Hancock County leads in the number of vessels fishing, 78, valued at $33,000, while Knox County leads in the number of transporting vessels, 33, valued at $51,900, and is also second in the number of fishing vessels.  Cumberland County is second in the number of transporting vessels.  This county has more steam transporting vessels than all the other counties combined, 8, valued at $31,200.  In the matter of boats engaged in the shore fishery Knox County also has the preeminence, with 696 boats, valued at $37,175.  Lincoln, Hancock, and Washington counties follow in the order named, and are all three very close to each other.

Hancock County leads in the number of pots used in the vessel fishery, 7,146, while Knox County is second.  Knox County leads in the number of pots used in shore fisheries with 39,040, valued at $39,030, and is followed by Lincoln County with 29,190 pots, valued at $29,190.

In the matter of shore property Lincoln County leads with $16,917, although if the property used in the wholesale trade had been included in this table Cumberland County would lead.  In the total investment Knox County leads with $169,056.  Hancock County comes second, with $136,651, followed by Washington and Cumberland counties, respectively.  The total investment for the whole State is $616,668.

In vessel catch Hancock County leads with 444,704 pounds, valued at $47,101.  Knox County is second with 286,688 pounds, valued at $29,395.  In the boat catch Hancock County also leads with 2,198,518 pounds, valued at $204,390, while Knox County is a close second with 2,165,256 pounds, valued at $186,968.  Lincoln County is third and Washington County fourth.  The total catch for the State is 11,183,294 pounds, valued at $992,855.

Table showing by counties the number of persons employed
in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898.

Vessel Boat
fisher- Trans- fisher- Shores-
County men porters men men Total
------ --- ------- --- --- -----
Washington 30 19 639 7 695
Hancock 173 27 480 3 683
Penobscot 2 2
Waldo 19 19
Knox 55 78 606 10 749
Lincoln 12 11 447 4 474
Sagadahoc. 2 98 100
Cumberland 10 45 379 6 440
York 4 3 135 142
--- --- ----- -- -----
Total 280 185 2,803 30 3,304

Table showing by counties the vessels, boats, apparatus, and
shore property employed in the lobster fishery of Maine in 1898.

Washington       Hancock        Penobscot        Waldo
-----------      -----------     -----------    -----------
Items.             No.    Value.     No.    Value.     No.    Value.    No.    Value.

Vessels fishing 10 $5,850 78 $33,000 1 $350
    Tonnage 76 593 5
    Outfit. 1,169 4,995 15