Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-11
TROUT AND TRoUTING.

The fishing season has opened, anC
the new fish law passed at the last ses
sion OF the Legislature becomes real,
operative. Its principal importanc,
in this section attaches TO its provis
ions for the stocking and posting o.
trout streams and ponds and the rule
prescribed tor fishing.
In regard to taking trout, it is un
lawful to take them at any time of tn,
year except by the method commonly
known as angling. Set lines are moi
allowed.
Trout can be taken only during the
open season which, as now arranged,
is from May LIST to August LIST in
brooks and streams, and from May LIST
TO September LIST in lakes and ponds.
The "catch" Of brook trout is limited
to ten pounds per day per person and
of lake trout to twenty-five pounds a
safe limit for most of us. Trout can
not be caught for sale. Query: what
will some OF our fishermen do to back
up their stories, now that the small
boys string cannot be bought?)
With regard to stocking and posting,
the new law makes a radical change.
Landowners cannot invoke the pro-
lection OF the state fish and game laws
to keep fishermen off their premises
Though they may warn them off as
trespassers) unless they do what the
law prescribes toward stocking their
streams. This consists in placing
therein each year not less than one
thousand fry or three hundred finger
lings for each halt mile or less OF
stream, or each acre or less of pond or
lake so posted and each landowner
must each year file with the town
clerk of the town in which the posted
waters lie sworn affidavit TO the eff
feet that the stocking provision has
been duly complied with. Then he
may 90 ahead and post his streams
and keep fishermen off indefinitely, as
long as he does his part yearly.
The purpose of the stocking pro-
vision is that landowners shall do
something themselves toward fish
propagation, in order to claim the
benefit OF special legislation for fish
protection. 1t is a sensible PROPOSE
ton. too. Il has never seemed fair or
right that some mean-souled land
owner who happened TO have a trout
brook flowing through his premises,
who never fished himself or cared for
the fish, and who took no interest in
fish or fishing anyway should be able
to invoke a special law 10 defend him
self in his meanness, and keep others
IRON enjoying that which ayailed !
himself not at all. We like the new
method altogether better. II it is |
worth anything beyond the mere
satisfaction derived by an ugly dis
position in seeing the barefooted |
with his cut pole turn a
face toward a stern and
fish sign, let them 90 to
work and stock their streams.
SO far ish propagation in Vermont
has not amounted TO much. Inc
state has expended many thousands /
OF dollars in fish hatchery and fish !
maintenance, with very
little to show Tor it. Streams have
been closed, stocked by the state. or
by the owners at state expense, only
to be skinned as soon as re-opened,
il not surreptitiously long before.
In the end fishing is poorer than at
the beginning. If now there can be
the hearty interest and cooperation
Of the landowners, real start may
be made that will be effective. if
by sensible restrictions as
TO fishing. At any rate the present
law is based on right principles.
There is conTariety OF opinion,
we are aware, as to closing and post
ing all waters. The landowner re-
CARDS the fish in the streams that
low through his premises as bis own
property. and holds that be has fun
authority to keep marauders from
taking them. On the other hand the
sportsman feels that somehow he has
! right 10 the free things Of nature
he can find them. His view
IS that the beasts OF the wood and
ield. the fish Of the waters and the
owls Of the air are no part or parcel