424 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



prolong the fishery wbicli might otherwise have been much earlier de- 

 stroyed. The fishermen of Provincetown did not themselves engage in 

 lobstering until about 1845, but between then and 1850 the fishery was 

 greatly expanded and a large trade started with ISTew York city. In 

 fact about this time the latter market received nearly its entire supplies 

 from the vicinity of Provincetown. A great many men engaged in the 

 fishery, using the old style of hoop-net pots and catching from 100 to 

 200 lobsters each every night. These were i)rosperous times, and yielded 

 the inhabitants of the town a profitable income. The carrying smacks 

 obtained large fares and were kept busy. No marked diminution in the 

 supply was noticed until about 18G5, since which date there has been a 

 vapid decrease in abundance from year to year, obliging the lobstermen 

 to resort to other occupations for a living. In 1880 there were only eight 

 men engaged in lobstering, and although they used the most improved 

 appliances, their annual gross earnings were onb" about $G0 each. 



On the coast of Maine, although the fishery is of much more recent 

 date, it has already exhibited many unfortunate changes, and in numer- 

 ous places there has been a marked decrease in the average size of in- 

 dividuals caught. The shore fisheries have also, in some cases, been 

 well nigh exhausted, and the fishermen forced to resort to more distant 

 grounds. When the fishery first began, hoop-net pots were in general 

 use, but soou after the introduction of lath pots competition caused 

 them to be universally employed. From year to year the fishermen in- 

 creased the number of pots they used, and the custom of setting them 

 trawl fashion rapidly came into vogue. These changes were due to the 

 competitions of trade, the desire to obtain larger catches and for one 

 man to perform the work of two. The fishing grounds were strained to 

 their utmost, and there was no fear of an overstock, as the canneries 

 were ready to buy all that were not taken by the market smacks. 

 More recently the fishermen have begun to return to the old method of 

 setting their pots singly, and why ? Because they say the lobsters are 

 more scattered over the bottom, and that by altering the position of the 

 pots every time they are set they fish better. But why should they 

 be more scattered now than formerly unless they are more scarce'? In 

 18G4 lobsters were so abundant at Muscle Ridges that three men tending 

 forty to fifty pots each caught all the count lobsters which one smack 

 could carry to market, making a trip once in eight days. In 1879 the 

 same smack was obliged to buy the entire catch of fifteen men in order 

 to obtain full fares, and at times required to visit other localities to 

 complete the load. 



Regarding the Booth Bay region, very nearly the same may be said. 

 As late as 1850 lobsters were very abundant about the islands of Booth 

 Bay Harbor, and the fishery was carried on close to the shore in slight 

 depths of water. The season lasted about six months, and each man 

 setting fifty pots could make about $500 during the season. By 1869, 

 the number of fishermen having increased, however, the season's stock 



