MAINE: PASSAMAQUODDY DISTRICT. 



21 



eastern part is a small village of ILe same name, situated at the head of navigation of the south 

 branch of Cobscook Eiver. The residents arc engaged chiefly in lumbering and farming, and there 

 is no professional flshiug from the town, though boats go down the bay occasionally for pleasure 

 fishing. 



0. THE MAO HI AS DISTRICT. 



8. GENERAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHEKIES OF THE DISTRICT. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE FISHERIES. The people of the Machias customs district, which 

 includes the coast-line between Cutler and Gouldsboro', are engaged chiefly in farming and lum- 

 bering. Large saw-mills are located on the principal water privileges, and a large quantity of 

 lumber is prepared and shipped to other localities. The inhabitants have never been extensively 

 engaged in the fisheries, and at the present time only fifteen fishing vessels are owned in the dis- 

 tritt. Of these vessels only one is engaged in the offshore fisheries, the remainder being small 

 craft fishing on the inner grounds. The boat-fisheries also are of little importance, the men giving 

 their attention chiefly to the capture of lobsters in the summer and to clamming in winter. 



Formerly a good many brush weirs were fished for herring, the catch being smoked or pressed 

 for oil. Recently, however, the weirs have been neglected, and the business is now quite unim- 

 portant, though, owing to the establishment of several sardine canneries in 1880, a new impetus 

 has been given to this particular fishery, and many new weirs are being built, as herring are 

 reported very abundant. 



The clamming interests of Mason's Bay are quite important, and a number of small vessels 

 from various portions of the State, and even from Massachusetts, spend several months in the 

 region each winter, their crews being provided with small boats, in which they visit the flats at low 

 water to secure a supply of bait for their own use during the following season, or for sale to the 

 fishing fleets of the larger cities. The vessel serves both as a home and work-shop during their 

 stay in the region, and at the close enables them to transport the products to any desired locality 

 without additional expense. Many of the local fishermen, having little to occupy their attention in 

 winter, naturally resort to the clam-flats, deriving a considerable revenue from this source. 



The lobster fisheries began in 1855, since which time they have gradually increased in impor- 

 tance, until they now take the leading place among the fisheries of the region. 



STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOB 1880. Detailed statistical statements of the fisheries 

 may be found in the following table: 



Summary statement of persons employed and capital invested. 



a Other fixed and circulating capital. Cash capital, $20,748 ; wharves, slioreliouses, aud fixture's, $2,245 ; factory buildings and apparatus, 

 $11,650; total, $40,643. 



