Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-24
BILLS WITHDRAWN.
To Which Lobster Fishermen and
Dealers Were Opposed.

What promised to be one OF the live
Hest sessions ever held of the commit
tee on sea and shore fisheries, while
fun OF spice had considerable of the
anticipated interest taken from it by
the withdrawal in the interests of har
mony by Fish Commissioner Donahue
Of two measures on the docket against
which We're arrayed in opposition a
considerable portion of the fishermen
If the coast counties of Knox, Lin
Coln, Cumberland and Hancock. The
Two measures to which such serious
objection was raised by the fishermen
and wholesalers We're the act provid-
Jag Tor seizlng the entire contents OF
cars. traps and barrels in which il
legal Holsters were found and the act
providing for the license of fishermen
and others engaged in the lobster in
dustry, this latter act appearing upon
the docket Of the committee as "An
act for the better protection of lob
sters." Considerable opposition was
also manifested to the act providing
Tor the appointment of a deputy to
assist the commissioner of sea and
shore fisheries.
When the act providing that when
any illegal Holsters are found in {,
car. trap. net, box, barrel or package.
tnC entire contcats may be seized, was
read ut the session of the committee
on sea and shore fisheries Tuesday at
:ernoon. Hon. Charles n. Trefcthen OF
South Portland, representing the Port
land lobster firm of j. w. Trefethcn
< Co. was at once on his feet with the
words: Il object to this measure"
Before he could say anything more
Fish Commissioner Donahue arose ana
stated that this bill was much more
sweeping than he supposed and that
he would withdraw it. Former Se1ia-
tor Sumner p Mills of Stonington pre-
scented petitions of Is residents of Ston-
ngton and Deer Isle demonstrating
against the measure.
But it was against the bill to license
lobster fishermen that the strongest
opposition developed. Arrayed against
It We're present about 80 lobster fish
rr!lcn and wholesalers from the coast
counties, represented by Hon. Rodney
|. Thompson of Rockland, and Hon
sumner p. Mills of Stonington as
counsel.
This I'LL provides that no person
shall catch any lobster or engage iii
any branch of the lobster industry
withou: first having obtained from.
the department of sea and shore fish
eri IS On annual license. The license
fees named are: Fishermen 81, smackss-
man s., retailer s.. wholesaler $50.
pound Cwner $50, Gamer 800. The bill
also provides that the commissioner
81,
son holding the same has been con-
victed by a court of competent juris-
diction of violation OF any of the
statutes of this State relating to sea
and shore fisheries.
After the bill was read Commission
er Donahue said that he found strong
opposition to the bill as drafted and
in the interests of harmony he would
withdraw it. He also stated that while
he had favored the bill there We're GER
tain things in it which he did not APP
prove.
Mr.. Thompson asked him what
these things he did not approve We're
and after Fish Commissioner Donahue
had stated that he was not in favor
of having the license for the whole
saler placed SO high. and that he did
not approve of the provision in re-
gard to the bond of a fisherman, the
Rockland man still persisted in his in
quiry, which called forth the remark
from Senator Wyman of the commit
tee:
This poor bill now has no father
or mother why trouble it further?"
Senator Mills called the attention of
the committee to several petitions for
the bill, which he said had been Sc
cured without any printed bill attach
ed. Hon. F. S. Walls of Vinalhaven
found fault with the committee for ad-
vertisins the bill simply as IAN act
for the better protection of lobsters,"
which he said gave no information that