The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-31
SEA AND sHAD FISHERIES.
Commissioner o. b. Written Files His
Annual Report.

Augusta, December 30.-Olrin B. Whit
teen, commissioner of sea and shad fish
cries, submitted his biennial report COW
ering the past year to the Governor and
Council Wednesday. He traces the his
tory Of the fisheries on the coast OF
Maine.
The cod fisheries of Maine AFRO demora-
LIKED, which he attributed to the with.
drawal of the bounty Of 1859, the enor-
nous expense and uncer tainty of this
business and the strong competitions OF
Canadian fisheries. Yet Maine fisher-
men are following less hazardous bust
ness in local fishing, receiving fair re-
Enumeration. There are 14,G40 persons
connected with the Maine fisheries and
the total number of vessels employed is
512, with an aggregate of 10, 125 tonnage.
The herring fishery, IN connection
with the sardine industry, is of the
first Importance Of any. During 1896
they have been unusually abundant.
The aggregate amounts to more money
value than any other fishery on tho
coast. From the statistics the commits
sioner learns that there were taken 81, $50
barrels for sailed herring, valued at
$3.50, $40, and 1917, $50 bushels Of fresh
herring, valued at S197. 7sC.
1t is estimated that ON the Kenneteo
river are 1874 fishermen engaged in shad
fishery with weirs and drift nets. with
| ISL boats, and that the value of weirs,
nets and boats is S29,os5. The total
amount received for shad during 1896
was $50, 1877.
There are 7s1 persons employed in the
clam fishery who secured 1882, 9s1 bushels
of clans in tho shell, worth $1l0, 1878.
There has been complete absence of
menhaden on the coast the past season.
| A large amount Of ,smelts are caught,
more persons being engaged in this
business than for many previous years,
but prices have ruled lower. The catch
for the year has been 1895, 900 pounds,
which sold for ST., 704. principally in Bos-
ton and New York.
In the salmon fishery in 1896. 1873 per-
sons were employed. the number of weirs
being It's; the value of weirs. IS, 1876;
number of boats 107; value of boats,
s., 727; amount of catch, rs, III pounds,
valued at s12, 1888.
| The alewive fishery is chiefly In Knox
and Lincoln counties; II, 431 barrels
were taken, from which SIG, 264 was real
lied.
The sardine business has been de-
pressed. Low prices have prevailed,
there have been strikes and there is q
quantity Of inferior goods on the mar
ket. Fifty factories have been in opera
ton, 5, 7S5 employees. with total wages of
| SIG, 424. The number of boats is 1873;
bushels of sardines taken, 837, $50; the
value of which is $l34, 800; cases packed,
$40, 5S7.
The old fishing grounds for mackerel
| from the western boundary of the state
to Mt. Desert failed this season, but our
| fishermen get successful catches ct the
Georges banks. Four Maine maokerel
vessels stocked $50, 1000. The number of
Maine vessels employed in the mackerel
fishery is IA; of men, 1888; value of YES
sells, s44. 200; value of seines, etc. 1875, 200;
value of catch, $s4, 5S6. Ten of these ves-
sells are from Portland harbor.
mir. Written gives the history of the
sword fisheries and the process of tax
| ing sword fish. The number of vessels
engaged in capturing sword fish is 49,,
of tonnage, 1868; value, s5l, 500; number
of sword fab caught, 5000, weighing
l, 300, $50 pounds, and of aggregate value
So, 524. Twenty-si4 of those vessels hail
| from Portland.
The sailed fish industry is in such poor
condition thet catching fish for export
has almost ceased to be part of the fish
cries of Maine, feet Of three vessels at
Boothbay Harbor, and of three at Bucks
port being the only vessels engaged in
the BANK cod fishery the past season.
The pollock fishery is principally in
Hancock and Washington county wat
ers. The fish cured for export and local
consumption is 1896, amounted to $685.
800 pounds. valued at sos, $50. The total
amount of fresh fish industry in the
state in 1896 was "a, 400, $50 pounds, val
ned ar s504, 294. Of these, $780, 400
pounds arrived at Portland.
A long chapter is given on the lobster
fisheries 1852. 600 losbter fry were liberat-
ed at Klttery Point, 154, 600 at York Har-
Dor and $50, 600 at Newcastle, all from
the United States Station at Gloucester.
Mr.. Written advises consideration by
the legislature OF lobster culture. The
men employed in the lobster fishery dur
ing the year was 270S; number of lobs-
ter oars. 81, 430; of lobster boats, 1858;
pots, 11a, S56; Holsters taken, 1925, 575;
valued at S79, 266; total value of lobster
catching equipment, $435, l57.
Other fish products are given as fol-
lows: Scallops. $1,000. FEELS, s77s; stur-
geon, s704; bass, 1868; fish oils. 81, 800;
scraps. $1,000: tom Gods, 1885, The
total money value of the sea fisheries
product is given as 81, 326, 692.
The commission appointed by the Gov
ernor and employed in the coditioation
of foh laws &c p0vv aft work More Ii her.