Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-28
STATE HOUSE.
Legislature Will Be Asked to Aid
in Propagating HOLSTERS.
Interesting Interview With Repre-
sentative Hix on the Subject.
Location of Lewiston, Winthrop G. Au-
gusta Road Approved.

Representative II. I. Hix of Rock
land, one of the leading and most in
fiuential members of the present Legs
lature of Maine, is deeply Interested in
the establishment Of lobster hatcherieS
along the coast of Maine. The idea has
been advanced by gentlemen Interested
in the matter that the next Legislature
should make an appropriation of sum
Of money to be used in distributing
lobster fry in the bays and harbors OF
the coast. They contend that the i0D-
ster business is worth preserving to the
State; that in 1900 the industry brought
more than 81 100000 to the people of
Maine, engaged directly in the lobster
business. and that in the future arti-
fetal propagation must be resorted 70
if it is desired to retain this large
amount of business in this State.
Mr.. Hix talks very interestingly on
the subject Of the lobster and says in
an interview:
whether the lobster is disappearing
or not / am unable to state, save by
quoting the authorities who say that
unless the artificial propagation Of
Holsters is extensively practiced the
lobster will ere long practically disap-
pear. The lobster men all over the
State are anxious to see several hatch
cries established, for they feel that if
artificial propagation is TO be practiced
in any line il should be in this industry,
which means 50 much to the State of
Name. for it is an industry that brings
in rising 81 900. 900 annually and gives
employment at fair wages to some 5000
men along our coast.
Really last year was the first that
We felt any diminutiOn in the number
Of Holsters caught, the catch for 1900
being the greatest ever known since
the days of lobster canning here in
Maine. The decrease last year of course
might have been because so many men
were not employed in the industry as
previously, but this is not the view that
is generally held by the fishermen.
But while the size of the catch was
less last yearsthan ii has been for some
time, that does not mean that Maine
made less money from the business, for
the contrary is the case. The prices
We're higher and there was no difficulty
in dsposing of all the Holsters that
could be obtained. This does not mean
that dealer cannot get overloaded as
in any kind of goods, for such a state
of affairs occasionally happens when
little tooSstiif 4 price is paid.
The present conditions in the trade
are fairly good, although the price is
very high. l think. today. Holsters are
retailing for 30 cents a pound in the
Bangor markets. The Maine shippers
are supplying most of the nation at the
present time and they can obtain the
Holsters if they are willing to pay the
price.
II am not of the opinion that we have
as yet begun to get returns from the
fry distributed along the coast, al
though the fishermen to the westward
report that they are seeing many small
Holsters in that section. 1t is perhaps
hardly time yet for Maine to feel much
benefit from the distribution of the fry,
for it takes time as the lobster requires
from two to five years to grow to the
required length.
We'll. no, / guess it is not all profit
in the business. OF course the dealers
get big prices. but they can't get their
Holsters for nothing. AS matter of
fact it was not a great while ago that
the wholesalers We're paying q cents
apiece for Holsters, and there is a great
loss from death that is hardly ever con-
sdered or thought of by those outside
the business.
Il think it would be n conservative
estimate that fully half the Holsters
chat are caught are not eaten. You see
YOU must first reckon the loss by death
while in the small cars of the fisher
men. Then more die while on the
smacks, more in the cars of the whole
salers and finally lot more as the lob
sters are on their passage to their final
destination, and the longer the distance
the greater the proportion of deaths
will be-