Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-17
L. S. Lobster Fishermen Up
Against Foreign Competition

L. S. Lobster Fishermen Up
Against Foreign Competition
The Canadian open season for lob
ster fishing began Nov. LIST and our
markets are flooded with an inferior
grade Of Holsters because new shell
Holsters will not stand up to ship So
lar. The dead and weak ones are boiled
put on the market at a very low price
and this has tendency to reduce the
price of the native stock considerably
In what condition does this leave the
United States fishermen with gear still
expensive and at least one-third more
nshermen on the coast? Could any,
enc imagine conditions more serious
Tor the lobster fishermen?
The prices Of line fish have been far
below normal this season, lines and
hooks arc still expensive and when a
iishermans expenses have been de-
Quoted from his gross earnings there
is nothing left to support his family,
therefore lobster fishing is really the
only means of support for the small
boat fishermen. Until Feb. LIST our
markets will he flooded with foreign
Holsters because the 18th of Nov.
marks the beginning of the open sea-
son at Grand Manan and it continues
until Jan. LIST. then it will take nearly
a month for the dealers to clean up
their stock. March LIST. Canadas open
- et''it u5oiI DeSlHS so the nllru
states LOBSTER fishermen have the
month of Feb only to look forward to
and this is one of the hardest months
in the year for the water is cold and
the lobSlcrs do not crawl INTO the
traps for they are not as active Then
for the next three months how are our
iopster fishermen going to earn liV-
ing? The only element that can con-
troll the price of Holsters is the
weather If good weather prevails on
Il ~ 1InYo LIT,
worth the catching here and the price
Will not be worth mentioning. If bad
weather should prevail the price
might advance so that the United
states Fishermen would be able to real
lzc living wage.
men are facing on the United States
coast. Is it right for the United
States to furnish such an attractive
market for Canadian Holsters and de-
prlVe the fishermen of our own coun-
try of an honest living? Our fisher
men are entitled to some protection
since Holsters are considered a luxury
and there is no good and sufficient
reason why our fishermen should be
compelled to cast their lot with the
md market in their own country for
the Holsters that arc taken on the ca
madam coast then let them pay q good
stlif tax before they can enter our
MOI h'tS anu mus give some means OF
protection to the home industry and
people.
The fishermen on our coasts are a
worthy class. as a whole honest, up
right and God fearing men, who brave
the storms winter ard summer TO carr
livelihood for their families. and
certainly thcy should not be d, prived
OF the necessities OF life by the inter
ference of another country.
1t is surely up to the United States
Government to give her fishermen
proper protection by imposing a tax or
madam Holsters into the markets of
the United States. 1t is absurd 10
compel Uncle Sans Fisher Boys TO
sell their high grade product in COM
petition with inferior Canadian lob
sters that certainly must arrive in
poor condition.
For the following three months tho.
arrive IN bad condition, in the spring
months this being true. what will be
the condition of the new shell !obst, RS
when they are placed in our markets:
they certainly will have to be sold a.
once Tor any price they will bring ard
no one knows what that price will pc
until after the season has closed
III there was ever Il time in the his
tory of the United States when the
fishermen deserved protection it is
during this period of reconstruction
While business ashore is at stand
Gun Iicn dIc turning 10 nSn1nS as q.
possible means of getting BY until
business starts up again
Please realize If You can tho critical
position in which our fishermen are
placed in when they have to share 3}rs
of their catch and income with another
fisherman. then have to divide their
market with Canada compelling an
other cut of o5Tt.
The railroad men threatened to tie
mp the whole country if the managers
m nItt nf bsf
the fishermen to take a reduction of
$50 without word of dsappoint-
ment. Do YOU think the fishermen are
made of iron without any idea of their
rights. as American Citizens? 1t IS
well to pause for n moment and realize
the part the fishermen played during
the World war. When the call came
a most every young fisherman entered
the service and their records stand to-
day unsurpassed for bravery. Shall
we now when they need our hclp for
get them or shall we put our shoulders
to the wheel and do all we can to pro-
tect their rights against foreign COM
petition?
session in Congress the writer did
what he could to have duty imposed
on Holsters shipped from Canada into
the United States markets but was in
formed That SO much opposition had
developed that there would be no dli-
~ imposed. The writer also offered
TO so to Washington personally and
appear before the committee a. repre-
sent the fishermen at the hearing but
was informed that the hearing had
been closed and would not be reopcned.
Brother Fishermen. il is necessary
| believe to have good stm tax on
Holsters which arc shipped from Ca
NADIA to the United States markets.
This would yield good substantial
revenue and protect the fishermen 10
Gated along our coast. II is also well
10 remember thar to have such bill
passed by Congress is not n. one man
job. every man interested muSt realize
that il is UP TO him to do his pant. lie
must get busy among his neighbore
and work bard to get everyone else in
and working. then things will
begin to move and when once ii starts
put all the energy you possess INTO the
good work. Do not expect tire Com
mission TO do 1t all. 1t will do Ill it
can do but YOU must realize that the
Commission can do very little without
your help. If' we all pun together
there viii he little question concerning
results. This is the time which viii