For a number of years the catch of lobsters was sold by the fishermen
to the dealers and by the latter to the trade as rapidly as possible.
In doing this the markets would be flooded at certain times, when the
price would drop to a very low figure, while at other times they would
be very scarce, which would enhance the price materially. The dealers
were the first to see the necessity for devising some method by which
lobsters could be secured when they were plentiful and cheap and
retained in captivity until they became scarce and high in price:
Inclosures of various kinds had for some years been in use in the
fisheries in various parts of the country for the purpose of keeping
certain species alive until the time came to utilize them. In 1875
Johnson & Young, of Boston, established an inclosure or pound near
Vinal Haven, on one of the Fox Islands. A cove covering about 500
acres, with an average depth of about 90 feet, was selected. A section
of about 9 acres, separated from the main portion of the cove by a
natural shoal and with a bottom of soft grayish mud, was selected for
the pound. In order to make it proof against the efforts of the
lobsters to escape and as a protection from enemies without, a wire
fence was built over the shoal part. This section had a depth of from
15 to 60 feet, and a capacity of about 300,000, although there were
rarely that many in the pound at one time.
[Illustration: Inclosure for live lobsters at Vinal Haven, Maine]
The lobsters are bought from smacks and from fishermen in the vicinity
during the height of the fishing season, when the price is low, and
are retained in the pound until the price becomes high, which is
generally during the winter season. They are fed with fish offal,
which can usually be bought at Vinal Haven for $1 per barrel.
Oily fish are not fed to them, as it is said that the lobsters
decrease in weight on such a diet. Experience has shown that the
quantity of food required depends largely on the temperature of the
water, as lobsters do not eat as freely when the water is cold as
in water of a higher temperature. When wanted for shipment they are
usually secured by means of pots, seines, or beam trawls.
Even with such a successful example before them, other dealers were
chary about going into the business, and in 1890 there were only three
pounds in the whole State. They increased more rapidly after that,
however, and in 1898 there were nine pounds in the State, with a total
valuation of $18,700. These were located at Dyer Bay, Sunset, Vinal
Haven, Long Island, South Bristol, Pemaquid Beach, Southport, and
House Island, in Portland Harbor. It is very probable that there will
be a greater increase in the near future.