Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-30

But let me say this, that the COM
never have. and never will.
try to keep any law on the statute
books that has been found to be detri-
mental to our fish and game interests.
in the opinion of the people.
Now there are various private and
special laws restricting the number of
fish, or their length, that may be taken
in one day in various waters, but none
such exist where the community has
not asked for them.
We ask information. We seek in
formation. We welcome suggestions.
We do not shrink from any fair criti-
cism. We are as liable to mistakes as
other human beings. We invite the
cooperation of all who are interested
in the development of our grand state.
I wish to say generally, that the I'M
derlying. governing principle, has been,
to preserve the fish and the game from
practical extinction.
Without laws, without restrictions.
without curtaliment of what some
are pleased to claim as a natural and
inherent right to fish and to hunt when
and where they please. and to destroy
as much as they please, hshlng and
hunting would practically disappear.
Now, then, my friends. 1t has been
found that in the process of adjusting
these laws to meet the requirements,
much friction has been created, and a
wide difference of opinion has been
found to exist as to the best methods
to be adopted.
For instance, the closing of Lake Au-
burn, the Rangeley lakes, and other
lakes to ice fishing, and their trlbu-
taries to all fishing, has created good
deal of adverse criticism, and there
has always been more or less OF feel
ing of hostility to all game laws.
But 1 think you will agree with me,
that experience has demonstrated their
wisdom, and be sure of this. gentlemen,
in our State no fish or game law can
stand long on the statute book that
Goes not commend itself to the average
sense of the average citizen.
Farmers complain that they cannot
fish in brooks that are wholly upon
their own land; that deer destroy their
crops, and the commissioners are
sometimes very savagely attacked for
recommending or urging the passage of
this or that law, but they act in ac-
cordance with the best light they have,
and whenever experience demonstrates
that they have prevailed upon the
Legislature to pass unwise laws, those
laws will be repealed, and the COM
missioners will not be slow in recon-
nending their repeal.
Now want to say this. that it is uni
versally conceded, so far as my OBJ
5ervation goes, that the State of Maine
has the best code of fish and game
avs of any state or any country, and
hey are being extensively copied, by
)ther states and other countries, not
withstanding the very severe stric-
lures that are sometimes made upon
them.
1 have said that we must have pro-
lection. That, l think, is conceded; a
game law will not enforce itself no
more than other laws will enforce
themselves.
1t has been found that there must be
officers appointed to enforce them, and
so the Legislature has provided for
the appointment of wardens. so-called,
officers of the law to prosecute Offend
These officers must of course, be
paid. Twenty-Five thousand dollars is
the limit of the States appropriation.
We have five hatcheries and feeding
stations to raise fish to restock the
waters of the State-one at Sebago. one
at Lake Auburn. one at Cobbossee-
contee. one at Caribou and one at
Moosehead. 1t costs $4,000 approx
mately to operate them, with other
expenses, outside of warden service
We have 1900 lakes. 5000 streams, 10000
square miles of water and woods, and
to spread what is left of the appro-
priation over this vast territory-16
counties-it spreads very thin indeed.
The dwellers on the coast and inland
want warden service to protect the
duck. The dwellers in all the counties
want partridge, (ruffed grouse).
woodcock and song and insectivorous
birds protected. All want their fishing
properly protected, and all cali
loudly for warden service, and we
spread it. what we have-what
we have money to hire-as
equitably as we know how, but it is not
enough and people are not satisfied.
How to increase it is a very live and
very important question:. Personally.
l do not believe in larger appropria-
ton by the State for this purpose, but.
regardless of that, do not believe that
1t is possible to obtain larger one
under present conditions.
How shall we get it? do not
think that fishing and hunting is re-
garded as enough of a religious exer-
else to warrant us in passing around
the contribution box to get it, and
do not think we would get it in that
way if we did.
Now | have been most savageIy at
tackled for advocating license law to
get it. l have been told that / was not
fit to be on the commission in con-
sequence. I have never advocated
license fee to fish.
l find the following states and
countries have adopted the license
system: Arkansas, Colorado, Della
ware. Florida, Georgia, Illinois. In
diana. Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,. Montana, Nebraska, New Mex
leo, North Dakota, Oregon, Penisylva-
MIA, South Carolina, South Dakota.
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Wyoming, British Column
bia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and
New Foundland. They have passed
the same experience we are