760 HISTOEY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



The lobstermeu on the west side of Pemaquid fish in John's Bay and the Dainariscotta River 

 in the summer, shifting into deeper water in cold weather. Those on the cast side and about 

 Friendship take lobsters well up among the islands and in the coves between Saint George and 

 Pemaquid, in the spring, summer, and fall ; but in the winter they have to go some distance out, 

 the best winter fishing-grounds lying beyond the outer islands and headlands. Many of the men 

 live on the little islands, between Bristol and Bremen on the one side and Saint George and 

 Friendship on the other, several of these islands containing the homes of from one to four families, 

 who also do some farming on a small scale. 



The fishermen of this district set from twenty-five to sixty pots each, or an average of about 

 forty-five ; the season's stock in lobstering ranges from $25 to $200, the average being about $110. 

 In obtaining flounders for bait the "dark water" spear is frequently used when the water is rough, 

 <luring February and March. At Bremen and Friendship the same kind of bait is generally secured 

 by means of fyke-nets, set in the coves, into which the flounders swim during high water. On 

 some of the islands, where flounders are not abundant, dinners are much used, and are taken in 

 box-shaped lath traps about 2 feet high, 18 inches square, and open above. Fish-heads, sculpius, 

 and catfish are also largely used as bait. About a quarter of a barrel of bait is used daily to 

 each fifty traps. The average daily catch per trap for the entire season is said to be about one 

 count and two small lobsters. The callings are sold mostly to the Saint George and East Booth- 

 bay canneries. 



At the Muscle Ridges, during the week ending May 12, 1880, four men on Hunt's Island 

 stocked on callings $85, and on smack lobsters $115, making a total of $200 for the four men. 



According to the Cape Ann Bulletin of April 17, 1878, "there have been over 100,000 

 lobsters caught and sold by the fishermen of Friendship, Me., since the 1st of February, averaging 

 4 cents each. Six smacks from this place are coustantly employed to carry lobsters to Boston and 

 Portland, from which they receive from 1 to 2 cents freight on each lobster. One smack made 

 three trips to Boston this spring, carrying in all 23,000." 



The Gloucester, Mass., Telegraph, of June 8, 1870, states that " a firm in Rockland, Me., is 

 said to have shipped to Boston and Portland, during the months of March, April, and May, 100 

 tons of live lobsters." 



At Matinicus Island lobster fishing was introduced in 1808. The season extends from April 

 1 to August 1. The men for the most part go singly, set on an average eighty traps each, and 

 make an average stock of about $150 for the four and one-half months. In the spring the 

 traps^are set on trawls, but during the summer on single warps. One-half the bait used consists 

 of fish-heails. 



CANNING. There is in this district but one cannery, located at Port Clyde, South Saint 

 George, and owned by Burnham & Merrill, of Portland. Both lobsters and mackerel are put 

 up. This cannery is situated in one of the best lobster sections of the Maine coast, and gathers 

 its supplies from Pemaquid Point, on the west, to Owl's Head, on the east, including Matinicus 

 and George's Islands, Muscle Ridges, the east side of Bristol, Bremen, Friendship, Gushing, and 

 Saint George. Two dry smacks, with four smackmen, are employed in gathering the lobsters 

 from the fishermen. 



