The Portland daily press., 1900-12-20

killed In any one year - hpaotovoV Ah-
known. ana various estimates are made
yearly based upon more or less accurate
Information for guides, transportation
omS.nies,s and reliable persons In vari-
Gus localities.
The commissioners conclude that deer
are not less plenty, take the state as
whole, than last year. They have moved
into new localities somewhat. The deer
question IL 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 practically
ceased by August. Some wanted the
commissioners to take airs OF the
States CATTLE" others their 'tfarm
fenced with barbed wire," and one gave
notice he "snould shoot all deer found on
his land, that he "had been advised TO
shoot them by HIS lawyers.
Every complaint has been Investigated;
some real damage Is done but the claims
for damages are in most cases gross exag-
gerations. Farmers In several counties
like to see the deer around.
THE SEPTEMBER LAW AND FOR
EST FIRES.
This subject 10 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 In
each instance where this law has been
discussed publicly IL has been misquoted
and misrepresented. IL 10 not q law per-
hitting the killing Of deer indiscrimi-
nately lit Is not q law to permit anyone
to kill deer In September who will pay
the fee,-it only permits person TO
take one for food purnoses TO be con-
snmsd in the locality where taken by the
person taking It, under rules and regu-
lations established by the commissioners.
The commissioners were unanimous In
urging It's passage, and are firmly CON
WINGED, after q two years trial, that 10 Is
an excellent Law, IA safeguard 10 the
forests, and pressrver OF deer from
slaughter.
IL coss not cause forest fires. In all the
great camping out region In the great
n orth woods, where per cent OF all The
licenses were sold, not dollars worth OF
property was destroyed BY fire, and not a
sinlge fire can be traced TO q registered
guide.
One camp proprietor, Mr.. Patience, at
Enchanted pond, Is reported as saying
that There were ten deer last year to one
this year in his section, due to the Sep
temher laws The fact Is that not deer
was shot IN this section by virtue OF s1ch
a license, and only two within 20 miles
Of him. Six hundred licenses were sold
and 800 deer shot by the holders thereof.
1t Is the IN crest nonsense to charge any
alleged scarcity of deer TO the operations
OF this law; as many deer or more would
be shot in September without 1t as with
1t.
IL does not increase forest fires in the
opinion OF the commissioners, or in the
opinion OF those best qualified to judge
and who have looked tine closest inGo Its
operations.
No forest fire OF any consequence can
be traced to party holding such a
license.
During the seasons or 100 and go o
severe Drought occurred in September.
The woods were full or tourists and
campers out, yet less damage resulted
from fires than during any month OF
similar drought. with possibly two ex-
captions, that occurred prior 10 this time
visitors began fionkiug here.
Numerous forest fires occurred during
Sep tenn Der this year, and In no single
Instance can a fire be trscsd to party
in charge OF a guide We have carefully
and thorough Investigated every fire
that has occurred
10 party of berry pickers camping
near bog one of the large fires seems
traceable; another, colony OF bees was
smoked out and . large fire resulted.
Locomotives, undoubtedly, canssd
several, and two OF the largest were
ubtsdiy OF incendiary origin. 10
top fires. facetiously EXPRESSED, they
say all woods work Including cruising
lands, ana eps3oiaiIy camping should be
prohibited during September berry pick
ing should be prohibited unless the pick
ers Iivs In houses; ell bird shooting and
fishing should ba prohibited; guards
should be stationed with authority co
search ali persons entering forest growth
and seize all matches in their posssss 10 N !;
incen 1iariss should BE- locked up efore
the drought commences; no land SD ould
be cleared or stump fires set unless the
wood and stumps are SO wet they won't
burn; Hll railroad trains should be moved
by horse power, ana lightning rods placed
on all tail dead trees In the forests. Seri-
ously these are all sources OF danger TO
forest fires.
Assertion is not proof; to assert that
this law endAnRars the forests is to attack
it in the most effectual way possible, but
1t is a fact thst where this most licenses
were sold there were the fewest fires
In conclusion of this subject they say,
I'VE cannot refrain from saying that we
believe that this law is an additional
protection to the forests, and its repeal
would be a mistake, bu5 that we shall in
no wise Antagonize the wishes OF the wild
land interests In this respect"
ACCIDENTS WHILE HUNTING.
Ten cases of accidental shooting while
hunting have been reported, six OF which
resulted fatally. Four were mistaken
for deer. one for a white faced bear,
one hunter miss ID q deer and shot his
companion, the others were purely aooi-
dental.
There have been no prosecutions for
these occurrences.
In each casa where person was mis-
taken for a deer the shooting was fatal.
The report copies auprovingly editor
ials from the kennebeo Journal and
Bangor Commercial, editorials advising
law TO specially prosecute such cases
of gross carelessness.
REGISTERED GUIDES.
The law court has DECLARED the guilds
law constitutional in the casa OF State VS..
Snowman.
Many guides have been convicted OF
gross violations Of the game laws. The
renort says, "in the future no person Will
be deemed suitable to ACT as guide