The Portland daily press., 1898-01-01

December Was Poor Month for Hunting
or Figures Would Rave Como Far
Above That-Only Slight Falling Off
in Number of Moose KiIled-Proposed
Changes in Law.
Bangor, Me-, January 1.-The big game
season in Maine closed at midnight Fri
day. and nearly complete returns have
been received from the greatest of all
Maine hunting regions-the section of
country traversed by the Bangor & Aroos-
took railroad. A record Is kept, day by
day, of all the game transported over this
road, and the figures furnish basis
upon which the total kill of deer, moose
and caribou in the whole state may be
intelligently estimated. The record of
the 3. & A. for 1897, with the exception
of the last day, is as follows: For Octo-
ber, deer 1,246, moose 55, caribou 20; No
vember, deer 1,023, moose 81, caribou
"a; December, deer 81, moose 10, carl
bou 9; total, deer 2,64o, moose 1os, carl
bou So.
Following are the figures showing the
kill in previous years: Deer, 1894, 1,ool,
1895. 2,s45, 1896 2,245; moose, 1894, 45.
1895. 1l2, 1886, 1873; caribou, 1894, so, 1895,
100, 1886, 13o.
At the close of November it was con-
fidently predicted that the total kill Of
deer in the 3. and A. country this season
would exceed three thousand head, but
December was very poor month for
hunting there being no snow at all in
many sections while in others slight
fall was succeeded by a rain which froze
into sharp crust making still hunting
impossible. But for the unfavorable
weather conditions there would have been
enough deer killed in December to bring
the total for the season up to three
thousand head. AS 1t was the shipments
for the last month fall below those of the
corresponding months of 1895 and 1896
1t will be noticed that although the
six weeks or half the former period the
number killed was in excess of the average
of the past four years the average being
SO. This is being used by some includ-
ing one Of the commissioners as an argu-
ment in favor of still further shortening
the moose season. Commissioner Carleton
says it is only matter of time and a
very short time when the moose and
caribou will disappear from the hunting
grounds of Maine and there are many
who share his view. AS for the deer there
are many and conflicting opinions. Some
of tie guides think the deer are becoming
scarcer but the majority of woods naviga-
tors declare that there is no perceptible
decrease in the visible supply.
Upon the basis afforded by the above
figures it is estimated that there were
actually killed in Maine this season about
1900 deer $50 moose and one hundred Carl
bou. Of this game about two-thirds has
been transported by rail the remainder
being either consumed in the woods where
shot or taken out by other conveyances.
There is no doubt that the game laws
Will be still further amended at the next
session of the legislature but as that time
is SO far off and as another game season
intervenes these matters are not exciting
much attention at present. 1t is likely
that a bill will be introduced making the
legal allowance of deer and caribou one
for each hunter and limiting the moose
hunting season TO the month of Novem-
Der. Another thing likely to be recon.
mended and favored by Commissioner
Carleton is the levying of a tax upon all
game taken out of the state. In this way
it is hoped to raise enough money to pay
the expense of protecting and propagating
game and fish.
REGIS TERED GUIDES REPORT.
Augusta, December 31.-Three days ago
all but thirty-nine registered guides had
forwarded their reports to the fish and
game commissioners.
The name and addresses Of the delin-
quents have been forwarded to the war
dens in the several sections of the state
with instructions to look up the men and
ascertain why that duty has not been at
tended to- The commissioners under
stand that in nearly every case the guides
have been in the woods and have not yet
had time to make out the blanks. 1t is
not believed that in any instance has
| there been malicious oversight.
Commissioner Carleton expressed him
self as pleased with the general character
| of the reports that have come under his
personal observation. They have shown
care in the preparation as well as intelli-
gence. They show also that the number
| of sportsmen to visit Maine this year has
| bean 1arre docpita the ebortaned Seacop
Oh moose.