Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-01-02

shore birds in a few coast counties.
Fee. $500 yearly.
Ninth. Nonresident hunters who
hunt moose and deer. Zee. $500.
We have ceased to hear anw COm-
plants on account of any of these IL
ccnses except the laSt-the non-rcsi-
dent hunters license-and opposition to
this, while quite extreme ut one time.
has ceased to exist practically. We
have no heSitancy in saying that it has
been an unqualified success and is now
50 regarded by nearly everybody. There
are some few people who will never be-
come reconciled to anything they have
opposed. but after Il time such opposi
ton ceases to be of any Importance"
SHOOTING ACCIDENTS.
There have been six fatal mistaken
for-a-deer' shooting cases during the
year. one that did not prove fatal and
seven other accidental shOotings while
hunting.
No registered guide has in any way
been connected with any of these acct
dents. and no nonresident hunter has
met with any accident while in the
woods.
This certainly speaks we'll for the
guides OF Maine.
1t is not the duty of the Commission
ers to institute prosecutions in cases Of
| this kind.
Considerable space is devoted to the
| partridge. robin, and other birds.
REGISTERED GUIDES.
There were registered during the
year, 1.9i2 guides. They guided S,924
non-residenIs, and 4.5S3 residents. in
fishing or hunting. They guided S7,7S5
days in all. This. at $3.50 per day
would amount to $301, ,241.5O which they
| have earned.
| 1851 nonresident hunting licenses
were issued: 80 taXdermst licenses:
commissions to take birds their
nests and eEgS for scientific purposes;
1l6 hunters and trappers' licenses; 165
camp proprietors licenses; 30 licenses
to deal in deer skins; AZ licenses to
! narhetmen.
| over 100 agents We're appointed to
| sell hunting licenseS.
The commissioners held So hearings
upon petitions for tshways. and rules
and regulations upon various ponds ana
| streams.
An itemiZed list of expenditures is
| given which shows an expenditure of
| SOB. l2.23. OF this amount $4,000. 90
WAS appropriated by the Legislature
for the operation of the fish hatchcricS
The balance was obtained from license
fees and fines.
RECOMMENDATION
We have but few to make. First:
We would suggest that the non-rcsi-
dent hunters license law be amended
as follows:
To require 4 fee of $500 to hunt
ducks. partridSes, woodcock. or other
| game birds i'll open season during
september. and plovcr in open season
during August. and Sl5.cO during
| October and November To hunt for any
kind Of game or birds: that those who
pay $500 for a license to hunt birds Ill
August ani september may procure Il
| license t. hunt in October and Novcm-
hor for so. ANA allow the liccnsec 10
take To his home 10 partridScs, ducks
and other game birds.
Second: Strike off the open season
on deer the fifteen days in December.
and provide that but one Of the twp
deer a person may kin in open season
shall be a doe.
Third: Restore the search clause as
| it WAS before the revision.
There is no question but that the
| general practice of taking firearms into
the woods in close season is productive.
OF great slaughter of game. Whether
this can bc regulated 50 as to prevent
the great damage being done, or wheth-
er Il gun tax or registration fee earnest
| L. I'D, ,f.4I h,- nI :,
game protection would accomplish
the desired result is Il question that
ought to be carefully considered. Some
thing should be done to prevent sum
mcr and winter shooting now so prcva-
lent. There are several unimportant
minor changes that experience has
shown to be necessary, which Will be
called to the attention of the LeSisia-
turc.
The extent of the improvements that
have been made in firearms and am
munition in recent years adds greatly
to the destruction of game and birds.
"Thc breech loading shotgun and rife
have followed the muzZle loader; the
automatic ejector. the single trigger
for GOuble barrelcd guns; the pump
gun (with Il pump gun Il man can fire
six shots i'll as many SecOndS), the
automatic shotgun, which is capable of
firing six shots in two seconds; the
Winchester. and other repeating rifles.
have all contributed in very l2rSc
degree to the destruction of bird and
wild animal life. This. together with
the greatly increased number of hunt
ers makes thoughtful men consider
how it is possible to preserve our game
and birds.
Market hunting should be discour-
aged in all possible ways. There is
too much of it in this State. The
tendency ot all recent legislation in all
the states is to prevent this. The
Boston market has not in years been
50 supplied with our moose, deer ana
birds as this year. This is due to t%o
causes: the dropping out, by the re
vision committee. of the law giving
the right of search for and seizure OF
game without a warrant, thus enabling
the poacher to ship to Boston or else
where game and birds without molesta-
ton. and. secondly. the growing prac-