86 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Aug. 1, igo$. 
their favorite song bird, then I should consider that Dix- 
mont's deprecation of shooting robins in the South would 
be entirely justified, and I should cheerfully vote for the 
preservation of the songster for Northern gardens rather 
than sec him sacrificed on Southern tables ; and this view' 
should have added strength under those circumstances, 
from the prospective exhaustion of the supply of robins 
for both purposes. 
But so long as the supply of robins appears to be ample 
for both Southern tables and Northern lawns, the ob- 
jection to their being so utilized in the South is a bare 
sentimentalism, which I can appreciate and should doubt- 
less fully share if 1 had been "born and bred" in the 
North, but being a Southerner, I cannot subscribe to it in 
its practical application, for which position I trust sufB- 
cient reasons have been set forth above and heretofore. 
Coahoma. 
Mississippi. 
Maine Guides. 
Bangor, Me., July 25. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
So long as there are reporters who merely want to fill 
space, and will write anything given to them on any 
subject by anyone, whether an authority on the subject 
or not, so long the world will have to endure a tre- 
mendous amount of reading that is worse than useless 
— it purports to instruct even while it exploits error. 
To a person living in the State of Maine, it is a won- 
der that anyone can pen such a lot of erroneous infor- 
mation as appears, from time to time, in the metro- 
politan press relative to Maine's fish and game inter- 
ests. 
It is such misinformation as this class of men spread 
abroad in the land that is responsible for many of the 
errors concerning Maine and its game and fish. It 
only needs be suggested that some fanatic "down in 
Maine" has thought of some change in the game laws, 
and straightway New York and Boston papers will tell 
how the friends of the measure have won their fight for 
better sportsmanship — or the reverse — and all sports- 
men will hereafter be obliged to do thus and so. Most 
frequently the biennial session of the Maine Legislature 
is months ahead, and the "new law" is purely the 
thought of a very hopeful advocate of it, who may urge 
its passage "next year" when the solons come together. 
Recently the writer's attention has been called to a 
remarkable yarn that is going the rounds of the press, 
the main features of which are to the effect that every 
individual who goes hunting or fishing in Maine this 
year must be accompanied by a registered guide, and 
that owing to a new union of the guides in Maine, 
everybody who has a guide must iray a stipulated wage 
of three dollars per day. 
When so much effort is made, on the part of Forest 
AND Stream and every one of its contemporaries in the 
line of spoi-tsmen's journals, to give in full the actual 
measures passed at each meeting of the legislatures of 
those States in which sportsmen are interested, it 
seems strange that sportsmen, otherwise keen business 
men of the world, will swallow so much error for truth. 
To begin with, the Fish and Game Commissioners of 
Maine are limited in their powers — they may close cer- 
tain waters upon petition, for a limited time; they may 
never open waters that have been closed by enactment 
of the Legislature. Neither may thej' change the laws 
affecting hunting — it is merely their privilege to sug- 
gest to the lawmakers, and of course use the right of 
every citizen — urge the desired law and give reasons 
for it. Consequently, when Maine has passed a law, it 
remains a law for at least two full j^ears, unless there 
should arise exceptional cases calling the Legislature 
in special session, when there is possibilitj' — but not 
probability — of change or repeal. It is many years 
since the Maine Legislature convened in extra session, 
although it will do so this year, without, however, any 
special reference to the general game laws enacted at 
the session last winter. 
As a matter of fact, every non-resident sportsm3,n 
coming into Maine to hunt moose or deer is expected 
to be under the eye of a registered guide, who — in 
theory — must give a report of the doings of his "par- 
ties" to the commissioners when his season's work is 
ended. In practice these reports can't always be veri- 
fied, the guide reporting what he pleases. 
The present law demands that no one guide shall 
guide (be in the employ of) more than five people at 
one time, and of course a guide looking out for five' 
different ritles, miles apart during the hunting hours, 
has little means of knowing what goes on among those 
with whom he is not immediately engaged for the time. 
Before the enactment of this law, which is in the line 
of better sportsmanship, but not close enough to be 
effective, guides have been known to pose as "the guide 
for a party of 50" and even more. 
Another feature of this amazing yarn about Maine is 
that the guides have formed a union organization and 
adopted a standard wage of three dollars per day. This 
is untrue, and any man who had been in Maine would 
see its weak side at once. With sixteen counties in 
the State, ten of which at least are the homes of some 
of the 1800 registered public guides in Maine, the home 
of the most westerly guide being more than two days' 
ride in fast express trains from the most northeasterly 
guide's abiding place, the geographical difficulties to a 
union, let alone the sectional differences, which are 
many, would prevent any such an organization from 
being effective. As a matter of fact, the average wage 
of a guide in Maine is "three dollars per day and 
found," and those who make more than a bare living- 
out of it, with six months of idleness or work at less 
than a third of that money in the lumber camps, are 
few indeed. Some of them, rarely capable and reliable 
fellows, steady, honest, willing, ready to paddle forty- 
eight hours if need be, nevei^ in the way but always 
ready for the next move, skillful hunters and just as 
good listeners as they are talkers, some such are able 
to command five dollars a day; but the other man is 
hunting for them; they're never loafing around and 
looking for a party in the season, for they have a reg- 
ular line of "sports" and frequently some on the wait- 
ing list. Some can be hired for almost any price. 
Guides, that is good guides, have to spend years in 
fittmg themselves for their work, and must be prepared 
all the time for the most unexpected tax upon their 
skill and strength. Few of them are willing to go with 
more than one person, that is upon a trip where there 
IS canoeing, with its carrying, cooking, etc. And while 
in some localities there are guides' associations, such 
as the Rangeley Guides' Association, the Dead River 
Guides^ Association, the Moosehead and Jackman 
Guides' Asssociations, and perhaps others, there are 
so many diflFerent sections of Maine visited by sports- 
men that any organization that would make a trade 
union of them would be absolutely impossible, A 
union of the guides for protection, to see that unjust 
and unnecessarily harsh laws are not passed for their 
injury, is one of the things that is bound to come in 
Maine, and when that day comes, theh the makers of 
laws will have a body of counsellors at hand Avho will 
know what is right and what is wrong, what is best and 
what is unwise in the administration of the fish and 
game of this the greatest of recreation States for 
sportsmen. Herbert W. Rowe. 
Game Preserves. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
It was not my intention to enter into a lengthy dis- 
cussion of the ethics which should obtain between the 
rich and the poor of this earth, but the editorial under 
the above heading makes it necessary for me to say some- 
thing further on the subject. 
First of all I wish to call attention to the fact that it 
was Christ, and not myself, who suggested that the rich 
give to the poor. Christ is infinite in wisdom and good- 
ness, therefore the wisdom of His teachings is above human 
criticism, and fully warrants me in the belief which I ex- 
pressed, that a general compliance with His teaching would 
be a sovereign remedy for most of the evils of this life. 
At the same time I tried to make it perfectly clear that 
I believe that the natural selfishness of man always has. 
and always will, prevent a general compliance with 
Christ's teaching. My object was to clearly point out 
what is wrong and not to suggest a practical reuiedv for 
til at wrong. 
"Things are as they afe," therefore a plain statement of 
things as they are should not be stigmatized as a railing 
at the rich or an unwarranted indictment of human na- 
ture. 
It is true "we have to do with things as they are,'' but 
is this any reason why we should refrain from picturing 
things as they ought to be? On the other hand, is it 
not one of the best reasons why we should have an ideal 
to direct ns in our efforts to make things better? Cast- 
ing aside the true standards of right and wrong which 
should be our guides in this life, is very much like cast- 
ing aside both chart and compass when we start to iravi- 
gate an unknown sea. 
Most reforins are brought about by agitation and edu- 
cation. The press is generally regarded as a potent edu- 
cator, therefore it is plain that a newspaper discussion of 
a needed reform is not "to fire in the air." 
There should be no difference of opinion as to where 
we should look for the true standards of right and wrong. 
Our Creator is infinite in power, wisdom and goodness, 
and is also the supreme and final judge of mankind. He 
created the universe and gave us laws for our guidance, 
and by these laws He will judge us. There is no escape 
from this judgment. I know of nothing which is more 
"futile" than an attempt to set aside the divine law on 
the ground that it is "nowhere recognized as a practical 
course of conduct of life," except by individuals who are 
regarded as cranks. 
The divine law is immutable. 
And now, in regard to the game preserve question. 
Charles Flallock truly says (see Forest and Stream, 
page 44) that in the divine plan of creation, love is the 
basis of intercourse between man and inan, and also be- 
tween man and his Maker. Our Creator has commanded 
us to love our neighbor as we love ourself. Let us ap- 
ply this law to this game preserve question. Does a man 
love his neighbor as much as he loves himself when he 
buys 50,000 acres, or any number of acres, of forest, 
stream and lake, so that he may fence his neighbors out 
and enjoy the pleasures which he has deprived them of? 
Manifestly such a person is a violator of the divine 
law_, and his neighbors are justified by the same law in 
taking his possession away from him and restoring it to 
its normal condition. 
This is both a practical and just way of dealing with 
"human nature as it is," and should meet the approval of 
those who seem to regard human law as paramount to 
divine law, for human law sanctions the taking of land 
and other property from private ownership for public 
necessities. Surely the opportunity for rest and recrea- 
tion is a public necessity. 
Would it not be a more sensible, just and safe method 
of procedure to thus consecrate our lakes, forests and 
streams to the public good then it would be to "expend 
effort on certain limited lines under present conditions?" 
Jos. W. Shurter. 
Gansevoort, July 22. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
f would recommend to the careful reading of the pub- 
lic some recent editorials in Forest and Stream. They 
are entitled Rich and Poor, The Game Preserves, Fish- 
ing Rights and Things as They Are. The sentiment is 
somid, because it is built upon the foundation of truth. 
It is so ridiculouslj' easy to languidly invite others to 
give their all to the poor, and at the same time hang 
tenaciously on to your own. The preaching that is not 
practiced is hypocritical humbug. Railing at others 
whose riches are greater than one's own is but the re- 
flection of an envious soul. Men who own game pre- 
serves also endow institutions of learning", and make it 
possible even for the negro to gain an education and 
carry off the highest graduation honors, as at Yale and 
Harvard this very year. Men of wealth are constantly 
giving freely to the unfortunate, and at no time in the 
history of the world has philanthropy attained to the 
prominence of to-day. The millions of the Carnegies, 
Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Goulds, are unceasingly 
pouring a stream of gold into the lap of suffering man- 
kind. Only recently, in the beautiful town of Greenwich, 
Conn., have I walked over well-kept roads leading through 
private property, and maintained at private expense, which 
have been thrown open to public use and are thankfully 
patronized by the people. These same roads are far bet- 
ter than arc the public ones. 
The fence or trespass sign which excludes the public 
from private lands, is not only used by the rich, but by 
the poor as well. And the same law protects each equally. 
Much farm property is posted in these days, wild land 
as well as cultivated. This is sure to be more and more 
the case the more the land owners are antagonized by un- 
civil and arrogant trespassers. But the hue and cry 
against excluding Tom, Dick and Harry from private 
lands seems not to be directed at the poor land owner, 
but at the rich one. This seems positive proof that hate 
and envy of the rich is the principal incentive for these 
attacks. Hate and envy never did, never can, and never 
will travel hand in hand with reason. I am not rich, but 
the few acres now under my control are posted. Not for 
spite,_ mind you, but because I might as well move were 
the signs not there. The place would soon be completely 
overrun with people, who would not themselves tolerate 
trespassers on their own lands. 
When the people in this great and free land have a 
legitimate grievance, they have the lawful power to ad- 
just matters at the polls. If it antagonizes the public 
good when rich_ men acquire immense tracts of land, and 
turn the same into game preserves, the remedy is righi 
at hand in the ballot. But the vast majority of our peo- 
ple appear content to the fact that rich men own game 
preserves, and this is proof enough that the agitation of 
a small and discontented minority carries no weight what- 
ever. In ray humble opinion, it is far better that the rich 
man preserve some of our woods and waters and keep 
them constantly stocked with wild birds, beasts and 
fishes than to have the land become barren of game. The 
greatest good to the greatest numbers is good religion. 
The individual who perpetuates the game is performing 
a great good for future generations, whether he wants to 
or not. A great many poor men may club together, own 
and control a game preserve, if the ambition prevails to 
do so. 
As to brother sportsman Didynius, I would say: I do 
not believe that "all men are too saintly to gratify re-' 
venge." I never wrote or said anything to that effect. 
But 1 do now, always have, and always will believe that 
any individual who criminally gratifies his revenge should 
be heartily condemned, detested and hunted by every, 
good citizen. And I am particularly gratified that some 
of the Adirondack firebugs have been apprehended, con- 
victed and now hav^e abundant time to reflect — behind iron 
bars — on the disadvantages of being a firebug. 
As to Raymond S. Spears, whose writings on the whole 
I greatly admire, I would say that he is right in regards 
ro the existence of firebugs in the Adirondacks, But 
I still believe that go per cent, of the fires were started 
in some other way tlian by criminals. 
William H. Avis. 
HlG"WO0D, Conn. 
Editor Forest and Slrea/n: 
It seems to be utterly useless to continue a fight where 
the point at issue is utterly ignored — it is simply fighting 
the wind. Two of your contributors in the last issue have 
wasted their time in repeating the same old arguments 
against what I never have denied — a man's legal right to 
buy up a whole county if he can; but I contend that a 
nian who will do so is utterly selfish and unworthy of 
respect. 
I also assert that it is foolish in policy, as it arouses 
bitter animosities, and the spirit of revenge that it incites 
.is not in the interest of the owner or the preservation of 
the forests, as the recent incendiary fires sufficiently prove. 
Now, I think I have done with this question of huge 
preserves and the selfishness involved, and I hope the ad- 
vocates of that policy will set up no more imaginary tar- 
gets to waste their ammunition on. Didymus. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The game preserve, it seems, still has the floor; it is 
a subjecf that will not down, but bobs up again every 
cnce in a while. Here in Pennsylvania about every other 
farmer has his land posted ; does not he maintain a game 
preserve on a small scale when he posts up those signs, 
"No Tresspassing Here?" We know, then, that we dare 
not go on his land unless we want to pay a fine for doing 
it. And why should he not post his land if he wants to 
do it? He has the law back of him when he does it, and 
has, to him, at least, a good excuse for doing it : he does 
not want to run the risk of having his crops damaged. 
Some of us would not dainage them, others would. 
The most of these farmers will, if asked, allow a man 
to hunt on their land. I was never but once refused that 
privilege when I asked for it; and that inan afterwards 
met me in the road and withdrew his refusal when he 
saw me hunting on his neighbor's land. But if they do 
not want us there, then that settles it; we have no war- 
rant to shoot or fish on their place out of revenge. The 
men who have made game preserves have only copied 
after the farmer, but on a larger scale. 
That millennium that we read about in the Bible has 
not got here yet; it may come in our time, but I doubt 
it. When it cloes and the lion lies down with the lamb- 
outside of him, of course— then these men who have more 
money than they can use may distribute it to the poor;, 
at present some of them, at least, prefer to keep it them- 
selves. Not all of them do that, though. I have in mind 
two of them who seem to be doing very well by their fel- 
lows. Both of them I knew before they were millionaires; 
we were only barefoot boys then. One of them gives a 
good part of his income to build libraries and church 
organs; the libraries are all right, but if I were in his 
place I would cut out the organs and use that money 
to build a half million dollar school that I asked him to 
build in a ward that we both know something about. The 
other millionaire has not forgotten that ward, though; he 
has built a fine play ground in it for the school children, " 
and has put up a bath house and gymnasium for them 
close by. 
Neither of these men have, as far as I know, estabUshed 
any game preserves yet; but if they did I would not feel 
called on to get up at midnight and burn it for them. 
