New-York tribune., 1910-10-02
NAMES BIGGEST ASSET
Her Fish and Game Worth
Millions to Her Annually.

The early angler and the fall hunter left
about $4,000, 600 IN Maine in 1909. In
twenty years from now Maine ought to
realize s1O0.000,000 a year from the same
sources. This statement is ventured by
James W. Bracket, the chairman of the
State Fish and Game Commission.
"Our great north country brings busi-
ness TO the state that is Of immense
value" Mr.. Bracket tells The Boston
Transcript" Maine is to be the summer
resort playground Of the nation, and our
business and income in that line are in
creasing immensely each year. The value
of our forests lakes and streams to Maine
is beyond estimate; therefore. it is of the
highest Importance that these great nat
uraI resources be conserved.
The situation with reference TO the big
game of our forests is encouraging for
the future. The moose hunter has Of late
been inclined 10 pass US by in favor of
New Brunswick or Quebec, because big
heads are not quite so plentiful in Maine
as they have been in the past. But there
is, no doubt, steady increase in the num-
Der OF young bulls and cows, and beyond
doubt there will be plenty Of big heads for
the future moose hunters, provided, Of
course. that we furnish proper protection
Il find insufficient evidence TO support
the more or less prevalent idea that there
is a general decrease in the number of
deer in Maine; that there are localities
where the natural feed of the deer has
grown scarce, causing the deer to move, L
firmly believe. But there are reliable re-
ports from other localities that there Is
steady increase, and more deer. and more
signs of deer are seen to-day than ever
before.
Colonel +. E. Boothby, general passen-
Oh 1E +1n Tai
Railroad is authority for the statement
that more deer were shipped from the
various stations of the Maine Central in
1903 than in 1903, and the Bangor & ArooS-
took figures are practically the same. TO
further assist in making an intelligent estl-
mate of the number of deer killed, ColoneI
agents of the Maine Central Railroad keep
a record Of all deer killed in their territory
next fall whether they are shipped or not
The past winter was so mild in Northern
Maine and there was so little snow that
the deer did not yard at all until tebruaTy'
but roamed through the woods the same as
they do in summer, picking their Ieed at
will and continuing to grow fat We are
assured that barring unexpected dlsedSe'
there will be far less mortality among tne
deer this year than usual, and there should
be at least as many deer in the woods next
fall there were last
That there will be a decrease in the
deer supply of Maine sooner or later we
can confidently expect. Black tongue. the
much dreaded disease. cold ana starvation
or a general exodus for fear or wolves III
the wolves should ever return 10 Maine) are
among the possibilities OF the future, and II
IS incumbent upon those who are anxious
for the deer to remain with US TO be pre-
pared for a sudden change OF policy Win
reference to their protection, IN case OF
emergency.
Whether Maine will ever again see
caribou plentiful enough 10 be of value TO
the hunter only time can tell Caribou are
ca sfer TO shoot than moose or deer. Their
inordinate curiosity too often impels them
to make a short circle and return to the
point of danger, apparently for no better
purpose than 10 find out what disturbed
them. consequently in the past whole herds
Of Maine caribou were shot at one killing.
This coupled with the undOubted scarcity
Of ga sriboil moss the natural food Of the
carfbou and their tendency to rove, con-
trib,Ited 70 their total loss in this state.
.:'rhe black bear of the Maine woods is
sought for more each year by SpOrtsmen,
so that now there are many owners OF
b1ntin- camps who plan regularly for their
Datro0s to vary their moose and deer
hunting bv a try for bear. Bruin is the
ftiest game in the Maine woods, not eX-
centfna, the fox Although he has come to
he recognized as game animal IN some
sactione in others. where the farmers raise
sheen and there is no demand for the sport
oF hear hunting ne has become decided
rnieance. that is, considered sheep thief
80 aY, o1tlaw by the farmers.