92 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Pennsylvania; the remainder go mostly to Boston. In 1880, only about 1,800 barrels were 

 received. 



CAPE ELIZABETH. Cape Elizabeth has no fisheries that can be treated separately from those 

 of Portland. The two places are separated only by the waters of Portland Harbor, and being so 

 unequal in size the larger has naturally absorbed the business of the smaller. Cape Elizabeth has 

 at the present time not even a retail fish market, and the forty boat-fishermen living in the town 

 are obliged to take their catch to Portland for a market. A number of fishing vessels are officered 

 and manned by fishermen from the Cape, and some are largely owned by these people; but all fit 

 and sell in Portland, and are largely controlled by the Portland dealers. The two places are 

 so intimately related to each other in the fisheries that the smaller is very naturally included with 

 the larger, and the vessels and boats of the former are treated as a part of the Portland fleet. 



K. THE SACO, KENNEBUNK, AND YORK DISTRICTS. 



46. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



THE GENERAL FISHERIES. The Saco, Kennebunk, and York customs districts extend from 

 Cape Elizabeth to the southern boundary of the, State. The region was visited in the fall of 1880 

 by Mr. W. A. Wilcox, secretary of the Boston Fish Bureau, for the purpose of making a careful 

 study of the past and present condition of the fisheries. From his report we learn that the section 

 was formerly extensively engaged in the fisheries, and had quite a fleet of vessels visiting the off- 

 shore banks. Of late, however, the vessel interests have declined, and the fisheries are now chiefly 

 confined to the capture of ground-fish, herring, lobsters, and clams in the inshore waters. A few 

 small vessels are still owned, but a majority of the men are provided with small open boats for 

 engaging in the work. 



THE CLAM FISHERIES. The clam flats are very extensive, and enormous quantities of soft 

 clams are dug annually, many being' sold fresh, while the remainder are used as bait by the shore 

 and vessel fishermen. 



THE HERRING FISHERY. The fall herring fisheries in the vicinity of Wood Island are also 

 important, these waters being visited by larger schools of spawning fish than those of any other 

 locality on the New England coast. In fact, the Wood Island region is the principal herring 

 spawning ground in the United States, and each season immense numbers of fish visit the locality, 

 where they remain until their eggs have been deposited, after which they return to the deeper 

 waters. During the season, which lasts for several weeks, hundreds of vessels are engaged in the 

 fishery, the catch, which varies greatly from year to year, being marketed in Portland, Boston, 

 and Boothbay. 



STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION OF THE SACO DISTRICT FOR 1880. The following statements 

 show separately the extent of the fisheries of the region for 1880, a separate statement being given 

 for each district. The data from which, these statements are derived were gathered by Mr. 

 Wilcox: 



