Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-07
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from page -


we still have moose in our section | wish
to bring to your attention the statement
of the warden who accompanied the
chairman of the fish and game commits
sion on trip of less than five miles OF
the B. & A. r. X. cutoff starting from
Seua Pond junction they saw in the snow
tracks of more than dozen moose going
across the right of way and all travelling
in one direction. wish to state righ
here that / have letters from all the
prominent camp owners in our section
and they without exception are in favor
of the bill in the new draft
| now wish to read some of the letters
which ! have received. Here is one from
Mr.. William Atkins, and it says:
Oxbow. February 3, 1913.
George II. Mooers, Esq,
Dear Sir-Yours of January 10 re-
ceiyed an early return home and in
regard to moose, Mr.. Mooers, will
tell you as | see it. We cannot have
moose for some years in the back
woods There is not any feed for
moose 1t is impossible for moose to
begin To come until the feed gets a
good start which will take some years.
AloOSt IL iilatil SItii1tA Wis St''i 'iHtiA
what they was last so | don't think
closed season would be any benefit.
Yours very truly.
VIM ATKINS"
have also received the following
letter from Mr. w 7. Libby. who
owns 80 camps and who Will be put
out of business if this law is passed
He says:
oOxbow. February 10. 1912.
Mr.. George Mooers.
Dear Sir--In reply to your letter of
earlier date in regard to close time
on moose. will say that | am not in
favor of close time as we have a fair
amount of moose in our vicinity and
have several parties making their
plans on visiting as another season to
hunt them. | think close time on
them for four years would be a great
mistake
Very truly yours,
w. T. LIBBY"
Also, | have a letter from the aG-
jutant general OF the state of Tenne-
see. with whom have been going
int the woods for the past - years
Name. this year II we cannot hunt
moose then ] want YOU to 30 TO New
Brunswick with me. Doesn't this
show You. gentlemen, what will hap
pen if we prohibit the hunting of
moose here in Maine? Now this is
not case of the determination Of
moose, but let us look at the figures
given the game commissioner by the
express companies for 1872 and COM
pare with preceding years. In 1908
they reported III; in 1909. 1855: 1910.
225. 1911. 253: and 1912. 235. l sub
NIT gentlemen, is not the year 1917
a good average year in the past five?
In 1872. 167 came from the NJ. c. r.
r.. against 81 of the b. & ~ and
IS not this proof of our contention
that they have moved from our feed
ing ground 10 the southeast part of
the State. In former years. the T. &
A. shipped the larger number and the
NJ. G. the smaller.
Now let us look at the question from
the point of valuable asset to the
State In 1912, there were 2425 non
resident hunters licenses issued in
the state and l think it fair to as
sumo of the number one half go into
our woods with the hope of bringing
out moose and if they are not sue
cessfnl estimating that this number
at 200 in round figures, and that
each party leaves on an average in
our State $3.50 for railroad, for hotel
bills. license. guides. etc, it means
S1S0,oo0 and | think the estimate L,
low Tor | 10 ha a iy hi
ter. gentlemen. Is not this an asset
TO our State. Thus We should hest
tate TO take away without careful,
consideration and this amount does
not include loss To camp owners of
property, which would be absurdlv
mistaken if the close time goes into
effect because the larger part of
camps in the back woods are for
moose hunting only and would never
he used for hunting of deer Now.
gentlemen. it is for YOU to decide.
snail we cut off the valuable asset
OF the State and say To our citizens.
You cannot receive this benefit, this
valuable asset. which is yours by
right or shall we pass the bill in the
new draft and allow a thirty day open
49, ApPNehNAf L lIppt Inc MI
norlty report will prevail. Gentle
men, we have came here with this
question for You to decide fairly and
unparually and are glad to do so, for
we feel confident YOU will decide this
matters strictly on its merits. Cap
plause)
MIR. TRIMBLE of Calais: In behalf
or the northern and east arn sections
OF our State | desire to oppose this
proposition providing for a close time
OF Tour years on moose. ! realize that
the Maine Fish & Game Association.
the William Tell Club, and many of
the very best and most interested
sportsmen in our State favor this
matter; but with us, in our section,
1t is a business proposition. Many
guides are dependent on this for their.
livelihood; and in our section there
are thousands of dollars invested ia
moose camps which would be useless
should this law receive passage At
the hearing before the Committee on
Inland Fish and Game, which lasted
about eight hours, it was demonstrate
ed without any question that moose
are plentiful in our section. AS a mat
ter of fact, in the northern and east