Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-19

iof the executive committee were John
If. Sprague, Dover; Chas. p. Gray,
Fryeburg: +. 8. Burns. Westbrook;
Charles B. Carter, Auburn; and Joseph
Emery. Manchester.
The list of directors contained the
following names: j. Putnam Stevens,
Portland: A. H. Shaw. Bath; Frank
w. Wardwell, Portland; c. A. Judkins.
lKineo; F. E. Jorgensen, Hayward; AL
lbert Greenlaw, Eastport, and Blaine
S. Viles, Augusta.
The new president. Captain Gould of
Bangor, who has been a hunter and
fisherman of some note in the past
years of his life, besides being one OF
the most popular officers in the IND
Maine Infantry which recently return
led from Texas border duty, made
short address following the election OF
officers, in which he thanked the as
ISOLATION for the honor shown him, and
remarked that if he succeeded in doing
as well as his predecessor in office had
done, he should feel entirely satisfied
with his work. He also commended the
retiring secretary, Roland Whitehouse.
for his fine work while in Office, and
added that he realized that he was
taking a difficult task in hand, but
would do his utmost to fulfill the re-
uuirements of the position in which he
had been placed.
The next hour was given to thorough
discussion Of the proposed resident
hunting license bill, and some of the
speakers who gave 1t as their opinion
that the bill ought to pass were L. T.
Carleton, ]. Putnam Stevens, former
President Hodgdon, Walter !. Neal and
a number of guides and wardens. be-
side the present commissioner, Harry
Austin.
Warden Mathew Morrill, of Gray
spoke Of the difficulty involved in look
ing up resident and nonresident hunt
ers by the wardens. which would be
eliminated by the passage of the law.
and added that the enforcement of the
fish and game laws would require very
few wardens if public sentiment ran
higher than it now does. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the average male citi-
zen will do more to aid another to avoid
paying the penalty of infringement of
the State game laws than he will to aid
any of the wardens n the performance
of their duty.
1t was also suggested by q former
fire warden that more stress be laid on
the power of the forest fire wardens to
enforce the hunting and fishing laws of
the State, thus increasing the warden
service with no added expense incur
red. the suggestion finding favor. L., T.
Carleton spoke briefly saying that the
discussion of the way in which the
funds to be obtained from the resident
hunting licenses was unimportant COM
| no nf ha
law requiring such a license. You all
know the time honorcd receipt for rab-
bit pie. First, catch your rabbit" he
said. so do not get into a discussion
of what to do with these funds, at
least not until after the means of OBJ
tanning them has been definitely pro-
vided." He stated that he has noticed
that the opposition to the law regarding
this form of taxation which formerly
existed. appears to have almost entire
ly disappeared
]. Putnam Stevens then spoke of the
discussion which had been raised as to
the ACCESSIBILITY of creating a close time
on the ruffed grouse for a period OF
years, and said that he believed that the
way to handle that situation is to make
1t the privilege of the commissioners to
decide on what years the birds shall be
hunted. so that by getting information
from the guides and game wardens as
to when the birds need protection they
can at will declare a closed season dur
ing which the birds cannot legally be
killed. Then the question of a game
breeders law in the State was discussed
the propagation of Hungarian cartridges
pfS 70
pose included in the act.
Commissioner Austin then spoke. say
ing that he is strongly in favor of the
proposed resident hunting license, and
he emphasized the danger from alien
hunters. speaking of the proposed cleo
trio railroad through the northern Maine
wilderness and of the Italian laborers,
with no sense of responsibility as to
game laws, who will be thronging the
woods and killing song birds, chinmunks
and all sorts of wild life. Everything Is
stew to the Dago.' he said. and added:
"If you want efficiency from your war
dens and the commission. give them the
resident license law. which is an effec-
tive means Of identficaton.''
He also urged the need of putting the
| special local leSlShtlOn unQer the
commission, SO that they can make
laws to meet particular needs when.
required.
1t was also suggested that legsla-
ton to restrict the cats which roam
the woods and destroy all forms of
bird life is badly needed, and it was
proposed to tax cats exactly as dogs
are taxed. SO that a cat found roam
ing the wilderness and without a COL
, lar can be destroyed by wardens ana
sportsmen. A letter was then read by
President Gould from member of
the association who now lives in Bos-
ton. commenting on the fact that too
many deer are shipped from this State
to be sold in the open markets, and
asking that these conditions be invest
igated at once.
A legislative committee was then
appointed, the members being Ralph G.
Ch'lds. Wiley Conley Charles Barnes,
John r. Flint and Robert Modgdon,
the former president of the association
President Gould then introduced the
lecturer of the day, William Lyman
FNrNt.yr