The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-03
SEA AND SHORE fisheries.
Commissioner o. b. Written Offers Gene
al Summary Up of This Industry.

Hon. Orrin B. Written, commissioner OF
sea and shore fisheries, has rendered his
report to the Governor and Council. and
presents much interesting and valuable
knowledge in reference to this Important
industry of the Maine coast. In his intro
duction he speaks of the great value OF the
fishing privileges of this State and the
fruitfuIness Of the waters. and to give some
idea of the extent of the business he says:
"1here are enrolled in the customs dis
tricts of this State 49, vessels which are ex-
clusiveIy engaged in the fisheries, and in
addition to these there are employed in the
shore fisheries more than 6G00 fishing boats
with a valuation of not less than S5u0.000.
When We take into account the vessels,
boats, wsirs. pounds. traps. bag-nets. fyke-
nets, seines, lines, pots and miscellaneous
apparatus in connection with shore privi-
leges which are necessary for the pr0secu-
ton of the business, we find that their val
ue in tho aggregate will reach a sum that
even those who a.e familiar with the bust
ness will be aatonished at. / hope in a sub
sequent report to ne able to present with
numerical exaotness the magnitude and i'm
portanoe of the fishery industry to the
State. The fisheries. rs source of imme-
date wealth and as nursery of seamen,
are of too much value to be neglected or
abused. do not over estimate whom I say
that there is invested in apparatus and
cash capital in the sea and shore fisheries
Of the State $4,000, 600, while employment
Is given to 10000 Of it's citizens"
He furnishes a general summing up of
the herring fishing and its Importance and
extent. Following this he refers to the lob
ster fishing, and says:
"a quarter of a century ago 1000 lobst tiers
arriving in Portland in one day would have
oveIstocked the market. Now there are so
lobster smacks plying along this coast and
81 of this fleet find market for their lob
sters In Portland, and 1t is estimated that
they, including what arrived in boats and
other shipments. landed in Portland during
the last II months 1900. 600 1ohst ers, for
which the dealers paid not less than
$32G, 600. 1t is estimated that there are
200, GOO lobster pots owned by the lobster
fishermen on this coast, and that they cost
wnen ready for the water $1.s5 each or
the aggregate S250,O00. Warden Vinal of
Vinalha ven, reports that there are "a lob
steImen in that town and the value of
the lobster gear Is $G495 and that the boats
are valued at $1,000. The fishermen re-
ceived for their catch of Holsters during
the past year $23. 500. Warden W. A. Hen
derson informs me that in Cutler and vicin-
ity there are 296 fishermen engaged in the
lobster fishery employing las boats and l4S0
lobster pots. Warden John U. Hill says
that in the town of Gouldsborot here are 120
men with families that obtain their sup
port from the fishing business.
MAINE holds the key to the lobster
hands from the South and West depend
principally on Maine for the supply.
It is a bu siness of too much Importance to
the state 70 lose by lack Of interest OF ill
conside 81 ed legislation