76 CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS. 



might be well in legislation to make a little exception in relation 

 to summer hotels on the Maine coast. 



I will show a few points of difference in the laws of these three 

 States. Eor instance, as regards the gauge. The Maine law is 

 from 9 to 10% inches, but I understand these men have a method 

 of measuring away out to the limit of the eyebrow of the lobster, 

 so that a 9-ineh lobster will measure 9 inches in New Hampshire 

 and 10% inches in Massachusetts. I understand it does not make 

 any difference whether the lobster taken is 9 inches or 10% 

 inches; but the law should be the same in both States. There is 

 a close season in Maine from August to November, and in Massa- 

 chusetts from June to September. I learn from Professor Herrick 

 that this matter also is not important. There is a spawniag pro- 

 hibition against taking spawny lobsters in Maine from April to 

 August, in Massachusetts at all times, and in New Hampshire at 

 no time. In New Hampshire the fish commission has a boat in 

 our harbor, and they pay double the price for spawny lobsters that 

 the others will bring, and therefore such lobsters are sent to them. 

 There is a prohibition against canning or preserving lobsters in 

 Maine, and none in New Hampshire or Massachusetts. There is 

 a prohibition against non-residents taking lobsters in Massachusetts, 

 and none in Maine or New Hampshire. That shows the variance. 

 I do not know that I am exact regarding the Maine law, but I am 

 regarding New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It shows a great 

 variance, and we should get together. 



It occurred to me that these suggestions might be in order. We 

 need uniform laws as to the length. There is no need for a Massa- 

 chusetts man to come dovm to our territory and seize our 9-inch 

 lobsters — which our men, being thoroughly honest, will not take — 

 and bring them to Massachusetts, where they may be sold under 

 legitimate circumstances. If anybody is to get the 9-inch lobsters, 

 we want the New Hampshire fellow to get them. There should 

 also be some uniformity as to the spawny lobster, and there should 

 be uniform laws as to the taking of lobsters by non-residents. These 

 suggestions perhaps are not very valuable, but they may possibly 

 be useful. 



Here is another idea. How would it do to require a license for 

 the right to take lobsters, just the same as for taking deer or bears 

 or any other animal? The advantage of that is, that you would 

 restrict the takers, — you would know whom to watch, — and by 

 sufficient police protection you could see that the laws were not 

 violated. The little revenue thus received should be turned 

 over to the fish commission, for the purpose of advancing the 



