Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-18
FINE COLLECTION
Of Fish and Game Specimens
Natives of Maine,
In the Fish and Game Departments
Museum at State House.
Annually Inspected and Admired b.
Thoueands of Visitors.

ture itself. its broad halls. its tattered
and bloodstained battle flags. its gal
lery OF paintings of distinguished men,
and tho many and homelike depart
meIt5 IN rhicn the business Of the
State Is conducted from year to year,
IS sure TO provide much that will APP
peal to the interest of the sight-seer,
and when he has finished the tour of
the building by climbing the winding
stairs which lead to the dome, ana
viewed therefrom the magnificent piano.
rama Of Gods own country that lies
in an unbroken circle before him, he
considers his time well spent, ana as
he comes down to earth once more,
and wends his way homeward. he car
ries with him q fund of new and pleas
ant memories that years will not din.
So much for the attractions, speaking
in a general way. However. were a
popular vote to be taken of the visitors
who inspect the building during year,
there would be but little doubt that
they would say that the most attrac-
tive department that came under their
notice during their stay within the
walls of the Capitol was the room of
the commissioners of inland fisheries
and game.
Should one ask why people should
feel such an interest in Il lot of mount
ed animals. birds and fish, the answer
IS. because. it is human nature to do So
Ever since man was. it has been the
same. Away back in the stone age,
centuries upon centuries ago. when not
n family wardrobe in the land con-
tanned even a Norfolk jacket or calico
gown. man felt this same interest in
the beasts OF the field. the fowls of the
air and the fish of the sea. ana ne
hunted them. for they provided him
with both food and raiment And he's
hunting them still, but now it is most
~ for SPORT.
In the old days. when man went after
game armed with Il stone bound to the
end of "A club. he went in crowds, and
the chances were about even that when
the hunters came up with the quarry,
tbe fight would h.. a draw or that more
or less Of the club swingers would be
wiped ont of existence with q notice
able lack Of ceremony. But as man
came down through the dim recesses
of the past, he learned things. so that,
today. with modern firearms he can
face the wild denizens of the forest
cate the pea in a shell game.
The above brief allusion TO the pas'
is lust to show why people possess an
interest in the animal life of the couh-
trv. Naturally. we cannot all have the
pleasure of seeing the different beasts
birds and fish of orr State in their ma
tive wiIds and to afford all an oppor-
tunity of becoming familiar with them
NJ. of a
in securing the mounted specimens
which now grace their rooms.
The room is located in the basement
Of the building. under the hortheasi
corner. under the land office, and al
though of generous proportions, rs
completely filed with specimens OF
nearly ali the wild animals and birds
of the State. There are fully 700 speci-
mems. and more are being constantly
added so that 1t only becomes ques-
ton of time when the room VIII pe
given up as a museum. and the COM
mission will be obliged to seek quar-
tiers elsewhere.
A one enters the door he is some
what startled to find himself in the
presence of three moose. mounted en-
tire. There is a story goes with each'
The largest of the three. COW, was
chased out upon the river at Matta-
wamkeag, three years ago last WINTER
nv dogs. and died of exhaustion. a
smaller COW, nearer the door, ls thI
well-known Lady Bemts, that Was
struck by n train near Houghtoh on
the Portland 4 Rumford Fails railroad,
during the winter of 1900 ana captured
alive. She was taken to Merrymeet'he
mark and efforts We're made 10 save
her. but she was SO badly injured that
il became necessary TO Kill her. Inc
other snecimen IL spikchorn, or bui
calf. that was killed by an Augusta
hunter.
In addition there are five heads. one
is n magnificent specimen OF Dull
that bowed to the bullet of Hon. )
Manchester Haynes, and beside u !
the head OF q cow. recently. auueu
which is d worthy mate, being one o.
the largest and best COW heads Se'
mounted The animal was killed pN
pcachers. last year.
Another smaller bull was killed by
Mr.. Carleton. Near 1t, by WINDOW
is another large head. apparently tha'
Of n bull, with fine spread OF antiers
but all things are not what they seem
for those antlers never grew there lh'
head is that of "A large COW That was
killed by poachers. and was set up 10y
Homer Dill, the young Gardiner taxi
dermist. who skillfully engrafted th'
antlers where they never would have
grown. had the COW lived century.
The collection of deer Is also a goo'
one. there being nine heads. and tw'
mounted whole. one of them being nj
a,p,no. One deer head is very larg
one. from Jackman. and Mr.. Carleton
saws that 1t was the largest deer n
over saw. Then there is fine speci
men of a fawn. and the little fellow
could not have been but few day
old. His dam was killed and he also
out Of mercy.
There are two fine caribou heads. on
Of them being shot by Fly Rod i
Aroostook county. in 1897, but II take
that lady TO tell the story which goe
with IL. On one of the posts in tn
room Is a caribou skull with hand
some set of antlers, which Mr.. Carrie
ton picked up in the Allegash-
The cat family is represented by
Canada lynx. the gift of the Sha'
Lumber Co. of Greenville. With it is
photograph taken of the animal in I'll
tree before he was shot, and he