Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-28


TIC the failure of the occupants of the
wagon to look along the track before
they drove upon it,
MISS MYRTLE HODGDON'S p
YEARS FAITHFUL SERVICE
Quiet and unassuming and dread
ing publicity, Miss Myrtle H. Hodg-
don Of Farmingdale, who for the past
% years has been the chief clerk. is
now at the head Of the great depart
ment of the Maine Commission Oh In
land Fisheries and Game. by the APP
pointment by Governor Milliken, pend
ing the qualifying of a commissioner
Of inland fisheries and game. Miss
Hodgdon has the reins Of the depart
n.ent, every one Of them, right in her
hands and matters in that particular
part of the Maine capitol are moving
along as smoothly as Maine lake on
a calm morning.
Miss Hodgdon is in charge of the
affairs of the department Of inland
fisheries and game because of the fact
that there is no head to the depart
ment, that is there is no male head
as yet The last legislature passed an
act abolishing the commission on in
land fisheries and game, which con-
sisted of three members one of whom
was the state land agent and forest
commissioner eX officio, and created
the Office of commissioner of inland
fisheries ana game. Hon. Harry +.
Austin OF Phillips. who served for
three years as chairman of the com
mission, was a candidate for appoint
ment as commissioner. but Governor
Milliken appointed Hon. Willis f.
Parsons of Foxcroft. but the Gov
ernor and council refused to confirm
that nomination or rather. that nom
nation was laid on the table by the
council.
Miss Hod2don. as the head of the
inland fish and game department has
some responsibility on her hands. NJ
nlerous inquiries come to the depart
ment and the work is so extensive
that in order to get a start early in
the day Miss Hodgdon rings in" on
on the State House time clock at :
O'clock every morning. She does this
so that when the other clerks arrive at
s o'clock the days work will be
mapped out for them.
The office of the inland fisheries and
game should be called a department
Of emergencies as the telephone bell is
iingling most all day long in the hun
ting ard fishing season by Inquiries.
for instance, as to whether one may
fish in this stream or that stream
which has been run over by train
up on the Bangor & Aroostook Rail
road. The non resident fishermen's
license Law passed at the last session
Of the legislature has also brought
more work to the department. Miss
Iludgdon personally dictates on an
average 100 letters per day
Whoever occupies the throne in the
department of inland fisheries and
game takes part in the expenditure
of more ;han 100000, watches at in
tervals the 1900 inland lakes of Maine.
keeps tabs on about 100 wardens and
100 assistants. assists in looking after
the II fish hatcheries which raise an
nuallN G.000.U00 fish takes a hand in q
$4,000 a wear fish warden service.
Keeps the names IF 1900 registered
guides. takes an inventory Of the big
game in THE woods periodically. and. in
a general way, helps to build up the
great playground of Maine where
100000 visitors annually plank down
s2G,0n0.0o0 IN Uncle Sans cold cash.
Miss IfodSdon's past experience
gives her requisite knowledge for the
responsible position which she holds
temporarily because. 50 to speak, she
was in the track of the cyclone when it
struck. She has the ability to put her
knowledge into practical use, and she
has tact She is familiar with every
detail of keeping the lakes and streams
of Maine stocked with fish and can
give any information from the spot
Where II warden happened to be some
day last summer to the location of the
opening in Il dam in some stream
through which salmon has to leap
on his way upstream, when the APP
proarh of spring warns him that it is
time TO travel.
Miss IIodgdon has served under
chairm"n Leroy T. Carleton Of Win
throp. the late James w. Bracket of
iiIlitDS. 'jpiiil H. w iiSOll VI iAu-
burn. the resent United States mar
shall for the District of Maine. and
Harry r. Austin Of Phillips. The as
%istants in the department of inland
fisheries and game are Thomas A..
James of Augusta, the curator Of the
museum. Arthur c. .Jewett of Farming
dale. the bookkeeper, and the Misses
Lottie NJ. Harrington of Hallowell,
Mary Gray of Augusta and Ida Gold
stein of Randolph. clerks and stenog-
raphers.