Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-02-01
Csrsssy snaessee.
Views on tho Herring Question.
FRENCH,PROP., ME-, Jan. "A, 1911

E1nNOd0OAos m n, Sau. ~ Iva
To the Editor Of The Amerscam:
would like to express in . few words
my views OF the herring industry, the
question that the people of our State are
now discussing. think, a. some others
OF our fishermen do, that il seining il
SLOWED in the future, one more year,
CT two ct least, will see the herring ex-
terminated altogether, for as fisherman
who has seen the herring grow scarce
each year, think that am in q position
to know what has caused this.
Twenty years ago herring were plenti-
full around Grand Manan and Eastport.
That was the home OF the herring. You
could get herring at those places the year
round IN large quantities when all other
began to grow scarce, all on account OF SO
many being caught for the sardine fac
tories. At times more were caught than
could be taken care of In proper shape.
The boats would bring in 500 or 800 BUSH
els in the morning, and Def re they
could be taken care OF other boats would
bring more herring. Then the first lot
on through the fishing season.
In few years the herring were all
caught up or destroyed around Eastport,
Lubec and Grand Manan, and the seiners
shifted to Jonesport and vicinity, only to
do the same thing to the herring-driving
them from these waters as they had done
from Grand Manan. Ten years ago I
Cnuld hnv Of hau
Jonesport, for 10 cents q bushel. /
bought herring from these places for two
years, but last year not over 500 bushels
were caught within q radius OF thirty
miles Of Jonesport.
Last year q large feet OF boats came
from Eastport to Bluehill bay, equipped
with seines for the purpose OF taking
herring for the factories. These boats were
owned by men from Grand Manan, Campo
bello and Deer Island. They caught and
destroyed over IL, 900 hogshead OF herring,
and the consequence was that there was
such scarcity OF herring in the fall that
the fisherman of Hancock county could
not get even one bushel for fish or lobster
bait.
herring scared to 81, and even more than
that was paid in some places for herring
to can. This price was far beyond the
reach Of fishermen, as it took one bushel
or more OF bait to bait gang Of traps, and
often dollars worth OF HOLSTERS would
not be caught to haul.
At Long Island, where / reside, our
fishermen salt, when they can be had, 500
or 600 bushels Of herring to use for lobster
bait in the winter months. This fall found
them without bait owing to the scarcity OF
herring and the high prices asked for
them. The consequence was that the fish
ermen had to send to Gloucester and pur-
chase 200 barrels of New Foundland her
ring for lobster bait. II this had not
been done, our fishermen would have lost
their winters work, all on account OF the
seiners and factories destroying so many
herring each year.
To me this is one OF the most serious
questions Of this age. II the seining Of
herring ID allowed and the sardine fac
tories permitted to operate as many
months as they have been each year, what
will become OF the herring in the future?
When the herring are all gone or caught
up, what then will our fishermen do on
the coast Of Maine?
think that it is up to this legislature
to do something to protect the fishing
interests OF our State, for the Income
derived from fishing makes the business
second 10 none OIL our coast to- day.
WILLIAM NJ. TEEL.