Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-01-04
STATE HOUSE.
Col. {. c. Stevens Receives
Warm Congratulations.
Extracts From Labor Commissioners
Report on Fisheries.
Or. A. G. Young Sending Blanks to Local
Boards Of Health.

Colonel Z. c. Stevens is a very busy
man, making preparations for entering
upon his new duties as Superintendent of
State buildings. He is, and has been,
since the announcement OF bis appoint
ment very busy, also, In receiving the
warmcst kind Of congratulations from his
numerous friends.
Labor Commissioner S. W. Matthews
will say, in his annual report, regarding
the State fisheries:
When first the coast of Maine was
visited by the early navigators, the waters
teemed with fish. Fishing was among
the pioneer industries and the fisheries
have through all these years been an i'm
portant source of income, giving employ
ment to numerous and hardy class.
Along the coast fishing has taken pre-
cedence of agriculture and the harvest of
the sea, although much more variable in
Its results than farming, has been sufii-
ciently fascinating to hold its army of
followers. Because of the migratory habits
of the fish, and the uncertainties surround
ing the business, the number of vessels
and men employed vary considerably from
year toyear.
There are enrolled in the customs dis
trcts Of the State, 437 vessels which are
exclusively engaged in the fisheries, and
in addition there are employed in the
shore fisheries more than 5000 fishing boats
with avaluation of not less than $500, 600.
When are taken into account the vessels,
| boats, weirs, pounds, traps, nets, seines,
lines. miscellaneous apparatus and shore
| privileges necessary for the prosecution of
| the business one can begin to gain some
| conception of the magnitude of this in
| dustry. The fisheries, as source of inn
mediate wealth and as II nursery of sea
men an not to be lightly considered, but
are entitled to an important position on
the roll of Maine indstries.
| The sea and shore fisheries Of the State
give employment to upwards of 10000
people, and involve an investment in ap-
paratus and cash capital of So, 600, 600. In
| magnitude and volume the Maine fisheries
are surpassed by only one state in the
| Union and that is Massachusetts,. This
industry, like others, has undergone many
changer particularly in the methods pur
sued incapturing the fish, while in recent
| years Vie CALMING VI SlTullcs, IDDStcTS.
clans, hell fish, etc., has grown to large
proportions.
DIR. A G. Young, secretary of the State
| board health, Is sending out blanks to
| the loca boards of health on which to re-
port the work done during the year. Some
| of the qlestions required to be answered
are regarding the number of meetings
which hive been held by the board, with
returns egarding the diseases which have
visited tie various sections of the State.
and actins taken regarding them.
A new question which has been added,
this yea1 to the inquiries is in regard to
any case which are of interest as showing
how infection is spread, or of any facts
illustrating the benefit of local sanitary
work.
State librarian Carver reports that all
the bools have been returned to the
| library, according to the usual custom,
with theexception of one, which is being
traced, and which will undoubtedly soon
| be locatel.