Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-28
Hon. A. R. Mickerson Sub
mits Biennial Report.
Tells the Condition Of The
Maine Fishing Industry.
Recommends Body Measurement Of
The Lobster and a Clam Law.

.i' 'i'"iii'i r'pprt OI tne hon. A. Il.
Nick"rson of Boothbay Harbor, Com
missioner Of Sea and Shore Fisheries.
mas 6ecn filed with the Governor and
executive council. An abridgement
OF the report follows:
ahe total production of all branches
OF the fisheries in the State for the
year 1907 was 21l .G57.S74 pounds, valued
at S4.l'4.115, and for the last year. 1906,
total yield of 179,SSS. $50 pounds.
worth $4.04S,9 23. These figures do not
include the pack Of the sardine fac
tories. BY enactment of 1905 this de-
partment is not required, or allowed,
To report the sardine pack, therefore
it is NOT included in this report.
The tota! investment in the fisheries
was, in 1905, $3,36l $685. and in 1906 it was
much less S2,S@9,S39. In 1905. the num-
be- IF persons engaged in the fisheries
and allied industries was 15,1O3 In
1906, the persons employed had in
creased to 1854.
In 1903 the lobster fishery was prose-
cuted by 1852 men, who used 169,35O
traps. and the catch for the year was
1,425,29S Holsters, for which the fisher
men received 1884. 1856 In 1906 the
men thus engaged numbered 2,762 who
employing 174.011 traps increased the
catch TO S,519,5l2 Holsters. and the fish
ermen received the increased return of
$l,640646. The average return to each
man in the lobster fishery for his years
work was $54i in 1905, and S6l4 in 1906.
Each trap employed averaged a catch
of a. Holsters, worth $500 in 1905, and
tO JSh y
average number of traps attended to
by each fisherman was 66 in 1905 and 65
IN 1906. The price paid the fishermen
for Holsters averaged IS cents each for
the year 1905, and 10 cents each for
1906. ;With a gain over 1903 and 1904 of
G25f.3G0 pounds in production, and
SOC. 7S0 in value. the ground fishery
shows d,fotal yield of 93,7O6.1O2 pounds
worth s1,974,19S.
The herring fishery. with a yield Of
243, 359650 pounds, and valuation of
81 6S5 so. shows Il splendid gain of
more than $4,000. 900 pounds in produce
ton, and more than s450,00O in value.
Washington county makes the largest
catch The gross investment in fac
tories, boats, plants, pounds, traps. and
fishing gear and apparatus used in the
| herring and sardine business in 1905
was Sl,49S. 253 and in 1906. s1.2777.972.
The value of yield Of the clam fish
ory was s3555,S21 in 1905. and the pro-
ductions was 6.15S,1 1852 pounds. In 1906
tho value was $379,0?3 and the produce
| ton 1,723, 965 pounds. The average IN
vestment in the business in boats and
| gear was for both years S33696.5o. Therc
were 1854 persons engaged in making
the showing. which is a gain Of al
| most 100000 pounds over the produce
| ton of 1908 and 1904.
| The New England mackerel feet the
wear 1906 comprised about 20 vessels,
and the business has been discourage
ing. The catch as compared with that
for the period covered by previous re-
oort has fallen off about 100000 pounds.
| and the returns reduced by about $l44.-
200. Prices have consequently ranged
higher.
| The smelt fishery for 1905 and 1906
shows, a total catch of 1.G9l.9l2 pounds
Of q value $193.79i, a decrease from the
amount reported for 1903 and 1904 OF
c1o1 oS mounds, and i'm value only
6, 695 The averaged high price OF
| abo;1. - cents per pound to the fisher
men helped to make up the loss III
weight.
The shad fishery produced 1857 400
mounds. worth So, 900 This is a loss of
about one million pounds as compared
| with 1909 and 1904. Efforts are peing
made to increase this fishery on the
| kennebec river, and it's hoped that IL
may be brought up to its old time I'M
1
portancc and magnitude.
The production of the salmon iiSnery
&c 100 10 mounds. valued at $26.991. This
| is n gain of 1900 pounds as compared
with last report. Every means snouid
NJ. used to protect this industry that
the Weld may be increased to much
greater proportions.
The product of the alewive fishery Is
very unsatisfactory indeed-2S9S.121
pounds. valued at s22.36S. little more
| than half that returned for the PERIOD
of last report. There is not an aie-
wive fishery in the State that cannot be
| ir,nroved, and the yield greatly in
| creased. and many that are now worth
| l,s.. can be made valuable.
| Tho lobster catch has been large, a
| gain of o.6C5.231 Holsters. while the
| money returns increased about three
| quarters of a million dollars SI4S.1'4).
While the returns have been large,
| the expense in connection with the
fishery are being increased every year.
In order to handle the increased num-
Der of traps and cover the grounds
fished. which are continually being eX-
tended, better and larger boats are
needed, most of them furnished with
| power
| The mackerel Fishery has been a
very improbable business for the last
two seasons. Few vessels of the New
England fleet have paid expenses. and
the high liners have not made the
' phenomenal returns that have charac-
teriZed this fishery in previous years.
Names feet of mackerel schoonerS has
gradually dwindled until at the pres
ent time she has less than Il dozen en-
gagged in the business. the most of thu
fishing being done i'll boats and sloops.
There seems to be no remedy to Sug-
gest except to hope and wait for re-
turn of the once abundant schools to
our shores. Maine could once we'll
boast of 4 fine fleet of vessels employ