Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-05-07

to angle in Lake Champlain the season
extends throughout the year. and many
complaints are entered daily at my Office
by letter. ] know Of no recourse except
to grin and bear it.
The superintendent of the sub hatchery
at Swanton has employed expert help
and has been very careful in stripping
pike He reports to me there has been
none killed, and l know there has been
none sold. The work has been done in a
very satisfactory manner. AS regards
last year. | am not familiar with the
work done at that time as | was appointed
commissioner April l. 1902, and their work
at the hatchery, practically speaking,
was completed,
This year there were thirty-fvc seining
licenses issued. amounting to SOD The
money is used to pay special wardens
throughout the State for the protection
of Ssh and game. There should be at least
s. go for this special work. Local wardens
are not very apt to prosecute violators
OF the law on account of their acquaint-
| ance and politics. Moro politics than
anything else Special wardens who arc
in different parts of the State are not in
| politics, and assist the commissioners in
| many ways but there is not a sufficient
amount OF money from SEEMING to do this
work thorough. and of course we depend
on the surveillance of local wardens.
| "Missisquoi' says all fish business in the
| state of Vermont is controlled by the
! Fish and Game League, also that it has
been rightly said that more money has
been expended on fish and game interests
| in Vermont than il would cost to buy all
the farms in tho state. or course such
statements are not true. Vermont spends
less money for fish and game than any
State in the United States. The Fish and
Game League have done much creditable
| cub Ar Ln Ctnta nf ant nd
are many true and honest sportsmen who
have helped, and are still helping, and
willing to continue to help do anything
to stock our streams and protect our game
which is of considerable benefit, without
any tax on the State of Vermont.
Here's another heading: Letters from
the People How the scining of forty
| fishermen is running one Of Lake Cham
plains attractions" Signed "A member of
the Fish and Game League" 1t is not my
custom to pay any attention to anonymous
communications of this kind. When any
mau hasn't the moral courage to sign
his name to any communication, ii is GER
tain it is not worth noticing. | am in re-
ccipt daily of letters without signatures
making complaints so and So | also re-
ceve letters signed by members Of the
| Fish and Game League, making special
request not to mention their name IN con-
nection with any complaints OF how
much consequence are such members 10
the Fish and Game League of Vermont?
| But this is too rank to overlook, lie says
| 1.-THE intention of all the laws regulating
the manner of taking fish in Lake Cham
plain is to preserve the fish in such way
that the supply shall be maintained as II
is, or increased, and, in no event diminish
ed If the commissioners charged with the
| execution of the Ia WIS fail to execute them
| so as to accomplish that purpose, they
fail in their duty" What rot! Laws are
made to clean all of the fish ont of Lake
Champlain possible. and to deplete it at
as early a date as possible. If this is not
so, why is SEEMING allowed both spring
and fall Set lines permitted, angling
| throughout the year, etc, The law is plain
enough. I have employed the best attor-
ney in the State of Vermont for this In
formation. This is his construction. The
laws of Vermont in regard to Lake Cham
plain are not made to protect II one whit
and at an early date our State will dis
cover the mistakes she has made and re-
gret II to the bitter end. The commission
ers have not increased the number OF
seine licenses. There We're twenty less
licenses issued this year than last, and
about ninety applications made and thirty
five licenses issued. 1t would he more
reasonable for any member of the Fish
and Game League, before writing letter
of this kind, to try and get at least one
of the facts at issue, and not talk about
the Fish and Game Leagues raising crS
and drive the commissioners to reform.
Respectfully yours,
| II. G.. THOMAS, Commissioner.