BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 445 



10> -PROPOSED LIMITATION OF THE IIERRINC FISHERY IIV 

 MAINE, AND ITS EFFECTS UPON RAIT AND CAIVIVINW INTER- 

 ESTS. 



By R. F.. EABLL. 



[From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



Permit rue to call your attention to the following extract from a letter 

 which I have received from Mr. Henry S. Menann, dated New York 

 City, January 24, 1883. He says : 



"There is a movement on foot at present to induce the legislature of 

 Maiue to pass a law to limit the canning of herring to eight months in 

 the year, so that factories will be closed from December 15 to April 15. 

 I have often expressed the wish to have such a law enacted, and am 

 very glad that steps are being taken to secure it. General T. D. 

 Leavitt, of Eastport, has the matter in hand. The reasons why the law 

 should be passed may be briefly summed up as follows : 



" 1. The quality of the fish in the winter months is too poor for canning 



purposes. 



"2. The fish are mostly brought in -in bad condition. 



"3. Half of the fish are too small and are turned into pomace. 



" 4. It would stop the driving of herring, which is a very destructive 



practice. 



"5. The winter months are not suited for canning fish successfully. 



" G. The demand for canned fish is very light in winter, and as there is 

 usually an overstock on the markets in December the attempts of 

 greedy packers to pack fish in the winter months keeps the markets in 

 a feverish state. 



" 7. The packing of poor quality fish badly hurts the industry. 



" 8. Nature herself opposes the taking of these fish in the winter by 

 increasing the difficulties of their catch. 



" 9. Only greedy packers will undertake to pack in winter ; honorable 

 parties in the business close their factories invariably in December and 

 do not start up until latter part of April. 



" 10. To pack herring eight months in the year is entirely sufficient to 

 supply the markets and then have an overstock. 



" 1 think these are all good reasons why the law should be enacted, 

 and I have no doubt that you will so consider them." 



The bait question is not affected in the least by the proposed legisla- 

 tion. Fully-95 per cent, of all the herring taken for bait during the 

 winter months are caught in nets. Those taken in weirs at this sea- 

 son are usually too small to be sold to the "frozen-herring-dealers." 



But, further, the law will not prevent the fishing of weirs, and any 

 of those who may be anxious to secure bait for shore fishing can still 

 visit them and seine out as many as may be needed, leaving the re- 

 mainder to escape at high water. If the weirs are not fished (and if 



