The Portland daily press., 1898-03-11
TO STOP SPRING FISHING.
Fish Com missioners Decide Not To Close
Moosehead Brooks.

Augusta, March 10-The commissioners
of inland fish and game gave their de.
cision today on their hearing at Green
vile, Tuesday, on the petition of many
to close the mouths of the brooks that
flow into Moosehead lake to fishing during
the month of May.
They decided that there were not
sufficient reasons for granting the
petition. ssTy
The report Is az follows: 5gssa
In the matter Of the petition for estah-
fishing close time in the inlets of
Moosehead Lake and for establishm1ng a
close time in certain portions of Moose
head Lake.
This was petition in conformity with
chapter 40, section rs of the Revised
Statutes, as follows:
"We the undersigned, believing that
it will be for the interests and protection
of our trout, especially the smaller ones,
streams flowing into Moosehead Lake.
Immediately after the departure OF the
ice, respectfully ask that your honorable
board cause to be closed during the
month of May, 1898, the mouths of all
streams flowing into Moosehead Lake,
the same to apply to rivers, and that all
fishing shall be prohibited within %
rods of the mouth OF such streams and
rivers"
The petition was signed by many
guides and resident land owners, hotel
proprietors and merchants living in the
vicinity of the waters to be effected
There was also q petition presented at the
Same time asking tor close time to be
established in all the inlets OF the lake
from October LIST to June 10th of each
year.
The hearing, which was largely at.
tended and much earnestness manifested,
was held at the Lake house, Greenvlile,
March Sth. 1898. 49,
The hearing developed a great variety
of opinions as to what was wanted, some
of the petitioners advocating q close time
in the mouths of the 81 streams, tribu-
taries to the lake, extending rs rods into
the lake, till June 1st Of each year.
There appeared to be unanimity OF
opinion as to the closing of all the inlets
| OF the land from October 1st to Juns 10th.
While fully realizing the great import
ance of these inlets as nurseries to the
lake. and being of the opinion that they
ought to be closed to all fishing oil of the
time, we are of the opinion that no sub
stantial benefit would accrue by simply
| closing them from the time the ice goes
out of the lake IN the spring until June
| 10th. The fishing during this time Is al
WAYS good in the lake, and 1t is not until
warmer weather when it is more difficult
| to take fish in the lake that these inlets
are resorted to by fishermen.
| We do not think the possible benefit to
| be derived commensurate with the neces-
| sary outlay, and therefore do not establish
| the rules and regulations closing these In
| let's 1t is q matter of common knowledge
| that Moosehead Lake is the largest body
of fresh water in Maine, and is resorted
| to annually by many thousands of people
| from this and other states for purposes of
| fishing, rest and recreation.
The state annually expends very con-
siderable amount of money for the pur-
pose of restocking it with trout and land
locked salmon in order to keep up the
supply of these fish for the ever increasing
drainage upon it's resources.
The petitioners introduced such testi.
mony tending to show that as soon as the
ice invent OUT from the lake in the
spring that the trout, especially the
smaller ones. gathered in large numbers
at the mouths of these streams and are
taken in destructive quantities by steam
boat parties and others to the great injury
OF the fishing later on in the season.
It was claimed that the habits of the
small trout are SO universally known in
this respect, and taken advantage of by
| such large numbers OF nSnefmen as Uf
seriously endanger the future supply in
| the lake. s
| s-The commissioners, in view Of the
| magnitude of the interests involved, and
| in view of the many earnest protests re
ceived from citizens Of this state con,
clude that we are not justified in grant
ing the prayer of the petitioners to close
the mouths of these inlets as prayed for
by the petitioners.
The state at large is deeply interested
in this matter to say nothing of the
large number of non residents who are
directly interested therein.
In closing 81 places in Moosehead lake
against fishing or indeed to close any
portion of this resort against fishing for
any period of time in which it is now
lawful to fish therein, involves the rights
and privileges of so many citizens of the
state that in our opinion it is a question
that should be dealt with by the legisla
| ture alone.
Leroy F. Carleton. Henry o. Stanley
and Charles S. Oaks, Commissioners
of inland Fisheries.