Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-11
Commissioner carIeton's Address Al
China,

lkennebec Pomona Grange at oouti
China yesterday was a strong pre-
sentation Of the reasons why Their
should be no antagonism between OH
agricultural interests and the gam
laws. He reviews historically tn
facts leading Up to the measures 10
the protection of our fish and game
showing very conclusively the splendid
prosperity that has come to the State
as a~result Of the policy which has beef
pursued for the past three decades
Mr.. Carleton estimated that the peop''
VINO come to the State Of Maine for out
door recreation, drawn here chiefly b!
our fish and game attractions, spen
| among our citizens the enormous sun
Of $4,000, 900, during the year 1902. ant
there is every reason to believe. whei
| we look at the passenger transpor'
;ation business of the railroads during
the same period, that this estimate i:
| a conservative one. 1t is shown tha
employment was afforded to about
1000 people by these visitors. asid,
from a very large sum--more thar
$500. OtO-pa;d by them to licensed
guides.
In this connection, Mr.. Carleton
quoted the following expression from
Senator Frye: In all the times OF
business depressions and distress
financial panics and consequent ur-
employment of labor, so seriously
effecting the country. the State OF
Maine has suffered much less than any
other state in the American union,
mostly, if not entirely. due to the large
amount of money left here by the fish
ern,en, the summer tourist and the fall
hunter. the seeker after change, rest
and recreation
Bearing upon the same subject the
Commissioner read letter from Ten
eral Manager Houghton of the Bangor
AZ Aroostook Railroad expressing the
opinion that fully one-half the pas
senger mileage in the State Of Maine
during portion of each year, was
made possible. only by the patronage OF
the visiting sportsmen and pleasure
seekers 1t is, therefore, very evident
that anything which tends to cut off
the State of Maine from the enormous
revenues from outside visitors would
be a most serious blow to it's pros
perity. and to the welfare of all it's peo-
pie. AS Mr.. Carleton we'll says but a
small part Of the wild lands Of our
State can ever become farms. These
wild lands constitute about 21.0O,
square Understanding interior waite,
surfaces-of The total 10000 square
miles of territory within our State
limits The other 5000 square miles
constitute our farms, cities. and will
ages
1t is. therefore, evident that NOR.
thar two-thirds Of our State is now
available, and will be available in tn,
years to come for the propagation OF
game. Mr. Carleton says very def
nitely that The farmer has an un-
doubted right to kill at any time any
Wild animal doing damage to his crops,
or domestic animals" The commits
sioner also calls attention to the fact
that there has been upon the statute
books for many years the following
law:
Section Il. Chapter Ia. Revised Stat
utcs Whoever wilfully enters on OF
passes over the garden. orchard. NOW
ing ground, or inclosed or cultivated
land OF another. between the first days
of April and December. after being for
hidden SO to do by the owner or occu-
pant of said land. or his agent. either
personally or by notice posted conspic-
uously on the premises. is guilty OF
trespass. and shall be punished by fine
not exceeding so, and section IA ap-
plies to violations of this section"
Section IA. The owner of such
place. or any person employed in its
cultivation. or rishtfully in possession
thereof. may arrest any person found
violating the preceding section. and
carry him before any magistrate with
in the county where the arrest is
made
1t would seem, therefore. as if the
rights OF the farmers We're well pro-
tected by law. and in addition to this
there is no reason why they should not
be reimbursed for injuries actually
sustained through the depredatiOns OF
animals protected by the game laws
The greatest business interest of the
State of Maine is agriculture. The
census returns for the year 1899. which
afford the latest statistics available Oh
the subject. show the value of the
farm crops raised in Maine in that yea,
to have been $a1.954.54. Right here
| was the great vital element in oul
States prosperity. and yet the fact re.
| mains that the amount of money
brought into Maine and expended dur