748 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



running to the factories at Eastport or the Little Kennebec River. Some of these fishermen live 

 on Cross Island ami about the shores of Little Machias Bay, both of which places are favorably 

 situated for engaging in the lobster fishery. At Machiasport all of the lobster fishermen live on the 

 west side of Machias Bay, at Larribee Cove, Buck's Harbor, and Howard's Bay. The lobster fisher- 

 men of this region are all farmers, and usually do not begin to set their pots until after planting, 

 although a few may commence to fish as early as the middle of April; but a small portion of the 

 day is occupied in hauling the pots, the remainder being spent in procuring bait and in working 

 on the farms. About one-fourth of the bait used is small herring brought from Eastport in the 

 dry smacks. The greater part of the catch (probably three-fourths) is sold to the cannery at the 

 Little Kennebec River, the remainder going to the Jouesport factory. Smacks generally go around 

 to obtain the lobsters, but sometimes the fishermen carry them to the canneries in their own boats. 

 Machias Bay is considered an excellent fishing-ground for lobsters, the statements of several persons 

 warranting the belief that the average daily catch falls but little, if any, short of two lobsters to a 

 pot. Mr. O. S. Church, of Cutler, says that, in 1879, one of the boats fishing from that place was 

 paid for 6 tons of lobsters, which is equivalent to about 11,000 lobsters by count. 



To the westward of Machiasport we come upon the Little Kennebec River, on the west side 

 of which, near the mouth, is situated a lobster cannery, owned by Messrs. Buruham & Morrill, of 

 Portland. It is located in the township of Jonesboro', and draws its supplies mainly from the 

 fisheries to the eastward. A few lobsters are also obtained from the Jonesport fishermen, in Mason's 

 Bay, and from fishermen at Chandler's River, Jonesboro'. The catch at the latter places is, 

 however, mostly sold to the Jonesport cannery, situated at the " Reach " iu Jonesport. 



JONESPORT. About seventy-one men are engaged in lobstering from Jonesport, including 

 the mainland and Head Harbor, Beals and Great Wass Islands. They fish singly, using boats 

 valued at $30 each, and, on an average, about sixty-five pots apiece. The average catch per man 

 for the season of 1880 (three and one-half mouths, April 35 to August 1) was about 9,250 

 lobsters by count, valued at about $125 to the fishermen. The pots are set singly, as lobsters 

 are not considered to be abundant enough for the use of trawls, although there has been no 

 apparent decrease in their numbers during the past ten years. They are, however, said to rim 

 smaller now than formerly, the average weight of those taken during the summer being about 1 

 pound. The average daily catch for a man is about one hundred and twenty -five lobsters. This 

 fishery began iu the vicinity of Jonesport about 1860. Formerly only flounders and sculpins 

 were used as bait, but during the past two or three years one-half of the bait employed has 

 consisted of salted herring, brought from the weirs at Millbridge. The average amount of bait 

 used to a boat for the season is about .34 barrels. After the close of the lobster season the men 

 engage in boat and other fisheries. Three or four men, however, trap lobsters in the fall to sell 

 to the fresh markets, but they do a very limited business. Most of the lobsters taken are sold to 

 the factory at Jonesport, being carried there in dry smacks, owned on the islands. Of the 

 average catch of each man for 1880 (9,250 lobsters) about 7,650 were sold to the cannery and 

 1,700 to well smacks in the spring, at the rate of 3 cents each. The lobsters taken in the fall and 

 winter are mainly sent to Portland and Boston packed alive iu barrels. 



HARRINGTON. At this place nine men use on an average sixty pots each, and make an aver- 

 age stock for the summer season of about $75. The catch is sold entirely to Jonesport, Cape Split 

 Harbor, and Millbridge. The men are all farmers, depending more upon that branch of labor 

 than upon fishing. 



ADDISON. Twenty-four men from Addison fish for lobsters from April to August. They set 

 on an average sixty pots each, and make an average season's stock of $100. Herring are prin- 



