THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 705 



each claw, to guard against their belligerent acts, rebaits the trap, and sets it again." Instances 

 of lobsters measuring 3 feet long, and weighing 35 pounds each, are mentioned. 



SALEM, MASS. The same journal also states that there were three boiling houses in Salem, 

 for which forty-two men and eighteen boys were employed in procuring supplies. The average 

 daily catch for one thousand traps was 3,000 lobsters, worth 3 cents each to the fishermen. The 

 total catch for Salem, in 1856, was estimated at 150,000 lobsters. 



The Barnstable Patriot, for August 4, 1857, referring to the lobster trade of Salem, says : 

 " Mr. D. B. Davis, since March 1, last, has boiled at hisj?stablishment 320,000 lobsters, costing 

 $30 per thousand, at fishermen's prices. Other establishments in Salem are boiling large numbers." 



SWAMPSCOTT, MASS. According to the Gloucester Telegraph of October ^6, 1870, the trapping 

 of lobsters was first practiced at Swampscott by Ebenezer Thorndike, in 1808. 



LYNN, MASS. The former abundance of lobsters a' out Lynn is noticed by Lewis and Newhall, 

 in their history of Lynn, in a note written by Mr. Wood in 1663, as follows: '-The Bay which lyeth 

 before the Towne, at a lowe spring tyde, will be all flatts for two miles together; upon which is 

 great store of Muscle Bauckes, and Clam Banckes, and Lobsters amongst the rockes and grassie 

 holes." 



THE ELIZABETH ISLANDS AND VINEYAED SOUND, MASS. The following item refers to the 

 Elizabeth Islands region in 1807.* " The fishes are the same as those of the vicinity ; i ut lobsters, 

 which are scarce at Martha's Vineyard, are caught in great abundance at all the Elizabeth Islands." 



Mr. Frank M. Cottle, of West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, says that twenty years ago there 

 was but one vessel engaged in the lobster fishery on that part of the coast, while now there are a 

 dozen. Then the business was not regarded as of any value, and but few men entered it at all. 

 Within the past fifteen years, nowever, it has rapidly improved, ana now there are some sixty 

 men or more in that vicinity who depend upon it almost wholly, during the season. 



Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, of Wood's Holl, states that the lobster fishery began in that vicinity 

 as early as 1840. 



RHODE ISLAND. The lobster fishery in this State is of long standing, and is said to have 

 been begun by the early settlers, but we have not been able to obtain any details regarding its 

 growth. The number of lobstermen has greatly increased during the past twenty years, and they 

 now use, on an average, twice as many traps apiece as at that time. 



CONNECTICUT. The lobster Interests of this State date back to the early part of the present 

 century, and certainly to before 1810. The lobster fishery within the waters of the State was never 

 very extensive, however, until comparatively recent times, but the Connecticut lobstermen have 

 long been active in the pursuit of their vocation on the coast of Massachusetts, and especially 

 about Cape Cod, as already explained. The important lobster trade which existed for so many years 

 between Cape Cod and New York City, was largely due to their enterprise. 



NEW YORK. The following extract regarding the lobster industry of New York City, in 1853, 

 has come to our notice: 



" The annual trade in lobsters and crabs amounts to about $8,000, four fifths of which is for 

 lobsters. Crabs are more generally used for bait than for eating, and there is only one stand that 

 deals in them to any extent. Lobsters come chiefly from Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay; some 

 from New York Bay. Formerly lobster fishing was more extensively pursued by New York 

 fishermen, but it has turned out to be so unprofitable that it has been almost entirely abandoned. 

 An attempt was made some years ago to revive it, but it was given up as a losing speculation." 



NEW JERSEY. According to the statements of the fishermen of Long Branch and Sea 



* Coll. Mass. Hist. Society, Vol. Ill, second series, page 79. 



SEC. v, VOL. ii 45 



