THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE. 
257 
amended as to make the season from April 20 to June 1. After 1880 the number of 
canneries gradually declined, until in 1895 tlie last one suspended tbe canning of 
lobsters, owing to tbe passage of a law fixing the minimum size at 10J inches. This 
law went into effect July 1, 1895. As they could not afford to pay the high price 
demanded for this size they were compelled to give up the business. 
The following table shows the number of factories in operation, the quantity and 
value of fresh lobsters used, and the number and value of cans of lobsters put up, in 
the years 1880, 1889, and 1S92 : 
1880. 
1889. 
1892. 
No. 
Yalue. 
No. 
Value. 
No. 
Value. 
23 
9, 494, 284 
20 
5, 752, 654 
11 
5, 326, 322 
Lobsters used, fresh lbs.. 
Canned : 
One-pound cans 
Two-pound cans 
$95, 000 
$72, 092 
$78, 720 
1, 542, 696 
148, 704 
139, 801 
999, 521 
85, 520 
126, 577 
10, 036 
1, 228, 944 
3, 096 
195, 114 
839 
Total cans 
1,831, 201 
238, 280 
1, 085, 041 
142, 613 
1, 232, 040 
195, 953 
Part of tbe lobsters used in tbe Eastport factories come from New Brunswick . It is impossible to separate them. 
ABUNDANCE, ETC. 
There are no accurate figures showing the catch of lobsters in Maine previous 
to 1880. It is therefore difficult to make comparisons, and one is compelled to 
depend largely upon the memory of the fishermen and the statements of the canners 
and dealers, which the lapse of time, etc., makes rather unreliable. The numerous 
petitions sent to the legislature asking for restrictive laws, while possibly exaggerated 
at times, indicate that there were fears of the exhaustion of the fishery for some 
years back. It is positively known, however, that certain grounds have been almost 
or totally exhausted through overfishing for a number of years, while on other 
grounds the supply of lobsters has seriously decreased. There was a time when no 
lobster under 2 pounds in weight was saved by the fishermen. In later years, before 
there was a restriction fixing the minimum size of lobsters that could be canned, the 
canneries frequently used half-pound lobsters. The fixing of the minimum length 
of the lobsters caught at 10J inches, and the consequent closing up of the canneries, 
has been of incalculable benefit to the fishermen, as the young lobsters now have an 
opportunity to reach maturity. 
The table given below shows for certain years the number of pots used, the quan- 
tity of lobsters taken, with their value, also the average catch and value per man, 
the average catch per pot, and the average price per pound : 
Year. 
Fisbor- 
Pots. 
Catch. 
Average 
catch 
per man. 
Average 
stock 
per man. 
Average 
catch 
per pot. 
A verage 
men. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
price per 
pound. 
1880 
1,843 
104,456 
14, 234, 182 
$268, 739 
Founds. 
7, 723 
$146 
Pounds. 
136 
Cents. 
1. 9 
1887 
1, 906 
113, 299 
22, 910, 642 
512, 044 
12, 023 
269 
202 
2.2 
1888 
1. 967 
112,632 
21, 694, 731 
515, 880 
11, 029 
267 
193 
2.4 
1889 
2,080 
121. 140 
25,001,351 
574, 165 
12, 020 
276 
206 
2.3 
1892 
2, 628 
153, 043 
17, 642, 677 
663, 043 
6,713 
252 
117 
3.8 
1898 

3, 099 
155, 978 
11,183,294 
992, 855 
3, 609 
320 
78 
8.9 
F. C. B. 1899—17 
