Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-01-02
Report and Recommeda-
tons Of Commissioners.
Something Must Be Done to
Stop Slaughter Of Deer.
Licensed Guides Earned $307, ,247-Guns
in Close Time.


planted in the public waters Of the
state during the year over 100000
fed fish," or finge:lirgs-trout and
landlocked salmon: that over 100000
will be wintered in the eight hatcheries.
fed another season. and planted next
fall. The Commissioners say they be-
lieve it IS the best policy to winter as
many as possible. feeding them the
second season. when they will have at
tanned growth of from six to eight
inches.
The Commissioners estimate that 1t
will cost to operate the fish hatcheries
for the year 1905, s21. 1.41S00. as per list
Of items submitted. If the usual ap-
preparation Of S25.o00.90 is made. it will
leave but $35S2.00. ADD TO this the
amount received from fish fines and
amount received from sale Of special
tags for transportation of fish. also the
proportional part of guide license fees.
and there will be about S,4OC0.OO for
warden service for fish. which is about
equivalent to the pay of four wardens
for fish for the entir" State, and this,
when distributed throughout the State.
Is very small. They are not able to
supply one-fourth of the demands of
the people for the protection of fish.
BIG GAME.
Under this head the Commissioners
Say:
"There has been 4 marked decrease
IN the number OF deer during the las.
two years. Many attempted eX-
plantations are given. such as the extern
sive forest fires in 1903. the extreme
cold and deep SHOWS Of the last two
winters. and the scarcity Of food. We
are OF the opinion. ls:scd upon IN"
fullest information possible TO Obtain
from all sources regarded as at all re-
liable. that the true explanation Is that
too many have been killed.
cit il an undcniahle fact that deer
have been killed almos: indiscrimi-
nataIy from June To- January and even
during the winter months. by various
classes. First, by sporting camp pro-
prietors during the time these camps
are open to guests: second. by some
lumber camp operators; thirdly. ana
most largely, pcrhans, by so-callel
fshermen. canoeing parties and camp
ers-out In the woods and around the
Dakes, during the summer months and
Invariably are fully supplied with rifles
e heavy calibre.
sThcrc Is absolutely no excuse Tor
this general practice OF carrying riiicS
,,,o tho woods in close time. The pur-
psee II only too plain. and II the deer
are to be preserved in any considerable
o,,antity. this practice must be pro-
hibited by law.
~The time has come when the people
uf the State of Maine are face to face
with this proposition. Will they pre-
vent the practical extinction Of deer?
II SO, drastic measures must be at once
Instituted and more moneyrnust De pro-
yided in some way for more warden
eoryice. How this money may be pro-
cured we point out under the title of
licenses"
Attention is called to the demand Of
the State Grange as voiced by the
resolution adopted ut their annual
meeting that there would be absolutely
no protection for deer or moose in any
town or organized plantation under
such a law as is demanded in their
resolution. which would mean, of
course. indiscriminate slaughter of
these animals at all seasons of the
year.
Attention is called to the law pro-
viding for the posting of a notice by
any owner or occupant of cultivated or
inclosed land, forbidding hunting on
these lands, which notice absolutely
prohibits anyone hunting thereon at
any time under very severe penalties.
DAMAGE TO CROPS BY DEER.
During the two years this law has
been in force, As claims have been
made for compensation: 23 claims have
been allowed and s507.50 paid in dam
AGES Seven claims have not as yet
been adjusted having been made after
the crops were harvested-too late for
anyone to appraise the damages. The
CARIBOU.
The report says "that there is no in
dication that the caribou are returning
or will ever return" and regarding
moose. gives an account OF 90 moose
mostly cows, illegally killed during the
year. The number killed legally varies
but little from last year and recent
years.
On the subject Of licenses. the report
says:
1--WE have several classes of licenses,
As follows:
First: The taxidermist license. to
pursue that business. The fee is $500
and licenses run for three years.
Second: The guide license. to en-
gage in the business Of guiding. Fee,
$l.00 per year.
Third: Commission to take birds.
their nests and eggs for scientific pur-
poses only. The number cannot exceed
Is at one time. Fee, $500 for 3 years.
Fourth: Hunters and trappers of the
fur bearing animals on the wild lands
Of the State. Fee, $500 yearly.
Fifth. License to keep a sporting
house, camp or place of resort for
hunting or fishing parties. Fee, $500
yearly.
Sixth. License for dealers in deer
skins. $500 yearly.
Seventh. Marketmen who have an
established place Of business-to retail
deer meat. Fee, $500 or $500 yearly.
according to the population of the place
where located, or fifty cents for each
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