The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-09-10
FISH AND GAME OUTING..s

The annual midsummer meeting of ,
the Vermont Fish and Game League
at Fort Frederick, N. Y, on Friday
was another success such as has al
ways characterized these gatherings
of Vermont men. The attendance
was not SO large as in the other years,
about three hundred and fifty being
the number present, but the excellent
weather, the historic spot on which
| the banquet tent was pitched. the ex-
cellent after dinner speaking, and in
fact everything combined to make the
occasion one long to be remembered
President Fish and his colleagues of
the leagues official board, had left
nothing undone in the way of ar
rangement details and everything was
carried out according to plan.
A large company of league members
had gathered at Burlington on the day
before and other trains from every
direction brought many on Friday
morning The start from Burlington
was made at II 80 and the sail down
the lake on the Chateaugay was one
of the finest imaginable. The Ver-
gennes City Band accompanied the
party and furnished excellent music
on the boat and at the banquet.
Congressman Sibley Of Pennsylvania,
whose summer home is on Valcour
Island, took party of the guests of
honor from Burlington to the Fort
in his yacht, 'Valcour. - In this
party were Senator Proctor, Congress-
man Foster, Justice Brewer, some
guests of Mr.. Sibley and others. The
beautiful little Valcour was the center
of much admiration but her speed as
compared with the larger boat was of
the Shamrock III order and she was
considerably behind at the fort.
Lunch was served on the Valcour and
when Congressman Sibley's party
reached the banquet tent the Chau-
teaugay's passengers rad finished their
repast and were ready for the speech
making
The great banquet tent was pitched
in the center of the parade within the
picturesque walls Of old Fort Amherst
and more interesting spot could
hardly have been chosen Whittemore
and Girard, the Boston caterers, fur
nished the spread which, although it
was not particularly suggestive of fish
and game, was very good one.
After the guests of honor arrived
President Fish raped the tables to
order and spoke briefly and to the
point concerning certain phases of fish
and game interests. He then an
nounced chat he had received letters
from two ex-presidents expressing re-
greet that they were unable to be pres
ent, one being from ex-President
Grover Cleveland whom Senator Proc
tor had invited to atteud and one
from eX-President John W. Titcomb
from being present because of starting
for South America. Mr. Fish also
stated that Charles H. Robb had telo-
, graphed his regrets at the last minute,
|
P. NJ. Meldon of Rutland. Mr.. Mel
dons wit and eloquence were not
an unknown quantity to members OF
the league for he has been heard at
its meetings before, but never to bet
ter advantage than on this occasion.
, He was an ideal toastmaster in that he
was gay or grave as the occasion re-
quired aud his introductions in every
instance were appropriate and spark
ling, those in which he presented
Justice Brewer and Congressman Cap
ron being masterpieces of postpran-
, dial oratory. The first speaker was
Hon. M. f. Barnes of Chimney Point
, who gave a brief and interesting his
, tory of the fort and vicinity. Hon.
, John G. Foster of Derby Line, consul
general at Ottawa spoke of Canadian
trade relations and other matters OF
, internationl interest. Congressman
, Capron of Rhode Island made very
felicitous speeche in which he told
, some good stories and praised Yer
mont's congressional delegation.
Justice David j. Brewer of the United
States Supreme Court was the next
, speaker and his address was admit
. teddy the chief feature and event OF
the day. When he was introduced
that body of representative Vermont
ers present showed its admiration
for him by an enthusiastic ovation
> and when he had closed his address
3 every man rose to his feet to do the
speaker honor Justice Brewer urged
! the preservation of fish by stopping
: wanton destruction, by preventing the
pollution of streams and by replen
ishing streams. An acre of water il
as valuable as an acre of land, sale
S Justice Brewer, but it must be Guilt
y waited the same as land to make il
profitable. The speaker closed hi