12 GEOGRAPHICAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



bold and rugged, and the waters, which are very deep, are greatly affected by tides and currents. 

 The district contains few villages of importance, the principal ones being Calais, Eastport, and 

 Lubec. Smaller settlements are found at various points where coves or harbors afford shelter and 

 anchorage for boats and small vessels. 



The fisheries began with the settlement of the region, about 1780, and during the latter part of 

 the last century and the first half of the present one they were of considerable importance, a large 

 fleet of vessels visiting the more distant fishing grounds for the capture of cod, mackerel, and other 

 species. Later, owing to various causes, the offshore fisheries were largely discontinued, and the 

 residents turned their attention to the shore fisheries, selling their large vessels and providing 

 themselves with smaller craft for engaging in the work. Even at the present time the offshore 

 banks are little frequented by these people, nine-tenths of all the fishermen being provided with 

 boats and small vessels for fishing along the shore. 



IMPOETANCE OF THE HEBEIN FISHEEIES. The herring is the principal fish of the region, 

 and immense numbers are taken annually. Special industries depending on this fishery, as the 

 smoking of herring, the frozen herring trade, and the preparation of sardines, constitute the prin- 

 cipal business, and thousands of persons find employment either in catching the fish or in preparing 

 the various products. The shores are everywhere lined with brush weirs in which small herring 

 are extensively taken during the summer months, and in winter, when the weirs cannot be fished, 

 .the most of the men are provided with nets, in which immense quantities of large fish are secured. 



In the smoking of herring this district leads all others, and probably three-fourths of the herring 

 smoked within the limits of the United States are prepared by the fishermen of Lubec and East- 

 port. The business began early in the present century, and continued to increase till in 1865 

 between 400,000 and 500,000 boxes were smoked annually at Lubec, and large numbers were put 

 up at other places. Since that time the quantity has gradually fallen off, and fewer herring are 

 smoked now than for many years, though the dilapidated and weather-beaten smoke-houses every- 

 where present give unmistakable evidence of the importance of the work in former times. 



The frozen-herring trade originated at Newfoundland, and for some years it was confined 

 exclusively to that island. About fifteen years ago the first cargo was shipped from Eastport, and 

 the business has since that time grown to enormous proportions, the quantity shipped in the winter 

 of 1879-'80 reaching 28,000,000 fish, valued at $90,000. Though a majority of the fish are caught 

 by the New Brunswick fishermen, our own citizens are also engaged in the work and secure large 

 quantities during the season. The Passamaquoddy district is at present the only one within the 

 limits of the United States where herring are extensively frozen for shipment. 



The sardine industry is of very recent origin, having been started in 1875. Up to 1880 it was 

 confined exclusively to the village of Eastport, and though a few canneries are now operated else- 

 where this district still practically controls the industry for the entire country. 



THE POLLOCK FISHEEY. In addition to its herring interests the Passamaquoddy district is 

 noted for its pollock fisheries. The most important pollock grounds in New England are within 

 its borders, and large numbers of these fish are secured annually by the hand line fishermen, who 

 devote considerable attention to their capture during the summer months. 



