The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-01-05
TEE NAME FISHERIES.
New Legislation Suggested by Commits
si0ner NickersOn.

New Liquidation Suggested by Commits.
sioner Nickerson.
The annual report of Fish Commissioner
Nickerson shows that 1915 men are en-
gagged in the Maine fisheries and that in the
| two wears lust ended the total value of these
fisheries had reached an aggregate OF $15,-
7O7.561. The lobster fishery takes the lead
with an aggregate of %. 1853 pounds,
valued at s2,286, 1928. This is reduction as
compared with the years 1902 OF more
than 1900, 600 pounds in quantity and $46,-
4S8 in value. Herring leads the list in
quantity, and there was large increase in
the sardine pack. The clam fishery is one
of the most important in the State, yielding
large returns for the capital invested. The
smelt fishery shows an increase over former
years, and the commissioner says it should
make large showing in the future. The
tables show a reduced catch of salmon as
compared with two years ago. The shad
fishery produced 100000 pounds, worth
$50, 500, gain over 1902 the alewive catch
aggregated A. 1850 pounds, worth $43,9 $3.50,
which the commissioner says is unsatis-
factory; and the menhaden fishery netted
30, OOO, 600 pounds and was valued at $780,
600. There is an investment of 100000
in this industry. Commissioner Nickerson
devotes quite portion of his report to the
lobster fishery, and attributes the falling off
in the catch to the loss of gear in the heavy
storms that have swept the coast. AS to
legislation he says:
1.-THE suggestions of the lobster conven-
ton as to a law granting permits to lobster
fishermen | recommend adopted Dy the en-
actment of law in substance as follows;
mo person or corporation shall engage
in the lobster fishery i'll this State without
permit from the commissioner OF sea ana
shore fisheries, which permit shall be fur:
nished free of cost to the applicant and
shall contain a copy of the laws for the
protection of the lobster.
"Any person who engages in lobster fish
ing without permit from the commissioner
, shall forfeit not less than one hundred
dollars, or be liable to imprisonment, or
both fine and imprisonment at the discretion
of the court.
ga person holding permit who is convict
ed of violation of any of the Holsters laws
shall surrender his permit to the commits
sioner, and it shall not be re-issued within
one year from the date of surrender.
EdiluEo u SuTT6uucI d pol I'LL SAf1A HtShO
the holder liable to penalty Ut not less
than fifty dollars.
"a similar law will be presented to the
legislatures of Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New
York by the commissioners OF these States.
Uniform laws as to the length limit will be
prepared and adopted as far as possible,
conforming generally, l think, to Names
limit of 1Ot inches"
Continuing, he says: s'The fishery laws of
Maine, public and special, should be revis-
ed at this session of the legislature. Many
of them are conflicting, contradictory, UNI
gent Interpretation and of enforcement:
Some should be repealed and all should
early in the session be committed into the
hands of a competent attorney, as COM
missioner, to revise and report such recon-;
mendations for repeats, amendments, and
corrections as may be required and early
enough for action of the present session,
and this earnestly recommend"