Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-26

Portland, Me-, Jan. 25.-A special to
the Telegram says that the hearing
before the United States Bureau of
Fisheries regarding the proposed
change of method of conducting lob
ster hatcheries in Maine was attend
ed by notable delegation from that
State, including Governor Haines, Sen
ator Johnson, Senator Burleigh, Rep
resentatives Kinds. Peters, Guernsey
and McGillicuddy, Commissioner Hen
ry D. S. Woodbury., Captain A. C.
Packard of the State boat, Sheldrake,
Capt. G. W. Greenleaf of the Gan
nett, Captain Holm, superintendent of
the hatchery and a number of dealers
of whom walter S. Trefethen of Port
land, Mcclure of Rockland, John Will
lard of Portland, were among the most
prominent Commissioner H. M. Smith
of the Bureau of Fisheries, conducted
the hearing and associated with him
were Deputy Commissioner J. Lester
Jones, Chief of Fish Culture r. s.
Johnson, Captain E. E. Hahn of the
Boothbay hatchery and Captain
Greenleaf.
The hearing lasted all the morning
and in the afternoon Commissioner
Smith was in conference with the
Maine lobster dealers regarding the
best methods to bring about the re-
suits he desires when the new meth
ods of lobster culture are put into
practice.
Governor Haines' Arguments.
Governor Haines, who had come on
from Maine for that purpose, was fore
most in presenting the views of his
State. Gov. Haines made strong ar
gument for whatever would best pro-
tect the lobster industry in Maine. He
stated that if reelected, as he ex-
pected to be, he should make it his first
administrative duty to secure legisla-
ton and appropriations tending to
protect the industry, even to the point
of changing existing laws if necessary.
He said the State would readily APP
propriate large sums if needed, in
stead of the small sum of $4,000. as at
present, even to the amount OF $780,
900 or $4,000. He urged that no sud-
den change of method be introduced
but that the buying of seed Holsters
be continued until 1915, when the
Maine Legislature meets and could en-
act new laws if needed to meet the
contingency. And he wanted to carry
back to Maine some assurance that
the government would take no steps
that might be regarded as detrimental.
He alluded to the fact that 1t took the
Maine fishermen a long time to feel
faith in the hatcheries and that he be-
| lieved nothing should be done at this
time to shake their faith.
Maine Statesmen Follow.
Senators Burleigh and Johnson and
Representatives Kinds, Peters, Guern-
sey and McGilicuddy followed Gov.
Haines, and all urged that no steps
be taken that could possibly injure
the lobster industry in Maine. Com
missioner Woodbury. of the Sea and
Shore Fisheries especially urged the
need of uniform laws regarding lob
ster catching and sales in Maine, New
Hampshire and Massachusetts. He
stated that at present the smacks from
Massachusetts could catch short lob
sters, put outside the three mile limit.
and find customers for them in other
SdPtdil oShoio u u eA'S hoeNeS
coast boat called attention to the need
of keeping the fishermen in sympathy
with lobster culture, and said 1t was
not until after large quantities of short
Holsters had been found in spots near
where fry had been liberated that the
fishermen were convinced that the
hatcheries were of benefit to the in
dustry Capt. Packard alluded to the
great increase of Holsters secured in