Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-28
GAME INTERESTS.
What Chairman Carleton Saws
ct Present Conditions.
he Woods Already Full Of Early
Sportsmen
A"o a" unusual Amount Of 9oachins Reported
from All Quarters.

chairman Carleton OF the Fish and
Game Commission was seen by a
journal reporter and requested to state
for the benefit Of the Journal readers
the conditions as he finds them more
especially with reference to the big
game interests of the State. He said
t'n.'t VA the hrst place he would like
70 can the attention of the lumbermen
ana WIG lana owners to the fact that
the repeal OF the September Law
so calied allowing the shooting of one
deer in September for food purposes
only by campers fail to keep sporting
sand camping parties out OF the wood,
this season. Il think he continued
-that it would be a wise thing to make
"a somewhat careful and dispassionate
.5study Of the mattor in order to deter
mine what future legislation should
be asked in order to protect fores,
property. According to what seems L,
be very reliable authority and my own
observation while in the woods with
our WardenS. there are actually more
people camping in the woods this sea-
son than last during the month OF
September, but fortunately the con-
GitionS have ret been favorable for
forest fires and consequently no serious
damage will result from these campers.
If this statement is true. is it not
possible that mistake was made in
repeating this law because of the fact
that we are utterly unable to have as
close an oversight over the actions of
campers in the deep woods as we We're
tormcrly-which tends to lawlessness
in various directions and property in
terestS as we'll as game interests are
very liable to suffer in consequence
The commissioners do not wish to be I'M
derStood as championing the September
Law" but to call the attention of all
those interested to actual conditions in
order that the subject may be given
thought and study before another
Legislature convenes to the end that
wise counsel may prevail.
Not only are the woods full of camp
ers 50 to speak. but all without hardly
an exception have an abundance of
rifles with them, and the slaughter of
moose, 80 that we know of and many
more deer is evidence conclusive that
these rifles are used. Deer will certainly
become as scarce as caribou unless
the slaughter can be stopped and Of
course the moose cannot long stand
such slaughter. Yes the guides are in
large measure blameful in this re
speCt but We must deal with conditions
as We find them. The commissioners
| hope that all interested will give the
matter serious study to the end that
something may be done TO change
| present conditions
Every condition points to the usual
number of hunters this fall.
| Perhaps more moose will be taken,
! but undoubtedly less deer.
There are no indications of the re-
| turn of caribou. Partridge uuffed
grouse) are more plenty in dozen
| years. due no doubt to the law pro-
| hibiting their sale. We shall com
mence next week the planting of the
! fish from our hatcheries, this is long
! and somewhat expensive job as they
| are to 90 into every section or the
| State. we are utterly unable to supply
| the demand for them from our own
! people, but hope to in the near
| future. with the new feeding station at
| Winthrop and the new hatchery at
| Moosehead lake now being erected.