The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-03
POACHING in THE WILDS
INDIANA HUNTERS ALLEGED TO
HAVE EVADED MAINE GAME LAWS.
Vast Stretches of Forest Where Mans
Football Is seldom Heard-ExDeri-
ence with Moose.
Correspondence Of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal
PORTLAND. Me, Nov. 2S.-The recent
visit Of Indiana hunters to the woods Of
northern Maine and their departure from
the State after killing game indiscrimin-
ately and without complying with Names
game laws. has set the tongues Of legisla-
tors and officials generally TO talking on
the subject OF how a reparation for the
grave offense can be made. The conclusion
reached is that. though the injury is now
done and the State has now lost jurisdic-
ton by allowing the guilty persons to go
beyond her borders, a lesson has been
taught to the fish and game commission
Of the old Pine Tree State. and from
Augusta comes the promise Of a closer
patrol the Canadian border, across
which, near Lake MegantiC, in the province
of Quebec, the party descended, desPOiIed
and departed without so much as hiring
guide. buying a snowshOe or paying the
customary license of s., which all nom
residents who enter the State by Portland
or the coast cities are rigidly required to
pay ere taking a shot at the giant moose
or the nimble deer.
The State Of Maine, though farthest east
in the Union. presents an anomoly in that.
though settled permanently long before the
revolution. it has vast stretches Of territory
more wild and inaccessible than any region
east Of the Mississippi river. The portion
of territory that hears no human football
oftener than once a year, when some hun
ter. trapper or game warden tramps
through the solitude of the pines is larger
than any Ike area in the AdirOndacks Of
New York, the sources OF the Clinch river,
In east Tennessee and the solitudes of the
northern peninsula Of Michigan combined.
In fact, II il doubtful if there Is any
stretch OF territory IN the Union. unless
IL is I'm Ruett county, Colorado. or one or
two spots in the mountains of New Mexico
or Arizona, where lies large a body
OF adjacent unsettled territory as in north
ern Somerset, Plscataquis and AroostOok
counties.
VAST UNINHABITATED REGION.
A stretch of country as large as the State
of Indiana north Of "A line drawn due east
and west through the city OF Anderson
Is still included in the unorganized and I'M
inhabited townships Of the State. AroostOok
county, itself almost as large as the State
OF Massachusetts, has 1O1 townships that
are without an inhabitant, or a territory
as large as the First and Second congress
sional districts Of Indiana. Piscataquis
county as large as the States Of Rhode
Island and Delaware combined, contains
within its borders seventy-six unsettled
townships, while Somerset county has for
counties has twenty-five townships that
are without a settlement
To this region each year sportsrnen from
the entire eastern portion Of the United
States flock in thousands. and their licenses
paid for the chance OF killing a deer to-
gether with the hiring Of guides. who are
llsenced by the State. insure an income to
the State Of 100000 annually No wonder
then mat TINS great game preserve is close
~ watched BY the jealous. lynx-eved Off
Gals. and no wonder Outcry goes IN
when successful pOaChers as were the
recent lndianians. openly and boldly violate
the laws and escape by a route where the
game wardens are few and not vigfIant
This party, IL is asserted. arrived over the
Canadian Pacific Railroad. leaving the
train at Megantic, few miles from the
Canadian-M Maine boundary. crossed into
Maine by detour. killed all the deer they
could haul back 10 MegantiC and again
took the train at the latter place for Mon
treal.
But TO show that the law is generally
observed we have only 10 state that from
Oct 10. the date on which the season for
deer and moose shooting opened TO Nov