Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-03
LICENSING HUNTERS.
Leading Bangor Sportsman In Favor
Of the Tax.
Gives His Reasons for the Faith that
He Has,

| j. A. thompson of Bangor, in two
| communications one to the Bangor
ICommercial and the other to Forest
and Stre"in. both of which are I'M
epuivocally in favor of the proposed tax
upon hunters of big game. In the Com
mercial letter Mr.. Thompson. who has
had. many years experience in the
woods says:
Il have been requested very often to
express my IDEAS in regard to the Ii
cehse Of hunters in our Maine woods
This is a question that is being much
| agitated by the papers and people out
side of the State. The more wardens
good wardens) the better the game
protection and also the less the liza
bility of fire.
This is question that must sooner
or later be met. l have always advo-
Gated tax for non-resdents but as the
me-passed and 1 gave the subject
more ana more attention talking with
others from out of the State and dis
| cussing the pros and cons, 1 became
| converted to the idea of a universal Ii
cense. Nine out of ten of the non-resi-
dents with whom l have talked are
perfectly willing to meet this question
and do the fair thing.
Il fully realize that possibly this law
might not reach everybody especia .ly
the farmer in the outskirts but never
the1css the general effect would be
Statutory and a sum be raised sufficient
for the present demands. No law is
absolutely perfect, not even our liquor
law:
In a universal law appears equity.
To tax nonresident alone appears
TO me the same as though you taxed
the Irishman, the Scotchman and the
Englishman, when he landed on our
shores, and let the American go I'M
taxed,-taxed the foreigner because he
was unlucky enough not to have been
born here and by so doing you are max
ing him pay for privileges which others
are enjoying freely.
No. we are part of the United
States and really not the worst part and
if t is necessary to raise money let it
be done fairly and universally. l have
lived to see this game interest grow
from absolutely nothing to it's present
enormous proportions. I should regret
to see it's decline
Mr.. ThompsOn's communication to
Forest and Stream is in part as fol-
lows:
The man who wants much for moth
ing is the one who is forever whining
because he is obliged to pay for what
he gets.
"A few years ago such a thing as a
license was not necessary, because the
amount appropriated by the State was
ample to protect the game interests,
but today the case is entirely different;
it has assumed such enormous proper
tions. In order to protect our game and
patrol our borders, a sum of money
must be raised, and surely no one
should be more willing-nay even
anxious-to contribute this sum than
those who enjoy the benefits of the
hunt.
The preservation of our game is of
vast Importance and is far-reaching
There may be plenty for you and me-
but if not protected, how will it be for
those who follow us? The present
drain cannot last forever. I speak ad-
visedly.
For 81 seasons 1 have spent the best
part of my life in the Maine woods 1t
is useless to go into figures, as much
is merely guess-work, but this I will
say: For every deer killed as accounted
for many are shot at, wounded, crawl
away and die. Now, if no restraint is
placed upon this summer, fall, winter
and spring slaughter, if there is suf-
ficient protection, how will it be with
us ten years hence?
More deer We're killed last year than
| ever before you may say. True, there
were more hunters and many killed
'toots' that you could tuck under your
arm.
Now my proposition is this: Let
those who dance pay the fiddler Soon
er or later, mark you, this thing must
be met. More money. more wardens af-
fording better protection, and as a ma
tural consequence. a more than ever
bountiful supply of game. Let there be
Il law favoring neither the resident nor
the nonresident, black or white, rich
or poor, that he who hunts in our beau
tiful forests and enjoys the privi-
| leges pertaining thereto, in order that
the game may be better protected. shall
| annually pay to the State of Maine the
sum of S. for the protection of said
game. This appears to me to be equit-
able. necessary and business-like.
| This proposition is neither mercen-
airy nor unreasonable. The sum is Sc
| : mall that he who can afford to hunt
can afford to pay it. 1t is not mercen-
cry. as personally / have nothing to
| gain, only the welfare of those who
come after me-"