Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-14

Office, $50 Albany 81, Boston.
ton what thai means From the best
authorities We can get we find that
moose wander into different localities
in search of particular kinds of food
We have learned to the satisfaction of
this minority Of the committee NJ least,
that in some sections like northern som
ersct and Aroostook. This particular food
has been pretty well devoured by them
aud they are moving into the sections
where they can get more of it
| notice on this card. nicely gotten
up by somebody, it says, "Fhe commits
+ sioners Of inland fisheries and game.
guided by Tho best possible sources Of
information available. unanimously
recommend n four-years close time on
the moose" I do not question the hon
/ esty ~ the sincerity of this commits
sion, hut | do want to open your eyes
iust Il hit. How many years have This
commission been interested in this
moose question. and how long have they
been serving this State as commissions
ers2 After you think of il | wish 10
say 10 YOU that Mr. Carlton. the best
authority on moose questions in Maine,
today. stands with the minority or this
committee on this moose question He
claims, law or no law. the time viii
come when moose viii be extinct the
same as the buffalo Wp hear how they
were killed off. but how many Of Von
expect them 10 be an the plains and
live around villages? They lived there
when il was a wide prairie I have
had the privilege myself of walking over
many of the walows they LEFT. They
do not live with hdfuan beings and do
not like to hitch MP with them.
Moose move around and change their
ground, and are likely To go, with the
caribou. Mr.. Carlton says they Will
and that nothing viii keep them within
our borders when they wish to move
out Shall we put on a close time so
that no one can kill them and let them
go TO the Provinces. and lei every
hunter there go and Stay our moose
| think, considering our new draft, 1t
makes quite a protection from the old
law The old law gave a month and
half Of open time on moose. and a
$15 license. Our new draft. hy this
minority committee, provides an open
time of only 80 days. and an increase
Of the license fee of SIS.
submit 10 you. gentlemen. that as
1912 gave us moose / submit when
you take eff one-third of TIN. open sea
son and add $40 To the license are we
not ourselves offering a good, fair,
honest protection to The moose
/ hope the Senate viii snatain this
minority report
Mr.. WING of Franklin Ar President.
it was my Intention when | arose be
fore, 10 make a motion that the report
lie on the table and be considered Tues
day of next week However. l have no
objection 10 its consideration at this
time.
am not hunter and | am not per
sonally Interested in this law. The only
interest which / have in the matter IS
as Il member of the committee on inland
fisheries and game, and ON the broad
ground Of its benefits to the State OF
Maine.
In 1876, IL | remember the situation cor
rectly, we had no protection for moose,
and at that time moose were practically
exterminated in the State of Maine.
There was a law enacted, placing a close
time on moose, and after the time had
expired. from 1850 To 1890. we had the
best moose hunting we have ever had in
Maine The numbers increased material
ly. The moose is large animal, and
one that is hunted a great deal. Hunt
ers come from all sections of the United
states, ana we have noticed in recent
years gradual disappearing of the
number of moose in this State. The time
was when the entire State of Maine con-
tanned a great many moose. but the sup
find that only small section of Maine
has any moose
The committee, after very careful
and fun hearing on the matter, was sat
isfed that it was necessary to place
close time in order that we may save
what moose we have in Maine. The cyl
dence of those who testified before the
committee all shows that with the ex-
ception of the northeastern section, OF the
State, moose had practically disappeared.
Now it seems to me that with an open
season on moose. and only a small ter
ritory in this State where there are any
moose at the present time. it VIII be
very easy matter to cxterminate every
moose that We have in Maine. And
seven Of the committee recommended Il
close time of four years. The commits
sioners of inland fisheries and game, aft
er very careful consideration of the
whole question, are unanimously or the
opinion that we should have close time
of four years.
The chairman of the committee re-
ferred To Mr. Cartoons statement. Mr.
Carleton was not at the hearing as q
disinterested party Mr. Carleton was
employed and acted as attorney for some
Of the gentlemen in Washington county
and he appeared before the committee
rs paid attorney for those Washing
ton county people in opposition 10 this
law.
Mr. COLBY of Somerset: Mr.. Presi-
dent, it has been said that the caribou
left the state of Maine and perhaps OF
their own accord on account Of the feed,
and that the moose was also bound TO
leave the State in short time