INSHORE FISHERIES 



233 



any season of the year, but they usually operated only 

 between April 1 and August 1, and again between the 

 tenth or middle of September and the first of December, 

 the length of the season depending very largely upon 

 the weather and the abundance of lobsters. In 1879, it 

 was enacted that no canning of lobsters should be allowed 

 from August 1 to April 1 following. In 1883, it was 

 made illegal to can lobsters less than nine inches in length. 

 In 1885, the canning season was fixed from April 1 to 

 July 15. In 1889, the season was fixed from May 1 to 

 July 1, and the minimum length of lobsters to be canned 

 placed at nine inches. In 1891, this act was so amended 

 as to make the season from April 20 to June 1. After 

 1880, the number of canneries gradually declined, until in 

 1895 the last one suspended the canning of lobsters, ow- 

 ing to the passage of a law fixing the minimum size at 

 ten and one-half inches. This law went into effect July 

 1, 1895. As they could not afford to pay the high price 

 demanded for lobsters of this size they were compelled to 

 give up the business.' 



The following table shows the number of factories in 

 operation, the quantity and value of fresh lobsters used, and 



(Cobb, The Lobster Fishery of Maine, pp. 256 to 257.) 



