,watch1 ,rockland1 ,maine1 with technical assistance from ,joseph ,e4 ,loewenstein1 ,m4,d4 which includes the original illustrations and tables4 ,see #agdge-;h4htm or #agdge-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#a_/ g_/d_/g_/agdge_/agdge-;h_/#agdge-;h4htm7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#a_/ g_/d_/g_/agdge_/agdge-;h4zip7 ,,the ,,lobster ,,fishery ,,of ,,maine4 by ,,john ,n4 ,,cobb1 ,agent of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission4 ,bulletin of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission1 ,vol4 #ai1 ,pages #bda-bfe1 #ahii ,illustration3 ,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 country4 ,in the ,state of ,maine1 particularly1 where the industry is of the first importance1 the steady decline from year to year has caused the gravest fears1 and incessant efforts have been made by the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission1 in conjunction with the ,state ,fish ,commission of ,maine1 to overcome this decline4 ,this paper presents the results of an investigation by the writer in #ahii4 ,all statistics1 when not otherwise stated1 are for the calendar year #ahih4 ,i am indebted to so many dealers1 fishermen1 and others for information given and courtesies extended that it is impossible to mention them by name2 and ,i now extend to all my most sincere thanks for their many kindnesses4 ,illustration3 ,the first steam smack to carry lobsters in a well ,,natural ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,lobster4 ,although the lobster has been of great value to the ,new ,england ,states and the ,british ,provinces as a food commodity1 but little was known of its life-history and habits until within the last few years4 ,to this ignorance has been due quite largely peculiar 7and in some instances useless7 laws enacted by some ,states4 ,the gradual enlightenment of the public on this subject has borne good fruit1 however1 and most of the present ,state laws are founded on substantial facts instead of theories4 ,prof4 ,francis ,h4 ,herrick has been one of the most prominent of the investigators1 and his summary of the present knowledge on this subject is quoted below from the ,fish ,commission ,bulletin for #ahig3 7#a7 ,the fishery is declining1 and this decline is due to the persistence with which it has been conducted during the last twenty-five years4 ,there is no evidence that the animal is being driven to the wall by any new or unusual disturbance of the forces of nature4 7#b7 ,the lobster is migratory only to the extent of moving to and from the shore1 and is1 therefore1 practically a sedentary animal4 ,its movements are governed chiefly by the abundance of food and the temperature of the water4 7#c7 ,the female may be impregnated or provided with a supply of sperm for future use by the male at any time1 and the sperm1 which is deposited in an external pouch or sperm receptacle1 has remarkable vitality4 ,copulation occurs commonly in spring1 and the eggs are fertilized outside the body4 7#d7 ,female lobsters become sexually mature when from #h to #ab inches long4 ,the majority of all lobsters #aj-a_/b inches long are mature4 ,it is rare to find a female less than #h inches long which has spawned or one over #ab inches in length which has never borne eggs4 7#e7 ,the spawning interval is a biennial one1 two years elapsing between each period of egg-laying4 7#f7 ,the spawning period for the majority of lobsters is ,july and ,august4 ,a few lay eggs at other seasons of the year--in the fall1 winter1 and probably in the spring4 7#g7 ,the period of spawning lasts about six weeks1 and fluctuates slightly from year to year4 ,the individual variation in the time of extrusion of ova is explained by the long period during which the eggs attain the limits of growth4 ,anything which affects the vital condition of the female during this period of two years may affect the time of spawning4 7#h7 ,the spawning period in the middle and eastern districts of ,maine is two weeks later than in ,vineyard ,sound1 ,massachusetts4 ,in #ahic #ga per cent of eggs examined from the coast of ,maine were extruded in the first half of ,august4 7#i7 ,the number of eggs laid varies with the size of the animal4 ,the law of production may be arithmetically expressed as follows3 ,the number of eggs produced at each reproductive period varies in a geometrical series1 while the length of lobsters producing these eggs varies in an arithmetical series4 ,according to this law an #h-;inch lobster produces #e1jjj eggs1 a lobster #aj inches long #aj1jjj1 a #ab-;inch lobster #bj1jjj4 ,this high rate of production is not maintained beyond the length of #ad to #af inches4 ,the largest number of eggs recorded for a female is #ig1ddj4 ,a lobster #aj-a_/b inches long produces1 on the average1 nearly #ac1jjj eggs4 7#aj7 ,the period of incubation of summer eggs at ,woods ,hole is about ten months1 ,july #ae-;,august #ae to ,may #ae-;,june #ae4 ,the hatching of a single brood lasts about a week1 owing to the slightly unequal rate of development of individual eggs4 7#aa7 ,the hatching period varies also with the time of egg-laying1 lobsters having rarely been known to hatch in ,november and ,february4 7#ab7 ,taking all things into consideration1 the sexes appear about equally divided1 though the relative numbers caught in certain places at certain times of the year may be remarkably variable4 7#ac7 ,molting commonly occurs from ,june to ,september1 but there is no month of the year in which soft lobsters may not be caught4 7#ad7 ,the male probably molts oftener than the female4 7#ae7 ,in the adult female the molting like the spawning period is a biennial one1 but the two periods are one year apart4 ,as a rule1 the female lays her eggs in ,july1 carries them until the following summer1 when they hatch2 then she molts4 ,possibly a second molt may occur in the fall1 winter1 or spring1 but it is not probable1 and molting just before the production of new eggs is rare4 7#af7 ,the egg-bearing female1 with eggs removed1 weighs less than the female of the same length without eggs4 7#ag7 ,the new shell becomes thoroughly hard in the course of from six to eight weeks1 the length of time requisite for this varying with the food and other conditions of the animal4 7#ah7 ,the young1 after hatching1 cut loose from their mother1 rise to the surface of the ocean1 and1 lead a free life as pelagic larvae4 ,the first larva is about one-third of an inch long 7#g4hd mm74 ,the swimming period lasts from six to eight weeks1 or until the lobster has molted five or at most six times1 and is three-fifths of an inch long1 when it sinks to the bottom4 ,it now travels toward the shore1 and1 if fortunate1 establishes itself in the rock piles of inlets of harbors1 where it remains until driven out by ice in the fall or early winter4 ,the smallest1 now from #a to #c inches long1 go down among the loose stones which are often exposed at low tides4 ,at a later period1 when #c to #d inches long1 they come out of their retreats and explore the bottom1 occasionally hiding or burrowing under stones4 ,young lobsters have also been found in eelgrass and on sandy bottoms in shallow water4 7#ai7 ,the food of the larva consists of minute pelagic organisms4 ,the food of the older and adult stages is largely of animal origin with but slight addition of vegetable material1 consisting chiefly of fish and invertebrates of various kinds4 ,the large and strong also prey upon the small and weak4 7#bj7 ,the increase in length at each molt is about #ae4c per cent4 ,during the first year the lobster molts from #ad to #ag times4 ,at #aj-a_/b inches the lobster has molted #be to #bf times and is about #e years old4 ,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 works3 ,the ,fisheries and ,fishery ,industries of the ,united ,states1 sec4 ,i1 pp4 #ghj-hab4 ,the ,american ,lobster1 by ,francis ,h4 ,herrick4 ,bull4 ,u4 ,s4 ,fish ,com4 for #ahie1 pp4 #a-beb4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,fishery4 ,ever since the early ,puritan settlers first learned from the ,indians how to utilize the lobster1 it has been one of the most prized articles of food in the ,new ,england ,states4 ,the early town records of ,massachusetts contain frequent references to this valuable crustacean1 and efforts were made at an early day to conserve the supply4 ,at first1 as most settlers lived on or near the coast1 each family could easily secure its own supply1 but as the settlements gradually extended farther inland this became inconvenient1 and it soon became customary for certain persons living on the coast to attend to supplying the wants of the inland settlers1 and thus the commercial fishery was established4 ,the coast of ,maine is very favorably situated for this fishery4 ,in its eastern and middle sections the shore is bold and rocky1 while it is cut up by large deep inlets and coves which are studded with numerous islands1 large and small1 and by bold rocky promontories4 ,groups of islands are also numerous farther off shore1 like the ,fox and ,matinicus ,islands1 ,deer and ,mount ,desert islands4 ,large and small fresh-water rivers are numerous and the granite bottoms of these channels and inlets form admirable breeding grounds4 ,in the western end the shores are not so rocky1 being broken frequently with sandy reaches1 while the rivers are small and comparatively shallow4 ,west of ,casco ,bay the islands are infrequent4 ,as a result of this conformation of coast the best fishing grounds in ,maine are between ,cape ,elizabeth and ,quoddy ,head4 ,as early as #ahcj smacks from ,boston and ,connecticut visited ,harpswell for fresh lobsters1 and it is very probable that even before this time they had visited the points farther west in the ,state1 as the history of the fishery1 so far as known1 shows that it gradually worked to the eastward4 ,this was doubtless owing to the fact that the trend of settlement in the early part of the century was in that direction4 ,it is also probable that1 for some time before the people along the coast took up the fishery1 the smackmen themselves did their own fishing4 ,this is easily believed when the great abundance is considered4 ,it is known that this was done in ,massachusetts4 ,during summer the lobsters were very common close in shore and could easily be gaffed by boys at low water2 but this could hardly be called a regular fishery4 ,the regular fishery began with the use of hoop-net pots1 which were generally of very rude construction1 and the facility with which the lobsters escaped from them led to their disuse soon after the lath pots began to be introduced4 ,the lath pots were essentially the same in construction as those now used on the coast of ,maine1 and each pair of fishermen then handled between #be and #ej4 ,up to about #ahfe it was the custom to set the traps singly1 and two men were usually employed in the fishery1 one to haul up1 empty the pot1 rebait it1 and drop it overboard1 while the other handled the boat4 ,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 them4 ,this invention1 which was claimed by several different persons1 proved quite successful for a while1 but after a time1 when the supply of lobsters began to drop off1 better results were secured by scattering the pots over a greater area and shifting their position each time they were fished1 which was very easily done4 ,as a result of this the use of trawls decreased very rapidly4 ,the following facts regarding the early lobster fishery of ,maine are from the ,fishery ,industries of the ,united ,states1 section v1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #gjj1 #gja3 ,in #ahda ,capt4 ,e4 ,m4 ,oakes began to carry lobsters from ,cundy's ,harbor and ,horse ,island ,harbor1 ,harpswell1 to ,mr4 ,eben ,weeks1 at ,east ,boston4 ,he was then running a well-smack1 named the ,swampscott1 of #da tons1 old measurement4 ,the season extended from the #ast of ,march until about the #dth of ,july1 after which time the lobsters were supposed to be unfit for eating2 the black lobsters1 or shedders1 were even considered poisonous4 ,during this season of four months ,captain ,oakes made ten trips1 carrying in all #ce1jjj1 by count4 ,he continued in this trade about six years1 taking the combined catch of about five or six fishermen4 ,at this same period the smack ,hulda ,b4 ,hall1 #ej tons1 of ,new ,london1 ,conn41 ,captain ,chapell1 was carrying lobsters from ,cape ,porpoise1 ,gloucester1 ,ipswich ,bay1 and occasionally ,provincetown1 to ,boston1 making #ae trips in the season of four months1 and taking about #c1ejj lobsters each trip4 ,captain ,chapell was supplied with lobsters by four men at ,cape ,porpoise1 and by the same number at both ,gloucester and ,ipswich ,bay4 ,for four months following the close of the lobster season on the ,maine coast1 or from ,july #d until ,november1 ,captain ,chapell ran his smack with lobsters to ,new ,york1 obtaining most of his supplies at ,provincetown4 ,in #ahdg ,captain ,oakes purchased the smack ,josephine1 with which he began running to ,johnson ,young's establishment1 at ,boston1 in #ahdh1 buying a portion of his lobsters in the ,penobscot ,bay region1 where this fishery had just been started4 ,the quantity of lobsters carried by him that year was #dj1jjj4 ,the prices paid to the fishermen for smack lobsters was as follows3 ,during ,march1 #c cents each2 ,april1 #b-a_/b cents2 ,may and ,june1 #b cents4 ,in #ahej1 he began to obtain supplies from the ,muscle ,ridges1 leaving ,harpswell entirely1 on account of the small size of the lobsters then being caught there4 ,at this time the average weight of the lobsters marketed was about #c pounds1 and all under #aj-a_/b inches in length were rejected4 ,the traps were made of the same size as at present1 but were constructed of round oak sticks1 and with four hoops or bows to support the upper framework4 ,a string of bait1 consisting mainly of flounders and sculpins1 was tied into each trap4 ,about #ej traps were used by each fisherman1 and they were hauled once a day4 ,the warps or buoy lines1 by which the traps were lowered and hauled1 were cut in #ab-;fathom lengths4 ,lobsters were so abundant at the ,muscle ,ridges1 at this period1 that four men could fully supply ,captain ,oakes with lobsters every trip4 ,in the course of ten days each man would obtain between #a1bjj and #a1ejj marketable lobsters4 ,in ,captain ,oakes' opinion1 the ,muscle ,ridges have furnished the most extensive lobster fishery of the ,maine coast4 ,he ran to this locality until #ahgd4 ,capt4 ,s4 ,s4 ,davis1 of ,south ,saint ,george1 states that about #ahfd1 when he first began buying lobsters at the ,muscle ,ridges1 three men1 tending #dj to #ej pots each1 caught all the count lobsters he could carry to market in his smack4 ,he could load #e1jjj lobsters at a time1 and averaged a trip in #g to #i days4 ,this traffic continued for six or seven years4 ,in #ahgi1 ,captain ,davis bought from #ae men ,in the same locality1 and at times was obliged to buy also of others in order to make up a load4 ,the fishery at ,north ,haven began in #ahdh1 but did not increase so rapidly at first as in sections farther west1 as the smacks would only take the medium-sized lobsters1 fearing that the largest would not be able to stand the trip4 ,at ,matinicus ,island the fishing began in #ahfh4 ,in #aheb the people on ,deer ,island began the fishery1 and as the smackmen made frequent visits the business rapidly increased4 ,the establishment of a cannery at ,oceanville1 about #ahfj1 also caused a considerable development of the fishery4 ,the fishery was started at ,isle an ,haute about #ahee1 and at ,swan ,island in the early fifties4 ,the canning of lobsters was first carried on at ,eastport in #ahdb1 but the fishery was not taken up until about #ahec1 as it was supposed there were no lobsters in the neighborhood4 ,the supplies for these canneries previous to the inception of the fishery were obtained by smacks running to the westward4 ,for some years the fishery was only prosecuted in the late spring1 summer1 and early fall months4 ,just when winter fishing began in the ,state is doubtful2 but according to ,capt4 ,charles ,black1 of ,orr ,island1 it began in that region in #ahde at ,harpswell4 ,previously the fishermen had the impression that lobsters could not be successfully caught earlier than ,march #bj4 ,during the summer of #ahde the captains of the well-smacks of ,new ,london1 ,conn41 who bought most of the lobsters in that vicinity1 induced ,charles ,e4 ,clay1 ,samuel ,orr1 and a few others to fish during the winter1 and they set their traps about the same distance from the shore that the fishermen do at present1 and in almost the same depth of water4 ,the smackmen paid them #d for #ajj lobsters4 ,the next winter the fishermen refused to sell by number and wanted #a4be per #ajj pounds4 ,the smackmen had no objection to buy them by weight1 but refused to pay more than #a4ab per #ajj pounds4 ,this was accepted1 and for several years the prices were from #a4ab to #a4be per #ajj pounds4 ,comparatively few traps were necessary then1 as when the weather would permit the fishermen to tend their traps they would catch from #bj to #cj lobsters daily1 and frequently1 when the traps were hauled1 they would find several lobsters clinging to some part of the pots4 ,the bait was very plentiful and caught with spears4 ,the lobsters were placed in cars at that time1 after having been plugged to keep them from injuring each other4 ,the plugs were almost #a-a_/b inches long1 flat on one side1 round on the other1 and with a sharp point4 ,plugging has since been discontinued1 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 it4 ,illustration3 ,the steam smack ,mina and ,lizzie landing her cargo at ,portland ,illustration3 ,fleet of lobster boats in harbor at ,york ,island ,,the ,,fishing-,,grounds4 ,it is difficult to estimate the comparative value of the grounds in the ,state1 owing to the movements of the lobsters4 ,in the early spring1 in ,april or ,may1 as the waters in the bays and rivers warm up1 the lobsters come into the comparatively shallow waters4 ,they remain here until late in the fall1 going back to the ocean or deep waters of the bays in either ,october or ,november4 ,they love to congregate on rocky bottom1 and pots set on such bottom will frequently make large catches1 while those on sandy or muddy ground will catch almost nothing4 ,in the early years of the fishery they came in very close in great numbers1 and could frequently be taken at low water in dip nets or by gaffs2 but they are now found in summer in depths of from #c to #ae fathoms in the numerous passages between the islands and the mainland1 and the lower reaches of the bays and rivers4 ,for a number of years winter fishing was not prosecuted1 but now it is a very important business4 ,in winter the pots are generally set in the ocean at depths of from #ae to #ej fathoms4 ,as the greatest part of the coast line is cut up by numerous bays and rivers1 and these are dotted with large and small islands1 they form admirable breeding grounds for the lobster4 ,some of the best locations are in ,little ,machias1 ,machias1 ,englishman1 ,pleasant ,point1 ,chandler1 ,narragaugus1 ,muscongus1 ,linekin1 ,sheepscot1 and ,casco bays1 while the fishing is especially good around the numerous islands in the lower ,penobscot and ,blue ,hill bays1 and at ,monhegan and the ,matinicus islands in the ocean4 ,the ,sheepscot ,river is also a favorite resort for lobsters during the warm months1 while in the winter they retire to the waters of the bay1 where the fishing can be carried on very easily4 ,at most of the other grounds the winter fishing is carried on in the ocean1 as the lobsters do not usually remain in the bays4 ,most of the fishing in ,casco ,bay is carried on at the eastern end among the numerous islands4 ,the earliest fishing of which we have any definite record was carried on from the township of ,harpswell on this bay4 ,this region has held its own remarkably well1 as in #ahih more than twice as many lobsters were taken by fishermen from this township than from any other town in the ,state4 ,the upper portions of ,frenchman1 ,blue ,hill1 and ,penobscot bays were formerly very important grounds1 but are now almost exhausted4 ,these regions were especially noted for large lobsters4 ,in ,august1 #ahia1 ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,collins1 a ,rockland dealer1 had #ej lobsters in his establishment which weighed from #aj to #ah-a_/b pounds apiece4 ,about half of these came from ,castine1 in upper ,penobscot ,bay1 and the remainder from ,blue ,hill ,falls1 in the upper ,blue ,hill ,bay4 ,the grounds in ,york ,county1 at the western end of the ,state1 were formerly quite prolific1 but the excessive fishing of the last thirty years has very badly depleted them4 ,,the ,,fishing ,,season4 ,in the early days of the fishery it was customary to fish only during the spring and fall4 ,when the canneries went into operation they usually worked during the spring1 early summer1 and fall1 and as they furnished a ready market for all the lobsters that could be caught this came to be the principal season4 ,at that time it was not thought possible to do any winter fishing1 owing to the cold and stormy weather and the fact that the fishing had to be carried on generally in the open sea4 ,in #ahgh a law was passed limiting the canning season to the period between ,april #a and ,august #a4 ,this season was frequently changed by subsequent enactments1 but rarely covered a longer period than that fixed in the first law4 ,as at certain places on the coast the canneries were the only market for lobsters the fishery would cease as soon as the canneries stopped4 ,at other places1 which were visited by the smacks1 some of the fishermen would continue fishing after the canneries closed1 selling to the smackmen4 ,at various times a closed season was in force1 but at present there is no limitation as to season4 ,the canning industry in the ,state practically ceased to exist in #ahie1 and since then the whole catch has had to be marketed in a live or boiled condition4 ,the smack fleet had been gradually increasing as the live-lobster trade extended1 and by the time the canneries closed permanently they had extended their visits to every point where lobsters could be had in any number4 ,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 fishing4 ,during the excessively cold portion of the winter most of the pots are taken out1 but some fishing is done during every month of the year4 ,the fishermen on ,monhegan ,island1 about #ab miles southeast of ,pemaquid ,point1 agree among themselves to put no lobster pots in the water until about the #ast of ,january4 ,there is then no restriction on fishing until about ,may #ae1 when all pots are hauled out and no more fishing is done until the season begins again4 ,during this season the law in regard to short lobsters is rigidly enforced by the fishermen themselves4 ,should any outsider visit this island during the close time established by the fishermen1 and attempt to fish1 he is quietly informed of the agreement and requested to conform to it4 ,should he persist in working after this warning1 his pots are apt to mysteriously disappear4 ,as lobsters bring a much higher price in winter than in summer1 the ,monhegan fishermen reap a rich reward1 as the lobsters are very numerous1 owing to the #g-a_/b months close time4 ,on the first day the fishermen hauled in #aijj one man secured #bic1 for which he received #ai cents apiece4 ,the smallest number secured by anyone was #ace4 ,,fishing ,,appliances4 ,in most large fisheries for certain species numerous changes occur at intervals in the apparatus used1 owing to changed conditions1 etc41 but in the lobster industry changes have been few1 and at an early period the fishermen fixed upon a uniform apparatus1 which has been in use ever since with but slight modifications1 and these generally only temporary4 ,the earliest form of apparatus used to any considerable extent was the hoop net4 ,this consisted generally of a hoop or ring of about #a_/b-;inch round iron1 or a wooden hogshead hoop1 from #b-a_/b to #c feet or more in diameter4 ,to this hoop was attached a net bag with a depth of #ah to #bd inches as a bottom1 while two wooden half hoops were bent above it1 crossing at right angles in the center about #ab or #ae inches above the plane of the hoop4 ,sometimes these half hoops were replaced by short cords4 ,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 place4 ,as there was no way of closing the mouth of the pot after a lobster had entered1 these nets had to be constantly watched1 the lobster being in the habit of retiring after he had finished his repast4 ,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 contain4 ,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 visits1 and lath pots were found to fulfill all requirements4 ,they acquire the name from the use of common laths in their construction4 ,they are usually about #d feet in length1 with a width of about #b feet1 a height of #ah inches1 and in ,maine are usually of semicylindrical form4 ,the following description of this apparatus is from the ,fishery ,industries of the ,united ,states1 sec4 v1 vol4 #aa1 p4 #fff3 ,the framework of the bottom consists of three strips of wood1 either hemlock1 spruce1 or pine 7the first mentioned being the most durable71 a little longer than the width of the pot1 about #b-c_/d inches wide and #a inch thick4 ,in the ends of each of the outer strips a hole is bored to receive the ends of a small branch of pliable wood1 which is bent into a regular semicircular curve4 ,these hoops are made of branches of spruce or hemlock1 or of hardwood saplings1 such as maple1 birch1 or ash1 generally retaining the bark4 ,three of these similar frames1 straight below and curved above1 constitute the framework of each pot1 one to stand at each end and one in the center4 ,the narrow strips of wood1 generally ordinary house laths of spruce or pine1 which form the covering1 are nailed lengthwise to them1 with interspaces between about equal to the width of the lathe4 ,on the bottom the laths are sometimes nailed on the outside and sometimes on the inside of the cross pieces4 ,the door is formed by three or four of the laths running the entire length near the top4 ,the door is hinged on by means of small leather strips1 and is fastened by a single wooden button in the center1 or by two buttons1 one at each end4 ,the openings into the pot 4 4 4 are two in number1 one at each end1 are generally knit of coarse twine and have a mesh between three-fourths of an inch and #a inch square4 ,they are funnel-shaped1 with one side shorter than the other1 and at the larger end have the same diameter as the framework4 ,the smaller and inner end measures about #f inches in diameter and is held open by means of a wire ring or wooden hoop4 ,the funnels are fastened by the larger ends to the end frames of the pot1 with the shorter side uppermost1 so that when they are in place they lead obliquely upward into the pot instead of horizontally4 ,the inner ends are secured in position by one or two cords extending to the center frame4 ,the funnels are about #aa or #ab inches deep1 and therefore extend about halfway to the center of the pot4 ,they taper rapidly and form a strongly inclined plane1 up which the lobsters must climb in their search for the bait4 ,a two-strand manila twine is most commonly used for the funnels4 ,cotton is also used1 but is more expensive and less durable4 ,illustration3 ,lobster pots ,a change in the shape of the funnel was first made at ,matinicus shortly before #ahij4 ,this has been called the patent head4 ,large lobsters are said to always go to the top and small ones to the bottom of the pots4 ,by going to the top in the old-head pot large lobsters made their escape through the hole1 but in the pots with patent heads instead of finding their way through the hole the big lobsters slide over it4 ,the patent head has not been used to any extent1 however4 ,the sketch shown on the following page gives a good idea of the difference in shape4 ,illustration3 ,old style of head 7in general use7 and patent head ,in the center of the ordinary pot is a sort of spearhead of wood or iron from #h to #ab inches long4 ,this has one large barb and is set upright in the middle of the center frame4 ,the bait is placed on this spearhead4 ,several large stones or bricks are lashed to the bottom of the pot1 on the inside1 in order to furnish weight enough to hold the pot at the bottom4 ,as it was noticed that a lobster generally crawled over a pot before entering by the end1 some pots of a square form and with the opening at the top were constructed1 but they were not successful4 ,another variation had a length of #g-a_/b feet and five supporting frames inside instead of three1 as in the old pot4 ,these were set at equal distances apart1 and had two more funnels than the other1 one funnel being attached to each of the frames except the center one1 and all pointing inward4 ,in order to reach the bait the lobster had to pass through two funnels1 and its chances of escape were thereby lessened4 ,this style is rarely seen now4 ,still another variety in vogue for a short time had a trapdoor1 on which the lobster had to climb in order to reach the bait2 the door then gave way and precipitated the lobster into a secure inclosure4 ,a few pots are made with a funnel of laths in place of the net funnels4 ,they are the same as the ordinary pot in every other particular4 ,the ordinary pots cost about #a to construct4 ,during certain seasons the pots are badly eaten by worms1 the shipworm 7,teredo7 or one of the species of small boring crustaceans4 ,pots are also frequently lost during stormy weather1 and the fishermen therefore have a reserve stock on hand in order to replace those lost or temporarily disabled4 ,,methods ,,of ,,fishing4 ,in fishing the traps are either set on single warps or on trawls of #h to #dj and #ej pots4 ,at first all pots were set singly4 ,the line by which they were lowered and hauled up1 and which also served as a buoy line1 was fastened to one of the end frames of the bottom or sill1 as it is called1 at the intersection of the hoop4 ,the buoys generally consist of a tapering piece of cedar or spruce1 wedge-shaped1 or nearly spindle shaped1 and about #ah inches long4 ,they are usually painted in distinctive colors1 so that each fisherman may easily recognize his own4 ,small kegs are also used as buoys4 ,in the warm season the pots are frequently set on trawls or ground lines1 as lobsters are quite thick then on the rocky bottom near shore4 ,if the bottom is sandy they are set farther from shore4 ,lobsters are most numerous on a rocky bottom4 ,in the trawl method the pots are usually set about #cj feet apart1 depending on the depth of water1 so that when one pot is in the boat the next will be on the bottom4 ,the ground lines have large anchors at each end and a floating buoy tied to a strong line1 which is fastened to the ground line almost #be fathoms from the anchors4 ,when the last pot is hauled the anchor is far enough away to hold the boat in position4 ,the pots are set at distances from the shore ranging from #ajj yards to #e or #f miles4 ,this method of setting pots was first used about the year #ahfe in ,sagadahoc ,county4 ,the traps are set in from #c to #aj fathoms in the warm season4 ,in winter fishing the pots are generally set singly1 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 fished4 ,this is caused by the drift of the boat while the fisherman is hauling in the pot1 emptying and rebaiting it1 and then dropping it overboard again4 ,the winter fishing is generally carried on in the open sea1 although in a few places1 like ,sheepscot ,bay1 the lobsters in winter retire to the deep waters of the bays and can there be caught4 ,the pots are generally set in from #bj to #ej fathoms of water at this season4 ,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 current4 ,in the former case1 it is asserted1 the scent or fine particles coming from the bait is more widely diffused and more apt to attract the lobsters4 ,in entering1 after first reconnoitering around and over the pot1 the lobster always backs in1 primarily that he may be prepared to meet any foe following him1 also because his large claws would be apt to catch in the net funnel should he enter head first4 ,after discovering that he is imprisoned1 which he does very speedily1 he seems to lose all desire for the bait1 and spends his time roaming around the pot hunting for a means of escape4 ,the pots are generally hauled once a day1 but sometimes twice a day in good weather4 ,as the tide along the ,maine coast is quite strong1 the fishermen usually haul their pots at or about slack water1 low tide generally being preferred when they are worked once a day4 ,the number used by a fisherman varies greatly on different sections of the coast4 ,according to the investigations of this ,commission1 the average number of pots to the man in certain years was as follows3 ,fifty-six pots in #ahhj1 #ei in #ahhg and #ahhh1 #eh in #ahhi and #ahib1 and #ej in #ahih4 ,this average1 however1 is somewhat misleading1 as quite a number of persons along the coast take up lobstering for only a few months in the year1 and then return to their regular occupations4 ,as these persons use but few pots1 the average per man throughout the whole ,state is very considerably reduced4 ,the regular lobster fishermen have been steadily increasing the number of their pots for several years past4 ,they have found this an absolute necessity in order to catch as many lobsters now as they caught twenty or thirty years ago4 ,it is not unusual now to find one of the regular fishermen handling as high as #ajj pots1 and sometimes even #abe1 when a few years ago #be and #ej pots was a large number4 ,this does not take into account his reserve stock of pots1 which it is necessary to have on hand in order to replace those damaged or lost4 ,illustration3 ,fishermen operating their pots ,,bait4 ,cod1 hake1 and halibut heads are quite generally used as bait4 ,halibut heads are said to be the best1 as they are tougher than the cod or hake heads1 and thus last much longer4 ,sculpins1 flounders1 in fact almost any kind of fish1 can be used4 ,in the vicinity of sardine canneries the heads of herring are used4 ,sometimes the bait is slightly salted1 at other times it is used fresh4 ,small herring are lightly salted1 and then allowed to remain until partly decayed1 when they are inclosed in small bags1 and these put into the pots4 ,the oil from this bait forms a slick in the water1 and when the smell from it is strong the fishermen consider it at its best4 ,the bait is generally secured by small haul-seines and spears in sections where offal can not be bought4 ,,fishing ,,vessels ,,and ,,boats4 ,the fishing vessels are either sloop or schooner rigged1 with an average net tonnage of slightly over #h tons 7new measurement7 and an average value of about #dge4 ,there has been a great increase in the number of these vessels during recent years4 ,eight vessels were used in #ahhj1 #bi in #ahhi1 and #acj in #ahih4 ,quite a number of these vessels are used in other fisheries during their seasons4 ,two men usually form a crew1 although three1 and sometimes four1 are occasionally used4 ,the other vessels comprise sailboats under #e tons and rowboats4 ,the sailboats are generally small square-sterned sloops1 open in the afterpart1 but with a cuddy forward4 ,they are all built with centerboards1 and some are lapstreak while others are set work4 ,around the afterpart of the standing room is a seat1 the ballast is floored over1 and two little bunks and a stove generally help to furnish the cuddy4 ,they vary in length from #af to #bf feet and in width from #f to #i feet2 they average about #b tons4 ,they are especially adapted to the winter fishery1 as they are good sailers and ride out the storms easily4 ,dories are in quite general use in the lobster fishery1 as are also the double-enders1 or peapods4 ,this latter is a small canoe-shaped boat of an average length of #ae-a_/b feet1 #d-a_/b feet breadth1 and #a-a_/b feet depth4 ,they are mainly built lapstreak1 but a few are set work4 ,both ends are exactly alike2 the sides are rounded and the bottom is flat1 being1 however1 only #d or #e inches wide in the center and tapering toward each end1 at the same time bending slightly upward1 so as to make the boat shallower at the ends than in the middle4 ,this kind of bottom is called a rocker bottom4 ,they are usually rowed1 but are sometimes furnished with a sprit sail and centerboard4 ,,transporting ,,vessels ,,or ,,smacks4 ,even before the lobster fishery had been taken up to any extent1 the coast of ,maine was visited by well-smacks from ,connecticut and ,new ,york1 most of which had been engaged in the transportation of live fish before engaging in the carrying of lobsters4 ,these vessels sometimes carried pots1 and caught their own lobsters2 but as this method was not very convenient1 the people living along the coast took up the fishery1 and sold the lobsters to the smackmen4 ,about #ahfj the canneries began to absorb a considerable part of the catch1 and they employed vessels to ply along the coast and buy lobsters4 ,as these vessels would only be out a few days at a time1 wells were not necessary1 and the lobsters were packed in the hold4 ,in the summer great numbers of them were killed by the heat in the hold4 ,after #ahhe the canneries rapidly dropped out of the business1 the last one closing in #ahie4 ,in #ahec there were but #f smacks1 #d of them from ,new ,london1 ,conn4 ,in #ahhj there were #eh1 of which #ba were dry smacks1 while in #ahih there were #gf1 of which #ag were steamers and launches and #ei sailing vessels4 ,these were all well-smacks4 ,a few sailing smacks also engaged in other fishery pursuits during the dull summer months4 ,in #ahgi a steamer which had no well was used to run lobsters to the cannery at ,castine4 ,the first steamer fitted with a well to engage in the business was the ,grace ,morgan1 owned by ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,collins1 a lobster dealer of ,rockland1 who describes the steamer as follows3 ,the steam and well smack ,grace ,morgan was built in #ahij1 by ,robert ,palmer ,son1 of ,noank1 ,conn4 ,at that time she was a dry boat1 but the following year1 #ahia1 the ,palmers built a small well in her as an experiment1 but ,i am of the opinion that it did not prove very satisfactory or profitable2 consequently they offered her for sale and wrote to me in relation to buying her4 ,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 alive1 but also to do it profitably2 consequently ,i bought her and brought her to ,rockland1 had the well enlarged on ideas of my own1 and differently constructed1 so as to give it better circulation of water1 and also made other needed improvements throughout the boat to adapt her especially for carrying lobsters alive4 ,the changes ,i made in her proved so successful in keeping lobsters alive1 while it increased the capacity for carrying1 that ,i have since adapted the same principles on all my boats4 ,the well ,i had put into the ,grace ,morgan is what is termed a box well1 that is1 without any well deck4 ,the well is built from the sides of the steamer directly to the hatch on the main deck1 with bulkheads forward and aft and tops running directly to the deck4 4 4 4 ,you will see at once that this well has many advantages over the old style with flat well decks1 like those of sailing vessels3 7#a7 ,it affords a much larger carrying capacity in same space of vessel4 7#b7 ,the priming-out pieces are much higher up on sides of vessel1 giving more room for boring hull1 which affords much better circulation of water in well1 which is a great advantage in keeping lobsters alive while on long trips4 7#c7 ,every lobster can be easily bailed out of the well without grounding the vessel1 which is necessary with all vessels having the old-style well4 7#d7 ,in all steam and well smacks the after part of the ship is always steadiest1 consequently the well being located aft1 as in my smacks1 the lobsters contained in them are not subjected to the hard pounding while running in seaway that they are in the old-style wells1 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 sea1 and which results in killing many of them4 ,both of my steamers have box wells aft1 and from my experience1 compared with all other steam and well smacks afloat1 ,i am convinced that this well1 for all practical purposes1 is the best that has yet been adapted to steam smacks4 ,so far as the ,grace ,morgan is concerned1 she has been a perfect success in carrying her lobsters in all kinds of weather since ,i put her into commission ,october #bg1 #ahib1 during which time she has had a wonderful career1 as well as carrying millions of lobsters4 ,probably no boat of her size has ever had such an experience1 as she has run steadily the year around in all kinds of weather during the past eight years4 4 4 4 ,previous to buying the ,grace ,morgan ,i had run steamers in the lobster business1 but they had no well1 and being so hot in their holds1 particularly in the summer months1 the lobsters died so fast that the business in dry steamers could not be made profitable4 ,this is what prompted me to construct a well in mine1 as ,i have done4 ,the ,grace ,morgan has a length of #di feet1 a breadth of #ac4i feet1 and a depth of #e4g feet1 a gross tonnage of #ba tons1 and a net tonnage of #aj tons4 ,the steam smacks now used average about #ad tons4 ,they are usually built low in the water1 and have a small pilot-house forward1 with an open space between it and the engine-house1 and living quarters aft4 ,the boat has also one or two short masts4 ,some of them also have the pilot-house and engine-house joined together4 ,in those with a space between the pilot-house and engine-house the well is usually placed in this open space4 ,where the pilot-house and engine-house are together the well is either located forward or aft4 ,these wells are generally capable of bolding from #c1jjj to #aj1jjj live lobsters4 ,small holes in the bottom of the well keep it filled with fresh sea water4 ,should the weather be clear the proportion of dead and injured lobsters will be small1 but in bad weather many are apt to be killed by the pitching and rolling to which they are subjected4 ,these smacks make regular trips up and down the coast1 landing their cargoes either at ,rockland1 ,portland1 or at one of the lobster pounds scattered along the coast4 ,they not only stop at the villages1 but also drop anchor off the little camps of the lobstermen1 and should the smacks of two rival dealers arrive at a place simultaneously1 which frequently happens1 the bidding between the captains for the fishermen's catch gladdens the latter's heart and greatly enriches his pocketbook4 ,most of the captains have regular places of call where they know the fishermen are holding their lobsters for them1 and they follow a rude sort of schedule1 which will not often vary more than a day or two4 ,the lobsters are bought of the fishermen by count1 and cash is paid for them4 ,should the smack belong to a dealer this practically ends the financial side of the transaction so far as the captain is concerned1 as the crew are paid wages4 ,should the smack belong to a person other than the dealer1 which is frequently the case1 he either makes an agreement with some dealer to run for him exclusively at a certain price or commission1 or else buys from the fishermen and then sells at either ,rockland or ,portland4 ,this method of buying lobsters is somewhat hazardous1 as the market price sometimes changes sharply when the smack is out of reach of telegraphic communication4 ,,lobster ,,cars4 ,lobsters must be marketed in a live or boiled condition2 and as fishermen can get better prices for them alive than boiled1 each fisherman generally has a live-car in which to hold them until they can be sold4 ,these cars are usually oblong1 rectangular boxes1 with open seams or numerous small holes to permit the free circulation of the water4 ,they are of various sizes1 according to the needs of the fisherman1 a good average being about #f feet long by #d feet wide and about #b feet deep4 ,the door is placed on the top4 ,they are usually moored close to the shore during the fishing season1 the rest of the time being hauled up on the beach4 ,illustration3 ,fishermen's lobster cars ,the dealers cars are very similar to those used by the fishermen1 only much larger4 ,they generally average about #cj feet in length1 #ab feet in width2 and #c feet in depth1 with capacity for from #b1jjj to #c1jjj lobsters4 ,the inner part of this car is usually divided off into five transverse compartments by means of a framework inside4 ,each compartment is provided with two large doors entering from the top1 one door on each side of the middle line of the car4 ,these cars cost the dealers about #gj each4 ,the life of one of these cars is about five or six years1 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 coast4 ,when new the top of the car is usually about a foot above the water1 but as it gets water-soaked it sinks down until it is even with the water1 and some of the older cars have to be buoyed up with kegs at each end1 placed inside1 to prevent them from sinking below the surface4 ,these cars are moored alongside the docks of the dealers at ,portland and ,rockland and other points4 ,illustration3 ,lobster cars used in the wholesale trade at ,portland ,mr4 ,j4 ,r4 ,burns1 of ,friendship1 has invented and patented a new style of car4 ,the inside is divided into a series of compartments by horizontal and vertical partitions of slats1 wire netting1 or any material which will permit the free circulation of the water4 ,each compartment has a chute extending down into it from the top1 by means of which the lobsters can be put in and their food given them4 ,there are also conveniently arranged openings1 with doors1 through which the lobsters may be removed when desired4 ,these cars usually average about #ce feet in length1 #ah feet in width1 and #f feet in depth1 and have a capacity for about #e1jjj lobsters each4 ,they are in use at ,rockland1 ,friendship1 ,tremont1 and ,jonesport4 ,they prevent the lobsters from huddling together and thus killing each other by their own weight4 ,,methods ,,of ,,shipping1 ,,wholesale ,,trade1 ,,etc4 ,as lobsters can not be shipped or preserved in a frozen state they must be shipped either alive or boiled4 ,about nine-tenths of the lobsters caught in ,maine waters are shipped in the live state4 ,the principal shipping centers are ,portland1 ,rockland1 and ,eastport1 which have good railroad and steamship facilities with points outside of the ,state4 ,those shipped from the latter point are mainly from the ,british ,provinces1 the fishermen near ,eastport bringing them in in their own boats4 ,a number also come in from the ,provinces on the regular steamship lines4 ,the other places get their supply from the smacks and also from the fishermen in their vicinity1 who run in their own catch4 ,portland is very favorably situated in this regard1 as ,casco ,bay is a noted fishing center for lobsters4 ,as soon as a smack arrives it is moored directly alongside one of the cars4 ,the lobsters are then dipped out of the well by means of long-handled scoop nets and thrown on the deck of the vessel4 ,the doors of the car are then opened1 and men on the vessel pick over the lobsters lying on the deck and toss them two by two into the different compartments1 those dead and badly mutilated being thrown to one side for the time being4 ,all vigorous lobsters above a certain size are placed in compartments of the car by themselves1 while the weak and small are put in separate compartments4 ,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 dump4 ,a lobster which has lost one or even both claws is not thrown away1 as such an injury would have very little effect on its health4 ,when an order is received for live lobsters1 those which have been longest in the cars are usually shipped4 ,flour barrels holding about #adj pounds or sugar barrels holding about #ahe pounds1 with small holes bored in the bottoms for drainage1 are used for the shipment4 ,formerly the lobsters were packed close together in the barrel1 and a large piece of ice was put in at the top1 but this was found to kill a number of them4 ,the present method is to split off about one-third of a #ajj-pound cake of ice the long way1 and place it upright about half way of the length of the barrel1 the lobsters then being packed snugly on all sides of the ice4 ,in handling them the packer seizes the lobster by the carapace with his right hand1 bends the tail up under the body with his left hand1 and quickly deposits it in the barrel4 ,the packer usually has his right hand covered with a woolen mitt or wrapped in a long piece of linen1 for protection from the claws of the lobster4 ,when the barrel is nearly full the lobsters are covered with a little seaweed or large-leaved marine plants1 and the rest of the space is filled with cracked ice4 ,the top is then covered with a piece of sacking1 which is secured under the upper hoop of the barrel4 ,packed in this way1 lobsters have easily survived a trip as far west as ,st4 ,louis4 ,owing to the high prices realized in ,england for live lobsters1 attempts have been made to ship live ,american lobsters to that market1 generally from ,canadian ports4 ,in #ahgg ,messrs4 ,john ,marston ,sons1 of ,portland1 made a trial shipment of #bej4 ,they were placed in a large tank #bj feet long by #h feet wide and #c feet deep1 and constantly supplied with fresh seawater through six faucets by means of a donkey engine1 a waste-pipe preventing any overflow4 ,the trip was fairly successful1 as only #ej died1 and the balance brought from #fj to #ge cents per pound4 ,the smacks and dealers buy lobsters by count1 as the fishermen generally have no facilities for weighing them2 but the dealers always sell by weight4 ,the mortality among the lobsters from the time they are put aboard the smacks until they are barreled for shipment is estimated at about #e per cent4 ,,boiling4 ,live lobsters are much preferred by the trade throughout the country1 and only those that can not be marketed in such condition are boiled4 ,the number boiled fluctuates considerably1 owing to the condition of the markets4 ,when the fresh markets of ,boston and ,new ,york are overstocked1 the lobster dealers of ,rockland and ,portland1 where most of the ,maine lobsters are boiled1 proceed to boil their surplus stock4 ,the following description of the boiling is from ,the ,fisheries and ,fishery ,industries of the ,united ,states1 section v1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #fhd3 ,the boilers are rectangular wooden tanks or vats of about #fj gallons capacity1 lined with zinc and furnished with a cover4 ,heat is applied by the introduction of steam through a series of perforated pipes arranged in the bottom of the tank4 ,the steam is generated in an ordinary boiler standing close at hand4 ,the lobsters are not thrown directly into the vat1 as the operation of removing them after cooking would in such an event be an exceedingly tedious one2 but an iron framework basket1 of rather slender bars is made to fit the tank loosely1 and is lowered and raised by means of a small derrick placed over the tank4 ,this frame1 which holds about #cjj pounds1 is filled with lobsters at the edge of the wharf from the floating cars1 and is then carried to the tank and lowered into it after the water it contains has reached the desired temperature1 that of boiling4 ,the water is first supplied to the tank1 which is filled to about one-third or two-thirds its capacity1 about a peck of salt is added1 and then the steam is turned on4 ,the same water suffices for several successive boilings1 about #b quarts of salt being added each time4 ,the lobsters are allowed to remain in about half an hour1 or until the proper red color indicates they are sufficiently cooked4 ,illustration3 ,boiling live lobsters preparatory to shipping on ice1 showing boiler1 steam tank1 cage1 etc4 ,after cooling1 they are packed in barrels for shipment1 just as live lobsters are4 ,when well iced they will keep a week or longer4 ,only live lobsters are boiled1 as the meat of those which die prior to boiling deteriorates rapidly4 ,the fishermen and small dealers use various kinds of boilers1 from an ordinary washboiler to a smaller form of the regular boiler used by the large dealers4 ,the product prepared by these people is generally picked from the shell and sold locally in that condition4 ,this opens a way for the fisherman to evade the #aj-a_/b inch limit law4 ,they frequently take lobsters under the minimum legal size and1 after boiling them1 pick the flesh4 ,it is then impossible for anybody to tell what sized lobster the meat had come from4 ,quite a local trade in the picking of lobsters has been established in a number of small coast towns1 the meat generally being sold in the immediate vicinity4 ,the following table shows the extent of the wholesale lobster trade in ,rockland and ,portland during #ahih1 including everything connected with the business except the smacks and pounds1 which are shown elsewhere4 ,there are a few other dealers scattered along the coast1 but most of the business is concentrated at these cities4 ,an idea of the extent of the increase in the lobster trade of ,portland can be gained when it is stated that in #ahhj about #a1ijj1jjj pounds of lobsters1 valued at #gj1jjj1 were handled here1 while #f1ade1hba pounds1 valued at #faa1iee1 were handled in #ahih4 ,extent of the wholesale lobster trade of ,rockland and ,portland in #ahih4 ,rockland ,portland -------- -------- ,value of property1 capital1 and wages ,property1 etc #ad1cch #dd1ggj ,cars #hej #f1hjj ,cash ,capital #bb1jjj #aaj1ejj ,wages #d1fgf #ah1aih ,number of persons engaged ,firms #b #aj99 ,proprietors #c #ac ,clerks #b #b ,other ,employees #g #ca ,rockland ,portland ,lobsters bought -------------- --------------- and sold ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value --------------- --- ----- --- ----- ,bought1 ,no4 #fib1ahh #d1jig1bad ,bought1 lbs4 #a1jch1bhb #hi1ihd #f1ade1hba #faa1iee ,sold1 lbs4 #gie1icd #ia1ecb #e1cjh1jbg #fij1jde ,sold1 lbs4 #cdg1hae #bf1gje #eae1eah #hb1dhc 99,several of these firms also handle other fishery products4 ,,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 possible4 ,in doing this the markets would be flooded at certain times1 when the price would drop to a very low figure1 while at other times they would be very scarce1 which would enhance the price materially4 ,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 price3 ,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 them4 ,in #ahge ,johnson ,young1 of ,boston1 established an inclosure or pound near ,vinal ,haven1 on one of the ,fox ,islands4 ,a cove covering about #ejj acres1 with an average depth of about #ij feet1 was selected4 ,a section of about #i acres1 separated from the main portion of the cove by a natural shoal and with a bottom of soft grayish mud1 was selected for the pound4 ,in order to make it proof against the efforts of the lobsters to escape and as a protection from enemies without1 a wire fence was built over the shoal part4 ,this section had a depth of from #ae to #fj feet1 and a capacity of about #cjj1jjj1 although there were rarely that many in the pound at one time4 ,illustration3 ,inclosure for live lobsters at ,vinal ,haven1 ,maine ,the lobsters are bought from smacks and from fishermen in the vicinity during the height of the fishing season1 when the price is low1 and are retained in the pound until the price becomes high1 which is generally during the winter season4 ,they are fed with fish offal1 which can usually be bought at ,vinal ,haven for #a per barrel4 ,oily fish are not fed to them1 as it is said that the lobsters decrease in weight on such a diet4 ,experience has shown that the quantity of food required depends largely on the temperature of the water1 as lobsters do not eat as freely when the water is cold as in water of a higher temperature4 ,when wanted for shipment they are usually secured by means of pots1 seines1 or beam trawls4 ,even with such a successful example before them1 other dealers were chary about going into the business1 and in #ahij there were only three pounds in the whole ,state4 ,they increased more rapidly after that1 however1 and in #ahih there were nine pounds in the ,state1 with a total valuation of #ah1gjj4 ,these were located at ,dyer ,bay1 ,sunset1 ,vinal ,haven1 ,long ,island1 ,south ,bristol1 ,pemaquid ,beach1 ,southport1 and ,house ,island1 in ,portland ,harbor4 ,it is very probable that there will be a greater increase in the near future4 ,,the ,,canning ,,industry4 ,maine is the only ,state in the ,union in which lobsters have been canned4 ,the following account of the inception and early history of the industry1 taken from ,the ,fisheries and ,fishery ,industries of the ,united ,states1 is very complete3 ,lobster canning was first attempted in the ,united ,states at ,eastport1 ,me41 shortly after #ahdj1 and was made successful in #ahdc1 the methods finally employed having been borrowed from ,scotland1 which country is said to have learned the process from ,france4 ,for the successful introduction of the process into the ,united ,states we are indebted to ,mr4 ,charles ,mitchell1 now of ,charlestown1 ,mass41 a practical canner of ,scotland1 who had learned his trade of ,john ,moir ,son1 of ,aberdeen1 the first ,scotch firm1 it is claimed1 to put up hermetically sealed preparations of meat1 game1 and salmon1 their enterprise dating back to #ahbd4 ,mr4 ,u4 ,s4 ,treat1 a native of ,maine1 appears1 however1 to have been most active and influential in starting the enterprise and in introducing canned goods into the markets of the ,united ,states4 ,mr4 ,treat was1 at an early period1 engaged in the preparation of smoked salmon on the ,penobscot ,river1 and in #ahci removed to ,calais1 ,me41 where he continued in the same business4 ,about #ahdj he associated with him a ,mr4 ,noble1 of ,calais1 and a ,mr4 ,holliday1 a native of ,scotland1 who had also been employed in the salmon fisheries of the ,penobscot ,river1 under the firm name of ,treat1 ,noble ,holliday4 ,this firm moved to ,eastport in #ahdb1 for the purpose of starting the manufacture of hermetically sealed goods1 and began experiments with lobsters1 salmon1 and haddock4 ,their capital was limited1 their appliances crude1 and many discouraging difficulties were encountered4 ,the quality of the cans furnished them was poor1 causing them often to burst while in the bath1 and the proper methods of bathing and of expelling the air from the cans were not understood4 ,the experiments were continued for two years with varying success1 and in secret1 no outsiders being allowed to enter their bathing room4 ,though fairly successful in some of their results1 they could not always depend upon their goods keeping well4 ,in #ahdc they secured the services of ,mr4 ,charles ,mitchell1 who was then residing at ,halifax1 and who was not only well acquainted with the methods of bathing practiced in his own country1 but was also a practical tinsmith4 ,he had been employed in the canning of hermetically sealed goods in ,scotland for ten years1 and came over to ,halifax in #ahda1 where he continued for two years in the same occupation1 exporting his goods to ,england4 ,after ,mr4 ,mitchell's arrival at ,eastport1 no further difficulty was experienced in the bathing or other preparation of the lobsters1 and a desirable grade of goods was put up1 but they found no sale1 as canned preparations were comparatively unknown in the markets of the ,united ,states4 ,mr4 ,treat visited each of the larger cities with samples of the goods1 and endeavored to establish agencies for them1 but he was generally obliged to send on consignment1 as few firms were willing to take the responsibility of buying on their own account4 ,a patent was also applied for1 but the claim was not pressed and the patent was never received4 ,the success at ,eastport led to a rapid extension of the business in other parts of the ,state4 ,the second cannery was located at ,harpswell about the year #ahdi4 ,a cannery was started at ,carver ,harbor1 ,fox ,islands1 in #ahea1 and another at ,southwest ,harbor in #ahec4 ,in #aheg a cannery was started at ,north ,haven1 and at ,gouldsboro two were started in #ahfc and #ahgj1 respectively4 ,from this time the number increased rapidly for several years4 ,after #ahhj the number operated fluctuated considerably1 depending on the abundance of lobsters4 ,some canneries had to suspend operations at an early stage1 owing to the exhaustion of the grounds in their vicinity4 ,at most canneries lobsters formed only a part of the pack1 sardines1 clams1 fish1 and various vegetables and fruits being packed in their season4 ,most of the canneries were built and operated by ,boston and ,portland firms4 ,at first the lobsters used for canning ranged in weight from #c to #aj pounds4 ,gradually the average weight was reduced1 until at last it reached as low as #c_/d pound1 or even less4 ,this was caused principally by the high prices paid for large lobsters for the fresh trade1 with which the canneries could not compete4 ,as the supply of lobsters on the ,maine coast began to decrease shortly before #ahgj1 while the demand for canned lobsters increased at an enormous rate1 the dealers began to establish canneries on the coasts of the ,british provinces4 ,as the decline in the supply was attributed to the canneries1 a sentiment against them was gradually formed1 and laws were enacted regulating the time in which they could operate and the size of the lobsters they could put up4 ,prior to #ahgi they were permitted to pack lobsters at any season of the year1 but they usually operated only between ,april #a and ,august #a1 and again between the #ajth or middle of ,september and the #ast of ,december1 the length of the season depending very largely upon the weather and the abundance of lobsters4 ,in #ahgi it was enacted that no canning of lobsters should be allowed from ,august #a to ,april #a following4 ,in #ahhc it was made illegal to can lobsters less than #i inches in length4 ,in #ahhe the canning season was fixed from ,april #a to ,july #ae4 ,in #ahhi the season was fixed from ,may #a to ,july #a1 and the minimum length of lobsters to be canned placed at #i inches4 ,in #ahia this act was so amended as to make the season from ,april #bj to ,june #a4 ,after #ahhj the number of canneries gradually declined1 until in #ahie the last one suspended the canning1 of lobsters1 owing to the passage of a law fixing the minimum size at #aj-a_/b inches4 ,this law went into effect ,july #a1 #ahie4 ,as they could not afford to pay the high price demanded for this size they were compelled to give up the business4 ,the following table shows the number of factories in operation1 the quantity and value of fresh lobsters used1 and the number and value of cans of lobsters put up1 in the years #ahhj1 #ahhi1 and #ahib3 #ahhj #ahhi #ahib ------------- ------------- -------------- ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value --- ----- --- ----- --- ----- ,number of canneries #bc #bj #aa ,lobsters used1 fresh lbs4 #i1did1bhd #ie1jjj #e1geb1fed #gb1jib #i1did1bhd #ie1jjj ,canned ,one-lb cans #a1edb1fif #iii1eba #abf1egg #a1bbh1idd #aie1aad ,two-lb cans #adh1gjd #he1ebj #af1jcf #c1jif #hci ,other sizes #aci1hja --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- ------- ,total cans #a1hca1bja #bch1bhj #a1jhe1jda #adb1fac #a1bcb1jdj #aie1iec ,part of the lobsters used in the ,eastport factories come from ,new ,brunswick4 ,it is impossible to separate them4 ,,abundance1 ,,etc4 ,there are no accurate figures showing the catch of lobsters in ,maine previous to #ahhj4 ,it is therefore difficult to make comparisons1 and one is compelled to depend largely upon the memory of the fishermen and the statements of the canners and dealers1 which the lapse of time1 etc41 makes rather unreliable4 ,the numerous petitions sent to the legislature asking for restrictive laws1 while possibly exaggerated at times1 indicate that there were fears of the exhaustion of the fishery for some years back4 ,it is positively known1 however1 that certain grounds have been almost or totally exhausted through overfishing for a number of years1 while on other grounds the supply of lobsters has seriously decreased4 ,there was a time when no lobster under #b pounds in weight was saved by the fishermen4 ,in later years1 before there was a restriction fixing the minimum size of lobsters that could be canned1 the canneries frequently used half-pound lobsters4 ,the fixing of the minimum length of the lobsters caught at #aj-a_/b inches1 and the consequent closing up of the canneries1 has been of incalculable benefit to the fishermen1 as the young lobsters now have an opportunity to reach maturity4 ,the table given below shows for certain years the number of pots used1 the quantity of lobsters taken1 with their value1 also the average catch and value per man1 the average catch per pot1 and the average price per pound3 ,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 #ahhj #a1hdc #ajd1def #ad1bcd1ahb #bfh1gci #g1gbc #adf #acf #a4i #ahhg #a1ijf #aac1bii #bb1iaf1fdb #eab1jdd #ab1jbc #bfi #bjb #b4b #ahhh #a1ifg #aab1fcb #ba1fid1gca #eae1hhj #aa1jbi #bfg #aic #b4d #ahhi #b1jhj #aba1adj #be1jja1cea #egd1afe #ab1jbj #bgf #bjf #b4c #ahib #b1fbh #aec1jdc #ag1fdb1fgg #ffc1jdc #f1gac #beb #aag #c4h #ahih #c1jii #aee1igh #aa1ahc1bid #iib1hee #c1fji #cbj #gh #h4i ,while the catch increased up to #ahhi and then decreased until in #ahih it was lower than in #ahhj1 the number of fisherman and pots and the value of the catch steadily increased4 ,the average stock per man fluctuated somewhat from year to year1 but in #ahih shows a considerable increase over every other year4 ,the most interesting point however1 is the average price per pound4 ,in #ahhj this was #a4i cents1 while in #ahih it was #h4i cents per pound4 ,with one exception1 each year shows a progressive increase in value per pound4 ,the great increase of #ahih over #ahib1 #e4a cents per pound1 was caused by the closing up of the canneries in #ahie1 and the consequent dropping out of the cheap product they had been buying from the fishermen4 ,,weight ,,of ,,lobsters4 ,the figures given below show the average weight of lobsters at certain given lengths4 ,these weights are made up from the results obtained by investigators of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission1 particularly those of ,prof4 ,francis ,h4 ,herrick4 ,males in nearly every instance weigh slightly more than females of the same length4 ,weight ,length in pounds4 ------ --------- #i inches #a4af l#j inches #a4ej #aj-a_/b inches #a4ge #aa inches #b #ab inches #b4ej #ac inches #b4ge #ae inches #d4be ,,chemical ,,composition ,,of ,,lobsters4 ,the nutritive value of a fishery product is of considerable interest to the consumer4 ,some years ago1 ,prof4 ,w4 ,o4 ,atwater1 of ,middletown1 ,connecticut1 made a series of careful analyses of the composition of the flesh of three lobsters from the coasts of ,maine and ,massachusetts1 and the figures given below represent the results3 ,per cent4 --------- ,proportions of edible portion and shell3 ,total edible portion #ci4gg ,shell #eg4dg ,loss in cleaning #b4gf ,proportions of water and dry substance in edible portion3 ,water #hb4gc ,dry substance #ag4bg ,chemical analysis calculated on dry substance3 ,nitrogen #ab4ed ,albuminoids 7nitrogen x #f4be7 #gh4cg ,fat #aa4dc ,crude ash #aj4jf ,phosphorus 7calculated as ,p#b ,o#f7 #b4bd ,sulfur 7calculated as ,,so#c7 #b4dg ,chlorine #c4df ,chemical analysis calculated on fresh substance in flesh3 ,water #hb4gc ,nitrogen #b4ag ,albuminoids 7nitrogen x #f4be7 #ac4eg ,fat #a4ig ,crude ash #a4gd ,phosphorus 7calculated as ,p#b #jf7 4#ci ,sulphur 7calculated as ,,so#c7 4#dc ,chlorine 4#ei ,nutritive value of flesh of lobsters compared with beef as a standard and reckoned at #ajj4 #fa4ig ,,artificial ,,propagation ,,of ,,the ,,lobster4 ,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 fishery4 ,if the berried or female lobster bearing eggs1 and the young and immature1 were let alone by the fishermen there would be no necessity for a resort to artificial lobster culture4 ,maine has a most stringent law forbidding the taking and selling of berried lobsters1 and of any lobster under #aj-a_/b inches in length1 but this law is evaded by numerous fishermen whenever possible4 ,an idea of the extent to which short lobsters are marketed in the ,state may be gathered from the statement of ,mr4 ,a4 ,r4 ,nickerson1 commissioner of sea and shore fisheries for the ,state1 that in #ahii over #ej1jjj short lobsters were seized and liberated by the ,state wardens4 ,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 immature4 ,large numbers of berried lobsters are also captured1 the eggs brushed off1 and the lobsters sold as ordinary female lobsters4 ,the ,report of the ,u4 ,s4 ,fish ,commission for #ahig1 on pages #bce and #bcf1 contains the following account of the artificial propagation of lobsters3 ,prior to #ahhe experiments had been conducted at various points looking to the artificial propagation of the lobster4 ,the only practical attempts of this nature previous to those made by the ,fish ,commission were by means of parking1 that is1 holding in large naturally inclosed basins lobsters that had been injured1 soft-shelled ones1 and those below marketable size4 ,occasionally females with spawn were placed in the same inclosures4 ,one of these parks was established in ,massachusetts in #ahgb1 but was afterwards abandoned2 another was established on the coast of ,maine about #ahge4 ,it was soon demonstrated1 however1 that the results from inclosures of this character1 so far as the rearing of the lobsters from the young were concerned1 would not be sufficient to materially affect the general supply4 ,the completion of the new marine laboratory and hatchery at ,woods ,hole in #ahhe1 with its complete system of salt-water circulation1 permitted the commencement of experiments in artificial hatching on a large scale which had not been practicable theretofore1 although small quantities of lobster eggs1 as well as those of other crustaceans1 had been successfully hatched4 ,in #ahhf the experiments had progressed so successfully that several million eggs were collected and hatched at ,woods ,hole1 the fry being deposited in ,vineyard ,sound and adjacent waters4 ,from #ahhg to #ahij1 inclusive1 the number of eggs collected was #ag1hba1jjj4 ,during the above years the average production of fry was about #ed per cent4 ,by the use of more improved apparatus the average was brought up to #ij per cent in #ahig1 when the collections amounted to #aej1jjj1jjj eggs1 of which #ace1jjj1jjj were hatched4 ,as the commissioner of sea and shore fisheries of ,maine objected to the taking of female lobsters in that ,state and the planting of part1 at least1 of the resulting fry in other waters1 an arrangement was made in #ahih by which all female lobsters and the fry hatched out from the eggs secured from these would be returned to the ,state waters4 ,under this arrangement #b1cfe berried lobsters were bought from the ,maine fishermen by the ,u4 ,s4 ,fish ,commission4 ,from these #be1bjg1jjj eggs were taken and #bb1hge1jjj fry were hatched4 ,of these1 #ba1ejj1jjj were deposited in ,maine waters at various points4 ,in #ahii1 #cf1ibe1jjj fry were planted in ,maine waters by the ,commission4 ,in order that the female lobsters may be secured the authorities of ,maine permit the fishermen to catch and sell berried lobsters to the ,commission4 ,the collection of eggs in ,maine is usually made by the ,commission during the months of ,april1 ,may1 ,june1 and to about the middle of ,july1 depending upon the supply to be had4 ,during the season of #ahii a small steam smack was chartered for collecting the lobsters1 starting from ,gloucester1 where the hatching of ,maine lobster eggs is now carried on1 and running to ,eastport1 returning over the same route4 ,the ,fish ,commission schooner ,grampus was also used in this work4 ,the lobsters are purchased from fishermen1 who receive the market price for ordinary lobsters1 and as they are not allowed to sell these lobsters legally for consumption the sale to the ,commission materially increases their financial returns4 ,in #ahhc a radical advance along the line of artificial propagation was made1 so far as the legislature was concerned1 when the act incorporating the ,samoset ,island ,association1 of ,boothbay1 was passed4 ,section #d of the charter reads as follows3 ,in order to secure a sufficient and regular supply of lobsters for domestic consumption on any land or islands under the control of said corporation1 it may increase the number of lobsters within said limits by artificial propagation1 or other appropriate acts and methods1 under the direction of the fishery commission1 and shall not be interfered with by other parties1 but be protected therein1 as said fishery commission may determine1 and shall have the right1 by its agents and tenants1 to take and catch lobsters within #cjj yards of the low-water line of the islands and lands owned or leased by said corporation1 during each and every month1 for domestic use4 ,in #ahhg the legislature passed an act granting ,r4 ,t4 ,carver the sole right to propagate lobsters in ,carver's pond1 ,vinalhaven4 ,mr4 ,carver's experiment was a failure1 as he says the mud in the pond was so filthy that nearly all the spawn was killed4 ,,large ,,and ,,peculiar ,,lobsters4 ,since the inception of the fishery1 stories of the capture of lobsters weighing #cj1 #dj1 and even #ej pounds have been common1 but have rarely been well authenticated4 ,especially is this the case in the early years of the fishery4 ,it is probable that in the transmission of the stories from person to person the lobsters gained rather than lost in size4 ,among the most authentic cases in ,maine are the following3 ,on ,may #f1 #ahia1 a male lobster weighing slightly over #bc pounds was taken in ,penobscot ,bay1 southeast of ,moose ,point1 in line with ,brigadier ,island1 in about #c-a_/b fathoms of water1 by ,mr4 ,john ,condon4 ,the lobster had tried to back into the trap1 but after getting his tail through the funnel he was unable to get either in or out and was thus captured4 ,according to ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,collins1 a dealer of ,rockland1 in ,august1 #ahia1 a lobster weighing #ah-a_/b pounds was taken at ,blue ,hill ,falls1 in upper ,blue ,hill ,bay1 while in ,november1 #ahib1 a female lobster weighing #ah pounds was taken at ,green ,island4 ,in ,january1 #ahic1 ,mr4 ,n4 ,f4 ,trefethen1 of ,portland1 received a lobster from ,vinal ,haven which weighed #ah pounds4 ,according to ,r4 ,f4 ,crie ,sons1 of ,criehaven1 on ,september #g1ahih1 a male lobster weighing #be pounds and measuring #be inches from the end of the nose to the tip of tail1 and #de inches including the claws1 was caught on a hake trawl by ,peter ,mitchell1 a fisherman4 ,the trawl was set about #b miles southeast from ,matinicus ,rock ,light ,station in #fj fathoms of water4 ,in ,august1 #ahii1 the writer saw a live male lobster at ,peak ,island which measured #dd inches in length and weighed #be pounds1 according to the statement of the owner4 ,it had been caught near ,monhegan ,island1 and the owner was carrying it from town to town in a small car1 which he had built for it1 and charging a small fee to look at it4 ,in ,april1 #ahgd1 a female lobster weighing about #b pounds was caught off ,hurricane ,island4 ,her color was a rich indigo along the middle of the upper part of the body1 shading off into a brighter and clearer tint on the sides and extremities4 ,the upper surface of the large claws was blue and purple1 faintly mottled with darker shades1 while underneath was a delicate cream tint4 ,the under parts of the body tended also to melt into a light cream color1 and this was also true of the spines and tubercles of the shell and appendages4 ,in #ahic a ,peak ,island fisherman caught a lobster about #aa inches in length whose back was of an indigo blue1 and which toward the extremities and under parts was shaded off into a pure white4 ,the under part of the claw was also of a pure white4 ,mr4 ,lewis ,mc,donald1 of ,portland1 has a pure white lobster preserved in alcohol4 ,it was caught in #ahhg4 ,a lobster was caught at ,beal ,island1 near ,west ,jonesport1 which was about #f or #g inches in length and almost jet black4 ,a few bright-red lobsters1 looking as though they had been boiled1 have also been taken along the coast at various times4 ,a lobster was caught near ,long ,island1 ,casco ,bay1 about the year #ahhf1 in which half of the body was light-yellow up to the middle line of the back1 while the other half was bright-red4 ,there were no spots on the shell4 ,in ,september1 #ahih1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,t4 ,carver1 of ,vinal ,haven1 had in his possession a female lobster1 about #aa inches long1 of a bright-red color all over1 except the forward half of the right side of the carapace and the feeler on this side1 which were of the usual color4 ,,laws ,,regulating ,,the ,,fishery4 ,in #ahig the legislature revised and consolidated the laws relating to the sea and shore fisheries of ,maine1 and below are given the sections relating to the lobster fishery adopted that year1 together with the amendments to the act adopted in #ahii1 which are incorporated herewith3 ,,sec4 #ci4 ,it is unlawful to catch1 buy or sell1 or expose for sale1 or possess for any purpose1 any lobsters less than #aj-a_/b inches in length1 alive or dead1 cooked or uncooked1 measured in manner as follows3 ,taking the length of the back of the lobster1 measured from the bone of the nose to the end of the bone of the middle of the flipper of the tail1 the length to be taken in a gauge with a cleat upon each end of the same1 measuring #aj-a_/b inches between said cleats1 with the lobster laid upon its back and extended upon its back upon the gauge1 without stretching or pulling1 to the end of the bone of the middle flipper of the tail1 its natural length1 and any lobster shorter than the prescribed length when caught1 shall be liberated alive at the risk and cost of the parties taking them1 under a penalty of #a for each lobster so caught1 bought1 sold1 exposed for sale1 or in the possession not so liberated4 ,the possession of mutilated1 uncooked lobsters shall be prima facie evidence that they are not of the required length4 ,,sec4 #dj4 ,it is unlawful to destroy1 buy1 sell1 expose for sale1 or possess any female lobsters in spawn or with eggs attached at any season of the year1 under a penalty of #aj for each lobster so destroyed1 caught1 bought1 sold1 exposed for sale1 or possessed3 ,provided1 however1 ,if it appears that it was intended to liberate them in accordance with the provisions of this act1 the persons having such lobsters in possession shall not be liable to any of the penalties herein provided for1 though he may have failed1 for any cause not within his control1 to so liberate them4 ,,sec4 #da4 ,it shall be unlawful to can1 preserve1 or pickle lobsters less than #aj-a_/b inches in length1 alive or dead1 measured as aforesaid2 and for every lobster canned1 preserved1 or pickled contrary to the provisions of this section every person1 firm1 association1 or corporation so canning1 preserving1 or pickling shall be liable to a penalty of #a for every lobster so canned1 preserved1 or pickled contrary to the provisions of this section1 and a further penalty of #cjj for every day on which such unlawful canning1 preserving1 or pickling is carried on4 ,,sec4 #db4 ,all barrels1 boxes1 or other packages in transit containing lobsters shall be marked with the word lobsters in capital letters1 at least #a inch in length1 together with the full name of the shipper4 ,said marking shall be placed in a plain and legible manner on the outside of such barrel1 boxes1 or other packages2 and in case of seizure by any duly authorized officer of any barrels1 boxes1 or other packages in transit1 containing lobsters1 which are not so marked1 or in case of seizure by such officer of barrels1 boxes1 or other packages in transit containing lobsters less than the prescribed length1 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 barrels1 boxes1 or packages1 together with such barrels1 boxes1 and packages1 shall be forfeited and disposed of under the provisions of section #dg of this act4 ,,sec4 #dc4 ,every person1 firm1 association1 or corporation who ships lobsters without having the barrels1 boxes1 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 #be1 and upon subsequent conviction thereof by a fine of #ej2 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 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages not so marked shall be liable to a penalty of #ej upon such conviction thereof4 ,,sec4 #dd4 ,all cars in which lobsters are kept1 and all lobster cars while in the water1 shall have the name of the owner or owners thereof on the top of the car1 where it may plainly be seen1 in letters not less than three-fourths of an inch in length1 plainly carved or branded thereon1 and all traps1 cars1 or other devices for the catching of lobsters shall have1 while in the water1 the owner's name carved or branded in like manner on all the buoys attached to said traps or other devices1 under a penalty of #aj for each car and #e for each trap or device not so marked2 and if sufficient proof to establish the ownership of such cars or traps can not be readily obtained1 they may be declared forfeited1 subject to the provisions of section #dg of this act4 ,,sec4 #de4 ,all persons are hereby prohibited from setting any lobster traps within #cjj feet of the mouth or outer end of the leaders of any fish weir1 under a penalty of #aj for each offense4 ,,sec4 #df4 ,whoever takes up1 or attempts to take up1 or in any way knowingly and willfully interferes with any lobster trap while set for use1 without the authority of the owner thereof1 shall be punished by a fine of not less than #bj1 nor more than #ej2 ,provided1 however1 ,that no action1 complaint1 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 letters1 not less than three-fourths of an inch in length1 on all the buoys connected with such traps4 ,,sec4 #dg4 ,when any lobsters are seized by virtue of the provisions of this act1 it shall be the duty of the officer making such seizure to cause such lobsters1 so seized1 as he is not required by law to liberate1 together with the cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages in which they are contained1 to be appraised within #bd hours after the time of such seizures by three disinterested men residing in the county where such seizure is made1 to be selected by him1 and the lobsters1 cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages so seized and appraised shall thereupon be sold by the officer making the seizure thereof1 at such time and in such manner as shall by him be deemed proper4 ,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 justice1 or a judge of a police or municipal court of the county in which such seizure was made1 setting forth the fact of such seizure1 appraisal1 and sale1 the time and place of the seizure1 the number of lobsters1 cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages so seized and sold1 and the amount of the proceeds of such sale2 and such trial justice or judge shall appoint a time and place for the hearing of such libel1 and shall issue a notice of the same to all persons interested to appear at the time and place appointed1 and show cause why the lobsters1 cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages so seized and sold1 and the proceeds of such sale1 should not be declared forfeited1 which notice shall be served upon the owner1 if known1 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 made1 seven days at least before the time of hearing4 ,if any person appears at the time and place of hearing1 and claims that the lobsters1 cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages so seized and sold were not liable to forfeiture at the time of seizure1 and that he was entitled thereto1 the trial justice or judge shall hear and determine the cause1 and if he shall decide that such lobsters1 cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages1 at the time of seizure1 were not liable to forfeiture1 and that the claimant was entitled thereto1 he shall order the proceeds of such sale to be paid to the claimant2 if no claimant shall appear1 or if such trial justice or judge shall decide that such lobsters1 traps1 cars1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages1 at the time of the seizure1 were liable to forfeiture1 or that the claimant was not entitled thereto1 he shall decree a forfeiture of such lobsters1 cars1 traps1 barrels1 boxes1 or other packages1 and of the proceeds of sale1 and shall order the proceeds of sale1 after deducting all lawful charges1 to be paid to the county treasurer1 and by him to the ,state treasurer1 to be used as directed in section #dh of this act1 and shall render judgment against the claimant for costs to be taxed as in civil suits1 and issue execution therefor against him in favor of the ,state1 which costs1 when collected1 shall be paid in to the treasurer of the county1 and by him to the treasurer of the ,state1 to be added and made a part of the appropriation for sea and shore fisheries4 ,the claimant shall have the right of appeal to the next supreme judicial court or superior court in the county1 upon recognizing and paying the fees for copies and entry as in cases of appeal in criminal cases4 ,the fees and costs of seizure1 appraisal1 and sale1 and in all other proceedings in the case1 shall be as provided by law in criminal cases1 and in case a forfeiture shall be declared1 shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale1 otherwise shall be paid by the county1 as in criminal cases4 ,,sec4 #dh4 ,all fines and penalties under this act may be recovered by complaint1 indictment1 or action of debt brought in the county where the offense is committed4 ,the action of debt shall be brought in the name of the commissioner of sea and shore fisheries1 and all offenses under or violations of the provisions of this statute may be settled by the commissioner of sea and shore fisheries1 upon such terms and conditions as he deems advisable4 ,all fines1 penalties1 and collections under this act shall be paid into the treasury of the county where the offense is committed1 and by such treasurer to the ,state treasurer1 to be added to and made a part of the appropriation for sea and shore fisheries4 ,,sec4 #di4 ,the commissioner of sea and shore fisheries may take fish of any kind1 when1 where1 and in such manner as he chooses1 for the purposes of science1 of cultivation1 and of dissemination1 and he may grant written permits to other persons to take fish for the same purposes1 and may introduce or permit to be introduced any kind of fish into any waters4 ,the following special act was passed at the #ahii session of the legislature3 ,,sec4 #a4 ,no person shall take1 catch1 kill1 or destroy any lobsters between the #ast day of ,july and the #ast day of ,september in each year1 under a penalty of #a for each lobster so taken1 caught1 killed1 or destroyed1 in the waters of ,pigeon ,hill ,bay1 so called1 in the towns of ,millbridge and ,steuben1 within the following points1 namely3 ,commencing at ,woods ,pond ,point1 on the west side of ,pigeon ,hill ,bay2 thence easterly to the ,nubble1 on ,little ,bois ,bubert ,island2 thence by the shore to the head of ,bois ,bubert ,island2 thence northerly to ,joe ,dyers ,point1 so called2 thence by the shore around ,long ,cove and the creek2 thence to the head of ,pigeon ,hill ,bay aforesaid2 thence by the shore to the first-mentioned bound4 ,,sec4 #b4 ,all fines and penalties under this act may be recovered as provided in section #dh of chapter #bhe of the ,public ,laws of #ahig4 ,,importations ,,of ,,live ,,lobsters4 ,for some years there have been considerable importations of live lobsters into ,maine from the ,british ,provinces1 particularly from ,new ,brunswick2 previous to the closing up of the canning industry they were more numerous than at present1 as considerable numbers were brought in by boat fishermen for the canneries at or near ,eastport4 ,the importations are now made by the dealers1 who frequently send their own smacks into the ,provinces for a supply when lobsters are scarce in the ,state4 ,the following table shows the importations into the ,state1 by customs districts1 for the fiscal year #ahih3 #ahih ------------------ ,customs districts4 ,pounds ,value ------ ------ ,aroostook #aej #ab ,bangor4 #bdf1iia #dc1ejg ,machias #gjj #ia ,passamaquoddy #cbg1dha #ce1cgc ,portland and ,falmouth #bad1jge #ac1jcg ,waldoboro #dc1bfd #c1baa ,wiscasset #bh1jjj #a1abj ,,statistical ,,summary ,,of ,,the ,,lobster ,,industry ,,in ,,maine ,,in #ahih4 ,the following tables show the statistical data relating to the fishery for #ahih2 except the wholesale trade of ,rockland and ,portland1 which is shown elsewhere4 ,while ,hancock ,county leads in the number of vessel fishermen with #agc1 ,knox ,county has the largest number of persons transporting1 #gh4 ,in the boat fishermen1 ,washington ,county leads with #fci1 followed closely by ,knox ,county with #fjf4 ,in the total number of persons employed ,knox ,county leads with #gdi1 while ,washington and ,hancock counties have very nearly the same number1 #fie and #fhc1 respectively4 ,the total number of persons employed was #c1cjd4 ,hancock ,county leads in the number of vessels fishing1 #gh1 valued at #cc1jjj1 while ,knox ,county leads in the number of transporting vessels1 #cc1 valued at #ea1ijj1 and is also second in the number of fishing vessels4 ,cumberland ,county is second in the number of transporting vessels4 ,this county has more steam transporting vessels than all the other counties combined1 #h1 valued at #ca1bjj4 ,in the matter of boats engaged in the shore fishery ,knox ,county also has the preeminence1 with #fif boats1 valued at #cg1age4 ,lincoln1 ,hancock1 and ,washington counties follow in the order named1 and are all three very close to each other4 ,hancock ,county leads in the number of pots used in the vessel fishery1 #g1adf1 while ,knox ,county is second4 ,knox ,county leads in the number of pots used in shore fisheries with #ci1jdj1 valued at #ci1jcj1 and is followed by ,lincoln ,county with #bi1aij pots1 valued at #bi1aij4 ,in the matter of shore property ,lincoln ,county leads with #af1iag1 although if the property used in the wholesale trade had been included in this table ,cumberland ,county would lead4 ,in the total investment ,knox ,county leads with #afi1jef4 ,hancock ,county comes second1 with #acf1fea1 followed by ,washington and ,cumberland counties1 respectively4 ,the total investment for the whole ,state is #faf1ffh4 ,in vessel catch ,hancock ,county leads with #ddd1gjd pounds1 valued at #dg1aja4 ,knox ,county is second with #bhf1fhh pounds1 valued at #bi1cie4 ,in the boat catch ,hancock ,county also leads with #b1aih1eah pounds1 valued at #bjd1cij1 while ,knox ,county is a close second with #b1afe1bef pounds1 valued at #ahf1ifh4 ,lincoln ,county is third and ,washington ,county fourth4 ,the total catch for the ,state is #aa1ahc1bid pounds1 valued at #iib1hee4 ,table showing by counties the number of persons employed in the lobster fishery of ,maine in #ahih4 ,vessel ,boat fisher- ,trans- fisher- ,shores- ,county men porters men men ,total ------ --- ------- --- --- ----- ,washington #cj #ai #fci #g #fie ,hancock #agc #bg #dhj #c #fhc ,penobscot #b #b ,waldo #ai #ai ,knox #ee #gh #fjf #aj #gdi ,lincoln #ab #aa #ddg #d #dgd ,sagadahoc4 #b #ih #ajj ,cumberland #aj #de #cgi #f #ddj ,york #d #c #ace #adb --- --- ----- -- ----- ,total #bhj #ahe #b1hjc #cj #c1cjd ,table showing by counties the vessels1 boats1 apparatus1 and shore property employed in the lobster fishery of ,maine in #ahih4 ,washington ,hancock ,penobscot ,waldo ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ,items4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value4 ,vessels fishing #aj #e1hej #gh #cc1jjj #a #cej ,tonnage #gf #eic #e ,outfit4 #a1afi #d1iie #ae ,vessels trans- porting--steam #a #h1cej #b #f1ejj ,tonnage #cd #bf ,outfit #a1hce #a1iej ,vessels trans- porting--sail #e #h1ejj #h #i1ijj ,tonnage #id #ii ,outfit #gij #hhe ,boats trans- porting 7steamers and launches under #e tons7 #a #a1ajj #a #d1iej ,sailboats fishing #bei #ef1agj #bbe #cd1bij ,rowboats fishing #bji #b1cij #bej #c1bhe #ag #bee ,pots used in vessel fisheries #a1gaj #a1gaj #g1adf #g1adf #hb #hb ,pots used in shore fisheries #bb1cij #bb1cgc #bc1hhj #bc1hhj #ege #ege ,shore property #d1jae #e1hgj #ajb ------- ------- --- --- ,total #aad4beb #acf1fea #ddg #icb ,knox ,lincoln ,sagadahoc ,cumberland ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ,items4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value4 ,vessels fishing #bh #ac1bej #f #d1bjj #e #a1iej ,tonnage #ahd #db #cj ,outfit4 #c1ibc #fai #cce ,vessels trans- porting--steam #c #ah1jjj #h #ca1bjj ,tonnage #ca #aji ,outfit #e1age #e1dhd ,vessels trans- porting--sail #cj #cc1ijj #d #f1bjj #aj #aa1hjj ,tonnage #egd #gc #agc ,outfit #d1hha #hgg #a1had ,boats trans- porting 7steamers and launches under #e tons7 #a #a1ajj #a #a1ajj ,sailboats fishing #bab #ca1gfj #acb #ab1ige #a #abe #aed #ac1fce ,rowboats fishing #dhd #e1dae #cea #c1ega #ij #a1ahe #ahf #c1ega ,pots used in vessel fisheries #d1adj #d1adj #eaj #eaj #djj #djj ,pots used in shore fisheries #ci1jdj #ci1jcj #bi1aij #bi1aij #b1ach #a1ifd #ag1icb #ag1icb ,shore property #i1ehb #af1iag #gcj #i1daf ------- ------ ----- ------ ,total #afi1jef #gf1aei #e1ajd #ig1ecg ,york ,total ----------- ----------- ,items4 ,no4 ,value4 ,no4 ,value ,vessels fishing #b #a1fjj #acj #fj1bjj ,tonnage #af #idf ,outfit4 #bbe #aa1bha ,vessels trans- porting--steam #ad #fd1jej ,tonnage #bjj ,outfit #ad1ddd ,vessels trans- porting--sail #b #eej #ei #gj1hej ,tonnage #ad #a1jbg ,outfit #fe #i1cab ,boats trans- porting 7steamers and launches under #e tons7 #d #h1bej ,sailboats fishing #dg #b1jhe #a1jcj #aea1jdj ,rowboats fishing #ha #a1hfj #a1ffh #ba1ecb ,pots used in vessel fisheries #bej #bej #ad1bch #ad1bch ,pots used in shore fisheries #f1eie #f1eie #ada1gdj #ada1ecj ,shore property #c1cjj #di1icb ------- ------- ,total #af1ecj #faf1ffh99 99,the property1 cash capital1 etc41 in the wholesale trade of ,rockland and ,portland is shown elsewhere4 ,table showing by counties1 vessels1 and boats the yield in the lobster fishery of ,maine in #ahih4 ,vessel catch ,boat catch ,total -------------- ---------------- --------------- ,counties ,pounds ,value ,pounds ,value ,pounds ,value --------- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ,washington #hb1hji #g1cab #a1ede1hie #acb1hgg #a1fbh1gjd #adj1ahi ,hancock #ddd1gjd #dg1aja #b1aih1eah #bjd1cij #b1fdc1bbb #bea1dia ,penobscot #a1bfd #aah #a1bfd #aah ,waldo #ag1gff #a1gac #ag1gff #a1gac ,knox #bhf1fhh #bi1cie #b1afe1bef #ahf1ifh #b1dea1idd #baf1cfc ,lincoln #dh1hgb #d1aeg #b1ajf1fde #aha1fag #b1aee1eag #ahe1ggd ,sagadahoc #chd1ijj #cj1cib #chd1ijj #cj1cib ,cumberland #bb1bec #b1jjj #a1dja1cch #aah1faf #a1dbc1eia #abj1faf ,york #ba1bda #a1hda #dee1ade #dd1ceh #dgf1chf #df1aii ------- ------ ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ,total #ijg1hca #ia1ibd #aj1bge1dfc #ijj1ica #aa1ahc1bid #iib1hee