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


pOrtation of game, birds and fish re-
main substantially the same for many
years.
The changes are as follows The EVIL
dence of the sex of a moose must be on
, 1t while being transported. We find
this provision incorpora ted in the laws
OF most of the states that permit trans
portation of game out Of it. Many
states prohibit absolutely the taking of
any game or game birds out of the
State after being killed.
The requiring the evidence of the sex
of the males of big game to be on them,
while being transported, has been
copied from our laws quite extensively;
in fact, what I regard as a great
compliment to our laws is the fact they
are being extensively copied by most of
the states that have fish or game or
birds to protect.
The sale of moose is prohibited; not
by the party who kills it, he may Sell
it. but deer or moose shall not be sold
or given away to be carried or trans
ported beyond the limits of this State.
Marketmen may be licensed to sell
deer. There is no change in that except
the payment of license fee is re-
CURED. and they make annual reports
to the commissioners of the number
sold and of whom they purchased
them.
There was no way by which deer
skins could be lawfully obtained,
bought or had in possession. A person,
under the old law could not have more
than two deer or parts thereof in pos
SaSSinn in q oil
in close season.
Deer hides became very common.
They We're wasted for the most part,
and were of no value to the owners;
though the deer had been lawfully
| taken. they could not sell them, because
there was no one who could lawfully
purchase them and have them in pos
session.
A law was passed permitting persons
to be licensed to deal in deer skins, or
to tan the same. They are obliged to
keep record of whom they buy their
skins. and make a report of the same to
the commissioners. Under this law deer
skins could be lawfully handled; they
became of some value, and we find by
the reports that last year these deal
ers. 20 in number, bought 1106, the
average price paid was As 2-3 cents,
representing a value of $505.2 which
our people received in cash that would
otherwise have been wholly lost but for
this law. / have never known of this
provision of the law being criticised.
Sporting camps, hunters and trap
pers must be licensed. This is entirely
new legislation, as we'll as the law re-
ri..iy &c ~ ho IN, Oh,
of a registered guide during the months
of May, June. July, August, September,
October and November, when on
hunting and fishing trip and camping
and kindling fires on the wild lands of
the State.
This legislation was enacted in con-
sequence of the wild land owners ask
ing for it. and not a special request of
the commissioners.
1t was enacted as measure calcu-
lated to preserve the forests; more
over, it was amended and strengthened
by the last Legislature upon the
special, earnest request of the wild land
owners. ,-
They were being overrun by squat
ters from Canada and elsewhere, who
were building camps on their lands, en-
dangering their forests, and claimed
that it was nothing more than right
and fair than they should have this
protection afforded them.
1t will be perceived that it embodies
Il very high license to hunt or fish
the hiring of a guide costing not less
than 50 per day, but whether good
law or fool law, the responsibility
of it cannot justly be laid at the doors
of the commissioners.
We have always, however. en-
deavOred to do our utmost to protect
the woods of Maine from damage by
fire, and too much care cannot be exer-
cised in this direction.
The registration of guides was an
entirely new feature; it created wide
spread interest and much bitter oppo-
sition, though it passed the Legislature
unanimously, and two Legislatures
have convened since its passage and
no request for it's repeal has ever been
made, and it seems to me to be late
now to attack it; as was done in the
criticism referred to-as little short
of an outrage"
1t has stood the constitutional test
in the somewhat celebrated case OF
otdtc No. soHOWHidll, IcpoI III WI.
"a, page 80, of the Maine reports.
The Court says, in the course of its
opinion, as follows:
The manifest purpose of the stat
ute in this case is the preservation of
the fish in the inland waters of the
state, and game in it's forests"
If this is but little less than an
outrage then, indeed, 1t is an outrage
to protect our fish and game. There
are those in our state who think they
are outraged whenever any protection
is offered fish and game.
The Court further says:
1T has been for many years the poll
icy of this state to protect and pre-
serve its fish and game, and to that end
the legislature has annually appropri-
ated and caused to be expended large
sums of money, and has enacted nu-
merouS statutes.
Under this wise policy, the fish
and game within it's borders have be-
come of great Importance and value
to the state. The Statute here in
question is further enactment in
pursuance of such policy.
1T is well known that most sports
men who frequent remote streams
and lakes, and traverse the trackleSS