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

The Ariel Club at Lewiston, "Wednesday
evening. is one replete with facts per-
tanning Ia this great interest CT our
State. II is worthy Of careful study.
In opening Mr.. Carleton shows how
much the large annual visitation of
citizens from other states has done to
;cvertise the resources Of Maine. This
has already led to much outside invest
me mt in the industries of our state. and
may be expected to accomplish even
greater results in this direction in the
wears to come 1t is evident therefore
That the large annual sums expended
among our people every year, by visit
ing sportsmcn is only part Of the
benefit which Maine directly secures
from it's fish and game attractions.
IL is of very great importance there
fore to the welfare Of our people that
these attractions shall be carefully
maintained. To do this the fish and
game interests of Jour State must be
carefully protected, in order that the
natural increase may keep pace with
the demands Of sport. The legitimate
hunter welcomes such guardianship of
our game interests for it is this. and
this alone. which renders fishing and
hunting privileges available to the
many, and not the privilege of a few.
The true sportsman has no sympathy
with the hunting or fishing hog-who Is
not content with a fair share of the
sport that belongs to the whole public,
but must needs indulge in wanton
waste and destruction. that merely
operates to abridgc the opportunities
and dctract from the enjoyment Of all
who come after him. Such a man We
say deserves no sympathy, and if he is
made to suffer the penalties of the law.
il will be no more than he richly de-
serves-and thc public interests will
surely be- promoted thereby.
Nowhcr- on this continent are the
fish AMI game laws so liberal as they
arc in the State Of Maine. y sports
man may legally take during me open
seacon Is pounds of fish in any one day:
hc may kill two deer and ship them to
his nome He may kill q bull moose
ana dispose Of il in like manner
Partridges may be taken in any num-
hers for private consumption, but are
not permitted to be killed for the mar
ket3 or shipped outside Of the State.
There is not law relative to our fish
and game interests on our statute
books today which did come there
through petitions from the people
after public hearings before the fish
and game committee. and by the votes
of the peoples representatives. We be-
lieve that there are few if any of them
today which the people as whole
Guild care to have repealed.
We can conceive of no people who
have a more direct interest in main
tanning Names supply of fish and
game. than our registered guides. Once
that it no longer offers drawing attrac-
tions to the sport loving public, and
they will be out Of employment. II
would seem therefore as if their Co
operation might reasonably be counted
upon in protecting our present game
supply from wanton destruction.
hat
.nt warden service is very inadequate
to the proper enforcement of our fish
ana game laws. There are in Maine
as Chairman Carleton points out, 1906
lakes. 5000 streams. and 10000 square
miles Of woods and water. The stotal
State appropriation for the fish and
game department is $4,000. About
so, 600 of this is required for the main
tenance of five hatcheries and feeding
stations already established. 1t will
therefore. be seen that little remains
for warden service.
1t is evident that laws will not en-
force themselves. and there does not
appear to be any particular SdSoh why
the taxpayers as whole--many OF
whom have no direct interest in our fish
and game supply-shonld be called
uron to pay for the additional service
The question naturally arises, why
should not the sportsmen themselves
who enjoy the privileges Of fishing and
hunting in our State. and who have
therefore. a direct and personal Inter
est IN the maintenance OF our supply
OF fish and game be asked to do some
thing towards providing the additional
warden service so badly needed. They
are already required TO contribute
something to the support Of the gains
interests In Arkansas. Colorado. Della
ware. Florida, Georgia, Illinois, In
diana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota
Missouri, Montana. Nebraska. New
Mexico, North Dakota. Oregon, Penn
c,.Ivania South C,arClina. SOutf