238 



NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



states in different years is seen in the following 

 table i 1 



From the above comparison of the state of the industry 

 in different years, it is easily seen that the lobster fishery 

 of the country centers very largely in the State of Maine. 

 Massachusetts furnishes about as much as the total for the 

 other three states; but the total catch and value of the 

 lobster fishery outside of Maine become inconsiderable in 

 comparison with the larger output and value of the 

 fishery for Maine. During the last few years the state- 

 ment has been made that there has been no diminution of 

 the lobster supply, the financial condition of the lobster 

 fishermen being taken as a proof of the statement. The 

 trend of the New England lobster may be seen in the 

 comparative statistics of the fishery, which are given be- 

 low. The amount of the catch has decreased greatly since 

 1889, but the value of the fishery and the average price 

 per pound of lobsters have increased far out of proportion 

 to the diminution of the supply. For example, in com- 

 parison with the banner year, 1889, the quantity of the 

 output for 1898 was 47 per cent less, while the value was 51 



i Lobster and Clam Investigations, 1904; Fisheries of the New 

 England States for 1898 and 1905. 



