The Portland daily press., 1889-02-27
YESTERDAYS DoINGS AT AUGUSTA.
The Lobster Bills Started on Their
Legislative Course.
A State College Students Depressing
Opinion Of Farming Lie.
Another Law Asked Concerning
Portland Police Marshais.
Especial to the Press. !

the one to abolish the present close time and
the other to allow Holsters of less than lob
inches in length to be caught in certain sea-
sons TO convenience the Gamers, came up IN
tie House this forenoon. Mr.. Wiswell of
Ellsworth, who holds that the present law
works hardship to the summer hotels and
to the canning factories, took the floor to ad-
vocate the bill that favors the canning in
dustry Mr.. Wiswell recalled the fact that,
when the present law came up for enact
ment in the legislature 10 years ago, he pre-
dicted that it would ruin the great canning
industry of Maine. What was the result /?
In 1887 the lobster canning factories of
Maine disbursed in the course of theif oper-
ations the sum of $685., 1874; and of this $780,
900 was disbursed within the State of
Maine. What had been the result of the
operation of the law passed in 1887? The
record of the lobster canning factories last
year showed what that result had been.
Last year the factories, that in 1887 had dis
bursed $33S, ,S24, were able to give out but
$4,000. Their business has been virtually
wiped out. Now the bill now proposed
could allow the factories to can during the
months OF June Holsters less than IO3 inches
in length. This l0h inca law, said Mr.. Wis
well, had wiped out the business of 10 of the
Is lobster factories in Maine and compelled
the other three to do losing business. The
law had not only injured the business In
Maine, but had helped the factories of the
near the American lines. Scow loads of
Holsters were taken from the Maine side
over there to be canned. The Canadians,
and Messrs. johnson & Young of Boston,
who buy many Maine Holsters for the mar
ket, were, in Mr.. WiswelPs opinion, the par
ties most benefited by the present law. But
the law worked great injury to the fishermen
and labOrers of Maine. 1t was estimated
that 2160 fishermen catch Holsters for the
factories. If the present law continued, at
least one-half of these would be turned out
of employment. Then each of the IS lobster
factories of Maine employed ON an average
forty hands or an aggregate of over 700 peo-
pie. These were the people Interested In
the great industry now before the House.
AS to the point that the 10A inch limit is
necessary to preserve the supply, Mr. Wis
well combatted this. He said that this was
evidently not so on the Eastern coast,
where the Holsters were taken by the
Canadian factories. But the most expert
enced observation showed that it was not so
anywhere. Observers had found that the
growth of the lobster is not gradual, but
that it is sudden increase at stated period
each year. In July and August, when the
lobster sheds his she'll he increases rapidly
in size before taking on the new SHE'LL
So that a lobster that is nine inches
long in May and June becomes a ten
and one-half inch lobster in August
1t so happens that the factories being allowed
to catch Holsters in May and June are
taking but two months from the lives of lob
sters, because having shed their shell they at
once become 103 inch Holsters and liable to
capture Mr.. Wiswell read letter from
Bon N. b. Mutt of Eastpert, taking ground
against the presentlaw.
Mr.. Clifford, of Auburn, explained that the
m nff 10 m pf inf IN
discriminate against any class of laborers in
Maine; but merely to preserve the supply of
Holsters, which, in their opinion would be
threatened if Holsters as small as 8 inches
be allowed to be caught.
Representative Grindle of Mt. Desert, who
is one Of the most interesting speakers In
the House said 1t would be we'll to examine
the history of legislation upon this subject.
Previous to 1887 Holsters over 8 inches in
length could be taken and canned from
April 1st to July 10th. That law gave the
fisherman the advantage OF q choice between
two marketS-the canning ostablishm~IIts
and the market dealers. If the one wouldn't
pay fair price he could go to the other.
They were also sure of market. that law
was satisfactory to the factories, the fisher
les and the Consumers, to everyone. in fact
but the Boston market dealers and a few
who make protection hobby. These latter
We're not satisfied and got a chance in 1887.
The law of 1887 Is entitled ian act for the
\
the committee who reported it were dishon-
est; but do say that considering the result
of the law more appropriate title would
have been IAN act to abolish canning fac
tories on the coast of Maine," for that has
been the effect In 1887 there were IS can
ming factories on the coast. In 1888 there
were but three. One of these three, located
in my own community has paid out as high
as $4,000 year. In 1888 it paid out less
than $1,000 The IS factories in 1887 paid
tn flA I~.,4 Al.
factories left was less than $4,000. 1 have
been told, moreover, that it has cost the State
$4,000 to enforce this law. l have no way of
knowing whether these figures are correct or
not. But. If correct, then the State of Maine
has paid $4,000 to enforce law which has
dered $4,000 worth of property worthless
and discontinued an enterprise which paid
nearly $500, 900 annually to laboring men of
our State. L could continue much longer in
ready stated show that 1900 people have
been seriously injured; and believe that
no one in this House will hesitate to vote to
repeal this law until some one shall show
that an equal number have been benefited
In an equal degree,
Mr.. Pattangall of Pembroke, argued at
length against the present law. speaking of
the great harm the present law had done the
eastern portion of the State.
Mr.. Cole Of Brooksville, told of the unfav-
fishermen in his vicinity.
Mr.. O'Brien of Thomaston, said he could
not find, from conversation with the fisher
men in his region that they were in favor of
allowing any Holsters less than 10a inches in
length. Twas their opinion that such law
The question was then taken on the mo-
tion to substitute the minority report that
favoring simply the repeal of the close time)
for the majority report (that allowing the
Gamers to use nine inch lobsters). The mo-
tiOn was lost by vote of 100 nays to % yeas
These were the yeas and nays:
yEAs-Burleigh. Clark of saco, Closson, Cook
Curtis of Paris, Curtis of Perkins, Dckey, Fiske,
Clifford. Glover, Heald, Mcintyre, Malett, Man
ley, Moore; OBrien, Parker, Race, sweetzer,
NAYs-Adams Of Belgrade Adams of Limerick
Allen Of Wellington, Andrews, Barker. Berry,
CHAPLAIN. Cloutier, Cole, Cote, Dame, Dane, Dan
forth. Dingley, Doe, Eells. Emerson. Engel, Fogg,
Foster, Fox, Frank, French, Frees, Goodwin,
Of Hallowell, Hamilton, Hanley, Hawkins, Hich-
than, JOY, Kaler, Keegan. Kneeand, Lamb,
Linnell, Littlefed, Lombard, Looney, McCabe,
Madlgan, ,Marden, Marshall, Maxim Merrill:
Wales, Mnrch Nash, Nealley, Newcomb. Newton,
NOVEL;. OsgoOd. Pattangali, Perkins, Plummer,
Poor, Pottle. purington, Record, Robinson. Ross,
Shaw. Sheahan, Smith, Sprague, Stearns, Talbot
Taylor, Tilton, Turner, Yickery, Warren Of Cas-
tine, Warren of Deer Isle, Weed, Wentworth,
Wheeler, Whitten OF Portland, Wilbur, Wing,
Wswel, Yeas, %; nays, 100.
The majority report was then accepted and
the bill took its first reading.
The State College.
In the Senate this forenoon, the State Col.
lege resolve came up, and Senator Walton
continued his assault. Senator Walton said
the gentlemen who came here to advocate
that part of the resolve paying for the tuber-
culosed herd of cattle, reminded MIN of the
Androseoggin rumseller who objected to be.
ing tried by certain jury. why do you OBJ
ject?" said the court. ''Why," replied the
| rumseller, IL know all those fellows and
they know me-" Laughter Now, in this
| case. why did not the State College people
| ask for the pay for that herd at the last leg.
| islature, the legislature that knew all the
| circumstances of the killing of the herd, and
knew whether the State should pay for them
| But no; not word was said to that legisla.
ture But now they come up to this legisla-
| ture, that knows none of the facts, and de.
mand that the cattle be paid for Mr.. Wal
| ton then went on to show that the college
was receiving more now from the endow.
| ments which it has received from Gov, Co
| burn and from other sources than it used to
receive from the State appropriations several
| years ago. Yet they come here as unsatis.
fed as ever to ask for State aid Mr.. Walton
contended that the college was able now to
get along without State aid. The Speaker
| then went on to tell what member of the
| legislature had been told by State College
| professor. The professor had said: 1--WE