Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-02
OUR FISHERIES.
Fishing Industry in a Most
F|ourishinssCondition.
More Men EngageHand More Money
Invested in Business.
C0mm ssioner OF Sea aid Shore Fisheries
Makes Biennial Report.

AlonZo r. Nickersor of Boothbay
Harbor. commissioner of seas and
shore fisheries, has submitted his bien-
NAL report to the Governor and Coun-
ell, showing that the fisheries of the
State are in generally prosperous
condition. He says that while per
hapS one or two branclrS of the fish
cries are not hourishhg, the business
in general for the past two years has
been successful. The figures given by
the commissioner show that there are
more men engaged in the business.
more money invested more value OF
products, and. what tells the story,
larger money returns tothe Individual
fishermen.
In the several branches Of the fisher
les in the year 1899. wer 315 vessels,
aggregating $3.50 tons, am in the year
following, there We're ~ vessels Of
S2l3 tons. The values ofthese vessels
are not tabulated.
For the year just cload the total
yield of all the fisheries irthe State. is
1872, 007 .92l pounds and thegalue of this
production is $2.7S4.435. Again. as in
the commissioners last report. the
lobster factory is creditd with the
largest value of any tishry in the
State 81 O31 $50.
In 1899. Washington couty leads the
State by reporting very NTH the larg-
est quantity of all kinds o fish taken.
s.. 5IS.65l pounds. and alsothe largest
value of production, $6,1 IL. In 1900
Hancock leads with the return OF
$500, i24 in the value of the ish caught
the largest Of any county the State.
In the year 1899, considerin the whole
State. the quantity of hefing taken
was very much more thapany other
species, being no less tina 94,943, Zoe
pounds.
Sixteen thousand nine hudred and
thirty-five persons We're engged in the
fisheries OF the State in 1906
In speaking on the subjectf herring
fisheries, Mr.. NiCkerson say that this
important industry has grow to great
proportions in comparative recent
years. In the year 1889, Il! persons
were employed in this fishey These
men produced from the seaby their
own efforts. herring to theyalUe of
$532, 0S6 and at the same tim the in
vested capital in boats. stearars, gear
and apparatus was S34S. 597: tus upon
the invested capital there wa gross
return of 152 per cent. Fouihundred
and thirteen thousand, fourhundred
and twenty barrels We sold
fresh. 1913 barrels We sold
sailed, and 1,G46,500 boxes we sold
smoked.
While the catch of this fish as been
in some counties on the Goa larger
for the year 1900 than for thc,revious
year. taking the State as whe, there
has been a considerable decre1 in the
catch and return. while the nnber of
men engaged has very matenlly di-
minished, the number being ii people
for the year 1900, employed in is fish
cry.
Lincoln county has gained lgely in
catch production, appliances, al value
of same. during the past year, Ill also
in the number of men engage, not
withstandinG the general decstse in
the State as q whole This is OTg not
wholly to the schools of herril being
more numerous and permanenh that
section of the State, but in a iise de-
gree. perhaps, to the increased lnber
of appliances and apparatus ens5ed in
the business stimulated by the l;se de-
mand and profitable return for fish
made by the increased number I'd en-
| larged capacity of the sardine nner-
| les at Boothbay H2rbor.
Fol. the increase in the NUMB and
value of the steamers, boats another
apparatue. used in Lincoln coun, can
! be ascribcd the very large incree in
the capital invested being $ll4.63arS-.
cr in 1900 than in 1899. The invement
| in this fishery TO men engaged 1889,
/ was Sl94 per man. and in 1900, 81 per
man.
In speaking Of the sardine cninS
Industry. the commissioner sand ut II
idepcndcd upon the catch of heTrii Tor
its supply The herring fishery rect
is a large and valuable industrand
/ furnishes employment to Sreataany
rcople, but the canning OF the cad by
| the factories is still more lmpfant
and valuable as adding much tt"e
value of the product as taken fro the
hands Of the fishermen.
Six thousand and seVenty-SiN'er-
sens, in the year 1889. were enayei