Nelson Donnell of West Gardiner, ME Did any of you catch the key words used in that Great Ponds Act declaration? Inhabitant, house holder, free men, man. Do you think that government views you licensed, card carrying Social Security validating "persons" as "free men or Free Inhabitants"?

Nope, government views most of you as legal and commercial entities, residents of a federal statutory created jurisdiction, a citizen of the United States.

In short, you can't have your cake and eat it too, but your so-called representatives won't tell you that you have contracted away your natural hereditary rights to be free and independent freemen-on-the-land in exchange for statutory created privileges.

"The very idea that man may be compelled to hold his life, or the means of living, or any material right essential to the enjoyment of life, at the mere will of another, seems to be intolerable in any country where freedom prevails, as being the essence of slavery itself." Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356, 370report abuse

Maine Lake Watch of Gardiner, ME It um, ah, would be illegal to charge anyone for fishing salt water in the State of Maine:

GREAT PONDS ACT
THE LAW OF THE WATER IN MAINE

Every Inhabitant that is a house holder shall have FREE FISHING and fowling in any great ponds and Bayes, Coves and Rivers, SO FARE AS THE SEA EBBES AND FLOWES within the precincts of the town where they dwell, unless the free men of the same Town or the General Court have otherwise appropriated them, provided that this shall not be extended to give leave to any man to come upon others property without their leave.report abuse

TokyoRose of Tucson, AZ Just a few years ago, the administrative costs alone to issue any license, according to DIF&W Legislative testimony, exceeded $7.00.

Pretty sad isn't it?report abuse

BC of Augusta, ME By the way, the article said Maine has an estimated 300,000 salt water fishermen. At $25 each, that is $7,500,000. The article said the license would raise an estimated $3,000,000 for improving the fishery. Notice the difference (4.5 million) that would be spent just on adminstrative costs....or potentially, Dirigo Health. Although I rarely go, I'm now officially "retired" from fishing salt water.report abuse