Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-21
STATE LOBSTER BOAT.
Work of Propagation Along the
Maine Coast.

Work of Propagation Along the
Maine Coast.
The State lobster boat 5heldrake, fifty
foot gasoline craft of the Maine sea and
shore fisheries department, commanded
by Capt. c. A. Packard, has been so inn
proved in appearance and usefulness that
she would scarcely be taken for the boat
she was. Several feet in length have been
added to the house room, and a large
ca bin pilot house built forward. whereas
before it was located back by the main
mast. In short, instead of the rather
inferior-appearing craft that she was she
breasts the waves now as comedy boat as
one would wish to see in such service.
Capt. Packard and Harry Higgins, his
engineer, have very comfortable quarters.
The boat will accommodate six comfortably,
has roomy kitchen, is fitted with many
convenient lockers, and carries twenty
five horsepower Standard engine. The
gasoline tank has capacity of go gallons,
and the coal bunker holds ton. Before
the season is ended she will be wired for
electricity for interior lights and search
light. She flies the stars and stripes, the
Maine flag and the lobster flag, a large
green lobster on white background.
This is lobster boat, and this is what
she does: After the lobster season is we'll
started Capt. Packard sails along the coast
of Maine 10 search Of seed Holsters. He
buys seed Holsters weighing from three to
five pounds apiece from the lobstermen,
places them in a well holding 500 and
located amidships, and takes them to
Rockland, whence they are transferred TO
the hatcheries at Boothbay Harbor by the
steamer Cannot.
Each lobster thus purchased is stripped OF
its eggs, after about years time, and re-
turned, alive and well as ever. to the waters
OF the coast OF Maine, the distribution be-
ing made among the places of original pur-
chase. Thus the seed is secured without
fry are returned to the waters OF Maine
for every seed lobster thus taken and
returned. The Sheldrske has just now
finished depositing along the coast. from
Rockland to Eastport, the $500 seed
Holsters she secured from the fishermen
and pounds last year.
Now about the distribution OF the Try.
The newspapers OF caast towns and cities
in the western part OF the State have
printed so many lists of lobster fry liber-
ated in western waters that the fishermen
of the eastern part OF the State are some
times inclined to say. according to Capt.
Packard, OF the Sheldrake, that not so
MANI iohs.era ara daIir.rad IN thar soc.
lions as are carried 10 the westward But
Capt. Packard says that this is not the
case, and demurred strongly to this
opinion, which is perhaps the prevailing
one, that the waters of the western part OF
the State are being supplied with fry from
Holsters taken from eastern waters in
greater numbers than are planted in the
section from Rockland to Eastport. Capt.
Packard states that the eastern waters re-
ceive more than their share, and regret
that the fishermen feel as they do about
what is really very impartial distribu-
ton.
Millions-oi lobster fry were delivered to
the waters between Rockland and East
port during the month of June by the U.
s. fisheries steamer Cannot, Capt. q. w.
Greenleaf, the exact distribution being as
follows: June Is, North Haven, 10000;
stonington, 100000; East Stonington,
5O0,0O0;. Swans Island, 10000; Bass Har-
Dor, 1000, 900; Southwest Harbor and Man
set, 900 600; lsleford, Cranberry Isles. 50O.-
600; Cape Split Harbor (South Addison),
10000; Bots Bubert, 800 900; Jonesport.
1850, 900; Cutler, $4,000; June 10, Eastport
100000; Lakeman's harbor, 20O, 900; June
n, Dyer's Bay, 1,0Oo,0 Corea, 500, 900;
Prospect Harbor, 100000; Winter Har-
Dor, 10000; Bunker's harbor, 5000, 900;
South Hancock. 100000; June p, Mas
keag harbor, 10000; Brooklin Center
harbor, 100000; Little Deer Isle, 1,ooo,-
600; and Lime Island, in Penobscot bay,
1,500, 900 "a total of 81, $50 600