Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-03

it, and the boy. instead of feeling that
his liberties have been abridged, is
proud Of his certificate as a regis
tered hunter Of Maine. Very many
more have registered than was an
ticipated, and town clerks. making a
careful estimate of the number Of Ii
censes required, have had to in
crease it, often tenfold, over $4,000
having already entered their names
as resident hunters Of the State.
This law is accomplishing the
very purpose for which it was enact
ed and preventing the non president
from hunting as a citizen Of Maine.
At the same time it 10 ferreting out
the aliens. and many an alien who
has been hunting for years, free. now
pays his SIS license fee to the State.
Another beneficial change in the
law was the prohibiting of residents
from carrying deer out of the State.
That has put stop to much illegal
traffic in game and its slaughter in
close season for that purpose.
Again, prohibiting the use of deer
in lumber camps or buildings used in
connection with numbering opera :
tons will save the deer of the State
more than any other lone law. The
rapidity with which deer were disap-
pearing in all sections where lumber
ing was being carried on by jobbers
was alarming. The commissioner, on
an inspection tour in the northwest
part Of the State on the headwaters
Of the st. John river, found deer in
large numbers and tame where there
had been no numbering for years, but
where numbering operations were
being carried on, few. If any. deer
would be seen in . days travel. Job
bers frequently took no beef into
camp, but hired hunters to supply the
camps with venison. Now this ter
ritory is being patrolled by wardens,
some Of them young soldiers who
love the open air employment and are
courageous in the discharge Of duty.
Other notable points In the report In
clude:
Automobile hunting continues to some
extent. but as hunters become familiar
with the law they better observe it.
lacking has been reported and several
offenders punished. The commissioner
says more stringent measures must be
taken and jail sentences should be
asked.
Deer and Moose Increasing
More deer were shot than last year,
nearly twice as many at some inspec-
ton stations. We have had one good
breeding season and with the improve
ment in. warden service and the inter-
est being manifested by guides and
other citizens who are ready to
give information and aid in preserving
the game. its rapid decrease has I'M
doubtedly been checked. Deer have
been reported plentiful In many locali-
ties and the Commissioner saw 49, in
one trip Of IS days.
The moose were increasing and were
appearing in large NUMBERS in WASH
ington county and some OF the other big
game counties, but they had not been
hunted for four years and had become
quite tame, appearing often in the BET
Elements, and have fallen an easy prey
to the hunter who had them located for
weeks before the open season. The
next Legislature may deem it wise to
put another continuous close time on
moose, II they are to Be preserved. One
more open season, which Will be had
before the next legislature assemblies, It
is believed. will practically exterminate
them Our lakes and streams, when de-
pleted, can be restocked, but when this
monarch Of the Maine woods disap-
pears he is zone forever
Grouse and Beaver
Ruf1leA gFouoe, OF partridge, aFe hold
ing their own and even increasing IN
tho northern wilderness. They almost
disappeared in the winter Of 1917 in
many localities but two good Matching
seasons have helped them. Woodcoek