Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-02-08

would establish precedent for endless tyrar::
mics and absurdities. Fancy what other pro-
LESSONS might with equal justice demand!
For the protection Of the public against petty
greed and for the sake Of Maine's reputation
| for common sense, the bill should be
straneled in committee without ceremony.
THE HERRING BILL.
The herring bill, which will furnish an
interesting fight in the legislature, was
presented last Wednesday by Senator
Mayo. The bill is IS follows:
SECTION l. The catching, fishing for or tax
| ing Of herring in the waters Of this State, ex-
cept by the use Of permanent weirs or traps,
| is hereby prohibited, under a penalty Of 90 for
every bushel Of dsh SO unlawfully takeu, to
be recovered by complaint or action Of debt
for the use Of the state; provided. however.
that fishermen may take for bait by use of dip
nets, not exceeding fifteen bushels Of herring
in any one day; but shall not SO fish other
wise interfere with fish within distance Of
| 1900 feet Of any permanent weir or trap.
SEC. 2. A permanent weir or trap within
| the meaning of this act shall be construed to
mean weir or trap similar to those now in
common use in the tide waters Of this State,
consisting Of not less than 100 stakes per-
| manently driven or baliasted with at least
| one row Of ribbons around the same and
filed around with brush, Irvine or other
| material.
SEC. 8. The owner or person in charge Of
any permanent weir or traps may use seines
or nets within said weir or trap.
SEc.4 4. In addition to the penalty pro-
vided in section one, ali seines and weirs used
| in in nf soiA hall he ~ ad
| and destroyed.
SECS. Municipal and police courts and
| trial Justices shall have jurisdiction over all
ofenses Of this act.
SEc.6. Al: acts and parts Of acts incon-
sistent with this act are hereby repealed.
An Augusta special to the Bangor
Netos says:
One Of the smoothest parliamentary tricks
| ever played in the Maine legislature was put
| across by q new member Friday, and it affects
| the career of one Of the most important bills.
The member was Senator Mayo, Of Hancock,
and the bill was the general herring bill over
which there will be tremendous fight be-
| tween the seiners and weirmen.
The bill came back from the printing
Office Friday morning and was promptly
| taken from the table by Senator Mayo and
referred to the committee on sea and shore
| fisheries. 1t was then hustled over to the
House and given into the tender care Of
Rep. Peters, Of Ellsworth, who Immediately
had the House take concurrent action. The
| committee got the bill in the afternoon and
| assigned Thursday. Feb. 9, for its hearing, the
first possible moment that it can be heard
| under the seven-day rule. The whole man
| euvre was made SO quietly and so swiftly
that the seiners were caught mapping, and
| their House leader did not get chance to
| put any obstacles in its path.
1t was whispered about the corridors OF the
statehouse that when the bill arrived in the
House Monday afternoon, as it would have
| done in the regular order, it would have been
| tabled, and would have remained tabled while
| the seiners made more progress in their cam
paign to get their side of the controversy
| before the people 1t is understood that they
proposed to stave off hearing on the bill as
| long as possible.
The weirmen, however, favored immediate
hearing in order that the fight may be over
as soon as possible and keep it from becom-
| ing involved with too many other matters.
Leaders of both parties are understood to
favor this same program in order to keep this
| fight separate from other contests.
|
vantage, gained by man who was supposed
to be ignorant of the fine points of parlia-
mentary procedure and the way Of taking
| advantage Of them. There is no doubt that
they have gained q lap on their opponents
which will be exceedingly valuable to them
as the fight progresses.
Another herring bill was introduced
yesterday in the House by Mr.. Harmon, OF
Stonington. The act makes it unlawful to
catch these fish on spawning grounds,
which are to be determined by the chair
man Of the sea and shore fisheries. 1t
further prohibits the taking of herring
except at permanent weirs and traps.
| 1t excerpts from this provision fisher
men, who are permitted to take for bait
only fifteen bushels in day, using dip
net or drag net not exceeding fifty
fathoms in length, but no weir or trap
shall be constructed under license OF the
municipal officers OF the town in which
it is located. Purse weirs may be used
in taking fish out OF the weirs from per-
|