Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-06
income in ksnnsbse County From
Non. Residents.

bUS0m0 W NOuuOOVS OOoUy ''
Non. Residents.
The forthcoming report Of the COM
mjssioners OF inland fisheries and game
will be an exceedingly interesting pub
Iication. Heretofore the statistics
touching the income derived by the
State. from its fish and game attrac-
lions have been based. for the most
part upon estimates. The commission
ers have been exceedingly anxious to
secure definite data touching upon this
important question, and In their COM
ing renort will show the results OF a
careful and thorough canvas Of Kenne-
bee. which was carefully carried out
| for the purpose of ascertaining the
number of non-residents who came to
our county, the past season, for fishing
or for a vacation. These figures have
been obtained. as result of much Ia
Dor and SO far as they go, are abso-
llutely accurate. 1t must be said of
them, however, that they, give very
conservative statement Of the total in
Icome secured from such nonresident
visitors 1t was impossible to ascertain
with deflniteness, the amounts paid the
various guides, and in some few in
stances, proprietors Of resorts refused
to give the desired information. The
lcanvass shows the following summary:
Total number of fishermen.
summer visitors, and va
cationists from outside the
State for the year 1862, 1856
Amount paid help for wages
| in consequence Of enter
| tanning these people, $I1,I5I.OO
Number of male help em-
plOyed. ~
Wages received by them, $1O,6Sl.OO
Number of female help en-
plOyed, $50
Wages received by them, $7,O76.OO
Total amount received from
| these visitors for board
alone. $1O7, 1O2OO
| This will be seen does not include the
amount paid for guides, teams, railroad
or steamboat fares, or the amount ex-
pended by these guests in purchases at
our stores.
1t will be noted that this canvass in
cludes only people from outside the
State of Maine. and the returns upon
which these summaries are based We're
obtained. in every instance from the
parties who entertained them. In
addition to these visitors there were, of
course. large number of people from
other parts of Maine, but no attempt
was made to include them in this can
vass. the idea being 10 ascertain how
much money was brought into Ken
|nebec county from beyond our State
that there is, at the present time, in
vested in hotels, homes. cottages and
camps in the county of Kennebec, $445.-
l45O, and that $54,S94 is invested in
'lsteamboats. launches. row boats and
lcanoes. These figures are certainly in
|teresting and important and may be
uStu as a UdSIS HI IIlOIc dCCuTdle rs
Inmates of the income derived from
outside sources in other counties of the
State where the fish and game interests
are vastly larger than they are in Ken
nebec. for IL may be said that, so far
as this county is concerned, the show
ing rests almost entirely upon fishing
attractions. as few, if any, outside
people are attracted here for hunting
purposes. 1t is evident that the great
counties where game abounds-coun-
ties like Washington, Aroostook. Ok
ford. Franklin, PenObscot and Piscata-
Quis could all make a vastly larger
showing than is possible to the cen
traiiy located and more generally set
tied county of Kennebec. 1t is safe to
say, however, that the income from
nonresident visitors. who are attracted
into cur State by our fishing and game
preserves. runs up annually into the
millions Of dollars to say nothing of
the great amount of invested and tax
able property, that grows directly out
of this large and constantly expanding
source of State prosperity. Certainly
an interest of this magnitude is one of
special Importance and deserves to be
given careful and serious consideration.
1t should never be approached i'm any
narrow or selfish spirit. but should be
dealt with from the, standpoint of the
highest welfare of the whole State.
Some of the literary fellows pulled
through and some didn't. For instance,