Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-27
SEPTEMBER SHOOTING.
The Fish and Game Commissioners Defend
September Deer Shooting.

The Journal printed, a few days ago q
short item in which il stated that Tia
commissioners ~ inland fish ana game
did not believe the September shootin,
law had been the cause of any III tha
fires in the State in the past TWO weeAs.
The Journal readers may be Interested u
read what The commissioners say in an
official communication to the Bangor
Commercial. relating To an article on the
subject that appeared short time befor-
in the Commercial But the article il
self explanatory.
To the Editor Of thu Commercial;
our attention has pcrn called 10 an in
tcrNlew with Cornelius Murphy III Opd
Town, in your Issue of the 2lst relative
w the alleged Increased dangers to the
forests from ,ae law allowing one deer T.,
be taken by a party camping out. in Sep
i%mbcr Tor food purposes. we are IN
able to agree win MIR. Murphy in this
respect: We have exceptional facilities
OF SuaginS the volume of fishermen
hunters. tourists ana campers out coming
% Maine. ana as everybody knows. ii nag
been considerably in excess oil last or for
mtr years. Iiut very few. ComparatiVtIy
Of ihr campers or tourists in the woods
inns September have taken a license to
take a deer Tor food purposes.
II is lawful to shoot cartridges from
Sept. 10. ana it would Ne just az logical III
say that the partridge hunter who is IN
known. was responsible for fires ~ tnt,
sportsman who is known with his license
ana IN charge ~ a registered guide
Everyone knows that during Angus;
and NJ 70 Sept. ~ Of this year. it has
been exceptionally airy ana taNura hl,. to
fires. Inc commissioners, one OF whom
Is land agent ana forest commissioner. in
every possible way try to protect the for
CStS.
Non-rc<idents camping out must ~ in
charge Of registered guide. Camp pro.
prietors ana professional hunters must H.
REGISTERED. and every possible means used
"a impress upon all the great necessity Ut
using the utmost care about fires
II nobody but the owners their ON
pl"yeS or agents. could 30 upon the wild
lands Of The state, or carry fire arms
State authorities, the forests would be
protected 80 far north as il is possible 70
DO it, but Fishing ana towing is free"
and the multitude can and ito go and We
have no means 10 prevent it, hut the
state by legislative enactment could ac-
complish this.
The September license law has not. in
our Judgment increased hunting or deer
killing. We made trip for two years
over northern Maine IN September and
the woods We're then as fun as this Year:
from Northeast Carry to CheSuncook to
Chamberlain. Itaymock, Eagle. Churchill.
an dso down 10 Fort Kent, ana down the
East Branch there was hardly an avail
able camping place but what was occu.
hunters, and moose hunting cannot now
lawfully commence before Oct. Is.
The commissioners will be the first to
ask for the repeal of any law that is dan
gerous to the forests We have authority
TO prohibit September killing for food
purposes, and If 1t appears that this law
is positive danger, we shall prevent its
operation another year. but we cannot
prevent the multitude going into the for.
ests during this month We will do all
We can TO make all careful and prudent:
but people will 50, license or no license,
and eat deer meat just the same.
investigation shows that the large fires
in the western part of the State were
caused by different class of people than
the campers -out--in other words. they
were caused by fires set by berry pickers.
We have Vet 10 learn of a single in
stance where fires were caused by parties
who employed registered guide
The majority of the licenses to TAX
deer in September have been sold to non.
residents, and ali non residents who take
a deer under these licenss- must b in
charge of registered guide. ana we have
Yet to learn of single instance where
fires can be traced To such parties.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants.
l.. 7. CARLETON
HENRY o. STANLEY,
CHAS. +. OAK.
Commissioners.
Augusta, Sept. %.