Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-02
FOR BETTER LAWS.
Maine Sportsmen's Fish and
Game Association Meets.
Members Discuss Matters Regarding
the Protection Of Fish and Game.
Recommendations Drawn up Officers Elected
\ President Speaks Other Business.


the judiciary room at the State House, to
transact the business of the annual meet
ing. Pres. Hersey called the meeting to
order and read the call of Secretary Far
rington.
Following this was the delivery of the
D esident's address, which held the closest
attention of all present.
He said, among other things:
The class (that is the desirable class) of
men who come to our fish and game pre-.
S rves from abroad. are not of the kind
that would demur to the payment of a
moderate license fee placed upon them for
the sole purpose of enhancing their own
opportunities for pleasure and relaxation,
while at the same time aiding us-even
though in a very trifling degree-in meet
ing the expense of maintaining just what
they are seeking. 1t might be asserted
that the money which they leave behind
them was a sufficient equivalent for that
which they receive, but upon that score
the sportsmen of our own State may also
sert that, in the pursuit of their own fish
and game, they cxpend man for man mot
to mention their individual share of the
or. ginal expense) equally as much as those
who visit us from abroad. So upon that
argument it would seem only just, in
view of the need, that some discrimina-
ton should be made.
also feel that this matter should be
carefully discussed by this ASSOCIATE on and
that, if finally regarded as feasible, we
should recommend our Legislature to i'm
pose a license fee upon all visiting sports
men who come to our State to participate
in its hunting and fishing facilities; the
amount of said fee to be reasonably COM
tmensurate with the design of its imposi-
ton: but accompanying such recommended
ton should be the further suggestion,
most emphatically made, that every dol
| ,r of its net income added to whatever
I'm the anticipated appropriation of the
Legislature may be, shall be rigidly de-
voted to the sole purpose of giving us in
'eased facilities for the further protec-
t on of our fish and game interests. And
gentlemen, if you will stop and consider
ror moment, (what even the most casual
observer must have noticed) the immense
number of our larger game that have been
killed during the season just closed, it is
a \ open question as to whether the hunts
man, or fisherman, who at the moment
they entered our State during the past sea-
son did not actually stand in Paradise
from the sportsman point of view. Never
before in the history of our State have so
many deer, caribou and moose fallen
victims to rifle bullet legitimately sped,
and say legitimately sped because, never
before. in my opinion, have there been so
few instances of illegitimate killing;
never before have we had fewer reports of
logging deer, and less Of poaching than
formerly; results which our State game
commissioners, and ourselves may be
properly congratulated upon, as the direct
issue of our teachings, our labors, and
our laws; but is this multiplication of our
larger game only apparent, or is it real?
If real then it should be a cause for very
great satisfaction, but the building of the
new Aroostook railroad has opened up
country hitherto inaccessible to sportsmen,
and as a result, combined with the glow
ing reports of that region by the press,
many additional hunters who have hitherto
freauented the Adirondacks and other To-
ealities have come into the State each
earnestly intent upon securing his lndl-
yidual quota of game, resulting in the fact
that this one railroad carried by itself,
and through the American Express Co., in
the months of October and November
ti75 deer 80 moose and 81 caribou. Re-
member, gentlemen, that this IS only an
alIusion to one of the many lines of trans
portation in the State. AS simply out
lined it is food that should stimulate the
srayest kind of thought upor the part OF
aupselyes and all authorities having any
connection with our mighty forests. As
I have said, is this apparent slaughter
legitimate? do not mean as in contra
vention of law but is it due to the
natural increase of the hunted, as fostered
by our laws, or is it due to an increase of
the hunters. Will this very unusual
these hitherto unprecedented results OF
this year be productive OF corresponding
idiminution next year?
We're our game preserves properly
patroled by well paid wardens or patrol
men, paid the year around, and in su1fl-
Client numbers, then. there would be
ready answer to the problem, but with SO
many financial obstacles in our path there
can be at the present time no satisfactory
solution However, portion OF the
problem, under the circumstances, must
Inevitably consist in the thought: May
rot a license, such as has been suggested
by many, become inevitably necessary
with a view of restricting SO great
slaughter as has occurred this year? Only
n few years since our moose and caribou
were nearly extinct, made so principally
through the absence of any laws, sufii-
GENTLY enforced to protect them from
such extinction. This past season should
he an object lesson which 'any man who
runs can read demonstrating the value
of State protection for fish and game.
In connection with the logging of deer 1t
would seem to me that the question
(Aitherto of so vexing nature) can be
easily and permanently solved by the pas
sage of a law which will prohibit under
a penalty Of sixty days Imprisonment, the
killing of any deer whatever in the water.
Cause such a law as this to be enforced
and the DIGGING of deer will at once cease
to be problem, because the most earnest
ambition of any sportsman to kill deer
e,n be easily satisfied in lawful ana
legitimate manner, in the woods proper
and in this connection as well as IN all
others having relation to the protection OF
our fish and game. every penalty imposed
upon the party employing guide should
attach equally to the guide or guides en-