Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-11

years this same question has brsn before
this House For years the fisher
men have aalvoe4ted their cause, but
10 iheis appeals too many ears hxye
been deaf. They have asked for State
legislation and not class legislation. They
have asked for p.otesiion aad net FOR aid
The opposing force has been and is nov
the canvass 0n the one hand men honest.
true and sincere in their cause have asked
that their rights, their pflyiieges he guarded
AMI kept. They have asked tina, this State
protect an industry that they and their
fathers have followed and which for the
greater part they ami their children will
follow in the years 20 COME
Since the canning factories started along
our coasts some 80 wears since there has
been steady ,iecline in the lobster in
dustry
Where once they were most plenty few
can now be foHn !. What are the facts in
this ease: Has tbe scarcity been admitted:
The fishermen admit it by asking for this
proposed 10 10 inch law. The Gamers
admit il By assiHg for Il close time And
TINS same majority committee That refuses
to sanction this ASKED for law sill comes
here and asks that the State Appropriate
81 o ,0eo for hatchery, What the fisher
men offer to do at their own personal sat
ritice the tanners want to accomplish III the
expense of the State. The position of
the tus jority committee is certainly a most
peculiar and anomalous one. They admit
prima facie that which should be sufficient
| to defeat them and pass this law.
| Some $500 fishermen who have appended
their signatures to petitions ask YOU TO pass
this Law. The counties of Cumberland, of
York and Ssgadahoc are unanimous in
this request and parts of Lincoln,
Hancock, Washington and Waldo ask for
it. The opponents of this bill viii tell you
that the smackmen alone ask It, The petit
tivns before Us disprove that claim. And
yet, well may those smackmen come here
and ask for this law. Theirs is by no means
small interest. They have invested a
capital of over 500 900 and pay to the
fishermen yearly some s5ifo,0o0.
| One dealer alone MIR. Trefethen of Port
land, as appeared in evidence, paid last year
| to the fishermen Sl4j 600 or one and one
| half times as much as all the Gamers in this
State paid in Labor, Holsters and material.
| The Gamers claim that if this law is
passed that they will be compelled to
| close their doors. In the next breath they
contradict themselves by telling the fisher.
men that large Holsters will be so plenty
that they will sell for a cent and half
apiece.
| The canning factories employ some 400
men, bows and girls Tor period OF not
more than ~ and generally but six or seven
weeks year. Multiplying 400 by 10, and
that by ., we have ~ 900, representing the
number employed for day.
| The number of fishermen is at a low esti-
mate 5000; that gives us $4,000 for day.
Let US ieglslate Tor the - men and not for
the single individual. This law may de-
crease the profits OF the Gamers, but 1t GER
tainly will not close their doors.
Now tins la" that we ask for is no inno-
walton; it is nothing new or strange. Mas
sachusetts has had 1t for Is years, and il
has given the utmost satisfaction. The
fishermen of New Hampshire are happy be
cause il exists among her statutes. We
simply AK that no lobster less than 10 IL
inches in length shall be caught, bought. or
exposed tor sale. Such law VIII give all
the same privilege the same right. We
ask tor no hatchery, we ask for no close
time but we 10 hope that class legislation
VIII not go on
| Mess this Legislature shall enact this
- SN'NA S'''i'''' pow ''''
VIII be soon confronted with the fact that
what was once great industry has died,
that what once gave employment to hun
dreds Is no more hope that the minority
| report will prevail. in favor OF
Mr. Lawrence of Lubec spoke
the majority report.
MI oha" OF bath nave mere state
m nj OF prominent Gamer IN the town OF
a n If.h lao h.. ttul l. ~.
Z''" cases OF snort Holsters Nv hat do J
care, he says. "for these poor fishermen as
long Us make money!
Now MI. Speaker, man that Is born OF
woman Is OF lie" days ana fuli OF trouble
and so II is with these poor Holsters lie
poor lobster hardly arrives on the stage OF
existence when he is met with enemies from
beneath the water and above. Don't you
MINK thal THESE niue iorsters, three or tour
or hve inches IN length should have
protection so that they may grow and
when caught by the limit established by the
Legislature that II would De OF some bene-
III u our people HOLSTERS are getting to be
a luxury. They are growing more and
more popular every DAY. Better facilities
Ter transportation nave increased the de-
inand Tor them. 1t Is estimated that 20
900 eases were packed last season, reckoning
2oo nine-lnch Holsters IN case, making a
total OF 7,ooo,ooo OF the 9-inch length. If
IT requires that number OF nine-inch lobs-
tiers, what viii II require of the smaller
KIND!
gu cannot buy IN the markets now a
lobster that IS 10 IL inches long for
less than 10 or Is cents pound.
say that we should insist on protective
law Tor "ur Holsters. hope that the
minority report VIII prevail.
Mr.. button of windsor Gentlemen
mere are advocating the right to take lob
sterS Just as soon as they get big enough to
wrle2ie- II pay money for lobster
want something besides shell. If the lob
ster Industry is beneficial to the State of
Name, why should 1t not be protected
We have OIL here tor the protection OF
Holsters, for the protection of that industry
II is Tor their protection until they arrive al
a certain length where they Will yield some
fooh TO the buyer. am told that 10 ~
inch lobster is rare thing in the market
anu Is worm - cents a pound. few
years ago remember That could bny 4
seven and one-haif pound lobster for 10
cents, but they say that seven and one
haif pouna lobster is not desirable for can
hlng' 30 hoe see the force OF that argu-
ment. Ihere Is bill before the Legisla-
lure 10 appropriate sio'ooo win view OF
ouiiathg q hatchery Tor tue propagation OF
iooS'ers' SO tha' JUST "hen they GET large
enough 10 wrlggle again these Gamers can
gel 'h' IN 10 MI their cans am opposed
TO 'hi' am Tor the hshermen aiohg the
coast l am ior the poor man who can
gam a Jew dollars Independent OF can
mug iae,or! independent OF any monopoly