Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-10-25


will you kindly permit me, through
your columns, to call the attention OF the
members Of the Legislature ana the BUSH
ness public generally to some events that
have trsnspired during this season in the
fisheries along our coast.
1t will be remembered that much Of the
valusb BILE time of the last legislature was
taken up by the discussion OF matters re-
lating to shore fisheries. The weir fisher
men were claiming that they should be
given . monopoly of the herring fishing
and that no other method should be used
than the old fashioned stake weirs. They
expended q large amount OF time and
money in the attempt to make it appear
that weir fishing should be allowed and
all kinds OF net fishing should be pro-
hibited.
The so-called Mayo bill was drafted
along these lines and the promoters Of
this scheme came very near passing this
bill. The opponents OF the Mayo bill
were very few. They had no money for
any paid attorneys to defend them and it
remained for few OF US to use our per-
sonal endeavors to show up this iniqui-
tous bill, which we were successful in do
ing, and the legislature failed to give the
Mayo bill or any OF its substitute pas
sage.
The promoters OF the Mayo bill were
making loud statements in the State
House lobby and the different hotels OF
Augusta that the purse and drag seine had
destroyed the mackerel, menhaden and
herring. Those Of US who opposed the
bill made the statement before the COM
mittee and elsewhere that the history OF
all kinds Of fishing was subject to radical
changes, and that there had always been
years OF plentifulness and scarcity and
would be for all time to come. The three
leading species (msckerel, menhaden and
herringi have substantiated this state
ment this season.,
This year will be . record breaking year
for herring. 1t is difficult to find mar
ket at any price for sardine herring.
This condition has existed for weeks
The sardine factories have been over
stocked with fish suitable for sardine pur-
poses and the result will be the largest
pack in the history OF the business.
The price to-day is hardly above the cost
of production, and many OF the factories
are contemplating closing down on ac-
count OF the enormous pack.
Now the menhsden appeared on our
coast early in the season and are swarm
iEg along our coast to- day, which is very
late for them TO remain in our waters. 1t
seems to be the unanimous opinion OF our
Oldest menhaden fishermen that there
extremely fat menhaden on this coast.
They are from the capes of Virginia to the
Bay OF Fundy.
Thousands of barrels are taken daily
along the shores OF Lincoln and Cumber.
land counties, and sent to Long Island
Sound to be converted into oil and guano.
There is only one oil factory remaining in
Maine, at Round Pond. There is also
ship that has been converted into a fac
tory which has been doing an enormous
business. 1t is reported that she is capa-
BILE Of converting 10000 barrels day into
oil and fish scrap. There are more than q
thousand men employed in the steamers
and factories operating on the Maine
coast, and the enormous order for food
supplies is being appreciated by our pro-
vision dealers.
One dealer in Portland reported an
order Of fifty barrels of corned beef one
day, and other things in proportion. Does
4 hfo lrnL 10
caught up? After . continuous warfare
on them for more than half century with
the most improved appliance for their
capture, there seems to be more than ever
before. 1t ia true that they absented
themselves from the coast OF Maine for a
number Of years. The only reason that
can be given is that the food for them was
absent. This year an abundance Of food
has been visible all the season.
Large mackerel have shown in enor-
nous quantities at times. There are only
q few vessels engaged in mackerel fishing,
Quite q number Of mackerel have been
caught around Monhegan. These fish,
when they become full grown, are wild
and hard to catch. The only way to
eaten them is oy purse seine, as they have,
for some reason unknown to man, refused
to take the hook for more than . quarter
of . century. A few small thinkers have
been seen along the shores, and It may be
possible that this enormous body OF
mackerei will deposit their spawn here
and another year we will have an abund-
ance Of thinkers.
The migratory fishes that visit our coast
need no protection, and the efforts of man
cannot percepslbly diminish the supply.
In the future the legislatature, when
called upon to make restrictive laws to
govern the migratory fish OF the sea, viii
be wise il they turn down any bill in
which one class OF fshermen is attempt
ing to annihilate another.
Selling Ice rs Years Ago.
In an old book lately picked up in an
old bookstore was wel-preserved cir