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 lobster weighing about 2 pounds was caught
off Hurricane Island. Her color was a rich indigo along the middle of
the upper part of the body, shading off into a brighter and clearer
tint on the sides and extremities. The 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 1893 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 1887.
A lobster was caught at Beal Island, near West Jonesport, 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, 1898, 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.