The Portland daily press., 1895-02-07

An order was passed requiring the COM
mittee on eC acation to inquire into the ex-
pediency of making the maintenance of
free high schools compulsory upon all
towns of more than one thousand inhabi-
tants.
The Kennebec delegation reported favor
ably the bill to fix the salary of the kenne-
bee register OF deeds.
INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Bixby OF Athens, petition of trustees
of Somerset academy to limit the number of
pupils who may be sent by the town of
Athens to the academy to sixty.
BY Mr.. Hutchinson of Auburn, resolve for
the compilation and printing of the insur-
ance laws.
BY Mr.. Larrabee Of Portland, bill to per-
NIT the Velasco company TO hold securities
of other corporations.
By Mr.. Haines of Waterville, bill to pro-
vide for the giving of public notice to the
commissioners of fish and game by persons
who intend to ask the legislature for special
legislation in regard to iish and game.
TO ABOLISH CoNsTABLEs.
The judiciary committee voted to abolish
the Office of consta BILE in the city of Bidde-
lolQ anu GsdiuSb 1SppGiiiB i4io Po5ASS Noti'-
mission law.
The committee on towns heard the propo-
sition to divide the town of Berwick,
THE LOBSTER WAR.
The committee on shore fisheries spent
the whole of the afternoon and evening
hearing the lobster question. The Gamers
had their turn i'll the afternoon, when their
10 of fba was ed nv Fl on
Charles E.. Littleneld of Rockland. A num-
Der of gentlemen from the eastern section
of the state who are engaged in the canning
business. including Messrs. ]. and E. A.
Wyman of Milbridge, Huxley of Jonesport
and E. A. Holmes of PASSPORT. testified
that the passage of a law preventing the
taking of Holsters less than ten ami one
half inc hes in length at any tine would ruin
their business. They did not think that
their business endangered the supply OF
Holsters.
MessIs Beeton of Rockland and Wood OF
Bar Harbor.s represented the lobste dealers
an l the fishermen who oppose the proposed
close time. Among the witnesses whom they
called was Mr.. Cram of the firm of c. W.
Marston &. Co., the Portland lobster deal
ers, who gave he committee some interest
ing facts concerning the magnitude OF that
business. MI. Cram said that he had known
times when there were shipped in day
from Portland by he American Express
from 20 to 81 tons of Holsters. These were
worth ten or twelve dollars a barrel or S220O
in all. There are nine concerns in Portland
dealing in Holsters alone. Mr.. Cram re-
farred to a statement made by Mr.. Holmes.
one of the Gamers. who had testified during
the afternoon that the Gamers had gotten
up the plan for a close time of several
months as a standof to the proposition OF
the fishermen to forbid the taking OF
Holsters of less than ten and one-hal1
inches in length. Mr.. Cram said that such
a close time would do great damage to the
dealers, as they had customers whom they
| would lose if they failed to send them thu
| daily supply oven for few days, and these
| customers once lost could not be RECEIVERS d
| Mr. Cram thought that he number OF mel
| engaged in lobster fishing is increa sing
He said that the fishermen report that the
| Holsters were constantly growing scarcer.
Captain Hover of Goulds boro. who com
| mands lobster smack; then told the smacl
mems reasons for opposing the close time IL
an interesting manner. His argument was
| IN the main that advanced by others. Mr.
| Leadbetter of North Haven, who described
| himself as a lobster Spectator. kept the
committee in good humor for half an hour.
He said lie proposed to tell the truth even II
his friend Little field did try to catch hin
in a lie, and explained that when he got
wound up he could talk all night, which
lead Mr. Littleield to remark. when the
time for cross-examination arrived. that he
Me-. 1h,+Ao in,
Mr.. Leadbetter announced that he did not
know which side of the question he was in.
He only wanted to help the poor fisherman.
However his position in opposing the close
time was clear enough.
Fred Pendleton of Winter Harbor, who
was described as neither Gamer, dealer
or speculator, but plain fisherman, said
he had been asked By other plain fishermen
like himself to speak for them in opposition
to close time.
Frank Willard of South Portland a lobster
dealer, also testified.