The Republican journal., 1883-07-19
NUMBER 20.
Save the Lobsters.

Unless some restriction is placed upon the
catching of Holsters in our waters which is
more etfectua than any law that is now in force,
the present century is likely to witness the eX-
tinction with us of this shellfish as an article of
food for the multitude. Specimen Holsters
may be obtained generation hence. but their
rarity will make them a deicacy which those
only can possess who are willing to pay very
high price for them. Within the last ten years
the market price of Holsters has advanced 200
or 300 per cent, and is all the time increasing.
Still another feature is the relative small size
of those that are now caught. Thirty years
ago 1t was not an uncommon thing to see lob
sters exposed for sale which weighed ten
pounds and over, and the average weight of
those which We're deemed fit for the market
could not have been less than three pounds,
At the present time Il lobster weighing three
pounds Is looked upon us an uncOmmOny large
shelltsh. The variety of food procurable by
those of moderate means is not so large that
we can afford to part with any article upon the
llSt, ana, unless rigorous restrictions are en-
forced, we shall have to include Holsters in the
class of daintes reserved for rich or the eXtrava-
giant. Now, no one would wish to throw OBJ
statleS Ill the way of any legitimate business
pursuit, if it We're not necessary for the good
Of the entire community; but we should eX
hibit yer! little Of our accustomed prudence
| and common sense if, for small profit to a
comparatively few individuals, we permit Ii
species of fish which has furnished a cheap AMI
'punu'iiI supply OF 1000 10 De eXtermnated.
~ tne present tlme. on the coast OF Name there
ale numerous canning factories, winch, fOr the
purpose OF furnishing not only America, but
Europe, Asia and Africa, with ObSterS, are
packing up annually millions of dmihutNe
fishes, and are destroying hundreds Of the finest
breeding places that were ever known.
The legislation of the state upon this subject
ls pec,iii'rII iauity' Two years ago lazy was
passcu PIohlplllhS me catchlnS ct lopSterS
within the waters of Massachusetts, from the
-olii vi June 10 the 2oth OF september OF each
s'a' ahd al>o tne Sale OF possession o. lop>terS
80 taken. IL WAS mace by thls statute the duty
Vi seiectfneh ana other o1hclals of the towns
anu CUES on lhe seaDoard TO cause The law to
pc tHjoIctu, % anu' 70 add 10 thelr zeal, u was
p,I pioS !9eu lnaI the llotrai me lmposeI t0r the
@ ,Iol".'oI VI IL statute Should De diFldGd pc
.Mtcn lle imlofihcf ana the town Or city IN
l1'll,I Mmcl Int ol!ence Vas committed. Now, 1t Is
tI lop"pie 'i'', Il 'hls law coulu nave Dtan en-
i pe'ilS tno tAleI,iina,'oh OF theSc HStl' IN
,iils us, ci1se stasoh tne IopstefS ON the coast OF
"a tlassaclltlsetis would nave hau an opportunity
W 1:' looonel' llolll the uGpfeualiohs OF th9 nhc
t ru'iS hioil'ls u ille !eaF' II Is true that
,Iio l"" "pa.lu not naNt pres cnttu lhe SAIe OF
'i Ion1Iela NJ t"htl ~ Wattls o1 neiShoofhS states
m aliu nenct a. 1t lliSht al tmes nave oeGn dlfhcult
- al III tle poln, ~ Wnfh parllcular lobster
~ 7ll', rmnN'deT'n% ,hat the hm"nhf
; ~ nilo ii;Sn' ~ 9i"V' ahu Iha' III was ulScre-
tlon"is Nith Lle court 70 sentence the ollehuer
" uilit? nio1'ns hplln0lillent @ III the mouse OF
y VI !lol IlheIy 'hal any nShcrhch
@ + iis%SGu M th? business "oulI care TO
~ ~ I'm A1NoI.tu III aGtlhS III dehahce OF
w. WY : : Cs'loi n l"i!"ttIA an opportunity
W 'es.ilS 'sc tnlGaty OF aW
| III WAS 10 take erect on the hrSt day of Janu-