Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-08

! mark the magic wOrdS,-"the ice is Out
of Moosehead Lake" until the jdes OF
| bleak December when the last deer
trail is followed through frost and
| snow; or whether it is the farmers who
] sell the products of their toll to the
| hundreds of summer hotels, game re-
sorts and hunting camps; or the thou
| sands of employees in these inns, re-
sorts and camps; or the two thousand
! or more registered guides; or the pro-
prietors and employees of inland
steamboats,; or the Railroad officials
and employees or the village and back
woods merchant VINO furnish for a
profit fishers. hunters and tourists,
with everything for camp life; the re-
ply will be in the affirmative.
But this industry is in some respects
unlike any other in the world. In
diyiduals and corporations in almost
any other business CT vocation are the
owners of their plants and have rights,
either in fee SIMPLE or by lease of the
ground upon which they are estab-
lished. Not so with the thousands who
derive profit from dealing with and
serving the multitude who are drawn
hither by the fish and game.
Technically. every warden who per-
sues n poacher, every registered guide,
and every sportsman who roams the
forest in peIs suit of sport, are trespass-
ers upon the land of individuals or cor
porations who derive no gain whatever
from such trespassing, but who are re-
quired to pay over to the State their
proportional part of the rates levied
upon our citizens for the purpose of
preserving the life Of the very game
which is the cause of the trespasS.
For this reason the theory of the game
laws is that they shall not only pri-
tect the game, but the forests as WELL
The Forest Commissioner is made a
member of the Commission on Inland
Fisheries and Game and the wardens
are each under an obligation to pre-
serve the forests from fires while in
pursuit of their other duties as is also
every registered guide.
Then again this is the only industry
in our State with the exception of Ag
riculture and Shore fisheries which is
in any way supported or aided by APP
preparations from the State Treasury.
The title to this game being in the
State, the State has by reason of a
strong public sentiment adopted a wise
public policy in employing servants to
enforce the laws FOR its protection and
for the propagation of inland fish.
This public sentiment, by the way,
has had marvellous growth during the
past twenty wears.
In the 73d Ne. Reports, page 449, in
the case of Barrows VS.. McDermot Jus
tice BarroWs, in an opinion rendered
May 81, 1882, which case related to
great ponds and the rights of persons
to go upon them in fishing and fowling
fires off this dictum:
1T may be that our ideas of great
ponds are not precisely similar to those
which our ancestors brought from
Fngland-that there no longer exists
the same necessity fer free fishing and
fowling to enable men to get the means
of sustenance, which existed in I'LL
that the right is now chiefly exercised
by pleasure seekers and idle trampS
who might be more prOfitably en-
ployed and who cause more loss and
destruction in timber and LANDS
than their pursuits yield advantage in
the way of pleasure or profit-that
their outgoings and mornings are at
tended by const3nt treSpassers upon
the farms which lie in their way, anG
in short that it would be for the gem
eral good to restrict the privileges they
have heretofore enjoyed, but these are
considerations to be addressed to the
legislature rather than the COURT
The dear old Judge had not been con-
ve"ted to the glorious gospel of rest
so eloQUently described by that de-
lightful writer w. Fl. H. Murray, and
with all of mis- legal wisdom and
acumen he was unable to penetrate the
| future and did not live to see the day
| when the outgOings and mornings
| of these pleasure seekers and idle
trampS" had become one of the great
est and most important industries of
Maine.
But I may be DEPRESSING from the
| line of suggestions which l intended to
| make today.
| The paramount question of what
| course to pursue to best preserve this
| game is not one of sentiment or poetry
| but 4 cold business calculation. What
ever our individual sentiments may be
it is Il bottom fact that the State is
preserving this game solely because
| such preservation is believed to be OF
| material benefit H'ttnN VI llS titlHciiS
| and can be reckoncd by dollars and
| cents: and | believe that every
thoughtful person who has given this
subject careful consideration has al
ready arrived at the conclusion that VIC
are facing a crisis in these matters
and that it is "a condition and not q
theory" which concerns us at this
| time.
The inland fish. the trout and sal
mon, are the most powerful magnet
| that attracts the throngS Of visitors
| with their millions of cash expendi-
| lures each year. The cell for more
| hatcheries from almost every part OF
the State. and the cry for 4 greater
supply of fish fry for lakes. ponds. anC
rivers in all sections is increasing witt
rapidity ard it is q demand which can
not longer be ignored Cor it is an in
vestment which returns magnificent
| dividends.
Maine is largely an agricultural
community ana all forms of taxation
are scrutinized with much vigilance
The people of the State are now taxed
to the amount of $4,000. annually t.
aid in fostering this industry. I'hi:
anDrOpriation has grown in recen