Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-09

rianertes and Game.

LIE 4IrsLUi " ~
vas continued before the Committee on Fish
cries and Game yesterday afternoon Nr-
rrae z. Pls.re appeared for the remon-
strants and Hon. u. ID. Baker fof the petit
TONERS Hon. Nelson Tho npson Of Friend
81 .. appeared tor the remJnsuz1fs. He
sail that the ashermen in his section were
satisfied with the Law as it Is at present. He
DID not consider tnat the hshermsn whom he
knew were much benet ted BY the lobster
factories. lie stated that q town meeting of
the citizens Of Friendsh was called for the
purpose OF giv.Ag al expression OF opinion
apon this subject and there was not a single
vote against Iise present lag. All were In
fasur or iG. He thought HOLSTERS, ike other
1sh. were slightly migratory IN their eharac-
ter, though he d.d net think they were sum
eleiitly TO change from one cnanaei 70 an
other. OF the Htty fishermen whom he kaew
personally, he thought he hal talked with
fully one half. and he did not md one who
ieslred toe change OF the present la~-tha,
il so far as il gIiates the size of Holsters
a. ich may oe taken.
Mr. Robert McLain of Bremen, stated
that he had been a lobster fisherman for
nxarly thirty years. Had caught them in
puts. lie thought about forty people in his
vicinity were engaged in the same business.
His observation rad led him TO believe that
holsters spawn chiefly IN tie months
vi April May and part of June !;
nad never seen a lobster under ten inches IN
length with spawn attached. tie thought he
had caught double the number OF holsters
luls wear that he did two years ago though
the priee, for them had not been AS good as
usual. A. one time there was glut and
this he attributed to the number OF fisher
I - ktI IAN
men xhom he had talked with desired the Law
to remain as II is with the exception OF the
close time this they thought should be tax
en- off. He circulated peutlon in Bremen
demonstrating against the repeal of the pres
eat law aud 1t had been sgned by every lob
ster fisherman nom he had seen with on.
single exception who said ne had sworn on
signing petluons. ! here had been DO actisl
y among the canning factorls the pas. year,
tins reason was because they couldn't get
them under 10 ~ inches and get them Tor
PRACTICAL, nothing. lie dld NOT think II paid
10 catch Holsters to sell at Cent apiece. The
large HOLSTERS were not taken to the canning
factories because be ter market could
generally be found for them elseS here. lie
did not think that year ago there were large
( holsters enough caught To keep the factories
running, but Holsters were much plehtier
uow. Dur,ng the fall they had been caught
III large numbers.
Mr. l. f. McLain of Pemaquii stated
.hat he had been engaged in she gathering
up IF ioDsters on Il steamer for the supply "
canning factory. lie thought II there
/ we're not restrctlons on the catching of lob
( .Iers from the first OF April to the middle
/ OF July 1t would be very injurious to the
! fisher aud largely decrease the supply OF
4 HOLSTERS. He would not say lhey wond be
, xtermlnated but they would become So few
that there wvglI be little or no profit in
catching them.
| AT the evening session, t. z Pierce Esq
OF Roekland made the closing argument Tor
the remonstrau He stated that since The
passage of the law there had been marked
Increase in the supply of Holsters; remark
! ed that the opposition came entirely from the
eastern part of the State, and emphasized
the tact that the committee should act tor
the good OF the whole sea coast Much vi
the remonstrance is that which naturally
arises against any law relative to hsh and
game Inc only question is he ther we wish
. 20 protect Holsters lie then reviewed the
various remouslraEces, and stated that nearly
ali the sIgaers were loDst fishermen.
Hon. y. ID. Baker, counsel tor the petit
counted for nothing, that most of the re
monstrances came from places where lobster
catching or canning is carried on. On tine
other hand. the sIgners of the petition are
! those who depend upon the lobster business
/ for a livelihood The Gamers say with one
voice that the effect of the law Is 10 drive
Them out of the business. The only en-
comlums upon the law quoted in the Fish
} COMMISSIONER report are from rival Boston
dealers aid the nsh commissioner Of the
/ Provinces The traders by the present law
are unable to supply the market during the
entire season, and the trade naturally drifts
/ To Boston, VIE re It emains, The fishermen,
too, petition not on,y Dy the papers winch
you nave seen, but by pathetic letters to
members OF the committee and to legislators,
entreHliag that the law may be repealed.
The practical effect of the law has been to
reduce the price of Holsters from 10 cents to
5 cents apiece. aud at 1hls price the fisher
men cannot make their living,
Before The Committee OF