Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-09

about 5000 people on the fishing grounds
and in the factories, while the shipment
of the goods aided In no small degree in
the support Of many more employed bv
the transportation companies or in the
coasting trade
Method Of Catching the Fish.
One who travels by water along the
coasts of Eastern Maine, cannot fail to
observe what might appear to him, to be
sections of brush fence which had leaped
boldly from the shore and lighted in the
ocean enclosing part of it, or in other
moods had waded boldly in from shore
until deep water and "A strong current
had been reached. when as if frightened
it turned abruptly and formed a sort Of
irregular loop az if by accident. These
fences are brush weirs and along our
coasts the herring are caught in them.
This device was introduced from Nova
Scotia about 1890 1t is built entirely of
brush and poles The proper location Of
IA weir is of the first Importance. A
:" bar weir Is placed near a ledge reef or
sand bar which is exposed at half tide.
At high water the fish pass over the bar
and into the bowl of the weir and as the
tide falls the bar prevents their return.
The shore weir is built near the land. 1t
has line of brush running out from the
shore, which turns the fish from the
course they are swimming in schools, and
they work outward from the shallow
water into the bowl or pocket, also made
OF brush, at the outer end. The channel
weir is built from land to land, between
which fish are accustomed to pass so that
all going that way are impounded. Some
times weir extends from the end of IL
point of land. Occasionally one is seen
in a little cove. Often they are placed
where the tide runs with force. In one
location the weir is so built as TO catch fish
on the ebbing of the tide. In another
they are caught on the flowing of the tide.
The fisherman thoroughly understands
the fishing grounds and is governed by
his experience gained only by lifetime
spent along shore and in his boat and he
adapts the style of his weir to conditions
as be has found them. The outline plan
of the weir is formed by driving pointed
poles into the mud in an upright position.
A strip Of board is nailed to the top of
these poles to hold them in relative dis
tance to each other and to give stability
to the structure. Brush is woven into
these poles basket fashion. Below low
water mark the brush is woven quite
closely, but loosely above. When the
herring enters the bowl of the weir their
habit is to swim slowly about in a circle.
They do not dart about seeking to escape
through the numerous openings which
are always to be found This simple and
crude device for catching fish owes its
successful application to this and to the
other well understood habits of the her
ring. AT low water these fish remain in
the channels where deep water is. He is
a surface feeder. When the strong flood
tide sets in from the ocean, it brings
along and to the surface, myriads of
small crustacea The herring then simply
rise to the surface, turn their heads to the
current, and drift away Shoreward, seiZ
ing what comes in their way for food,
until they come in contact with some well
located weir and little later they hudde
cOntentedly in the pocket. From tire,
to five men are required to transfer a
good catch of fish from the weir to the
boats. They are first enclosed by net
and are dipped out after they have been
gathered into sufficiently close compass!
The annual catch to each weir varies
greatly, ranging from few barrels to
three hundred hogsheads in common
weirs. Larger catches have often been
made but they were owing to superior
location and these larger amounts re-
ported can hardly be assigned to common
weirs.
The boats used in fishing the weirs'
are small row boats although the boats
used in transporting the fish to the fac
tories are for the most part staunch sail
boats some twenty feet long. These sail
boats are usually at hand to receive the
fish when dipped from the net. The sail
boats carry from five to eight hogsheads
of fish. Too many fish must not be
carried in one boat, as they are liable to
heat and spoil, while those at the bottom
of the boat may be bruised by weight OF
the mass above. 1t is we'll to have differ
ent compartments in the boat so that
the fish may not slip about as the boat
pitches in the rough sea. 1t is said that
more fish are taken in dark nights than at
other times. 1t Is indeed picturesque
sight, on pleasant summer forenoon fol
lowing a moonless night to stand on some
commanding point near Eastport or Lu-
bee, and watch the white sails of hun
dred fishing boats standing across the
bay with loads of fish. As the boats near
the wharves, the factories sound their
steam whistles in q deafcning chorus
when men, women and children rush to
their work creating Il scene of the greatest
excitement and enthusiasm.
In many places small steamers are EN-
ployed in transporting the fish TO the
cannories. They are less subject to delay
by reason of Gains or head winds. They
are always better adapted to collecting
from distant weirs, rs it is absolutely
necessary that but few hours shall clapse
between the time of capture and delivery.
The price paid per hogshead for fish
has varied greatly. In 1879, it went as
high as twelve dollars. In 1880 the aver
age was about four dollars and fifty cents.
In 1895 the price reached the lowest
point ever known, one dollar per hogs
head. and in some parts of the season
even lower than that. The supply of fish
to the factories is intermittent. Some
times the boats return empty, again with
full fares So too in consequence the
price varies in all localities. The prices
maid this season at EastpJrt and vicinity
has been less than at other points on the
coast further west AT the prices paid