598 . HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Harbor. From thence southward a long stretch of unemployed coast intervenes, the next fishery 

 being in Delaware Bay. Albemarle Sound is the most southerly region in which pound nets are 

 in use. In importance the fisheries of Vineyard Sound and Massachusetts Bay rank first; those of 

 Cape Ann are the least developed. Each of the more important fisheries has peculiarities as regards 

 apparatus, methods, and ends, which I shall now briefly notice.* 



2. THE POUND NET FISHERIES OF MAINE.t 



A discussion of the pound-net or weir fisheries on the coast of this State is given by Mr. Earll 

 in the chapter on the herring fishery, and need not be repeated here. The fishery is quite dif 

 ferent from that of any other portion of the coast. 



The catch consists almost exclusively of herring. The high-flowing tides, numerous and irreg- 

 ular inlets, and prevailing rocky bottoms of the region have induced the use of a kind of brush 

 weir, very simple in construction and readily adaptable to different situations. The quality, and 

 consequently the cost, of these weirs has varied much within the last quarter-century, following the 

 many new departures which have taken place in the fishery industry of the State within that period. 

 A few years prior to the war of the rebellion the demand for smoked herring had become a very 

 considerable one, and the weirs, particularly east of Penobscot Bay, were largely taxed to furnish 

 the supply, from which it naturally resulted that they were built more substantially than before. 

 With the close of the war the demand for smoked herring declined, and the products not being in 

 request the weirs were suffered to deteriorate. This condition of aifairs prevailed to such an extent 

 that in 1875 less than one-fourth the number of weirs were in sound condition than had been 

 employed in 1860. In the former year, however, the sardine industry began to assume importance, 

 and since that time the demand for herring, especially for small herring, has been constantly on the 

 increase. Well-built weirs have therefore been once more brought into operation, while at the 

 same time the fishing season, which formerly extended from August to November, has been much 

 protracted, and lasts from March to December. This last change will be looked upon with dis- 

 favor by those who believe that the pound-net fishery leads to the extermination of certain species 

 of fishes. 



In addition to these larger weirs, others, smaller and much inferior, have been constantly in 

 use in supplying herring for bait, especially for the great lobster fishery of the State and other 

 local fisheries, and sometimes, too, for the offshore fisheries. These have never varied much in 

 quality or size. 



Two or three heart-pounds have also been in use in Maine, a little to the eastward of the en- 

 trance to Portland Harbor, for a few years. They have practically formed the material of an ex- 

 periment, and one which has been fairly successful. They resemble the brush weirs in nothing, 

 but are closely allied to the pound-nets of Cape Cod. They cost at least $1,000 apiece, and serve 

 in the capture of a variety of fish which are sent fresh to market. It is very doubtful whether 

 any more of these nets will be introduced into Maine. 



The financial arrangements of the weir-fishery, like the weirs themselves, are quite simple. 

 Each of the smaller weirs costing not more than $50, and frequently much less, is usually owned 

 by a single fisherman. Quite commonly it is necessary to replace them annually, for the crush of 



* The pound-net fishery of the Great Lakes is considered in the chapter on the Great Lakes. In this chapter 

 pound-nets include the several kinds of fish traps locally known as brush weirs, weirs, traps, or pounds, the construc- 

 tion of which is described in another part of this report. 



t The pound-net fisheries in the rivers of Maiue are described by Mr. Atkins in the next chapter. 



