Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-13
Chairman Carleton Is Can
didate for Re- appointment.
Brief History Of a Very I'm
portant Department.
Fish and Game Commission Owes
Existence to Agricultural Dept.

land Fisheries and Game, has sent out
letters announcing that he is DESTROYS
Of a re-appOintmeHt when his term of
office shall expire, June 80. 1910. Mr..
Carleton was first appointed by Cover
nor CleaVeS and the work of the CONS
| mission has wonderfully increased
| since he has been at the head.
| The records at the State House show
| that the agricultural department was
responsible Cor the creation of the Fish
| and Game Commission. The Board of
| Agriculture at its regular or annual
session in 1865 gave serious attention
| to the suhject of artificial fish culture,
| in order to re-st0ck the rivers, lakes
| and ponds of the State. Hon John F.
| Anderson CT Windham was the presi>
| dent and Hon. s. l.. Goodale of Saco
| was the secretary Of the board In the
proceedings for that year the subject
was introduced and general desire
| manifested to nave more light thrown
| upon it. In 1864 the Board of Agricul-
| ture at its annual meeting passed the
following order: "Ordered. That the
secretary be instructed to urge upon
the people the Importance of encour>
,, aging the propagation ot fish in our
ponds and streams.
In presenting this order President
Anderson submitted some remarks on
the Importance of employing our was
rers as we'll as our lands for the pros
duction of food. He said that he had
been led to introduce the subject in
consequence of a communication re-
ceived from an old friend, who, al
though somewhat eccentric, was 4 man
of deep reelection and original views.
Again in 1868 a paper was read be-
fore the society on artificial propaga-
tiCn Of fish from a treatise by Prof.
Karl NGgt of Geneva. Switzerland. and
printed in the report of that year
This action by the Board Of Agricul-
ture resulted in the Legislature of 1867
passing resolve. which was the first
step, by the Legislature of. Maine, in
what has become to be one of the most
important activities and industries of
the State:
The resolve was as follows: Re-
solved, That the Governor. by and
with the consent of the Council, be
authorized to appoint two commissions
ers, whose duty it shall be to examine
the rivers and other waters of this
State, or such parts thereof as they
may deem sufficient, to the cOnsidera.
ton of the subject of the restoration
of sea fish to our lakes and their trib>
utary StreamS--the Introduction Of new
varieties of fresh water fish and the
protection of fish generally in our in
land waters; said commissioners to
report such facts and suggestions as
may be material, to the next Legisla-
ture, or to the Governor if they deem
an earlier report eXpedient. Resolved,
that such commissioners be authorized
to introduce into such waters as they
may deem best suited therefor the
spawn CT the black bass. land locked
salmon and other varieties if they
deem it expedient."
The Hon. Nathan G. Foster and the
Hon. Charles G. Atkins We're appoint
ed commissioners under this resolve.
These commissioners did vast
amount of work, personally examining
into the conditions in all the rivers and
principal lakes and streams in the
State and made at the close of the
year IL very comprehensive and eX-
haustive report Of the conditions rcla-
tive to the fish therein, as they found
them to exist.
In the recapitulation Of their labors
and observations, the commissioners
say:
1.-The history of the fisheries is the
same in nearly all the rivers. In
state of nature the waters arc we'll
stocked with the salmon, shad and
alewives, and other edible varieties.
The supply tasted until after the coun
try was peopled. But little decline had
been experienced at the beginning of
the present century. Since then many
rivers have become almost entirely de-
populated ana we do not think that
one in the state can be found that has
maintained it's fisheries to fair de-
gree Salmon have been utterly eX-
tnguished in the Mousam, Saco ana
Cobscook and a further examination
would probably show the same fact
in relation to other matters
Charles G. Atkins. who was one of
the first commissioners. resigned to
accept the position with the federal
government in charge of the fish hatch.
cry at Orland Hancock county, a pc.
sition which he has since held. f. M.
Stilwen of Bangor and Henry o. Stan>
ley of DiXtield were appointed com.
missioners in 1872 by Gov. Sidney Per-
ham, positions which they held for
many years. In all Mr.. Stanley was
one OF the commissioners for SO years
Mr.. Stilwcll was succeeded by Thomas
L. Wentworth of Bradford, who in
turn was succeeded by Mr.. Carleton.
Until within a comparatively few years
the sea and shore fisheries were con-
nected with this department but when
the office of sea and shore fisheries
commissioner, the place now occupied
by the Hon. James Donoiiue of Rock
land, was created, another member was
added to the Commission on Inland
Fisheries and Game, the land agent.
The present Commissioners on Inland
Fisheries and Game are Hon. Leroy
T. Carleton of Winthrop, Hon. Edgar
E. Ring of Orono. land agent. and Hon.
James W. Bracket of Phillips.
Last weeks snowfall must have been
heavier in the northern part of Ken