Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-30

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step forward in the scheme Of true
conservation.
The State has gained revenue for
the past two years Of $1l45 from these
permits while from its waters nothing
of value to them has been taken.
Pollution.
The decline Of our river fisheries
may be attributed to these principal
continual lessening Of our
|howage areas caused by deforestation.
the decrease Of suitable spawning
beds. and the pollution caused by
sewerage and waste from manufactur-
ing plants.
The evil effects Of these latter con-
ditions upon our fisheries are steadily
increasing and the time has come
when legislation should be considered
which will remedy them as far as pos
sible.
Methods are being devised to con-
vert much of this waste now going
into our rivers into valuable by
products, and, while it is too much to
hope that these waters will ever be
restored to their primitive condition of
purity. they can at least be rendered
more habitable for valuable fish by
restrictive legislation which would not
prove great hardship upon our man
|ufacturing industries.
Special privileges have too long de-
prived the people Of our State of these
great natural resources to the enjoy
ment of which they are clearly en-
titled.
Census.
The Commissioners are frequently
called upon by people living in other
states for information regarding our
resorts, the kind of fishing or shoot
ing to be had in various localities, dis
tances of camps and hotels from the
railroad, etc.
In order to have more exact in
ished the clerk of each city, town or
organized place in the State, asking
for the following information to be
supplied:
Tow & II ......... County of ........
NeatESt r. II. Station -. 80. ........
Name of r. R...... -. -. .........
Distance from r. r. -. .............
(Please give below detailed informa-
Etion regarding each lake and pond in
your town of more than ten acres in
area, as called for by the following
Questions.)
Name of lake or pond minimum.
Nearest r. r. Station ...............
Distance from r. r. Station. miles.
BY road. miles: by trail. miles:
by water miles.
Length of lake or pond. ....... miles;
approximate width. ............. miles.
Kinds of fish found therein. ..........
Which kind predominates ............
Names of hotels or public camps,
If any. at this lake or pond number of
guests each resort will accommodate,
name and address Of proprietors, etc.)
(Name of hotels and public camps,
if any. in your town, not located on a
lake or pond. number Of guests each
resort will accommodate. name and
address of proprietors, distance of
each resort from lake, etc.
...... 80. %. .........
Does your town afford good deer
, nunting?.. -. ...... ......
State kinds Of game birds found
tnefeln... ...~... ...........
Which kind affords the best hunting
=. -. ......
General Remarks.
If your town has any hunting or
fishing attractions which should be
specially mentioned, please give below
particulars regarding same.
1t is gratifying to report that in
most instances response was made to
the request and in the few ca ..es where
dsAa was not obtainable from the
clerk, it was furnished by a warden in
the vicinity. Data regarding resorts
in the unorganized places,was already
on file so that now we have q valuable
colle0Aion of information which we
hope soon to be able to furnish in
Printed form.
Fish Laws.
In State somprising 80 much ter
ritory, aN9A such diversity of fish
ing cond II would be impossible,
Perhaps, q Emulate a simple code of
laws which would meet these varied
requirements.
Waters easy Of access. and conse-
'quently much resorted to by all classes
Of fishermen, must have more restric-
ton than those more remote, in order
that their supply, subjected to un-
usual dr@pss may not be depleted.
q Hestgtcted methods of fishing must
preERilth certain waters which abound
tgkgames hSnSs. and in which otherwise
the supply would soon become ex-
hausted. A
s Waters which have been fished out
and are being restocked must be
closed to fishing until such stock has
had time to mature. ..e
Tributaries upon which lakes and
ponds depend for the replenishing Of
their supply and which are nurseries
for the small game Ash, upon which
that, supply depends, must have more
protection than streams tributary to
polluted rivers or which empty into the
sea. A.
Realizing, however. the necessity of
simplifying the existing laws (which
had become more and more complex
and confusing. the Legislature OF 1913
placed this work IN thu handle of a
committee made up of the Legislative
Committee and the Commissioners of
Inland Fisheries and Came, and au-
thorized them to employ counsel.
This committee passed the Legisla-
tive term In this work aud reportednn