The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-23
THE FISH AND GAME MEETING.
Extensive Event at the Pavilion Last
Evening on the Occasion of the
Annual Meeting.

the following officers were elected for the
year ensuing:
President. j. W. Titcomb, St. Johnsbury
Secretary, Edward 7. Bradley, Swanton.
Treasurer, Charles f. Lowe, Montpelier
Vice Presidents, W. r. Peake, Bristol; N.
W. Fisk Isle La Motto; f. d. Proctor,
Proctor; e G. Smith, St. Adams; W. s..
Webb Shelburne; 7. N. Vail, Lyudonvlle;
Erastus Baldwin, Wells River; J. G. Nc
Cullough, Bennington P, Fl Hadley, Bellows
Falls, and an executive committee comprs.
ed of one from each county. The total
membership OF the league is now 636, 48
new members being admitted before the
dinner.
The very choicest music was furnished by
the Montpelier Military band orchestra
which added very much to the enjoyment
and pie assure of the occasion.
At $3.50 the two dining rooms were filled,
and most excellently selected and pre-
pared dinner was served. The menu was a
gem in its way, and particularly appropri-
ate to the occasion,
A IL p. M the gathering was called to
order by president Titcomb, who ANNOUNCE
ed that the skin of the bear which the party
| had just eaten would be auctioned off by
Representative Ballard of Georgia. Orrice
made humorous speech and finally dis.
posed of the pelt to Representative Wall
for $13 90
George M. Powers was then introduced
as toastmaster, and told how glad he was
to be amid the wisdom, virtue and white
dresses He then introduced Secretary of
State Rowland, who said in part:
MIR. Powers has frequently asked me to
visit him at Morrisville, and has always
told me that l should find a little game
going up there. All fiah and game interests
have been wonderfully advanced and i'm
proved by the efforts of Mr.. Titcomb. But
a few sessions ago only three or four bills
concerning these matters came up at each
session, and now they are a most important
feature. Interest your members and Sena-
tors to do what they can to promote all
legislation for the benefit OF this great in
dusiry
Hon ii. G. Ide was then introduced, and
said in part: Regarding the fish and game
laws in the British colonies. the laws on
these subjects are we'll defined and execut-
ed. Hunting and fishing is licensed to in
dividuals in the open season. The original
settlers brought their game laws from
old England. In New Zealand rabbits
were introduced and carefully protected
for game purposes. They breed so fast
that residents are compelled by law to hunt
and exterminate them. In the Fiji
islands rats destroyed everything, and the
mongoose was brought in to exterminate
the rats Now the mongoose is so plenty
that price is put on his head. I hear that
deer are becoming 80 plenty that they are
devastng your fields and gardens, and it
may be that in the near future you will
make laws to compel yourselves to shoot
deer to prevent them from destroying
everything" Mr.. Ide objected to the null
tiplicity OF tax collectors, and suggested an
open season for them. He had noticed a
law in prospect making close season for
millionaires in Vermont, or preventing their
hunting by tax collectors for number of
years Then there might be an open sea-
son OF few days each year. Representative
Miller of Dummerston then sang ballad.
liking of the Forrest" with such beauty
and thorough mastery of magnificent
voice that the hundreds went wild over it,
This called for another wild outburst Of en-
thusiastic admiration. Mr.. Miller has a
magnificent voice, finely trained, and when
ever he exercises his art is an event.
Ex-Lieut, Gov. Fisk was then happily in.
troduced, and said in part:
The difference between millionaires In
Vermont and rabbits in New leland is that
the former do not multiply as rapidly as we
could wish. All the millionaires in YER
mont belong to this league, and are among
its most useful members Mr.. Fisk proper
ly eulogizsd the fact of the great work of Mr.
Titcomb for good and wholesome laws, and
hoped he would in time be in the office of
United States fish commissioner.
A vote Of thanks was then rendered to
Senator Griffith for the boutonieres given
each memher
State Auditor Barber was then asked to
sp' ak, and he in part said:
The thinking, intelligent people are with
you, and when they fully comprehend the
great work your league is doing you can
have anything you want in the line of ap-
preparation in reason.
Mr.. Titcomb then addressed the gather
ing: l would not care to be comm ssioner
unless had the league behind me. Let us
all see that the laws are enforced and up.
held. Speak well OF the work and the OBJ
ject OF it. Show your neighbors what is be-
ing done In every town in Vermont into
which We haven't sent trout we have sent
blanks to the selectmen and they have been
ignored Every application is answered
and filed. Streams are being constantly
fished and must be constantly filled.
The meeting then adjourned at ~ NJ.
Two "Invincble" cigars were laid at each
plate, the gift OF Mr. G. e. Miner of Burling-
ton, and exactly filed long felt want.
Members are admonished that their photo