Reports of Field Agents 501 



REPORTS OF FIELD AGENTS 



REPORT OF ARTHUR H. NORTON, FIELD AGENT 

 FOR MAINE 



The work of the closing year has been oversight of legislation, forwarding 

 Junior work, aiding local societies and clubs, and responding to miscellaneous 

 calls. The state laws for taking migratory game-birds were revised to accord 

 with the provisions of the Federal Migratory-Bird Law. 



The open season on Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock was shortened two weeks, 

 and Spruce Grouse for the first time was accorded protection, its season now 

 being the same as that for Ruffed Grouse. The use of motor-boats in hunting 

 water-fowl was prohibited on all inland waters, and in Saco, Merrymeeting, 

 Bluehill, and Frenchman's Bays. Two small reservations were established — 

 Kineo Point, and the southerly point of Swan's Island in Merrymeeting Bay, 

 where all hunting is prohibited. The use of firearms on Megunticook Lake near 

 Camden was prohibited. A close-time of four years was placed on all moose. 

 This splendid animal, which formerly inhabited all of Maine, has become 

 restricted in its range, being fairly numerous now only in the northernmost 

 and eastern sections. The narrowing of its range during the past twelve years 

 has been rapid. An act was passed prohibiting the digging out of fox-dens 

 between March and November. Beavers still hold scattered colonies in the 

 wilds of Maine, where, owing to the danger of extermination, a perpetual 

 close-time was established a few years ago. The result of this action was 

 immediate, and a decided increase is noticeable, followed by considerable 

 damage to forested lands and timber by their dams and other works. 



An act was passed empowering the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries and 

 Game to grant an open season on beaver colonies when it is shown that sub- 

 stantial damage is being done. The Commissioners are authorized to reverse 

 this act at any time. A daily close-time on all mammals, from one hour before 

 sunset to one hour after sunrise, was established. For the first time frogs were 

 given legal protection in the state by an act to prohibit their shipment from 

 Eagle and several adjacent lakes in northern Maine. A measure to estabhsh a 

 resident-hunter's license was introduced and well supported, but it was lost in a 

 deluge of opposition. No inspection of bird colonies was ordered the past year, 

 so that few of the resorts have been under observation by your agent. A suc- 

 cessful season was reported for the Herons and other birds in Penobscot Bay. 

 For some unknown reason the Night Herons at Scarborough seem to have 

 deserted their last year's resort. Eider Ducks were reported nesting this year 

 in Jericho Bay. Since the prohibition of shooting Black Ducks have increased, 

 and now not only winter in large numbers near settlements, but remain all 

 summer in many places where formerly they were only in winter. 



At the meeting of the Maine State Teachers' Association in Portland, a 



