Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-06
and Game Interests.

Maine Sportsmen's Fish and Game
Association, yesterday. Chairman
Carleton, Of the fish and game COM
mission, hits the nail on the head Wnen
he declares that there is no con-
trDvcray between the game interests
ana the farming interests OF Maine. Ii
Is true that certain people, VINO IKE to
stir I'D trouble, and who are opposed to
our game laws, and those charged with
their enforcement. have tried of late to
create an antagonisn between these
interests. They have made statements
at wide variance ~ith facts, and hay.
: shown their colors, and the despela~
ton of their cause. 50 plainly that
they are hardly worth the powder
. which Chairman Carleton expedited
upon them in his HIngor address.
The farmers Of Maine are not opposed
Z 10 legislation for the protection or
game. IN our Legislature for many
sesiDnq. their representatives hay"
voted unanimously for such projections:
: and are a class too wide-aWake ana
sprogrcasiye to b" blind /" tn" great
!. bcrcfits which result to the state at
large from these laws. In spite Of IN"
efforts Of the agitators 70 cohvlhc"
them to the contrary. they know that
neither the farmers of the state, noi
tiyeI
single cent for the protection Oh
game. by wise legislation the pop"
who come from outside Of Name
10 hunt big game, winch IS u"
property Of the state. are required
70 BAY small license for the
privilege. and the money thus
secured is all that is used to
enforce the game laws. Inc
farmers are also aware, the Efforts OF
the agitators to the contrary notWIth-
standing. that they have full right
under the common Law 70 shoot deer o:
other wild ANIMALS which ar" destroy
ing their clols ana damaging their
urop.rtv: and. moreover, that pro-
vision is NOW made by law to pay
them for damage so done to growing
crops.
The farmers Of Maine appreciate
thal hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
annually are bi ought into our state
and cirt ui.ted her" by those VINO
come. To- fish in our streams and Lakes.
and hunt in or forests: and they
recognize that this incom" cannot be
continued unless the State hy wise
legislation protects the tiSh "h" M
game. which are its property. ne
tanners of Maine also rtaliz" that TN"
trotcction oc oar game and The coming
her. ;iunuaIly IF thousands Of those
outsiders. furnish the means OF liNell-
hood Of ao,u citizens. heads Of families.
who ar. engaged in guiding. or who "r,
sporting gam" properties. hotel keep
rrS aud cooks.
They are also well aware that this
game. whi,h il prott cted. is not ""lelE
here to Spend their money. III" re-
,urls received at the Office OF IN" hSh
and game commissioner from town
clerks il, counties, where nutSfN'
hunters almost never go. SHOW tha'
Utmost 5000 deer We're killed III thcS"
towns 10y farmers and farmers sons.
during the past open season. rms
,u,,..s some s5o.ooo worth OF venison
N 4 low estimate. which the farmers
ANA their families Of these counties
had for their own use, or Soih III
urighhoring villages and cities.
Mr.. carleton also shows the
absolute absurlity of the deciarau"h'
recently made by those who strive 10
stir up opposition among IN" farmers
Ia tho game laws. that the protection
rf nir game means the decrease III
,,o,,,J,,i,n ana a general holding back
of tn, forces OF civilization. Af""st""k
county. which is our greatest gam
,,untv. beat all the other counties al
The last decade. Ana if protection o.
game ryt1r,'s civilization. then tht
NhcIr world is going backward. fni
almost every state and country i'll nv
world. which has big game to protect
is doir.s more to protect it than Name
In short. the game interests and tht
agricultural interests Of Maine arr
mutual. and efforts to arouse antaEol'
ism between them are bound to be
failure. Those who seek 10 stir III
srch 4 controversy should be ASHAMED
of themselves. and should lose no TINS
in getting into better business.
For months it has been we'll under
stood that governor Taft was t.
succeed Secretary Root. and so hi
...;,,,,;,>, ~. ti,a President caused II,