Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-12-06
WINTER FISHING.
Commissioners Listen to the Petition
ers Regarding Kennebec PickereI.
We stern Kennebec People Oppose and East.
erners Favor Ice Fishing.

That hearing in relation to the fish
ing for pickerel through the ice of the
ponds in Kennebec county, developed
more than had been looked for 1t
showing the unanimity of opinion of
those interested in the waters on the
west side of the kennebec river, and
an almost similar concurrence of the
ideas of those who are interested in
the waters Of the east side. The result
is not likely to he far from what the
hearing showed. that the ponds of the
west side of the river with a possible
exception of few, will remain closed
to winter fishing through the ice, while
the waters of the east side will be
opened to pickerel fishing for the win
ter. Whatever action is taken by the
commissioners, it will be for this winter
alone, as the whole matter will be up
before the Legislature at it's next ses-
sion
Commissioners Carleton and Stanley
were present in their department
ready for the petitions in on each side
to come forward with their ideas. while
Commissioner Oak had been called to
Portland and was unable to be present.
delegation of Watcrville gentlemen,
who are interested in the Belgrade wa
ters They were led by Attorney Gen
eral W. T. Haines, who put in a strong
protest against the opening of any of
the waters to ice fishing. He said that
the waters had been stocked with
had elapsed for them to develop. Al
ready these waters are noted through
out the Eastern States for their abun-
dance of bass and trout and he
thought anything likely to lead to
possibility of decreasing the number
of trout and bass would be wrong. He
ccntended that in none of those ponds
was there enough pickerel to make it
necessary to catch them, for the trout
and bass by their great numbers and
size had shown themselves to be over
whelmingly in the lead. SO far as num-
bers We're concerned.
Landlord Judkins of the Elmwood
Hotel Of Waterville, and president of
The Maine Hotelmen's Association,
came in his official capacity to protest
against the opening of the Belgrade
waters to fishing through the ice. He
said large hotel, ''The Belgrade" will
be erected at that lake, next year.
Other remonstrants were DR.. J. Fred
Hill. G.. F. Terry, Senator P. S. Heald
of Waterville, while DIR. F. c. Thayer
of that city, had sent in a written pro-
test
When Mr.. Carleton asked if any one
appeared for the petition for fishing,
no one responded and the decision of
/ the commissioners, though not for
mally given, was inferred.
When Lake Cobbosseecontee was
called, Hon. P. O. Vickery said he
should protest against it, and among
others were Messrs. Whitmore, Bars
tow and Merrill of Gardiner, together
with Col Charles Morton of Augusta.
No one appeared for the purpose of
asking for ice fishing in this body of
water.
o. c.. Webster of Augusta, appeared
for the petitioners who desired that
the bodies of water on the east side of
the Kennebec be opened to ice fishing.
He explained that in nearly every case
the pickerel predominate; that
there is an abundance of them; that
the ponds had but in one or two in
stances been stocked with other fish
and consequently there would be M