682 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



fresh lobsters in this country, viz., Portland, Boston, and New York, in which are handled nearly 

 four-fifths of all the fresh lobsters sold, and about two-fifths of all the lobsters taken and disposed 

 of by the fishermen for all purposes. Portland derives its supplies entirely from the coast of Maine, 

 and principally from between Portland and Mount Desert. In 1880, sixteen well smacks were 

 engaged in carrying to this place, in addition to the fishing boats of the vicinity, and some lobsters 

 were also received in barrels. Trade is most active between March and tbe middle of July. About 

 1,900,000 pounds of lobsters, valued at $70,000 fishermen's prices, and at $90,000 market prices, 

 were received in 1880. Besides supplying many inland towns throughout the neighboring States 

 and Canada, Portland made very large shipments to Boston and New York. 



Boston receives lobsters from the entire coast to the eastward, including Nova Scotia, and 

 from the coast of Massachusetts as far south as Chatham, Cape Cod. Most of the supplies come 

 in well smacks, but thousands of barrels are received every year by railroad and steamer, and 

 very many are brought in by tbe fishermen of the vicinity. The greatest number is received in 

 April and May, and the smallest number about February. Very large quantities are received 

 from Portland by railroad, where they are transferred from the well smacks, without passing 

 through the Portland markets. The quantity of lobsters handled in the Boston market in 1880 

 was over 2,400,000 by count, or over 3,600,000 pounds, valued at $133,000 fishermen's prices, and 

 $109,000 market prices. Lobsters are shipped from Boston both fresh and boiled, principally to 

 New England towns and New York City, but also to the Middle and a few Western States, Chicago 

 being about the western limit of fresh distribution. 



Of the supplies received at New York City, from one-half to three-fourths come in barrels, 

 principally from Boston and other markets in Southern New England, and the remainder in smacks. 

 The receipts for 1880 amounted to about 2,500,000 pounds, worth $125,000 fishermen's prices and 

 $175,000 wholesale market prices. Supplies are obtained from the entire lobster producing coast, 

 including New Jersey, and trade continues throughout the entire year, but is most active during 

 July, August, and September. During winter, lobsters are received in barrels only, and the same 

 method of carrying prevails to a greater or less extent during the remainder of the year. 



THE SMALLER MARKETS. Of the smaller markets along the coast little need be said in this con- 

 nection, as they are all described as fully as the data permitted in the coast review of the lobster 

 fishery. Some of these markets are of considerable importance as distributing centers for neigh- 

 boring sections of country, but nearly all are more or less tributary to the three larger markets 

 above mentioned, which control the main part of the fresh trade. There are scarcely any lob 

 jjter markets on the coast of Maine outside of Portland and the several canneries, as the fresh 

 lobster trade is almost exclusively controlled by the market smacks, which buy for the most part 

 directly of the fishermen. Eastport is an exception to this rule, and nearly all of the lobsters 

 shipped from the Passamaqnoddy district pass through the hands of a few dealers. In the winter 

 time, however, when the well smacks are not running, lobsters are packed in barrels at a few 

 other stations for shipment westward. 



In New Hampshire, Portsmouth is the principal market. In Massachusetts, there are several 

 active markets, like Gloucester and New Bedford, but the former sends nearly all its lobsters to 

 Boston and the latter many to New York. Newport, R. I., and Stonington, Noank, New London, 

 and New Haven, Conn., each do a considerable trade in lobsters, those not needed for local con 

 sumption or for supplying neighboring towns being shipped to New York. The local trade in 

 many places is, however, very large, and for the southern New England markets probably 

 exceeds their trade with New York. Noauk is one of the most important sources of supply for 



