26 
The Maine Season. 
The Maine Commissioners of Inland Fislieries and 
Game send us the following summary of the annual re- 
port, just filed with the Governor: 
The report of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries 
tind Game, just filed with the Governor, is a very inter- 
esting document, and though much briefer than last year, 
when the report was published for general distribution, 
presents many interesting and suggestive facts. 
Twenty hearings were held by the Commisioners upon 
request of citizens of the State for the erection of fish ways 
in dams, and to regulate the times in wliich, and the 
circumstances under which, inland fish might be taken in 
certain streams, ponds and lakes. 
Ten other petitions of like nature are on file yet to be 
acted upon. 
The $300 appropriated by the Legislature for that pur- 
pose has been used to procure mounted specimens of 
birds and wild animals of the State. From the large num- 
ber of citizens who come to the State House specially to 
see these specimens there would seem to be no doubt that 
the people are in sympathy with this movement. 
The Commissioners say they have operated to their 
fullest capacity the four fish hatcheries and feeding sta- 
tions; that these have been more than ordinarily suc- 
cessful; that they have lost less landlocked salmon and 
trout during the period from the tmie of hatching to the 
time of planting than in any previous year; that the com- 
petition for the product of these hatcheries is very keen 
among the people; that they have endeavored to treat 
every section of the State fairly in the distribution of the 
fish. There was talcen during the fall of 1899, 870,000 land- 
locked salmon eggs, 1,000,000 trout eggs and 30,000 
brown trout eggs, which are now in the various hatcheries 
in the process of being hatched. 
That more people have come to Maine during the past 
year to fish and hunt than ever before in any one year, 
have caught more fish, killed more game in open season, 
except moose and caribou, than ever before in a single 
year. 
The supply of fish seems to keep pace fairly well with 
the constantly increasing demand; the need of a large 
and modern hatchery, thoroughly equipped with latest 
devices and appliances for successfully hatching and feed- 
ing trout and landlocked salmon, is keenly felt. 
Game Supply, 
Deer are still as plentiful as ever, apparently. Caribou 
seem to have left our borders. There are still conflicting 
opinions about the moose; cow and small moose seem to 
be fairly plentiful, but the large bulls so. much sought 
after are believed to be less plentiful than for some time. 
Partridges are unmistakably scarce; it is hoped that the 
law prohibiting their sale will prevent their wanton de- 
struction for the markets, and that this most valuable of 
all game birds may be preserved to the State. 
Deer Shooting ia September. 
The Legislature of 1899 enacted a law that it should be 
lawful from Sept. i to Oct. i to take one deer for food 
purposes only, to be consumed in the locality where 
taken by the person taking the same, in Oxford, Franklin, 
Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Aroostook, Hancock 
and Washington counties, when on a fishing or hunting 
trip and camping out in these counties, on payment of $6 
by a non-resident and $4 by a resident; but a non-resi- 
dent, however, taking a deer as aforesaid must be in 
charge of a registered guide, or when entering upon the 
wild lands of the State with intent to camp and kindle 
%es thereon, during the months of June to November, 
jour hundred and eighty-eight licenses were sold to non- 
residents and 191 to residents of the State. Two hundred 
and four licenses were sold for the shipment of 10 pounds 
of fish by one person, at $1 each; 87 Hcenses for the 
shipment of deer to the home of the person killing the 
same, without the owner accompanying it, at $3 each, 
and two licenses for the shipment of moose, at $S each, 
under the same conditions. 
The number of deer killed in September by virtue of 
these licenses was very small in comparison, and a good 
many purchased licenses who did not use them, and the 
appropriation for fish and game got the benfit of the 
sum paid. 
The Commissioners say: "It is doubtful if an addi- 
tional deer was killed in consequence of this law that 
would not have been killed illegally without it. Sep- 
tember is an open month for fishing, Lhe last half of it 
for hunting partridges, and thousands of people are fol- 
lowing the rivers, lakes and ponds, and camping around 
them in all northern Maine during this month, almost 
always having one orj.more rifles in the party. It is im- 
possible to police this vast territory with wardens, and 
the result has been that deer have been taken constantly 
for food purposes during September, and the State got 
no benefit from it. It is not believed that ten additional 
men were in the woods in September in consequence 
of this law, and that the danger from forest fires cannot 
possibly be greater in consequence. All non-residents 
camping in the forests must be in charge of a registered 
guide, and every possible safeguard used to prevent forest 
fires. It is believed when the wild land owners un- 
derstand the situation that they will see that their prop- 
erty is better safeguarded by this provision than ever 
before." 
The guides are in favor of this !aW, as is evidenced by 
their report; they pronounce in favor of it by a majority 
of more than two to one, while guides living in the 
eight counties where it is in force declare in favor of it 
by a majority of more than three to one, 
Statistics. 
Total number registered guides, 1,780, 21 of whom were 
non-residents, 316 more than last year. 
Total number of days these guides have been employed 
in their business. 7S,6oo, 12.099 more days than last year. 
Number of residents employing guides, 6,012, 192 more 
than last year. 
Number of non-residents employmg guides, 9.300, 1,934 
more than last year, 
Num-ber of moose killed, 216, 44 less than last year. 
Number of deer killed. 7,579, an apparent falling off 
from, last year of 1,421. It should be borne in mind that 
the hunting season is 16 days less this year than last. 
Forest and stream. 
The number killed last year was 9,000, which averaged 
about 100 per day during the open season, so that the 
number killed this year during the time for killing deer 
was 179 more than last year. 
Total number of bears reported killed, 55, 
Total number of pounds of fish reported taken, 141,412. 
The law court has not yet announced its decision upon 
the constitutionality of the guide law, 
Number of sporting camp licenses, 132. 
Amount of capital invested, $20(S,ooo. 
Number of guests entertained at the camps, 12,012. 
Number of licensed hunters and trappers, 52. 
Number of licensed dealers in deer skins, 20. 
Number of sknis reported bought by these dealers, 
I -340. 
Average price paid per skin, 31 cents. 
Number of licensed retail dealers in deer, 43. 
Number of deer reported sold by these dealers, 121, 
for dogging deer. 
Twenty dogs have been killed which were kept or used 
There have been the usual number of prosecutions for 
infractions of the game laws, and more for illegal moose 
killing than any year previously. 
There are yet people in Maine, and so-called sportsmen 
who come to Maine, who slaughter cow and calf moose 
and bull moose in close season, notwithstanding the 
heavy penalties provided. 
More general interest appears to exist than heretofore 
in inland fish and game matters, and public sentiment 
seems to be more and more in favor of a rigid enforce- 
ment of our inland fish and game laws. 
Financial Statement* 
The entire appropriation, including amount received for 
penalties and license fees, has been expended, and the bill 
of items, or itemized statement, of every bill allowed, and 
the name of each individual to whom allowed, with 
amount, numbering from i to 605 inclusive, with du- 
plicate vouchers, and all audited by the Governor and 
Council, is filed with the report. 
Howi One Antelope Died, 
"Believe it's going to storm, 'n' we better rustle some 
fresh meat, I reclcon." That was Harry's remark as he 
came in from feeding the team and found me coaxing 
the coffee to boil. 
As Harry generally knew when the supply was low, I 
thought maybe there was wisdom in his talk, and re- 
pHed, "All right. Hook up as soon as we eat breakfast 
and I'll overhaul the arsenal and be ready to go." 
"Which way will we go?" asked Harry, as he sat down 
and began to lay in a supply of grub to last him all day. 
"Well, I hardly know." 
"Look here, Comanch, ain't no use goin' up Powder 
River way, and that lake country up toward Coyote 
Butte is petered out, Timber Creek breaks are dry as a 
powder horn, and Ward has run everything ofif of the 
Donkey Creek flats, S'pose we make a break for Stone- 
pile Valley and Donkey Lake?" 
"Well, there has been a roundup over that way lately, 
but I guess we can try it anyhow. Hustle now, and hook 
up, while I get the guns ready and fill the water butt." 
Half an hour later we were rolling along up the lake 
trail, facing a raw northwest wind and keeping our 
weather eye open for snow squalls. 
Four miles out Don Hardy met us. 
"Which way now?" he asked. 
"After 'lope or anything else for fresh meat," I an- 
swered. 
"See any sign as yon came along?" 
"No. Say, you fellers better hunt yer hole 'n' stay, 
that's my advice. Goin' to snow like jehu 'fore long." 
"Well, I guess we'll try it a while, snow or no snow; 
got to have something else than bacon in this man's 
country." 
"All right; luck to you. So 'long!" 
"So 'long!" 
We were in Stonepile Vally, when Harry said, "What's 
that?" and pointed to a black spot at the lowest point of 
a high pass, about a half-mile to the left. "Snubbin' post, 
I guess," he continued, as we drove on. 
I knew a "snubbing post" had no busines away up in 
a high pass. It would be in an open flat if it was a post. 
So I took the glass and had a squint at the "post," which 
proved to be a big antelope buck standing stock still and 
watching us. We drove behind the same butte that he 
v.-as on, or rather a spur that ran out from it, and jump- 
ing out with the Winchester I told Harry to wait until he 
heard me shoot, then drive for the sound. A brisk trot 
of .500 or 600 yards brought me to the main butte, where 
I climbed up until I had a view of the pass. The buck 
had walked on through, coming toward us, and was just 
lyin.g down as I peeped over the top to locate him. I 
looked the ground over carefully, and found that I had 
the most difficult kind of a stalk to make along a sidehill, 
with nothing for cover but a sparse growth of stunted 
sage brush, interspersed with a disagreeable amount of 
prickly pear, 
"Here is where I've got to do a tall sneak," I thought, 
as I took off' my hat, coat, glass and pistol, piled them 
under the shelter of a rock, stuck my knife in the top of 
my legging and dropped into the head of a "washout" 
that would give me cover until I could reach the sage 
brush. When I got among the sage I wriggled along 
flat as I could make myself, and wished I was only an inch 
or so thick. 
The buck lay with his back toward me and his head 
showing above the brush and about 400. yards away, so 
I had no easy task to stalk him. 
I had frequently killed antelope a long ways further 
than that, but 1 wanted to make a dead sure thing of 
this one, so I wanted to be as close as posible before 
firing the first shot. Then if I missed I had nine more for 
him before he could get out of sight. Slowly, silently, I 
worked along inch by inch, foot by foot, flat among the 
sage and cactus, sticking an occasional thorn through my 
buckskins and enjoying the iciness of the snow, which 
sifted gently down my neck and settled all over my back, 
to say nothing of that which I gathered in front as I crept 
along, leaving a broad trail behind, which I thought 
would surely attract the watchful eye of the buck. 
Fi,!j.«?-y I lay still a moment, then raised slowly to my 
kneR" 'i?ought the rif^e to bear on the back just at the 
U.\U. J3. KJOv). , I 
point of the buck's shoulders. He paid no attention to j 
me. I tliink he never saw me at all. I glanced along the ) 
barrel; it held steady. I touched the trigger. A sharp ■ 
whip-like ctack followed the flash, and the buck dropped 
his head, stift'ened his legs and didn't even kick! Jump- 
ing up, I stepped oft 129 paces from where I knelt to 
where the antelope laid with a broken backbone and . 
heart shot wide open. 
I cut his throat, and then went after my hat and coat, 
while Harry was driving up. We soon had him dressed 
and loaded in the wagon, atid on the road home. On 
the way in I got five sage hens with the six-shootor ' 
and a sharp-tail grouse with the rifle, almost in the door- 
yard, all of which were dressed and hung up for future ' 
reference, much to Harry's satisfaction, for fresh meat was 
a hobby with him. and I thought there was real pleasure 
in his gentle voice as he remarked, "Well, let 'er snow. 
We've got plenty fresh meat, anyhow." 
El Comanctto. 
A Memory. 
"Hello, Ashley! What are you doing with Eltl that 
sheet lead?'.' asked Levi Roberts as we met New Year's 
morning, 1875, a short, distance from my home in Maine 
on a narrow sled road which led across open ground , 
over several feet of snow and was used for hauling cord < 
wood, bark etc., to town. 
"Oh, I am going to cut some shot. Want to have 
some fun with the rabbits down in Whitcomb'.s Swamp. 
I was down there yesterday, and their roads are all hard. 
Must be a barrel of them there." 
"Do you use cut lead in that old gun of yourn?" 
"Oh, yes; she shoots anything I put in her. Why, dad 
nearly broke my neck for using up all his hobnail 
tacks the day I got lost down in back of Dixmont Moun- 
tain, I got ten partridges and all the grays I could carry 
that day. Lem Plummer heard me shooting and came in 
where I was. I didn't know I was all turned around till 
I heard Lem holler. He put me on the right track, so I 
got home all right. Lem told father T was lost, but I 
wouldn't admit it." 
"Are you going down to the old swamp to-day?" 
"Well, 1 was thinking of it, after I get the chores done 
and some shot cut up. I haven't turned the cattle out to 
water yet. Hired men went out early cutting wood over 
back of Boiling Spring, so I have all the work to do 
around the barns. Father and mother went^ up to 
Grandpa Webber's for dinner. I didn't want to go. my- 
self. Rather have a shoot." 
"Say, Ash, I know where there are three fine skunk 
holes; got 'em all marked. Now if you'll take Jack, a 
pick and hoe and help me dig 'em out we will go snacks 
on 'em. We can get a dozen, sure, out o' the three holes, 
They are all in knolls and will be easy digging." 
"I don't dare take the dog," I replied, "for the folks 
went wild when he killed one under the barn last fall. 
Took two Aveeks to get the smell out of him." 
"What do you care? We can have lots of fun, and be- 
sides we may get a black one. They're worth $2 apiece 
now and the striped ones are worth 50 cents apiece down 
to Ed Nealley's. Why, you can get all the powder, shot 
and caps you w-ant for the rest of . the winter, and a dol- 
lar or so besides." 
Levi's arguments were more than I could stand, so 
after watering and feeding the cattle and horses I .fas- 
tened everything up; took a pickaxe and hoe out of the 
tool house for Levi to carry, borrowed a few charges of; 
shot from him, which I deposited in an old buckskin shol 
pouch, and strung my powder horn under my right arm. 
The next thing was to fix the stoves in the house and get 
a few doughnuts for lunch, as well as a large piece of 
newspaper for wadding. Thus prepared, we started out. 
Jack, my faithful companion on many a long tramp, 
frisked along in the lead. He was no pedigreed setter 
nor pointer; simply common, everyday dog — all ears and 
tail; but he could tree a partridge with any dog in that: 
part of the State, and lick anythin.g twice his weight. 
".Say, Levi, where are the holes?" 
"There is one down back of Deacon Robertson's, near 
Goose Rocks, and one down between Sucker Brook and' 
Round Pond. I guess we'd better go down there first, 
hadn't we?" 
"I don't care; any suits me," said I. Now that I was in 
for it the sooner we reached them the better it would be. 
We walked briskly up the road for half a mile or so.' 
where we struck across countr}' on the crust, which would 
hold except when over brush or under big trees. Above the 
crust we had 2 or 3 inches of light tracking snow, which 
had fallen the night before. The sun was shining brightly, 
melting the snow in places just enough to tread nicely. 
We made no noise except when we broke through thei 
crust, which was quite often; but that was nothing to 
us so long as we did not break through into water andj 
soak our moccasins. We struck several fox tracks; alsoi 
those of a bob cat. I wanted to follow the cat, as the 
tracks seemed to lead down into a large swamp which, 
was near Round Pond, where we were to dig out the 
skunks. "AU right," said Levi. "You and Jack take a- 
try at him, for he's an old buster and will give you a 
good fight. You will most likely find him over in New- 
comb's bark piles. I'll go and start in on the skunks. 
You holler when you get to Sucker Brook." 
Jack took up the track and we started in and out 
through thickets, down into the swamp, which was full 
of large hemlock trees. Here the Newcomb boys had cut 
down and peeled many trees; the bark lay in piles ready 
to haul to market during the winter. Soon I heard Jack- 
yelp, which told me that he had found .the old felloAv. I' 
was now greatly excited, as I had heard what a tough, 
customer a bob cat was when cornered. Upon reaching' 
the bark I found that he was under a pile where two 
tiers had been heaped together — in a bad place to get at. 
Jack located him, and as I could not see anything, and 
the bark piles were too large to take down with all the 
snow on them. I thought I would try to poke him out 
with a pole. So I cut a straight sapling and by pushing; 
it between the layers of the bark was able to reach him. 
With a rush he came out and made for a large hem- 
lock tree a few yards distant, with Jack about one leap' 
behind. The cat struck the tree and climbed, filling thq 
air with fragments of bark on his way up. _ As quickly as 
I could get my old Springfield musket aimed I let go, 
An almost human yell &led the air, but the old cat was, 
