n of the fishery were obtained by
smacks running to the westward.

For some years the fishery was only prosecuted in the late spring,
summer, and early fall months. Just when winter fishing began in
the State is doubtful; but according to Capt. Charles Black, of Orr
Island, it began in that region in 1845 at Harpswell. Previously the
fishermen had the impression that lobsters could not be successfully
caught earlier than March 20.

During the summer of 1845 the captains of the well-smacks of New
London, Conn., who bought most of the lobsters in that vicinity,
induced Charles E. Clay, Samuel Orr, and a few others to fish during
the winter, and they set their traps about the same distance from the
shore that the fishermen do at present, and in almost the same depth
of water. The smackmen paid them $4 for 100 lobsters. The next winter
the fishermen refused to sell by number and wanted $1.25 per 100
pounds. The smackmen had no objection to buy them by weight, but
refused to pay more than $1.12 per 100 pounds. This was accepted, and
for several years the prices were from $1.12 to $1.25 per 100 pounds.

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
1-1/2 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.

[Illustration: The steam smack _Mina and Lizzie_ landing her cargo at
Portland]

[Illustration: Fleet of lobster boats in harbor at York Island]

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,