Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-14
Industry Dates Back Prior
to Mayt|ower Days.
Growth and Changes Which
Have Come With Time.
Interesting Story from Industrial
and Labor Bureau.

lions of the discoveries and early
visitors to our shores" says an article
on fisheries in the Directory of the
Manufacturing Industries of Maine,
recently issued by the Bureau of In
du-tria and Labor Statistics.
These early navigators spoke en-
thuSia stically of the abundance and
immense size of the cod and other fish
they found in these waters In 1913,
Captain John Smith while cruising
along the coast. took possession OF
MunhrGan island and established a
headquarters there. from which more
Tor less extensive fisheries operations
were conducted.
In 1922, when the Pilgrims at
Plymouth became reduced to Il state
of almost starvation. it was to Mon
hogan that Winslow came in his shall
lop for relief. 1t was from this Eng
fish settlement that his Immediate
wants We're supplied. tn" generous
hearted fishermen refusing pay for
what they furnished. OF this incident
Window wrote: we not only got
present supply but also learned the
way to those parts for our future
benefit" On this visit WinslOw
found 30 ships at Monhegan and
Damariscovc, ships of different ma
tionalities. some seeking a way to the
Indies, some hunting for gold, while
others We're there for fish and furs.
The fisheries have entered into
nearly all the interna tOnal negOtia-
tons in which Maine has been at all
interested. 1t is only within the last
few months that some of the questions
which had been pending since the
close of the Revolutionary War have
been brought to q final adjustment.
One author has said: The fisheries
Of New England furnished our first
articles of export and laid the founda-
tions of our navigation and COM
mcrce. We have seen through all the
changes and chances of our Colonial
submission from its commencement
to its termination; through the war of
the Revolution and in the negotiations
for peace. in the convention that
framed, and in the state convention
that considered. the constitution of the
United States; in the first Congress,
and in the negotiations at the close of
the War OF 1912. that hte fisheries oc-
cupied prominent place, and were
often the hinge on which turned ques-
tons Of vast Importance
From 1865 to l175. Maine employed
in the cod fishery so vessels annually,
amounting to 1000 tons, and manned
by 23o soamen; and exported annual
y to Europe and the West Indies,
about 10000 quintals. of value of
10 W.;
War this branch Of trade was nearly
cut off, but from 1885 to 1890 about 80
vessels We're annually employed,
amounting to 300 tons and manned by
20 seamen. The exports We're. to
Europe 1000 quintals valued at $500
per quintal: and to the West Indies
$500 quintalS at $500, total value of
$4,000.
From 1920 to 1926 inclusive, the
total fishing tonnage of the United
States averaged G3.9S7 tons per an
mum, while that of Maine averaged
1925 tons. being 1914 per cent, or
nearly onc-fifth of the whole 1t was
estimated that this Maine fleet gave
employment to 2639 fishermen, and
that the foreign export of fish from
Maine. based on partial returns.
amounted to $2SS,0oO The value OF
the total catch at that time was esti-
mated at $470,9S7 annually, and the
export of fish and oil coastwise, from
the Passamaquoddy district alone was
100000.
Since 1926, there have been great
changes in this industry. Some
branches have been almost entirely
abandoned. while others absolutely
unknown in the early days. have
grown up to take their places. Maine
was heavily interested in the Grand
Banks cod fishery up to about 1870, at
which time it is said that nearly every
town along the coast had one or more
Bankers to its credit. From that
time there was a decline caused by the
withdrawal OF the Federal bounty in
1868, the expense and uncertainty of
the ventures. and the heavy COMPETE
ton of the Canadian fisheries which
We're aided and encouraged by the
Dominion government to the extent of
S160,o00 annually.
In 1896 it was estimated that there
We're not more than ten Maine vessels
going to the banks and probably the
number has not been greatly increased
since. In place of the bank fishing
the great herring industry has been
developed, these small fish being the
raw material for our immense sardine
pack. Lobster fishing also has of
late assumed large proportions, |
brought about by better protection to
small Holsters. the use Of power boats. |
better regulations in marketing, an in
creased demand from the large cities |
and consequent higher prices.
In 1905. the year when the last sta
tistics were compiled by the United |
States bureau of fisheries, $S,972,049 |
was invested in the industry in Maine.
The product for the year weighed |
124.125,7S6 pounds. or 62,362 tons. and |
was valued at $2,3S6,4 06. The leading
products with their weights and values
are as follows: HOLSTERS, 9,01S,759
pounds. valued at s?S9.799: herring.
64.9S6,1o0 pounds. valued at $31O,75S;
cod. slo,Sli.oi1 pounds. valued at
s2392 IS; hakr, 14,746.250 pounds, !
valued at %liS,305 haddock. $3.50, $50
pounds, valued at $1i7.397; clans,
312S $50 bus heels, valued at $135.160:
5S7,9S5 pounds. valued at CO.