Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-07-27
PROTECT THE LOBSTER.
The Fisheries Commission Asks CO.
operation of Fishermen.
(By II. D. Crie, Commissioner OF sea
and Shore Fisheries.)

and Shore Fisheries.)
The summer residents of Maine APP
pear to be much dissatisfied with the
laws that were enacted by the legis-
lature last winter to protect the
lobster fishermen, but it seems only
fair that the fishermen should have
all the protection that can be &C
corded them, and it is believed that
after the conditions are understood
by the people who come to the
Maine coast for rest and recreation,
they will say it is a just and right
law.
There are, along the coast of
Maine, thousands of cottages. and if
the owners were allowed to fish a
few lobster traps each season,
| thousands of Holsters would be taken
! from the coastal waters which right
fully belong to the men who en-
| gage in the lobster business solely
for a livelihood.
These men have no other means of
support Nearly all have families,
and they rely wholly on the lobster
industry to supply the needs of those
dependent upon them. These
weather-beaten fishermen have to
ter and summer to secure the neces
stiles of life, and try, in so far as
possible, to lay by nest egg for
their old age, while the people who
come to the coast for the summer
often enjoy a home on the coast of
Florida or California in the winter.
and are able to indulge in all the
comforts the cities afford. In the
vic ri n
their work in sedans or limOusines,
while the lobster fishermen brave the
sea, oftentimes in it's fury, in an en-
deavor to furnish the necessities of
life to their families. At times they
sacrifice their lives. while in winter
especially, they suffer untold hard
ships. Every lobster that is taken
from them makes hole in their pro-
fits and takes just so much from
their families.
These are the conditions summer
residents are asked to consider, and
it is honestly believed that after
weighing them carefully, they will
agree with the commission that the
brawny, weather-beaten fishermen of
our coast are not getting any more
protection under the new statute
than they rightfully deserve.
The light keepers also seem very
much dissatisfied with the law
Light keepers get a salary from the
government, and their check is re-
ceved regularly. Storms do not in
terfere with a day or weeks pay,
so they do not have to worry about
the next meal for their children, as
the lobster fishermen often do If
storm takes all of their fishing gear
and deprives them of earning cent
for weeks at a time. The fisherman
has to build new string of traps
at an extra cost of many dollars, and
at times it takes his all to replace the
lost gear after storm. The light
keepers ought to be willing to let
the men who make lobster fishing
their sole means of support, have the
Holsters.
The keepers say the salaries re-
ceived are small, and that they can
not afford to stay on light stations
for what they receive from the gov
eminent alone. If this is true, why
not let the older fishermen have the
easy job of tending the lights and the
young men who are strong and
healthy enter into the fishing bust
ness for a livelihood?
Men who have employment on
shore have to work only so many
hours. This gives them time morn
ing and evening to run string OF
some twenty-five to fifty lobster
traps, which they may haul in their
spare time and thus earn few dol
lars extra for luXuries. Their fami-
lies are we'll provided for from the
pay they receive, and they too ought
to be willing to allow the fisher
men to have the Holsters.
Many new fishermen are entering
into the lobster business this year.
due to lack Of other employment
Shipyards that two years ago were
running on full time are now closed,
factories have shut down and many
men are out of jobs, so they turn to
the lobster business as means of
getting by until business starts up
again. This is another reason why
the lobster industry should be pre-
served for the man who makes it his
sole means of support. There will
be approximately one-third more
lobster fishermen on the Maine coast
during 1921 than in 1920. What
would the unemployed on the Maine
coast do were it not for the fishing
industry? Is there any other in
dustry that would furnish them the
necessities of life through the period