Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-28

for in measure by the fact that the
number of men engaged in the fishery
has been very materially decreased.
In 1908 there were S24 men thus en-
gagged, while in 1906 the number has
fallen to 654. The average price re-
ceived by the fishermen was almost l.
cents pound. a little better showing
than two years ago.
There has been a change in the right
direction i'll the salmon fisheries.
Though small the gain Of 1900 pounds
over the production of two years ago
l consider very well worth favorable
mention. Prompt and energetic meas
ures should be taken to increase the
production of our very important sal
mon fisheries, so valued and valuable
a culinary asset with the metropolitan
chefs and epicures as the Maine sal
mon should not be allowed to grow
less" The prices obtained for the fish
we believe has been better than other
years. This is not surprising with a
yield of only 122.l10 pounds in two
years.
AS to New Legislation the report
says:
There will be the usual number of
petitions for special and general laws
as to the fisheries presented at this
coming session. l presume.
Many clam laws are discussed, all
Ostensibly intended to preserve this
very important fishery. l think the
proposed size limit, or q law restrict
ing the marketable clam to not less
than 2 inches in length. for instance, is
impracticable from the standpoint OF
enforcement. Close time, local, or
general, is practicable and feasible, of
course. and is now operative in many
sections.
l can not approve of all of the many
laws that are proposed for the increase
of the clam. My previous Reports will
show what / think are the possibilities
of the clam culture from q sensible
and practical standpoint under the
protection of the State. l think well
of. and heartily recommend, the pro-
position for an absolute close time for
period Of say, two years, applied to
a certain portion of the clam fats. At
the end of the close time the same to
be opened to fishery under State
supervision and regulation, and at the
same time another portion of the flats
closed to fishing. l recommend that
the capacity of the barrels used for the
shipment of CLANS in the shell, and
shucked, both fresh and salt. be fixed
and established by law, as is the case
of other fish barrels.
The law of 1905. chapter 50. enacted
for the preventing of netting of cod
and other ground fish in the Sheep
to-
terms. Such amendments should be
made so that it may be certain as to
its meaning, clear in terms and easy of
enforcement
| believe the Smelt law should be
uniform throughout the state. l am
satisfied that many local laws are a
great injury to the fishery in general
| Such statutes. which We're passed to
subserve selfish ends should be
promptly repealed. and such fisheries
| opened to the public
! The laws in relation to inspection of
fish need changes to bring them up to
the requirements of the modern con-
ditions now existing. These laws were
enacted when business was done diff
ferrntly than ut the present time
| tdtipl lsttIllttS HdNp 1IH-
proved greatly; markets have been cx-
tended; the methods of catching. pack
| ing. and preparation of fish for the
consumer have changed. Rapid move
ment of cargOes require new methods
of inspection, which needed amend
ment will provide
l earnestly recommend the amend
ment of the lobster law in the very
important matter of measurement. I
| suggest that the measurement of the
body shell of the fish be taken, and
not the whole of the body and tail, as
at present required by law Such
amendment will save many thousands
OF dollors each year to our lobster
fishery; besides. there will be no oc-
casiOn. or incentive for the cruel
practise of pulling and stretching
| (Doth OF which is forbidden by the
present law, but which is impossible
OF preventing) by the selling fishermen
ana dealers whereby possibly a
quarter inch in length is gained. but
the lobster is killed by the act Hun
dreds of thousands of Holsters are
killed every year by this practise of
stretching the lobster at the time and
| "Ae,A N'hSClS " puTCIldStIS. Inc
stretching of the fish a quarter of an
inch is rupture of the ligaments con-
Meeting the tail to the body to that ex-
ent. and while it may make the lobster
4, legal in Length, thus mutilated. in every
such case the fracture Of the connec-
tive tissue in the body of the lobster
to give this quarter inch causes the
death of the fish, and at the same time
the meat becomes unfit for food
| The proposed body shell measure
| overcomes all the above difficulties.
and there is no reason why anyone
should oppose such change except
possibly those few who would thus
mutilate lobster to gain a fraction
Of an inch in length and make thereby
fraudulent sale, and the party Gf
| there is such) who would put on sale
the meat taken from a dead lobster
! The lobster law in relation to seiz-
ures by the officers is somewhat
obscure. | recommend that it be
changed so that they may be plainly
authorized to seize as was intended
by the Legislature which enoot,d ~