American Fisheries Society. 159 



MAINE AND THE SPORTSMAN. 



(Accompanied by Lantern Slidep). 

 BY A. II. DINSMOEE. 



With the anticipation of much pleasure in the task, I hegan 

 in the fall of 1900 to collect material for a set of lantern slides, 

 to be presented before this meeting, illustrating the fish and 

 game interests of my native state. My transfer from Maine to 

 South Dakota early in the present season interrupted me in the 

 work of securing original negatives and obliged me to rely 

 largelv on other sources for this material. The resulting slides 

 while not all I had hoped to make them fairly represent the great 

 iish and game regions of the state. 



It is moreover, a keen disappointment to me that I am unable 

 to be present and describe to you the scenes which have been so 

 familiar to me from ])oyhood. 



It is impossible for one unacquainted with the extensive 

 forests and the great lake systems of Maine, so easily reached 

 from the eastern and central states, to realize the vast importance 

 of its fish and game interests. It is estimated that the visiting 

 sportsmen annually leave in the state $4,000,000. This vast sum 

 is paid cheerfully for the wholesome outdoor life that comes with 

 the click of the reel, the swish of the line, the purring of the 

 water, cut by the bow of the canoe, and the inspiration of the 

 camp fire after the day's chase. 



For the comfort and convenience of this army of sportsmen 

 places of entertainment are provided in every part of the state^ 

 ranging from the little isolated log camp to the great modem 

 hotel. Eighteen hundred men are licensed as guides by the state,, 

 who furnish canoes and camp outfits. Many of these men have 

 small camps, well equipped, in favorable localities which are 

 placed at the disposal of their patrons. To guard against forest 

 fires, all non-resident sportsmen wishing to camp on wild land 

 in Maine are required to secure the services of one of these men. 

 The guides are required under penalty of fine and loss of license 

 to co-operate with the wardens in protecting the fish and game 



