The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-05-01
EXPECT 1924 FISHING
TO EQUAL 1928
Game Commissioner Parsons is Anti
clpating Good Season for
Sportsmen

Hon. Willis L. Parsons of Dover
Foxcroft, commissioner of inland fish
cries and game, in an interview
Thursday declared that fish and game
conditions are as good as could be ex-
pected and he anticipated good sea-
son for sportsmen.
THE game wintered we'll, deer are
reported in good shape and there
were no heavy rains with hard crust
to prevent the ruffed grouse from
protecting themselves" continued
Commissioner Parsons.
with a good Matching season there
should be plenty of birds this next
hunting season.
I'm relation to fishing this season,
everything possible has been done to
keep the lakes and streams of the
state we'll stocked and to protect
them from the poacher. There is no
reason why there should not be as
good fishing this year as last year.
Last season good reports came to the
department from Sebago Belgrade,
Rangeley, Grand Lake stream, Moose
head Lake, Sebec Lake. Green Lake
and the Fish River Chain of Lakes
in fact, nearly all the waters of thee
state.
1.-The ice is not wholly out of our
inland waters except in the southern
and middle counties. but good catches
are reported already from many OF
them.
"As is well known, Sebago Lake in
Cumberland county. Grand Lake
stream in Washington county and the
Fish River chain of lakes in northern
Aroostook county are protected by
fish screens of iron and cement so
that fishing should steadily improve
for some years to come.
Last year the fish taken for spawn
ing purposes in all these waters were
exceptionally fine and showed an
average in size above some of the
former years. 1t is believed they
will average larger as they rise to
the fly this season.
an a few days the lakes to the
north will be free from ice and then
an opportunity will be had to com
pare conditions with the southern
counties.
Speaking of game conditions, one
deplorable condition existed last win
ter extending clear up to the spring
months, and that is the chasing OF
deer by dogs in the middle and south
ern sections of the state. Owners OF
dogs, emboldened by the backward
step taken by the last Legislature
which repealed the clause allowing
any person to kill dog found chas-
ing deer, have permitted their dogs
to run at large in woods in greater
numbers than for many years. Many
complaints have been made OF the
chasing of deer and even killing III
some localities by dogs.
at may be that much of the trouble
has arisen from the lack of snow in
the more southern part of the state
and that dogs and deer both have had
better opportunity to roam about than
usual, but the owner of any dog
should see to it that his dog is not
permitted to run at large. 1t not
only spoils the dog, but terroriZes
every wild creature in that section.
There are not wardens enough to pro
tect all parts of the state at the same
time. and all interested in, the prescr-
walton of game should cooperate to
that end.
ut is hoped that conditions may be
remedied by the next Legislature 50
that deer will not be slaughtered IN
this way by dogs-certainly not to the
extent that they have been the past
winter.
at may be that deer are increasing
in the southern part of the state, but
not to the extent to account Tor all
the slaughter by dogs