The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-10
THE STATE REPORTS.

The crowded condition or our col
umns, due to the publication of the
annual review of local events in 1905
and Governor Cobb's message in full,
made it impossible to print this week
summaries of the reports of State Off
Gals, some of which are of unusual in
terest. The report of the Warden of
the State prison shows that that insti-
tuition is nearly self-supporting, the
financial condition having greatly i'm
proved under Warden Norton. In this
connection it may be said that the
Thomaston Herald reports the citizens
of that town as indignant at the at
tacks upon Mr.. Norton in the Water
vile Sentinel and Rockland Star, and
says that they regard him as a man
who is fully able and capable of con-
Quoting the affairs of the prison in a
competent manner"
The State assessors report shows an
increase of $40, 9O1, s4S in the valuation
of cities, towns and plantations of
Maine, the largest annual gain in tax
able wealth that has ever been record
ed in the history of the State. The
valuation of wild lands has been in
creased 30 IL per cent, while the total
State tax placed upon farming towns
and plantations outside of Aroostook
county is approximately $4,000 less in
1906 than the State tax assessed upon
the same towns in 1900. The whole re-
port is a strong refutation of much of
the criticism relative to the taxation of
wild lands.
The report of the commissioner of
sea and shore fisheries shows that the
total production of all branches of the
fisheries in the State for the past year
was l79,ssS, 200 pounds. valued at 81,
O4S, 923, and that the total investment
in the fisheries was s2,s39,s4 de-
crease of 1921 1858 from the previous
year. The number of persons engaged
in the fisheries and allied interests was
1854 The lobster catch increased, as
did the financial returns. The macker-
ell fishery had been very Improbable
and discouraging during the past two
years.
The annual report of the commission
ers of inland fisheries and game says of
the work of the eight fish hatcheries
that "there is growing sentiment that
better results would be obtained by
feeding the fish a year longer after
hatching." There was a marked de-
crease in the number of deer killed
the past year as compared with the pre-
ylous year, estimated as fully one-third
Many theories are advanced as to the
cause of this, but in the opinion of the
commi ssioners SO many are being kill
ed that the supply will not meet the
demand of the constant increase in the
number of hunters from year to year.
The most reliable figures obtainable
give the number of deer killed in 1906
as at least $4,000. The decrease in the
number of moose is noticeable; there is
a record of 40 moose illegally slaughter
ed. There are no indications of any
caribou in the State. The nonresident
hunting license, the commissioners say,
has proved a decided success.
In this connection it may be be add
ed that at the recent annual meeting of
the Maine Fish and Game Association
it was voted to ask that the State legis-
lature pass an act for the better pro-
lection of fish and game and regulat-
ing the carrying of firearms on the wild
lands of the State. The bill provides
that it shall be unlawful to have in
possession any firearms on the wild
lands or upon the waters situated in
the wild townships Of the State from
December list to September 18th
next following of each year, except
upon the written license Of the com
missioners Of inland fisheries and game.
The penalties are So for the offense, S.
a day for every day firearms are had in
poSs session and the forfeiture to the
State of all firearms found in posses
sion of any person contrary to the
above provisions. Wild lands shall be
construed to be all land in all unincor-
pOrated townships.