Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-13
Commissioner Nickerson
Makes Annual Report.
Lobster Catch Shows Increase
Of 52o,AQ Over 1904.
MosAo Fisher Shows Smallest Figures
tor May Years.

Hon. a. r. Nickerson Of Boothbay
Harbor, commissioner Of sea and shore
fisheries, has just prepared a summary
of the Maine coast fisheries for the year
1905.
The fish leading in quantity caught
Is the herring. from which are packed
the common and Russian sardine. kip
pered and smoked herring and bloat-
ers. The total quantity caught during
the year was 49,, 323, $50 pounds. valu-
cd at $954,6s1.
There is invested in cold storage, fer
tilizer. canning and sardine plants,
boats and weirs in the State connected
with the herring fishery $685. 500, and
there are employed as fishermen and
in the factories and different establish
men.s connected with this industry 1888
persons, to whom was paid .061
for labor, this being in addition to the
amount the fishermen receive for their
catch.
The number of Holsters caught was
$1,3S43s6. and the number of men en-
ployed in this branch was 1852. This
fishery shows an increase over 1904 Of
$50, 40 Holsters and an increase in the
$50. 40 Holsters and an increase in the
value of S327,477.
Their were 54,O55079 pounds of ground
fish caught. valued at $1,176.3OS. Among
cod, haddock, pollock, hake. cusk. hall
but, cwordfish. founder. eel. bass. TOM
cor and Gunner. The amount paid for
labor at fish stands and glue factories
was $12O.33o
The clans and scallops come next.
showing q reduction OF 5.627, 1888
pousnd. valued at $427.627. showing a
falling Off Of 1885 pounds from that
of 1904. The money invested In this in
dustry is S33.105. and employment is
given to 1873 persons, the total wages
amounting to $59.556.
The alewife fishery shows the small
est production for a great many years.
1,S16.875 pounds. valued at $l3.422.
The shad fishery shows a total Of
1,0S7. 200 pounds, valued at 1926, the
number Of men employed being 2S5. and
the value OF the plants $2l.aS2.
There were 66.044 pounds of salmon
taken valued at &13.S2S.
The mackerel fishery Of Maine makes
a poor showing for 1906. az the few
schooners that are In this fishery from
this state market their Ash in New
York and Boston. making It difficult
to give n correct report. The total
catch. as near az the commissioner il
able to report 1t. was 552,5 pounds,
valued at 33l.97l. There were II boats
and vessels employed and 1856 fishermen.
The total number Of smelts caught
was 770.S91 pounds, valued at @s6,aSS.
This fishery employs TIC persons. and
the several plants are valued at 81. 247.
By an enactment Of the last Legisla-
ture tho commissioner is allowed to set
apart certain waters and flats for ex-
periments In clam and oyster culture.
Up to the present time there have been
planted 40 barrels of oysters, 10 barrels
in the York. 10 in the Saco. 10 in the
New Meadows and 10 In the Damaris-
Gotta rivers. Those planted are living
and showing signs of growth. and the
commissioners believe they will survive
the winter.
Three reservations have been set
apart for experimenting with CLAIMS
one at the mouth of the kennebec river
one Mt Friendship and the other at
Lamoine. The commissioner is satisfi-
ed already that clans may be cultivat-
ed to almost any extent, the same as
potatoes or other vegetables, and that
the State Of Maine has the opportunity
along her coast line to make the clam
industry one Of the most important
within its borders.
There. were collected along our coast
during the year I'll. 60 Holsters, with
eggs attached. 1866 Of these being libcr-
ated whe purchased and 1884 delivered
to the superintendent OF the hatchery
Mt Roothbay Harbor. All those taken
by the hatchery since July will be kept
until Matching operations again COM
mence. which will be in April. at which
time all those now on hand will be lib
Grated with the young Holsters along
the Maine coast from Kittery to ouod-
dy. There were liberated last year
from the hatchery. beside the adults.
from which the eggs were taken, si.61s.-
WO lobster fry. or young Holsters. There
were also collected from fishermen r.
"a cod eggs from which have been
Matched and liberated on our coast a..
10000 fry. or young Goldfish.
Commissioner Nickerson further avs
that In, addition to the 7.425. a9s Holsters
caught by the fishermen OF Maine. there
have been about 100000 imported to the
state from Nova Scotia during the