Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-08
MAINE FISH AND GAME,
, CONTINUED from Page One,
Briefly I will give you the results. OF


the 1898 guides registered. 1865 have
made a report as required. Of this
number there were 12s from the nom
game counties-Androscogg Cum
beriand, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln,
Sagadahoc, Waldo and York, and a
large majority of these report deer less
In numbers.
A few say about the same, and a
few say more. Nearly every report
shows a less number killed than the
year previous.
Now, excluding this number of guides
IN these 8 non-game counties from
the total number reporting, we have
123 guides reporting from the eight
game counties, viz: Aroostook,
took, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford. PEN
obscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and
Washington.
OF these, So guides in Aroostook say
deer are less. 2s say more, and the
others say "they don't know or that
they are about the same"
In Franklin county "a guides say
deer are less, 40 say they are more, and
the balance say "they don't know or
are about the same"
In Hancock county, 1S say less,
more, the rest don't know or about the
same.
In Oxford county. Al say less. %
more, balance don't know or about the
same.
In Perobscot county-a great game
county-143 say less, AZ more. the bal
ance don't know or about the same.
In Piscataquis county-the greatest
game county--122 say less, "a, more,
the balance don't know or about the
same.
In Washington county-79 say less,
about the same.
Or in other words, 596 guides from
the 8 game counties, who guide mostly
in hunting, say deer are less plentiful,
and POI say they are more, the BAL
ance don't know or say about the
same"
And it Is interesting to note that
large per cent. of the guides who re-
port deer more plentiful do not guide
in hunting but in fishing only.
How convincing these reports may
be, each one will judge for himself.
OF the 30 wardens on duty most of
the time In the woods where the game
Is, they are practically unanimus in re-
porting that the deer are considerably
less than for the last few years prior to
1907.
How much weight their testimony is
entitled to is a matter of judgement.
For one, l attach a. great deal OF
weight to it. They are asked to re-
port conditions as they see them.
Among the wardens reporting deer
as being less than in recent years, we
have
Geo. E. Cushman, of Portland, who
for years has been on duty examining
trains there; Walter I. Neal Of Waldo
who for IL years has been stationed in
Bangor to examine trains during the
hunting season; Frank Perkins, of
Penobscot county a longtime warden
on duty with Mr.. Neal last year: War
den Stanley of Cumberland county,
who says he was in the woods about
every day during the hunting season
last year he reports deer-scarcer
Warden SWEET of Franklin says that a
less number were killed in his section
In 1907 than in 1906 or 1905 and that the
number ought to be reduced to one q
person may kill in one year.
FIJI Clark, of Somerset. an old and
experienced warden. reports deer less,
want to read in this connection War
den II. O. Hackett's letter, warden
who is in the woods all the time-and
who lives in the woods:
"Patten, Maine, January 8. 1908.
Hon Leroy r. Carleton.
Chairman of Fish and Game Commits
sioners,
Augusta. Me.
Dear Sir
l see by some of the papers and So
called sporting journals of this State
that deer are as plenty throughout the
State now us they have ever been.
Now 1 do not want to contradict the
statement of anyone. and shall not dc
SO. but this much will say:
For the past 50 days l have been
travelling through the northern part OF
Piscatapuis. Penobscot and Aroostook
counties, through Allagash lake and
river country of the Misquacook ter
ritory the head of the Munsungan and
Machias waters. as far east as Ash
land, west and north as far as Long
lake on the big Allagash river. and
southwest to the Little Allagasl
lakes taking in a country OF % diff
ferent, unorganiZed townships. through
the best hunting ground in this. or any
other State in the Union. Il country
unbroken by habitaton of any KIND
excepting the winter lu,nbermen; they
are In evidence most everywhere
throughout this country.
And as for feed grounds. the above
described country is the best 1 ever
saw.
Now in some parts of the Allagash
country-those best protected by
wardens. deer are to be found in
abundance: but throughout Spider
Clear. Pleasant, Harrow. Fifth. Fourth,
Third, Second and First lakes on the
MusQuacook waters. Rocky brook and
Rocky Brook pond at the head of Ma
chias river, clear through to Machas
lake, the deer are almost entirely eX-
tinct. There doesn't seem to be
enough left for seed. Through the
whole distance travelled by myself last
month. saw only three live deer, and
that trip covered more than 325 miles
of travel on foot. and most every day
was good still hunting.