Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-13
MONDAY EVENING MARCH IS.
The best preparation for the future
IS the present tUeH seen to.
GEORGE MACDONALD.
LICENSES FOR FISHERMEN

L VI - 1911 SOAlhlC
y BULLER has asked the people
of the State to communicate to
him their opinions concerning the bill
he proposes to ask the Legislature to
enact, requiring fishermen to be Ii
Censed. as hunters have been in the
past few years. We imagine Mr.. Bull
Ter will not lack for replies He has
touched the public on very tender
spot AS between hunters licenses
and fishermen's licenses there is a
great difference.
Mr.. Butler is prompted to his con-
clusions by very proper desire to
procure additional funds wherewith
TO purify the streams of the State,
propagate and plant fish and in gem
eral provide better sport for the angler
and more food fish for the public.
There can be no question about the
Importance of purifying the streams.
but why should the guiltless citizen
who goes fishing once or twice sea-
son be assessed to rectify conditions
that can be traced without difficulty
10 individuals and corporations pollut-
MS lilC pubiiC waterways lOT no Olutl
purpose than the enrichment of their
own purses?
AS to more money for propagation
and restocking, that indeed should be
provided. but closer cooperation be-
tween the forest, fish and game officers
and the State police for the vigorous
prosecution of poachers would do
Nyn In oP =
present supply, and for it's resulting
increase by natural means. There can
be no doubt that larger appropriations
are needed for this work, but many
will believe they should come from
the Legislature, as they have in the
past.
There were many who favored the
licensing of hunters. 1t was pretty
generally felt that some way should
be found for the regulation of gun
ners, a large majority of whom of
necessity found their sport on private
ly owned property. Many of them
were careless and reckless. They
shot domestic animals, destroyed
property, started costly fires and in
no means of Identifying the offenders
or bringing them to justice. The Ii
cense tag has changed all this. 1t is
an insurance policy as we'll as reve-
nue. producer, even though it does
work some hardship.
But with fishing it is different. Ex-
cept for some trout streams and
sgn1nIIar 10 eel II.
sport on the public waterways of the
State, and he does not go forth equip
ped with a deadly weapon to be used
indiscriminately. Few complaints
have been lodged against anglers, as
compared with the long list of
charges lodged against gunners.
Further than that, fishing is a poor
Many lover of rod and line has time
for no more than a day a year in the
open. 1t would seem a hardship in
deed to assess these for their little
pleasure and it would be ridiculous
certainly to charge the small boy a
dollar for the privilege of angling for
"sunnies" and "minnies" in the spring
house brook
OF course, there are two sides Ia
this matter of fishermen's licenses
just as there are to all such questions
but it may be imagined, with small
strain of fancy, that Mr.. Butler will
have quite a job ahead of him con-
verting the public to his way OF
thinking. 1t must be said, however
that he has been eminently fair In
placing the subject before the people
at time when they will have ample
opportunity to present their views tc
prospective members of the Legisla-
ture.