THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE 
245 
Comparatively few traps were necessary then, as when the weather would permit 
the fishermen to tend their traps they would catch from 20 to 30 lobsters daily, and 
frequently, when the traps were hauled, they would find several lobsters clinging to 
some part of the pots. The bait was very plentiful and caught with spears. 
The lobsters were placed in cars at that time, after having been “plugged” to 
keep them from injuring each other. The plugs were almost inches long, flat on 
one side, round on the other, and with a sharp point. Plugging has since been 
discontinued, as the trifling injury the lobsters did each other was nothing compared to 
the value of cans of meat spoiled by one of these pine plugs being boiled with it. 
THE FISHING-GROUNDS. 
It is difficult to estimate the comparative value of the grounds in the State, owing 
to the movements of the lobsters. In the early spring, in April or May, as the waters 
in the bays and rivers warm up, the lobsters come into the comparatively shallow 
waters. They remain here until late in the fall, going back to the ocean or deep 
waters of the bays in either October or November. They love to congregate on rocky 
bottom, and pots set on such bottom will frequently make large catches, while those 
on sandy or muddy ground will catch almost nothing. In the early years of the fishery 
they came in very close in great numbers, and could frequently be taken at low water 
in dip nets or by gaffs; but they are now found in summer in depths of from 3 to 15 
fathoms in the numerous passages between the islands and the mainland, and the 
lower reaches of the bays and rivers. For a number of years winter fishing was not 
prosecuted, but now it is a very important business. In winter the pots are generally 
set in the ocean at depths of from 15 to 50 fathoms. 
As the greatest part of the coast line is cut up by numerous bays and rivers, and 
these are dotted with large and small islands, they form admirable breeding-grounds 
for the lobster. Some of the best locations are in Little Macliias, Machias, Englishman, 
Pleasant Point, Chandler, Narragaugus, Muscongus, Linekin, Sheepscot, and Casco 
bays, while the fishing is especially good around the numerous islands in the lower 
Penobscot and Blue Hill bays, and at Monhegau and the Matinicus islands in the 
ocean. The Sheepscot River is also a favorite resort for lobsters during the warm 
months, while in the winter they retire to the waters of the bay, where the fishing can 
be carried on very easily. At most of the other grounds the winter fishing is carried 
on in the ocean, as the lobsters do not usually remain in the bays. Most of the fishing 
in Casco Bay is carried on at the eastern end among the numerous islands. The 
earliest fishing of which we have any definite record was carried on from the township of 
Harpswell on this bay. This region has held its own remarkably well, as in 1S98 more 
than twice as many lobsters were taken by fishermen from this township than from any 
other town in the State. 
The upper portions of Frenchman, Blue Hill, and Penobscot bays were formerly 
very important grounds, but are now almost exhausted. These regions were especially 
noted for large lobsters. In August, 1891, Mr. F. W. Collins, a Rockland dealer, 
had 50 lobsters in his establishment which weighed from 10 to 18^ pounds apiece. 
About half of these came from Castiue, in upper Penobscot Bay, and the remainder 
from Blue Hill Falls, in the upper Blue Hill Bay. 
The grounds in York County, at the western end of the State, were formerly quite 
prolific, but the excessive fishing of the last thirty years has very badly depleted them. 
