Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-21

years from now. Gentlemen, that is
not the intention of the committee
on inland fisheries and game nor is
it mine: and, if l thought that at
any succeeding legislature they
would attempt to increase this fee,
I would come over here and fight
against it. if this bill became a law.
It is not for revenue that I ask the
passage of this bin, but 1t is for
identification-to identify the nom
resident and to identify the poach-
er. The non-residents are coming
into this State in abundance. claim
ing that they live in the State OF
Maine, and getting by without pay
ing their fee of fifteen dollars; and
it means, gentlemen. considerable
sum when you figure up the total at
the end of the season. think 1t
conservative estimate when I say
that in an average season we are
losing from twenty to twenty-five
dollars. and the LORD
knows we need this money to I'M
prove our warden service.
Section three Of this bill. the
second clause there, has also been
a bone Of contention. It says: "Ev-
cry person holding a certificate OF
registration by virtue OF this act
shall. at all times, while hunting,
have such certificate on his person,
and shall exhibit the same for in
spection to any person authorized
to enforce the inland fish and game
laws. Failure to produce such GER
tificate, or satisfactory evidence OF
the issuance of same, upon such re-
Quest shall constitute a violation OF
this act" Just keep in mind or
satisfactory evidence of the issuance
of same" Previous bills did not
have that clause; so that if any man
should happen to lose his registra-
ton card or leave it at home or
leave it in his machine or IN ms
team bv the side of the road, ana
the warden detected him and asked
for his card, he would be a GRIMM
al: but this provision provides that
if he can give satisfactory evidence
that he has a registration card, he
is not a criminal. 1t further says
"No such certificate shall De grant
ed to any person under sixteen years
of age unless by written consent OF
parents or guardian is attached 10
the application for such certlllcate.
T wonder if there are any gentle-
men here who would desire to nave
their bows go into the woods hunt
ING without their knowledge or con-
sent.
Gentlemen. the State Of Maine did
not realize the value of its forests
until it was too late. The State OF
Maine did not realize the value OF us
water powers until it was too late.
Now, gentlemen, is the State "t
Maine going to fail to realize the
value of it's wild life until it is too
late? l certainly hope not. There IS
no one who enjoys hunting better
than !, nor is there anyone who
guards it more carefully. II
thought this bill was detriment to
the hunters who were interested IN
the protection Of fish and game.
should oppose it: but | believe in the
bill and hope it will receive a pas
sage. Mr. Speaker. when the vote IS
taken l hope it may he taken by a
rising vote.
MI HINCKLEY of South Port
land: MIR. Speaker, | feel that | ought
TO say that no person in the State OF
Maine is more interested in the fish
and game than l. l have hunted an
fisned in practically every section of
the State. l have hunted and fished
in the hunting and fishing grounds
of the Province of New Brunswick.
l have hunted and fished on the Cas-
cades Of the Pacific slope. have
hunted and fished in the Canadian
Rockies and in the canyonsaof British
Columbia. and 1 know something
about fish and game. and realize the
Importance of protection Of fish and
game. want to say to you men that
there is no place, and there has been
no time during my life that l appre-
ciated hunting and fishing as much
as when | was q barefooted boy down
in Washington County. hunting and
fishing the hills and streams of that
section of the state. 1t is one thing
to be professional hunter and
think Of game from that standpoint,
and it is another thing to be an I'M
professional hunter: and I want to
say to you that the very great ma
jority of the people of the State of
Maine who enjoy it's hunting privi-
leges are not professional hunters.
Farmers and the farmers boys do
not make a business of hunting; it is
very incidental to their business. The
average farmer and farmers boy II
the State of Maine does not plan n
hunting trip. but almost invariably
has his gun, and when he goes
through his pasture, when he goes 10
he often-very often-carries
his gun along with him.
A member of this House came to
me yesterday, and he said this: II
have three boys who are now in
France. They have been fighting
over there for freedom. l have got
their three guns at home where they
left them. and l am keeping them for
them, and l do not want when those
boys come back to tell them that
member of the Legislature of which
l am n member has during their alb
scnce and while they have been fight
ing for freedom. taken away that
right which has always been theirs,
and was mine. and has been the her
itage OF the people Of this State-to
take away that right to go out in the
pasture and shoot a rabbit I tell
YOU men it is not right; it is I'M
American; and, as 1 suggested yester-
day. we are binding ourselves hanl
and foot with these regulations and
with these license nrOnOSitianS and