The record-union., 1899-01-30
VALUE OF GAME AND FISH.
WHAT MAINE DID AND CALI
FoRNIA CAN DO.
Large Amounts Of Money Brought
Into the State and Spent
by sportsmen.

In connection with the efforts made
by the Sacramento Game. Protective
Association for the preservation OF
game and fish, it may be interesting to
know what other States have Desn and
are doing in that direction. OF these
States, Maine and Michigan are fore
most in the work, having taken it UP
primarily as a matter of protection
some years ago, and finding from eX-
perience that the question has an eco
nomic and practical side as we'll, re-
sult1ng in bringing large numbers OF
sportsmen to the State Who have
learned of the favorable conditions re-
sulting from the increase of game ana
fish, These sportsmen, most OF Whom
are wealthy and liberal, disburse large
amounts of money, which finds It's
way into the pockets of the people IN
all branches of industry, and is of great
benefit to the State at large.
The report of the Commissioners OF
Inland Fisheries and Game Tor the
State of Maine for the year 1898 con-
tains much interesting reading Tor
sportsmen and is beautifully illustrated
with a fine half-tone frontisplece, an
illustration and poem by Frank L.
Stanton, and large number of life
like Illustrations by Churchward of fish
and game, making it an artistic as well
as instructive work.
Maine has five fish hatcheries. from
which salmon, land-locked salmon,
trout, togue and other fish are distri-
buted The State appropriates S2o,UO
a year for the commission, and it also
receives the fees for registration OF
guides and the fines paid by offenders
against the law who are convicted.
The financial aspect of the report is
one that appeals in a most practical
way, not only to the sportsman, but TO
the Inhabitants of the State,..for II
shows In official figures the amount OF
money brought in from other States
and put in circulation in nearly every
community, directly or indirectly A
large number of persons who follow
other occupations ordinarily follow the
profession of guides to parties of camp
ers during the hunting and fishing sea-
son, thus adding materially to their
incomes They build huts and camps,
carry the outfits of parties, cook, guide
and make themselves generally useful.
The report states that $500 residents
and 1866 non-residents employed
guides, leaving not less than $2,OOO,0O0
in the State, of which $221,231 was
paid to- guides for guiding. The wardens
report POI hotels or camps, for hunters
and fishermen, costing 1898. T40; $50
steamers on the inland waters of the
State, for conveyance of sportsmen,
valued at $125, 900; 397 private lodges,
nd TO
and many row boats and canoes, cost
ing many thousands of dollars. All
these are for the use of sportsmen and
camping parties, most of whom come
from other States, because in Maine
they can find excellent fishing and
hunting, the list embracing trout, sal
mon, togue, black bass, perch and
pickerel for fish, and moose, caribou,
deer, bear, and other big game and
grouse, woodcock and other game
birds.
The report quotes from leading pa
pers of the State as follows: Men and
women in ever-increasing numbers are
coming to Maine to pass their vaca-
tons and pass the time in fishing to
a. large extent. 1t is surprising TO
travel over Maine and see how many
farmers are keeping summer boarders-
These summer boarders gather where
the fishing facilities are good, and so
the farmers are greatly benefited and
interested in this great fish industry
.sThe fact is, the people of the State
little appreciate the fame that these
wonderful expanses of limpid water
Great Pond and Long Pond, enjoy
among the people of distant cities. 1t
IS only rarely that Maine people try
the fishing. Their places have been
taken by enthusiasts from New York,
Philadelphia, Boston and many other
cities Some of the most noted ny
fishermen in the country visit this sec
ton during the season. l nave seen
within a few weeks men arrive at Bel
grade Mills with fishing kits worth
$500 / have seen one man unpacK
fifty rods and arrange them round ms
room at the hotel. There are names
on the registers that the owners have
made famous in the realms Of sport.
The report further says: mo class
of people are more directly interested
in the development of our fishing ia
ciIities than the farmers, and it should
be a cardinal principle among them TO
encourage in all possible ways the pro-
lection of fish and game. Opposition to
the expenditure of money by the State
for this purpose has not entirely ceased,
but it has died out to a very consider
able extent, and it is hoped viii soon
cease altogether"
That noble animal, the moose. threat
ened some years ago to become extinct
in Maine. and "a short open season has
been made, and the penalty for viola
ton of the law made very severe. The
people of the State some years ago be-
came reused to the fact that the game
and fish that brought such an amount
of money to be left in the State must
be protected and as a consequence the
position Of State Game Warden was
created, with Deputy State Wardens.
Men of known courage and integrity,
who were known to favor the protec-
ton and preservation of the game and
fish were chosen for their special fit
ness These officers have by their vigil
lance and the impartiality with which
they prosecuted all offenders caught by