Ridges, leaving Harpswell entirely, on account of
the small size of the lobsters then being caught there. At
this time the average weight of the lobsters marketed was about
3 pounds, and all under 10-1/2 inches in length were rejected.
The traps were made of the same size as at present, but were
constructed of round oak sticks, and with four hoops or bows
to support the upper framework. A string of bait, consisting
mainly of flounders and sculpins, was tied into each trap.
About 50 traps were used by each fisherman, and they were
hauled once a day. The warps or buoy lines, by which the traps
were lowered and hauled, were cut in 12-fathom lengths.
Lobsters were so abundant at the Muscle Ridges, at this period,
that four men could fully supply Captain Oakes with lobsters
every trip. In the course of ten days each man would obtain
between 1,200 and 1,500 marketable lobsters. In Captain Oakes'
opinion, the Muscle Ridges have furnished the most extensive
lobster fishery of the Maine coast. He ran to this locality
until 1874.

Capt. S. S. Davis, of South Saint George, states that about
1864, when he first began buying lobsters at the Muscle Ridges,
three men, tending 40 to 50 pots each, caught all the count
lobsters he could carry to market in his smack. He could load
5,000 lobsters at a time, and averaged a trip in 7 to 9 days.
This traffic continued for six or seven years. In 1879, Captain
Davis bought from 15 men In the same locality, and at times
was obliged to buy also of others in order to make up a load.

The fishery at North Haven began in 1848, but did not increase so
rapidly at first as in sections farther west, as the smacks would only
take the medium-sized lobsters, fearing that the largest would not
be able to stand the trip. At Matinicus Island the fishing began in
1868. In 1852 the people on Deer Island began the fishery, and as the
smackmen made frequent visits the business rapidly increased. The
establishment of a cannery at Oceanville, about 1860, also caused a
considerable development of the fishery. The fishery was started at
Isle an Haute about 1855, and at Swan Island in the early fifties.

The canning of lobsters was first carried on at Eastport in 1842, but
the fishery was not taken up until about 1853, as it was supposed
there were no lobsters in the neighborhood. The supplies for these
canneries previous to the inceptio