Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-16
SEA FISHERIES.
Commissioner A. R. Nickerson
Issues His Biennial Report.
The Past Season Generally Good
0ne--16,3l7 Men Employed.
He Gives an Idea Of the Great Value OF West
India Markets.

Hon. A. r. Nickerson of Boothbay
Harbor. the commissioner of sea and
shore fisheries. who made his report
to the Governor and Council. last
month, has the report printed and al
most ready for distribution. This is
Mr.. Nickersons first report. the report
being issued only once in two years.
and as the commissioner has been in
Office but 10 months he has never be-
est and is filled with facts and figures
calculated to satisfy any who have in
terest in the industry that furnishes
employment to 1851 men of the State.
while the products of the fisheries are
S2,767,1 34 for the year 1898. The report
is clear and to the point with no at
tempt at giving SO much that it would
cause confusion. Several recommended
tons are made regarding the changes
of the laws.
HERRING FISHERY.
In many respects this is the most
important of all the fisheries. 1t is
found that 691, 613 barrels were sold
fresh, valued at $409,S1S; that 1886
barrels were sold sailed, worth So, 120.
The fishermen smoked and marketed
no less than 1,S76600 boxes. returning
them $26S, 12O and in addition to this
2S. 9G6 gallons of oil We're marketed as
the production of this fishery; and in
the catching, preparation, and market
ing of the herring. 1410 men were en-
ployed at good wages.
In the use of the small fish for bait
there is great trade. Even in the fur
nishing the different fishing vessels
with ice for the preservation of their
bait is a great trade. $4,000 tons hav-
ing been sold, this year, from the port
of Boothbay Harbor alone.
The sardine is a small herring and
the value of this fish for packing IS
well known. Here is where Maine has
exclusive control of a trade for in no
other state is it conducted.
The sardine packing business which
ended, December LIST, gave employment
in our State to $3.50 persons, who re-
ceived for their labor $S11.715. These
employees are of all ages and both sex
es; boys and girls during vacation
earning good wages in a most respect
able and honorable employment. The
product of these canneries is enor-
nous. During the recent packing sea-
son. the business was prosecuted in but
three counties, as will be noticed by
referring to table 3, Washington county
having 80 factories; Hancock county
seven factories; and Lincoln county
FIVE factories. These 81 canneries put
I'D 1,178,694 cases of a market value OF
50. 7o7.7S1, as well as by-products: Oil,
| %. 96e gallons, value, $4,635: and fertil-
! izer. 975 tons, produced value, $3.50.
The past season has been very pro-
| fl able one but the next has brighter
outlook There are new factories ana
! increased facilities with new machin-
| erv. Then there are the markets or
| Porto Rico and Cuba open to the pro-
duets. which is counted very highly.
There are places in the State where
the use of a drag and purse seines are
forbidden and the fishermen consider it
a great hardship. Commissioner Nick
erson concurs with them in this. and
will recommend to this Legislature that
| this law be amended.
| LOBSTER FISHERIES.
Every county on the coast is repre-
scented. Cumberland has the largest
number of men employed, ga. while IN
the whole State there were 3.103 men
anployed, They had received as a re-
ward for the years work up to Decem-
her /, s9s7,239 To earn this money
they handled S,17s,S32 Holsters. show
ing an average of 1855 Holsters TO a
man. The past year was much more
prosperous than the former one. The
price has averaged Is cents a pound,
against II cents, the year 1897. This
would show that the demand is great
or than the output, and that Maine is
determining the prices. Commissioner
Nickerson favors the lobster pounds
to a certain extent, as he thinks on the
: whole it Increases the fish.
The State furnished the United
{. M fcharv 1act war SeS caog