The independent-reporter., 1909-12-30
BEAVER SKINS NOT
VERY PLENTIFUL
Trappers Afraid of Le-
gal Catch
Wording of Laws Governing the KILL
ing OF Animals.

Deen In the lui -DuylnB business lot
the past % or 80 years has just been
on a trip through North Anson and
the Kennebec valley district and re-
turned with handsome buncL If fur
which he bought on the trip.
Mr.. Carlton got considerable nice
fur. including some handsome beaver
that was trapped In Somerset county
under the new law passed by the last
Legislature making 1t legal to trap
beaver in all unorganized plantations
in Somerset county mile away from
sporting camps or Moosehead lake
between November 15 and January |.
Mr.. Carlton found the trade in beaver
skins very unsatisfactory for the rea-
son that the most of the guides and
trappers are afraid they will get into
trouble in some way that Is not plain
to them at present. In other words
they are afraid there is catch
somewhere" and they don't care to
be caught.
For the benefit of our friends, the
guides and trappers, we herewith
quote the law in full:
BEAVER.
Sec. II as am. CHI 80, p L., 1909,
Sec. A.
Whoever at any time kills, hunts,
destroys or has in possession any
1 hao tharpnf aXnpnt
provided by law, shall be punished by
fine of $4,000, and In addition
thereto $2500 for each beaver, or
part thereof caught killed, destroy
ed or had in possession in violation
of the provisions of this act.
CHI. %, P. L., 1905. Provided how
ever, that the commissioners of inland
fisheries and game. upon complaint of
any land owner that beaver are do
ing actual, substantial damage to his
property, shall have authority to take,
catch, kill and dispose of. for the ben
eft of the fund for the protection of
game in this State, such numbers of
beaver as may be necessary to pre-
vent the destruction of property"
Oh. 227, P. L., 1909.
Provided, however, it shall be law
full to kill beaver between the fifteenth
day of November and the first day of
January following of each year in
township number one, range five,
West Bingham Kennebec Pm chase in
Franklin county, being Jim pond
township, SO called, and in all unor-
ganized townships in Somerset coun-
ty, except that it shall be unlawful
to take or kill any beaver within one
mile OF any public sporting camp in
Somerset county or within one mile
of Moosehead lake for a period of two
years from July 3, 1909.
Mr.. Carlton bought mink, 'oy and
skunk skins, principally. The skunks
numbered 5000. There is now big
demand in Europe for these pretty
pussy pelts and they are quoted at
from 40 cents to $500 with the pro-
vise that extra blacks sometimes
bring even more.
Following are other laws Gf special
interest at this time,
MINK, SABLE, MUSKRAT AND
FISHER.
Sec. II, and Sec. 3, Ch. 80, P. L.,
1909 Whoever between May first
and October 18th destroys a mink
sable, fisher or muskrat, forfeits ten
dollars for each animal so destroyed; /;
muskrats in Lily pond in the towns
however, 1t shall be lawful to kill
of Rockport and Camden and also
such muskrats as interfere at any
time with the operation and mainte-
nance of any canal, ditch, lawful dam
or cranberry bog"
Provided, further, that on that part
of Judkins' meadow, so-called, in the
town of Prentiss, that overfioWs with
water, from the mouth of Spruce
brook on the Madagoodas stream to
the Springfield road leading from
Springfield to Wytopitlock, by way of
Prentiss, the close time for muskrat
shall be from June / to October l,
following.
Ch. 211, P and S. L., 1909
1t shall be unlawful for any per-
son to take, catch or kill at any time
any muskrat or muskrats in any of
the brooks, ponds or streams in the
town of Corinna, Penobscot county,
which flow into Lake Sebasticook. for
a period of five years from July 3,
1909.
BOUNTY ON WOLVES AND WILD
CATS.
Sec Il. "A bounty of five dollars,
for every wolf killed in any town in
the State shall be paid by the treas
urer thereof to the person killing 1t
$1,000. .........
Ch. 1879, P. L., 1909.
A bounty OF two dollars for every
bob cat, loupcervier and Canada lynx
killed in any town shall be paid by
the State treasurer to the person kill
ing it upon compliance with the fol-
lowing conditions
No bounty shall be paid unless the
! claimant within five days after he
has killed such animal, or has re-
turned from the hunting in which he
killed II. exhibits to the town treas
urer the entire skin thereof with the
ears, nose and tail thereon in as per-
! feet d state as when killed except
natural decay, and signs and makes
oath to a certificate which said treas
urer may administer, in which he
shall state that he killed such animal
and the time and place which shall
be within the State and the treasurer
shall thereupon cut off the whole of
the tail from such skin and f,rward
the same by mail to the commission
ers of inland fisheries and game at
Augusta, Me-, and also forward to
the State auditor the claimants GER
tificate