THE HERRING FISHERY. 423 
smoked annually, the greater part being shipped to Boston for a market. Large quantities of fish 
were also pressed for the oil, the pomace being used locally as a fertilizer. The pressing of fish 
was discontinued fully ten years ago, and, owing to the low price of smoked herring, the weir 
fisheries have constantly decreased, so that in 1880 only 500 boxes of fish were cured in Millbridge 
and the fishermen of Steuben had entirely discontinued their work. Eight small weirs were occa- 
sionally fished during the season of 1880, and it is estimated that considerably over 2,000 hogsheads 
of fish were taken; but the greater part of them were turned out for want of a market, a few being 
sold to the lobster and boat fishermen for bait, and others were carted upon the land. 
About 1868 the vessel fishermen of the surrounding islands, on learning of the abundance of 
the herring on the spawning-grounds of Boisbubert, began to resort to the region in small vessels 
to engage in the fishery. A larger number came each season, until, in 1875, there were from 
twenty to twenty-five sail, averaging five men each, anchored in the harbor at the southern end of 
the island. These vessels arrived about the last of July and remained till September, some of them 
securing only one and others two trips before the fish had left the grounds. 
From that time the business declined until during the summer of 1880 there were but nine 
vessels engaged in this fishery, the total catch being from 700,¢0 800 barrels. The fish were salted 
in barrels and carried to Portland and Boston for a market. 
Mount DESERT AND VICINITY.— The waters in the vicinity of Mount Desert and Blue Hill 
Bay are favorite feeding grounds for the herring from May to October. Different schools visit 
this region, and the fish are usually very abundant about the smaller islands in the vicinity. 
They are of medium size, and, with the exception of those at Cranberry Islands, are taken 
exclusively in weirs. Those visiting the shores of Cranberry Islands are quite large, and are 
taken by the local fishérmen in gill-nets, the catch being salted or smoked for the different markets. 
At other points, especially at the various islands in Blue Hill Bay, there are numerous smoke- 
houses for curing a portion, of the fish, but the bulk of the catch is sold to the vessels from Cape 
Ann and other places that resort to the locality for the purchase of bait. A number of weir- 
owners have built large ice-houses, and do an extensive business in supplying ice and bait to the 
New England fishing fleet. This trade is of recent origin, being the result of the absence of the 
menhaden from the coast of Maine. Formerly the fishermen used menhaden almost exclusively in 
the summer, but within the last few years these fish have entirely deserted the region, and herring 
have been substituted for them. The result is, that a considerable number of large weirs have been 
built, and the inhabitants are just coming to know the value of the herring fisheries in their own 
waters. The principal islands where the fisheries are prosecuted are Stave Island, off the western 
shore of Gouldsborough ; Bar Island, on the northeast coast of Mount Desert; Cranberry and 
Gott’s Islands, two small groups lying to the south of Mount Desert, and Long Island, Tinker’s 
Island, and Flye’s Island, in Blue Hill Bay. 
The catch is very often extensive, several of the larger weirs stocking upwards of $2,000 during 
the short season. : 
PENOBSCOT Bay, ISLE AU HAUT, AND CasTINE.— Different portions of Penobscot Bay are, 
also, frequented by schools of herring at different seasons. Though the fish are fairly abundant 
in almost any part of the outer bay, the fishery is extensive at only a few points. The principal 
fisheries are located at Isle au Haut, at the eastern entrance of the bay; Castine Harbor, about 
30 miles farther north; Crabtree Point, at the western entrance of Fox Island Thoroughfare; and 
about Matinicus Island, lying 15 miles to the southward in the mouth of the bay. 
According to Capt. J. W. Collins, small herring are abundant about the shores of Isle au 
Haut from May to October, and a school of larger fish makes its appearance along the southern 
