The Republican journal., 1903-02-19
LOBSTER MEAT.
What Was Said About it at Augusta. Hear
ing on Other Proposed Lobster Legislation.

What Was Said About it at Augusta. Hear
ing on other Proposed Lobster Legislation.
Especial 10 the Portland Press.)
AUGUSTA, February TO- The vexed
question of the sale of lobster meat was
discussed before the committee on sea and
shore fisheries this afternoon and the men,
bers of that body heard good deal that
was interesting about the matter.
Portland was we'll represented, large
delegation of men interested in the business
being present to describe what they regard
as an evil. Their proposition was that no
lobster meat should be sold until an inspec-
ton had shown that it was taken from shells
Of Holsters OF legal size.
Mr W. A. Cobb, the first speaker, said
that it is claimed that this meat is dangerous
to health. The persistent violations OF the
present law work an injustice to the honest
fishermen. Nh Cobb estimated that twenty
i've tons of this meat had been brought INTO
Portland during the past year
C. W. Lombard was the next speaker,
who told of the troubles caused BY this
violation OF the law and f. 5. Willard made
a vigorous speech on the subject.
W. l.. Daggett interested the committee
when he said that almost everything, ,lnclud-
ing combs and hair brushes, could be found
in the baskets from which this meat IS SOLD.
1t is washed and preserved and heated IN
any old way to make 1t sell. 1t is regarded
as good enough so long as purchasers are
found He alleged that much OF it was sold
to hotels.
Representative Thomas of Harpswell
took exceptions to this statement. lie said
the lobster fishermen were not as dirty as
had been represented.
George Pierce of Portland said that until
tun hp t1Sh harmap
the law, but when they found that the war
iens could not identify meat taken from lob
sters of less than the legal length they be-
came bolder He thought that the meat is
taken from Holsters varying in length from
ten and one-half inches to three or four
inches. He would be willing to prohibit
entirely the sale of lobster meat. 1t takes
about six small Holsters to afford pound of
meat which sells for 35 cents. A large
quantity of the meat is shipped to Massa-
chusetts Mr. Pierce said that the dealers
in this meat had got the embalmng process
down to perfection. While they had been
able formerly to keep the meat for twelve
hours they could now keep it 36 hours.
b. T. SkillingS of Portland said that the
demand for the meat is increasing and that
in time all short Holsters that can be caught
on the coast of Maine will be used in this
way. Several of the speakers described the
signal by which the men selling the meat
gave warning of the approach of the war
dens. They said it was practically impossi-
BILE to apprehend the breakers of the law.
George A. Dow, one of the wardenS, said
that much of the meat is unfit for food.
The parties to whom the meat is consigned
refuse to accept it because of its condition.
Mr.. Dow said that he would not eat seven
eighthS of this meat brought to Portland,
statement that he probably did not intend
to be taken literally Hon. A. r. Nickerson,
commissioner of sea and shore fisheries, and
Warden n. j. Hanna also spoke iii the same
line as did several others.
Several residents of Georgetown appear
ed in support of the bill to protect shell fish
on the shores of that place. In the matter
of the bill to protect the Holsters in the vi
cnity of Crie Haven by establishing close
time the friends of the bill announced that
they had met the objections of the remon-
strants by a change in the limits OF the area
affected by the measure.
Then came the bill providing for the pur-
chase of female Holsters with eggs attached.
Commissioner NickerSOn supported the
measure and advocated an increase in the
appropriation from $4,000 to $4,000, the
extra sum to be used for the purposes OF the
proposed law
Representative Thomas of HarpsweI did
not favor the clause Of the bill providing
for the liberation of the Holsters three miles
from the shore, but favored the idea of pay
ing the fishermen for the seed Holsters at a
rate beyond the market price. A number of
others favored the measure.