Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-24
ouR FISHING INTERESTS.

Edtf0r OSWOcr0.
Much OF late Il said and written re-
gardlng changes In our fish and game
laws, for the purpose Of making them
more effective for the preservation OF
the same.
The thought, naturally Is, when VIOLA
lions Of the law are called to ones at
tention, that the remedy lies In enscting
more stringent laws. It Is nv intention
In this communication, 70 call public at
tentiOn to the condition Of things regard
ing the violation Of the game laws, the
reason therefor and suggest possible
remedy or what may lead up 70 better
condition Of things.
In the first plsce claim that the laws
affecting our game and fish are better en-
forced than most other laws upon our
statute books, and that public opinion Is
Improving In sustaining an enforcement
OF Law and improving our fish and game
preserves.
But also admit that there ID need OF q
better protection OF our fish and game,
(game especially and better apprec'a-
ton Of lie care. While public sentiment
10 improving, and the state at large APP
preciates more and more each year the
great advantages derived from these re-
sources, there will be for many years
more or less violation OF law. same as
the lawless violate any and all Law when
Il seems for their interest to do 90.
How to meet the demands in the di.
rection OF best preserving our game re-
sources Is the one living question that
calls for the best judgment OF every per-
son who would see the state receive the
greatest benefit from them. What is the
best for the state mt large, not what Is
best for this, or that section, or interest,
should be the problem to be solved.
To that end let me make the following
suggestions:
First, as have said to many persons,
the state receives its greatest benefits
from It's fish resources Very much great
er than from It's game, for from It's fish
ing privileges come thousands OF tourists
who spend many months ut our inland
resorts, by lake aud ponds, annually
leaving large sums OF money. This
feature Of the states visiting business
may be increased many fold by the In
crease of our best fsh In waters now
stocked and by stocking many waters
well adapted for their breeding. In this
direction would turn the attention OF
those desiring TO make the most OF these
privileges for the state.
Let the fish and game business be
separated. Let the appropriation for the
preservation and culture OF fish be at
least SIS 900, which SUN would Show In
ten years remarkable results In fishing
resorts and consequent increase In WIS.,
iiing tourists sni their families. It's
benefits would he felt in almost every
hsmlet In Maine, In one way and an
other. The tax upon valuation OF
81 900 for this amount, would he about
,,ceniy cents, and | do not believe that
the tax PAYERS Of the state would raise
the least objection 70 it.
II u the big game and its care, which
has led up to the most criticism and
hich creates the most discomfort. DO
not underst. nd that ] would sdvise the
abandonment ~ IN" care Of our large
game. or less attention to Its protection
aud preservation. On the other hand,
the method suggested Of dealing with IL,
would TO nv mind lead up To the best
possible results.
Iassume that our fishing interests are
general Also that our game interests
are mainly sectional. In other words,
the benefits coming from our fishing re-
sources sre general In their scope, and
that the benefits coming from our large
game accrue 10 csrtsin localities and TO
certain individuals or corporations.
To be more definite, those whose busi-
tk
hotels, guides. stes boats upon inland
waters, and those carrying them by rail.
or transporting their express, receive
largely the benefits derived from our
large game.
These interests are mostly In one part
OF the state, or rather large part OF the
state. only indirectly and remotely re-
ceive any profit from the preservation OF
large game. Therefore IL Ia and must be
sectional In its benefits. do not wish
10 be understood a. saying that IL Is not
OF sufficient moment and Its benefits
general enough TO demand the care OF
the whole state, u thst was the only and
best way 10 preserve IL. But feel that
there il better way, fairer and more
just.
Having appropriated $4,000 for hsh
and fi.h culture, | would compel every
nonresident person who desired To hunt
moose, caribou or deer, to pay annually
five dollar. for that privilege, and each
resident Of the state one dollar for the
same right.
| have always opposed license fee
upon non esidents, and would now, II IL
did not apply 10 some measure 10 the
resident. Laws TO be accepted must be
lust and fair. To tax the nonresident
alone Il not a fair or just law TO my
mind.
To tax the resident ss much a. the
non. resident would not BE- fair nor just,
because he IL paying his proportion OF
the appropriation for the care OF nah.
The nonresident who would feel injured
BY being alone taxed, would see that
there was 10 this, no attempt 10 take un.
| fair advantage Of him, and the resident.
II would seem, ought TO be willing TO
paw something for the preservation OF n
kind OF game which he desired TO hunt.
IL was stated In the report Of the fish
and game commissioners that some
seven thousand sportsmen from out of
the state, came here to hunt large game
last season. suppose five thousand
should come, and | see no reason to re-
duce the number, q tax OF i've dollars
would give s25, 900, and II five thousand
10 the state hunted large game, we would
have $500 for the preservation and
protection OF large game. These two
amounts, for fish and game, would make
Msine's fish and game interests grow
marvelOusly.
would then give additional privileges,
the right to ship game lawfully taken to
the homes OF those desiring TO do so, and
any other reasonable privileges. | would
90 further, and without hesitation seps-
rate the commission by making one OF
them game protector, and he should be
entrusted with the care OF game and the
enforcement Of the game laws. The
other two TO be entrusted with the care
and culture of f,h, and each advisory
regarding both fish and game interests.
The reasons why this seems TO be the
best way to deal with our In and game
matters, are to my mind many, but It
would be too great demand upon your
paper to print them at this time. The
bare proposition for the consideration OF
those interested IL submitted with view
of improving our laws, and Of putting
firmly upon reliable grounds our great
interests In fish and game.
+. G. HARRINGTON.
MAINE NEWS NOTES.
While after drift who'd ON the kenne-