St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-09-20
PLANTING MANY TROUT
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opportunity, but is is probable that
Caledonia county has received this
season nearly as many fish from both
state and federal hatcheries as all
the other counties put together. This
is result of the activities of the
members of this club and in line
with its general policy. 1t this
work is continued on the same scale
year after year, there is no reason
why we should not have good fish
ing.
The Hunting Season.
The hunting season opens tomor-
row and from all reports received,
game is more abundant than it has
been for many years. This is especial
ly true Of the ruffed grouse which
had, last spring, owing to the dry
weather, very favorable breeding
season.
have nothing new to offer on
this game question except that
through organizations like this it is
possible to create a sentiment for
the protection of game during the
close season, and a proper limitation
of the bags during the open season.
The encouragement of proper
sentiment for the observance of the
fish and game laws is much better
than the necessity of the prosecution
and convictions which result from
lack of observance.
Since we last met the legislature
of 1910 has made some changes in
the game laws. New ones have
added to the already overburdened
list, but on the whole the laws are
in better condition today than they
were before the legislature conven-
ed. The chapter of game laws should
be revised and codif1ed and made as
brief as possible. At present we
have so many laws relating to pick
erel that even the Attorney General
is puzzled as to how to in
legislature made a serious mis-
for trout on April 18th and clos
ing the season on streams in Aug
ust. The fish caught in April are
thin and half starved and there is
no fun in catching them because
they are not gamey when the water
is so cold. The amount of fish
caught in streams in August is not
usually large. In very many
instances, August is the only month
in the summer when the sons of
Vermont, living abroad, find it con-
venient to plan for their vacations
at home. If they come here and
happen to be located at a distance
from the lake they are shut off en-
tirely from the fishing. The old
law, making the open season from
the first of May to the
first of September, is to my mind
the one which can be held on the
statute books year after year and
satisfy the greatest number. If
people throughout the state will
take the same interest which this
club has taken in Caledonia county
in stocking the streams, it will be
possible to have this long open sea-
son without de1eterious results.
Hunting Licenses.
1 want to take this opportunity
to speak in behalf of the hunting
license law. We tried at the last
session of the legislature to raise
the license fee to one dollar but
were unsuccessful. No other state
in the Union has so low a hunting
license fee and 1 am in hopes that
by the next session of the legisla-
ture people will realize the bene-
fetal effects of an improved warden
service and raise the fee to one dol
1dE Illus AdAAuS II pOSSAO1O " CHI
ploy a certain number of wardens
throughout the year on regular
salary instead of on per diem ba-
sis. One dollar is the smallest fee
required in any state. Our present
license system raises a LITTLE less
than 4,OO0,s and this is Inadequate
to maintain one county warden in
each county on regular salary
throughout the year. / feel, how
ever, that the operation of the ward
'en system provided for by the last
legislature is a great improvement
over the past.
The Deer Season.
You are aware that the legisla-
ture extended the open season on
season to the latter part of Novem-
Der. This will enable the hunter
to track his deer after it is wound
ed. Deer shot in October as here
tofore, very frequently have escaped
to die in the woods and be of no use
to any one. Notwithstanding the
great slaughter of bucks and does
during the last season, there is evil
dence of great abundance of the
animals this year, and I think it will
be desirable to recommend longer
open season, say one month, for the
consideration of the next legisla-
ture. The fact is the deer are en-
croaching upon the farms and doing
great damage. This is especially
true in the fruit orchards, the devel-
opment of which at the present time
is having more than usual attention
For long time deer were protected
as a matter of sentiment, but this
is gradually giving way to con-
sideration of the situation from an
economic standpoint. We cannot
afford to spend a large amount OF
money to protect deer and at the
same time another large sum for
the damages caused by them. While
speaking of deer I cannot refrain
from referring to the need of more
vigorous law to keep dog owners
from allowing their dogs to run al
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