Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-14
Msnhadsn Fisheries OF the Maine
Coast
Editors of the Kenae5ee Journal /:

Editors Of the Kenne5ee Journal:
Perhaps it may not be unin.eresting t
| some of your many readers to give them ar
idea of the porgie business carried on in
this place, the season Of 1890.
The menbadea were very plenty here
last season and yielded large percentage
Of oil to . barrel of fsh. Never in the
history of these fish were they more plenti.
full than the two past seasons. which fac,
will lead to the explosion of old theories
held by the enemies Of the fishermen who
declared the fish destroyed by them, hence
the existing law, prohibiting the taking OF
these fish inshore.
1t occurs periodically and always will,
that fish of all kinds change feeding
grounds. They do not always inhabit the
same spots, which Of course is grea.
injury to those who make = living by catch.
ing them. We often read that the New
foundlaud cod and herring fishery has been
poor, or failure and is the cause Of grea,
distress among the fishermen. Do they OF
their countrymen say they have all been
caught and pass laws for their future
protection should they ever re-
turn? No. They put up with this
failure as best they can know.
log they have shifted feeding grounds
caused by some freak of nature unknown
to us all, but are confident of their return
sooner or later. Ia the meantime quite an
item is being saved to them in legislation
aud fish waYdens' fees, that we are com.
PEELED to pay, because of existing laws, and
a punishment. to the fishermen because the
fish DO net come back every season. They
being the prime cause, "all caught up"
The porgie deposits its spawn along the
southern coast in winter, and the young
fish invariably stay there until they are
large enough to migrate to the New England
or come other preferred coast for short sum-
mer stay, say not longe: than ninety dsys
Now to put restriction on the taking OF
these fish in my opinion is great injury
to the we'll being of our whole State. Al
they are not. and cannot be utilized as 8
food fish from their oily taste and flavor i,
seems right that they should be used fol
what they are best adapted for, viz. oil aud
scrap. This can be proftably done nov
under existing lsws but without restric lions
larger profit would surely result
Since l have digressed somewhat from
what intended at the commencement I vii
now try and estimate what was earned her,
in one OF the Old and guano factories il
three months or Whereabouts.
The business commenced the first Of
July and wound up the last of September
There were four steamers aud two sailing
gangs employed to catch and bring the fish
to the factory. There were $50 mel
employed in the factory, on steamers ant
sailisg gangs. The lime running the work!
including steamers, vessels, etc, was abou
ninety days. In this brief period enough
fish were taken to make IL 900 tons Of
guano, worth $40 per ton; 10000 cases o.
oil of so gallons capacity, at % cent?
per gallon, amounting to Sll0 900. Added
to thi, Sl20.00O for scrap or gusnt
and we have $3.50, GOO, the amount total Of
the products of this one factory. This il
an industry that should receive the sane
ton and supper. Of every good citizen Of
our State.
The oil is marketed in Europe, mostly il
the Island Of Great Britain, and the pro
ceeds come to us as something harvested
;hst was never sown. A little encourage
ment given the fishermen by our goot
State would bring this business up to the
standard Of any of our favored industrie.
Of which We all feel so proud.
BOoTHBAY HARBoR. W.M.'SAwYER.