Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-02

I
law could he brought to the Bar of
Justice and no great injury would be
done. | therefore trust that this
body will vote to pass this measure
in justice to the people of the towns
contiguous to the lakes and to those
who believe in fair play.
Mr.. POWERS of Aroostcok: Mr..
President, | should like to inquire
through the Chair of the Senator
from kennebec, Senator Walker,
how is one TO know what fish are
taken out, and how are we going to
be sure that they are just going to
take pickerel and smelts?
The PRESIDENT: The Senator
from kennebec, Senator Foster, can
reply if he desires.
Mr.. FOSTER: Mr. President, IN
reply to the Senator from Aroostook,
Senator Powers, l will say that
good sportsman does not take fish
that it is illegal to take IF he hap
pens by mistake to hook a wrong
one, he Immediately puts it back into
the water. We are all good sports
men in our vicinity.
Mr.. MAHER of Kcnnebec: Mr..
President, the only reason why l
should refrain from saying anything
relative to this matter is for fear
that the attitude I might take might
injure the cause which | think is i'm
portant. l hope it will not be so. OF
course the old proverb of the house
that is divided against itself
must fall" applies to politics in
kennebec county, and / realize that
we are hopelessly divided on this
matter. my distinguished colleague
and myself. However, | coincide with
the views of the Senator from Ken
nebec, Senator Wordsworth, and |
desire to reinforce his statement by
two brief comments, first prefaCing
those remarks by this that | am well
aware that if one were to consider
merely the political aspect of this
particular section it would be very
much easier to follow the line OF
least resistance. This is a matter.
as it seems to me, of more moment
than the mere political aspect of the
matter. not that that in any effect
the view of my colleague, but refer
ence has been made To the action of
various towns in their town meet
ings, and also the attitude in his own
city OF Waterville.
Since 1871 those lakes have been
closed, and they have been kept
closed for very good reasons, despite
the repeated attempts that have
been made to open them. Relying
upon that there has been built up
there. at Belgrade one of the most
charming and beautiful resorts in
the State of Maine or any part of our
country, largely dependent upon the
flshlng ard the opportunities that
are offered to people to come here
with large means, and whom we well
come, to spend their money. The
easiest and most conclusive way of
stopping those people from coming
is to let it he known that in addition
to the ordinary hazards of fisher
mems auckland l know that they
don't very often get fish, these ponds
nave been onened up to everybody
from the north end of the county
down here during the DAYS of the
winter, and the result will be that
that they will denude the lakes of
flsh. and that means to my
mind the beginning of the
end OF Belgrade, and the State of
Name has invested 4 lot of money nm
mere for the purpose of stocking that
beautiful chain of lakes: and while |
can well see that the argument might
be advanced that we are not here leg
lSia'lng tor out-of-the-Statc people or
Ieglslatlng for any particular interests
ana lllat the lakes ought to be opened
up To the toi!er and the yiIlacer and
The natives. and all that-and as 7 saw
am not much of fisherman, or much
or sportsman, and my mind has been
more along other lines, but still / do
not think there is very much in the ice
fishing proposition in the winter that
appeals to the proposition of sporting
instinct. they are coming out there to
get all the fish they can get whatever
they may be. and it will require an
army of Wardens to watch them, and
they are going a strip that lake or that
cham of lakes or they are going to Of
fer an explanation of why the fish did
not bite, and you are going to kill an
industry up there that should not be
killed I think we should adhere to
the policy which has been in existence
since 1891
Another reason which impresses me
is that il committee reports unan-
imously am going to follow the com
mittee. and as ! understand that II
what happened here. | like to follow
the majority report Of a committee.
and if I am not i'll error this was a
unanimous report of the committee,
which after hearing the matter said it
Ought not to pass" Am I right?
Mr.. FOSTER: I will answer
through the Chair that the committee
did not pass on this. 1t comes to us
in an amended form.
Mr. NAHER: | think 7 am still
right. The hill was presented TO the
committee and was heard and thrcshed
out by the committee and the commit
tee unanimously reported that il
ought not to pass" In the House the
colleague of tho senator from Water
Vile offered an amendment. and that
amendment was substituted for the
unanimous report. and I think it was
passed by one vote. or something like
that. / ask that this Senate adhere
to the action Of that committee, and
support the motion of the Senator
from Pisca taQuiS that this bill be in
definitely postponed.
Mr.. FOSTER: Mr.. President. Just
one word. If it is so disastrous to
trout fishing to open any of these
lakes for ice fishing, and it is done
in various places in this state, why
do they do it, The beautiful lake of
Cohbosseccontee in Winthrop is open
to ice fishing. and lake after lake in
this state is open to ice fishing under
proper regulations. For twenty years
the Belgrade chain of lakes have
been an exception to this rule and
have been closed the year round. I
still reitcrate my former statement
that in my humble opinion the people
living in the vicinity of these lakes
who want the privilege should have
it.
Mr.. CRAFTS ~f Piscataquis: Mr..
President. for three sessions of the
legislature | have heen privileged to
he a member of the committee on
fish and game; 7 believe each wear
this same question has been debated