The independent-reporter., 1924-02-21
Commissioner Parsons Tells OF Work
TO Protect Game

"The wild life OF the state is a great
attraction for the tourist as well as
for our own people and especial at
/ tention has been paid to its conserva-
ton" declared Commissioner Willis
L. Parsons of the Department of In
land Fisheries and Game, recently in
discussing some of the work that has
been accomplished by his department
in the interests of hunting in the last
few years
"Wardens' camps have been estab-
lished along the border where deer
were formerly hauled into Canada by
the sled load and the deer are now in
creasing in that great breeding
ground of the northeast" continued
Mr.. Parsons. "The Allagash region
is alive with all kinds of game; 305
deer in one trip moving right along
was the record of last year.
1.-TWO large game preserves, Katah
din Park game preserve and Range
ley game preserve. have been estab
lished and many smaller ones The
Legislature not only approved what
the commissioner did. but made the
Katahdin Park game preserve per-
manent, so when Oxford and Frank
lin counties asked for one last year
it was granted. There has been an
improvement among the residents. A
good warden force has been main
tanned, as good as the appropriation
would allow, and better, because We
now have some 200 without pay war
dens to cooperate with the 80 or 60
regular wardens.,
"All wardens are impressed with
the idea that 1t is better to preserve
the game than to collect fines for
Illegal killing, and not as missiona-
ries, creating public sentiment in fa
vor of the game laws. And that is
the object of the commissioners
make the people see the great value
of the fish and game interests.
ut is the only way in which the
game can be preserved. with our 2500
miles of sea coast, $500 ponds, more
than 5000 rivers and streams in 15,-
100000 acres of forest lands What
could 60 wardens do without this CO.
operation?
1t is inpsrlng work, trying to
make the state better place for our
selves and posterity The $70,000.-
900 now left in the state annually
goes into all the channels of trade
and that every day commerce upon
which depends the prosperity and
of the people but that Is
not all. We are better people, a
better state, by reason of the charm
and uplifting power of the great out
doors-for surely roaming field, or
penetrating the wilderness makes for
higher life and loftier ideals than can
be found in the haunts of men. Our
people appreciate it more and more;
more aud more they see the attrac-
tons of Maine, the beauty of the
dawn, the splendor of the MONDAY
sun, the grandeur of the forest and
the towering majesty of the noun
tains, and more of our own people
enjoy their annual outing They love
the thick aisles of the forest and dis
port themselves on. lake or stream,
gliding in boat or canoe or climb the
and after a day thus spent
returning to the valley below, learn
that the hills have lost none of ma
ture's beauty, but that the sunsets
rosy CLEAN plays upon their rugged
sides, tinging their lofty peaks with
a beauty beyond the power of pen
Gil to paint.
'Tis wonderful state; the most
beautiful in all America and l be-
lieye with all my heart that it is the
duty OF every citizen to preserve this
glorious heritage not only for them
selves. but for posterity. the future
sons and daughters of Maine"