Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-12
STENOGRAPHIC PROCEEDINGS
Continued from Page Nine)

the present time.
1 represent in Knox county some
five hundred fishermen. In the town
Of Ninalhayen alone there are two
hundred and twenty-five lobste:
fishermen being many more fisher
men than there are in the whole
county of York. They sent men up
here at great expense to themselves,
and some of the names l see are on
this petition or communication or
whatever you might call it. They
are very much exercised about any
change in the legal length of lob
sters; and for the benefit of those
who have not read this communi-
cation, it is as follows:
I'VE the undersigned fishermen
represent nine-tenths of the men
who make a business of catching
Holsters on the coast of Maine. We
have been compelled to come to AT
gusta at great expense to fight for
our very existence, becau.e any
change in legal length of Holsters
spells ruin to our valuable indus
try. Nine-inch Holsters are too small
to breed and if they are caught be-
fore they are ten inches, the present
legal length will mean extermina-
ton. We have followed the lobster
business all our lives and believe we
know what is best for the ina stry
If we were in tho Legislature we
would not vote to change a law that
nine-tenths of the farmers wanted
to keep as it is now. We are asking
YOU to protect us by voting against
the nine-inch bill"
Now down through our section
and through the eastern part of the
state and we also had evidence be-
fore the Sea and Shore Fisheries
committee in Cumberland county
that they hoped that this bill would
rot pass. l hope that the minority
report, ought to pass, will not pre-
vail.
Mr.. SARGENT OF sedgwick: Mr..
peaker, / want to read a short let
ter received few days ago by Mr..
Crie, dated February "a, 1925:
Dear Mr.. erie:
we very much desire to have a
conference on the lobster situation in
time to enact some legislation. if we
can nave cooperation on the part of
adjoining States. This involves the
question of close season, how much
we shall pay for berried Holsters. and
legal length.
Our Commission invites you to be a.
guest at dinner to be held at the
Hartford Club. Wednesday evening.
March 18th, at o'clock, at which
we expect the New York Commits
sioner and hope to have all Of the
New England Commissioners. Will
YOU try and come to this meeting i?
II IS useless for any Of us to legislate
on the lobster question nuless we
can outline definite policy and aim
for the entire coast. This Commits
sion believes the time Is right to take
some steps for the conservation of
the Holsters. The Commission favors
the 10 inch law instead of the pres
ent inch law and would favor pay
ing full price for berried Holsters if
the same thing"
the states which have a different law
from the Maine law are not satified
with the present conditions. and they
are attempting to bring about some
cooperation between the New Eng
land states which will lead to uni
form legislation. You will note that
this meeting Is to be held at Hart
ford this evening and Mr.. erie, I'M
derstand, is to be present there. If
lor no other reason. it would seem to
me very unwiSe for us at this time
to make any change in the present
law when other states are coming to
recognize the situate and are hop
ing to combine with us in a law sim
liar to that which we have at the
present time
The SPEAKER: Is the House ready
for the question?
Mr.. LAMSON OF South Portland:
Mr.. Speaker and members: I did not
intend to say anything more on this
matter but | too was present at that
hearing and there was one man who
had spirit enough to come mere and
tell the truth as it existed. j rather
pitied many of those men who came
here to that hearing. We asked them
some questions. and among them was
',Are there any short Holsters being
sold now?' And they said not that
they knew Of. Gentlemen. do you be-
lieve that? Do YOU believe that the
lobster or any fishing industry is in
any danger of being depleted?
Now. concerning this hearing and
all this fuss that is being made. j
an, going to say something about the
non-appearance of the proponents of
tie nine-inch law If / was a lobster
fisherman / would not put up any
argument with the Warden any more
than YOU would if You were in our
city of Portland and the Traffic Off
Ger told you to drive around a certain
monument three times before YOU
went ahead. You would not argue
with him, YOU would just drive
around it. | know l will every time.
do not put up any argument with
4 Warden or a Traffic Officer.
Let me tell YOU, gentlemen. there
is no danger of a few fishermen on
the Atlantic coast catching all the
Holsters in the Atlantic Ocean.
The SPEAKER: Is the House
ready for tie question?
The question is on the motion of
the gentleman from South Portland,
Mr.. Lamson. that the minority re-
port, ought to pass, be accepted. a
vote of yes is in favor of the passage
of the bill. \ vote of no is against
its passage. AS many as arc III ia
ror of the motion will say aye;
those opposed no.
A viva voce vote being doubted,
4 division of the House was had.
Thirty mine voting in the afIirma-
tive and "A in tho negative. the mo-
ton Of the gentleman from South
Portland. Mr.. Lamson. that the MN
GRITTY report ought TO pass, be ac
cepted, failed of passage.
On motion by Mr. Boman of Ninal-
haven. it was voted to accept the
ma jority report, ought not to pass.
additional papers from the Senate,