protected
therein, as said fishery commission may determine, and shall have
the right, by its agents and tenants, to take and catch lobsters
within 300 yards of the low-water line of the islands and lands
owned or leased by said corporation, during each and every month,
for domestic use.

In 1887 the legislature passed an act granting R. T. Carver the sole
right to propagate lobsters in Carver's pond, Vinalhaven. Mr. Carver's
experiment was a failure, as he says the mud in the pond was so filthy
that nearly all the spawn was killed.

LARGE AND PECULIAR LOBSTERS.

Since the inception of the fishery, stories of the capture of lobsters
weighing 30, 40, and even 50 pounds have been common, but have rarely
been well authenticated. Especially is this the case in the early
years of the fishery. It is probable that in the transmission of the
stories from person to person the lobsters gained rather than lost in
size. Among the most authentic cases in Maine are the following:

On May 6, 1891, a male lobster weighing slightly over 23 pounds
was taken in Penobscot Bay, southeast of Moose Point, in line with
Brigadier Island, in about 3-1/2 fathoms of water, by Mr. John Condon.
The lobster had tried to back into the trap, but after getting
his tail through the funnel he was unable to get either in or out and
was thus captured.

According to Mr. F. W. Collins, a dealer of Rockland, in August,
1891, a lobster weighing 18-1/2 pounds was taken at Blue Hill Falls,
in upper Blue Hill Bay, while in November, 1892, a female lobster
weighing 18 pounds was taken at Green Island.

In January, 1893, Mr. N. F. Trefethen, of Portland, received a lobster
from Vinal Haven which weighed 18 pounds.

According to R. F. Crie & Sons, of Criehaven, on September 7,1898, a
male lobster weighing 25 pounds and measuring 25 inches from the end
of the nose to the tip of tail, and 45 inches including the claws, was
caught on a hake trawl by Peter Mitchell, a fisherman. The trawl was
set about 2 miles southeast from Matinicus Rock Light Station in 60
fathoms of water.

In August, 1899, the writer saw a live male lobster at Peak Island
which measured 44 inches in length and weighed 25 pounds, according to
the statement of the owner. It had been caught near Monhegan Island,
and the owner was carrying it from town to town in a small car, which
he had built for it, and charging a small fee to look at it.

In April, 1874, a female lob