THE LOBSTER FISHERY OF MAINE. 
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upper surface of the large claws was blue and purple, faintly mottled with darker 
shades, while underneath was a delicate cream tint. The under parts of the body 
tended also to melt into a light cream color, and this was also true of the spines and 
tubercles of the shell and appendages. 
In 1892 a Peak Island fisherman caught a lobster about 11 inches in length whose 
back was of an indigo blue, and which toward the extremities and under parts was 
shaded off into a pure white. The under part of the claw was also of a pure white. 
Mr. Lewis McDonald, of Portland, has a pure white lobster preserved in alcohol. 
It was caught in 1S87. 
A lobster was caught at Beal Island, near West Jouesport, which was about 6 or 
7 inches in length and almost jet black. 
A few bright-red lobsters, looking as though they had been boiled, have also 
been taken along the coast at various times. 
A lobster was caught near Long Island, Casco Bay, about the year 1886, in which 
half of the body was light-yellow up to the middle line of the back, while the other 
half was bright-red. There were no spots on the shell. 
In September, 1S98, Mr. R. T. Carver, of Vinal Haven, had in his possession a 
female lobster, about 11 inches long, of a bright-red color all over, except the forward 
half of the right side of the carapace and the feeler on this side, which were of the 
usual color. 
LAWS REGULATING THE FISHERY. 
In 1897 the legislature revised and consolidated the laws relating to the sea and 
shore fisheries of Maine, and below are given the sections relating to the lobster 
fishery adopted that year, together with the amendments to the act adopted in 1899, 
which are incorporated herewith: 
Sec. 39. It is unlawful to catch, buy or sell, or expose for sale, or possess for any purpose, any 
lobsters less than 10$ inches in length, alive or dead, cooked or uncooked, measured in manner as 
follows: Taking tho length of the hack of the lobster, measured from the hone of the nose to the 
end of the hone of the middle of the flipper of the tail, the length to be taken in a gauge with a cleat 
upon each end of the same, measuring 10$ inches between said cleats, with the lobster laid upon its 
back and extended upon its back upon the gauge, without stretching or pulling, to the end of tho 
bone of the middle flipper of the tail, its natural length, and any lobster shorter than the prescribed 
length when caught, shall be liberated alive at the risk and cost of the parties taking them, under a 
penalty of $1 for each lobster so caught, bought, sold, exposed for sale, or in the possession not so 
liberated. The possession of mutilated, uncooked lobsters shall be prima facie evidence that they are 
not of the required length. 
Sec. 40. It is unlawful to destroy, buy, sell, expose for sale, or possess any female lobsters in 
spawn or with eggs attached at any season of the year, under a penalty of $10 for each lobster so 
destroyed, caught, bought, sold, exposed for sale, or possessed: Provided, however, If it appears that 
it was intended to liberate them in accordance with the provisions of this act, the persons having 
such lobsters in possession shall not be liable to any of the penalties herein provided for, though ho 
may have failed, for any cause not within his control, to so liberate them. 
Sec. 41. It shall be unlawful to can, preserve, or pickle lobsters less than 10$ inches in length, 
alive or dead, measured as aforesaid; and for every lobster canned, preserved, or pickled contrary to 
the provisions of this section every person, firm, association, or corporation so canning, preserving, or 
pickling shall be liable to a penalty of $1 for every lobster so canned, preserved, or pickled contrary 
to the provisions of this section, and a further penalty of $300 for every day on which such unlawful 
canning, preserving, or pickling is carried on. 
Sec. 42. All barrels, boxes, or other packages in transit containing lobsters shall be marked with 
the word lobsters in capital letters, at least 1 inch in length, together with the full name of the 
shipper. Said marking shall be placed in a plain and legible manner on the outside of such barrel, 
