The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-06-03
Speeches of Congressman Milliken

IEitt4>Nr ItNSl VI io-> IN Z DIN 'tilt'l.N.
When the bill relating to the importing
and landing of mackerel caught during the
spawning season was under consideration in
the House May 21St, Hon. S. l.. MiIIikcn spoke
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, desire to say, if the gentle
man from New York Mr.. Hewitt has at last
got through, that | do not purpose to discuss
the constitutional objection which is raised
against this measure, as it is raised against
every measure which is called up for consider
alton in this House and which certain gentle
men wish to defeat. Indeed. do not purpose
to discuss the question at length in any of its
aspects; but it seems to me to be question
whether we will legi>late to save the source of
supply of Il valuable article of food. the source
of Il great industry, or allow people for imme-
diatc gain to Kill the goose that LAYS the golden
egg.
And in this controversy the same old qucs-
ton arises, and it arises between the same
parties as when first heard it disclissed that
is, between the fishermen and the ti>hmongcrs.
| know how it was in my own State. We had
all these arguments against the protection of
the mcnhadcn. They told Us mcnhadcn could
never bcsles>cncd on the coast Of Maine by the
hand of man. have gone down to the shore
and have seen at one time thirteen steam
erS fishing for mcnhadcn, single steamer
taking 500 barrels of these fish at one haul.
Our people wanted menhadcn protected by
law from this wholesale slaughter in order that
our fishermen might have them to use for bait
in catching cod and other large fish. And by
the way. sir, if this had been done sufficiently
early the trouble between us and Canada would
never have occurred, because we would have
had an abundance of bait upon our own coast
to supply Ill our fishermen.
W hen, however, 1t was proposed to protect
the mcnhaden by legislation the same reasons
and excuses We're urged against it that we have
listened to to-day. The i.hmongers and the
great corporations interested in the product of
these fisheries defeated for time the efforts
made for the preservation of the mcnhadcn.
At last these fish left our shores and during
the last eight or nine Years there has not been
enough menhadcn caught on the coast of Maine
to supply bait for our fishermen.
The gentleman from New York Mr.. He
witt says that out of ten thousand eggs de
posted by the female fish not more than two
escape destruction before the young fish are
hatrhed and he by allowing the fish to he TAX
en- i'll spawning time would destroy these two
My colleague has referred to the effort made in
Maine to protect by legislation the lobster
from annihilation. These efforts finally sue
ccedcd i'll procuring the enactment of Il law
providing for Il close time, and that Holsters
less llllll IL certain length SllDlllu not he tNDD>
ed for sale.
But this law while it has arrested the de-
>truction, and | hope may prevent the cNtcr
mnatiOn of the lobster, came too late to save it
from being so seriously diminished. both in
numbers and size, that this fish once so plenti-
full and cheap is now comparatively rare and
dear. and will average less than one-half its
size of twenty years ago. Still we had the
same experience i'll obtaining legislation to
preserve the lobster that we had in TRYING to
save the mcnhadcn. the same we have here to-
day in our efforts to prevent the determination
of the mackercl. Our opponents quoted from
scientific gentlemen. produced the testimony of
theoretical experts. and talked of the cnor-
NOUS number of eggs which the fish deposited,
but what the practical fisherman said prov ed
to be correct and what they pettionrd for was
shown, us | am sure it will he in this ease. to
be wise.
My friend from New York says we are sell
fish i'll this thing; that we want this bill to pass
80 these fish will be caught on the coasts of
Maine and Massachusetts, He, however. rec
osnizc> the fact that they are all Maine and
Massachusetts fishermen who catch these
mackcrcl. What does it matter TO him whether
they catch them in one part of the ocean or
another: Does he think they are any better
caught off the coast Of New York than when
they are caught of the coasts of Maine and
Massachusetts:
What has been said in favor of tile bill know
to be true y experience, because | have seen
mackcrcl caught ever since my boyhood.
II mackcrc are caught before the 1>t day of
june and put oil the market for sale, very few
people who know what GOOD wholesome mack
erc are will want them. Why: Because they
are then poor article of food. Indeed this in
wolves the question of good or poor food for
the people. Mackcrc when spawning time is
over. and they have had an opportunity to fat
ten, are, as the gentleman has said. the finest
fish in the world. But before that time, when
tI,,. I
from experience they are the mcancst fish that
swim H. too mean to be eaten by anybody. rich
or poor.
Now, Mr.. Speaker. did not intend, as said
when rose. to make any lengthy remarks up
on this >ubect but do not see WHY the people
of this country are not a> much interested in
having close time for fishing for mackercl is
they are i'll having the fisheries protected in our
several States by legal enactment. | do not see
why the people of the whole country who con
Stlme fish. a. we'll rs the fishermen themselves
on the coast who earn their livelihood by fish
ing, should not be a> much interested in the
protection of this great article Of food and this
important industry aS they are in the protec-
ton Of game, which in many of our States is 50
zcalou>ly guarded.
We are everywhere establishing li>ll-hrrcd-
lng places iii order to cultivate the supply of
food-lishe>. and am glad to he able to Say that
the salmon on the coast of Maine w hich had
been growing scarce. have SCnsiblN increased
since t>ll-hreeding was established at Bucks
port. And while we are taking 50 much pains
to propagate our valuable fishes, does not Il
wise economy demand that we should prevent
as far is possible their Wanton destruction:
Mr.. Buttcrworth. | wish to ask the gentle
man from Maine, with his permission, a que>
ton i'll connection with one remark of the gen
tlcman from New York. lie SAYS the tcsti-
mony of gentlemen who are interested in the
success of this industry points to the fact that
the spawning season is early in June and July,
and not largely in March and April. What are
the facts and what is the testimony which the
gentleman has on that particular point?
Mr.. Millikcn. Mr.. speaker, desire to saw
in answer to my friend from Ohio. that if
should attempt to reply to the immense amount
of misnformation which the gentleman from
New York has this morning given to the House
on the subject of fish and fisheries of different
kinds think | would require much more time
than | would care to consume in this House
and much more am sure than anybody would
like to occupy in listening to me. But the tcS-
tilnony to the contrary Of the statement of the
gentleman from New York is abundant and
overwhelming.
Professor Baird and others, and what does it
all amount to? When he gets through it
amounts to the fact that he admits he knows
nothing about the habits Of these fish. and not
With>tandin@ this he has talked to the House al
most an hour, and has succeeded in giving us
right to expect from one making such an adj
mission.
Sir, | say i'll conclusion, that the question is
whether we shall allow men for immediate
ganS-mcn who do not regard the future of
this great industry, nor the necessities of our
people largely benefited by this article of
food--to impair its supply, as has been done in
the case of the mcnhadcn and lobster or shall
we by administering timely and effective
remedy preserve it:
The Importance Of both cheap and whole
some food for the people demands that the
maCkcrc, which is almost universally used
should be allowed to pcrpetuatc itself and
should be taken only when in good condition.
and | believe that the provisions of this bill
designed to secure these objects will meet with
the approval of this House and the country.
In the House of Representatives May II
when the Senate bill to provide for the study
of the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics
and of their effects upon the human system, in
connection with the several divisions of the
subject of physiology and hygiene, by pupils
in the public schools of the Territories and of
the District of Columbia and in the military
and naval academies, and Indian and coloreu
schools in the territories of the United States
was under consideration Mr. MilIiken said:
Mr.. Speaker: l desire to say that this bill
meets with my cordial and unqualified approval.
There may be, indeed there are, we know,
differences of opinion upon many of the meth
DDS OF dealing with intemperancc, and good
men and women in all parts of the world have
earnestly and anxiously considered and reflect
ed upon it, and suggested their different ways
of arrestng ut least decreasing it. Many
laws have been enacted and enforced with
more or less success, and certainly public Spnti-