Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-09
Inland Fisheries and Game.


In twenty-five states of the Union
and throughout the Dominion of Can
ada, licenses must be secured before
| non-residents may hunt certain game
or hunt at all. I'm some sections of the
! United States the privilege of hunting
is not extended TO non-residents. The
commissioners Of inland fisheries and
game in their annual report, which
you will shortly receive, recommend
/ the enactment of a license law to APP
ply to nonresident hunters of large
game. This would afford sufficient
| revenue TO provide an efficient warden
service and al the same time protect
our game from being destroyed by a
class of hunters who come to Maine in
increasing numbers each year, leaving
little if any money among our people,
and apparently relying upon the sale
of the game which they may secure to
defray part or all of the expense of
their vacations. Such visitors are not
desirable. They are not a source of
| any revenue to our people, and I can
personally see no reason why the State
of Maine should maintain a game pre-
serve for them free of cost The prop
erty of all our people bears its part of
the expense of maintaining this de-
| partment, vet only a portion of our
citizens participate directly in its ben
| Gifts. Why then, should not citizens
OF other states who come here to share
these privileges bear some part of the
cost of their maintenance?
AS time goes on, a much larger num-
Der of people will come to Maine each
We IN en- wi, 49,. =
hunt and fish. No other state in the
Union presents so many attractions as
ours, and we should see to it that ev-
erything possible is done to bring the
desirable summer resident within our
borders. Our game should be fully
protected, and above all our lakes and
streams should, wherever practicable,
be stocked with the product of our
fish hatcheries.
l know that you fully appreciate the
great Importance of the fish and game
interests to the people of the State, and
will take such action as is necessary
to maintain our present advantageous
position inathese matters.
State Board Of Health.
It is the duty of the State and the
AAoAiNlEctilty " PiOlCSl tIic lives anu
health of it's citizens The State board
of health, in cooperation with the To-
cal boards, constitutes public health
organization which is doing work of
the greatest value and Importance We
have come to rely upon its efforts to
guard us from the danger of epidemics
and believe that our confidence in the
efficiency of this department is fully
warranted.
During the past two years. smallpox
has been widely prevalent throughout
the country, but out own State. al
though surrounded by the danger of
Infection, has suffered little, and the
outbreaks of this disease have as a
rule been promptly suppressed
There has been a marked diminution
of the deathrate from tuberculosis. as
is shown by the reports of the depart
ment of vital statistics. The decrease
of the number of deaths from this
cause in the last decade has been more
than twenty five per cent
Sea and snore Fisheries.
The sea and shore fisheries furnish
business and employment to thou
sands of our citizens. We have no in
terest which requires more careful at
tention and protection, and none is
more surely and certainly benefited by
a wise and liberal policy on the part of
the State. In no other employment or
industry is it so easy for a poor man
TO earn an honest living, and none SO
quickly yields a reward to reasonable
effort and gives support and an inde-
pendent existence to so many citizens
who might otherwise be dependent.
The capital required by the average
fisherman who carries on business for
himself is small, while his opportunity
to live at home supporting himself by
his individual exertions. is Only limited
by the supply Of the products Of the
sea. the abundance of which depends
largely Upon the vigilance of con-
scientious and competent officials in
the protection of our fisheries from
avoidable disaster and wilful destruc-
ton. t ',at
The commissioner in charge of this
department fully appreciates the great
Importance of the interests entrusted
to his cara and can be relied upon to
protect and foster them.
The so-called Bond treaty now
under consideration in the Senate of
the United States gives free entry into
this country of the products of the
Newfoundland fisheries. It's ratifca-
ton would result in serious injury to
our fishing interests by opening to the
markets of this country the products
of Newfoundland in competition with
cur own. 'e s
The welfare of the coast towns of
Maine requires us to do everything in
our power TO prevent it's acceptance.
Pensions.
Two thousand, two hundred and
ninety eight persons in 35S towns,
|cities and plantations receive State
pensions One thousand, two hundred
and eighty-three are paid $500 per
month, and only TIA receive over $500
per month. One thousand, two hun-
dred and sixty-seven of these pension
|ers are invalds. and 926 are widows.
Though the amount paid to each is
small. many a home is relieved of want
and suffering thereby, and the re-
cipients are thus enabled to maintain
themselves without other public aid.