St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-10-30
FISH AND GAME LAWS
Commissioner TitcOmb Makes State
ment Before Legislative Com
mitte6

Fish and Game Commissioner j..
w. Titcomb of Lyndonville appear
ed before the legislative committee
on game and fisheries last week to
advocate a codification of the fish
and game laws. He is strongly in
favor of a chapter on hunting and
fishing that will stand by itself so
that all will know what is meant.
At the present time there are a
number of inconsistencies in the
game laws. 1t is proposed to have
the bill come from some individual
member rather than from the com
mittee and then persons interested
from all sections may be heard on
the general proposition on and out
of the discussion a concrete bill will
come by amendment to meet the av-
erage of opinions.
Mr.. Titcomb said in his state
ment to the committee that the pro-
posed codification was made to fol-
low as far as practicable the old
law excepting that the wording is
changed to show what is permissible
rather than what is prohibited, and
in conformity with the revised laws
of states which have given the mat
ter a great deal of attention. Said
ACA0 Oh 2 AO A00ASe~A
changes over the present laws, and
in presenting this l do so with the
idea that the committee will go over
each article and may want to make
some changes in dates which provide
for an open season. Some OF the
special laws covering individual
ponds can just as well be eliminated
if the season on pickerel is made uni
form, and in some instances 1t may
be necessary to re-enact the special
laws protecting certain ponds. In
addition to these it is suggested that
an act be inserted permitting fishing
in a portion of Lake Dunmore
throughout the year. The license
fee has been raised from so cents to
81 as it seems necessary to have
revenue in order to properly execute
our laws and keep Vermont up to the
standard of other states in this re-
spect. By reading the biennial re-
port you will see that there is a ire
mendous amount of Office work, and
I have stated therein that the cost
of running the Office during the past
two years has exceeded the amount
allowed by over $4,000. This sum
has mostly been taken from my sal
airy. In the proposed chapter YOU
will notice provision for a deputy
commissioner. 1 cannot be in the
Office and in the field at the same
time, and am liable TO be sick or
travelling outside the state even on
official business or for personal rea-
sons. With something over SOC
wardens having more or less author
ity to incur expense daily it is quite
essential that someone in the office
or within the state have the power
to act and direct the work. l there
fore consider that it will be practi
cal economy to provide for an as
sistant to the commissioner or a
deputy
The chapter proposed by the
commissioner contains So typewrit-
ten pages, dealing with the general
subject under eight subdivisions,
ownership and manner of taking linn
it, possession, sale, ETC.; animals,
birds, fish, nets and netting, hunting
licenses, preserves, powers of COM
missiOners and wardens. After the
bill is introduced provision will be
made to print several thousand for
distribution by members among
their constituents for their consider
alton and opinion.