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

1 Survey, and there is little hope, &C.
cording to the information which ]
| have from the Forest Service. that
they would make a favorable report
upon any portion of the watersheds OF
the Kennebec and PenobscOt. l also
had a talk with the forester who
was employed by the government to
examine these regions, and who gave
US much information on the subject.
This does not necessarily mean thai
this area cannot be acquired at all, as
any special act Of Congress providing
for purchase without reference to pro-
lection of navigable streams would be
sufficient but there is a question OF
constitutionality involved, and further
more, while many bills Of this kind
have been before Congress. we cannot
find where any have passed which in
volved an outlay by the federal gov
eminent for the purchase of the lands
Our national parks have been taken
from the public domain without neces-
sity of purchase.
We should not forget, however that
in the western part of Maine, as part
of the White Mountain Purchase Area.
the government is acquiring $4,000
acres of wonderful country, and that
there are 10000 acres more in the
same territory that can be acquired un-
der the Weeks Act.
But we still want the Katahdin re-
serve. and if we can keep up sentiment
for 1t long enough, conditions may
change, and the object be more attain
able. The people of the east ara en-
titled to a national park, and no more
representative area Of virgin forest
lake and mountain could be better pre-
served than that around Katahdin.
Before closing | wish to pay a public
tribute to Fred E Jorgensen Of Hay
wood. who in the past three years has
secured far and away more new men,
bers than any other of US. Within the
past month he sent IN forty applica-
tons. and if the rest of US had his
enthusiasm we would have that 1000
membership in two weeks.
There is a tendency on the part OF
some of the members who join with
plenty of enthusiasm, to lose some of
their interest ana let their membership
lapse after couple OF years. and 1t Is
a problem worth considering how to
hCSP A'iICiSokSu lLOSc AiSAhoCiS wiz
perhaps cannot attend the meetings
and outing. and who possibly feel they
are getting little direct benefit from
their membership. l have felt that if
we had time and money to issue a
bulletin from time to time to keep
members Informed Of what is going on
that it would help some. However
members should feel. and most of
them do feel, that the influence of this
association. even though it is some
times indirect, is such factor for good
to the fish and game interests that
their yearly dues are amply justified.
The next business of the meeting wa.
President Hodgdons address on the ad
visibility of the adoption of a resident
hunting license and the adoption also o.
a nonresident fishing license. the bills t
go before the present Legislature at ar
early date. He read number of letter:
from various other states where this ha:
been tried. and all showed that wher
ever it has been tried this law has prove,
OF great utility, both as source of rev
enue which is very useful when applied
to the propagation Of game and fish, ant
also serving as fine means OF ldentihca
ton, the owner of such a license being
! obliged to keep 1t with him at all times
subject to inspection by all game war
dens public officers and land owners. II
New Hampshire the revenue from this
source amounts to about $4,000 year
which goes a long way toward paying
for increased warden service and propa
cation of fish and game.
Commissioner Ttcomb of Vermont
wrote that the effect of the law in tina
state was very beneficial, both as a pro
tective measure and as a source of rev
enue In 1915 and 1916 it amounted t
81, 500.
The plan as outlined by Presiden
Hodgdon calls for a resident hunting Ii
cense of 81 per year and a non-residel
fishing license of 50 per year. 1t was alsC
suggested that legislation to restric
boys under the age of is years from car
rying firearms unless with the writer
consent of parents or guardians.
A general discussion of these bills
showed that the consensus of opinion il
that no sportsman would object to pay
ing these small taxes for their privileges
and that the sums thus obtained woult
do an incalculable amount of good whel
applied to the purposes for which the,
were intended, and that the identification
thus afforded would greatly aid the war
dens in their work.
A discussion of the amount of illega
deer hunting which is now being carried
on as compared to that of a few year.
ago, especially in the case of Illegal dee
killing in the lumber camps, and b,
means Of automobile lights, occupied
some time, and one of the wardens, H
L. Stone Of the East Branch region, stat
ed it as being his firm belief that thu
camps kill all the deer they can possibly
get, and information from another war
den was to the effect that In one cast
parts of over 50 deer were found in on,
camp and vicinity.
Following the statement Of Presiden
Hodgdon that under no circumstances
could he be prevail lied upon to accept an
other term of office, committee of five
men-John Sprague, Billy Hill. Fred Tor
gensen and Walter I. Neal-was appoint
ed to confer as to the officers to be elect
ed for the coming year and to report a
P. NJ.
The morning meeting was adjourned