The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-07-20
The Sea and Shore Fisheries.

Hon. A. +. Nickerson of Boothbay Har-
Dor, commissioner of sea and shore fish
cries, had something of interest to say to
a reporter concerning fisheries. He was
not able to give very tiattering reports
from the fishermen, tor as is generally
known, the porgie industry is failure
this year. He said:
1.-The Menhaden industry is a failure in
Maine. The American Fisheries Co. had
half a dozen boats down here the ii rst of
the season, but were satisfied the fish
were not coming and sent them back.
They have no boat on the coast reconoit-
erlng now to discover the menhaden if
they should appear. The two factories
at Lennikin and one at Round Pond are
in readiness SO that should the fish appear
they can be taken care of. There is time
enough now for them to come, but don t
think they will. Down in the Gulf OF
Mexico porgies have been struck rich.
! Capt Hawkins of Rhode Island has gone
down there, erected a factory for the
company and is doing rushing business
| with two boats at Port Arthur, Texas.
The fish are as rich i'll oil as in Maine por-
gies, although it was expected that they
would run largely in scrap. In Rhode
| Island they are doing fairly well.''
"How ABOUT the lobster fisheries?'
| "They are about as usual. This is the
| shedding season and not SO much is done
as later. There has been a sharp variation
IN the price of Holsters recently. Within
ten days the price of Holsters to the fish
ermen fell from % to 1C cents apiece, ow-
ing to the difference betw cen certain Port
land dealers. The summer visitors, |
think, cause more violations of the lobster
Ioxx tl,p, >+lo
They will buy anything cheap, many of
them and cause great deal of trouble. :"
SIS the herring industry as prosperous
as ever?'
There has been scarcity of all classes
of herring during the spring. Vessels have
been obliged to lay by tor days unable to
obtain bait, because the fishermen are
unable to procure it. Thousands of men
have been lying idle waiting to take the
herring in weirs and traps, but they did
not show up. Owing to the scarcity of
vessels will take smaller herring than
ever. Usually they want larger ores.
but now it is almost anything. At
the present time there are less than 20
factories in operation in Eastport and
Lubec awaiting the fish which are daily ex-
pected. In Boothbay the factories are all
in operation but running on just about
ODe-thlrd time. AS a result of the scarcity
of fish, sardines have advanced greatly in
price. There is still time enough before
| the close OF the season, December 10th, to
make good season pack. The fish are
liable to strike ut any time in vast num-
bers. Last year the Boothbay factories
did not have to lie by but one day from
May 10 to December 10. for want of fish. .
''How is shore fishing?"
God, haIe, pollock, etc, are in fair
supply The reports from what are called
the off shore banks are very scarce, Mack
erel are few in number and the outlook is
unfavorable for a good catch. 1t is sin
gular that all kinds of fishing seem to fail
in one year as is noted this season. There
is one favorable aspect. Prices bid fair to
be good for all classes of fish.