Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-04-21
GAME Law CHANGES.
Many Important Ones Made this
Winter.

made many changes in fish and game
laws.
Leading all OF the measures in popular
interest, perhaps, is the act that will place
Close time on moose in the State OF
Maine for four years. This was proposed
two years ago, but was so strenuously op-
posed that 1t went down to defeat. At
this session, Harry B. Austin, OF Phillips,
the present chairman OF the commission
OF inland fisheries and game, who had
proposed the measure two years ago,
secured more supporters in the law-mak-
ing body. The only opposition thar de-
veloped came from the residents of Wash
ington county. At first they sought to
defeat the bill absolutely; then they tried
to amend 1t 30 that moose could still be
shot in Washington county, where the
most OF them are to be found at the pres
emit time. In both Senate and House, the
bill was overwhelmingly endorsed rs it
was originally Dire tied.
Another important measure that has
passed the Legislature is that which
restores to the commissioners OF inland
fisheries and game the Jurisdiction Of
game matters on the islancs 81 the coast
and on the coast itself. Two years ago,
this part Of the enforcement OF the fish
and game laws was delegated to the COM
| missioner OF sea and shore fisheries, who
was to have jurisdiction over the main
land to q distance of mile from the
coast Now all this territory has again
been brought under the control Of the
commissioners OF inland fisheries and
game and will probably remain SO.
Realizing that Us was pretty high
figure for non-residents to pay for the
privilege Of shooting game in Maine,
with moose protected, in addition to their
travelling and camp expenses, the mem
bers OF the legislature have reduced the
nonresident license fee to S15, the figure
| at which it was placed when the law was
originally enacted.
Under the present law, q hunter Is
allowed to kill but five cartridges and
ten ducks In q day, though he may have
in his possession at any one time, ten
cartridges and fifteen ducks. The law
has been changed so that hunter, or any
one else, may have in his possession only
five cartridges and ten ducks, the same
number as be is allowed to shoot in any
one day. The law in regard to woodcock
allows the shooting and possession of ten
birds, and this has not been changed.
Another important change in the game
laws has been made SO that the statutes OF
Maine will conform with the federal regu-
lations. From now on, it shall be illegal
to hunt any kind OF game or wild bird
from sunset OF one day to sunrise Of the
next. 1t shall also be unlawful to hunt
any wild animal from one hour after sun
set Of one day until one hour before sum
rise OF the next day. BY these regulations
all night hunting will be done away with.
Among the changes that have been made
in the fishing laws - and this refers to
only those for the whole State, for there
has been a mass Of special legislation in
this regard perhaps the most important
is that which deals with black bass. Two
years ago, a law was enacted which made
it Illegal to catch any black bass before
June 10. This has been altered so that
black bass may be caught anywhere as
soon as the ice has gone out, but they
must be caught with artificial flies, and
artificial flies only, up to June 20. After
that date, any kind OF bait may be used.
The best fly fishing for bass begins in
June, and thus all the sportsmen will be
given a chance to land some OF the gamey
fish.
The famous old eel pot law has been re-
pealed and new one enacted. Under the
old law, a man wishing to fish for cells
with nets would have to get license from
the department, and this might cost him
ali the way from IS to 500. Even at that,
there was big business done; thousands
OF pounds Of cells were taken from the
waters of the State and shipped to the
Boston and New York markets.
Under the new law which has now been
enacted, any inland waters Of the State
may be declared open by the commission
for the catching OF cells, suckers, yellow
perch and other non-game fish. These
will be opened to be general public and
no fee at all will be charged. The par
ticular waters that will be turned over to
this kind OF fishing will be those in which
there are no game fish, such as streams
and ponds where the water has been pol
luted by the waste from mills. Suckers
have been known to destroy the eggs of
game fish, and it is thought that this new
law will relieve this trouble to some ex-
tent.
Among the other measures enacted is
one that restores the old beaver law. AT
the present time, when the commissioners
learn that beavers are doing damage on
any particular lot of land, the commits
sioners may hire men to get after the ami
mails. Under the old law which has been
restored, the commission will be given
authority to declare an open season in the
particular locality where the beavers may
be doing damage, and thus any one may
have the privilege of capturing or killing
them.
A law has been passed that makes it an
offense to dig out fox dens during the