THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 679 



4. THE FISHERMEN. 



NUMBER OF FISHERMEN. In the Coast Review the number of lobster fishermen is given for 

 each district of the coast. Following is the summation by States : Maine, 1,843; New Hamp- 

 shire, 44; Massachusetts, 595; Rhode Island, 129 ; Couuecticut, 148 ; New York, 32; New Jersey, 

 28; total, 2,819. 



OCCUPATIONS OF THE FISHERMEN. As the lobster fishery is seldom carried on for more 

 than a few mouths of the year, most lobster fishermen have other occupations in which they 

 engage outside of the lobster season. In fact, for a large number of these men, lobstering is not 

 the chief pursuit, and it is not unusual for this fishery to be carried on conjointly with some 

 other. The resources of the region in which he lives greatly influence the lobsternian in his choice 

 of occupation, as must also his natural tastes and early training. Very many of the lobstermeu of 

 the coast of Maine belong to the class of so-called " boat-fishermen," who engage chiefly in hand- 

 line fishing for cod and haddock, and set lobster pots during a longer or shorter period, dependent 

 upon the abundance of lobsters. By some, a portion of the day is occupied in hauling the pots 

 and procuring bait, and the remainder in hand-line fishing or in tending the herring weirs or nets. 

 At the close of the lobster season not a few join the Banks fishermen, the menhaden steamers or 

 coasting vessels, while many remain on shore, turning their attention to farming or working in the 

 quarries or mines, if such exist near at hand. The making and repairing of gear consumes much 

 time just before the opening of the lobster season, and this work is generally done by the lobster- 

 men themselves, often assisted by their families, the women frequently attaining great proficiency 

 in knitting the twine funnels. If occupied in fishing during the entire year, work upon the lobster 

 gear must be confined to stormy weather. 



The following extracts from correspondence respecting the Maine lobster fishery will serve to 

 illustrate the diverse occupations of the lobster fishermen : 



At Cutler, in the Machias district, there are several men engaged in lobstering, who like 

 the average lobster fishermen of that part of the coast, farm and fish for lobsters at the same 

 time, selling their catch to smacks. Two-thirds of the lobstermeu of Gouldsborongh follow boat 

 fishing after July, and the other one-third engage in various pursuits, such as farming, coasting, 

 mining, &c. Seven-eighths of the lobstermeu of Jouesport farm a little for their own use. After 

 the lobster season a majority do a small amount of boat fishing; some ship on coasters during the 

 winter, and many dig clams. 



At North Haven, when herring are abundant, many of the men keep several herring nets set 

 while lobstering, and take the fish from the nets before hauling the pots. During the fall mack- 

 erel season, it is customary to fish for mackerel in the latter part of the day, after hauling the pots 

 and procuring bait. 



At Vinal Haven most of the regular lobster fishermen do little else out of the lobster season 

 than prepare their gear and boats for the spring fishery. Some cultivate small gardens and 

 raise some stock; others engage in other kinds of fishing to a slight extent or work in the 

 quarries. A large percentage of the professional boat fishermen engage exclusively in lobstering 

 for several months of the year. 



The boat fishermen of Bristol constitute the larger part of those engaged in the lobster fishery, 

 but there are a number of men who own lobster boats and pots, and who ship in the shore and 

 Hank fishing vessels or in the menhaden steamers, beginning to fish for lobsters in the fall, about 

 October. A few follow this occupation all winter, but the majority omit from December to Feb- 

 ruary or March. 



