114 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [8] 



number may be said to be about 50 or 60. The pots are set either 

 singly or attached together in trawls, thecharacter of the bottom, abun- 

 dance of Lobsters, and custom regulating this matter. When set trawl- 

 fashion, the pots can be handled much more easily than otherwise, and 

 this method is generally preferred on the coast of Maine, wherever Lob- 

 sters are abundant and the bottom not too rough. The pots are fast- 

 ened together in strings of 10 or a dozen to 50 or 60, at distances apart 

 of 15 to 20 fathoms, and have a long buoy line at each end. The fish- 

 erman pays out his Lobster trawl in a straight line, beginning at oue 

 end, and marks the ends with kegs or small wooden buoys. After re- 

 maining down a sufficient length of time, generally twenty-four hours, 

 he proceeds to examine his pots, beginning at one end of the trawl 

 and underrunning it to the other. The general arrangement of the 

 trawl is not, therefore, disturbed ; but the pots, after they have been 

 examined, fall back again into nearly the same places which they previ- 

 ously occupied. In setting the pots singly, each has its separate buoy 

 line and buoy, and the fisherman passes in succession from one to the 

 other. Where Lobsters are much scattered, this is the preferable way of 

 setting the pots, as they are shifted slightly every time they are hauled, 

 and are supposed thereby to fish much better. The latter method is 

 probably the one most universally employed along the entire coast. It 

 is customary to visit the pots early every morning, or, otherwise, when 

 the tide serves best. 



The boats used in the Lobster fishery vary in style on different parts of 

 the coast, and generally correspond with those employed in the other fish- 

 eries of the same region. The fishing boats are usually small sail-boats, 

 sloop or cat rigged, and ran gin g in length from 12 to 30 feet ; but row-boats, 

 and especially dories, are very commonly used on the shore grounds. 

 The larger boats usually have compartments at the sides for the stow- 

 age of the Lobsters as they are taken from the traps. The fishermen 

 attain considerable dexterity in managing their sail-boats, being able 

 to run up to a pot, haul it, and fill away again without lowering sail. 

 There is also a larger class of boats employed in the Lobster fishery, 

 which act as carriers from the Lobster grounds to the larger markets, 

 such as Portland, Boston, and New York. These are a remnant of the old 

 fleet of well smacks, which were formerly in general use before the 

 practice of icing fish came into vogue. In 1880, there were thirty-six 

 well smacks employed in the Lobster trade ; they ranged in size from 

 10 to 45 tons. In addition, there were also sixty-six registered dry 

 smacks above 5 tons measurement, acting both as fishermen and car- 

 riers. The canneries are generally supplied by dry smacks, and the 

 larger fresh markets by well smacks or railroad, large quantities of Lob- 

 sters being now carried long distances alive, packed in barrels. The 

 fishermen are mostly provided with small floating Lobster cars, con- 

 sisting of a rectangular wooden box or old leaky boat, permitting of 

 the free en trance of water, in which the Lobsters are kept until a 



