Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-30

in regard to the number Of licenses issued
by the two governments is insignificant
when compared with the many advan-
tages obtained by American fishermen in
that portion of the lake lying between
Alburgh and Hog Island where fish nets
placed in the narrow channel intercept
the FISH coming into Mssisquoi Bay and
streams entering therein. 1t is safe to
infer that three times the amount of fish
is taken in that particular locality. when
fairly compared with the miserable few
taken by Canadian fishermen in that part
of the fishing grounds located north of
the boundary line. Last year the fish and
game commissioners of Vermont extended
the term for fishing with nets, for the
space Of one whole week. They have al
so extended the term of the present year
until April 20 and yet we hear dissatisfied
Americans crying out about Nermonters
being again fooled by "Canucks' by not
| fishing in accordance with the Joint law.
Like the proverbial hearing that was.
thrown across the track for the purpose of
| eludng further pursuit, these chronic
! fault finders seek to make a virtue of
necessity by crying out "knaves; Liars;
Canucks," etc. hoping thereby to conceal
! from their more respected countrymen
the fact chat these would he pillars of
| light are naueht else than children Of
darkness. In Vermont the fish and game
| commissioners get all the seine license
| fees, TO use as they see fit, The sum Of
money collected this year will amount TO
about $1,000 viii the Vermont commits
! sioners work in good faith so long
| they get this money? They claim that
their whole motive is to protect their fish.
| but as long as their fishermen are granted
| an extension of time every year in which
! fish may be taken in nets it is difficult
to see where the force of their statements
comes in. Last year the Vermont commits
| u Of fc1, aly.a,n
on Missisiquoi river. They said that tho
FISH were sold for the State. The oues-
ton has been asked. What became of
the Money If the intelligent people OF
| Vermont will open their eyes a trihe.
| they may perhaps find out that they are
being sold more by some OF their own
| officials than by "Canucks." An article
that lately appeared in a Vermont news
paper asks Canadians to take the fish bust
| ness ont of politics. God have mercy on
us. Al! fish business in the state of Yer
mont is controlled by the Fish and Game
League. IT has been rightly said that
| more money has been expended on fish
and game interests in Vermont than it
would cost to buy all the farms in the
| state If those noisy fellows who are
| agitating the fish question would call on
the proper authorities when visiting Ca
NADIA. and state that the supply Of fish,
| food was decreasing in Lake Champaign.
they would have but little trouble in
passing a law prohibiting fishing with
nets; or at least to have the close sea-
son for catching pike made shorter, n
condition that would he acceptable to a
ma iority Of tho people of Vermont and
Canada. although a few people residing
on the borders Of Lake cha mplain might
favor a law that would allow them the
right to furnish summer hotels with fresh
FISH taken with hook and line.
] remain yours truly,
MISSISQUOI.