Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-13
Interesting Matters Before
Inland Fisheries and Gam G

ZION, JOHn -. r. III. wilson OIL Au-
burn, chairman of the commission on
inland fisheries and game, and Sena-
tor Wing of Franklin county spoke in
favor of repeating the law providing
for beunties on bears before the com
mittee on inland fisheries and game,
Wednesday. Chairman Wilson ex-
planned that the law only applied -
four counties, Washington, Hancock,
Oxford and Franklin.
THE amount of damage that Tie
bears do is SMALL" said Chairman
Wilson, and there is law providing
that if a bear kills a sheep belonging
to It farmer. that farmer may be re-
imbursed by the State / don't think
that we could give a premium for the
killing of bears when hunters from
outside the State will be glad to come
here and kill the animals for us free
of charge. AS far as | know, there
is no opposition to the repeal of the
present law"
Senator Wing said that the senti-
ment up in his county of F'ranlSlin
for the repeal of the present law was
very strong and he had learned from
talking with various members of the
Legislature that that was the senti-
ment in other counties of the State.
Various matters were considered by
the committee, Wednesday, but the
longest hearing was on the act to
open Lake Cobbosseecontee and Lake
Maranacook to ice fishing, two days
In a week. No one appeared in favor
OF the bill but the strongest kind of
opposition developed to the proposed
measure.
When the act was called up and
after no one appeared for the pro-
ponents of the bill. Joseph w. Emery,
tire proprietor of a hotel at the Outlet
So called, at Lake Cobbusseeconte.,
made an argument against the bill.
This law would ruin our summer
business" said Mr.. Emery. 1T would
ruin a great industry and could
find but one guide. who was in favor
of the bill. The fafiuers are opposed
to the measure as it will mean a de-
crease in the number of summer peo-
pie, who are attracted to our lakes
by the fishing and they would not
come here infthe winter time
Questioned by Tx Fish and Game
COMMISSIONER H. r. Carleton, Mr. EN-
cry stated that there would be no
harm to catch pickerel through the
ice bur that some fishermen would
take white perch and salmon and
would not throw them back into the
lake.
M. S. Collins, who keeps the hotel
ut Lake Maranacook. also opposed the
bin. He said that when ice fishing
al ITsI in l,
people would come from Portland.
Waterville, Lewiston and other places
and they did not leave a cent in the
community bordering on the lake. In
stances have been known where the
fish have been sold for market The
, hsh revenue is quite an item to the
people around Lake Maranacook in
the summer time, and if there is win
| Ter fishing the summer fishing is not
apt to be as good as ii might other
wise be. He did not believe that any
! general law could rightly regulate the
| fishing of Lake Maranacook
| irving .. Gage, secretary of the
Winthrop Board of Trade, said that
! the sentiment of the people of Win
throp was against opening up the
lakes to ice fishing. The Winthrop
people catered to the summer visitors,
who We're attracted to the lakes by
the summer fishing.
e. w. Wentworth and L. w. Wads
worth of Winthrop also spoke against
opening the two lakes to ice fishing.
Ice fishing would deplete the fishing
in the waters.
James A. Harvey of Readfield ere
ated roar of laughter when he said
that with all due respect to the COM
mittee, he did not believe that any of