Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-12
SEA AND SHORE FISHERIES
Seines or eepseot-Repealing the
Lobster Law-Pro and Con

liep. Perkins of EoothhaE iiarbor
of the Sea and Shore fisheries COM
mittee explained the purposes of the
oct repeating the law which prohii-
It's the use of seineS nearer than
1000 feet of any weir on the Sleeps
cot river OF it's tributaries for taking
herring, introduced by him, at Tues
days hearing. Mr.. Perkins said
that while he believed the weir own
ers should he protected hi idid not
feel that the present law was of any
benefit. For one thing. he said, there
was not more than one weir on those
waters which was legally there.
TO clear up the situation, he said
it might be necessary to go to the
United States Army Board of Engi-
necrs. but 1t was felt that it would
i4e q hetccr way If this law could be
repealed and the situation cared for
Unless the bill introduced by him
was enacted he felt sure there would
be an appeal to the federal author
tiles.
&. G. Topper Of Hoothbay Iiarbor.
opposing the bill, said there was no
need Of it and suggested that it
would be we'll To close the Shcepscot
to SEEMING, as was the case with all
oiliei rivers of the State.
When the bill repeating the lobster
license law was taken up, Rep. Per-
kins, it's author, said that he intro
t!uced it because he believed that the
existing law was un-American, auto
cratic and did not accomplish the
purpose for which it was designed.
Under the law lie could not buy Il
lobster in his home town. bring them
to Augusta and give them to his
friends without violating the law:
not only that. but he would he guilty
OF u violation in Lincoln, Sasada-
hoe. Cumberland and kcnnehe"
counties under that law
lie declared that the section Of III"
bill which came tie director of SEA
and shorc fisheries the right to &C.
woke a h:herman's license while
, charges Of violations of Tie law were
pending was contrary to the .Aneli =
can spirit 1t was in effect. the TAX
! ing, away of a mans means of livl-
hood before lie was proven guilty of
an nfTensc.
Except during the period when
James Dorohue of Rockland, nov!
dead, was commissioner of sea and
shore fisheries. said Mr. Perkins.
there had never been a good enforce
ment of the law. Mr.. Dcnohue. he
said, was the best man WHO had ever
been at the head OF the departments
and accomplished nucn becuose the
fishermen believed h was their friend.
During that period" said Mr.. Per
kins you could not buy a short
lobster in Lincoln county.
In reply to Il question NY Chairman
Peacock, Mr.. Perkins said that he did
not think the law worked hard
ship TO the fishermen il they COM
Piled with is provisions.
Rep. Hatch of Stonington said that
all the fishermen were opposed to
the license law 1t was no benefit to
the industry and the men declared
tina: if they were forced to buy
license they would sell all the shorts
they could get.
Rep. Rowe,l Of South Thomaston
could see no more reason for lobster
men being required to have a license
than for granite cutters and woods
men. Inc law uiu IlOt PioeCSt tllc
Holsters in his judgment.
! Harry G. Wilbur of Portland. men,
Der of the Sea and Shore Fisheries
! Commission. opposed the bill. dec!ar-
ing that the license law was the one
thing which would protect the indus
try and preserve it. He said that
this was the great lobster state. We
had $500 boats in the business to los
in Massachusetts. In his opinion no
business was in more need of regu-
lation than this. He told Rep. Hatch
that in his judgment the license law
had done much for the business.
y. L. Greenlcaf Of Southport. men,
Der of the House in 1915, declared
that he was the father of the license
law and that it had accomplished
much. 1t had stopped the sale Of
short Holsters and put those dealers
at Bcothbay Harbor who bought
shorts out of the business Of TAX
ing them. In his section where there
were Is fishermen, in two years dur
ing which they threw back every
short lobster, the size Of their catch
increased.
Insane Hospital
4 public hearing of the committee