Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-20

land County Grange. where, after an
exhaustive discussion, the vote stood
Il to 8 in favor of it.
This meeting brought out striking
letters from the general passenger
agents of the great railroad COM
panies, which are published in full
showing that much of the admirable
train service Maine enjoys is made
possible only on account of the sum-
nae1 visitor, fishermen and hunters.
BIG GAME.
There are practically no caribou.
The supposed reasons for their sudden
disappearance is given, one of which
is the enormous increase of deer.
The supply of moose remains prac-
tically the same; an increase in cows
and small moose is noted. 1t will not
be safe to give more open time for
hunting this grandast of our game
animals than we now have.
Twenty-Five COW and calf moose
have been reported as Illegally killed
Many advocate n close time for &
series of years: others giving but four
weeks in which to hunt Them and still
others q law to compel anyone who
shoots q moose to bring it out Of the
woods. not leave its carcass in the
woods to rot.
DEER.
There has been about as much dis
cussion of the deer question" as of
the ''moose question. the number
really killed in any one year is abso-
lutely unknown. and various estimates
are made yearly based upon more or
less accurate information from guides,
transportation companies. and reliable
persons in various localities.
The commissioners conclude that
deer are not less plenty, take the State
as a whole. than last year. They have
moved into new localities somewhat.
The deer question is very fully and
exhaustively discussed.
DEER AND FARMERS CROPS.
Early in the season many complaints
were received Of damage from farmers.
by deer to their crops; these practi-
cally ceased by August. Some wanted
the commissioners to take care of the
States CATTLE others their farm
fenced with barbed wire and one
gave notice he should shoot all deer
found on his land" that he had been
advised to shoot them by his lawyers"
Ii is a curious coincidence that these
parties happen to reside in localities
where deer are now claimed to be the
scarcest, and the loudest complaint
are made against the September law.
Every complaint has been lnvesti-
gated; some real damage is done but
the claims for damages are in most
cases gross eXaggerations. Farmers in
several counties like to see the deer
around.
THE SEPTEMBER LAW AND
FOREST FIRES.
This subject is very fully discussed
and is intensely interesting. Both
sides of the case are very fully and
fairly stated.
Attention is called to the fact that
| il each instance where this law has
teen discussed publicly it has been
misquoted and misrepresented. 1t is
not law permitting the killing
| of deer indiscriminately.-it is
not law to permit anyone to kill il
deer in September who will pay the
fee it only permits a person to take
one for food purposes. to be consumed
in the locality where taken by the
person taking it. under rules and regu-
| lationS established by the commission
| erS.
| The law has been aSSailed with grea.
| violence but not more so than the
guide law and the change in the moose
Flaw was.
appear that the wild land owners ar
against it, but 1t is not believed that suci
is the case.
The law was passed at the request of /;
large number of guides. visiting sports
men and others, unanimously. withou
any known opposition. If there was an.
it was at no time manifested, present re
ports to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The commissioners We're unanimous II
urging its passage and are firmly con
WINGED, after a two years trial. that it i
an excellent lava safeguard to the for
eStS, and a preSerVer of deer iron
slaughter.
| 1t does not cause forest fires. In al
the great camping out region in the grea
north woods, where Il per cent of all tn
licenses were sold. not dollars wort
of property was destroyed by fire, an
not a single fire can be traced 70 regis
tered guide.
| Enchanted pond is reported as sayin
that there We're ten deer last year to on
this year in his section. due to the SeI
TENDER law. The fact is that not
deer was shot in his section by virtue G
such a license, and only two within
miles of him. Six hundred licenses wer
sold and $50 deer shot by the holder
thereof.
Great complaints have been made fo
illegal shooting against camp proprietor
iawho have had no licenses. and deer hay
4 been reported the scarcest around thes
places.
! 1t is the merest nonsense to charge an
! alleged scarcity of deer to the operar ioi
of this law: as many deer or more woul
be shot in September without it as wit
Ii.
September is the great camping ot
month.-it is an open month ror fiSh;n.
duck shooting and the last half for par
ridge shooting.
With the passage of this law also cam