Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-20

/ believe that such bills should be in
trcduced in the regular order, referred
20 lne proper committee and a hear
ing granted to all parties in interest,
especially when such important inter-
ests are affected as would be, by in
Guiding in tins bill the towns named
in this amendment.
The only objection the friends of this;
bill have to including other towns in
1t is, that they fear that in two years,
the people i'll the several towns, who
earn support for themselves and
families from this source, might come
here in such force for the repeal of this
law, on account Of the restrictions
which might be imposed by the select
men Of the several towns, that the law
would be repealed.
II the gentleman from PhipD9burg
wants similar biz for the several
towns, let him introduce it tomorrow
or today ana | Will support it. if / can
feel satisfied that the people in inter
est want it; in fact, | will so further
than that | am perfectly willing that
the gentleman introduce bill covering
thc towns in question. and | will sup
port it without its reference to a com
mitteo. knowing that if it is not what
his people want. the fault Will rest on
HIS shoulders ana not on ours: and if
the bill should not be satisfactory to
the residents Of the several towns.
they can have ii repealed in two years
without disturbing this bill.
/ DO not want this bill killed either
now OF at the next session Of the Leg
isIatuIe, as know ii is just what the
people in the sections covered by it
want.
! am Informed that this bill was read
at the town meeting recently held in
West Bath. unanimously approved.
ana vote passed requesting their
representative, the gentleman from
Phippsbulc, to support the same.
Notice "a such action was sent to the
gentleman NY tic town clerk. the origi-
nal of which. have seen. (Applause.)
Air. MiNOTT of Ph:ppsburg: Mr..
Speaker ana gentlemen Of the House:
It il u fact patent to all who live in
the towns on the coast which have
extensive clam flats within their linn
ts that the statements contained in
the report Of the commissioner of sea
and shore fisheries in relation to CLAIMS
are true. While We all agree with him
that this is the true state of affairs
which exist we probably should not
agree with his observation on the nee
e7sity Of legislation: neither should we
agrcc With him in his ideas of what
he thinks will be the best legislation.
.ta / fear that his report is not familiar
I Wilt lead from thc same 50 that YOU
may get an idea OF his views:
THE CLAM AND SCALLOP INDUS
TRY.
Sixteen hundred and sevcnty-seven
GG10 persons We're engaged in the dig
gtnE ~ CLAIMS ana the dredging Of
scallops in this State during the year
1860. In most sections this is done in
connection with some other fishery or
employment. ana few if any Of the
above enumerated persons are in the
| business the entire year. Still. the
three items Of catch shown in the
table for this year. amount to the to-
tai equivalent of eight hundred and
seNonty-four thousand. four hundred
and ninety (S1i490) bushels. and While
the factories in five counties utilize n
| large amount Of the total yield il is
fact that a great quantity was
shipped ont of the State to the Boston
and New York markets in barrels.
both shucked and in the she'll That
this part Of the business has grown
greatly within = few years is q fact.
| both the canning and the shipping.
while Of course the consumption in the
s-tatc-Which somewhat increases nee
CSSarlIy- figures as a very small part
~ the total yield. As to shipping [
VIII give an illustration Of the increase.
thHt IN my opinion. as compared with
twenty years ago, five hundred bar
lcls are now shipped out Of the state
where one barrel was shipped then.
and think that this year the markets
! 'n the states Of Massa chuStts Rhode
| island and New York are largely sup
piled from our shipments. The returns
ior CLAIMS and scallops for the YEAR
have been considerable sum. amount
ing to three hundred and sxty-one
thousand. one hundred and forty-seven
dollars (S36l.14O and brings n coneid-
cradle amount individually to those
prosecuting it as they do for but por-
tiGn Of the year. but the opinion gen
orally prevails that the fields Of clans
are being gradually exhausted and at
the present rate of utilization in a few
years will result in determination.
While this statement may be over
drawn. ! am satisfied that CLAIMS are
net nearly 50 numerous or easily pro-
cured ms in former years and that
some Of the best fields Of clans are
undoubtedly being too heavily drawn
upon for factory packing and shipping
purposes. and that in many places
where they We're abundant a few years
ago. now there are few or none Ilc?-
sons are given by the fishermen for
the depletion cf some Of the more nro-
liz" sections of Il few years ago One
class Of men are Of the opinion that
when ire fats We're dug over in the
ola winter weather. he growing clans
ana those too small for use are thrown
cut IN ton OF the grounds in digging.
ANA are thus exposed to freezing be-
/ fore the tide returns to cover Them
with water and they are thus killed.
IN the other hand the opinion IS ex-
pressed by many that when the fats
are dug over in the hot summer days
the young clans are thrown out in the
same wav ana before the water returns
30 protect them the direct RAYS of old
SCI beating upon the exposed young
and tender clans, Kill them. 10th
Cic :scc demand Il close time one in