Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-01-28
SHORE FISHERIES.
Money Invested in this Important In
dustry of Maine.

of sea and shore fisheries of Maine, con-
tains most valuable facts regarding the
several kinds of fishery industries, which
have never before been published
AT the outset attention is called to the
| unrivalled natural advantages of Maine,
with its long line of coast, rivers, bays
and rocks, as an assurance Of the contin-
uance of the States excellent prospects of
permanent good fishing. Names ocean
frontage in a straight line is $50 miles
from Kittery Point to Quoddy Head but
including rivers and bays, it has 2,14O
miles of ea-coast.
twenty-five years ago, the bank cod
fishery was The principal fishing industry
OF the State. At present it is different,
there being less than ten vessels engaged
in this pursuit in the State. Among the
causes is competition with Canada, made
doubly strong by the annual appropria-
ton of 100000 for the encouragement of
the sea fisheries and building fishing ves-
sells. The enormous attendant expense
has also been cause of its decline
Maine is largely interested in the bake,
cod, haddock, pollock, herring, smelt,
sword fish, clam, alewife and lobster
fisheries
There are licensed in the customs dis
trict of the State, 512 fishing vessels,
measuring 1922 tons, being rs more
under fishing licenses than at last re-
port. There are 1880 persons connected
with the fisheries.
York county has nineteen vessels, 315
tons measurement; Cumberland 100,
$40 tons; Sagadahoc, three, 46 tons; Lin
coin, forty-one, 1922 tons; Knox, eighty
three, 1906 tons; Waldo, thirty one, 265
tons; Hancock 214, 3,546 tons; Washing
ton, twenty one, 263 tons.
The herring fishery in connection with
the sardine industry, undoubtedly takes
first rank in Importance. 1t is the ''poor
mans" tish-with us in spring, summer,
fall and winter. 1t is very prolific, and is
found everywhere. During 1896 the her
ring have been unusually prolific. The
various sizes and forms in which the fish
appears on the markets, places it first in
commercial Importance.
Shad are caught in seines, principally
in tine kennebec and eastern rivers. 1t is
estimated that, on the kennebec river,
there are 394 fishermen engaged III the
shad fishing with Weirs and drift nets,
with Isl boHts. The value of the weirs,
nets and boats is 2i,0S5. The season of
'06 has been a good one as far as quantity
is concerned, but the price has been low.
Chemicals emptied into the Androscog-
gin river above Brunswick, from the pulp
and wooden mills, exert a deleterious eff
feet on fisheries, it even being discovered
in the taste. Other river rubbish is apt
to be bad for the fish.
CLAIMS make an important industry.
They grow all along the coast, and it is
marvellous to consider their value. There
are ISL persons engaged in the work;
bushels in shell, 1861; value in shell,
s110,S7S; cases of clans packed, 1864;
value packed in cases, S119 ,379; barrels for
bait, 4 ,053; value of same, S1S,3S5.
The smelt catch for 1896 was large one,
with 1926, coo pounds, which was sold for
81, 704, principally shipped to Boston and
New York.
The salmon are found principally in the
Penobscot and st. Croix rivers. There
were 1872 persons employed in this fishing
in 1896, in 107 boats; amount of catch,
49, III pounds; value OF catch, SO 2SS.
The alewife fishing brought II ,431 bar
rels in 1896, from which So W.50 was re-
ceived.
Eastport claims the honor of putting
up the first Theoretically sealed sardines
i'll the United States. From that small
beginning in 1915, it has grown enor-
mously until it has reached in the scale of
business one of the most important fish
ing industries in the State.
The last year has been marked by low
prices, with some inferior goods on the
market. If only goods of the best quail
ity were placed on the market, it would
be of great benefit to the industry OF
the sixty factories, Eastport has twenty;
Lubec, fifteen. The total value of fac
tories is 1858, 100; help employed, 5,7S5;
paid for help. 60,42i.07; number of
boats, 1913; value of same, S69,550; bushels
of sardines, 49,, 920; value of catch, Sl3l,-
399.
While Maine yielded 10000 barrels OF
mackerel in 1885, in 1895 it yielded only
1000 barrels. Out of the 100 sail of ves-
sells engaged i'll mackerel fishing, there
were only fourteen engaged in 1896, with
235 men employed; value of vessels, S44,
200; value of catch, SS4 500.
In the sword fish industry, 81 vessels
have been engaged for the year, with
tonnage of ,563, valued at S51 100; and
employing 256 men. There were 5,203 fish
caught for he year, with total weight OF
1900, $50 pounds.
The salted fish, cod, paddock and pol
lock, cured for export and local consump-
ton, amounted to 8 1876, 320 in 1896, val ued
at S202, $50 The cod industry has b cen
and is on he decline.
The fresh fish business, on the other
hand, increases every year. The demand
Is enormous, and at times, even wit the
vast fleet employed, it is difficult to sup
ply the demand The total amount of