Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-16
AT KINE0.
The Hunters License Tax Law
in Maine.
It is Widely Favored by Sportsmen
in This State.
More Money Needed for the Protection
of Game.
AT KINEO.

to Kineo last week, says J. n. Taylor
in the Boston Sunday Globe, to attend
the annual meeting of the Maine
Sportstnen's Fish and Game Associa-
ton was competent after a stay Of
thre days at that delightful resort to
pronounce without hesitation the In
dian name of Roach pond. Kokadje-
weemgwasebem is what the red men
used to call it, but it was a tough tote
road for q tongue to travel, and now
IL Is seldom heard save when applied
rs a test to detect fire water in the
system.
In the old days of tomahawks and
long bows Moosehead was a place of
hot strife. From up over the line Of
,iemarcation separating Maine from the
British holdings in Canada came the
fierce Mohawks. too many and too
powerful for the milder-mannercd
Abenakis whom they subjected to an
nuaI tribute. The invaders discovered
the Moosrhead region to be place
where nature pours out in larger
liberality than elsewhere, and when
they returned to their own lands they
spread the fame of the old Abenaki
hunting grounds.
And they did not forget to mention
the immense pile of hOrnblend known
as Mount KincO where spear points,
arrow heads, knife blades and toma-
hawks We're quarricd. They told OF
all of these things in the land of the
peaceful Indians whom a black robe"
from a far remote pale face country
had taught to plant corn and Vege-
tables and to do good to them who shot
arrows their way.
1t was poetry in the Abenaki nature
that pictured in them the likeness of
Mt Kineo to a drinking moose. From
certain places in the upper part Of the
Iak. the little mountain bears out the
smile. even to the blades and prongs
of the antlcrs which are traced by two
arms of the lake. The beauty and
prodigality Of Moosehead went into
tradition. From Indian to hunting
white man. to tourist, to city-bred pco-
pie with iaded phySiques, to artists in
quest of sweet hooks for brush and
pencil, the tradition DESCENDED, ana
when the Maine SpOrtsmcn' $ fish and
game association decided upon annual
outings TO consider suggestions anu
shape legislation for the protection of
fish ana game the latent savage in all
members drew pictures of Moosehead.
Every year since the first gathering
of these SpOrtSmCn ut kineo has
marked a decided progress in fish and
game propagation ana protection.
LandIock"d salmon are now to be
found in POO lakes and ponds. Ten
wears ago they were not to be made
rise in more than half a dozen, while
al the time deer have multiplied. Carl
bou have either wandered away or
have like the buffalo found the con-
dtions too many guns for them
Some few years ago it was found
necessary to put on a five years pro-
lection to give this fleet footed, splen-
didly antlcred animal an opportunity
to increase his kind.
Eut the caribou is 4 restless creature
and Il great wandcrer. Going straight
away from the ArOostook region to the
waters Of the Miramichi in New Bruins
wick would not among that family OF
game animals be considered eXtraOrdi-
nary, ana likely rs not the woods OF
Maine will soon again be peopled with
them. Some say the moose are vanish
ing, but guides and foresters who roam
the woods during the close season as
sert the contrary.
Decrease or increase in big game,
however. cannot be determined by
iauntS in the summer woods. 1t is easy
to find big game in fly time, when only
relief from the pests is SubmerSion in
some lake or stream, but when the
season opens game becomes more alert
and seeks the SeClusion of the deep
woods. There seems to be no doubt
about the gradual lessening in num-
bers of the moose family, and the fact
that last years kill of deer was marked
ny an unusual number of does would
seem to indicate that the old-time big
antIcrcd buck was also getting scarce.
What to do to preserve the sport of
big game hunting has been q much
discussed question for more than n
twelvcmonth. Some of the spOrtsmen's
publications have given over columns
to expressions of opinion. especially
since the inception Of the movement in
Maine designed to influence legislation
imposing Il license fee on out-of-the-
state sportsmcn. Opposition to the
movement was very general. even in
Name when such q law was first pro-
! used. but gradually the idea has won
as advocates ana adhcrents some of the
best known and most influential men
in the State. Nearly if not quite all of
the wild land owners favor the meas
ure. believing that such n license law
would tend to weed out reckless and
lie experienced hunters, who slaughter
indiscriminately and are not overcarc-
full to guard against fires
But not all in the State are in favor
of IMPOSING a tax. The guides are
strongly against the measure. 4 : being
Unfair and n-AmeriCan. This. too, was
the opinion of some few sportsmcn who
were resent ut Kineo when the meet
inc was called TO order. In the absence
OF Hon. L. q. Nickery of Augusta, who
thinks the license law the only saliva
ton for game protection. Col. J. X
StetSon of Bangor presided TIE
principal speaker. who seemed to voice
TIE general sentiment. was Hon. J. i.
Spraguc of Monson. Mr.. Sprague is Il
spG tsInan of considerable experience.
u laNA or and wild land owner. and he
Is said to have no prejudice regarding
hunters from out OF the State.
lie explained his stand in the matter
ooncisely and clearly. The State could
not lie induced to appropriate more
ti;an $4,000 a year for fish and game.