The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-28
PLENTY OF
DEER and
MOOSE
Non. Resident Hunters Object TO
Paying tho SIS License Foo
Imposed by State Of Maine

Bangor, Sept. 2s.-Maine has 100000 deer
and no one knows how many moose
roaming around I'm her wide forests, and
next Thursday, Oct. l, will begin period
Of ten weeks, extending 10 Dec is. when
the deer will be lawful game for any one
who can shoot straight enough 10 hit
them. On Oct Is, and from that 10
Dec. 1, II will be lawful to shoot moose.
The law allows one moose and two
deer to any man who can get them by
legal means, only this year the nom
resident hunter must pay si5 for the
privilege OF trying his luck or his skill
This law, passed at the last session OF
the legislature has aroused storm or
protest from the non-residents, who as
ssert that they have been paying enough
for their sport without being taxed SIS
in addition, and good many OF them
have declared that they will not come 20
Maine any more-not while the tax re-
mains in force.
It is not, they cay. because they can
not afford to pay the SIS. but because
they object 10 being imposed upon. They
consider the tax an imposition upon their
good nature and their pocketbooks
. Whether or not the non-residents will
give Maine the cold shoulder henceforth
remains TO be seen. They may go further
= and fare worse-to New Brunswick, for
e instance, where the license fee Is higher
/, than in Maine.
The new law was passed for the pur-
pose OF providing the Fish and Game
commissioners with additional funds for
the protection OF game. At present. as
= for many years past, poachinR In carried
on all over the state, and IL Is neces-
, sary TO employ larger force OF ward
ems 10 save the deer and moose from
utter determination
The legislature appropriates $4,000
year for the protection and propagation
~ Hah cOaVQd
to give more. OF this sum nearly four
hfths is expended in the propagation OF
game fshes leaving an absurdly small
sum for the protection OF deer and moose.
II Is expected that large sum will be
received In hunters license fees. and this
- to be expended I'm the employment OF
more wardens and in the reimbursement
of farmers for the destruction OF their
crops by deer.
The commissioners and supporters OF
the license law generally argue that as
the game belongs to the people of Maine.
the outsiders who come down here 10
- shoot II should be willing TO pay some
thing toward its preservation, and that
as they have to pay a license fee In ey-
cry other state where big game is 10 be
. found. and also In Canada, they cannot
consistently complain of Maine for ask
, ing fee much less than II charged else
where
visitors pay well for the sport without
any license fee being exacted-that in
the employment OF guides, the payment
OF hotel and railroad bills and In various
expenses the 10000 sportsmen who come
, here every season leave fully S.0ooe0o
, in the state.
To this It is replied that when Maine
man goes to New York he expects TO
pay his railroad fare and his hotel bills.
and is also in the habit of buying his
theatre tickets In other words, they
who dance must pay the piper, whatever
may be the pipers charges.
The sale OF licenses began several
weeks ago, and good many have been
taken by men and women resident in
other states The advance guard OF the
hunters Is already in the woods many of
the late fishermen remaining for the
opening of the deer season. and from
now on the visitors will be coming
daily.
The camps are all open, the 1900 reg
istered guides are all standing ready for
customers and the 100000 deer will be
racing through the woods, lodging bull
lets when the fun begins.
The greatest OF all Names game re-
gions Is along the upper reaches OF the
Penobscot river and around Moosehead
Lake, Hancock and Washington coun-
ties on the eastern coast coming next
IN point or game FeSOuTCeS, anu lne
Rangely Lake region third In import
ance In olden time the hunter who pen
etrated the big woods north OF Bangor
had to take "lumberman's luck"-mak-
ing q hard journey with no comforts.
part way In canoes. part way by tote"
team or on foot.
Now there is a fine railroad service,
with parlor and sleeping cars. directly
into and through the northern game re-
gion. and the journey Is no longer diff
fcult unless the hunter desires TO go
far into the deep woods and away from