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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17475-h.zip b/17475-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5deb73 --- /dev/null +++ b/17475-h.zip diff --git a/17475-h/17475-h.htm b/17475-h/17475-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7029246 --- /dev/null +++ b/17475-h/17475-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2658 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Lobster Fishery of Maine., by John N. Cobb</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body {background:#fdfdfd; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: medium; + margin-top:100px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify; } + hr { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + hr.narrow { width: 50%; + height: 1px; } + hr.tiny { width: 25%; + height: 1px; } + blockquote { font-size: medium; } + blockquote.footnote { font-size: small; } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + p.footnote { margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 0; + text-indent: 0; + font-size: small; } + p.foothead { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0; + text-indent: 0; + font-size: small; } + table {font-size: medium} + table.caption {font-size: small; } + .caption {font-size: small; + font-weight: bold; } + p {text-indent: 4% } + p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + .ind15 {margin-left: 15em; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size:65%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 align="center">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Lobster Fishery of Maine., by John N. Cobb</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Lobster Fishery of Maine.</p> +<p> Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission, Vol. 19, Pages 241-265, 1899</p> +<p>Author: John N. Cobb</p> +<p>Release Date: January 7, 2006 [eBook #17475]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE.***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Ronald Calvin Huber<br> + while serving as Penobscot Bay Watch, Rockland, Maine,<br> + with technical assistance from Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.</h3></center><br><br> +<hr noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<h1>The Lobster Fishery Of Maine.</h1> + +<h4>by</h4> + +<h2>John N. Cobb</h2> + +<h4>Agent of the United States Fish Commission.</h4> + +<h3><i>Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission</i>,<br> +Vol. 19, Pages 241-265, 1899</h3> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<br> +<table border=0 cellpadding=2> +<tr><td><a href="#1">Introduction</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#2">Natural History of the Lobster</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#3">History of the Fishery</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#4">The Fishing Grounds</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#5">The Fishing Season</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#6">Fishing Appliances</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#7">Methods of Fishing</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#8">Bait</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#9">Fishing Vessels and Boats</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#10">Transporting Vessels or Smacks</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#11">Lobster Cars</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#12">Methods of Shipping, Wholesale Trade, etc.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#13">Boiling</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#14">Lobster Pounds</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#15">The Canning Industry</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#16">Abundance, etc.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#17">Weight of Lobsters</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#18">Chemical Composition of Lobsters</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#19">Artificial Propagation of the Lobster</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#20">Large and Peculiar Lobsters</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#21">Laws Regulating the Fishery</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#22">Importations of Live Lobsters</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#23">Statistical Summary of the Lobster Industry in Maine in 1898</a></td></tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<a href="images/lobsailrockland.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobsailrockland.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="The sailing smack Bar Bel of Rockland"></a><br> +<span class="caption">The sailing smack <i>Bar Bel</i> of +Rockland</span><br> +<a href="images/lobsailrockland.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> +<br> + +<a name="1"></a> +<br> +<br> + +<p>For some years past the condition of the lobster fishery of New +England has excited the earnest attention of all interested in the +preservation of one of the most valuable crustaceans of our country. +In the State of Maine, particularly, where the industry is of the +first importance, the steady decline from year to year has caused +the gravest fears, and incessant efforts have been made by the +United States Fish Commission, in conjunction with the State Fish +Commission of Maine, to overcome this decline. This paper presents +the results of an investigation by the writer in 1899. All +statistics, when not otherwise stated, are for the calendar year +1898.</p> + +<p>I am indebted to so many dealers, fishermen, and others for +information given and courtesies extended that it is impossible to +mention them by name; and I now extend to all my most sincere thanks +for their many kindnesses.</p> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobsteamsmackrockland.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobsteamsmackrockland.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="The first steam smack to +carry lobsters in a well."></a><br> +<span class="caption">The first steam smack to +carry lobsters in a well</span><br> +<a href="images/lobsteamsmackrockland.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + +<center> +<br> +<a name="2"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>NATURAL HISTORY OF THE LOBSTER.</h3> +</center> +<br> + +<p>Although the lobster has been of great value to the New England +States and the British Provinces as a food commodity, but little was +known of its life-history and habits until within the last few +years. To this ignorance has been due quite largely peculiar (and in +some instances useless) laws enacted by some States. The gradual +enlightenment of the public on this subject has borne good fruit, +however, and most of the present State laws are founded on +substantial facts instead of theories. Prof. Francis H. Herrick has +been one of the most prominent of the investigators, and his summary +of the present knowledge on this subject is quoted below from the +Fish Commission Bulletin for 1897:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>(1) The fishery is declining, and this decline is due to the +persistence with which it has been conducted during the last +twenty-five years. There is no evidence that the animal is being +driven to the wall by any new or unusual disturbance of the forces +of nature.</p> + +<p>(2) The lobster is migratory only to the extent of moving to and +from the shore, and is, therefore, practically a sedentary animal. +Its movements are governed chiefly by the abundance of food and the +temperature of the water.</p> + +<p>(3) The female may be impregnated or provided with a supply of sperm +for future use by the male at any time, and the sperm, which is +deposited in an external pouch or sperm receptacle, has remarkable +vitality. Copulation occurs commonly in spring, and the eggs are +fertilized outside the body.</p> + +<p>(4) Female lobsters become sexually mature when from 8 to 12 inches +long. The majority of all lobsters 10½ inches long are mature. It +is rare to find a female less than 8 inches long which has spawned +or one over 12 inches in length which has never borne eggs.</p> + +<p>(5) The spawning interval is a biennial one, two years elapsing +between each period of egg-laying.</p> + +<p>(6) The spawning period for the majority of lobsters is July and +August. A few lay eggs at other seasons of the year—in the fall, +winter, and probably in the spring.</p> + +<p>(7) The period of spawning lasts about six weeks, and fluctuates +slightly from year to year. The individual variation in the time of +extrusion of ova is explained by the long period during which the +eggs attain the limits of growth. Anything which affects the vital +condition of the female during this period of two years may affect +the time of spawning.</p> + +<p>(8) The spawning period in the middle and eastern districts of Maine +is two weeks later than in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts. In 1893 71 +per cent of eggs examined from the coast of Maine were extruded in +the first half of August.</p> + +<p>(9) The number of eggs laid varies with the size of the animal. The +law of production may be arithmetically expressed as follows: <i>The +number of eggs produced at each reproductive period varies in a +geometrical series, while the length of lobsters producing these +eggs varies in an arithmetical series.</i> According to this law an +8-inch lobster produces 5,000 eggs, a lobster 10 inches long 10,000, +a 12-inch lobster 20,000. This high rate of production is not +maintained beyond the length of 14 to 16 inches. The largest number +of eggs recorded for a female is 97,440. A lobster 10½ inches +long produces, on the average, nearly 13,000 eggs.</p> + +<p>(10) The period of incubation of summer eggs at Woods Hole is about +ten months, July 15-August 15 to May 15-June 15. The hatching of a +single brood lasts about a week, owing to the slightly unequal rate +of development of individual eggs.</p> + +<p>(11) The hatching period varies also with the time of egg-laying, +lobsters having rarely been known to hatch in November and February.</p> + +<p>(12) Taking all things into consideration, the sexes appear about +equally divided, though the relative numbers caught in certain +places at certain times of the year may be remarkably variable.</p> + +<p>(13) Molting commonly occurs from June to September, but there is no +month of the year in which soft lobsters may not be caught.</p> + +<p>(14) The male probably molts oftener than the female.</p> + +<p>(15) In the adult female the molting like the spawning period is a +biennial one, but the two periods are one year apart. As a rule, the +female lays her eggs in July, carries them until the following +summer, when they hatch; then she molts. Possibly a second molt may +occur in the fall, winter, or spring, but it is not probable, and +molting just before the production of new eggs is rare.</p> + +<p>(16) The egg-bearing female, with eggs removed, weighs less than the +female of the same length without eggs.</p> + +<p>(17) The new shell becomes thoroughly hard in the course of from six +to eight weeks, the length of time requisite for this varying with +the food and other conditions of the animal.</p> + +<p>(18) The young, after hatching, cut loose from their mother, rise to +the surface of the ocean, and, lead a free life as pelagic larvae. +The first larva is about one-third of an inch long (7.84 mm). The +swimming period lasts from six to eight weeks, or until the lobster +has molted five or at most six times, and is three-fifths of an inch +long, when it sinks to the bottom. It now travels toward the shore, +and, if fortunate, establishes itself in the rock piles of inlets of +harbors, where it remains until driven out by ice in the fall or +early winter. The smallest, now from 1 to 3 inches long, go down +among the loose stones which are often exposed at low tides. At a +later period, when 3 to 4 inches long, they come out of their +retreats and explore the bottom, occasionally hiding or burrowing +under stones. Young lobsters have also been found in eelgrass and on +sandy bottoms in shallow water.</p> + +<p>(19) The food of the larva consists of minute pelagic organisms. The +food of the older and adult stages is largely of animal origin with +but slight addition of vegetable material, consisting chiefly of +fish and invertebrates of various kinds. The large and strong also +prey upon the small and weak.</p> + +<p>(20) The increase in length at each molt is about 15.3 per cent. +During the first year the lobster molts from 14 to 17 times. At +10½ inches the lobster has molted 25 to 26 times and is about 5 +years old.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>As the purpose of this article is to deal more particularly with the +commercial side of the lobster question all interested more +particularly in the natural history of the animal are referred to +the following works:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p class="noindent">The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States, sec. I, +pp. 780-812.</p> + +<p class="noindent">The American Lobster, by Francis H. Herrick. Bull. U. S. Fish Com. +for 1895, pp. 1-252.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="3"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>HISTORY OF THE FISHERY.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Ever since the early Puritan settlers first learned from the Indians +how to utilize the lobster, it has been one of the most prized +articles of food in the New England States. The early town records +of Massachusetts contain frequent references to this valuable +crustacean, and efforts were made at an early day to conserve the +supply.</p> + +<p>At first, as most settlers lived on or near the coast, each family +could easily secure its own supply, but as the settlements gradually +extended farther inland this became inconvenient, and it soon became +customary for certain persons living on the coast to attend to +supplying the wants of the inland settlers, and thus the commercial +fishery was established.</p> + +<p>The coast of Maine is very favorably situated for this fishery. In +its eastern and middle sections the shore is bold and rocky, while +it is cut up by large deep inlets and coves which are studded with +numerous islands, large and small, and by bold rocky promontories. +Groups of islands are also numerous farther off shore, like the Fox +and Matinicus Islands, Deer and Mount Desert islands. Large and +small fresh-water rivers are numerous and the granite bottoms of +these channels and inlets form admirable breeding grounds. In the +western end the shores are not so rocky, being broken frequently +with sandy reaches, while the rivers are small and comparatively +shallow. West of Casco Bay the islands are infrequent. As a result +of this conformation of coast the best fishing grounds in Maine are +between Cape Elizabeth and Quoddy Head.</p> + +<p>As early as 1830 smacks from Boston and Connecticut visited +Harpswell for fresh lobsters, and it is very probable that even +before this time they had visited the points farther west in the +State, as the history of the fishery, so far as known, shows that it +gradually worked to the eastward. This was doubtless owing to the +fact that the trend of settlement in the early part of the century +was in that direction. It is also probable that, for some time +before the people along the coast took up the fishery, the smackmen +themselves did their own fishing. This is easily believed when the +great abundance is considered. It is known that this was done in +Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>During summer the lobsters were very common close in shore and could +easily be gaffed by boys at low water; but this could hardly be +called a regular fishery.</p> + +<p>The regular fishery began with the use of hoop-net pots, which were +generally of very rude construction, and the facility with which the +lobsters escaped from them led to their disuse soon after the lath +pots began to be introduced. The lath pots were essentially the same +in construction as those now used on the coast of Maine, and each +pair of fishermen then handled between 25 and 50.</p> + +<p>Up to about 1865 it was the custom to set the traps singly, and two +men were usually employed in the fishery, one to haul up, empty the +pot, rebait it, and drop it overboard, while the other handled the +boat. In the latter year it was discovered that by setting the pots +on trawls more pots could be set and only one man would be required +to work them. This invention, which was claimed by several different +persons, proved quite successful for a while, but after a time, when +the supply of lobsters began to drop off, better results were +secured by scattering the pots over a greater area and shifting +their position each time they were fished, which was very easily +done. As a result of this the use of trawls decreased very rapidly.</p> + +<p>The following facts regarding the early lobster fishery of Maine are +from the Fishery Industries of the United States, section v, vol. +II, pp. 700, 701:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>In 1841 Capt. E. M. Oakes began to carry lobsters from Cundy's +Harbor and Horse Island Harbor, Harpswell, to Mr. Eben Weeks, at +East Boston. He was then running a well-smack, named the +<i>Swampscott</i>, of 41 tons, old measurement. The season extended from +the 1st of March until about the 4th of July, after which time the +lobsters were supposed to be unfit for eating; the black lobsters, +or shedders, were even considered poisonous. During this season of +four months Captain Oakes made ten trips, carrying in all 35,000, by +count. He continued in this trade about six years, taking the +combined catch of about five or six fishermen. At this same period +the smack <i>Hulda B. Hall</i>, 50 tons, of New London, Conn., Captain +Chapell, was carrying lobsters from Cape Porpoise, Gloucester, +Ipswich Bay, and occasionally Provincetown, to Boston, making 15 +trips in the season of four months, and taking about 3,500 lobsters +each trip. Captain Chapell was supplied with lobsters by four men at +Cape Porpoise, and by the same number at both Gloucester and Ipswich +Bay. For four months following the close of the lobster season on +the Maine coast, or from July 4 until November, Captain Chapell ran +his smack with lobsters to New York, obtaining most of his supplies +at Provincetown.</p> + +<p>In 1847 Captain Oakes purchased the smack <i>Josephine</i>, with which he +began running to Johnson & Young's establishment, at Boston, in +1848, buying a portion of his lobsters in the Penobscot Bay region, +where this fishery had just been started. The quantity of lobsters +carried by him that year was 40,000. The prices paid to the +fishermen for smack lobsters was as follows: During March, 3 cents +each; April, 2½ cents; May and June, 2 cents. In 1850, he began +to obtain supplies from the Muscle Ridges, leaving Harpswell +entirely, on account of the small size of the lobsters then being +caught there. At this time the average weight of the lobsters +marketed was about 3 pounds, and all under 10½ inches in length +were rejected. The traps were made of the same size as at present, +but were constructed of round oak sticks, and with four hoops or +bows to support the upper framework. A string of bait, consisting +mainly of flounders and sculpins, was tied into each trap. About 50 +traps were used by each fisherman, and they were hauled once a day. +The warps or buoy lines, by which the traps were lowered and hauled, +were cut in 12-fathom lengths. Lobsters were so abundant at the +Muscle Ridges, at this period, that four men could fully supply +Captain Oakes with lobsters every trip. In the course of ten days +each man would obtain between 1,200 and 1,500 marketable lobsters. +In Captain Oakes' opinion, the Muscle Ridges have furnished the most +extensive lobster fishery of the Maine coast. He ran to this +locality until 1874.</p> + +<p>Capt. S. S. Davis, of South Saint George, states that about 1864, +when he first began buying lobsters at the Muscle Ridges, three men, +tending 40 to 50 pots each, caught all the count lobsters he could +carry to market in his smack. He could load 5,000 lobsters at a +time, and averaged a trip in 7 to 9 days. This traffic continued for +six or seven years. In 1879, Captain Davis bought from 15 men In the +same locality, and at times was obliged to buy also of others in +order to make up a load.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The fishery at North Haven began in 1848, but did not increase so +rapidly at first as in sections farther west, as the smacks would +only take the medium-sized lobsters, fearing that the largest would +not be able to stand the trip. At Matinicus Island the fishing began +in 1868. In 1852 the people on Deer Island began the fishery, and as +the smackmen made frequent visits the business rapidly increased. +The establishment of a cannery at Oceanville, about 1860, also +caused a considerable development of the fishery. The fishery was +started at Isle an Haute about 1855, and at Swan Island in the early +fifties.</p> + +<p>The canning of lobsters was first carried on at Eastport in 1842, +but the fishery was not taken up until about 1853, as it was +supposed there were no lobsters in the neighborhood. The supplies +for these canneries previous to the inception of the fishery were +obtained by smacks running to the westward.</p> + +<p>For some years the fishery was only prosecuted in the late spring, +summer, and early fall months. Just when winter fishing began in the +State is doubtful; but according to Capt. Charles Black, of Orr +Island, it began in that region in 1845 at Harpswell. Previously the +fishermen had the impression that lobsters could not be successfully +caught earlier than March 20.</p> + +<p>During the summer of 1845 the captains of the well-smacks of New +London, Conn., who bought most of the lobsters in that vicinity, +induced Charles E. Clay, Samuel Orr, and a few others to fish during +the winter, and they set their traps about the same distance from +the shore that the fishermen do at present, and in almost the same +depth of water. The smackmen paid them $4 for 100 lobsters. The next +winter the fishermen refused to sell by number and wanted $1.25 per +100 pounds. The smackmen had no objection to buy them by weight, but +refused to pay more than $1.12 per 100 pounds. This was accepted, +and for several years the prices were from $1.12 to $1.25 per 100 +pounds.</p> + +<p>Comparatively few traps were necessary then, as when the weather +would permit the fishermen to tend their traps they would catch from +20 to 30 lobsters daily, and frequently, when the traps were hauled, +they would find several lobsters clinging to some part of the pots. +The bait was very plentiful and caught with spears.</p> + +<p>The lobsters were placed in cars at that time, after having been +"plugged" to keep them from injuring each other. The plugs were +almost 1½ inches long, flat on one side, round on the other, and +with a sharp point. Plugging has since been discontinued, as the +trifling injury the lobsters did each other was nothing compared to +the value of cans of meat spoiled by one of these pine plugs being +boiled with it.</p> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobsteamsmackportlme.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobsteamsmackportlme.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="The steam smack Mina and Lizzie +landing her cargo at Portlland"></a><br> +<span class="caption">The steam smack <i>Mina and Lizzie</i> +landing her cargo at Portland</span><br> +<a href="images/lobsteamsmackportlme.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +<br> +<br> +<a href="images/yorkislfleet.jpg"> +<img src="images/yorkislfleet.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Fleet of lobster boats in harbor at York Island"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Fleet of lobster boats in harbor at York +Island</span><br> +<a href="images/yorkislfleet.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + +<center> +<br> +<a name="4"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE FISHING-GROUNDS.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>It is difficult to estimate the comparative value of the grounds in +the State, owing to the movements of the lobsters. In the early +spring, in April or May, as the waters in the bays and rivers warm +up, the lobsters come into the comparatively shallow waters. They +remain here until late in the fall, going back to the ocean or deep +waters of the bays in either October or November. They love to +congregate on rocky bottom, and pots set on such bottom will +frequently make large catches, while those on sandy or muddy ground +will catch almost nothing. In the early years of the fishery they +came in very close in great numbers, and could frequently be taken +at low water in dip nets or by gaffs; but they are now found in +summer in depths of from 3 to 15 fathoms in the numerous passages +between the islands and the mainland, and the lower reaches of the +bays and rivers. For a number of years winter fishing was not +prosecuted, but now it is a very important business. In winter the +pots are generally set in the ocean at depths of from 15 to 50 +fathoms.</p> + +<p>As the greatest part of the coast line is cut up by numerous bays +and rivers, and these are dotted with large and small islands, they +form admirable breeding grounds for the lobster. Some of the best +locations are in Little Machias, Machias, Englishman, Pleasant +Point, Chandler, Narragaugus, Muscongus, Linekin, Sheepscot, and +Casco bays, while the fishing is especially good around the numerous +islands in the lower Penobscot and Blue Hill bays, and at Monhegan +and the Matinicus islands in the ocean. The Sheepscot River is also +a favorite resort for lobsters during the warm months, while in the +winter they retire to the waters of the bay, where the fishing can +be carried on very easily. At most of the other grounds the winter +fishing is carried on in the ocean, as the lobsters do not usually +remain in the bays. Most of the fishing in Casco Bay is carried on +at the eastern end among the numerous islands. The earliest fishing +of which we have any definite record was carried on from the +township of Harpswell on this bay. This region has held its own +remarkably well, as in 1898 more than twice as many lobsters were +taken by fishermen from this township than from any other town in +the State.</p> + +<p>The upper portions of Frenchman, Blue Hill, and Penobscot bays were +formerly very important grounds, but are now almost exhausted. These +regions were especially noted for large lobsters. In August, 1891, +Mr. F. W. Collins, a Rockland dealer, had 50 lobsters in his +establishment which weighed from 10 to 18½ pounds apiece. About +half of these came from Castine, in upper Penobscot Bay, and the +remainder from Blue Hill Falls, in the upper Blue Hill Bay.</p> + +<p>The grounds in York County, at the western end of the State, were +formerly quite prolific, but the excessive fishing of the last +thirty years has very badly depleted them.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="5"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE FISHING SEASON.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>In the early days of the fishery it was customary to fish only +during the spring and fall. When the canneries went into operation +they usually worked during the spring, early summer, and fall, and +as they furnished a ready market for all the lobsters that could be +caught this came to be the principal season. At that time it was not +thought possible to do any winter fishing, owing to the cold and +stormy weather and the fact that the fishing had to be carried on +generally in the open sea.</p> + +<p>In 1878 a law was passed limiting the canning season to the period +between April 1 and August 1. This season was frequently changed by +subsequent enactments, but rarely covered a longer period than that +fixed in the first law. As at certain places on the coast the +canneries were the only market for lobsters the fishery would cease +as soon as the canneries stopped. At other places, which were +visited by the smacks, some of the fishermen would continue fishing +after the canneries closed, selling to the smackmen. At various +times a closed season was in force, but at present there is no +limitation as to season. The canning industry in the State +practically ceased to exist in 1895, and since then the whole catch +has had to be marketed in a live or boiled condition. The smack +fleet had been gradually increasing as the live-lobster trade +extended, and by the time the canneries closed permanently they had +extended their visits to every point where lobsters could be had in +any number.</p> + +<p>At present the majority of the fishermen usually haul out their +traps during July and August and put them in good order for the fall +fishing. During the excessively cold portion of the winter most of +the pots are taken out, but some fishing is done during every month +of the year.</p> + +<p>The fishermen on Monhegan Island, about 12 miles southeast of +Pemaquid Point, agree among themselves to put no lobster pots in the +water until about the 1st of January. There is then no restriction +on fishing until about May 15, when all pots are hauled out and no +more fishing is done until the season begins again. During this +season the law in regard to short lobsters is rigidly enforced by +the fishermen themselves. Should any outsider visit this island +during the close time established by the fishermen, and attempt to +fish, he is quietly informed of the agreement and requested to +conform to it. Should he persist in working after this warning, his +pots are apt to mysteriously disappear. As lobsters bring a much +higher price in winter than in summer, the Monhegan fishermen reap a +rich reward, as the lobsters are very numerous, owing to the 7½ +months close time. On the first day the fishermen hauled in 1900 one +man secured 293, for which he received 19 cents apiece. The smallest +number secured by anyone was 135.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="6"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FISHING APPLIANCES.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>In most large fisheries for certain species numerous changes occur +at intervals in the apparatus used, owing to changed conditions, +etc., but in the lobster industry changes have been few, and at an +early period the fishermen fixed upon a uniform apparatus, which has +been in use ever since with but slight modifications, and these +generally only temporary.</p> + +<p>The earliest form of apparatus used to any considerable extent was +the hoop net. This consisted generally of a hoop or ring of about +1/2-inch round iron, or a wooden hogshead hoop, from 2½ to 3 feet +or more in diameter. To this hoop was attached a net bag with a +depth of 18 to 24 inches as a bottom, while two wooden half hoops +were bent above it, crossing at right angles in the center about 12 +or 15 inches above the plane of the hoop. Sometimes these half hoops +were replaced by short cords. The bait was suspended from the point +of crossing of the two wooden hoops and the line for raising and +lowering the pots was attached at the same place. As there was no +way of closing the mouth of the pot after a lobster had entered, +these nets had to be constantly watched, the lobster being in the +habit of retiring after he had finished his repast. In using these +the fisherman would generally go out in the evening and at short +intervals he would haul in his nets and remove whatever lobsters +they might contain. The constant attention necessary in attending to +these hoop nets led the fishermen to devise an apparatus which would +hold the lobsters after once entering and would require only +occasional visits, and "lath pots" were found to fulfill all +requirements. They acquire the name from the use of common laths in +their construction. They are usually about 4 feet in length, with a +width of about 2 feet, a height of 18 inches, and in Maine are +usually of semicylindrical form.</p> + +<p>The following description of this apparatus is from the Fishery +Industries of the United States, sec. v, vol. 11, p. 666:</p> + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>The framework of the bottom consists of three strips of wood, either +hemlock, spruce, or pine (the first mentioned being the most +durable), a little longer than the width of the pot, about 2¾ +inches wide and 1 inch thick. In the ends of each of the outer +strips a hole is bored to receive the ends of a small branch of +pliable wood, which is bent into a regular semicircular curve. These +hoops are made of branches of spruce or hemlock, or of hardwood +saplings, such as maple, birch, or ash, generally retaining the +bark. Three of these similar frames, straight below and curved +above, constitute the framework of each pot, one to stand at each +end and one in the center. The narrow strips of wood, generally +ordinary house laths of spruce or pine, which form the covering, are +nailed lengthwise to them, with interspaces between about equal to +the width of the lathe. On the bottom the laths are sometimes nailed +on the outside and sometimes on the inside of the cross pieces. The +door is formed by three or four of the laths running the entire +length near the top. The door is hinged on by means of small leather +strips, and is fastened by a single wooden button in the center, or +by two buttons, one at each end. The openings into the pot … are +two in number, one at each end, are generally knit of coarse twine +and have a mesh between three-fourths of an inch and 1 inch square. +They are funnel-shaped, with one side shorter than the other, and at +the larger end have the same diameter as the framework. The smaller +and inner end measures about 6 inches in diameter and is held open +by means of a wire ring or wooden hoop. The funnels are fastened by +the larger ends to the end frames of the pot, with the shorter side +uppermost, so that when they are in place they lead obliquely upward +into the pot instead of horizontally. The inner ends are secured in +position by one or two cords extending to the center frame. The +funnels are about 11 or 12 inches deep, and therefore extend about +halfway to the center of the pot. They taper rapidly and form a +strongly inclined plane, up which the lobsters must climb in their +search for the bait. A two-strand manila twine is most commonly used +for the funnels. Cotton is also used, but is more expensive and less +durable.</p> +</blockquote> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobsterpots1899.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobsterpots1899.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Lobster pots"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Lobster pots</span><br> +<a href="images/lobsterpots1899.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>A change in the shape of the funnel was first made at Matinicus +shortly before 1890. This has been called the "patent head." Large +lobsters are said to always go to the top and small ones to the +bottom of the pots. By going to the top in the "old-head" pot large +lobsters made their escape through the hole, but in the pots with +"patent heads" instead of finding their way through the hole the big +lobsters slide over it. The "patent head" has not been used to any +extent, however. The sketch shown on the following page gives a good +idea of the difference in shape.</p> +<br> + +<center> +<table cellpadding="5"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <a href="images/funnel_old.png"> + <img src="images/funnel_old.png" width="180" border=0 + alt="Old sytle of head (in general use)"></a> + </td> + <td align="center"> + <a href="images/funnel_pat.png"> + <img src="images/funnel_pat.png" width="200" border=0 + alt="Patent head"></a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <span class="caption">Old style of head (in general use)</span> + </td> + <td align="center"> + <span class="caption">Patent head</span> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>In the center of the ordinary pot is a sort of spearhead of wood or +iron from 8 to 12 inches long. This has one large barb and is set +upright in the middle of the center frame. The bait is placed on +this spearhead. Several large stones or bricks are lashed to the +bottom of the pot, on the inside, in order to furnish weight enough +to hold the pot at the bottom.</p> + +<p>As it was noticed that a lobster generally crawled over a pot before +entering by the end, some pots of a square form and with the opening +at the top were constructed, but they were not successful.</p> + +<p>Another variation had a length of 7½ feet and five supporting +frames inside instead of three, as in the old pot. These were set at +equal distances apart, and had two more funnels than the other, one +funnel being attached to each of the frames except the center one, +and all pointing inward. In order to reach the bait the lobster had +to pass through two funnels, and its chances of escape were thereby +lessened. This style is rarely seen now.</p> + +<p>Still another variety in vogue for a short time had a trapdoor, on +which the lobster had to climb in order to reach the bait; the door +then gave way and precipitated the lobster into a secure inclosure.</p> + +<p>A few pots are made with a funnel of laths in place of the net +funnels. They are the same as the ordinary pot in every other +particular.</p> + +<p>The ordinary pots cost about $1 to construct.</p> + +<p>During certain seasons the pots are badly eaten by "worms," the +shipworm (Teredo) or one of the species of small boring crustaceans. +Pots are also frequently lost during stormy weather, and the +fishermen therefore have a reserve stock on hand in order to replace +those lost or temporarily disabled.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="7"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>METHODS OF FISHING.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>In fishing the traps are either set on single warps or on trawls of +8 to 40 and 50 pots. At first all pots were set singly. The line by +which they were lowered and hauled up, and which also served as a +buoy line, was fastened to one of the end frames of the bottom or +sill, as it is called, at the intersection of the hoop. The buoys +generally consist of a tapering piece of cedar or spruce, +wedge-shaped, or nearly spindle shaped, and about 18 inches long. +They are usually painted in distinctive colors, so that each +fisherman may easily recognize his own. Small kegs are also used as +buoys.</p> + +<p>In the warm season the pots are frequently set on trawls or "ground +lines," as lobsters are quite thick then on the rocky bottom near +shore. If the bottom is sandy they are set farther from shore. +Lobsters are most numerous on a rocky bottom. In the trawl method +the pots are usually set about 30 feet apart, depending on the depth +of water, so that when one pot is in the boat the next will be on +the bottom. The ground lines have large anchors at each end and a +floating buoy tied to a strong line, which is fastened to the ground +line almost 25 fathoms from the anchors. When the last pot is hauled +the anchor is far enough away to hold the boat in position. The pots +are set at distances from the shore ranging from 100 yards to 5 or 6 +miles. This method of setting pots was first used about the year +1865 in Sagadahoc County. The traps are set in from 3 to 10 fathoms +in the warm season.</p> + +<p>In winter fishing the pots are generally set singly, as the lobsters +are more scattered then and the best results are attained by +shifting the position of the pots slightly each time they are +fished. This is caused by the drift of the boat while the fisherman +is hauling in the pot, emptying and rebaiting it, and then dropping +it overboard again. The winter fishing is generally carried on in +the open sea, although in a few places, like Sheepscot Bay, the +lobsters in winter retire to the deep waters of the bays and can +there be caught. The pots are generally set in from 20 to 50 fathoms +of water at this season.</p> + +<p>Certain fishermen claim that when pots are set on a trawl placed +across the tide the catch is greater than when the trawl is set in +the direction of the current. In the former case, it is asserted, +the scent or fine particles coming from the bait is more widely +diffused and more apt to attract the lobsters. In entering, after +first reconnoitering around and over the pot, the lobster always +backs in, primarily that he may be prepared to meet any foe +following him, also because his large claws would be apt to catch in +the net funnel should he enter head first. After discovering that he +is imprisoned, which he does very speedily, he seems to lose all +desire for the bait, and spends his time roaming around the pot +hunting for a means of escape.</p> + +<p>The pots are generally hauled once a day, but sometimes twice a day +in good weather. As the tide along the Maine coast is quite strong, +the fishermen usually haul their pots at or about slack water, low +tide generally being preferred when they are worked once a day. The +number used by a fisherman varies greatly on different sections of +the coast. According to the investigations of this Commission, the +average number of pots to the man in certain years was as follows: +Fifty-six pots in 1880, 59 in 1887 and 1888, 58 in 1889 and 1892, +and 50 in 1898. This average, however, is somewhat misleading, as +quite a number of persons along the coast take up lobstering for +only a few months in the year, and then return to their regular +occupations. As these persons use but few pots, the average per man +throughout the whole State is very considerably reduced. The regular +lobster fishermen have been steadily increasing the number of their +pots for several years past. They have found this an absolute +necessity in order to catch as many lobsters now as they caught +twenty or thirty years ago. It is not unusual now to find one of the +regular fishermen handling as high as 100 pots, and sometimes even +125, when a few years ago 25 and 50 pots was a large number. This +does not take into account his reserve stock of pots, which it is +necessary to have on hand in order to replace those damaged or lost.</p> +<br> +<center> +<a href="images/lobstering1899.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobstering1899.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Fishermen operating their pots"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Fishermen operating their pots</span><br> +<a href="images/lobstering1899.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="8"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>BAIT.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Cod, hake, and halibut heads are quite generally used as bait. +Halibut heads are said to be the best, as they are tougher than the +cod or hake heads, and thus last much longer. Sculpins, flounders, +in fact almost any kind of fish, can be used. In the vicinity of +sardine canneries the heads of herring are used. Sometimes the bait +is slightly salted, at other times it is used fresh. Small herring +are lightly salted, and then allowed to remain until partly decayed, +when they are inclosed in small bags, and these put into the pots. +The oil from this bait forms a "slick" in the water, and when the +smell from it is strong the fishermen consider it at its best. The +bait is generally secured by small haul-seines and spears in +sections where offal can not be bought.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="9"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FISHING VESSELS AND BOATS.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The fishing vessels are either sloop or schooner rigged, with an +average net tonnage of slightly over 8 tons (new measurement) and an +average value of about $475. There has been a great increase in the +number of these vessels during recent years. Eight vessels were used +in 1880, 29 in 1889, and 130 in 1898. Quite a number of these +vessels are used in other fisheries during their seasons. Two men +usually form a crew, although three, and sometimes four, are +occasionally used.</p> + +<p>The other vessels comprise sailboats under 5 tons and rowboats. The +sailboats are generally small square-sterned sloops, open in the +afterpart, but with a cuddy forward. They are all built with +centerboards, and some are lapstreak while others are "set work." +Around the afterpart of the standing room is a seat, the ballast is +floored over, and two little bunks and a stove generally help to +furnish the cuddy. They vary in length from 16 to 26 feet and in +width from 6 to 9 feet; they average about 2 tons. They are +especially adapted to the winter fishery, as they are good sailers +and ride out the storms easily.</p> + +<p>Dories are in quite general use in the lobster fishery, as are also +the double-enders, or peapods. This latter is a small canoe-shaped +boat of an average length of 15½ feet, 4½ feet breadth, and +1½ feet depth. They are mainly built lapstreak, but a few are +"set work." Both ends are exactly alike; the sides are rounded and +the bottom is flat, being, however, only 4 or 5 inches wide in the +center and tapering toward each end, at the same time bending +slightly upward, so as to make the boat shallower at the ends than +in the middle. This kind of bottom is called a "rocker bottom." They +are usually rowed, but are sometimes furnished with a sprit sail and +centerboard.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="10"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>TRANSPORTING VESSELS OR SMACKS.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Even before the lobster fishery had been taken up to any extent, the +coast of Maine was visited by well-smacks from Connecticut and New +York, most of which had been engaged in the transportation of live +fish before engaging in the carrying of lobsters. These vessels +sometimes carried pots, and caught their own lobsters; but as this +method was not very convenient, the people living along the coast +took up the fishery, and sold the lobsters to the smackmen. About +1860 the canneries began to absorb a considerable part of the catch, +and they employed vessels to ply along the coast and buy lobsters. +As these vessels would only be out a few days at a time, wells were +not necessary, and the lobsters were packed in the hold. In the +summer great numbers of them were killed by the heat in the hold. +After 1885 the canneries rapidly dropped out of the business, the +last one closing in 1895. In 1853 there were but 6 smacks, 4 of them +from New London, Conn. In 1880 there were 58, of which 21 were dry +smacks, while in 1898 there were 76, of which 17 were steamers and +launches and 59 sailing vessels. These were all well-smacks. A few +sailing smacks also engaged in other fishery pursuits during the +dull summer months. In 1879 a steamer which had no well was used to +run lobsters to the cannery at Castine. The first steamer fitted +with a well to engage in the business was the <i>Grace Morgan</i>, owned +by Mr. F. W. Collins, a lobster dealer of Rockland, who describes +the steamer as follows:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>The steam and well smack <i>Grace Morgan</i> was built in 1890, by Robert +Palmer & Son, of Noank, Conn. At that time she was a dry boat, but +the following year, 1891, the Palmers built a small well in her as +an experiment, but I am of the opinion that it did not prove very +satisfactory or profitable; consequently they offered her for sale +and wrote to me in relation to buying her. I went to Noank and +looked her over and came to the conclusion that by enlarging the +well and making other needed changes she could be made not only a +good boat to carry lobsters alive, but also to do it profitably; +consequently I bought her and brought her to Rockland, had the well +enlarged on ideas of my own, and differently constructed, so as to +give it better circulation of water, and also made other needed +improvements throughout the boat to adapt her especially for +carrying lobsters alive. The changes I made in her proved so +successful in keeping lobsters alive, while it increased the +capacity for carrying, that I have since adapted the same principles +on all my boats. The well I had put into the <i>Grace Morgan</i> is what +is termed a "box well," that is, without any well deck. The well is +built from the sides of the steamer directly to the hatch on the +main deck, with bulkheads forward and aft and tops running directly +to the deck. … You will see at once that this well has many +advantages over the old style with flat well decks, like those of +sailing vessels: (1) It affords a much larger carrying capacity in +same space of vessel. (2) The priming-out pieces are much higher up +on sides of vessel, giving more room for boring hull, which affords +much better circulation of water in well, which is a great advantage +in keeping lobsters alive while on long trips. (3) Every lobster can +be easily bailed out of the well without grounding the vessel, which +is necessary with all vessels having the old-style well. (4) In all +steam and well smacks the after part of the ship is always +steadiest, consequently the well being located aft, as in my smacks, +the lobsters contained in them are not subjected to the hard +pounding while running in seaway that they are in the old-style +wells, where there is no chance to relieve themselves other than to +be forced against the well decks by the upward force of the water +when the vessel settles into the sea, and which results in killing +many of them.</p> + +<p>Both of my steamers have box wells aft, and from my experience, +compared with all other steam and well smacks afloat, I am convinced +that this well, for all practical purposes, is the best that has yet +been adapted to steam smacks. So far as the <i>Grace Morgan</i> is +concerned, she has been a perfect success in carrying her lobsters +in all kinds of weather since I put her into commission October 27, +1892, during which time she has had a wonderful career, as well as +carrying millions of lobsters. Probably no boat of her size has ever +had such an experience, as she has run steadily the year around in +all kinds of weather during the past eight years. … Previous to +buying the <i>Grace Morgan</i> I had run steamers in the lobster +business, but they had no well, and being so hot in their holds, +particularly in the summer months, the lobsters died so fast that +the business in dry steamers could not be made profitable. This is +what prompted me to construct a well in mine, as I have done.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The <i>Grace Morgan</i> has a length of 49 feet, a breadth of 13.9 feet, +and a depth of 5.7 feet, a gross tonnage of 21 tons, and a net +tonnage of 10 tons.</p> + +<p>The steam smacks now used average about 14 tons. They are usually +built low in the water, and have a small pilot-house forward, with +an open space between it and the engine-house, and living quarters +aft. The boat has also one or two short masts. Some of them also +have the pilot-house and engine-house joined together. In those with +a space between the pilot-house and engine-house the well is usually +placed in this open space. Where the pilot-house and engine-house +are together the well is either located forward or aft. These wells +are generally capable of bolding from 3,000 to 10,000 live lobsters. +Small holes in the bottom of the well keep it filled with fresh sea +water. Should the weather be clear the proportion of dead and +injured lobsters will be small, but in bad weather many are apt to +be killed by the pitching and rolling to which they are subjected.</p> + +<p>These smacks make regular trips up and down the coast, landing their +cargoes either at Rockland, Portland, or at one of the lobster +pounds scattered along the coast. They not only stop at the +villages, but also drop anchor off the little camps of the +lobstermen, and should the smacks of two rival dealers arrive at a +place simultaneously, which frequently happens, the bidding between +the captains for the fishermen's catch gladdens the latter's heart +and greatly enriches his pocketbook. Most of the captains have +regular places of call where they know the fishermen are holding +their lobsters for them, and they follow a rude sort of schedule, +which will not often vary more than a day or two. The lobsters are +bought of the fishermen by count, and cash is paid for them. Should +the smack belong to a dealer this practically ends the financial +side of the transaction so far as the captain is concerned, as the +crew are paid wages. Should the smack belong to a person other than +the dealer, which is frequently the case, he either makes an +agreement with some dealer to run for him exclusively at a certain +price or commission, or else buys from the fishermen and then sells +at either Rockland or Portland. This method of buying lobsters is +somewhat hazardous, as the market price sometimes changes sharply +when the smack is out of reach of telegraphic communication.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="11"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LOBSTER CARS.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Lobsters must be marketed in a live or boiled condition; and as +fishermen can get better prices for them alive than boiled, each +fisherman generally has a live-car in which to hold them until they +can be sold. These cars are usually oblong, rectangular boxes, with +open seams or numerous small holes to permit the free circulation of +the water. They are of various sizes, according to the needs of the +fisherman, a good average being about 6 feet long by 4 feet wide and +about 2 feet deep. The door is placed on the top. They are usually +moored close to the shore during the fishing season, the rest of the +time being hauled up on the beach.</p> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobstercar1899.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobstercar1899.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Fishermen's lobster cars"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Fishermen's lobster cars</span><br> +<a href="images/lobstercar1899.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The dealers cars are very similar to those used by the fishermen, +only much larger. They generally average about 30 feet in length, 12 +feet in width; and 3 feet in depth, with capacity for from 2,000 to +3,000 lobsters. The inner part of this car is usually divided off +into five transverse compartments by means of a framework inside. +Each compartment is provided with two large doors entering from the +top, one door on each side of the middle line of the car. These cars +cost the dealers about $70 each. The life of one of these cars is +about five or six years, although at the end of about three years it +is generally necessary to replace the sides of the car on account of +the ravages of a dock worm which is quite abundant along the Maine +coast. When new the top of the car is usually about a foot above the +water, but as it gets water-soaked it sinks down until it is even +with the water, and some of the older cars have to be buoyed up with +kegs at each end, placed inside, to prevent them from sinking below +the surface. These cars are moored alongside the docks of the +dealers at Portland and Rockland and other points.</p> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobstercars1899.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobstercars1899.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Lobster cars used in the +wholesale trade at Portland"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Lobster cars used in the wholesale trade +at Portland</span><br> +<a href="images/lobstercars1899.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Mr. J. R. Burns, of Friendship, has invented and patented a new +style of car. The inside is divided into a series of compartments by +horizontal and vertical partitions of slats, wire netting, or any +material which will permit the free circulation of the water. Each +compartment has a chute extending down into it from the top, by +means of which the lobsters can be put in and their food given them. +There are also conveniently arranged openings, with doors, through +which the lobsters may be removed when desired. These cars usually +average about 35 feet in length, 18 feet in width, and 6 feet in +depth, and have a capacity for about 5,000 lobsters each. They are +in use at Rockland, Friendship, Tremont, and Jonesport. They prevent +the lobsters from huddling together and thus killing each other by +their own weight.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="12"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>METHODS OF SHIPPING, WHOLESALE TRADE, ETC.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>As lobsters can not be shipped or preserved in a frozen state they +must be shipped either alive or boiled. About nine-tenths of the +lobsters caught in Maine waters are shipped in the live state. The +principal shipping centers are Portland, Rockland, and Eastport, +which have good railroad and steamship facilities with points +outside of the State. Those shipped from the latter point are mainly +from the British Provinces, the fishermen near Eastport bringing +them in in their own boats. A number also come in from the Provinces +on the regular steamship lines. The other places get their supply +from the smacks and also from the fishermen in their vicinity, who +run in their own catch. Portland is very favorably situated in this +regard, as Casco Bay is a noted fishing center for lobsters.</p> + +<p>As soon as a smack arrives it is moored directly alongside one of +the cars. The lobsters are then dipped out of the well by means of +long-handled scoop nets and thrown on the deck of the vessel. The +doors of the car are then opened, and men on the vessel pick over +the lobsters lying on the deck and toss them two by two into the +different compartments, those dead and badly mutilated being thrown +to one side for the time being. All vigorous lobsters above a +certain size are placed in compartments of the car by themselves, +while the weak and small are put in separate compartments. The dead +lobsters and those which have had their shells broken or have been +so injured that they are very sure to die are either thrown +overboard or on the dump. A lobster which has lost one or even both +claws is not thrown away, as such an injury would have very little +effect on its health.</p> + +<p>When an order is received for live lobsters, those which have been +longest in the cars are usually shipped. Flour barrels holding about +140 pounds or sugar barrels holding about 185 pounds, with small +holes bored in the bottoms for drainage, are used for the shipment. +Formerly the lobsters were packed close together in the barrel, and +a large piece of ice was put in at the top, but this was found to +kill a number of them. The present method is to split off about +one-third of a 100-pound cake of ice the long way, and place it +upright about half way of the length of the barrel, the lobsters +then being packed snugly on all sides of the ice. In handling them +the packer seizes the lobster by the carapace with his right hand, +bends the tail up under the body with his left hand, and quickly +deposits it in the barrel. The packer usually has his right hand +covered with a woolen mitt or wrapped in a long piece of linen, for +protection from the claws of the lobster.</p> + +<p>When the barrel is nearly full the lobsters are covered with a +little seaweed or large-leaved marine plants, and the rest of the +space is filled with cracked ice. The top is then covered with a +piece of sacking, which is secured under the upper hoop of the +barrel. Packed in this way, lobsters have easily survived a trip as +far west as St. Louis.</p> + +<p>Owing to the high prices realized in England for live lobsters, +attempts have been made to ship live American lobsters to that +market, generally from Canadian ports. In 1877 Messrs. John Marston +& Sons, of Portland, made a trial shipment of 250. They were placed +in a large tank 20 feet long by 8 feet wide and 3 feet deep, and +constantly supplied with fresh seawater through six faucets by means +of a donkey engine, a waste-pipe preventing any overflow. The trip +was fairly successful, as only 50 died, and the balance brought from +60 to 75 cents per pound.</p> + +<p>The smacks and dealers buy lobsters by count, as the fishermen +generally have no facilities for weighing them; but the dealers +always sell by weight. The mortality among the lobsters from the +time they are put aboard the smacks until they are barreled for +shipment is estimated at about 5 per cent.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="13"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>BOILING.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Live lobsters are much preferred by the trade throughout the +country, and only those that can not be marketed in such condition +are boiled. The number boiled fluctuates considerably, owing to the +condition of the markets. When the fresh markets of Boston and New +York are overstocked, the lobster dealers of Rockland and Portland, +where most of the Maine lobsters are boiled, proceed to boil their +surplus stock.</p> + +<p>The following description of the boiling is from The Fisheries and +Fishery Industries of the United States, section v, vol. II, p. 684:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>The boilers are rectangular wooden tanks or vats of about 60 gallons +capacity, lined with zinc and furnished with a cover. Heat is +applied by the introduction of steam through a series of perforated +pipes arranged in the bottom of the tank. The steam is generated in +an ordinary boiler standing close at hand. The lobsters are not +thrown directly into the vat, as the operation of removing them +after cooking would in such an event be an exceedingly tedious one; +but an iron framework basket, of rather slender bars is made to fit +the tank loosely, and is lowered and raised by means of a small +derrick placed over the tank. This frame, which holds about 300 +pounds, is filled with lobsters at the edge of the wharf from the +floating cars, and is then carried to the tank and lowered into it +after the water it contains has reached the desired temperature, +that of boiling. The water is first supplied to the tank, which is +filled to about one-third or two-thirds its capacity, about a peck +of salt is added, and then the steam is turned on. The same water +suffices for several successive boilings, about 2 quarts of salt +being added each time. The lobsters are allowed to remain in about +half an hour, or until the proper red color indicates they are +sufficiently cooked.</p> +</blockquote> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobsterboiler.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobsterboiler.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Boiling live lobsters preparatory to shipping +on ice, showing boiler, steam tank, cage, etc."></a><br> +<span class="caption">Boiling live lobsters preparatory to +shipping on ice, showing boiler, steam tank, cage, etc.</span><br> +<a href="images/lobsterboiler.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>After cooling, they are packed in barrels for shipment, just as live +lobsters are. When well iced they will keep a week or longer. Only +live lobsters are boiled, as the meat of those which die prior to +boiling deteriorates rapidly.</p> + +<p>The fishermen and small dealers use various kinds of boilers, from +an ordinary washboiler to a smaller form of the regular boiler used +by the large dealers. The product prepared by these people is +generally picked from the shell and sold locally in that condition. +This opens a way for the fisherman to evade the 10½ inch limit +law. They frequently take lobsters under the minimum legal size and, +after boiling them, pick the flesh. It is then impossible for +anybody to tell what sized lobster the meat had come from. Quite a +local trade in the picking of lobsters has been established in a +number of small coast towns, the meat generally being sold in the +immediate vicinity.</p> + +<p>The following table shows the extent of the wholesale lobster trade +in Rockland and Portland during 1898, including everything connected +with the business except the smacks and pounds, which are shown +elsewhere. There are a few other dealers scattered along the coast, +but most of the business is concentrated at these cities. An idea of +the extent of the increase in the lobster trade of Portland can be +gained when it is stated that in 1880 about 1,900,000 pounds of +lobsters, valued at $70,000, were handled here, while 6,145,821 +pounds, valued at $611,955, were handled in 1898.</p> +<br> + + +<center> +<span class="caption">Extent of the wholesale lobster trade of +Rockland and Portland in 1898</span> +<a href="images/wholesale_rocklandportland.png"> +<img src="images/wholesale_rocklandportland.png" width="600" border=0 +alt="Extent of the wholesale lobster trade +of Rockland and Portland in 1898"></a><br> +<span class="caption">*Several of these firms also handle other +fishery products.</span><br> +<a href="images/wholesale_rocklandportland.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="14"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LOBSTER POUNDS</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>For a number of years the catch of lobsters was sold by the +fishermen to the dealers and by the latter to the trade as rapidly +as possible. In doing this the markets would be flooded at certain +times, when the price would drop to a very low figure, while at +other times they would be very scarce, which would enhance the price +materially. The dealers were the first to see the necessity for +devising some method by which lobsters could be secured when they +were plentiful and cheap and retained in captivity until they became +scarce and high in price: Inclosures of various kinds had for some +years been in use in the fisheries in various parts of the country +for the purpose of keeping certain species alive until the time came +to utilize them. In 1875 Johnson & Young, of Boston, established an +inclosure or pound near Vinal Haven, on one of the Fox Islands. A +cove covering about 500 acres, with an average depth of about 90 +feet, was selected. A section of about 9 acres, separated from the +main portion of the cove by a natural shoal and with a bottom of +soft grayish mud, was selected for the pound. In order to make it +proof against the efforts of the lobsters to escape and as a +protection from enemies without, a wire fence was built over the +shoal part. This section had a depth of from 15 to 60 feet, and a +capacity of about 300,000, although there were rarely that many in +the pound at one time.</p> +<br> + +<center> +<a href="images/lobsterpoundvh.jpg"> +<img src="images/lobsterpoundvh.jpg" width="600" border=0 +alt="Inclosure for live lobsters at Vinal Haven, Maine"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Inclosure for live lobsters at Vinal +Haven, Maine</span><br> +<a href="images/lobsterpoundvh.jpg"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The lobsters are bought from smacks and from fishermen in the +vicinity during the height of the fishing season, when the price is +low, and are retained in the pound until the price becomes high, +which is generally during the winter season. They are fed with fish +offal, which can usually be bought at Vinal Haven for $1 per barrel.</p> + +<p>Oily fish are not fed to them, as it is said that the lobsters +decrease in weight on such a diet. Experience has shown that the +quantity of food required depends largely on the temperature of the +water, as lobsters do not eat as freely when the water is cold as in +water of a higher temperature. When wanted for shipment they are +usually secured by means of pots, seines, or beam trawls.</p> + +<p>Even with such a successful example before them, other dealers were +chary about going into the business, and in 1890 there were only +three pounds in the whole State. They increased more rapidly after +that, however, and in 1898 there were nine pounds in the State, with +a total valuation of $18,700. These were located at Dyer Bay, +Sunset, Vinal Haven, Long Island, South Bristol, Pemaquid Beach, +Southport, and House Island, in Portland Harbor. It is very probable +that there will be a greater increase in the near future.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="15"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE CANNING INDUSTRY</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Maine is the only State in the Union in which lobsters have been +canned. The following account of the inception and early history of +the industry, taken from "The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of +the United States," is very complete:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>Lobster canning was first attempted in the United States at +Eastport, Me., shortly after 1840, and was made successful in 1843, +the methods finally employed having been borrowed from Scotland, +which country is said to have learned the process from France. For +the successful introduction of the process into the United States we +are indebted to Mr. Charles Mitchell, now of Charlestown, Mass., a +practical canner of Scotland, who had learned his trade of John Moir +& Son, of Aberdeen, the first Scotch firm, it is claimed, to put up +hermetically sealed preparations of meat, game, and salmon, their +enterprise dating back to 1824. Mr. U. S. Treat, a native of Maine, +appears, however, to have been most active and influential in +starting the enterprise and in introducing canned goods into the +markets of the United States. Mr. Treat was, at an early period, +engaged in the preparation of smoked salmon on the Penobscot River, +and in 1839 removed to Calais, Me., where he continued in the same +business. About 1840 he associated with him a Mr. Noble, of Calais, +and a Mr. Holliday, a native of Scotland, who had also been employed +in the salmon fisheries of the Penobscot River, under the firm name +of Treat, Noble & Holliday. This firm moved to Eastport in 1842, for +the purpose of starting the manufacture of hermetically sealed +goods, and began experiments with lobsters, salmon, and haddock. +Their capital was limited, their appliances crude, and many +discouraging difficulties were encountered. The quality of the cans +furnished them was poor, causing them often to burst while in the +bath, and the proper methods of bathing and of expelling the air +from the cans were not understood. The experiments were continued +for two years with varying success, and in secret, no outsiders +being allowed to enter their bathing room. Though fairly successful +in some of their results, they could not always depend upon their +goods keeping well.</p> + +<p>In 1843 they secured the services of Mr. Charles Mitchell, who was +then residing at Halifax, and who was not only well acquainted with +the methods of bathing practiced in his own country, but was also a +practical tinsmith. He had been employed in the canning of +hermetically sealed goods in Scotland for ten years, and came over +to Halifax in 1841, where he continued for two years in the same +occupation, exporting his goods to England. After Mr. Mitchell's +arrival at Eastport, no further difficulty was experienced in the +bathing or other preparation of the lobsters, and a desirable grade +of goods was put up, but they found no sale, as canned preparations +were comparatively unknown in the markets of the United States. Mr. +Treat visited each of the larger cities with samples of the goods, +and endeavored to establish agencies for them, but he was generally +obliged to send on consignment, as few firms were willing to take +the responsibility of buying on their own account. A patent was also +applied for, but the claim was not pressed and the patent was never +received.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The success at Eastport led to a rapid extension of the business in +other parts of the State. The second cannery was located at +Harpswell about the year 1849. A cannery was started at Carver +Harbor, Fox Islands, in 1851, and another at Southwest Harbor in +1853. In 1857 a cannery was started at North Haven, and at +Gouldsboro two were started in 1863 and 1870, respectively. From +this time the number increased rapidly for several years. After 1880 +the number operated fluctuated considerably, depending on the +abundance of lobsters. Some canneries had to suspend operations at +an early stage, owing to the exhaustion of the grounds in their +vicinity. At most canneries lobsters formed only a part of the pack, +sardines, clams, fish, and various vegetables and fruits being +packed in their season. Most of the canneries were built and +operated by Boston and Portland firms.</p> + +<p>At first the lobsters used for canning ranged in weight from 3 to 10 +pounds. Gradually the average weight was reduced, until at last it +reached as low as ¾ pound, or even less. This was caused +principally by the high prices paid for large lobsters for the fresh +trade, with which the canneries could not compete.</p> + +<p>As the supply of lobsters on the Maine coast began to decrease +shortly before 1870, while the demand for canned lobsters increased +at an enormous rate, the dealers began to establish canneries on the +coasts of the British provinces. As the decline in the supply was +attributed to the canneries, a sentiment against them was gradually +formed, and laws were enacted regulating the time in which they +could operate and the size of the lobsters they could put up. Prior +to 1879 they were permitted to pack lobsters at any season of the +year, but they usually operated only between April 1 and August 1, +and again between the 10th or middle of September and the 1st of +December, the length of the season depending very largely upon the +weather and the abundance of lobsters. In 1879 it was enacted that +no canning of lobsters should be allowed from August 1 to April 1 +following. In 1883 it was made illegal to can lobsters less than 9 +inches in length. In 1885 the canning season was fixed from April 1 +to July 15. In 1889 the season was fixed from May 1 to July 1, and +the minimum length of lobsters to be canned placed at 9 inches. In +1891 this act was so amended as to make the season from April 20 to +June 1. After 1880 the number of canneries gradually declined, +until in 1895 the last one suspended the canning, of lobsters, owing +to the passage of a law fixing the minimum size at 10½ inches. +This law went into effect July 1, 1895. As they could not afford to +pay the high price demanded for this size they were compelled to +give up the business.</p> + +<p>The following table shows the number of factories in operation, the +quantity and value of fresh lobsters used, and the number and value +of cans of lobsters put up, in the years 1880, 1889, and 1892:</p> +<br> + + +<center> +<a href="images/canneries.png"> +<img src="images/canneries.png" width="600" border=0 +alt="Table of statistics of canning industry"></a><br> +<span class="caption">Part of the lobsters used in the Eastport +factories come<br> +from New Brunswick. It is impossible to separate them.</span><br> +<a href="images/canneries.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="16"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>ABUNDANCE, ETC.</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>There are no accurate figures showing the catch of lobsters in Maine +previous to 1880. It is therefore difficult to make comparisons, and +one is compelled to depend largely upon the memory of the fishermen +and the statements of the canners and dealers, which the lapse of +time, etc., makes rather unreliable. The numerous petitions sent to +the legislature asking for restrictive laws, while possibly +exaggerated at times, indicate that there were fears of the +exhaustion of the fishery for some years back. It is positively +known, however, that certain grounds have been almost or totally +exhausted through overfishing for a number of years, while on other +grounds the supply of lobsters has seriously decreased. There was a +time when no lobster under 2 pounds in weight was saved by the +fishermen. In later years, before there was a restriction fixing the +minimum size of lobsters that could be canned, the canneries +frequently used half-pound lobsters. The fixing of the minimum +length of the lobsters caught at 10½ inches, and the consequent +closing up of the canneries, has been of incalculable benefit to the +fishermen, as the young lobsters now have an opportunity to reach +maturity.</p> + +<p>The table given below shows for certain years the number of pots +used, the quantity of lobsters taken, with their value, also the +average catch and value per man, the average catch per pot, and the +average price per pound:</p> +<br> + + +<center> +<a href="images/catch.png"> +<img src="images/catch.png" width="600" border=0 +alt="Table of lobster pots, catch, and price"></a><br> +<a href="images/catch.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a></center> +<br> +<br> + + +<p>While the catch increased up to 1889 and then decreased until in +1898 it was lower than in 1880, the number of fisherman and pots and +the value of the catch steadily increased. The average stock per man +fluctuated somewhat from year to year, but in 1898 shows a +considerable increase over every other year. The most interesting +point however, is the average price per pound. In 1880 this was 1.9 +cents, while in 1898 it was 8.9 cents per pound. With one exception, +each year shows a progressive increase in value per pound. The great +increase of 1898 over 1892, 5.1 cents per pound, was caused by the +closing up of the canneries in 1895, and the consequent dropping out +of the cheap product they had been buying from the fishermen.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="17"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>WEIGHT OF LOBSTERS</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The figures given below show the average weight of lobsters at +certain given lengths. These weights are made up from the results +obtained by investigators of the United States Fish Commission, +particularly those of Prof. Francis H. Herrick. Males in nearly +every instance weigh slightly more than females of the same length.</p> + + +<center> +<table class="caption"> +<tr><td align="center"><b>Length</b></td><td align="center"><b>Weight<br>in pounds</b></td></tr> +<tr><td>9 inches</td><td> 1.16</td></tr> +<tr><td>l0 inches</td><td> 1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td>10½ inches</td><td> 1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td>11 inches</td><td> 2</td></tr> +<tr><td>12 inches</td><td> 2.50</td></tr> +<tr><td>13 inches</td><td> 2.75</td></tr> +<tr><td>15 inches</td><td> 4.25</td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="18"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LOBSTERS</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The nutritive value of a fishery product is of considerable interest +to the consumer. Some years ago, Prof. W. O. Atwater, of Middletown, +Connecticut, made a series of careful analyses of the composition of +the flesh of three lobsters from the coasts of Maine and +Massachusetts, and the figures given below represent the results:</p> + + +<center> +<table class="caption" cellpadding="0"> +<tr><td></td><td align="center"><b>Per cent.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td>Proportions of edible portion and shell:</td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td> Total edible portion</td><td align="right">39.77</td></tr> +<tr><td> Shell</td><td align="right">57.47</td></tr> +<tr><td> Loss in cleaning</td><td align="right">2.76</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Proportions of water and dry substance + in edible portion:</td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td> Water</td><td align="right">82.73</td></tr> +<tr><td> Dry substance</td><td align="right">17.27</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Chemical analysis calculated on dry substance:</td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td> Nitrogen</td><td align="right">12.54</td></tr> +<tr><td> Albuminoids (nitrogen × 6.25)</td><td align="right">78.37</td></tr> +<tr><td> Fat</td><td align="right">11.43</td></tr> +<tr><td> Crude ash</td><td align="right">10.06</td></tr> +<tr><td> Phosphorus (calculated as P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>6</sub>)</td><td align="right">2.24</td></tr> +<tr><td> Sulfur (calculated as SO<sub>3</sub>)</td><td align="right">2.47</td></tr> +<tr><td> Chlorine</td><td align="right">3.46</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Chemical analysis calculated on + fresh substance in flesh:</td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td> Water</td><td align="right">82.73</td></tr> +<tr><td> Nitrogen</td><td align="right">2.17</td></tr> +<tr><td> Albuminoids (nitrogen × 6.25)</td><td align="right">13.57</td></tr> +<tr><td> Fat</td><td align="right">1.97</td></tr> +<tr><td> Crude ash</td><td align="right">1.74</td></tr> +<tr><td> Phosphorus (calculated as P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>6</sub>)</td><td align="right">.39</td></tr> +<tr><td> Sulfur (calculated as SO<sub>3</sub>)</td><td align="right">.43</td></tr> +<tr><td> Chlorine</td><td align="right">.59</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right"> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Nutritive value of flesh of lobsters + compared<br> + with beef as a standard and reckoned at 100</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">61.97</td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="19"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE LOBSTER</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The rapid increase in the catch of this crustacean during the past +ten years has drawn upon it the most earnest attention of all +interested in the preservation of this valuable fishery. If the +"berried" or female lobster bearing eggs, and the young and +immature, were let alone by the fishermen there would be no +necessity for a resort to artificial lobster culture. Maine has a +most stringent law forbidding the taking and selling of "berried" +lobsters, and of any lobster under 10½ inches in length, but this +law is evaded by numerous fishermen whenever possible. An idea of +the extent to which short lobsters are marketed in the State may be +gathered from the statement of Mr. A. R. Nickerson, commissioner of +sea and shore fisheries for the State, that in 1899 over 50,000 +short lobsters were seized and liberated by the State wardens. As +these wardens only discover a small proportion of the short lobsters +handled by the fishermen and dealers it is easy to see what a +terrible drain this is on the future hope of the fishery—the young +and immature. Large numbers of "berried" lobsters are also captured, +the eggs brushed off, and the lobsters sold as ordinary female +lobsters.</p> + +<p>The Report of the U. S. Fish Commission for 1897, on pages 235 and +236, contains the following account of the artificial propagation of +lobsters:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>Prior to 1885 experiments had been conducted at various points +looking to the artificial propagation of the lobster. The only +practical attempts of this nature previous to those made by the Fish +Commission were by means of "parking," that is, holding in large +naturally inclosed basins lobsters that had been injured, +soft-shelled ones, and those below marketable size. Occasionally +females with spawn were placed in the same inclosures. One of these +parks was established in Massachusetts in 1872, but was afterwards +abandoned; another was established on the coast of Maine about 1875. +It was soon demonstrated, however, that the results from inclosures +of this character, so far as the rearing of the lobsters from the +young were concerned, would not be sufficient to materially affect +the general supply. The completion of the new marine laboratory and +hatchery at Woods Hole in 1885, with its complete system of +salt-water circulation, permitted the commencement of experiments in +artificial hatching on a large scale which had not been practicable +theretofore, although small quantities of lobster eggs, as well as +those of other crustaceans, had been successfully hatched. In 1886 +the experiments had progressed so successfully that several million +eggs were collected and hatched at Woods Hole, the fry being +deposited in Vineyard Sound and adjacent waters. From 1887 to 1890, +inclusive, the number of eggs collected was 17,821,000.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>During the above years the average production of fry was about 54 +per cent. By the use of more improved apparatus the average was +brought up to 90 per cent in 1897, when the collections amounted to +150,000,000 eggs, of which 135,000,000 were hatched. As the +commissioner of sea and shore fisheries of Maine objected to the +taking of female lobsters in that State and the planting of part, at +least, of the resulting fry in other waters, an arrangement was made +in 1898 by which all female lobsters and the fry hatched out from +the eggs secured from these would be returned to the State waters. +Under this arrangement 2,365 "berried" lobsters were bought from the +Maine fishermen by the U. S. Fish Commission. From these 25,207,000 +eggs were taken and 22,875,000 fry were hatched. Of these, +21,500,000 were deposited in Maine waters at various points. In +1899, 36,925,000 fry were planted in Maine waters by the Commission. +In order that the female lobsters may be secured the authorities of +Maine permit the fishermen to catch and sell "berried" lobsters to +the Commission.</p> + +<p>The collection of eggs in Maine is usually made by the Commission +during the months of April, May, June, and to about the middle of +July, depending upon the supply to be had. During the season of 1899 +a small steam smack was chartered for collecting the lobsters, +starting from Gloucester, where the hatching of Maine lobster eggs +is now carried on, and running to Eastport, returning over the same +route. The Fish Commission schooner <i>Grampus</i> was also used in this +work. The lobsters are purchased from fishermen, who receive the +market price for ordinary lobsters, and as they are not allowed to +sell these lobsters legally for consumption the sale to the +Commission materially increases their financial returns.</p> + +<p>In 1883 a radical advance along the line of artificial propagation +was made, so far as the legislature was concerned, when the act +incorporating the Samoset Island Association, of Boothbay, was +passed. Section 4 of the charter reads as follows:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>In order to secure a sufficient and regular supply of lobsters for +domestic consumption on any land or islands under the control of +said corporation, it may increase the number of lobsters within said +limits by artificial propagation, or other appropriate acts and +methods, under the direction of the fishery commission, and shall +not be interfered with by other parties, but be protected therein, +as said fishery commission may determine, and shall have the right, +by its agents and tenants, to take and catch lobsters within 300 +yards of the low-water line of the islands and lands owned or leased +by said corporation, during each and every month, for domestic use.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>In 1887 the legislature passed an act granting R. T. Carver the sole +right to propagate lobsters in Carver's pond, Vinalhaven. Mr. +Carver's experiment was a failure, as he says the mud in the pond +was so filthy that nearly all the spawn was killed.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="20"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LARGE AND PECULIAR LOBSTERS</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>Since the inception of the fishery, stories of the capture of +lobsters weighing 30, 40, and even 50 pounds have been common, but +have rarely been well authenticated. Especially is this the case in +the early years of the fishery. It is probable that in the +transmission of the stories from person to person the lobsters +gained rather than lost in size. Among the most authentic cases in +Maine are the following:</p> + +<p>On May 6, 1891, a male lobster weighing slightly over 23 pounds was +taken in Penobscot Bay, southeast of Moose Point, in line with +Brigadier Island, in about 3½ fathoms of water, by Mr. John +Condon. The lobster had tried to back into the trap, but after +getting his tail through the funnel he was unable to get either in +or out and was thus captured.</p> + +<p>According to Mr. F. W. Collins, a dealer of Rockland, in August, +1891, a lobster weighing 18½ pounds was taken at Blue Hill Falls, +in upper Blue Hill Bay, while in November, 1892, a female lobster +weighing 18 pounds was taken at Green Island.</p> + +<p>In January, 1893, Mr. N. F. Trefethen, of Portland, received a +lobster from Vinal Haven which weighed 18 pounds.</p> + +<p>According to R. F. Crie & Sons, of Criehaven, on September 7,1898, a +male lobster weighing 25 pounds and measuring 25 inches from the end +of the nose to the tip of tail, and 45 inches including the claws, +was caught on a hake trawl by Peter Mitchell, a fisherman. The trawl +was set about 2 miles southeast from Matinicus Rock Light Station in +60 fathoms of water.</p> + +<p>In August, 1899, the writer saw a live male lobster at Peak Island +which measured 44 inches in length and weighed 25 pounds, according +to the statement of the owner. It had been caught near Monhegan +Island, and the owner was carrying it from town to town in a small +car, which he had built for it, and charging a small fee to look at +it.</p> + +<p>In April, 1874, a female lobster weighing about 2 pounds was caught +off Hurricane Island. Her color was a rich indigo along the middle +of the upper part of the body, shading off into a brighter and +clearer tint on the sides and extremities. The upper surface of the +large claws was blue and purple, faintly mottled with darker shades, +while underneath was a delicate cream tint. The under parts of the +body tended also to melt into a light cream color, and this was also +true of the spines and tubercles of the shell and appendages.</p> + +<p>In 1893 a Peak Island fisherman caught a lobster about 11 inches in +length whose back was of an indigo blue, and which toward the +extremities and under parts was shaded off into a pure white. The +under part of the claw was also of a pure white.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lewis McDonald, of Portland, has a pure white lobster preserved +in alcohol. It was caught in 1887.</p> + +<p>A lobster was caught at Beal Island, near West Jonesport, which was +about 6 or 7 inches in length and almost jet black.</p> + +<p>A few bright-red lobsters, looking as though they had been boiled, +have also been taken along the coast at various times.</p> + +<p>A lobster was caught near Long Island, Casco Bay, about the year +1886, in which half of the body was light-yellow up to the middle +line of the back, while the other half was bright-red. There were no +spots on the shell.</p> + +<p>In September, 1898, Mr. R. T. Carver, of Vinal Haven, had in his +possession a female lobster, about 11 inches long, of a bright-red +color all over, except the forward half of the right side of the +carapace and the feeler on this side, which were of the usual color.</p> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="21"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LAWS REGULATING THE FISHERY</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>In 1897 the legislature revised and consolidated the laws relating +to the sea and shore fisheries of Maine, and below are given the +sections relating to the lobster fishery adopted that year, together +with the amendments to the act adopted in 1899, which are +incorporated herewith:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 39. It is unlawful to catch, +buy or sell, or expose for sale, +or possess for any purpose, any lobsters less than 10½ inches in +length, alive or dead, cooked or uncooked, measured in manner as +follows: Taking the length of the back of the lobster, measured from +the bone of the nose to the end of the bone of the middle of the +flipper of the tail, the length to be taken in a gauge with a cleat +upon each end of the same, measuring 10½ inches between said +cleats, with the lobster laid upon its back and extended upon its +back upon the gauge, without stretching or pulling, to the end of +the bone of the middle flipper of the tail, its natural length, and +any lobster shorter than the prescribed length when caught, shall be +liberated alive at the risk and cost of the parties taking them, +under a penalty of $1 for each lobster so caught, bought, sold, +exposed for sale, or in the possession not so liberated. The +possession of mutilated, uncooked lobsters shall be prima facie +evidence that they are not of the required length.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 40. It is unlawful to +destroy, buy, sell, expose for sale, or +possess any female lobsters in spawn or with eggs attached at any +season of the year, under a penalty of $10 for each lobster so +destroyed, caught, bought, sold, exposed for sale, or possessed: +<i>Provided, however</i>, If it appears that it was intended to liberate +them in accordance with the provisions of this act, the persons +having such lobsters in possession shall not be liable to any of the +penalties herein provided for, though he may have failed, for any +cause not within his control, to so liberate them.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 41. It shall be unlawful +to can, preserve, or pickle lobsters +less than 10½ inches in length, alive or dead, measured as +aforesaid; and for every lobster canned, preserved, or pickled +contrary to the provisions of this section every person, firm, +association, or corporation so canning, preserving, or pickling +shall be liable to a penalty of $1 for every lobster so canned, +preserved, or pickled contrary to the provisions of this section, +and a further penalty of $300 for every day on which such unlawful +canning, preserving, or pickling is carried on.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 42. All barrels, boxes, +or other packages in transit containing +lobsters shall be marked with the word lobsters in capital letters, +at least 1 inch in length, together with the full name of the +shipper. Said marking shall be placed in a plain and legible manner +on the outside of such barrel, boxes, or other packages; and in case +of seizure by any duly authorized officer of any barrels, boxes, or +other packages in transit, containing lobsters, which are not so +marked, or in case of seizure by such officer of barrels, boxes, or +other packages in transit containing lobsters less than the +prescribed length, such lobsters as are alive and less than the +prescribed length shall be liberated and all such lobsters as are of +the prescribed length found in such barrels, boxes, or packages, +together with such barrels, boxes, and packages, shall be forfeited +and disposed of under the provisions of section 47 of this act.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 43. Every person, firm, +association, or corporation who ships +lobsters without having the barrels, boxes, or other packages in +which the same are contained marked as prescribed in the previous +section shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of $25, and upon +subsequent conviction thereof by a fine of $50; and any person or +corporation in the business of a common carrier of merchandise who +shall carry or transport from place to place lobsters in barrels, +boxes, or other packages not so marked shall be liable to a penalty +of $50 upon such conviction thereof.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 44. All cars in which +lobsters are kept, and all lobster cars +while in the water, shall have the name of the owner or owners +thereof on the top of the car, where it may plainly be seen, in +letters not less than three-fourths of an inch in length, plainly +carved or branded thereon, and all traps, cars, or other devices for +the catching of lobsters shall have, while in the water, the owner's +name carved or branded in like manner on all the buoys attached to +said traps or other devices, under a penalty of $10 for each car and +$5 for each trap or device not so marked; and if sufficient proof to +establish the ownership of such cars or traps can not be readily +obtained, they may be declared forfeited, subject to the provisions +of section 47 of this act.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 45. All persons +are hereby prohibited from setting any lobster +traps within 300 feet of the mouth or outer end of the leaders of +any fish weir, under a penalty of $10 for each offense.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 46. Whoever takes +up, or attempts to take up, or in any way +knowingly and willfully interferes with any lobster trap while set +for use, without the authority of the owner thereof, shall be +punished by a fine of not less than $20, nor more than $50; +<i>Provided, however</i>, That no action, complaint, or indictment shall +be maintained under this section unless the name of the owner of all +such traps shall be carved or branded in legible letters, not less +than three-fourths of an inch in length, on all the buoys connected +with such traps.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 47. When any +lobsters are seized by virtue of the provisions of +this act, it shall be the duty of the officer making such seizure to +cause such lobsters, so seized, as he is not required by law to +liberate, together with the cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other +packages in which they are contained, to be appraised within 24 +hours after the time of such seizures by three disinterested men +residing in the county where such seizure is made, to be selected by +him, and the lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other +packages so seized and appraised shall thereupon be sold by the +officer making the seizure thereof, at such time and in such manner +as shall by him be deemed proper. The officer making such seizure +and sale shall within ten days after the time of such seizure file a +libel in behalf of the State before a trial justice, or a judge of a +police or municipal court of the county in which such seizure was +made, setting forth the fact of such seizure, appraisal, and sale, +the time and place of the seizure, the number of lobsters, cars, +traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages so seized and sold, and the +amount of the proceeds of such sale; and such trial justice or judge +shall appoint a time and place for the hearing of such libel, and +shall issue a notice of the same to all persons interested to appear +at the time and place appointed, and show cause why the lobsters, +cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages so seized and sold, +and the proceeds of such sale, should not be declared forfeited, +which notice shall be served upon the owner, if known, and by +causing an attested copy of such libel and notice to be posted in +two public and conspicuous places in the town in which the seizure +was made, seven days at least before the time of hearing.</p> + +<p>If any person appears at the time and place of hearing, and claims +that the lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages so +seized and sold were not liable to forfeiture at the time of +seizure, and that he was entitled thereto, the trial justice or +judge shall hear and determine the cause, and if he shall decide +that such lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages, +at the time of seizure, were not liable to forfeiture, and that the +claimant was entitled thereto, he shall order the proceeds of such +sale to be paid to the claimant; if no claimant shall appear, or if +such trial justice or judge shall decide that such lobsters, traps, +cars, barrels, boxes, or other packages, at the time of the seizure, +were liable to forfeiture, or that the claimant was not entitled +thereto, he shall decree a forfeiture of such lobsters, cars, traps, +barrels, boxes, or other packages, and of the proceeds of sale, and +shall order the proceeds of sale, after deducting all lawful +charges, to be paid to the county treasurer, and by him to the State +treasurer, to be used as directed in section 48 of this act, and +shall render judgment against the claimant for costs to be taxed as +in civil suits, and issue execution therefor against him in favor of +the State, which costs, when collected, shall be paid in to the +treasurer of the county, and by him to the treasurer of the State, +to be added and made a part of the appropriation for sea and shore +fisheries. The claimant shall have the right of appeal to the next +supreme judicial court or superior court in the county, upon +recognizing and paying the fees for copies and entry as in cases of +appeal in criminal cases. The fees and costs of seizure, appraisal, +and sale, and in all other proceedings in the case, shall be as +provided by law in criminal cases, and in case a forfeiture shall be +declared, shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale, otherwise +shall be paid by the county, as in criminal cases.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 48. All fines +and penalties under this act may be recovered by +complaint, indictment, or action of debt brought in the county where +the offense is committed. The action of debt shall be brought in the +name of the commissioner of sea and shore fisheries, and all +offenses under or violations of the provisions of this statute may +be settled by the commissioner of sea and shore fisheries, upon such +terms and conditions as he deems advisable. All fines, penalties, +and collections under this act shall be paid into the treasury of +the county where the offense is committed, and by such treasurer to +the State treasurer, to be added to and made a part of the +appropriation for sea and shore fisheries.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 49. The commissioner +of sea and shore fisheries may take fish +of any kind, when, where, and in such manner as he chooses, for the +purposes of science, of cultivation, and of dissemination, and he +may grant written permits to other persons to take fish for the same +purposes, and may introduce or permit to be introduced any kind of +fish into any waters.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The following special act was passed at the 1899 session of the +legislature:</p> + + +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 1. No person shall +take, catch, kill, or destroy any lobsters +between the 1st day of July and the 1st day of September in each +year, under a penalty of $1 for each lobster so taken, caught, +killed, or destroyed, in the waters of Pigeon Hill Bay, so called, +in the towns of Millbridge and Steuben, within the following points, +namely: Commencing at Woods Pond Point, on the west side of Pigeon +Hill Bay; thence easterly to the Nubble, on Little Bois Bubert +Island; thence by the shore to the head of Bois Bubert Island; +thence northerly to Joe Dyers Point, so called; thence by the shore +around Long Cove and the creek; thence to the head of Pigeon Hill +Bay aforesaid; thence by the shore to the first-mentioned bound.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Sec</span>. 2. All fines and +penalties under this act may be recovered as +provided in section 48 of chapter 285 of the Public Laws of 1897.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="22"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IMPORTATIONS OF LIVE LOBSTERS</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>For some years there have been considerable importations of live +lobsters into Maine from the British Provinces, particularly from +New Brunswick; previous to the closing up of the canning industry +they were more numerous than at present, as considerable numbers +were brought in by boat fishermen for the canneries at or near +Eastport. The importations are now made by the dealers, who +frequently send their own smacks into the Provinces for a supply +when lobsters are scarce in the State.</p> + +<p>The following table shows the importations into the State, by +customs districts, for the fiscal year 1898:</p> +<br> + + +<center> +<a href="images/imports.png"> +<img src="images/imports.png" width="500" border=0 +alt="Importation of lobsters in 1898"></a><br> +<a href="images/imports.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a></center> +<br> + + +<center> +<br> +<a name="23"></a> +<br> +<br> +<h3>STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY IN MAINE IN 1898</h3> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>The following tables show the statistical data relating to the +fishery for 1898; except the wholesale trade of Rockland and +Portland, which is shown elsewhere.</p> + +<p>While Hancock County leads in the number of vessel fishermen with +173, Knox County has the largest number of persons transporting, 78. +In the boat fishermen, Washington County leads with 639, followed +closely by Knox County with 606. In the total number of persons +employed Knox County leads with 749, while Washington and Hancock +counties have very nearly the same number, 695 and 683, +respectively. The total number of persons employed was 3,304.</p> + +<p>Hancock County leads in the number of vessels fishing, 78, valued at +$33,000, while Knox County leads in the number of transporting +vessels, 33, valued at $51,900, and is also second in the number of +fishing vessels. Cumberland County is second in the number of +transporting vessels. This county has more steam transporting +vessels than all the other counties combined, 8, valued at $31,200. +In the matter of boats engaged in the shore fishery Knox County also +has the preeminence, with 696 boats, valued at $37,175. Lincoln, +Hancock, and Washington counties follow in the order named, and are +all three very close to each other.</p> + +<p>Hancock County leads in the number of pots used in the vessel +fishery, 7,146, while Knox County is second. Knox County leads in +the number of pots used in shore fisheries with 39,040, valued at +$39,030, and is followed by Lincoln County with 29,190 pots, valued +at $29,190.</p> + +<p>In the matter of shore property Lincoln County leads with $16,917, +although if the property used in the wholesale trade had been +included in this table Cumberland County would lead. In the total +investment Knox County leads with $169,056. Hancock County comes +second, with $136,651, followed by Washington and Cumberland +counties, respectively. The total investment for the whole State is +$616,668.</p> + +<p>In vessel catch Hancock County leads with 444,704 pounds, valued at +$47,101. Knox County is second with 286,688 pounds, valued at +$29,395. In the boat catch Hancock County also leads with 2,198,518 +pounds, valued at $204,390, while Knox County is a close second with +2,165,256 pounds, valued at $186,968. Lincoln County is third and +Washington County fourth. The total catch for the State is +11,183,294 pounds, valued at $992,855.</p> + + +<center> +<span class="caption"><b>Table showing by counties the number of persons<br> +employed in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898</b></span> +<a href="images/employ.png"> +<img src="images/employ.png" width="600" border=0 +alt="Table of employment in the lobster industry in 1898"></a><br> +<a href="images/employ.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a></center> +<br> +<br> + +<center> +<span class="caption"><b>Table showing by counties the vessels, + boats, apparatus,<br> + and shore property employed in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898</b></span> +<a href="images/apparatus.png"> +<img src="images/apparatus.png" width="600" border=0 +alt="Table of employment in the lobster industry in 1898"></a><br> +<span class="caption">*The property, cash capital, etc., in the wholesale +trade<br> +of Rockland and Portland is shown elsewhere.</span><br> +<a href="images/apparatus.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a> +</center> +<br> + +<center> +<span class="caption"><b>Table showing by counties, vessels, and boats<br> +the yield in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898</b></span> +<a href="images/yield.png"> +<img src="images/yield.png" width="600" border=0 +alt="Table showing by counties the yield +of the lobster fishery in 1898"></a><br> +<a href="images/yield.png"><img alt="Full Size" +src="images/enlarge.jpg" border=0></a></center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE.***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 17475-h.txt or 17475-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/7/17475">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/4/7/17475</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Cobb + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Lobster Fishery of Maine + Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission, Vol. 19, Pages 241-265, 1899 + + +Author: John N. Cobb + + + +Release Date: January 7, 2006 [eBook #17475] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE*** + + +E-text prepared by Ronald Calvin Huber while serving as Penobscot Bay +Watch, Rockland, Maine, with technical assistance from Joseph E. +Loewenstein, M.D. + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file + which includes the original illustrations and tables. + See 17475-h.htm or 17475-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/7/17475/17475-h/17475-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/7/17475/17475-h.zip) + + + + + +THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE. + +by + +JOHN N. COBB, +Agent of the United States Fish Commission. + +_Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission_, Vol. 19, +Pages 241-265, 1899 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: The sailing smack _Bar Bel_ of Rockland] + + +For some years past the condition of the lobster fishery of New +England has excited the earnest attention of all interested in the +preservation of one of the most valuable crustaceans of our country. +In the State of Maine, particularly, where the industry is of the +first importance, the steady decline from year to year has caused the +gravest fears, and incessant efforts have been made by the United +States Fish Commission, in conjunction with the State Fish Commission +of Maine, to overcome this decline. This paper presents the results of +an investigation by the writer in 1899. All statistics, when not +otherwise stated, are for the calendar year 1898. + +I am indebted to so many dealers, fishermen, and others for +information given and courtesies extended that it is impossible to +mention them by name; and I now extend to all my most sincere thanks +for their many kindnesses. + + +[Illustration: The first steam smack to carry lobsters in a well] + + + +NATURAL HISTORY OF THE LOBSTER. + +Although the lobster has been of great value to the New England States +and the British Provinces as a food commodity, but little was known of +its life-history and habits until within the last few years. To this +ignorance has been due quite largely peculiar (and in some instances +useless) laws enacted by some States. The gradual enlightenment of the +public on this subject has borne good fruit, however, and most of the +present State laws are founded on substantial facts instead of +theories. Prof. Francis H. Herrick has been one of the most prominent +of the investigators, and his summary of the present knowledge on this +subject is quoted below from the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1897: + + + (1) The fishery is declining, and this decline is due to the + persistence with which it has been conducted during the last + twenty-five years. There is no evidence that the animal is + being driven to the wall by any new or unusual disturbance of + the forces of nature. + + (2) The lobster is migratory only to the extent of moving to + and from the shore, and is, therefore, practically a sedentary + animal. Its movements are governed chiefly by the abundance of + food and the temperature of the water. + + (3) The female may be impregnated or provided with a supply of + sperm for future use by the male at any time, and the sperm, + which is deposited in an external pouch or sperm receptacle, + has remarkable vitality. Copulation occurs commonly in spring, + and the eggs are fertilized outside the body. + + (4) Female lobsters become sexually mature when from 8 to 12 + inches long. The majority of all lobsters 10-1/2 inches long + are mature. It is rare to find a female less than 8 inches long + which has spawned or one over 12 inches in length which has + never borne eggs. + + (5) The spawning interval is a biennial one, two years elapsing + between each period of egg-laying. + + (6) The spawning period for the majority of lobsters is July + and August. A few lay eggs at other seasons of the year--in the + fall, winter, and probably in the spring. + + (7) The period of spawning lasts about six weeks, and + fluctuates slightly from year to year. The individual variation + in the time of extrusion of ova is explained by the long period + during which the eggs attain the limits of growth. Anything + which affects the vital condition of the female during this + period of two years may affect the time of spawning. + + (8) The spawning period in the middle and eastern districts of + Maine is two weeks later than in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts. + In 1893 71 per cent of eggs examined from the coast of Maine + were extruded in the first half of August. + + (9) The number of eggs laid varies with the size of the animal. + The law of production may be arithmetically expressed as + follows: _The number of eggs produced at each reproductive + period varies in a geometrical series, while the length of + lobsters producing these eggs varies in an arithmetical + series._ According to this law an 8-inch lobster produces + 5,000 eggs, a lobster 10 inches long 10,000, a 12-inch lobster + 20,000. This high rate of production is not maintained beyond + the length of 14 to 16 inches. The largest number of eggs + recorded for a female is 97,440. A lobster 10-1/2 inches long + produces, on the average, nearly 13,000 eggs. + + (10) The period of incubation of summer eggs at Woods Hole is + about ten months, July 15-August 15 to May 15-June 15. The + hatching of a single brood lasts about a week, owing to the + slightly unequal rate of development of individual eggs. + + (11) The hatching period varies also with the time of + egg-laying, lobsters having rarely been known to hatch in + November and February. + + (12) Taking all things into consideration, the sexes appear + about equally divided, though the relative numbers caught in + certain places at certain times of the year may be remarkably + variable. + + (13) Molting commonly occurs from June to September, but there + is no month of the year in which soft lobsters may not be + caught. + + (14) The male probably molts oftener than the female. + + (15) In the adult female the molting like the spawning period + is a biennial one, but the two periods are one year apart. As a + rule, the female lays her eggs in July, carries them until the + following summer, when they hatch; then she molts. Possibly a + second molt may occur in the fall, winter, or spring, but it is + not probable, and molting just before the production of new + eggs is rare. + + (16) The egg-bearing female, with eggs removed, weighs less + than the female of the same length without eggs. + + (17) The new shell becomes thoroughly hard in the course of + from six to eight weeks, the length of time requisite for this + varying with the food and other conditions of the animal. + + (18) The young, after hatching, cut loose from their mother, + rise to the surface of the ocean, and, lead a free life as + pelagic larvae. The first larva is about one-third of an inch + long (7.84 mm). The swimming period lasts from six to eight + weeks, or until the lobster has molted five or at most six + times, and is three-fifths of an inch long, when it sinks to + the bottom. It now travels toward the shore, and, if fortunate, + establishes itself in the rock piles of inlets of harbors, + where it remains until driven out by ice in the fall or early + winter. The smallest, now from 1 to 3 inches long, go down + among the loose stones which are often exposed at low tides. + At a later period, when 3 to 4 inches long, they come out of + their retreats and explore the bottom, occasionally hiding or + burrowing under stones. Young lobsters have also been found in + eelgrass and on sandy bottoms in shallow water. + + (19) The food of the larva consists of minute pelagic + organisms. The food of the older and adult stages is largely of + animal origin with but slight addition of vegetable material, + consisting chiefly of fish and invertebrates of various kinds. + The large and strong also prey upon the small and weak. + + (20) The increase in length at each molt is about 15.3 per + cent. During the first year the lobster molts from 14 to 17 + times. At 10-1/2 inches the lobster has molted 25 to 26 times + and is about 5 years old. + + +As the purpose of this article is to deal more particularly with the +commercial side of the lobster question all interested more +particularly in the natural history of the animal are referred to the +following works: + + + The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States, + sec. I, pp. 780-812. + + The American Lobster, by Francis H. Herrick. Bull. U. S. Fish + Com. for 1895, pp. 1-252. + + + +HISTORY OF THE FISHERY. + +Ever since the early Puritan settlers first learned from the Indians +how to utilize the lobster, it has been one of the most prized +articles of food in the New England States. The early town records of +Massachusetts contain frequent references to this valuable crustacean, +and efforts were made at an early day to conserve the supply. + +At first, as most settlers lived on or near the coast, each family +could easily secure its own supply, but as the settlements gradually +extended farther inland this became inconvenient, and it soon became +customary for certain persons living on the coast to attend to +supplying the wants of the inland settlers, and thus the commercial +fishery was established. + +The coast of Maine is very favorably situated for this fishery. In its +eastern and middle sections the shore is bold and rocky, while it is +cut up by large deep inlets and coves which are studded with numerous +islands, large and small, and by bold rocky promontories. Groups +of islands are also numerous farther off shore, like the Fox and +Matinicus Islands, Deer and Mount Desert islands. Large and small +fresh-water rivers are numerous and the granite bottoms of these +channels and inlets form admirable breeding grounds. In the western +end the shores are not so rocky, being broken frequently with sandy +reaches, while the rivers are small and comparatively shallow. West of +Casco Bay the islands are infrequent. As a result of this conformation +of coast the best fishing grounds in Maine are between Cape Elizabeth +and Quoddy Head. + +As early as 1830 smacks from Boston and Connecticut visited Harpswell +for fresh lobsters, and it is very probable that even before this time +they had visited the points farther west in the State, as the history +of the fishery, so far as known, shows that it gradually worked to +the eastward. This was doubtless owing to the fact that the trend of +settlement in the early part of the century was in that direction. It +is also probable that, for some time before the people along the coast +took up the fishery, the smackmen themselves did their own fishing. +This is easily believed when the great abundance is considered. It is +known that this was done in Massachusetts. + +During summer the lobsters were very common close in shore and could +easily be gaffed by boys at low water; but this could hardly be called +a regular fishery. + +The regular fishery began with the use of hoop-net pots, which were +generally of very rude construction, and the facility with which the +lobsters escaped from them led to their disuse soon after the lath +pots began to be introduced. The lath pots were essentially the same +in construction as those now used on the coast of Maine, and each +pair of fishermen then handled between 25 and 50. + +Up to about 1865 it was the custom to set the traps singly, and two +men were usually employed in the fishery, one to haul up, empty the +pot, rebait it, and drop it overboard, while the other handled the +boat. In the latter year it was discovered that by setting the pots on +trawls more pots could be set and only one man would be required to +work them. This invention, which was claimed by several different +persons, proved quite successful for a while, but after a time, when +the supply of lobsters began to drop off, better results were secured +by scattering the pots over a greater area and shifting their position +each time they were fished, which was very easily done. As a result of +this the use of trawls decreased very rapidly. + +The following facts regarding the early lobster fishery of Maine are +from the Fishery Industries of the United States, section v, vol. II, +pp. 700, 701: + + + In 1841 Capt. E. M. Oakes began to carry lobsters from Cundy's + Harbor and Horse Island Harbor, Harpswell, to Mr. Eben Weeks, + at East Boston. He was then running a well-smack, named the + _Swampscott_, of 41 tons, old measurement. The season extended + from the 1st of March until about the 4th of July, after which + time the lobsters were supposed to be unfit for eating; the + black lobsters, or shedders, were even considered poisonous. + During this season of four months Captain Oakes made ten trips, + carrying in all 35,000, by count. He continued in this trade + about six years, taking the combined catch of about five or + six fishermen. At this same period the smack _Hulda B. Hall_, + 50 tons, of New London, Conn., Captain Chapell, was carrying + lobsters from Cape Porpoise, Gloucester, Ipswich Bay, and + occasionally Provincetown, to Boston, making 15 trips in the + season of four months, and taking about 3,500 lobsters each + trip. Captain Chapell was supplied with lobsters by four men at + Cape Porpoise, and by the same number at both Gloucester and + Ipswich Bay. For four months following the close of the lobster + season on the Maine coast, or from July 4 until November, + Captain Chapell ran his smack with lobsters to New York, + obtaining most of his supplies at Provincetown. + + In 1847 Captain Oakes purchased the smack _Josephine_, with + which he began running to Johnson & Young's establishment, at + Boston, in 1848, buying a portion of his lobsters in the + Penobscot Bay region, where this fishery had just been started. + The quantity of lobsters carried by him that year was 40,000. + The prices paid to the fishermen for smack lobsters was as + follows: During March, 3 cents each; April, 2-1/2 cents; May + and June, 2 cents. In 1850, he began to obtain supplies from + the Muscle Ridges, leaving Harpswell entirely, on account of + the small size of the lobsters then being caught there. At + this time the average weight of the lobsters marketed was about + 3 pounds, and all under 10-1/2 inches in length were rejected. + The traps were made of the same size as at present, but were + constructed of round oak sticks, and with four hoops or bows + to support the upper framework. A string of bait, consisting + mainly of flounders and sculpins, was tied into each trap. + About 50 traps were used by each fisherman, and they were + hauled once a day. The warps or buoy lines, by which the traps + were lowered and hauled, were cut in 12-fathom lengths. + Lobsters were so abundant at the Muscle Ridges, at this period, + that four men could fully supply Captain Oakes with lobsters + every trip. In the course of ten days each man would obtain + between 1,200 and 1,500 marketable lobsters. In Captain Oakes' + opinion, the Muscle Ridges have furnished the most extensive + lobster fishery of the Maine coast. He ran to this locality + until 1874. + + Capt. S. S. Davis, of South Saint George, states that about + 1864, when he first began buying lobsters at the Muscle Ridges, + three men, tending 40 to 50 pots each, caught all the count + lobsters he could carry to market in his smack. He could load + 5,000 lobsters at a time, and averaged a trip in 7 to 9 days. + This traffic continued for six or seven years. In 1879, Captain + Davis bought from 15 men In the same locality, and at times + was obliged to buy also of others in order to make up a load. + + +The fishery at North Haven began in 1848, but did not increase so +rapidly at first as in sections farther west, as the smacks would only +take the medium-sized lobsters, fearing that the largest would not +be able to stand the trip. At Matinicus Island the fishing began in +1868. In 1852 the people on Deer Island began the fishery, and as the +smackmen made frequent visits the business rapidly increased. The +establishment of a cannery at Oceanville, about 1860, also caused a +considerable development of the fishery. The fishery was started at +Isle an Haute about 1855, and at Swan Island in the early fifties. + +The canning of lobsters was first carried on at Eastport in 1842, but +the fishery was not taken up until about 1853, as it was supposed +there were no lobsters in the neighborhood. The supplies for these +canneries previous to the inception of the fishery were obtained by +smacks running to the westward. + +For some years the fishery was only prosecuted in the late spring, +summer, and early fall months. Just when winter fishing began in +the State is doubtful; but according to Capt. Charles Black, of Orr +Island, it began in that region in 1845 at Harpswell. Previously the +fishermen had the impression that lobsters could not be successfully +caught earlier than March 20. + +During the summer of 1845 the captains of the well-smacks of New +London, Conn., who bought most of the lobsters in that vicinity, +induced Charles E. Clay, Samuel Orr, and a few others to fish during +the winter, and they set their traps about the same distance from the +shore that the fishermen do at present, and in almost the same depth +of water. The smackmen paid them $4 for 100 lobsters. The next winter +the fishermen refused to sell by number and wanted $1.25 per 100 +pounds. The smackmen had no objection to buy them by weight, but +refused to pay more than $1.12 per 100 pounds. This was accepted, and +for several years the prices were from $1.12 to $1.25 per 100 pounds. + +Comparatively few traps were necessary then, as when the weather would +permit the fishermen to tend their traps they would catch from 20 to +30 lobsters daily, and frequently, when the traps were hauled, they +would find several lobsters clinging to some part of the pots. The +bait was very plentiful and caught with spears. + +The lobsters were placed in cars at that time, after having been +"plugged" to keep them from injuring each other. The plugs were almost +1-1/2 inches long, flat on one side, round on the other, and with a +sharp point. Plugging has since been discontinued, as the trifling +injury the lobsters did each other was nothing compared to the value +of cans of meat spoiled by one of these pine plugs being boiled with +it. + + +[Illustration: The steam smack _Mina and Lizzie_ landing her cargo at +Portland] + + +[Illustration: Fleet of lobster boats in harbor at York Island] + + + +THE FISHING-GROUNDS. + +It is difficult to estimate the comparative value of the grounds +in the State, owing to the movements of the lobsters. In the early +spring, in April or May, as the waters in the bays and rivers warm up, +the lobsters come into the comparatively shallow waters. They remain +here until late in the fall, going back to the ocean or deep waters +of the bays in either October or November. They love to congregate on +rocky bottom, and pots set on such bottom will frequently make large +catches, while those on sandy or muddy ground will catch almost +nothing. In the early years of the fishery they came in very close in +great numbers, and could frequently be taken at low water in dip nets +or by gaffs; but they are now found in summer in depths of from 3 +to 15 fathoms in the numerous passages between the islands and the +mainland, and the lower reaches of the bays and rivers. For a number +of years winter fishing was not prosecuted, but now it is a very +important business. In winter the pots are generally set in the ocean +at depths of from 15 to 50 fathoms. + +As the greatest part of the coast line is cut up by numerous bays and +rivers, and these are dotted with large and small islands, they form +admirable breeding grounds for the lobster. Some of the best locations +are in Little Machias, Machias, Englishman, Pleasant Point, Chandler, +Narragaugus, Muscongus, Linekin, Sheepscot, and Casco bays, while the +fishing is especially good around the numerous islands in the lower +Penobscot and Blue Hill bays, and at Monhegan and the Matinicus +islands in the ocean. The Sheepscot River is also a favorite resort +for lobsters during the warm months, while in the winter they retire +to the waters of the bay, where the fishing can be carried on very +easily. At most of the other grounds the winter fishing is carried on +in the ocean, as the lobsters do not usually remain in the bays. Most +of the fishing in Casco Bay is carried on at the eastern end among the +numerous islands. The earliest fishing of which we have any definite +record was carried on from the township of Harpswell on this bay. This +region has held its own remarkably well, as in 1898 more than twice as +many lobsters were taken by fishermen from this township than from any +other town in the State. + +The upper portions of Frenchman, Blue Hill, and Penobscot bays were +formerly very important grounds, but are now almost exhausted. These +regions were especially noted for large lobsters. In August, 1891, Mr. +F. W. Collins, a Rockland dealer, had 50 lobsters in his establishment +which weighed from 10 to 18-1/2 pounds apiece. About half of these +came from Castine, in upper Penobscot Bay, and the remainder from Blue +Hill Falls, in the upper Blue Hill Bay. + +The grounds in York County, at the western end of the State, were +formerly quite prolific, but the excessive fishing of the last thirty +years has very badly depleted them. + + + +THE FISHING SEASON. + +In the early days of the fishery it was customary to fish only during +the spring and fall. When the canneries went into operation they +usually worked during the spring, early summer, and fall, and as they +furnished a ready market for all the lobsters that could be caught +this came to be the principal season. At that time it was not thought +possible to do any winter fishing, owing to the cold and stormy +weather and the fact that the fishing had to be carried on generally +in the open sea. + +In 1878 a law was passed limiting the canning season to the period +between April 1 and August 1. This season was frequently changed +by subsequent enactments, but rarely covered a longer period than +that fixed in the first law. As at certain places on the coast the +canneries were the only market for lobsters the fishery would cease +as soon as the canneries stopped. At other places, which were visited +by the smacks, some of the fishermen would continue fishing after the +canneries closed, selling to the smackmen. At various times a closed +season was in force, but at present there is no limitation as to +season. The canning industry in the State practically ceased to +exist in 1895, and since then the whole catch has had to be marketed +in a live or boiled condition. The smack fleet had been gradually +increasing as the live-lobster trade extended, and by the time the +canneries closed permanently they had extended their visits to every +point where lobsters could be had in any number. + +At present the majority of the fishermen usually haul out their +traps during July and August and put them in good order for the fall +fishing. During the excessively cold portion of the winter most of the +pots are taken out, but some fishing is done during every month of the +year. + +The fishermen on Monhegan Island, about 12 miles southeast of Pemaquid +Point, agree among themselves to put no lobster pots in the water +until about the 1st of January. There is then no restriction on +fishing until about May 15, when all pots are hauled out and no more +fishing is done until the season begins again. During this season the +law in regard to short lobsters is rigidly enforced by the fishermen +themselves. Should any outsider visit this island during the close +time established by the fishermen, and attempt to fish, he is quietly +informed of the agreement and requested to conform to it. Should +he persist in working after this warning, his pots are apt to +mysteriously disappear. As lobsters bring a much higher price in +winter than in summer, the Monhegan fishermen reap a rich reward, as +the lobsters are very numerous, owing to the 7-1/2 months close time. +On the first day the fishermen hauled in 1900 one man secured 293, +for which he received 19 cents apiece. The smallest number secured by +anyone was 135. + + + +FISHING APPLIANCES. + +In most large fisheries for certain species numerous changes occur at +intervals in the apparatus used, owing to changed conditions, etc., +but in the lobster industry changes have been few, and at an early +period the fishermen fixed upon a uniform apparatus, which has been in +use ever since with but slight modifications, and these generally only +temporary. + +The earliest form of apparatus used to any considerable extent was the +hoop net. This consisted generally of a hoop or ring of about 1/2-inch +round iron, or a wooden hogshead hoop, from 2-1/2 to 3 feet or more in +diameter. To this hoop was attached a net bag with a depth of 18 to 24 +inches as a bottom, while two wooden half hoops were bent above it, +crossing at right angles in the center about 12 or 15 inches above the +plane of the hoop. Sometimes these half hoops were replaced by short +cords. The bait was suspended from the point of crossing of the two +wooden hoops and the line for raising and lowering the pots was +attached at the same place. As there was no way of closing the +mouth of the pot after a lobster had entered, these nets had to +be constantly watched, the lobster being in the habit of retiring +after he had finished his repast. In using these the fisherman would +generally go out in the evening and at short intervals he would haul +in his nets and remove whatever lobsters they might contain. The +constant attention necessary in attending to these hoop nets led the +fishermen to devise an apparatus which would hold the lobsters after +once entering and would require only occasional visits, and "lath +pots" were found to fulfill all requirements. They acquire the name +from the use of common laths in their construction. They are usually +about 4 feet in length, with a width of about 2 feet, a height of 18 +inches, and in Maine are usually of semicylindrical form. + +The following description of this apparatus is from the Fishery +Industries of the United States, sec. v, vol. 11, p. 666: + + + The framework of the bottom consists of three strips of wood, + either hemlock, spruce, or pine (the first mentioned being the + most durable), a little longer than the width of the pot, about + 2-3/4 inches wide and 1 inch thick. In the ends of each of + the outer strips a hole is bored to receive the ends of a + small branch of pliable wood, which is bent into a regular + semicircular curve. These hoops are made of branches of spruce + or hemlock, or of hardwood saplings, such as maple, birch, + or ash, generally retaining the bark. Three of these similar + frames, straight below and curved above, constitute the + framework of each pot, one to stand at each end and one in the + center. The narrow strips of wood, generally ordinary house + laths of spruce or pine, which form the covering, are nailed + lengthwise to them, with interspaces between about equal to + the width of the lathe. On the bottom the laths are sometimes + nailed on the outside and sometimes on the inside of the cross + pieces. The door is formed by three or four of the laths + running the entire length near the top. The door is hinged on + by means of small leather strips, and is fastened by a single + wooden button in the center, or by two buttons, one at each + end. The openings into the pot . . . are two in number, one at + each end, are generally knit of coarse twine and have a mesh + between three-fourths of an inch and 1 inch square. They are + funnel-shaped, with one side shorter than the other, and at the + larger end have the same diameter as the framework. The smaller + and inner end measures about 6 inches in diameter and is held + open by means of a wire ring or wooden hoop. The funnels are + fastened by the larger ends to the end frames of the pot, with + the shorter side uppermost, so that when they are in place they + lead obliquely upward into the pot instead of horizontally. + The inner ends are secured in position by one or two cords + extending to the center frame. The funnels are about 11 or 12 + inches deep, and therefore extend about halfway to the center + of the pot. They taper rapidly and form a strongly inclined + plane, up which the lobsters must climb in their search for the + bait. A two-strand manila twine is most commonly used for the + funnels. Cotton is also used, but is more expensive and less + durable. + + +[Illustration: Lobster pots] + + +A change in the shape of the funnel was first made at Matinicus +shortly before 1890. This has been called the "patent head." Large +lobsters are said to always go to the top and small ones to the bottom +of the pots. By going to the top in the "old-head" pot large lobsters +made their escape through the hole, but in the pots with "patent +heads" instead of finding their way through the hole the big lobsters +slide over it. The "patent head" has not been used to any extent, +however. The sketch shown on the following page gives a good idea of +the difference in shape. + + +[Illustration: Old style of head (in general use) and "patent" head] + + +In the center of the ordinary pot is a sort of spearhead of wood or +iron from 8 to 12 inches long. This has one large barb and is set +upright in the middle of the center frame. The bait is placed on this +spearhead. Several large stones or bricks are lashed to the bottom of +the pot, on the inside, in order to furnish weight enough to hold the +pot at the bottom. + +As it was noticed that a lobster generally crawled over a pot before +entering by the end, some pots of a square form and with the opening +at the top were constructed, but they were not successful. + +Another variation had a length of 7-1/2 feet and five supporting +frames inside instead of three, as in the old pot. These were set at +equal distances apart, and had two more funnels than the other, one +funnel being attached to each of the frames except the center one, +and all pointing inward. In order to reach the bait the lobster had +to pass through two funnels, and its chances of escape were thereby +lessened. This style is rarely seen now. + +Still another variety in vogue for a short time had a trapdoor, on +which the lobster had to climb in order to reach the bait; the door +then gave way and precipitated the lobster into a secure inclosure. + +A few pots are made with a funnel of laths in place of the net +funnels. They are the same as the ordinary pot in every other +particular. + +The ordinary pots cost about $1 to construct. + +During certain seasons the pots are badly eaten by "worms," the +shipworm (Teredo) or one of the species of small boring crustaceans. +Pots are also frequently lost during stormy weather, and the fishermen +therefore have a reserve stock on hand in order to replace those lost +or temporarily disabled. + + + +METHODS OF FISHING. + +In fishing the traps are either set on single warps or on trawls of +8 to 40 and 50 pots. At first all pots were set singly. The line by +which they were lowered and hauled up, and which also served as a buoy +line, was fastened to one of the end frames of the bottom or sill, as +it is called, at the intersection of the hoop. The buoys generally +consist of a tapering piece of cedar or spruce, wedge-shaped, or +nearly spindle shaped, and about 18 inches long. They are usually +painted in distinctive colors, so that each fisherman may easily +recognize his own. Small kegs are also used as buoys. + +In the warm season the pots are frequently set on trawls or "ground +lines," as lobsters are quite thick then on the rocky bottom near +shore. If the bottom is sandy they are set farther from shore. +Lobsters are most numerous on a rocky bottom. In the trawl method the +pots are usually set about 30 feet apart, depending on the depth of +water, so that when one pot is in the boat the next will be on the +bottom. The ground lines have large anchors at each end and a floating +buoy tied to a strong line, which is fastened to the ground line +almost 25 fathoms from the anchors. When the last pot is hauled the +anchor is far enough away to hold the boat in position. The pots are +set at distances from the shore ranging from 100 yards to 5 or 6 +miles. This method of setting pots was first used about the year 1865 +in Sagadahoc County. The traps are set in from 3 to 10 fathoms in the +warm season. + +In winter fishing the pots are generally set singly, as the lobsters +are more scattered then and the best results are attained by shifting +the position of the pots slightly each time they are fished. This is +caused by the drift of the boat while the fisherman is hauling in the +pot, emptying and rebaiting it, and then dropping it overboard again. +The winter fishing is generally carried on in the open sea, although +in a few places, like Sheepscot Bay, the lobsters in winter retire to +the deep waters of the bays and can there be caught. The pots are +generally set in from 20 to 50 fathoms of water at this season. + +Certain fishermen claim that when pots are set on a trawl placed +across the tide the catch is greater than when the trawl is set in +the direction of the current. In the former case, it is asserted, the +scent or fine particles coming from the bait is more widely diffused +and more apt to attract the lobsters. In entering, after first +reconnoitering around and over the pot, the lobster always backs in, +primarily that he may be prepared to meet any foe following him, also +because his large claws would be apt to catch in the net funnel should +he enter head first. After discovering that he is imprisoned, which +he does very speedily, he seems to lose all desire for the bait, and +spends his time roaming around the pot hunting for a means of escape. + +The pots are generally hauled once a day, but sometimes twice a day in +good weather. As the tide along the Maine coast is quite strong, the +fishermen usually haul their pots at or about slack water, low tide +generally being preferred when they are worked once a day. The number +used by a fisherman varies greatly on different sections of the coast. +According to the investigations of this Commission, the average +number of pots to the man in certain years was as follows: Fifty-six +pots in 1880, 59 in 1887 and 1888, 58 in 1889 and 1892, and 50 in +1898. This average, however, is somewhat misleading, as quite a number +of persons along the coast take up lobstering for only a few months +in the year, and then return to their regular occupations. As these +persons use but few pots, the average per man throughout the whole +State is very considerably reduced. The regular lobster fishermen have +been steadily increasing the number of their pots for several years +past. They have found this an absolute necessity in order to catch as +many lobsters now as they caught twenty or thirty years ago. It is not +unusual now to find one of the regular fishermen handling as high as +100 pots, and sometimes even 125, when a few years ago 25 and 50 pots +was a large number. This does not take into account his reserve stock +of pots, which it is necessary to have on hand in order to replace +those damaged or lost. + + +[Illustration: Fishermen operating their pots] + + + +BAIT. + +Cod, hake, and halibut heads are quite generally used as bait. Halibut +heads are said to be the best, as they are tougher than the cod or +hake heads, and thus last much longer. Sculpins, flounders, in fact +almost any kind of fish, can be used. In the vicinity of sardine +canneries the heads of herring are used. Sometimes the bait is +slightly salted, at other times it is used fresh. Small herring are +lightly salted, and then allowed to remain until partly decayed, when +they are inclosed in small bags, and these put into the pots. The +oil from this bait forms a "slick" in the water, and when the smell +from it is strong the fishermen consider it at its best. The bait is +generally secured by small haul-seines and spears in sections where +offal can not be bought. + + + +FISHING VESSELS AND BOATS. + +The fishing vessels are either sloop or schooner rigged, with an +average net tonnage of slightly over 8 tons (new measurement) and an +average value of about $475. There has been a great increase in the +number of these vessels during recent years. Eight vessels were used +in 1880, 29 in 1889, and 130 in 1898. Quite a number of these vessels +are used in other fisheries during their seasons. Two men usually form +a crew, although three, and sometimes four, are occasionally used. + +The other vessels comprise sailboats under 5 tons and rowboats. +The sailboats are generally small square-sterned sloops, open in +the afterpart, but with a cuddy forward. They are all built with +centerboards, and some are lapstreak while others are "set work." +Around the afterpart of the standing room is a seat, the ballast is +floored over, and two little bunks and a stove generally help to +furnish the cuddy. They vary in length from 16 to 26 feet and in width +from 6 to 9 feet; they average about 2 tons. They are especially +adapted to the winter fishery, as they are good sailers and ride out +the storms easily. + +Dories are in quite general use in the lobster fishery, as are also +the double-enders, or peapods. This latter is a small canoe-shaped +boat of an average length of 15-1/2 feet, 4-1/2 feet breadth, and +1-1/2 feet depth. They are mainly built lapstreak, but a few are "set +work." Both ends are exactly alike; the sides are rounded and the +bottom is flat, being, however, only 4 or 5 inches wide in the center +and tapering toward each end, at the same time bending slightly +upward, so as to make the boat shallower at the ends than in the +middle. This kind of bottom is called a "rocker bottom." They are +usually rowed, but are sometimes furnished with a sprit sail and +centerboard. + + + +TRANSPORTING VESSELS OR SMACKS. + +Even before the lobster fishery had been taken up to any extent, the +coast of Maine was visited by well-smacks from Connecticut and New +York, most of which had been engaged in the transportation of live +fish before engaging in the carrying of lobsters. These vessels +sometimes carried pots, and caught their own lobsters; but as this +method was not very convenient, the people living along the coast +took up the fishery, and sold the lobsters to the smackmen. About +1860 the canneries began to absorb a considerable part of the catch, +and they employed vessels to ply along the coast and buy lobsters. +As these vessels would only be out a few days at a time, wells were +not necessary, and the lobsters were packed in the hold. In the +summer great numbers of them were killed by the heat in the hold. +After 1885 the canneries rapidly dropped out of the business, the last +one closing in 1895. In 1853 there were but 6 smacks, 4 of them from +New London, Conn. In 1880 there were 58, of which 21 were dry smacks, +while in 1898 there were 76, of which 17 were steamers and launches +and 59 sailing vessels. These were all well-smacks. A few sailing +smacks also engaged in other fishery pursuits during the dull summer +months. In 1879 a steamer which had no well was used to run lobsters +to the cannery at Castine. The first steamer fitted with a well to +engage in the business was the _Grace Morgan_, owned by Mr. F. W. +Collins, a lobster dealer of Rockland, who describes the steamer as +follows: + + + The steam and well smack _Grace Morgan_ was built in 1890, by + Robert Palmer & Son, of Noank, Conn. At that time she was a dry + boat, but the following year, 1891, the Palmers built a small well + in her as an experiment, but I am of the opinion that it did not + prove very satisfactory or profitable; consequently they offered + her for sale and wrote to me in relation to buying her. I went + to Noank and looked her over and came to the conclusion that by + enlarging the well and making other needed changes she could + be made not only a good boat to carry lobsters alive, but also + to do it profitably; consequently I bought her and brought + her to Rockland, had the well enlarged on ideas of my own, and + differently constructed, so as to give it better circulation of + water, and also made other needed improvements throughout the boat + to adapt her especially for carrying lobsters alive. The changes I + made in her proved so successful in keeping lobsters alive, while + it increased the capacity for carrying, that I have since adapted + the same principles on all my boats. The well I had put into the + _Grace Morgan_ is what is termed a "box well," that is, without + any well deck. The well is built from the sides of the steamer + directly to the hatch on the main deck, with bulkheads forward and + aft and tops running directly to the deck. . . . You will see at + once that this well has many advantages over the old style with + flat well decks, like those of sailing vessels: (1) It affords a + much larger carrying capacity in same space of vessel. (2) The + priming-out pieces are much higher up on sides of vessel, giving + more room for boring hull, which affords much better circulation + of water in well, which is a great advantage in keeping lobsters + alive while on long trips. (3) Every lobster can be easily bailed + out of the well without grounding the vessel, which is necessary + with all vessels having the old-style well. (4) In all steam + and well smacks the after part of the ship is always steadiest, + consequently the well being located aft, as in my smacks, the + lobsters contained in them are not subjected to the hard pounding + while running in seaway that they are in the old-style wells, + where there is no chance to relieve themselves other than to be + forced against the well decks by the upward force of the water + when the vessel settles into the sea, and which results in killing + many of them. + + Both of my steamers have box wells aft, and from my experience, + compared with all other steam and well smacks afloat, I am + convinced that this well, for all practical purposes, is the best + that has yet been adapted to steam smacks. So far as the _Grace + Morgan_ is concerned, she has been a perfect success in carrying + her lobsters in all kinds of weather since I put her into + commission October 27, 1892, during which time she has had a + wonderful career, as well as carrying millions of lobsters. + Probably no boat of her size has ever had such an experience, + as she has run steadily the year around in all kinds of weather + during the past eight years. . . . Previous to buying the _Grace + Morgan_ I had run steamers in the lobster business, but they had + no well, and being so hot in their holds, particularly in the + summer months, the lobsters died so fast that the business in dry + steamers could not be made profitable. This is what prompted me to + construct a well in mine, as I have done. + + +The _Grace Morgan_ has a length of 49 feet, a breadth of 13.9 feet, +and a depth of 5.7 feet, a gross tonnage of 21 tons, and a net +tonnage of 10 tons. + +The steam smacks now used average about 14 tons. They are usually +built low in the water, and have a small pilot-house forward, with an +open space between it and the engine-house, and living quarters aft. +The boat has also one or two short masts. Some of them also have the +pilot-house and engine-house joined together. In those with a space +between the pilot-house and engine-house the well is usually placed in +this open space. Where the pilot-house and engine-house are together +the well is either located forward or aft. These wells are generally +capable of bolding from 3,000 to 10,000 live lobsters. Small holes in +the bottom of the well keep it filled with fresh sea water. Should the +weather be clear the proportion of dead and injured lobsters will be +small, but in bad weather many are apt to be killed by the pitching +and rolling to which they are subjected. + +These smacks make regular trips up and down the coast, landing their +cargoes either at Rockland, Portland, or at one of the lobster pounds +scattered along the coast. They not only stop at the villages, but +also drop anchor off the little camps of the lobstermen, and should +the smacks of two rival dealers arrive at a place simultaneously, +which frequently happens, the bidding between the captains for the +fishermen's catch gladdens the latter's heart and greatly enriches his +pocketbook. Most of the captains have regular places of call where +they know the fishermen are holding their lobsters for them, and they +follow a rude sort of schedule, which will not often vary more than +a day or two. The lobsters are bought of the fishermen by count, +and cash is paid for them. Should the smack belong to a dealer this +practically ends the financial side of the transaction so far as the +captain is concerned, as the crew are paid wages. Should the smack +belong to a person other than the dealer, which is frequently the +case, he either makes an agreement with some dealer to run for him +exclusively at a certain price or commission, or else buys from the +fishermen and then sells at either Rockland or Portland. This method +of buying lobsters is somewhat hazardous, as the market price +sometimes changes sharply when the smack is out of reach of +telegraphic communication. + + + +LOBSTER CARS. + +Lobsters must be marketed in a live or boiled condition; and as +fishermen can get better prices for them alive than boiled, each +fisherman generally has a live-car in which to hold them until they +can be sold. These cars are usually oblong, rectangular boxes, with +open seams or numerous small holes to permit the free circulation of +the water. They are of various sizes, according to the needs of the +fisherman, a good average being about 6 feet long by 4 feet wide and +about 2 feet deep. The door is placed on the top. They are usually +moored close to the shore during the fishing season, the rest of the +time being hauled up on the beach. + + +[Illustration: Fishermen's lobster cars] + + +The dealers cars are very similar to those used by the fishermen, only +much larger. They generally average about 30 feet in length, 12 feet +in width; and 3 feet in depth, with capacity for from 2,000 to 3,000 +lobsters. The inner part of this car is usually divided off into +five transverse compartments by means of a framework inside. Each +compartment is provided with two large doors entering from the top, +one door on each side of the middle line of the car. These cars cost +the dealers about $70 each. The life of one of these cars is about +five or six years, although at the end of about three years it is +generally necessary to replace the sides of the car on account of the +ravages of a dock worm which is quite abundant along the Maine coast. +When new the top of the car is usually about a foot above the water, +but as it gets water-soaked it sinks down until it is even with the +water, and some of the older cars have to be buoyed up with kegs +at each end, placed inside, to prevent them from sinking below the +surface. These cars are moored alongside the docks of the dealers at +Portland and Rockland and other points. + + +[Illustration: Lobster cars used in the wholesale trade at Portland] + + +Mr. J. R. Burns, of Friendship, has invented and patented a new +style of car. The inside is divided into a series of compartments by +horizontal and vertical partitions of slats, wire netting, or any +material which will permit the free circulation of the water. Each +compartment has a chute extending down into it from the top, by means +of which the lobsters can be put in and their food given them. There +are also conveniently arranged openings, with doors, through which the +lobsters may be removed when desired. These cars usually average about +35 feet in length, 18 feet in width, and 6 feet in depth, and have a +capacity for about 5,000 lobsters each. They are in use at Rockland, +Friendship, Tremont, and Jonesport. They prevent the lobsters from +huddling together and thus killing each other by their own weight. + + + +METHODS OF SHIPPING, WHOLESALE TRADE, ETC. + +As lobsters can not be shipped or preserved in a frozen state they +must be shipped either alive or boiled. About nine-tenths of the +lobsters caught in Maine waters are shipped in the live state. The +principal shipping centers are Portland, Rockland, and Eastport, +which have good railroad and steamship facilities with points outside +of the State. Those shipped from the latter point are mainly from the +British Provinces, the fishermen near Eastport bringing them in in +their own boats. A number also come in from the Provinces on the +regular steamship lines. The other places get their supply from the +smacks and also from the fishermen in their vicinity, who run in their +own catch. Portland is very favorably situated in this regard, as +Casco Bay is a noted fishing center for lobsters. + +As soon as a smack arrives it is moored directly alongside one of +the cars. The lobsters are then dipped out of the well by means of +long-handled scoop nets and thrown on the deck of the vessel. The +doors of the car are then opened, and men on the vessel pick over the +lobsters lying on the deck and toss them two by two into the different +compartments, those dead and badly mutilated being thrown to one side +for the time being. All vigorous lobsters above a certain size are +placed in compartments of the car by themselves, while the weak and +small are put in separate compartments. The dead lobsters and those +which have had their shells broken or have been so injured that they +are very sure to die are either thrown overboard or on the dump. A +lobster which has lost one or even both claws is not thrown away, as +such an injury would have very little effect on its health. + +When an order is received for live lobsters, those which have been +longest in the cars are usually shipped. Flour barrels holding about +140 pounds or sugar barrels holding about 185 pounds, with small holes +bored in the bottoms for drainage, are used for the shipment. Formerly +the lobsters were packed close together in the barrel, and a large +piece of ice was put in at the top, but this was found to kill a +number of them. The present method is to split off about one-third of +a 100-pound cake of ice the long way, and place it upright about half +way of the length of the barrel, the lobsters then being packed snugly +on all sides of the ice. In handling them the packer seizes the +lobster by the carapace with his right hand, bends the tail up under +the body with his left hand, and quickly deposits it in the barrel. +The packer usually has his right hand covered with a woolen mitt or +wrapped in a long piece of linen, for protection from the claws of the +lobster. + +When the barrel is nearly full the lobsters are covered with a little +seaweed or large-leaved marine plants, and the rest of the space is +filled with cracked ice. The top is then covered with a piece of +sacking, which is secured under the upper hoop of the barrel. Packed +in this way, lobsters have easily survived a trip as far west as St. +Louis. + +Owing to the high prices realized in England for live lobsters, +attempts have been made to ship live American lobsters to that market, +generally from Canadian ports. In 1877 Messrs. John Marston & Sons, of +Portland, made a trial shipment of 250. They were placed in a large +tank 20 feet long by 8 feet wide and 3 feet deep, and constantly +supplied with fresh seawater through six faucets by means of a donkey +engine, a waste-pipe preventing any overflow. The trip was fairly +successful, as only 50 died, and the balance brought from 60 to 75 +cents per pound. + +The smacks and dealers buy lobsters by count, as the fishermen +generally have no facilities for weighing them; but the dealers always +sell by weight. The mortality among the lobsters from the time they +are put aboard the smacks until they are barreled for shipment is +estimated at about 5 per cent. + + + +BOILING. + +Live lobsters are much preferred by the trade throughout the country, +and only those that can not be marketed in such condition are boiled. +The number boiled fluctuates considerably, owing to the condition +of the markets. When the fresh markets of Boston and New York are +overstocked, the lobster dealers of Rockland and Portland, where most +of the Maine lobsters are boiled, proceed to boil their surplus stock. + +The following description of the boiling is from The Fisheries and +Fishery Industries of the United States, section v, vol. II, p. 684: + + + The boilers are rectangular wooden tanks or vats of about 60 + gallons capacity, lined with zinc and furnished with a cover. + Heat is applied by the introduction of steam through a series of + perforated pipes arranged in the bottom of the tank. The steam + is generated in an ordinary boiler standing close at hand. The + lobsters are not thrown directly into the vat, as the operation + of removing them after cooking would in such an event be an + exceedingly tedious one; but an iron framework basket, of rather + slender bars is made to fit the tank loosely, and is lowered and + raised by means of a small derrick placed over the tank. This + frame, which holds about 300 pounds, is filled with lobsters at + the edge of the wharf from the floating cars, and is then carried + to the tank and lowered into it after the water it contains has + reached the desired temperature, that of boiling. The water is + first supplied to the tank, which is filled to about one-third or + two-thirds its capacity, about a peck of salt is added, and then + the steam is turned on. The same water suffices for several + successive boilings, about 2 quarts of salt being added each time. + The lobsters are allowed to remain in about half an hour, or until + the proper red color indicates they are sufficiently cooked. + + +[Illustration: Boiling live lobsters preparatory to shipping on ice, +showing boiler, steam tank, cage, etc.] + + +After cooling, they are packed in barrels for shipment, just as live +lobsters are. When well iced they will keep a week or longer. Only +live lobsters are boiled, as the meat of those which die prior to +boiling deteriorates rapidly. + +The fishermen and small dealers use various kinds of boilers, from an +ordinary washboiler to a smaller form of the regular boiler used by +the large dealers. The product prepared by these people is generally +picked from the shell and sold locally in that condition. This opens +a way for the fisherman to evade the 10-1/2 inch limit law. They +frequently take lobsters under the minimum legal size and, after +boiling them, pick the flesh. It is then impossible for anybody to +tell what sized lobster the meat had come from. Quite a local trade +in the picking of lobsters has been established in a number of small +coast towns, the meat generally being sold in the immediate vicinity. + +The following table shows the extent of the wholesale lobster trade in +Rockland and Portland during 1898, including everything connected with +the business except the smacks and pounds, which are shown elsewhere. +There are a few other dealers scattered along the coast, but most of +the business is concentrated at these cities. An idea of the extent +of the increase in the lobster trade of Portland can be gained when +it is stated that in 1880 about 1,900,000 pounds of lobsters, valued +at $70,000, were handled here, while 6,145,821 pounds, valued at +$611,955, were handled in 1898. + + + Extent of the wholesale lobster trade of Rockland and Portland + in 1898. + + Rockland Portland + -------- -------- + Value of property, + capital, and wages + Property, etc $14,338 $44,770 + Cars 850 6,800 + Cash Capital 22,000 110,500 + Wages 4,676 18,198 + + Number of persons engaged + Firms 2 10* + Proprietors 3 13 + Clerks 2 2 + Other Employees 7 31 + + + Rockland Portland + Lobsters bought -------------- --------------- + and sold No. Value No. Value + --------------- --- ----- --- ----- + Bought, No. 692,188 4,097,214 + Bought, lbs. 1,038,282 $89,984 6,145,821 $611,955 + Sold, lbs. 795,934 91,532 5,308,027 690,045 + Sold, lbs. 347,815 26,705 515,518 82,483 + + *Several of these firms also handle other fishery products. + + + +LOBSTER POUNDS + +For a number of years the catch of lobsters was sold by the fishermen +to the dealers and by the latter to the trade as rapidly as possible. +In doing this the markets would be flooded at certain times, when the +price would drop to a very low figure, while at other times they would +be very scarce, which would enhance the price materially. The dealers +were the first to see the necessity for devising some method by which +lobsters could be secured when they were plentiful and cheap and +retained in captivity until they became scarce and high in price: +Inclosures of various kinds had for some years been in use in the +fisheries in various parts of the country for the purpose of keeping +certain species alive until the time came to utilize them. In 1875 +Johnson & Young, of Boston, established an inclosure or pound near +Vinal Haven, on one of the Fox Islands. A cove covering about 500 +acres, with an average depth of about 90 feet, was selected. A section +of about 9 acres, separated from the main portion of the cove by a +natural shoal and with a bottom of soft grayish mud, was selected for +the pound. In order to make it proof against the efforts of the +lobsters to escape and as a protection from enemies without, a wire +fence was built over the shoal part. This section had a depth of from +15 to 60 feet, and a capacity of about 300,000, although there were +rarely that many in the pound at one time. + + +[Illustration: Inclosure for live lobsters at Vinal Haven, Maine] + + +The lobsters are bought from smacks and from fishermen in the vicinity +during the height of the fishing season, when the price is low, and +are retained in the pound until the price becomes high, which is +generally during the winter season. They are fed with fish offal, +which can usually be bought at Vinal Haven for $1 per barrel. + +Oily fish are not fed to them, as it is said that the lobsters +decrease in weight on such a diet. Experience has shown that the +quantity of food required depends largely on the temperature of the +water, as lobsters do not eat as freely when the water is cold as +in water of a higher temperature. When wanted for shipment they are +usually secured by means of pots, seines, or beam trawls. + +Even with such a successful example before them, other dealers were +chary about going into the business, and in 1890 there were only three +pounds in the whole State. They increased more rapidly after that, +however, and in 1898 there were nine pounds in the State, with a total +valuation of $18,700. These were located at Dyer Bay, Sunset, Vinal +Haven, Long Island, South Bristol, Pemaquid Beach, Southport, and +House Island, in Portland Harbor. It is very probable that there will +be a greater increase in the near future. + + + +THE CANNING INDUSTRY. + +Maine is the only State in the Union in which lobsters have been +canned. The following account of the inception and early history of +the industry, taken from "The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the +United States," is very complete: + + + Lobster canning was first attempted in the United States at + Eastport, Me., shortly after 1840, and was made successful in + 1843, the methods finally employed having been borrowed from + Scotland, which country is said to have learned the process from + France. For the successful introduction of the process into the + United States we are indebted to Mr. Charles Mitchell, now of + Charlestown, Mass., a practical canner of Scotland, who had + learned his trade of John Moir & Son, of Aberdeen, the first + Scotch firm, it is claimed, to put up hermetically sealed + preparations of meat, game, and salmon, their enterprise dating + back to 1824. Mr. U. S. Treat, a native of Maine, appears, + however, to have been most active and influential in starting the + enterprise and in introducing canned goods into the markets of the + United States. Mr. Treat was, at an early period, engaged in the + preparation of smoked salmon on the Penobscot River, and in 1839 + removed to Calais, Me., where he continued in the same business. + About 1840 he associated with him a Mr. Noble, of Calais, and a + Mr. Holliday, a native of Scotland, who had also been employed in + the salmon fisheries of the Penobscot River, under the firm name + of Treat, Noble & Holliday. This firm moved to Eastport in 1842, + for the purpose of starting the manufacture of hermetically sealed + goods, and began experiments with lobsters, salmon, and haddock. + Their capital was limited, their appliances crude, and many + discouraging difficulties were encountered. The quality of the + cans furnished them was poor, causing them often to burst while + in the bath, and the proper methods of bathing and of expelling + the air from the cans were not understood. The experiments were + continued for two years with varying success, and in secret, no + outsiders being allowed to enter their bathing room. Though fairly + successful in some of their results, they could not always depend + upon their goods keeping well. + + In 1843 they secured the services of Mr. Charles Mitchell, who was + then residing at Halifax, and who was not only well acquainted + with the methods of bathing practiced in his own country, but was + also a practical tinsmith. He had been employed in the canning of + hermetically sealed goods in Scotland for ten years, and came over + to Halifax in 1841, where he continued for two years in the same + occupation, exporting his goods to England. After Mr. Mitchell's + arrival at Eastport, no further difficulty was experienced in the + bathing or other preparation of the lobsters, and a desirable + grade of goods was put up, but they found no sale, as canned + preparations were comparatively unknown in the markets of the + United States. Mr. Treat visited each of the larger cities with + samples of the goods, and endeavored to establish agencies for + them, but he was generally obliged to send on consignment, as few + firms were willing to take the responsibility of buying on their + own account. A patent was also applied for, but the claim was not + pressed and the patent was never received. + + +The success at Eastport led to a rapid extension of the business in +other parts of the State. The second cannery was located at Harpswell +about the year 1849. A cannery was started at Carver Harbor, Fox +Islands, in 1851, and another at Southwest Harbor in 1853. In 1857 +a cannery was started at North Haven, and at Gouldsboro two were +started in 1863 and 1870, respectively. From this time the number +increased rapidly for several years. After 1880 the number operated +fluctuated considerably, depending on the abundance of lobsters. +Some canneries had to suspend operations at an early stage, owing to +the exhaustion of the grounds in their vicinity. At most canneries +lobsters formed only a part of the pack, sardines, clams, fish, and +various vegetables and fruits being packed in their season. Most of +the canneries were built and operated by Boston and Portland firms. + +At first the lobsters used for canning ranged in weight from 3 to 10 +pounds. Gradually the average weight was reduced, until at last it +reached as low as 3/4 pound, or even less. This was caused principally +by the high prices paid for large lobsters for the fresh trade, with +which the canneries could not compete. + +As the supply of lobsters on the Maine coast began to decrease shortly +before 1870, while the demand for canned lobsters increased at an +enormous rate, the dealers began to establish canneries on the coasts +of the British provinces. As the decline in the supply was attributed +to the canneries, a sentiment against them was gradually formed, and +laws were enacted regulating the time in which they could operate and +the size of the lobsters they could put up. Prior to 1879 they were +permitted to pack lobsters at any season of the year, but they usually +operated only between April 1 and August 1, and again between the 10th +or middle of September and the 1st of December, the length of the +season depending very largely upon the weather and the abundance of +lobsters. In 1879 it was enacted that no canning of lobsters should +be allowed from August 1 to April 1 following. In 1883 it was made +illegal to can lobsters less than 9 inches in length. In 1885 the +canning season was fixed from April 1 to July 15. In 1889 the season +was fixed from May 1 to July 1, and the minimum length of lobsters to +be canned placed at 9 inches. In 1891 this act was so amended as to +make the season from April 20 to June 1. After 1880 the number of +canneries gradually declined, until in 1895 the last one suspended the +canning, of lobsters, owing to the passage of a law fixing the minimum +size at 10-1/2 inches. This law went into effect July 1, 1895. As they +could not afford to pay the high price demanded for this size they +were compelled to give up the business. + +The following table shows the number of factories in operation, the +quantity and value of fresh lobsters used, and the number and value of +cans of lobsters put up, in the years 1880, 1889, and 1892: + + + 1880 1889 1892 + ------------- ------------- -------------- + No. Value No. Value No. Value + --- ----- --- ----- --- ----- +Number of + canneries 23 20 11 +Lobsters used, + fresh lbs. 9,494,284 $95,000 5,752,654 $72,092 9,494,284 $95,000 + + +Canned + One-lb cans 1,542,696 999,521 126,577 1,228,944 195,114 + Two-lb cans 148,704 85,520 16,036 3,096 839 + Other sizes 139,801 + --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- ------- + Total cans 1,831,201 238,280 1,085,041 142,613 1,232,040 195,953 + + Part of the lobsters used in the Eastport factories come from New + Brunswick. It is impossible to separate them. + + + +ABUNDANCE, ETC. + +There are no accurate figures showing the catch of lobsters in Maine +previous to 1880. It is therefore difficult to make comparisons, and +one is compelled to depend largely upon the memory of the fishermen +and the statements of the canners and dealers, which the lapse of +time, etc., makes rather unreliable. The numerous petitions sent +to the legislature asking for restrictive laws, while possibly +exaggerated at times, indicate that there were fears of the exhaustion +of the fishery for some years back. It is positively known, however, +that certain grounds have been almost or totally exhausted through +overfishing for a number of years, while on other grounds the supply +of lobsters has seriously decreased. There was a time when no lobster +under 2 pounds in weight was saved by the fishermen. In later years, +before there was a restriction fixing the minimum size of lobsters +that could be canned, the canneries frequently used half-pound +lobsters. The fixing of the minimum length of the lobsters caught at +10-1/2 inches, and the consequent closing up of the canneries, has +been of incalculable benefit to the fishermen, as the young lobsters +now have an opportunity to reach maturity. + +The table given below shows for certain years the number of pots used, +the quantity of lobsters taken, with their value, also the average +catch and value per man, the average catch per pot, and the average +price per pound: + + + Average Average Average Average + Catch catch stock catch price + Fisher- ---------------- per per per per +Year men Pots Pounds Value man man pot pound +---- --- ---- ------ ----- --- --- --- ----- + pounds pounds cents + +1880 1,843 104,456 14,234,182 $268,739 7,723 $146 136 1.9 +1887 1,906 113,299 22,916,642 512,044 12,023 269 202 2.2 +1888 1,967 112,632 21,694,731 515,880 11,029 267 193 2.4 +1889 2,080 121,140 25,001,351 574,165 12,020 276 206 2.3 +1892 2,628 153,043 17,642,677 663,043 6,713 252 117 3.8 +1898 3,099 155,978 11,183,294 992,855 3,609 320 78 8.9 + + +While the catch increased up to 1889 and then decreased until in +1898 it was lower than in 1880, the number of fisherman and pots and +the value of the catch steadily increased. The average stock per +man fluctuated somewhat from year to year, but in 1898 shows a +considerable increase over every other year. The most interesting +point however, is the average price per pound. In 1880 this was 1.9 +cents, while in 1898 it was 8.9 cents per pound. With one exception, +each year shows a progressive increase in value per pound. The great +increase of 1898 over 1892, 5.1 cents per pound, was caused by the +closing up of the canneries in 1895, and the consequent dropping out +of the cheap product they had been buying from the fishermen. + + + +WEIGHT OF LOBSTERS. + +The figures given below show the average weight of lobsters at certain +given lengths. These weights are made up from the results obtained by +investigators of the United States Fish Commission, particularly those +of Prof. Francis H. Herrick. Males in nearly every instance weigh +slightly more than females of the same length. + + + Weight + Length in pounds. + ------ --------- + 9 inches 1.16 + l0 inches 1.50 + 10-1/2 inches 1.75 + 11 inches 2 + 12 inches 2.50 + 13 inches 2.75 + 15 inches 4.25 + + + +CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LOBSTERS. + +The nutritive value of a fishery product is of considerable interest +to the consumer. Some years ago, Prof. W. O. Atwater, of Middletown, +Connecticut, made a series of careful analyses of the composition of +the flesh of three lobsters from the coasts of Maine and +Massachusetts, and the figures given below represent the results: + + + Per cent. + --------- + + Proportions of edible portion and shell: + + Total edible portion 39.77 + Shell 57.47 + Loss in cleaning 2.76 + + Proportions of water and dry substance + in edible portion: + + Water 82.73 + Dry substance 17.27 + + Chemical analysis calculated on dry substance: + + Nitrogen 12.54 + Albuminoids (nitrogen x 6.25) 78.37 + Fat 11.43 + Crude ash 10.06 + Phosphorus (calculated as P2 O6) 2.24 + Sulfur (calculated as SO3) 2.47 + Chlorine 3.46 + + Chemical analysis calculated on + fresh substance in flesh: + + Water 82.73 + Nitrogen 2.17 + Albuminoids (nitrogen x 6.25) 13.57 + Fat 1.97 + Crude ash 1.74 + Phosphorus (calculated as P2 06) .39 + Sulphur (calculated as SO3) .43 + Chlorine .59 + + Nutritive value of flesh of lobsters + compared with beef as a standard and + reckoned at 100. 61.97 + + + +ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE LOBSTER. + +The rapid increase in the catch of this crustacean during the past ten +years has drawn upon it the most earnest attention of all interested +in the preservation of this valuable fishery. If the "berried" or +female lobster bearing eggs, and the young and immature, were let +alone by the fishermen there would be no necessity for a resort to +artificial lobster culture. Maine has a most stringent law forbidding +the taking and selling of "berried" lobsters, and of any lobster under +10-1/2 inches in length, but this law is evaded by numerous fishermen +whenever possible. An idea of the extent to which short lobsters are +marketed in the State may be gathered from the statement of Mr. A. R. +Nickerson, commissioner of sea and shore fisheries for the State, +that in 1899 over 50,000 short lobsters were seized and liberated by +the State wardens. As these wardens only discover a small proportion +of the short lobsters handled by the fishermen and dealers it is +easy to see what a terrible drain this is on the future hope of the +fishery--the young and immature. Large numbers of "berried" lobsters +are also captured, the eggs brushed off, and the lobsters sold as +ordinary female lobsters. + +The Report of the U. S. Fish Commission for 1897, on pages 235 and +236, contains the following account of the artificial propagation of +lobsters: + + + Prior to 1885 experiments had been conducted at various points + looking to the artificial propagation of the lobster. The only + practical attempts of this nature previous to those made by the + Fish Commission were by means of "parking," that is, holding in + large naturally inclosed basins lobsters that had been injured, + soft-shelled ones, and those below marketable size. Occasionally + females with spawn were placed in the same inclosures. One of + these parks was established in Massachusetts in 1872, but was + afterwards abandoned; another was established on the coast of + Maine about 1875. It was soon demonstrated, however, that the + results from inclosures of this character, so far as the rearing + of the lobsters from the young were concerned, would not be + sufficient to materially affect the general supply. The completion + of the new marine laboratory and hatchery at Woods Hole in 1885, + with its complete system of salt-water circulation, permitted the + commencement of experiments in artificial hatching on a large + scale which had not been practicable theretofore, although small + quantities of lobster eggs, as well as those of other crustaceans, + had been successfully hatched. In 1886 the experiments had + progressed so successfully that several million eggs were + collected and hatched at Woods Hole, the fry being deposited in + Vineyard Sound and adjacent waters. From 1887 to 1890, inclusive, + the number of eggs collected was 17,821,000. + + +During the above years the average production of fry was about 54 +per cent. By the use of more improved apparatus the average was +brought up to 90 per cent in 1897, when the collections amounted +to 150,000,000 eggs, of which 135,000,000 were hatched. As the +commissioner of sea and shore fisheries of Maine objected to the +taking of female lobsters in that State and the planting of part, at +least, of the resulting fry in other waters, an arrangement was made +in 1898 by which all female lobsters and the fry hatched out from the +eggs secured from these would be returned to the State waters. Under +this arrangement 2,365 "berried" lobsters were bought from the Maine +fishermen by the U. S. Fish Commission. From these 25,207,000 eggs +were taken and 22,875,000 fry were hatched. Of these, 21,500,000 were +deposited in Maine waters at various points. In 1899, 36,925,000 fry +were planted in Maine waters by the Commission. In order that the +female lobsters may be secured the authorities of Maine permit the +fishermen to catch and sell "berried" lobsters to the Commission. + +The collection of eggs in Maine is usually made by the Commission +during the months of April, May, June, and to about the middle of +July, depending upon the supply to be had. During the season of 1899 a +small steam smack was chartered for collecting the lobsters, starting +from Gloucester, where the hatching of Maine lobster eggs is now +carried on, and running to Eastport, returning over the same route. +The Fish Commission schooner _Grampus_ was also used in this work. +The lobsters are purchased from fishermen, who receive the market +price for ordinary lobsters, and as they are not allowed to sell +these lobsters legally for consumption the sale to the Commission +materially increases their financial returns. + +In 1883 a radical advance along the line of artificial propagation +was made, so far as the legislature was concerned, when the act +incorporating the Samoset Island Association, of Boothbay, was passed. +Section 4 of the charter reads as follows: + + + In order to secure a sufficient and regular supply of lobsters for + domestic consumption on any land or islands under the control of + said corporation, it may increase the number of lobsters within + said limits by artificial propagation, or other appropriate acts + and methods, under the direction of the fishery commission, and + shall not be interfered with by other parties, but be protected + therein, as said fishery commission may determine, and shall have + the right, by its agents and tenants, to take and catch lobsters + within 300 yards of the low-water line of the islands and lands + owned or leased by said corporation, during each and every month, + for domestic use. + + +In 1887 the legislature passed an act granting R. T. Carver the sole +right to propagate lobsters in Carver's pond, Vinalhaven. Mr. Carver's +experiment was a failure, as he says the mud in the pond was so filthy +that nearly all the spawn was killed. + + + +LARGE AND PECULIAR LOBSTERS. + +Since the inception of the fishery, stories of the capture of lobsters +weighing 30, 40, and even 50 pounds have been common, but have rarely +been well authenticated. Especially is this the case in the early +years of the fishery. It is probable that in the transmission of the +stories from person to person the lobsters gained rather than lost in +size. Among the most authentic cases in Maine are the following: + +On May 6, 1891, a male lobster weighing slightly over 23 pounds +was taken in Penobscot Bay, southeast of Moose Point, in line with +Brigadier Island, in about 3-1/2 fathoms of water, by Mr. John Condon. +The lobster had tried to back into the trap, but after getting +his tail through the funnel he was unable to get either in or out and +was thus captured. + +According to Mr. F. W. Collins, a dealer of Rockland, in August, +1891, a lobster weighing 18-1/2 pounds was taken at Blue Hill Falls, +in upper Blue Hill Bay, while in November, 1892, a female lobster +weighing 18 pounds was taken at Green Island. + +In January, 1893, Mr. N. F. Trefethen, of Portland, received a lobster +from Vinal Haven which weighed 18 pounds. + +According to R. F. Crie & Sons, of Criehaven, on September 7,1898, a +male lobster weighing 25 pounds and measuring 25 inches from the end +of the nose to the tip of tail, and 45 inches including the claws, was +caught on a hake trawl by Peter Mitchell, a fisherman. The trawl was +set about 2 miles southeast from Matinicus Rock Light Station in 60 +fathoms of water. + +In August, 1899, the writer saw a live male lobster at Peak Island +which measured 44 inches in length and weighed 25 pounds, according to +the statement of the owner. It had been caught near Monhegan Island, +and the owner was carrying it from town to town in a small car, which +he had built for it, and charging a small fee to look at it. + +In April, 1874, a female lobster weighing about 2 pounds was caught +off Hurricane Island. Her color was a rich indigo along the middle of +the upper part of the body, shading off into a brighter and clearer +tint on the sides and extremities. The upper surface of the large +claws was blue and purple, faintly mottled with darker shades, while +underneath was a delicate cream tint. The under parts of the body +tended also to melt into a light cream color, and this was also true +of the spines and tubercles of the shell and appendages. + +In 1893 a Peak Island fisherman caught a lobster about 11 inches +in length whose back was of an indigo blue, and which toward the +extremities and under parts was shaded off into a pure white. The +under part of the claw was also of a pure white. + +Mr. Lewis McDonald, of Portland, has a pure white lobster preserved in +alcohol. It was caught in 1887. + +A lobster was caught at Beal Island, near West Jonesport, which was +about 6 or 7 inches in length and almost jet black. + +A few bright-red lobsters, looking as though they had been boiled, +have also been taken along the coast at various times. + +A lobster was caught near Long Island, Casco Bay, about the year 1886, +in which half of the body was light-yellow up to the middle line of +the back, while the other half was bright-red. There were no spots on +the shell. + +In September, 1898, Mr. R. T. Carver, of Vinal Haven, had in his +possession a female lobster, about 11 inches long, of a bright-red +color all over, except the forward half of the right side of the +carapace and the feeler on this side, which were of the usual color. + + + +LAWS REGULATING THE FISHERY. + +In 1897 the legislature revised and consolidated the laws relating to +the sea and shore fisheries of Maine, and below are given the sections +relating to the lobster fishery adopted that year, together with the +amendments to the act adopted in 1899, which are incorporated +herewith: + + + SEC. 39. It is unlawful to catch, buy or sell, or expose for sale, + or possess for any purpose, any lobsters less than 10-1/2 inches + in length, alive or dead, cooked or uncooked, measured in manner + as follows: Taking the length of the back of the lobster, measured + from the bone of the nose to the end of the bone of the middle of + the flipper of the tail, the length to be taken in a gauge with a + cleat upon each end of the same, measuring 10-1/2 inches between + said cleats, with the lobster laid upon its back and extended upon + its back upon the gauge, without stretching or pulling, to the end + of the bone of the middle flipper of the tail, its natural length, + and any lobster shorter than the prescribed length when caught, + shall be liberated alive at the risk and cost of the parties + taking them, under a penalty of $1 for each lobster so caught, + bought, sold, exposed for sale, or in the possession not so + liberated. The possession of mutilated, uncooked lobsters shall be + prima facie evidence that they are not of the required length. + + SEC. 40. It is unlawful to destroy, buy, sell, expose for sale, or + possess any female lobsters in spawn or with eggs attached at any + season of the year, under a penalty of $10 for each lobster so + destroyed, caught, bought, sold, exposed for sale, or possessed: + _Provided, however_, If it appears that it was intended to + liberate them in accordance with the provisions of this act, the + persons having such lobsters in possession shall not be liable + to any of the penalties herein provided for, though he may have + failed, for any cause not within his control, to so liberate them. + + SEC. 41. It shall be unlawful to can, preserve, or pickle lobsters + less than 10-1/2 inches in length, alive or dead, measured as + aforesaid; and for every lobster canned, preserved, or pickled + contrary to the provisions of this section every person, firm, + association, or corporation so canning, preserving, or pickling + shall be liable to a penalty of $1 for every lobster so canned, + preserved, or pickled contrary to the provisions of this section, + and a further penalty of $300 for every day on which such unlawful + canning, preserving, or pickling is carried on. + + SEC. 42. All barrels, boxes, or other packages in transit + containing lobsters shall be marked with the word lobsters in + capital letters, at least 1 inch in length, together with the full + name of the shipper. Said marking shall be placed in a plain and + legible manner on the outside of such barrel, boxes, or other + packages; and in case of seizure by any duly authorized officer + of any barrels, boxes, or other packages in transit, containing + lobsters, which are not so marked, or in case of seizure by such + officer of barrels, boxes, or other packages in transit containing + lobsters less than the prescribed length, such lobsters as are + alive and less than the prescribed length shall be liberated and + all such lobsters as are of the prescribed length found in such + barrels, boxes, or packages, together with such barrels, boxes, + and packages, shall be forfeited and disposed of under the + provisions of section 47 of this act. + + SEC. 43. Every person, firm, association, or corporation who ships + lobsters without having the barrels, boxes, or other packages in + which the same are contained marked as prescribed in the previous + section shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of $25, and + upon subsequent conviction thereof by a fine of $50; and any + person or corporation in the business of a common carrier of + merchandise who shall carry or transport from place to place + lobsters in barrels, boxes, or other packages not so marked shall + be liable to a penalty of $50 upon such conviction thereof. + + SEC. 44. All cars in which lobsters are kept, and all lobster cars + while in the water, shall have the name of the owner or owners + thereof on the top of the car, where it may plainly be seen, in + letters not less than three-fourths of an inch in length, plainly + carved or branded thereon, and all traps, cars, or other devices + for the catching of lobsters shall have, while in the water, the + owner's name carved or branded in like manner on all the buoys + attached to said traps or other devices, under a penalty of $10 + for each car and $5 for each trap or device not so marked; and if + sufficient proof to establish the ownership of such cars or traps + can not be readily obtained, they may be declared forfeited, + subject to the provisions of section 47 of this act. + + SEC. 45. All persons are hereby prohibited from setting any + lobster traps within 300 feet of the mouth or outer end of the + leaders of any fish weir, under a penalty of $10 for each offense. + + SEC. 46. Whoever takes up, or attempts to take up, or in any way + knowingly and willfully interferes with any lobster trap while set + for use, without the authority of the owner thereof, shall be + punished by a fine of not less than $20, nor more than $50; + _Provided, however_, That no action, complaint, or indictment + shall be maintained under this section unless the name of the + owner of all such traps shall be carved or branded in legible + letters, not less than three-fourths of an inch in length, on all + the buoys connected with such traps. + + SEC. 47. When any lobsters are seized by virtue of the provisions + of this act, it shall be the duty of the officer making such + seizure to cause such lobsters, so seized, as he is not required + by law to liberate, together with the cars, traps, barrels, boxes, + or other packages in which they are contained, to be appraised + within 24 hours after the time of such seizures by three + disinterested men residing in the county where such seizure + is made, to be selected by him, and the lobsters, cars, traps, + barrels, boxes, or other packages so seized and appraised shall + thereupon be sold by the officer making the seizure thereof, at + such time and in such manner as shall by him be deemed proper. The + officer making such seizure and sale shall within ten days after + the time of such seizure file a libel in behalf of the State + before a trial justice, or a judge of a police or municipal court + of the county in which such seizure was made, setting forth the + fact of such seizure, appraisal, and sale, the time and place of + the seizure, the number of lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, + or other packages so seized and sold, and the amount of the + proceeds of such sale; and such trial justice or judge shall + appoint a time and place for the hearing of such libel, and shall + issue a notice of the same to all persons interested to appear at + the time and place appointed, and show cause why the lobsters, + cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages so seized and sold, + and the proceeds of such sale, should not be declared forfeited, + which notice shall be served upon the owner, if known, and by + causing an attested copy of such libel and notice to be posted in + two public and conspicuous places in the town in which the seizure + was made, seven days at least before the time of hearing. + + If any person appears at the time and place of hearing, and claims + that the lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages + so seized and sold were not liable to forfeiture at the time of + seizure, and that he was entitled thereto, the trial justice or + judge shall hear and determine the cause, and if he shall decide + that such lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other + packages, at the time of seizure, were not liable to forfeiture, + and that the claimant was entitled thereto, he shall order the + proceeds of such sale to be paid to the claimant; if no claimant + shall appear, or if such trial justice or judge shall decide that + such lobsters, traps, cars, barrels, boxes, or other packages, at + the time of the seizure, were liable to forfeiture, or that the + claimant was not entitled thereto, he shall decree a forfeiture of + such lobsters, cars, traps, barrels, boxes, or other packages, and + of the proceeds of sale, and shall order the proceeds of sale, + after deducting all lawful charges, to be paid to the county + treasurer, and by him to the State treasurer, to be used as + directed in section 48 of this act, and shall render judgment + against the claimant for costs to be taxed as in civil suits, and + issue execution therefor against him in favor of the State, which + costs, when collected, shall be paid in to the treasurer of the + county, and by him to the treasurer of the State, to be added and + made a part of the appropriation for sea and shore fisheries. + The claimant shall have the right of appeal to the next supreme + judicial court or superior court in the county, upon recognizing + and paying the fees for copies and entry as in cases of appeal + in criminal cases. The fees and costs of seizure, appraisal, + and sale, and in all other proceedings in the case, shall be as + provided by law in criminal cases, and in case a forfeiture shall + be declared, shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale, + otherwise shall be paid by the county, as in criminal cases. + + SEC. 48. All fines and penalties under this act may be recovered + by complaint, indictment, or action of debt brought in the + county where the offense is committed. The action of debt shall + be brought in the name of the commissioner of sea and shore + fisheries, and all offenses under or violations of the provisions + of this statute may be settled by the commissioner of sea and + shore fisheries, upon such terms and conditions as he deems + advisable. All fines, penalties, and collections under this act + shall be paid into the treasury of the county where the offense + is committed, and by such treasurer to the State treasurer, to be + added to and made a part of the appropriation for sea and shore + fisheries. + + SEC. 49. The commissioner of sea and shore fisheries may take fish + of any kind, when, where, and in such manner as he chooses, for + the purposes of science, of cultivation, and of dissemination, and + he may grant written permits to other persons to take fish for the + same purposes, and may introduce or permit to be introduced any + kind of fish into any waters. + + +The following special act was passed at the 1899 session of the +legislature: + + + SEC. 1. No person shall take, catch, kill, or destroy any lobsters + between the 1st day of July and the 1st day of September in each + year, under a penalty of $1 for each lobster so taken, caught, + killed, or destroyed, in the waters of Pigeon Hill Bay, so called, + in the towns of Millbridge and Steuben, within the following + points, namely: Commencing at Woods Pond Point, on the west side + of Pigeon Hill Bay; thence easterly to the Nubble, on Little Bois + Bubert Island; thence by the shore to the head of Bois Bubert + Island; thence northerly to Joe Dyers Point, so called; thence + by the shore around Long Cove and the creek; thence to the + head of Pigeon Hill Bay aforesaid; thence by the shore to the + first-mentioned bound. + + SEC. 2. All fines and penalties under this act may be recovered as + provided in section 48 of chapter 285 of the Public Laws of 1897. + + + +IMPORTATIONS OF LIVE LOBSTERS. + +For some years there have been considerable importations of live +lobsters into Maine from the British Provinces, particularly from New +Brunswick; previous to the closing up of the canning industry they +were more numerous than at present, as considerable numbers were +brought in by boat fishermen for the canneries at or near Eastport. +The importations are now made by the dealers, who frequently send +their own smacks into the Provinces for a supply when lobsters are +scarce in the State. + +The following table shows the importations into the State, by customs +districts, for the fiscal year 1898: + + + 1898 + ------------------ + Customs districts. Pounds Value + ------ ------ + Aroostook 150 $12 + Bangor. 246,991 43,507 + Machias 700 91 + Passamaquoddy 327,481 35,373 + Portland and Falmouth 214,075 13,037 + Waldoboro 43,264 3,211 + Wiscasset 28,000 1,120 + + + +STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY IN MAINE IN 1898. + +The following tables show the statistical data relating to the fishery +for 1898; except the wholesale trade of Rockland and Portland, which +is shown elsewhere. + +While Hancock County leads in the number of vessel fishermen with 173, +Knox County has the largest number of persons transporting, 78. In the +boat fishermen, Washington County leads with 639, followed closely by +Knox County with 606. In the total number of persons employed Knox +County leads with 749, while Washington and Hancock counties have very +nearly the same number, 695 and 683, respectively. The total number of +persons employed was 3,304. + +Hancock County leads in the number of vessels fishing, 78, valued at +$33,000, while Knox County leads in the number of transporting +vessels, 33, valued at $51,900, and is also second in the number of +fishing vessels. Cumberland County is second in the number of +transporting vessels. This county has more steam transporting vessels +than all the other counties combined, 8, valued at $31,200. In the +matter of boats engaged in the shore fishery Knox County also has the +preeminence, with 696 boats, valued at $37,175. Lincoln, Hancock, and +Washington counties follow in the order named, and are all three very +close to each other. + +Hancock County leads in the number of pots used in the vessel fishery, +7,146, while Knox County is second. Knox County leads in the number of +pots used in shore fisheries with 39,040, valued at $39,030, and is +followed by Lincoln County with 29,190 pots, valued at $29,190. + +In the matter of shore property Lincoln County leads with $16,917, +although if the property used in the wholesale trade had been included +in this table Cumberland County would lead. In the total investment +Knox County leads with $169,056. Hancock County comes second, +with $136,651, followed by Washington and Cumberland counties, +respectively. The total investment for the whole State is $616,668. + +In vessel catch Hancock County leads with 444,704 pounds, valued at +$47,101. Knox County is second with 286,688 pounds, valued at $29,395. +In the boat catch Hancock County also leads with 2,198,518 pounds, +valued at $204,390, while Knox County is a close second with 2,165,256 +pounds, valued at $186,968. Lincoln County is third and Washington +County fourth. The total catch for the State is 11,183,294 pounds, +valued at $992,855. + + + Table showing by counties the number of persons employed + in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898. + + Vessel Boat + fisher- Trans- fisher- Shores- + County men porters men men Total + ------ --- ------- --- --- ----- + Washington 30 19 639 7 695 + Hancock 173 27 480 3 683 + Penobscot 2 2 + Waldo 19 19 + Knox 55 78 606 10 749 + Lincoln 12 11 447 4 474 + Sagadahoc. 2 98 100 + Cumberland 10 45 379 6 440 + York 4 3 135 142 + --- --- ----- -- ----- + Total 280 185 2,803 30 3,304 + + + + Table showing by counties the vessels, boats, apparatus, and + shore property employed in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898. + + Washington Hancock Penobscot Waldo + ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- +Items. No. Value. No. Value. No. Value. No. Value. + +Vessels fishing 10 $5,850 78 $33,000 1 $350 + Tonnage 76 593 5 + Outfit. 1,169 4,995 15 + +Vessels trans- + porting--steam 1 8,350 2 6,500 + Tonnage 34 26 + Outfit 1,835 1,950 + +Vessels trans- + porting--sail 5 8,500 8 9,900 + Tonnage 94 99 + Outfit 790 885 + +Boats trans- + porting + (steamers and + launches under + 5 tons) 1 1,100 1 4,950 + +Sailboats + fishing 259 56,170 225 34,290 + +Rowboats + fishing 209 2,390 250 3,285 17 $255 + +Pots used in + vessel + fisheries 1,710 1,710 7,146 7,146 82 82 + +Pots used in + shore + fisheries 22,390 22,373 23,880 23,880 575 575 + +Shore + property 4,015 5,870 102 + ------- ------- --- --- + +Total 114.252 136,651 447 932 + + + + Knox Lincoln Sagadahoc Cumberland + ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- +Items. No. Value. No. Value. No. Value. No. Value. + +Vessels fishing 28 $13,250 6 $4,200 5 $1,950 + Tonnage 184 42 30 + Outfit. 3,923 619 335 + +Vessels trans- + porting--steam 3 18,000 8 31,200 + Tonnage 31 109 + Outfit 5,175 5,484 + +Vessels trans- + porting--sail 30 33,900 4 6,200 10 11,800 + Tonnage 574 73 173 + Outfit 4,881 877 1,814 + +Boats trans- + porting + (steamers and + launches under + 5 tons) 1 1,100 1 $1,100 + +Sailboats + fishing 212 31,760 132 12,975 1 125 154 13,635 + +Rowboats + fishing 484 5,415 351 3,571 90 1,185 186 3,571 + +Pots used in + vessel + fisheries 4,140 4,140 510 510 400 400 + +Pots used in + shore + fisheries 39,040 39,030 29,190 29,190 2,138 1,964 17,932 17,932 + +Shore + property 9,582 16,917 730 9,416 + ------- ------ ----- ------ + +Total 169,056 76,159 5,104 97,537 + + + + York Total + ----------- ----------- +Items. No. Value. No. Value + +Vessels fishing 2 $1,600 130 $60,200 + Tonnage 16 946 + Outfit. 225 11,281 + +Vessels trans- + porting--steam 14 64,050 + Tonnage 200 + Outfit 14,444 + +Vessels trans- + porting--sail 2 550 59 70,850 + Tonnage 14 1,027 + Outfit 65 9,312 + +Boats trans- + porting + (steamers and + launches under + 5 tons) 4 8,250 + +Sailboats + fishing 47 2,085 1,030 151,040 + +Rowboats + fishing 81 1,860 1,668 21,532 + +Pots used in + vessel + fisheries 250 250 14,238 14,238 + +Pots used in + shore + fisheries 6,595 6,595 141,740 141,530 + +Shore + property 3,300 49,932 + ------- ------- + +Total 16,530 616,668* + + *The property, cash capital, etc., in the wholesale + trade of Rockland and Portland is shown elsewhere. + + + +Table showing by counties, vessels, and boats the yield in the lobster +fishery of Maine in 1898. + + Vessel catch Boat catch Total + -------------- ---------------- --------------- +Counties Pounds Value Pounds Value Pounds Value +--------- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- +Washington 82,809 $7,312 1,545,895 $132,877 1,628,704 $140,189 +Hancock 444,704 47,101 2,198,518 204,390 2,643,222 251,491 +Penobscot 1,264 118 1,264 118 +Waldo 17,766 1,713 17,766 1,713 +Knox 286,688 29,395 2,165,256 186,968 2,451,944 216,363 +Lincoln 48,872 4,157 2,106,645 181,617 2,155,517 185,774 +Sagadahoc 384,900 30,392 384,900 30,392 +Cumberland 22,253 2,000 1,401,338 118,616 1,423,591 120,616 +York 21,241 1,841 455,145 44,358 476,386 46,199 + ------- ------ ---------- ------- ---------- ------- +Total 907,831 91,924 10,275,463 900,931 11,183,294 992,855 + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE*** + + +******* This file should be named 17475.txt or 17475.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/7/17475 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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