small, but in bad weather many are apt to be killed by the pitching
and rolling to which they are subjected.

These smacks make regular trips up and down the coast, landing their
cargoes either at Rockland, Portland, or at one of the lobster pounds
scattered along the coast. They not only stop at the villages, but
also drop anchor off the little camps of the lobstermen, and should
the smacks of two rival dealers arrive at a place simultaneously,
which frequently happens, the bidding between the captains for the
fishermen's catch gladdens the latter's heart and greatly enriches his
pocketbook. Most of the captains have regular places of call where
they know the fishermen are holding their lobsters for them, and they
follow a rude sort of schedule, which will not often vary more than
a day or two. The lobsters are bought of the fishermen by count,
and cash is paid for them. Should the smack belong to a dealer this
practically ends the financial side of the transaction so far as the
captain is concerned, as the crew are paid wages. Should the smack
belong to a person other than the dealer, which is frequently the
case, he either makes an agreement with some dealer to run for him
exclusively at a certain price or commission, or else buys from the
fishermen and then sells at either Rockland or Portland. This method
of buying lobsters is somewhat hazardous, as the market price
sometimes changes sharply when the smack is out of reach of
telegraphic communication.



LOBSTER CARS.

Lobsters must be marketed in a live or boiled condition; and as