36 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



dition. At present, however, there are indications of a revival of the industry, and in some local- 

 ities vessels are being purchased and extensive preparations are being made for the work, but in 

 in others there is no disposition to resume the business, as the profits to be derived from it are not 

 satisfactory. 



CASTING'S TRADE WITH FISHING VESSELS. Prior to 1825, a majority of the vessels of the 

 region were obliged to visit Portland to secure their fishing outfit, including salt and provisions. 

 About this time a Castine merchant, knowing the importance of this trade, turned his attention 

 to it, and began the importation of salt from Liverpool and Cadiz. He also secured such other 

 articles as were needed by the fishing vessels, and soon built up an extensive trade with the local 

 fleet. Other merchants soon engaged in the business, aud within a few years most of the vessels 

 of Eastern and Central Maine came regularly to Castine to secure their outfits, and not less than 

 2,000 tons of salt were imported annually to be used in the vessel fisheries. It is said that 

 between 1850-and I860, when the business began to decline, fully five hundred vessels were fitted 

 at Castine. At present, however, the business is practically discontinued, and less than a dozen 

 small vessels are fitted from the place, the majority of these belonging to Deer and Swan's Islands. 



THE LOBSTER FISHERY AND CANNERY INTERESTS. The lobster fisheries, which now furnish 

 employment to the boat-fishermen during the greater part of the fishing season, began .about 1850, 

 when parties from the westward brought pots to Deer Isle to catch lobsters, which were carried 

 to Portland and Boston. Soon a number of the local fishermen became interested in the capture 

 of the species, and since that date the lobster fisheries have continued to increase in importance. 

 In 1880, 311 men were engaged in the capture of lobsters during some portion of the year, many of 

 them following the business during the entire season, while others fished only for a few weeks or 

 months in the spring and early summer. Fifty additional persons were employed in marketing 

 the catch, which amounted to 2,967,860 pounds. Five canneries are now in successful operation, 

 three of them being located on Deer Island. In 1880, these furnished employment to 190 persons, 

 .and upwards of 2,000,000 pounds of lobsters were canned, the products having a value of over 

 $52,000. 



THE CLAM FISHERY. The clamming interests of the Castine district are quite important, a 

 large number of men finding employment on the mud flats during the winter months, when there 

 is little else to occupy their attention. Nearly 60,000 bushels of soft clams are dug annually, 

 three- fourths of them being shucked and salted to be used for bait in the vessel-fisheries. Nearly 

 half of the remainder are sold to the canneries. 



STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR 1880. The following statement shows the extent of the 

 fisheries of the district for 1880: 



Summary statement of persons employed and capital invested. 



a Other fixed and circulating capital. Cash capital, $44,200; wharves, shorehouses, and fixtures, $11,800; factory buildings and apparatus 

 lo,550; total, $71,550. 



