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


it's repeal has come from some Of those
who advocated its enactment, on the
ground that it creates guides trust,
so to speak, creates monopoly for
them, enabling them to demand and
receive their own prices for labor free
from competition.
Now I have think, called attention
TO substantially all the changes of a
general character that have been made
in the fish and game laws, since have
been one of the three commissioners.
Many private and special laws have
been enacted. There has been an in
creasing demand for special laws on
various lakes, ponds and streams, on
account of the ever increasing value OF
the water privileges for fishing. as an
inducement to summer visitors to pass
their vacations in these localities
where they are situated
AS lawyer, have. discouraged, all
that I thought l legitimately could,
private and special legislation; am
opposed to it in theory, but we have
found it utterly impossible in practice
to restrict it to any very great extent.
The people have a right to petition
The Legislature for special laws on this
Or that lake, pond or stream: they set
forth. in their petition, their reasons
for asking for it; the Legislature listens
TO them and grants theirrequesti in most
instances.
Sometimes it. refers these petitions to
the commissioners. Many times the
petitioners come directly to us; we
give notice, go to the locality, hear all
the parties who wish to be heard, and
usually the request is unanimous from
a whole community, and their request
is oftcntimes granted. Now in this
way a large number of, so-called,
private and special laws have ac-
cumulated.
bad policy, but l confess l have never
been able to find way to avoid it.
l wish someone would suggest way
out of it that would be equitable, fair.
just and reasonably satisfy the peo-
pie. A.
Ice Fishing. Probably the various
restrictions as to ice fishing, that is.
fishing through the ice, that have from
time to time existed, and still exist,
have caused more complaint from our
own people than any other and perhaps
all others, and has caused the greatest
concern to the commissioners.
The general law relative to fishing,
that has been in force nearly ever
since we have had any fish laws, makes
close time begin October 1st, except in
Kennebec county and waters of the St.
Croix river. when close time begins
Scvfan,hac Eth nd
begins when the ice is out.
Now this general law makes an ex-
ccption in favor of residents of this
State. who may. during February,
March and April, fish through the ice
with certain number of set lines, in
the day time, and catch 20 pounds in a
day and convey them to their own
homes for consumption. This relates
to trout. togue and landlocked salmon.
and here Is where the trouble has
arisen.
Whole counties, like Franklin, have
for many years, absolutely, by special
enactment. prohibited any ice fishing;
other lakes in other counties, like Lake
Auburn in your county, are likewise
protected, and so more or less confu-
sion arises as to just where one can
or cannot ash through the ice.
Now l took great pains to have the
delegations from the various counties
get together last winter, when the
Legislature was in session, and form
ulate a law. stating just what lakes
and ponds their constituents wanted
open to ice fishing, or what restric-
lions as to deer shooting they wanted
in various counties, and the law today
is as it was recommended by them.
Now there was no law whereby a
person who caught nice fish, or shot
nice deer or moose, the very first of
his outing. could send it home He
had either got to give up his trip and
go home with it, or let it spoil, SO a
law was passed allowing him, on the
purchase of tag, paying one dollar
for it, to send 10 pounds. or one fish,
to his home, or to any hospital in the
State, or one deer on payment of 81 or
IS for a moose.
This law is thought by many to be
wrong: the law gives one the right.
and always has, to catch rs pounds a
day, but one cannot have more than