[7] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 113 



profitable fishery, extending through the spring, summer, and early fall. 

 The entire coast line of Massachusetts abounds in Lobsters, wher- 

 ever the character of the bottom is suitable for them, but overfishing 

 has nearly depleted some of the shallow water areas, which were once 

 prolific, as at Provincetown. The sandy shores of New Hampshire 

 furnish only a moderate supply of Lobsters. Lobsters are very much 

 more abundant on the Maine coast than anywhere to the southward, and 

 the yearly fishery exceeds in quantity and value those of all the other 

 States combined. This State is, in fact, the main source of supply for 

 all the principal markets of the United States. The fishery continues 

 in some localities throughout the year, but is most active during the 

 spring, summer, and fall, and especially from April 1 to August 1, when 

 the canneries are open. 



The Lobster fishery, as a distinct industry, commenced on the Massa- 

 chusetts coast about the beginning of the present century, and on the 

 Maine coast about 1840. It has rapidly developed to the present time. 

 At first, Lobsters were frequently found, during the summer, in some 

 favorable localities at or near low-water mark, especially on the Maine 

 coast, where they could be gaffed out from under the protection of 

 overhanging rocks and seaweeds. They rarely occur in such situa- 

 tions now, and the fishery is mainly carried on in depths of a few fath- 

 oms to 20 or 30 fathoms, but sometimes in depths of 40 to 60 fathoms. 

 On the coast of Nova Scotia, Lobsters are about as common as on the 

 Maine coast, but farther to the north they become less abundant again. 

 They have been taken on some of the outlying fishing banks, such as 

 George's Bank, but are not fished for at any great distance from land. 



The Lobster fishery is regularly carried on by means of wooden frame- 

 work traps, or pots, generally constructed of common house-laths. They 

 are usually made semi-cylindrical in shape, being flat below, rounded at 

 the sides and above, and with a net-work or wooden funnel-entrance at 

 each end, or at one end only. The ordinary size is four feet long, and about 

 18 inches broad and high, with two funnels; smaller sizes with one funnel, 

 and larger sizes with four funnels are occasionally used, as are also rec- 

 tangular-shaped pots. The old style of Lobster pot, employed when 

 Lobsters were more abundant and the fishery less important, consisted 

 of a wooden or iron hoop, of variable size, up to 4 feet or more in diame- 

 ter, carrying a net, which sagged but little, and furnished above with 

 a cross-hoop arrangement, or with twine leaders, to which the line for 

 lowering it, as well as the bait, was fastened. This style of pot has now al- 

 most entirely disappeared from the coast, as it required constant atten- 

 tion, and only a few could be tended by each fisherman. The lath or 

 cylinder pots are baited in the center with cheap or refuse fish, which 

 are fastened on an upright, spearlike holder. They are weighted with 

 stones, and lowered and raised by means of a rope attached to the end 

 of the pot. The number of pots used by each fisherman varies in dif- 

 ferent localities, ranging all the way from 8 or 10 to 100. The average 

 2444— Bull. 27—8 



