762 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



who could not endure the hardships of the more active kinds of fishing found in this one remuner- 

 ative employment close at hand. 



The summer lobster fishery of this region is of comparatively little importance at present. 

 In some places, as in Boothbay Harbor, a few men continue to catch lobsters through the summer, 

 selling to the canneries until August, and also to the smacks and to the summer residents on the 

 islands. The larger part of the fishermen, however, stop lobstering in May, or perhaps earlier. 

 Some go to the banks, and after making one or more trips, when the vessel hauls up, begin lob- 

 stering again. The majority of the lobster men, however, go boat fishing during the summer. As 

 a rule, the lobster-fishing season may be said to fairly begin by November 1. Many of the men 

 set their traps all winter, but some do not. Mr. Steven Seavy states that iu Boothbay Harbor 

 and Liunegan's Bay the ice makes around the shores in winter to such an extent that the men 

 cannot get to the cars in their boats, and they therefore do not fish in the coldest weather, but 

 take up their traps and lay by for about two months. This is also the case, to a limited extent, in 

 some other places. This fishery, like all the small-boat fishery of this region, is carried on with 

 great irregularity; and if the fisherman sees a chance of bettering himself for a time, he leaves 

 off lobsteriug, returning to it again when he feels inclined or when want compels him. 



Good lobster-fishing grounds extend off from Small Point to Seguiu Island. The next impor- 

 tant grounds are those of the Sheepscot River, which furnish as good fishing as can be found any- 

 where in these two districts. The depth of water in the river prevents its freezing over in the 

 winter, and offers a good retreat for the lobsters in cold weather without their going far from laud. 

 Lobsters are caught as far up as Wiscasset bridge, and thence out to Seguin. In the winter the 

 fishermen shift their pots into the deeper water, toward the middle of the river ; but Mr. Joseph 

 R. Rodgers, of Georgetown, says he catches lobsters in the winter, in depths of only 5 to 10 fath- 

 oms. The Cape Newagen lobstermeu fish as far out as Bantam Ledge, frequently setting their 

 pots iu depths of 35 to 40 fathoms. 



Notwithstanding the large amount of gear used by the fisUermen in this region, they now find 

 the business of lobsteriug far from remunerative ; but as most of them already have their gear, aud 

 can fit out with but little additional expense, they are still induced to engage in it, as it offers in 

 many places the only means of making a living. A fair average stock for a man fishing from 

 November to April is now about $75. Formerly the traps were set on single warps, but now the 

 method of setting them trawl fashion is almost universally employed, as it enables one man to do 

 approximately the work of two. This method was first adopted at Harmon's Harbor about 1865, 

 and at Small Point in 18G7. In the winter, however, two men generally go out iu each boat, more 

 as a matter of safety and for the proper handling of the boat in rough weather. 



At Small Point two men engage in lobstering during the entire year, and eight men from April 

 to November, inclusive, trawling for hake and other fish at the same time during the latter season. 

 They set on an average thirty-eight traps, the average yearly stock per man being about $125. A 

 small portion of the catch (about G,000 by count in 1880) is used locally for bait and food, the 

 remainder being sold to Portland smacks. 



At Georgetown fifty two men were engaged iu lobstering from November, 1879, to April, ISiO. 

 The remainder of the year they were occupied in other kinds of boat fishing, but some kept down 

 a few traps during the same time to obtain lobsters for bait. The local consumption is not great. 

 About one-third of the catch is sold to boats trading up the Kenuebec River, and the remainder 

 to Portland smacks. Mr. Rodgers, of Georgetown, fishing from September to May with sixty traps, 

 stocked only $160, which is, however, much better than most fishermen do. On the Kennebec 

 River side of Georgetown lobstering is carried on only about the extreme southern part of the 



