Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-31
Game Com'r's Will Recommend
5-Years Close Time on
Moose and SIS Non
Resident License
THE STATE LIBRARY
State Board of Health Rules APP
pfoved--Farmers' Insti-
tutes Announced
State House Chat
Next Meeting Of the Governor and
Council, 10 A. NJ, Friday, Nov. 6

Chairman Harry b. Austin of the
Maine Fish and Game Commission was
asked Friday regarding the non
residents big game" license fee and
what, if any, recommendations the
commissioners have in mind for pre-
sentation to the incoming Legislature.
He said. in part:
You may say that the fish and game
commissioners will recommend to the
Legislature:
"First-ra fve-years close time on
moose, and
"Second-rif the first becomes a law,
we intend to recommend a reduction
of the fee for non resident hunters in
Maine from the present SIS to the old
SIS fee.
In 1911 1851 nom resident "big game"
| licenses were taken out, producing a
| revenue of $29,271.36
I'm 1912, the last year of the SIS fee,
| 1878 licenses were taken out, giving a
revenue of $2s152.63.
| "In 1918, the first year of the s25
| fee, 1856 licenses were taken out, CIV
| ing a revenue of 49,, $4,000.
the fee had been increased, the rev.
enue was over $4,000 more than TIE pre-
vious year. And. while the State is not
/ losing--as many think-through the
/ advance in the fee, the fact also re-
mains that only about two-thirds as
many non-residents were licensed in
/ 1913 as in the preceding year Of 1912.
lone idea of advancing the fee was
] <.f
deer killed, and in that way help con-
serve our deer supply. And this fact
seems to be borne out by summary
of the amount of big game shipped
| from the various railroad stations.
| THE amount of deer shipped in 1912
was 1901: in 1918. 1854. In 1912 21S moose
were shipped, and in 1913, go moose. In
1912, 1872 bears were shipped, and in
i 1918. "a.
1 Another factor enters into the case,
l. e., that the number of people COM
ing into Maine in automobiles each
year to hunt is increasing very rap
idly every year, and a large and in
creasing number of deer are taken out
of the State each yea by autos, which
were formerly shipped by rail. But
! just how much of factor this is can
only be estimated, because the COM
missioners have no way of keeping
track of deer shipped in any way ex-
cept under license tags by the differ
| ent railroads.
Figures for the current year are
not complete enough to form anything
but an estimate as to the number OF
licenses issued. but probably will not
vary much from 1918.
SHOULD the Legislature see fit to
enact law for a small resident hunt
/ er's license--as we hope it Wilt
would be much easier for our wardens
+. to enforce the non resident law. The
conditions now are such that If a
warden approaches one whom he sus-
poets to be nonresident hunter, up
on such persons assurance that he Is
a resident of the State, the warden
i has to take his word for 1t, and by
such means many men whom the war
dens are satisfied were non-residents
/ have gotten by without license. On
the other hand. If every one who hunt
4 ed-resident or on-resident-was oh
liged to be licensed, wardens would
not have any difficulty in identifying
each hunter whom he might find in
/ the woods.
"A residents license law Is now up
on the statute books Of the 4S states.
and of eight Canadian provinces.
/ Aside from the great help 1t would
be in enforcing the nonresident hun
4 ter's license Law, a small resident IL
| cense would, in the opion Of the COM
| missioners, in a very few years, afford,
| together with other sources of income,
sufficient funds to cover the entire ex-
/ pense of the department.
while it is true that fewer num-
! Der of hunters in our woods would
seem to conserve the game resources,
it is also true that perhaps an add
tional income from the two forms of
license would give US funds to carry
on the work of game protection en-
ough more effectively so that the sup
ply of game would be maintained.
"A further argument is set up by
camp owners. guides and others inter-
ested in the resort business. that the
loss Of about one-third, which between
1912 and 1918 amounted to over 900
hunters, Is a very serious one to them.
II we take conservative estimate that
each of these 500 hunters, who kept
away from Maine, owing to the adj
vance In the price of the non resident
hunters license In 1913, would have
spent SIS each for transportation,
board. guides wages, etc., we have an
aggregate sum Of $4,000 loss to these
interests, and I think everyone will
agree that provided a sufficiently eff
fective warden service can be main
tanned, to protect the game now In
our forests. and that Maine would be
glad to welcome an increasing num-
Der Of hunters from out of the State,
each season
II Continued on PAGE 14-Column p