St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-03-27
PRESS COMMENT
Free Fishing for Residents.

the sportsmen of the state will rise
up in arms against the suggestion
that fishermen, as well as hunters,
be required to pay a license fee. The
idea is that part of the money con-
tributed by hunters is used for the
propagation and protection of fish,
and that, therefore, those hunters
who never fish are helping to pro-
vide free sport for the disciples of
the immortal Isaak Walton. But,
in the first place, it is fact that
very great proportion of the MINI
rods are, also, enthusiastic devotees
of the piscatOrial sport, so that there
are but few of them, comparatively
speaking, who can complain that
their license fees are unjustly diver
ted. There are, to be sure, more
fishermen who are not hunters than
vice versa-but this only goes to
prove that fishing is the more uni
versal sport, and, therefore, more
deserving of state protection.
But the logic of the entire subject
is missed, if it is forgotten that the
licensing of hunters has for one of
it's prime objects the prevention of
the indiscriminate slaughter of not
only game and game birds, but of
song and insectivorous birds, partic-
ularly by irresponsible boys and
aliens. A man with a gun may be
very demon of destructiveness, and
the unrestricted carrying of guns
cannot be allowed. if there is to be
any preservation of either game, or
the songsters and the farmers insec-
tivorous friends. The ruthless hand
of the vandal Nimrod is a menace
| oII U
to turn to Italy for confirmation.
There every little song-bird is
deemed a worthy and legitimate
prize of the pot-hunter, and when
the immigrant comes to America he
proceeds to kill robins and other
small birds as he always has been
accustomed to do-until he runs
into the firm grip of the law.
No doubt, the extra revenue that
would be derived from the licensing
of fishermen could be we'll expended
for the further protection and pro-
pagation of fish, and there would be
some advantage, no doubt, as re-
CARDS the enhancement of the sport
for those who enjoyed it by reason
of the great diminishing of the num-
Der of fishermen. But would not
this entail a considerable hardship
on a great many persons who now
enjoy an occasional day on the
trout streams, but who would hard
ly think it worth while to pay even
a nominal license fee for the sake of
the few outings of the kind likely to
be taken in any season? From time
immemorial. fishing. in it's season,
especially trout fishing, has been
free sport in Vermont, and its res
IT. - %Ia Cd
would be entirely opposed to the
traditions and historic spirit of YER
monters.
We can hardly agree with the st.
Johnsbury Caledonian that ''the
fairness of requiring the fishermen
to contribute their proportion to-
ward the expense of such work
(new work by the fish and game de-
partment) must be admitted"-in
view of the fact that it would mean
a double tax on so large a number
of sportsmen, and in view of the
other considerations above named.
But, from a revenue standpoint,
and as a potent means of protection.
The Reporter earnestly advocates
the enactment of a law, requiring
the taking out of licenses by a nom
resident fisherman, the same as of
nonresident hunters. This would
greatly diminish the number of peo-
pie who now whip our trout streams
every summer, and fee of $40
would be apt to bring in quite as
much income as one of so cents i'm
posed on local fishermen. Another
change in the Vermont fish and game
laws, also, is greatly to be desired,
in line with the legislation recently
o u in
the hunters license fee for all un-
naturalized aliens $40. This would
be the most effective means possible
of preventing the slaughter of song
and insectivorous BIRDS Spring
field Reporter.
The First Duty of Republicans.
''The proposal to recall judges
for unpopular decisions is nothing
less than a proposal to abolish
courts. To abolish courts is to
abolish freedom. However innocent
the motives of those who propose
this measure, no deadlier blow was
ever aimed at the heart of human
liberty than this. The people have
only to understand it to reject it.
They are not ready to throw away
the fruits of their long labors and
unnUmbered battles-labOrs endur-
ed and battles waged for this very
thing, that under the broad shield
of a sacred and invioIate justice the
weakest or most hated might rest
secure in their liberty, their prop
erty and their lives. They will dis
cover the tyrant under this fiat
tering disguise And in the end /
they will consign to obloquy the
names of those who would have !
tempted them for their destruction"
From an address by the Hon. /
Wendell P. Stafford before the Law
yers' club of New York
Judge Stafford made this remark /
able arraignment of the mischief T
involved in the movement now /
championed by Theodore Roosevelt, +