Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-15

legislation regarding the taking of misra
tory fish is harmful to the fishing interests
Of this State and to the State at large.
Some years ago this legislation was pro.
cured when it was thought necessary TO
have some restrictions Since that time
it has heen proved that this legislation
was uncalled for and ill-advised. One of
the theories followed in procuring that
legislation was that the use of seines and
drag nets was responsible for the I'M
accountable temporary disappearance of
migratory fish. That theory has been ex-
ploded. They were not diminished by the
large catch from year to year. In 1879
the menhaden did not appear at all. They
came along in their usual way to the
coast of New Jersey, Long Island Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, and they sud
denly disappeared. They did not come to
our coast. This disappearance of migra-
tory fish. in the minds Of all the fisher
men, is not due to any operation of the
fishing business. These fish don't come
TO us for the purpose of spawning. No
body knows from whence they come nor
where they go. At times they totally dis
appear, sometimes for days and weeks and
sometimes for years. When they return
they are apt to return in as great quanti-
ties as they ever We're seen. In 1890 they
did not come again and they have never
been here since TO any extent
The idea Of restricting the taking of
these migratory fish when they do come
to US is simply ridiculous
Another objection made to the catching
of these migratory fish by seines is that
great many of the focd fish arc taken up
by these seines, that they take up paddock
and shad and other kinds. l have seen a
great many catches of migratory fish and
l never saw anything of the kind. Ac-
cording to letter / have here from the
United States fish commissioner, the large
fishing steamer J. W. Hawkins, from May
to November /, took $500, 900 migratory
fish, from the capes of Virginia to the
mouth of the Kennebec, and in that vast
number there was only 1927 food fish. l
have heard it advanced that the seners
caught the food fish and destroyed them,
ground them into oil, etc! l think that
theory has been exploded, in view of the
fact that the United States fish commits
sioner says in his letter that the J. W.
Hawkins did not take food fish enough
to feed the crew, during the whole season.
Other states place no restrictions on the
catching of these migratory fish. 1 believe
the whole thing is wrong, and that when
these fish come into our waters, our fish
ermen should be allowed to take them.
Mr. Hiscock of Damariseotta said all we
ask of you today is to be let alone Simply
let us alone and we will be happy. Two
thousand five hundred fishermen have
INV ii u1a no I1f,u,oI IN caina
on our coast. The law has passed and
what has been the result? In my section
of the county the result is marked. In
the little town of Boothbay Harbor there
has been more than $40, 600 invested in
cold storage The fishermen from Glouces
ter and Boston going to and from the
Banks stop at Boothbay Harbor and buy
bait. Before this they went to Nova
Scotia and you all now what trouble they
had there They had to pay high prices
for bait compared with what they had to
pay at home. This surely is an industry
that we cannot afford to lose. If you ac-
cept the minority report you will ruin
this industry. We Republicans believe in
the protection of home industries. Let
us protect this industry and not drive our
fishermen to Nova Scotia for bait. Let
us look after our fishermen and sailors and
see that they are protected and have a
chance to fish. Let us see that they do it
in Maine. Let us keep them at home
where they can be happy and make an
honest living. r..,,
Mr. Leighton of Columbia Falls said
that the reason why this dividing line
was made was because west of the Penob
scot river there is nothing done in tho
sardine industry. 1t was settled two years
ago that there should be this dividing
line so as to save the herring or sardine
fishing interest In Hancock and Washing
ton counties we have large weirs and these
fish are taken in these weirs by drag seincs,
as has been said. We believe that the law
should remain as it was made two years
ago If this bin is was passed it will close
up the sardinc industry on or eastern
coast. protest against anything but the
acceptance of the majority report.
Mr. Patten of Bath said that he wished
to read to the House sort series OF reso-
lutions. ! do not pretend to be practical
fisherman myself, but | think that these
gentlemen who have drawn up these peso-
buttons know something about the fishing
industry want the gentlemen of this
House before they vote to understand that
there are others who believe Us do. These
resolutions were adopted at n meeting of
the Sagadahoc County Association for the
Protection of Game and Fish.
To the Honorable Senate and House Of
RepresC natives in Legislature as
seInbled:
At meeting of She Sagadahoc County
Association for the Protection of Fish and
Game. held at Bath ON the Goth inst, the
following resolutions were unanimously
passed, viz:
Whereas, experience has abundantly
proved that the use of purse and drag
seines in our rivers and small bays, is
seriously depicting and threatens eyentu-
ally the destruction Of the food fishes
along our coast, therefore
Resolved, That we will not cease to
protest against this most INSCRIPTIONS
robbery of the rights and privileges OF our
humble shore fishermen, and the public as
sgcll, which is being done largely by
monopolies Of other states aided by I'M
principled citizens of our own State.
Resolved, That we most respectfully
urge upon our senators and representa-
tives, now in session, the repeal of chap
ter two hundred and fortynine (249l OF
the of the Acts of 1898, and the re-enact-
ment of section seventeen Q7). chapter
.ivtvnpe lG1l Of the Laws of 1891. and as