The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-02-08
The Lobster and Menhaden Fisheries.
THE UNDYING PORGY

FATHER he seems to be such stranger to the
shores of Maine that the fishery committee was
getting lonesome. when along came the close
time for moose and a general Wake-up all along
the line. But this is not all, as will be seen by
the following protest from Rockland fisher
mani
'',rhe fishermen in this locality are unanimous
IN the opinion that the laws in respect to the
taking of mackere and Holsters should undergo
thorough revision. The law as it stands now
prohibits the taking of mackerel by seines in
any bay or harbor of our State less than three
miles wide; yet it allows the setting of nets in
these bays and harbors. But what is the object
IN prohibiting the taking of mackerel on our
coast? Unlike the menhaden and herring, they
do not come on our coast to breed. No one ever
sees a spawn in Il mackercl aiken in Maine wa
terS. The mackerel come into our waters not
to breed, but in pursuit of food, or to avoid the
dog-fsh, horSe-mackercl, or the rapacious fish
that prey upon them
Our mackcrel seiners are fitted out at a large
expense from four to ten thousand dollars are
required to fit out one of these vessels fourteen
or fifteen men on shares are required to man
her. They follow the mackerel from the capes
of Virginia to the Bay Chaleur. They can take
them wherever they can find them-and to find
them is often Il difficult thng-saye in sight of
their own homes; but they must suspend oper
atons if the bay where they find them is less
than three miles wide. Why is this: To pro-
tcct those who fish with lines in small beats, it
is said. Ii these men put any capital into the
business, or if they caught any fish to amount
to anything. it might be wise to give them eX-
elusive privileges, but to legi>late so as to pre-
vent the taking Of no more than few barrels
might be obtained. cannot be defended on any
reasonable grounds.
There is reason for prohibiting the taking of
the porgy or menhaden; they come in shore to
breed, and it would be Il wise act for Congress
to protect that fish from destruction. The por-
gy has disappeared from the coast of Maine, and
unless it receives protection from Congress it
is likely 10 become extinct along the entire At
antic coast.
There is Il law on our statute book, placed
there professedIy to protect the lobster, but it
don't protect, nevertheless; il is Il fraud, found
cd on the dcccitful hypothesis of how not to do
things.
1t was found some years since that the lob
Ster canning establishments on our coast were
destroying all the large HOLSTERS, and threaten
ing annihilation of that valuable crustacea. and
legislation for its protection was demanded.
Massachusetts passed Il law against selling lob
StcrS less than l05 inches in length A similar
law was insisted upon in this State. but in com
pliance with those engaged in canning, an emas-
cuatcd law was enacted For eight months IN
the wear, the prohibition is in force: for the re-
manning four months the canning establishments
are allowed to catch and DESTROY. no matter how
small, everything they can take. Millions of lit
lie ones are destroyed, of little value, which if
suffered to grow would be of some account.
The result is, the lobster is growing small by
degrees and beautifully less, under this beneti-
cent lroi>l,tion Such = law /. .hout ,s wise ne
if woujI Ne TO prohibit steolino or any other
crime for onlv tioht months in t6e year If Win
he said that if is to nrotnct thp Holster while
breeding. The lobster is il fish that does not
keep the run of the seasons; he breeds the year
round This law i syindIp will thp eCi Sla
turr correct the cheat.
,.
liif hohSlE Ek'
seth Webb writes to the hennebec journal
from South Deer Isle n follows:
., .-
"piJnin ~ .ioHI ,.ol l'H':" 'l't s'ioiiS
" ",ni p0 inauo "i.i n9 ui.is ~ 'lit
y + ~ ~ t", " s isr ~, 'h, t M NJ
VI 'i' eoast oi H'.lle "ii, ,L' oaiu ol
tn1 s PIol'oS'e iiio'eoIt: - " pieNont t"nniiS
iol M ~ ~ !e"I' y 7 ai:o "ppai.i' ~ lno,o
~ ;','' ~ - ~.
- ~" - ',l
I ,o ', ~ ,,.'Im a' " ~ t
oant "f MIN" NJ M ,a InE,
hi, - - ~, p;,"" .,,r.h',t ~
W. @ "iV ~ of W. t,'''.
@ 'iio e"tiiN ~ - ' o0io " '0o''' "iN 'A'''
'"Snm nv te"tdS ,,+ m otni, h,,t small Io,
,.N ~ ~ nb,t,'ro n' I.i' t',+ H.,
di.l,.iiniin,tio, i ,lSol i ,',rori ti tho.a thnt
oro ,nmmMnI .tor1 az - d,er asorin,io,, n,o
fa,,IiI thnro - - " 81
An porso,,e x,I,, l,ovo opx. l-,oyvlodpn of this
FL tpp, ~ = , ~ ~ ~ st; r,,i iThtnr ~
Williams "f .nnd. adbsrmer !" + nnca tho nacn.-
a;tr ~ ~ nrnsa,,atinn T., ,I|lition ~ thnso
cnGod vnrv ,nonr oro snnt diract tn n,,rl,ats ont
Of the State. at INV season thpy NAV elect.
Thata lohtnrs ,,ar,,ro tbn LnvorS frnn,' +,rn 10
,hron no,ts oa,h a,' bn, if,9,,l thasn ,r,t ~
sourcnsl nra ,Irn.Iv on.hIaA 10 nontrol tbn NAV
l.nt ,,;o ns tbo, ..,n ,t win tbr,st n,;ion ON
tI i,,n.I.t ~. I.o,, +h, lii Lt,..,, III tl;a =
', "i ~ t. ~ U',. ,oinlt nt
nnIv Ma nnor fubcr,,,n; hmt ,bn con.7n,nr
Wn;, o ,Iir frn ,ah", v tn ,om, hn
dreJ. of men women nnd rhiIdron Who vnuId
be thrown out Of employment by this proposed
change III the lopsItf laW;
Mas>achuSrtts. last YEAR nnt from 900 600 70
/ 900 000 of lobstprs into nnp nonI located at
Vin,ih,ven Enw If tb;s ho trun of a sinele
nond Inv mothpmaticni c,Irul,tion ono ron
Form some estimate Of III inmrnSn Numbers
of fishes InnoSitpd in these roSn1,rrrs that .rn
established at intervals alono onr rntirn coast
We have one already. and il is rumored that
others orn IN I've established hero durino thn
cor1;nn season
If seems to mo imnrrativp thot some law
sbo,,Il he no.seI WITH "a ba4vv - nan.ltv ot
tnrhrJ th,t if would rtfactu.lly irevint the taL
ino If Iohst4rs frnm thp roast for INV nnrnosn
affer clo.p fine for the f,ctories Which in my
ouinion should be the If Of .Julv' 70 rontinue
cInsnJ iii tbn ,,;,llIa Of No1,omLnr I s;nnorniy
hone that SOMETIME NAV he dane to nrevcnt
~ uhnia,.ia sl,mrh+ar ~ III. Al h1 IN .n
variations ont Of tbe Statn If nothina il dane
to arrest if va shaIl lave 4 similar nynerienre
to that If tha nor" XIV raaIars viii peanInct
tbat '', nn1l i frw Wars ,ao noro, fshino ~.
niShoJ a. lyina r. thonT,mds nf anr ,,ooria
mhn,, N"w ynrl, BbnJe NINA nn6 M.tpsanlI,','
settS uith their steamers swa,'t thnn So ontira.
w fron, nnr U-nters that fh nnr@y has honomo
thi~,r Iin,' ~ I'll M ma.t rs '''
WnMT rontIamnn of tba lnqisl,ture va tbo
q tSS ' : u Mi ti,1 tt,t ~ ;1i -.
to make our laws for Us.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Portland Press COM
mentS as follows on Mr.. Wtbb's Litter:
Last SATURDAYS issue of the Kennebec Jour
nal contained ltttef IRON Seth MeDp' ooutr
~ uIoi ,it III ~ ~ - ~
| New York ana MASSACHUSETTS are irving TO have
| d law passed by the present Legislature for the
m ~ ,ooste,9 up9n 1ne eo'S. "
| to do with IT, but A move is being insticated bl
| the resident dealers of Holsters and hard-Wcrk-
ny hsntlliith' " nay q ~" ehac!cu li''s WI W
| STATE. If we can have A law that will prohibit
the catching of small Holsters for the entire