Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-16

was about 100000 less than that mum.
Der. Commissioner Nickerson is no
sure that artificial propagation of lob
sters is success and cannot at pres
ent advise the establishment of 4
hatchery. He is to try many expert.
ments, in the next year. He thinks the
law regarding the length of Holsters
that can be taken should not be chang
ed. The New Hampshire commissioner
is to try to have their laws to conform
with Names in THIS respect. The
Nova Scotian and New Brunswick laws
will also doubtless be changed.
MENHADEN INDUSTRY.
All the factories in Maine are located
in Lincoln county. The season of 1895
was short; but still, in 100 days that
business was prosecuted, the employees
were paid the sum of 100000.
The menhaden or porgy is not used
for food in this section of the country.
its only use being the production of oil,
pomace and bait. The method of man
ufacture is very simple. The fish are
cooked by steam and then the oil is
extracted by bringing the mass under
powerful hydraulic pressure. The res
iduum or pomace is of much value as a
short season to the amount of 9.120
tons.
Commissioner Nickerson says there
is a Klondike in the business and it
should not be spoiled by enacting laws
against it because some do not like the
smell of the factories. The statistics
show that there We're S69 men engaged
in the business with % steamers
CLANS AND SCALLOPS.
At least $50 men were employed in the
business in 1898. The products We're
sold fresh and sailed. The products of
the canneries alone was 40933 cases.
The total quantity marketed in 1898
would be equivalent to 1109.9 1886 bushels
in the shell.
SMELTS.
The catch of smelts for 1898 in which
every county on the coast is represent
ed, was 1,1566S4 pounds, which return
ed to the fishermen $SO,314. As compar-
ed with the previous year there were
1853 pounds more caught in 1898 thin
in 1897. Ten hundred and ninety five
PEI SOIlS NCIS CISaSCu III etiN esahiHes VI
the above fish with weirs and seines,
and by hook and line. There is usual
ly quick market for smelts. and re-
cent prices, though fluctuating. have
ruled high. Large shipments are made
to the Boston and New York markets,
and December consignments have re-
turned to the fishermen u cents clear
of expense to the pound.
GROUND FISHERY.
This comprises cod, hake, haddoclS,
pollock. cusk and slalibut. The Bank
salt fishery has decreased recently and
many reasons are given for it, but at
any rate the fact remains that our
boats have Withdrawn from the busin-
ness Mr.. Nickerson believes the gov
eminent should pay bounties as form
erly, to encourage the fishery. There
were S19 boats and 1891 men employed.
There have been 32952.6l9 pounds of
fish taken valued at $565,2I1
.MACKEREL.
The past two seasons have been very
unsatisfactory in this line. There were
800 men and 800 boats employed in this
industry. There We're sold fresh. Sl4.-
1870 pounds, valued at S41,l25. and go
barrels of sailed mackerel valued at
s945O. The number of cases of canned
mackerel We're 6591.
ALEWIVE FISHERY.
The yield in this fishery has not been
so great as formerly. In the places
wher& the fishery is looked after as it
should be. there is not the falling on
that there is in other places Me
number of men engaged in this fishery
is lS5, while the number of alewlves