Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-28
Hearing on the Porxy BiII.

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Mr.. Is. +. Hinckley of Georgetown, adj
dressed the committee, speaking of the pow
erful organization of the porgy interest. and
of their ability to contest the field. The men
who are opposed to this great interest have
no money to spare to hire legal gentlemen to
present their casc--they are at home, chained
there by poverty which this porgy monopoly
has brought upon them. These companies
have made their money at the expense of the
poor fishermen. Our fishermen have either
to wait for bait or are charged exorbitant
prices. Often the charges are from Sl.25 TO
81. so per barrel He had the testimony of
scores of fishermen on this point. He elab-
Grated this point. 1t is said that in these
times of depression, we should not strike
down any industry but he would inform the
committee that to-day hundreds of families
scattered along the coast of Maine, are suf-
fering of the necessaries of life, being
brought there by the ravages of the porgy
steamer. In some cases, on account of the
poverty of the parents, children are kept from
school. The porgies would come into the
bays and inlets, but the porgy steamers would
clean them out at once. This fact is ac-
knowlcdgcd by all fair-minded men. He
dwelt upon the reports of the presence of the
terrible barracouters. and the disposition to
attribute tn them the scattering Of the fish.
lie ridiculcd the idea. The barracouters we
have to fear is the fleet Of fifty steamers,
more or less, that hover around our coast and
invest the bays and inlets, bringing wealth
to the pockets of few men, but distress and
poverty to a very great number.
Judge Goddard, who appeared As counsel
for the shore fishermen, asked Mr.. Hincklcy
questions bearing upon the subject, and drew
out further facts.
I'LL co. t1.a
threatened industries of his portion of the
State. He was surprised to see II gentleman
appear here and advocate the breaking down
of the menhaden fishery, who last year APP
peared before legislative committee in the
endeavor to get special Legislation enabling
him to take menhaden at the mouth of the
Kcnnebec river, that he ght supply fisher
men with bait. Gen. Hall said that there are
two propositions presented by the gentlemen
on the other side--frst, that by this mode of
catching the menhaden would all be soon
destroyed; : second, they would destroy also
the shore fishery. He claimed that if his
side could show that neither of these things
would happen, the foundation would fall out
of the case of the opposition. The catching
of fish with seines is practccd in every river
in this country, from the Columbia, in Ore
gon, to the Atlantic coast He claimed that
the subjects of that nation have the right to
come into all our bays, rivers and inlets to
catch fish. Now you are asked to enact a
law which will deprive our native-born citi-
zens Of rights which are possessed by foreign
crs. He then made an able defence of the
shore fishermen as class, speaking OF them
IN the highest terms. They would not think
Of coming here to assist in striking down a
great industry.
Mr.. Wolton, fisherman from Friendship,
said, that rs one who expected to engage in
the same business next year. he was not in
favor Of striking at the porgy interests.
Mr.. liannay of Bristol, addressed the COM
mittee, and said that if laws were enacted adj
verse to the menhaden industry, II would
drive seven hundred men from employment,
and compel them to go into the cod fishery.
He spoke of the evidences OF prosperity that
had multiplied on every had since the people
had taken hold of this enterprise. Porey
fishing does not lessen the number OF fish on
the coast.
Mr.. liannay was questioned by Judge God
dard, concerning his statements.
The committee then ADJOURNED to meet this
afternoon, when Hon. }. W. Bradbury Will
present the legal aspect of the case.
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