NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 155 



FRIDAY, January 21. 



On the assembling of the Congress the chair asked Hon. L.T.Carleton, of Maine, 

 to speak in connection with the discussion of Mr. Meehan's paper of the previous day, 

 especially the matter of the money expended in Maine each season by anglers. Mr. 

 Oarletou said: 



I did not expect to take any active part in these proceedings. The printed program as distributed 

 does not call for any paper or speech from any of the Maine delegates, and, sir, I am taken very much 

 by surprise to be called upon this morning to make an address upon any subject connected with the 

 deliberations of this Congress. I have been more than content to be a silent listener to the exceed- 

 ingly interesting papers that have been read and the timely and lively discussions thereon. I count 

 myself indeed fortunate that I was privileged yesterday to listen to the stirring address of welcome of 

 his honor the mayor of this metropolitan city of south Florida, and that I was permitted to sit here 

 as a delegate and hear the wonderfully eloquent speech of his excellency Governor Bloxham, the 

 chief magistrate of this great and powerful and prosperous Commonwealth. To a person coming as I 

 do from the frozen North to this sunny Southland, the voices of these eloquent and distinguished 

 citizens were sweet music to my ears, more charming, I assure you, than "the voices of many waters." 

 And, sir, I feel that I express the sentiments, the feelings, of delegates from the North, from the 

 West, and, in fact, of all the representatives here assembled, when I declare that we are charmed 

 with the cordiality of the people of this State, greatly pleased with your city and State, and are 

 enjoying ourselves to the fullest extent. 



Coming as I do to Florida for the second time only my first visit was in 1861-62 the patriotic 

 words of Governor Bloxham, when, pointing to the Star-Spangled Banner, the emblem of our national 

 unity and liberty, he declared "that for all time we are one and indivisible, and that we have one 

 flag and one country and one destiny," thrilled me through and through. We are indeed, sir, gathered 

 here from every State in the American Union with unity of purpose, unity of interest to do as best we 

 may to advance the great and important fish and game interests of the nation, as citizens of the best 

 country on God's green earth, under the best government ever yet devised by mortal man. Maine 

 sends geeting to the earnest, patriotic, and brave people of the South, and rejoices in your marvelous 

 prosperity, the evidences of which are seen on every hand. 



But I am reminded, Mr. President, that I am expected to say something about the fish and game 

 of the old Pine Tree State the State of Maine. You will pardon me, sir, when I declare to you that 

 Maine in this respect, as in many others, leads the world. In her limitless forests roam countless 

 numbers of the monarch of the forest, the gigantic moose, the bounding caribou, and the graceful, 

 beautiful Virginia deer. In her more than 2,000 inland seas and lakes are found in greater abundance 

 than elsewhere the square tailed trout and the landlocked salmon. The great dailies and sporting 

 papers of the American continent are in the habit of referring to Maine as the " Paradise of the sports- 

 man," and this is a very appropriate title, as nowhere else is there such sport to be had for either rod 

 or rifle. We have an area of about 30,000 square miles in extent, and from the nature of the soil and 

 climate, affording food and cover for numberless herds of deer, caribou, and moose, not to speak of the 

 countless flocks of birds, both resident and migratory, including the ruffed grouse, woodcock, snipe, 

 wild geese, black duck and wood duck, and an endless variety of sea birds and the whole world is 

 fast learning of our advantages in this respect. In her majestic rivers, those great highways from the 

 mountains to the sea, is found in increasing numbers the best fish that swims the ocean blue, the 

 Atlantic salmon. Wise, well-considered laws we have and an enlightened public sentiment. 



Ten thousand citizens of other States during the open season last year, now just closed, came to 

 Maine to fish and hunt, employed our 1,300 registered guides, skilled guides, and spent $4,000,000 

 among our people and killed 10,000 deer, 2oO moose, 230 caribou, and 160 bears, while $6,000,000 more 

 were spent there by non-residents last year, by visitors to our seashore and inland summer resorts, 

 making $10,000,000 expended in Maine last year by non-residents for pleasure. 



Do you wonder that the people of Maine are marvelously interested in fish and fisheries? We 

 follow the example of the great Apostle Peter, we go a fishing, and invite everybody to come and do 

 likewise. We have a health-giving, invigorating climate, wondronsly charming and enchanting 

 scenery. There is not a poisonous reptile, nor ravenous beast, nor poisonous insect in all her borders; 

 and in her mountain streams, numerous as the samls of the seashore, are the protected nurseries of our 

 lakes, wherein are millions of speckled beauties, the brook trout, and these feeders are so numerous, 



