Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-02

Jefferson, Howes of Palmyra, Rideout Of
Webb OF Deer Isle. Maxim OF
East Liyermore, on the part Of the House.
DEEP SEA FISHING.
Dangers that Threaten this Important
Industry -MssciIess Slaughter ard
Lax Laws Having their Efsct.-A
Problem Worthy OF Attention
We are as nation living so fast and pro-
crossing in one way so rapidly that we have
little time to look ahead, unintentionAlly
obeying the scriptural injunction. Take no
heed for the morrow" In considers ton of
this ii is perhaps not strange that the pub
lie eye is as yet unopened to the decline of
our deep sea fisheries. But it is fact,
strange As the statement may seem, that one
of our most important industries is steadily
being wiped out of existence, and unless
active measures are at once taken will soon
be but memory Of the past.
We have all read from time 10 time Of
the scarcity of certain fish that formerly
we're very plentiful, of the arrivals of yes
sells with extrs mely igh. fares and of the
seasons failure of certain branches Of fish
ing. We have noticed that certain fish were
not only getting scsrcer and smaller each
year, but higher in price as well, and we
have read of the frequent seizures of our
fishing schoonefs by the Canadian author
tiles when buying herring for bait illegally,
and the serious difficulties and annoyances
the American fisherman is subjected on
account of the scarcity of herring in our
waters A few thinking readers ponder
over these matters. Others read and pass
on to the neyt column for they have no
time for remote subjects.
Yet this matter of determination of whist
is one of our most important industries,
from both financial and economic stand
poilt. is far from being remote. II is of
the greatest importance. 1t is not merely
a question of depriving the American PEG
pie of what is both delicacy and staple
food article, and which should be sold at
less than one half the prices at profit to
the pro iucer and all the handlers. 1t is
not merely question involving the send
ing of many millions of dollars annually to
foreign countries for an article that a few
years ago wss more plentiful here than
anywhere else in the world. 1t involves
the interest of tens Of thousands of brave,
honest men, a large proportion With wives
and children.
The branches Of fishing that are most in
need of prote ction are the mackerel and
herring. The laws relating to the catching
of cod and Holsters also need careful
attention. for, although these fish have not
been subjected to the merciless slaughter
that the msckerel and herring have, it j..
probably but a matter of years when they
will be as scarce, although this future con-
dii)n of affairs does no. now evidence
itself on the surface. The national catch
of msckerel landed in New England ports
for the past six years is as follows:
Barrels
1885, 329, 943
1886. 79,99s
1887, s3,3S2
1888, 1926
1883, 29.9ls
Tho fop,es for tho co.cb oe ,aon have
not vet been comniIed If ia e,timsted ar
less than II 0OO bbls II ;.a s;ynif,can,
fact in contrast tn those fiuu,a. that the
catch NJ ,ha Gjorcestor Nse. .Ione in
$50 81 VA. ION ono hi. Eor rho n.s,
few wear. We have heen imno,,iro mack-
e,el extensively from Ea.,ern Canada
Norway and I,eland The import.,;on
from Canadian waters alone in fsso wac
27513 bbl.. and 1910 hills. of Irish and
Norweui,n m.ckerel have freouentlv been
received in Boston ard Nov York in ono
week Ara low estimate over sIo oo0 00o
have been son, IN fore;on count,ies in nov
mont for a ish thai hut few ys.r. CO.,,
was marc nlentv in our water. than ara The
ri, m, in the mn1 AID sand hanks .Ior.
on, coast todsv Thec,p,o ~ tho 5en,;na
n. our mackeral and o,be, a,be,;o, {, dra
nrsc,icaIlv +, Insufficient legi.,,,;on ona
nnanfo,ced Law, but nr;ms,;iv n tbs rna,b-
oas nsed in catching tho f.b On, e,b;,,
law. 80 vbola .,a ue.k and fsw i, nm
ber Nsnv If tbem o,o noh,ir.1Ir an.
forced nv depntv sheriff. ard a an wordo,.
and in those a,y. when con.cien.;ousno.s
il a greater or lesser rarity. small hu,
i,dicious Investment freonen,Iv enable.
the fishermen to catch and market hi. Fl ali
Illegally. I'm, what ia nerb.n. ono of tho
wors, features If the Law. il tbei, I,ct NJ
for . great many of Thorn ors
State Iaws II /, msnifes.Jv ab,,rd 10
have tho cetcbiry and m.rrs,;oo ~ s.h
h;cb NAV he node, iuri,lict;on ~ one
state ono asv and anotber tho now no,
;, ,lle5 bv Sts,a I,ws ub;cb sre a, x.,;.noo
with each ether All laws ,els,ino 70 ,ho
deem 40. fisheries .honid no m,de and ar.
fo,ced bv the Iro;,ea St.tes
y.ars 400 msckeral were csuybt with tho
hook and line n, ,,i;o a., n i. c.l,od ond
tho d,ay ne, and these two ma,hod, wa,a
aIwsv. ~. Tive i, c,,cb;n, nno5 a..
ana .o,, n,.eteral within tho ,.soh IS ~
sven the humblsst I.bo,er aod 70, ,ba
fsbarman's .ba,as we,e .lvav. ma ;ar, -
nrov;de ali the comfo,t. NJ Iifs 70, ,har
seive. and families and tbs ,nsoho,a,
sbowod ma s;on, ~ de,-o.,;,g The. 80
tho ..oonJ iii s.v.,, IN v-bich ,.n -.
cram fi.herman can look back ana 800,
fnlIv corn.,e With ,bo,e 81 ,ha $3.50,
t;ro cot tho va..aI owre,, 80 hs..,,'
sat;.fsd Thev we,a M. ca,cbira s,n ca
enoush T. tool too man va.,s ~ a.t ~
8, a low decades 400 The n,,,o .o;na -.
introduced end esne,.ll,, .dor.ea IT,
,,,.a .s;ns !. no. .on,s,;,,s.. iii,
Voc in Iera,h All va,r e. -
mn nerou. hrov. f.,,aned ~ tho mo- a,aa.
I'D I,,aa w. ST., ,;n,, - ,bo ,a~a 49,,
vb;ch tho mrs Inc nm. TN ,;r.. ~,
buoy. keep il in a pe,nepaicnl,r no,i.ior
v hon in the water. The .eine i, cas-, VII,
,,niaitv and in snch ',.n,o,
a. to surround a school of a,b> Whsn hi.
j. 5ons The + va unne, edos. NJ ,ha .a;,a ..e
b,ongbt cIosa ,oos,be, and he nn,s, H.
tho bo,tom i. draun IN t,ut I'M. fa,m;r,
so,, of = cpn. .bsnad t,an f,or, xh;nh 80
n.cke,ei ave bsIsd ont on the ys,.sr. aaoh
witb tho ru,sa ..i,e u.oLa,sI ~a.. -.