Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-08-22
PROTECT THE LOBSTERS.
Director erie Makes Appeal to Fish
ermen and Summer Visitors.
(By II. ID. erie, Director of Sea and
Shore EiSh erieS.)

l1S INDUSTRY VI hidlhNs bNSetNbS N'Si'
other kind of fishing failing, the
fsher-folks can turn to lobster fish
ing for a livelihood. What would
have happened on the coast the
past two years if there had been no
Holsters? Line fish were so cheap
that they were hardly worth catch
ing, and herring were also cheap,
with very little sale for them.
Holsters are really the only fish that
can be relied upon to support the
coast dwellers when all other kinds
OF fishing fail.
Are we going to destroy the fish
that furnishes the comforts of life
and keeps the wolf from the door or
are we going to protect it? That Is
the question before us to-day. In
approximately twenty months, LOO
new lobster fishermen have been
added to the already large number
of them. and still there has been
living for all who reside in the sec
ton of the coast where protection is
practiced. The year 1922 was an Off
year because the Holsters shed their
shells later in the season than usual,
ally. The number of lobster traps
fished has increased nearly zoo per
cent. in three years, and If the
Holsters had not been on the increase
what would have happened? There
would have been suffering where to-
day prosperity and happiness pre-
prevail, and this in nearly every vii
lage which borders on the coast.
There are always exceptions, how
ever. and in the localities where the
fishermen have not and do not obey
the laws and protect their industry,
prosperity is not so evident.
Wherever the fishermen do abide by
the law and do not infringe on the
statutes. you will find good boats,
good homes, well-painted buildings
in good repair and the fishermen
families comfortably dressed and
contented
The only way the Holsters can be
increased is through protecting every
one to legal size When Holsters are
eaten or sold before they are of legal
size, they always command a reduced
price and it takes two and often
more to equal one legal lobster, con-
seQently you are reducing your in
come yearly, when the above folly
is practiced, at least 200 per cent,
When shorts are sold at half price
and it takes two shorts to equal one
legal lobster you are the losers. Is
there any other investment that pays
200 per cent? If so, | do not know
OF it, Every illegal lobster that is
thrown back into the ocean increases
in length, increases in price and
eventually increases your yearly
earnings 200 per cent. Isn't that
about the best investment one could
hope for?
Still. a few persist in destroying
1.-THE goose that lays the golden
eggs, as the saying goes, without
any regard or thought of the future.
There is only one way in which this
wanton waste can be stopped, and
that is for every honest, upright,
law-abidng citizen to pledge his sup
port to the commission and then
work with it until the last viOlator
changes his views and sees his mis-
take or is put out of business
Approximately 100000 people visit
he coast of Maine annually. We are
" to say that quantities of il
or Holsters are eaten by the people
aeal it the coast Some are will
Who Wis rs of the law, and will
III VIOLATE "ery inducement to the
hroW out e, arovide them with
lshelmen 20 nople of this class
frha n, Gcb
ire familiar enough purchase il
avs. and knowingly ple of this
egal Holsters. How ps9A 70 have
,alibre, especially those W., MINER
sufficient funds TO spend the - luce
Il the seashore, can wilfuHy gNN to
fisherman to lay himself hab'@
- ca for each ILLEGAL loDstet !
nHe " ~ lose his license ana noo
'oIu' , y, TO fish for Holsters lor %
be any aIr,ost beyond imaghalioH'
e"t' tbe difference in cost Is Seluo ail
WAeh wy dollar or two FOR eacn !
more 1lL Any person guilty "
',n act of this kind IS i mo-
a. Hn1nd and cruel than hlEuN"',",''+lies
,11ao,,se he plays on the sy mp, ara a
tha lobster fishermen Who t,dad
81 hearted and generous ,,.iu
1re tnio and in many instances Nt ~
peg peg fine chance of being caug 5,in,tor
tan oee,,,Inodate the summer NiSt tbat :
aG So bas only one thought ana 't tT q
WY t if his own selhshness. II W.
TO snri er colonists who are lgn9 ttoie
s1 81 tha law, after reading TINS a'''t inc
IN helm the fishermen an" mn
WIN , Mss, to apprehend the W WI
COM enI nersistent class, it WIZ % p' IN,
anu areat stride in the interest Oh Wv
industry. .+,,or element tina
oa, i,9l min to the New Eh nt u n
S 5Ies,er fisherman unless some = ~
~ ~ done to prevent it, ana ina" MIME is
Is Go roG Holsters that are sn II, et
into The United States ma" se neC
Ha0ada extended its open aDne,
o@nr"f this year, and il TINS ha as%e
e aTf'r, year, the New hn .laDerty NV W
T ,,oen are doomed and poVe tEo 90,
men loom ON staring them in the r rT'
pC lii never be SallSAeu va