Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-04
FISH And GAME LEAGUE.
THE MIDSUMMER MEETING AT ISLE
LAMOTTE.
and Invited Guests Hospitality
Entertained by Lieut.. .-Gov. and Mrs.
Fisk and dNeighbors-Lively and
Interesting Speeches.


The third annual midsummer meeting
OF the Vermont Fish and Game League
was held at the grounds of Lieut.. Gov. Il.
w. Fisk at Isle La Motto yesterday with
an attendance OF about 900 members of
tho league, their ladies' and invited guests.
The meeting was IN every way successful.
While ii was impossible TO entertain so
distinguished guests as those who honored
the meeting In 1877. the gathering was not
lacking in entertainment of social ma
ture. 1t was the intention to omit every
thing of a post prandlal character but at
the close of the business meeting there
was so emphatic call for two or three
speakers that they were forced to respond.
inc most interesting portion OF this i'm
promptu programme was the humorous
statement of the differences in opinion
concerning the disposition of the Vermont
regiment between Senator Proctor and en-
Gov. L. A. Woodbury. as delineated by the
senator and replied to By the ex-governor.
Tne trip TO lsle La Motto was made upon
the steamer Reindeer leaving this city at
l2:25 and reaching the island about 2:30.
The day was exceptionally fine. with d
brisk, cooling breeze from the south; and
all found the ride northward pleasant in
the extreme. The time required in going
was passed pleasantly in a social way
1
the trip and little, If any. work in this
line was attempted. or If attempted, ac-
complished. Fish stories took the place
| OF political pointers and many of the de-
lincators had seemingly drawn "A ma gni-
ficent inspiration from the lake breezes.
THE BANQUET.
| After having gained appetite from tho
two hours sail the dinner was the event
OF tAe day to everyone and in this part
OF the itnery nothing was wanting The
meal was served in a great tent in which
had been placed long and commodious
tables and both the quality and the guam
tity OF food left nothing to be desired
Under the deft hands Of the Ladies' Aid
society the tables had been trimmed with
Wild flowers and flags presenting a very
neat appearance. Chicken pies were the
chief attraction but there was also an
abundance Of pies, cakes and ice cream
as well. The elaborate preparations made
1t possible to serve the food with neatness
and satisfactory results.
| AS host and hostess Lieut.. Gov and
Mrs. Fisk left nothing to be desired They
we're everywhere looking after the plea
sure OF the guests in a thorough and graft
ifyinS manner and even threw open their
pleasant home to still further extend tho
welcome.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
! When the dinner had been accorded the
attention which It's quality merited cigars
were passed and President ]. W. Tltcomb
or the league called the assemblage to
order 1t was S:45 p. m The president an
nounccd the purpose of the business meet
lns ans then outlined the work of the
league as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen and Members OF
the Vermont Fish and Game League:-No
postprandial exercises have been arranged
for. and after a short business meeting
those will he
to stroll about until the time for the boat
TO leave.
Without detailing to you what the
League has been doing in the past or
what has been accomplished, | wish to
explain some of the issues which present
themselves and which should be of in
terest to all Nermonters, whether men,
bers of the League or not.
First, in regard to game. Notwthstand-
ing the slaughter of about 100 deer last
October. the reports indicate that these
animals are increasing rapidly. Many
farmers report seeing them and does with
fawns are very tame. often entering gar
dens adjacent to farm houses The
League has expressed its disapproval Of
the open season In October and the gem
eral sentiment of the State indicates that
the law will he changed at the next ses-
sion. One important feature to be con-
sidered In connection with deer legisla-
tion is provision to protect deer against
pursuit by dogs. At present any dog
which has been licensed and wears a col
lar can pursue deer with impunity and It's
owner is not liable. Not a week passes
without complaints coming to me of deer
! pursued by dogs and at all seasons OF
the year. In summer when does are
heavy with young they are pursued as re-
ientlessly as during the natural hunting
season. Many deer have thus been killed.
In early winter after the ice has formed
on the ponds the dogs drive the deer on to
them where they either break through and
drown or founder about at the mercy OF
the dogs. There are men in this State
who let their deer hounds out and where
deer has been thus killed or crippled will
: sneak out in the night and get the ven-
ison.
: When the bill providing an open season
! was presented in the Legislature 1t was
| argued that it would create sentiment
,, in favor OF protecting deer during the close
season. The commissioners now have
cases pending where deer were shot over
salt licks, trapped and shared In warm
weather and fed out to the help in saw
mill boarding houses with no attempt at
concealment except the silent code of hon.
or among thieves.
No other game needs especial legislation
: or change IN laws unless to provide IAN
open season on upland plover. the fish in
Lake Champlain, the chief attraction to
summer tourists are being ruthlessly
by the use of seines. refer to the prac-
tice of seine fishing In March and April in
the contiguous waters of Vermont and
: Canada when the wall-eyed pike are fol-
lowing along the shores and entering the
tributaries of the lake to spawn. The
catch Of pike during one spawning season
from reports of Vermont fishermen indi-
cate a destruction not only of tons of
' these valuable food and game fsh but by
practical computations of over 800, 600, 0,0
to 500000.000 eggs each season. This is
: question OF legislation which can be con-
: trolled by the representatives of the towns
1 most directly interested. So long the
representatives of Grand Isle and Frank
Y lin counties consider the revenue of Is or
80 seines, netting the fishermen from $1,000
0 to $4,000 annually to be worth more than
3 the larger sum of would-be summer visit
ors. 30 long will the present law exist. While
It would be seeming injustice to prohibit
8 seine fishing in Vermont while Canada
I continues the practice. II Is our fault that
the Canadian law now exists. Canada
Q stopped this practice four years ago upon
. agreement with your commissioners and
only resumed after legislation was obtain-
ed in Vermont compelling the commissions
ers to issue seine permits to all applicants
Through the instrumentality of tho
: league the constltutionality of one of the
; game laws has been tested and upheld.
4 refer to the law authorizing tho commits.
IL -