THE LOBSTEE FISHERY. 783 



The bait used consists of menhaden, bluefish, flounders, a,nd cod heads. Menhaden are pre- 

 ferred, and, in 1882, cost $8 per thousand. 



The fishermen of this region recognize the two varieties of lobsters, called "school" lobsters 

 and " ledge" or " rock " lobsters. The latter, apparently, remain about the island during the 

 entire year, and live only upon the rocks or rocky grounds. The school lobsters appear about 

 July 1, and are gone by the last of September. They are most abundant on smooth bottoms, 

 but also occur among the rocks. Lobsters can, therefore, be caught upon smooth bottoms 

 only during the season for school lobsters. 



The boats used are the so-called "Vineyard fishing boats," having one or two masts. 

 These are moored just off the town, and are reached by means of dories. In case of an ap- 

 proaching storm, or when it is desirable to clean them, these small smacks are hauled upon the 

 beach, which consists of large gravel stones, by means of a team of oxen, kept on the island for 

 that purpose. Ladder-like frames, made in sections, and with the cross-pieces broad and flat, 

 are placed under the boats, or, rather, the latter are hauled over the frames, to keep them from 

 being worn by grinding against the gravel. The boat being brought in as near the shore as 

 possible, one section of the frame, with the cross pieces downward, is set in front of it, leading 

 up the beach. The boat is then hauled upon it, and another section added, this operation being 

 repeated until the boat has reached the proper height upon the beach, when it is braced from 

 both sides. 



The No Man's Land fishermen all belong to Martha's Vineyard, and live on the former island 

 only during the fishing seasons. There are only two permanent residents on the island. 



Summation of the lobster fisheries in Edgartown district in 1880. 



Number of fishermen -. 110 



Number of boats 58 



Value of same $13,800 



Number of lobster pots 4,520 



Value of same $4,520 



Total amount of capital invested in the fishery $18,320 



Number of barrels of bait used 1,540 



Value of same $770 



Total quantity of lobsters caught and sold, in pounds 773, 100 



Value of same to the fishermen $28,347 



NEW BEDFORD DISTRICT. 



In the New Bedford district lobster fishing is carried on mainly from New Bedford, Fairhaven, 

 Dartmouth, and Westport. The traps are set in different parts of Buzzard's Bay to within a 

 short distance of Cuttyhunk Island, in depths of 2 to 25 fathoms, according to the season. The 

 fishery is continued through about five months of each year, or from May to October, lobsters 

 being most abundant during June, July, August, and September. Two kinds of traps are in use, 

 one being rectangular and the other semi-cylindrical in shape; some of these are furnished with one, 

 and others with two funnel openings. Hoop-net pots are also still occasionally employed. From 

 New Bedford three small smacks engage in lobstering, but at the other localities small open 

 boats, valued at $20 to $25 each, are mainly used. Each man uses on an average about thirty 

 traps. Lobsters are sold by weight in New Bedford at the rate of 4 to 8 cents a pound, but else- 

 where generally by count, at 5 to 7 cents each. The average season's earnings per man, in 1880, 

 were about $200. The small-boat fishermen generally go singly, sometimes, however, hiring a man 

 to help. Nearly all the lobsters taken by the New Bedford smacks are sold to smacks carrying to 

 New York, New Haven, or New London. The Fairhaven catch is mostly used as bait for tautog, 



