The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-14
VS.. HUNTERS.
In Maine the Stringent Game Laws
Displease Men Who Raise Crops.

New York Evening Post.
In certain sections Of Maine stringent
game laws have had the effect of setting
the farmers against the hunters. 1t is fine
for the sportsmen to see deer and part
ridges increasing rapidly, but the Pine
Cone Union Grange has it's version of the
story. Mr.. Sanford Clark, of the town of
CHINA, represents the orchardists who pro-
test against the rapid multiplication of
p~artrldges. In a speech condemning the
chard of $50 trees, which were set out from
twelve to fifteen years ago. The location is
near a piece of woods, and partridges have
budded them very severely. We have
fought them in every way we could, and
during the open season thinned them down
some. Last year we did not succeed i'm do
able to watch and fight them. The result
was that they stripped the buds practically
all from the trees" Mr.. Clark took a few
specimens of the ravaged limbs 10 Augusta
and exhibited them to the game commits
sioner, with a request for advice. The ad-
vice was to shoot the cartridges. By keep
ing a constant watch on his orchard after
that Mr.. Clark got fifteen barrels Of Nc
Intosh Reds, and sold them for $3.50 and 81
a barrel. But he estimated that fifty bar
rels were lost through the raVages of the
protected cartridges. This year Mr.. Clark
shot thirty of the birds in his orchard, but
is sure that a great number still are left to
do damage next spring.
Bad as the birds are, however, the deer
are worse. Two years ago an apple or
chard of 800 trees was set out. This fall
an examination of the trees showed that
the deer had eaten the tops off and had
gnawed the bark OF many. FOrty-eight OF
them were ruined, many more damaged.
Another appeal 10 the commissioner
brought the advice TO fire at the deer. but
on no account TO hit them. Ten dollars
was sent TO the owner Of the orchard 10
soothe his rufied feelings. This sum was
refused, and more demanded. The commits
sioner refused TO pay more, pointing out
that the game laws did not provide for the
payment of any sun for the Instruction OF
trees. but only for injury 20 growing crops.
He added that the deer were there before
the orchardists. anyway, and would stay.
Mr.. Clark waxed indignant in his speech.
He foresaw a terrible state of affairs. He
asked: 'What are We coming 10 In Maine?
Already we are In about the condition that
they are in Ireland, where a rabbit is
worth more than a mans life. Unless our
people rise and put a stop 10 this outrage
Gus condition of affairs. farming Will soon
be a dead industry in Maine and city
sportsmen will reign supreme. Again, look
at that log cabin that is 20 represent US at
St. Louis. But very few of our people ever
saw a log cabin. II is simply TO represent
our State as & game preserve. In the old
DAYS OF the Norman conquest In England
the conquerors frequently drove the natives
from whole counties in order TO turn them
into game preserves. They killed men 10
the same direction here. and We are travel
ing that road very fast. our game laws
will not stop here. II allowed 10 GO on, IL
means only one thing, and that Is death 10
our farming industry. and that Maine Will
become simply the rich mems game pre-
serves
Truly II Is a doleful prophecy Mr.. Clark
makes, but so long as the deer refrain from
biting the children. IL Is probable that they
win be protected.