JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. 4I 



and is therefore well acquainted with the duties of the oflfice. His 

 interest in game and game protection are familiar to the public 

 through the columns of the Phillips Plio)ioorapli and the Maine 

 Woods. It is predicted that the commission will continue to gain 

 in popular esteem during his administration. 



From the beginning of its existence, in 1867, the commission has 

 been obliged to deal with hard problems ; popular hostility, and inad- 

 equate financial means to carry on its work, inefficient laws, and lack 

 of field force to enforce them have been conspicuous factors. While 

 the condition of the laws has been brought up to a high standard, 

 and the revenues of the department improved, neither the popular 

 sentiment among a large class of people, particularly farmers, nor 

 the executive means to police our large territory, has reached the 

 desired standard. 



Mr. Carleton, who has held the chairmanship continuously 

 since 1896, retires from office with the honor of much accomplish- 

 ment to his credit. He is a man of great force and executive 

 ability, a practical lawyer, unflinching in the discharge of duty as 

 he sees it. He has brought offenders to justice, framed most of the 

 general game laws now in force, brought about the registration of 

 guides, and the non-resident license laws for hunters, the latter be- 

 ing two important sources of revenue to his department. The prog- 

 ress made by his administration will form a distinct period in the 

 history of the commission. 



Mr, Blaine S. Viles, of Augusta, was appointed a member of the 

 commission to fill the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of Mr. 

 Brackett. In many respects the work of the commission is in close 

 relation to the work and purposes of the Maine Ornithological 

 Society, and we are glad to commend much in the way of wise 

 accomplishment by this worthy department of state conservation. 



