Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-02

I and declared that while we had been
told that the State would raise $12,-
| 900 by taxation. S5O.0UO OF that
amount would have to back into the
general treasury. Think OF it," he
said. The great State OF Maine
raises $4,000 for the protection OF
this vast industry! We ask for this
money because we must have 1t.
-Four years ago" he said, I'VE got
| this resident hunters license SO that
we could keep tabs on men comins
here from out of the State and claim
ing that they were residents when
| they wanted to hunt.
I'VE did not care about the money
| then. but conditions have changed.
Then we had $4,000. Two years
ago they cut this down by $4,000.
and now they proposed to cut US down
| $4,000 more"
| L. A. Parker of North Berwick.
chief game warden for York county.
expressed himself in favor of the bill.
| and told a story of pheasants being
! so plentiful in his town that they are
| walking the streets and being fed by
| the residents.
Mr.. Cummings renewing his talk in
| opposition, said: "While l may be-
! lievc in registration certificates. L do
not believe that we should establish
license for resident hunters and
| fishermen. You will find if you enact
this law that you have never done
anything so unpopular throughout
the rural sections of Maine"
Representative Leslie L. Jacobs OF
Skowhegan said his constituents felt
I they would be unjustly taxed by such
law. and moreover he was opposed
hn
said the Skowhegan folk. when they
wanted to fish. had to go over into
Madison and other towns. He de-
| clared that he would oppose the bill
on the floor.
Others who expressed their opposi-
ton to the bill were Representatives
Rogers of Rockland. Nickerson of
Swanville, who said he was positively
and emphatically against it. Chalm-
ers of Bangor. Sparrow of Pittston.
Jordan of Cape Elizabeth. Conant Of
Buckfield and Towne of Norway.
At the conclusion of the hearing
the bill was tabled for executive ses-
sion.
Object to Duck Corning"
Opposition developed from many
| quarters to the bill against 'cornina'
ducks. of which Representative Saun-
ders of Lubec is the author when the
bill was heard Thursday afternoon
before the committee on inland fish
cries and game.
-Four tons of corn have been used.
ducks fattened until the close time is
off and then shot down like kittens in
Marion and Whiting and other towns
in Washington County" charged Rep
resentative Saunders. He charged
that something was put over" in
1909 when the anti corning" law OF
1907 was IS2ealed.
Representative Douglas of Lamoine
made plea for the duck shooters of
Frenchman's Bay. All that was done
there, he said. was the putting out Of
little corn to attract the ducks to
the blind.
Rufus Young OF Hancock, 81 years
of age, who had shot ducks for 20
years. spoke for the guides at the
pond and seashore He said these
men used only a small amount of corn
and never allowed the men they guild
cd to shoot more than their limit.
If the ducks are diminishing the
way to handle the situation is by
cutting down the bag from ten to five.
there is no need of d law like this"
said Representative Elaisdell of Sui
greater limit than Maine. ten birds in
Massachusetts,. without restrictions
and Is in New Hampshire with no
restrictions. he added.
William Proctor of New York, who
, is conducting biological survey OF
ponds in Maine said that the law
would deprive out of the State res
dents a little sport. He had neve-
heard of the putting out of any such
quantity of corn as had been mem
toned and he had never been able
to shoot his full quota of ducks.
Representative Downing of Bangor.
voiced the protest of the hotel men of
Bangor and Representative Rogers
of Rocllland the protest of the Rock
land Gun Club. Representative Brown
of Bar Harbor offered a protesting
petition of 40 sportsmen of Bar Har-
Dor and kilograms and letters of pro-
test from summer residents from
New York and elsewhere.
Ernest T. Clason of Lisbol Falls op-
posed the law because lie had never
known any corning" practice in tic
Merrymecting Bay region where he had
shot ducks, but this law would pre-
vent the planting of wild rice and wild
celery which is a favorite food for
ducks in those regions.
- "ouiu dlSo prevent inc people OF
! Portland. should the occasion arise re-
peating their humane act of a few
years ago when ducks were dying BY
hundreds on the frozen waters of Back
Bay, from buying feed. Mr. Clason
said. That winter. he continued. the
. people of Portland raised $500 for this
purpose.
Representative Baker of Steuben op-
posed the bill because. he said. he
could sec where it would do no good
inc corning" of few ducks had no
disastrous results so far as his OBJ
serNation showed. There were thou
sands OF ducks. he said along the
| Washington county coast now he said
| where there were a few hundred a
few years ago.
Game Sanctuary
John +. Sprague of Dover-Foxcroft