Evening journal., 1919-07-25
LOBSTER INDUSTRY,
TOO, IS HARD HIT
{ ishermen Complain De-
mand Has DwindIed Since
Dry Law Enforcement
NEW YORK PAYING
II CENTS FOR CATCH

NOANK. Conn. July 2J.-Here's a
how-e-dol Prohibition is killing the
lobster Industry At least that is the
claim OF the men OF this village and
sicnity who have sunk lobster pots
IN the waters hereabouis every season,
as their fathers before them did.
Hundreds OF shore dinner resorts,
restaurants and other places where
drinks were served having closed their
doors, the demand for lobster has
ceased Fishermen learn from the New
York markctmen. As a consequence,
Tor the first time in the memory Of any
of the men in the lobster fleet sailing
from local wharyes, the supply over
Dhelms the demand. City markets are
Fiutted with the green-shclled crawl
frs. and IN New York the dealers are
giving but f. cents a pound. And all
because The nation has gone dry!
One local dealer who. during the last
week at one time had 31OOO pounds,
managed 10 dispose Of the lot by ship
ping them into the interior OF Conncc-
ticut and Massachusetts, selling them
at great sacrifice His last shipment
amounted 10 i6 barrels lie has an
nounced that until conditions improve
Nf VIII Jug July "a AaAlNA iAi-h NANN
whom he has a seasons contract.
All about here The prices have drop /
ped from % 10 20 cents a pound, with /
prospects Of going still lower.
Another prominent dealer here has !
given notice that he will take no more /
until ne gels rid 'of those on hand. The 1
Boston agency here is still buying in
small los, but is finding the same difli-
"a s.F al
brought in.
The prospect in the village Is really
calamtous; catches made during the
last six weeks have been the biggest IN
wears. due. 10 is believed 20 the mild
winter although some attribute this 10
the stringent lobster law which has
prevailed for the last two seasons.
With such favorable catches the local
men and high hopes OF an exception
ally profitable season and had started
with a rush Of big business, when the
sudden damper came.
Besides this unexpected check. the
men who have gear set in Fishers
Island. Sound are complaining That
many OF the HOLSTERS taken there have
what they call paper shells, and are
poor and tasteless when cooked.
Altogether, the fishermen haze many !
causes to feel discouraged Lobster gear
was never so high as it is now. Al
though gasoline has gone down cents
a gallon. repairs on motors cost more,
as men are demanding higher pay FOR
all such work. The many rules gO'-
ernng the taking out OF boats. the high
fees for licenses. and the change maze
~ the state OF New York regarding
he limit Of the locality where they
ire allowed 10 set their gear in The
Race, have all been additional dihlcul-
ties: but the present slump promises
10 prove the worst loss OF them all.
To add 10 the burdens OF the Usher
nen here, there is the strike OF tie
lnion along the big city Wharyes.
schooner Mabel NJ BrysOn. Captain
Tony Hendrickson. arrived in Boston
ne other day with 60 large swordiish'
,ltich sold for 26ta cents per pound.
Thomas MCGOWAN, one or the crew, on
coming 10 his home here. stated that
solely because the schooner had left on
.his cruise prior 10 June 81, the officials
r the Fishermens Union had permit
,od the fish 10 be sold. The schooner
now tied up until The strike IS set
led
All boats sailing after June 2i are
rot 10 be permitted by the union to dis
charge their catch at the FISH pier.
CAPTAIN John Jensen. owner OF the
schooner J. Talbot Dodge, which is
,eing run by a New York captain and
,rew at present, received letter from
he captain stating that by conditions
aid down by the union he would not
40 allowed TO land any more fish after
lis return from the present cruise.
This means. OF course, that the price
NJ all FISH must advance. and the hamp-
,rinc Of the strike, added TO the dis
OF the lobster fishing
conditions is convincing people here
hat the traditional "nsherman.s luck
lust now is very hard luck indeed.