696 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



S. HISTORY OF THE LOBSTER FISHERY; DECREASE; PROTECTIVE LAWS. 



GENERAL REVIEW. 



One of the most important questions that entered into the present investigation of the lobster 

 fishery was that respecting the relative abundance of lobsters as compared with former years. 

 This question is of such extreme interest to so many of our sea-coast inhabitants, and so many 

 different views have been expressed regarding it, some in support, and others again in refutation, 

 of an alleged decrease in supplies, that an effort was made to obtain as complete data on the sub- 

 ject as was possible with the imperfect means at the disposal of those engaged in the investiga- 

 tions. The results were not entirely satisfactory nor conclusive for the entire region, but may be 

 regarded rather as affording materials and suggestions for more elaborate studies in the future. 



The manner of conducting the inquiries has been described elsewhere. It was impossible, from 

 the lack of sufficient funds, to place many or large investigating parties in the field, and each of 

 these was burdened with a score of other subjects, all of at least equal importance to the lobster 

 fishery, and many of greater; that they should have accomplished as much in this line as they 

 did, is a matter of congratulation. From places not visited by the field parties, much information 

 was secured by correspondence. 



It is not difficult to ascertain the facts respecting the details of an industry of this sort, its 

 character, the methods of conducting it, its statistics, &c.; but when an attempt is made to deter- 

 mine its exact status, with reference to the supply, it seems impossible to obtain any reliable data, 

 or at least to properly sift the worthless from the good. This difficulty is the greater when, as in 

 the present case, we have no previously written history of the industry, and are dependent for 

 the most part on traditions, or on the memory or judgment of individuals belonging to several 

 classes fishermen, dealers, and canners which are somewhat at variance with one another in 

 their immediate interests. Prejudice and a natural aptitude for exaggeration are also more or 

 less characteristic of fishermen as of numerous other classes of persons, and without wrong intent 

 many misleading statements are often made. 



The weight of the evidence collected, however, leads to the conclusion that there has been a 

 decrease in the abundance of lobsters within comparatively recent years, and in some localities 

 this decrease has certainly been great enough to entirely change the standing of the fishery and 

 render its pursuit unprofitable to the fishermen. Similar conclusions have been arrived at in Nor- 

 way and Great Britain, the two most important lobster-producing countries of Europe, and strong 

 efforts have been made for some time, at least in the former country, to arrest the decrease by a 

 system of protection. Abstracts of reports bearing upon those two regions are given further on. 



The idea of a serious falling off in the abundance of lobsters on our own coast is not of recent 

 origin. Protective laws, covering limited areas, were enacted over half a ceutuiy ago, and every 

 State in the lobster region, excepting one whose fishery is of slight importance, has restricted the 

 lobster fishery within its own waters by more or less stringent regulations. Probably no stronger 

 argument in favor of a decrease could be adduced than this realization by one State after another 

 of a perceptible change in the amount of its supplies, the failure of which would bring suffering 

 upon many of its citizens. Tbat there hns been a great decrease in some districts, is admitted by 

 all who are acquainted with the subject, but that this decrease has been general and serious 

 enough to cause alarm, is not, in the judgment of many, sufficiently proved by facts, but the proba- 

 bilities certainly favor such a view. 



The decrease has been most marked in those regions which have been fished the longest, and 

 especially in the shallow water areas near the coast, which are easy of access and which have been 

 subjected to incessant drains. Numerous instances of this depletion of shallow-water grounds are 



