Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-16

btltestEtdLift IL phdI VI huout
island has introduced in Congress bill
providing that any citizen Of the United
States may at all times take manhaden
and mackerel with purse seines along
the sea coasts and shores OF the United
States and along the shores Of the sew
cral islands thereunto I'D AGENT, and in
the bays. harbors and estuaries OF the
sea coasts and shores of the | nited
States, and Of the islands, and in all
waters under the jurisdiction of the
nited States where the tide GIBBS and
flows -
1t is needless to SAY that this is blow
especially aimed ri the fishermen OF
Maine and Massachusetts. These two
states are The favorite feeding grounds
of the manhaden. Here they become fat
and full grown. yielding two or three
times as much OIL rs 10 the manhaden tax
| en- oil the coasts of states further south
| The monopolists who are engineering
| the heme to destroy the fisheries Of our
State claim that manhaden are not food
| fish This is so to a certain extent; but
| il will be noted that the desires OF these
comerants 10 not stop here. They de
| mand the lighteto totally destroy what ID
| left II our ma, keIel fisheries. II they
are permitted Federal law to ignore the
| statute regulations Of the States the in
| evitsble result will be to bring hardship
| and want to the sturdy fishermen along
our coast. If they are allowed
to fish a. all with the purse seines it is
| impossible to prevent fish of all kinds
from being taken. Food fish are lust
about a. liable to be destroyed as other
kinds. As Is well known the manhaden
| is favorite food for hake and other
food fish the taking of which gives EN-
plovment to large number Of people
along the Maine coast. Referring to
this matter the Republican Journal very
truly says:
Before the advent of purse seines, our
fishing was unexcelled; but the free and
unrestricted use OF these machines OF
destruction to the tiuny tribe, soon drove
them from our coast, and wall long and
loud went up from those interested in
obtaining livelihood by fishing in a
limited manner.
Wise legislation with enforcement OF
laws passed has improved the fishing of
the entire coast Of Maine, and the fisher
men are rejoicing over the return Of the
old time fishing, and are preparing in a
small way. for more extensive operations
the coming season.
The past summer our shores were
crowded with summer visitors. enjoying
the fine fishing. The farmers from the
interior come to the shores Of our coas,
to ENJOY short respite from labor on
the farm, and to catch their winter 5
supply Of fish, and lust as we are about
to enjoy the fruits of our past protection
these porgie pirates, thoroughly dead
ened to any sense OF right, seeing an op-
por.unity to enrich their Golfers at the
expense of the masses, cause to be
framed bill to nullify our present wise
state protective laws, and have it placed
before Congress by senator from state
where greater part Of these vultures
live.
The past season there was such Wig
orous war wsged against these law
breakers that it has driven them to
resort to an attempt to pass a national
bill; as all their endeavors to lobby an
obnoxious bill through the Maine Legis
! lature have thus far proved futile.
The people demand protection against
such cormorants. and i. is to be hoped
that the representatives to Congress and
senators from Maine will use their ut.
most endeavors TO defeat the passage OF
this bill. The future of Names fishing
industry never looked more promising
than at present, and there is no doubt as
to their position in this matter, when
thoroughly informed as to the wishes OF
the people.