen who enter the
woods may not be able to get a shot at
deer, but the guide has no difficulty in
bagging hem, and, of course, when the
sportsmen come out, a portion or all of
the game is credited to their prowess.
The guide may pilot as many parties of
sportsmen as he chooses, and even kill all
the game, and the law cannot reach him.
The law is frequently abused lin this
manner
The proposition is to limit the number
to two deer, one buck and one doe. The
destruction of does is much greater than
of males, and it is believed that sonnet hing
should be done to bring the proportion
more equal between the sexes. A leading
sport declares that of the many deer ex-
pressed out of Bangor this season, ninety
per cent. We're females. The mothers
should be better protected if an
abundance of large game is to be main
tanned.
A suggestion is also offered that night
shooting should be prohibited. A law
that no deer, moose or caribou should be
killed between sunset and the following
sunrise would do the business. The
using of jack or light is regarded as
VT, boo DO
hunting.
Another law which it is deemed would
be wise, is one prohibiting the killing of
deer in the water. 1t is said that the law
is lodged by sportsmen who have guide
drive deer into the water with dogs.
The gunner shoots the game and if
warden comes along, why the guide is
out of sight and the sportsman knows
nothing about any DIGGING, but says he
saw the deer in the water and killed it.
Thus it will be seen that the whole aim
of the gentlemen interested in enacting
pratica laws is to give the deer fair
chance in the forest, prohibiting ;.all
schemes which may allow the hunter
one-sided advantage, forcing him to de-
pend upon his own dexterity and cum
ming to get within gunshot of the game.
1t is figured that there are 10000 square
miles Of townships in the State and TO-,
600 Of thick forest growth Reckoning
one deer to every square mile Of the lat
ter, then one thousand, or even two
thousand deer, could be killed every year
without depicting the present number, as
the natural increase would keep it good.
With wise protective laws it is thought
that there will be no diminution.
1t is expected that something will be
done for the moose. Perhaps law pro-
hibiting the killing of all moose for five
years will be asked for. There will surely
be a demand for a law forbidding the
staying of all COW moose, and not few
sportsmen think it would be wise to stop
the killing of yearling bucks. They are
said to resemble the COWS so much that
one is taken for the other, and while the
hunter thinks he is shooting at young
buck he will bring down female.
But the most important addition to the
game laws which is wanted, is an increase
of the appropriat ion for the commission
to $4,000 or go 900. With this sum it is
held that it would be possible to give the
game thorough protection, through sal
ried wardens, who would be kept in the
field all the time. They would be able to
watch every unprotected point, so that he
poachers would find it difficult to operate.
Wardens would then not be tempted to
permit hunters to break the law in order
that the fine may be collected, a port ion
of which goes to the complainant 1t is
pointed out that such an appropriation
would be money judiciously expended,
when the large amount of cash dropped
in Maine by foreign sportsmen be con-
sidered.