Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-21
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
(Continusd from Page One.)

sumner and the hotels and in the inter-
Get ~ aud for the pleasure Of the peo-
nile who come here to spend their
money and of the plain citizen VINO
wants. once in while. some lobster
salad. -s-,9
Mr. SIMPSON Of York: Mr.. Presi-
dent. I ara very well aware that this
Il an important matter: and that IS
the reason wanted to have something
to say on the matter. This bill was
presented by the gentleman from OX-
ford county. The Holsters up IN OK
ford county are quite good; ana IL
looks as if something were being COW
cred up. and / believe that the lobster
trust was the means of this bill being
presented.
Mr.. UPPER of Lincoln: Mr.. Pres
tdent. the lobster fishery is the most
important fishery on the coast OF
Maine. The commissioner in page 10 OF
his report, says: "In the value OF the
catch, both in 1903 and 1904. the ioo-
ster fishery takes the lead of all the
fisheries in the State. being an aesre-
gate Of c5,19e,26: pounds, valued at
S2,2S6.Sos."
Now YOU have probably all seen IN
the papers within a short time Reports
about a syndicate being organized 10
buy up the whole lobster fishery on the
Atlantic coast: and instead or this
hill being introduced for the beheht OF
the people Of Maine. i'm my opinion 1t
il introduced for the beneht OF TINS
lobster syndicate. They propose to puy
I'D the large dealers in the State or
Maine and the small dealers they are
going TO freeze out. Along our coast
we have numerous dealers in Holsters.
who buy from fishermen and sell direct
TO people in Chicago. New York and
nearly every city of the United States.
Nearly all of the hotels in the large
cities of this country are supplied d.
rect from these small dealers along
our coast: and if they are prevented
from supplying these hotels during the
months of June. July. August and
September-and this syndicate which
has been formed gets the trade during
those four months-these small deal
ers are ruined in their business and
they would have to get other work.
There is nothing else for them to d.
during these four months. and they must
sell their Holsters for any price they can
get and the wealthy men who can buy
up those Holsters. and store them in
pounds until October, can then commence
shipping them. and this syndicate can.
from some point situated in New Bruins
wick or on the coast of Massachusetts,
supply during these four months their
customers from outside the State. and
from October car supply from the lob
sters they have bought during this close
time at a small price. not only getting the
Holsters cheap of the fishermen during
those four months. but. having tins large
stock caught On the coast of Maine, il
will reduce the price very much durins
the remaining months: so that hope the
bill will be indefinitely postponed, as il
means much to our section.
Mr.. SHACKFORD of Washington: NJ:
President, / have protest here from D
lobster fishermen Of JonespOrt agains
this bill. that is. if il is in order to pre-
sent it.
The PRESIDENT: You may present il
as part Of your remarks.
Mr.. SHACKFORD: These people who
haze signed this petition did not know
about this until Saturday afternoon. II
was gotten up on very short notice. anC
for me to present to the Senate when thi:
bill came up for consideration today. They
are, very much against this bill.
The PRESIDENTS: The senator from
Washington offers tn following petition
ITO the Honorable Senators and Repre-
scntatives in Legislature assembled: We
the undersigned. citizens of JonespOrt
protest any legislation which will change
the present law relating to the shipping
IF phctor of fhiS State -
Mr. MILLS of Hancock: Mr.. President
| have only a few things to say on this
subject was not aware there was suci
bill in the Legislature until it was
brought to my attention through the pa
pers Saturday.
This bill was introduced by the gentle
man from Oxford county. 1t has never
been before any committee. and the peo
pie of the State know nothing about it
l know nothing about the trust which has
been spoken Of here. and nothing about
the syndcates. which have been or ma,
be formed. I know nothing about thei
interest in this bill. and l Know nothins
about how it will affect them or theil
business: but / do know. gentlemen. arc
every man who is acquainted with the in
d,lstry of the lobster fishery along thu
coast Of Maine knows how this law. i
passed. would affect the plain people thai
are spoken of here. Every man. who
knows anything about the lobster bust
ncss knows how such a bill would affec
the fishermen scattered all along tn,
coast from Quoddy Head to Casco bay.
1t seems to me 1t is the most ino,,strou,
proposition that has been introduced here
and the most important one. considering
the lack of hearing that it has had. Their,
are hundreds of people in the county,
which have honor in part to represent
who. earn their living in the summer b!
lobster fishing. and they usually shi,
their fish themselves. They ship them il
barrels to the dealers in Boston or New
York. as 1t may happen to be. The pas
sage Of this bill would throw them on
Of business entirely. and they would hav.
to go into some new line of work by wa.
of supporting themselves.
hope the gentleman from Penobscot
arguing in favor of this bill, will be infiu
enced by his interest for the people alon,
the coast: hope he will bear in min'
that this concerns them. and if they ha,
a chance to express themselves regarding
this bill they would one and all expires
iv,ct Ia N-in nf ,n