The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-02-03
NAMES SEA FISHERIES.
They Yielded Over S4,OOO,OOO in 1909.
About 10000 Men Employed. Their
Outfits Valued at S4,0GO,0OO

The value of Names sea and shore
fisheries last year exceeded 81. 600, 600,
giving employment to about II, 900 men,
whose boats and other gear represented
total valuation of nearly $4,000, 600,
according to recent statement by Com
missioner James Donohue of Rockland.
The States most valuable asset in the
seafood line, next to her herring, is lob
sters. The catch last year amounted to
Approximately 1900, 900 pounds, almost
equivalent to that of the previous year.
Prices averaged better.
Conditions the past year have not been
such as to confirm the belief that the
lobster supply is being exterminated.
There has been an increased catch in
those sections where the law against
taking illegal length Holsters has been
carefully enforced Fishermen are lib
Grating the "shorts" to greater extent
than ever before. The unions have been
of material assistance to the wardens.
During the year new unions of lobster
men were organized at Long, Chebeaque
and Cliff islands in Cumberland county.
The market for Maine Holsters has been
continually extended during Commission
er Donohue's administration. The she'll
fish are now shipped to practically every
State of the union and across the borders
into Canada and Mexico
Knox county again won the distinction
of having the largest lobster harvest,
and the Importance Of the industry to
this locality may be judged from the
fact that lobster shipments alone are
responsible for making the local express
office the third largest in the State in
point of business transacted.
The catch Of groundfish in 1909 was
normal, although there was falling off
in bake, due to the low market price and
the fact that the market had never re-
covered from its overstocked condition
brought on by the money stringency of
1907. Commissioner Donohue believes
the present year will be an unusually
good one for groundfish.
Although 1909 was one of the poorest
years on record in respect to the coun-
try's mackerel catch, Maine made bet
ter showing than in some previous years.
Lincoln county led in mackerel fishing,
with catch of 1000 barrels, most Of
which were taken near Monhegan.
Knox county carried off first honors in
the scallop fishery, thanks to its famous
beds near Monroe island, which are the
largest in the country. From them were
taken 10000 gallons of scallops during
the year, worth to the fishermen SIT, 600.
The fleet numbers about 70 sail. The
catch would have been much larger last
year had not the legislature called a halt
in order to give the fish chance to breed
and grow.
Systematic attention to clam culture
had its beginning last year, when five
reservations on the coast of Cumberland
county were planted, with total area
of about 10 acres.
Five hundred bushels of Scarboro sand
clans were used, ranging in size from
small to medium. The fats thus treated
will be closed for six years, which will
give the clans chance to breed and the
adjacent flats to get the benefit. The
work will be continued on more ex-
tended scale the present year, particular
attention being paid to those flats which
are depleted and which are adapted to
transplanting sand CLAIMS.