The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-07
EvAD1NG THE FISHERY LAWS.
What Mr.. Noah Mayo Has to Say ApoutIt

What Mr. Noah Mayo Has to Say About 1t
The other morning the PRESS published the
statement of the compliments in the case OF
Mr.. Noah Mayo, whose cargo of fish was seized
on the charge of an evasion of the Statutes OF
the State in regard to the official inspection OF
fish. Mr.. Mayo's principal place of business is
in Boston, aud he runs down to Portland every
few days to see that his business here is con-
Quoted properly. 1t happened that Mr.. Mayo
was absent in Boston at the time of the publi-
cation of the aforementioned article, SO that
it was impossible ta give his side of the story
until his return
Saturday, Mr.. Mayo was in town, and spoke
substantially as follows: He states that he IS
wholesale dealer in fish, and not fish packer
in the sense of a fish jobbar. His position and
reputation in Boston as a merchant, he claims,
is second to none, and that he does business
in fish with large sections of the West, where
Portland fish was never heard Of He COM
plains that this suit, or rather the complaint
made against him, is simply an effort on the
part of the members of the Portland Fish Ex-
change to drive him out Of the business, and he
1880
stay, and parties who know Noah Mayo know
he means what he says. The whole trouble,
according TO his view, is due to the fact that he
buys his fish tout of pickle or direct from the
fishermen. Alarge proportion OF these fisher
men do business with the Portland packers in
the summer, and, before he came here, did
business with him in Boston in the fall. Be-
fore the Fish Exchange was formed here,gPort-
land dealers bought out OF pickle just as ne
does, and Just as is done in Boston and Glou-
cester The packers here, however, found out
that the fishermen, in many cases, were too
smart for them in the sale OF their fish; the
tars got the whip end of the bargain There
upon the more influential dealers determined
to have things their own way. They formed
the Exchange, made other dealers join also,
established tariff of rates, and had every
thing fixed, Then they heard Mr.. Mayo was
coming here, he says, and they determined to
prevent him, if possible. One dealer, accord
ing to Mayo, said he would spend $4,000 to
keep him away. Why? Because, by "buying
out of pickle from the fishermen, those "toil-
ers of the Sea" were enabled, as soon as they
Brought in o catch, to dispose of it for cash to
Mr. Mayo, at once, realize their profits, were
relieved of the extra expense of ten cents for
packing, and that incurred by waiting several
days until the packer decided how much mon
ey should be paid them. In other words, Mr..
Mayo claims he is the true friend of the fisher
man, and consequently they focked to him on
arrival here, to sell their fish. The result, he
says, is seen in the face that he does splendid
business, and the money he pays out helps the
Portland fish trade as mgch if not more, than
that paid by any other dealer.
Mr. Mayo says when the packers heard he
was coming they went to Governor Plaisted
and told him their story. They also TOLD him
that Mr.. Simpson--the man he had intended
for his inspector-oughtn not to be appointed.
But before this the Governor had sent in Simp-
sons name and the Council had confirmed
him Thereupon they induced the Governor
to agree not to give Simpson his papers unless
he would promise to join the Fish Exchange,
and this Simpson had to do in order to gett them
Mr.. Mayo claims that except in the instance
On which the complaint of evading the law
was founded, he has had all his fish properly
inspected and packed. Why the law was
evaded in this case referred to he shall have
proper answer to make to when the suit for
penalties is brought against him. He did
however say that, to show the weakness OF the
complainants, one of them only a few weeks
ago sent thirty-fve barrels of fish unbranded
to Boston by steamer, of which he has proof,
and also for several other instances of the same
kind hecan produces evidence, showing that
while the fish packers complain of him, they
have no scruple against breaking the laws
when they feel like it. He says he is no law
breaker, and he shall show it conclusively on
trial He has paid the fifteen dollars for pack
ing the seized fish. Now let the compliments
come on with their suits.
Saturdays Boston journal gives the follow
ing reasons for Mr.. Mayo's evading the law:
"a vessel with mackerel consigned to his
Boston house put into Portland, through stress
of weather, so it is claimed, and he gave ord
ers to the captain to proceed to Boston without
unloading the fish, which were not inspected.
The Maine law requires all mackerel shipped
from that State to be officially inspected, and
as it seems that Mr.. Mayo has incurred the en-
nifty of the Portland fish men because he will
net Join their association, they gave notice to
the authorities and the vessel was detained
until proper explanation was made, and
small fine paid"