,,bay ,,and ,,river ,,in #ahie-if999999 ,watch1 ,rockland1 ,maine1 with technical assistance from ,joseph ,e4 ,loewenstein1 ,m4,d4 ,,the ,,salmon ,,fishery ,,of ,,penobscot ,,bay ,,and ,,river ,,in #ahie-if by ,,hugh ,m4 ,,smith ,bulletin of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission1 #ahih ,pages #aac-abd ,contents ,introduction ,extent and condition of the fishery in #ahie and #ahif ,detailed statistics for #ahie and #ahif ,comparative data relative to the salmon fishery ,apparatus and methods of the fishery ,salmon at ,matinicus and ,ragged islands ,salmon at the ,cranberry ,isles ,salmon caught with hook off ,maine coast ,destruction of salmon by seals ,evidences of results of propagation ,extension of salmon-hatching operations on the ,penobscot ,planting of quinnat salmon and steelhead trout in ,maine streams ,during the months of ,august and ,september1 #ahif1 the writer visited the shores of ,penobscot ,river and ,bay in the interests of the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission1 for the purpose of securing data regarding the condition and extent of the salmon1 shad1 and alewife fisheries4 ,special attention was given to the salmon fishery1 as the ,penobscot is now the only important salmon stream on the ,atlantic coast of the ,united ,states and has been the field for very extensive fish-cultural operations on the part of the ,fish ,commission4 ,a large majority of the owners of the salmon weirs and nets along both sides of the bay and river were interviewed and accurate accounts of their fishing obtained1 together with their observations as to the effect of artificial propagation on the supply4 ,the history and methods of the salmon fishery of this basin have been well presented in papers by ,mr4 ,charles ,g4 ,atkins1 superintendent of the ,government hatchery at ,craig ,brook1 ,maine4 #a1b ,the present paper is primarily intended to show the extent and condition of the salmon fishery of ,penobscot ,bay and ,river in #ahie and #ahif and the influence of artificial propagation on the supply4 ,the methods and apparatus of the fishery are briefly considered4 ,a chart of the ,penobscot region1 giving the location of salmon weirs and traps in use in #ahif1 is appended1 and illustrations of some of the types of salmon apparatus are shown4 ,footnote #a3 ,on the ,salmon of ,eastern ,north ,america1 and its artificial culture4 ,in ,report of ,commissioner of ,fish and ,fisheries #ahgb-c1 pp4 #bbf-ccg1 #i plates of apparatus and methods1 and map showing location of salmon weirs in ,penobscot region4 ,footnote #b3 ,the ,river ,fisheries of ,maine4 ,in ,the ,fisheries and ,fishery ,industries of the ,united ,states1 section ,v1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #fgc-gbh4 ,extent and condition of the fishery in #ahie and #ahif4 ,while the number of nets operated in these two years was practically the same1 the catch in #ahif was much greater than in #ahie1 and was one of the largest in the recent history of the fishery4 ,a comparatively large number of fishermen reported that they took more salmon than in any previous year4 ,the salmon1 however1 were smaller than usual1 and their market value was but little more in #ahif than in #ahie4 ,the traps set especially for salmon1 or in which salmon were taken1 numbered #aic in #ahie and #ahd in #ahif4 ,these1 with the accessories1 had a value of #ab1dgd and #ac1adf1 respectively4 ,the boats and scows required in the construction and operation of the nets numbered #ahh in #ahie1 the same in #ahif1 and were valued at #c1egf and #c1eii1 respectively4 ,the number of men engaged in the fishery was #abg in #ahie and #abf in #ahif4 ,in the comparatively unimportant branch of the fishery carried on with gill nets in the vicinity of ,bangor1 #aj nets1 valued at #ahi1 were used in #ahie1 and #aa nets1 worth #aii1 in #ahif2 these were set by #f men in the first year and #g in the next4 ,the boats numbered #d in #ahie and #e in #ahif1 and were valued at #bi and #cg1 respectively4 ,the total number of salmon caught in #ahie was #d1cie2 these weighed #fe1jaa pounds and yielded the fishermen #aa1cef2 in gill nets #aag salmon were caught1 weighing #a1ihe pounds and valued at #cbc4 ,in #ahif the result of the fishery was #f1djc salmon1 weighing #hj1age pounds1 with a market value of #ab1gaf2 the gill-net catch this year was #bdf salmon1 with a weight of #c1ddd pounds and a value of #dib4 ,the outcome of the fishery in #ahif exceeded that of #ahie by #b1jjh salmon2 increase in weight was #ae1afd pounds1 and in value #a1cfj4 ,the percentage of increase in these items was as follows3 ,fish taken1 #df per cent2 weight of catch1 #bc per cent2 value of catch1 #ab per cent4 ,as an illustration of the uniform increase in the number of salmon taken in #ahif1 the following facts may be cited3 ,the nets that were set in both years numbered #afb2 of these1 #adf nets1 or #ij per cent1 took more salmon in #ahif than in #ahie2 and only #af1 or #aj per cent1 took the same number or less4 ,the comparative figures for the nets that secured more fish in #ahif were #c1ddi salmon in #ahie and #e1fha in #ahif4 ,the nets whose catch was the same or less in #ahif caught #bie fish in #ahie and #bhi in #ahif4 ,the largest number of salmon taken by one fisherman in #ahie was #djh2 these were caught in #c nets on the lower side of ,sears ,island1 in the township of ,searsport4 ,other catches by single fishermen in #ahie were #ajd salmon in #d nets in ,stockton1 #ajb in #e nets in ,northport1 #aej in #c nets in ,islesboro1 and #aej in #c nets in ,verona4 ,in #ahif the #c ,searsport nets first mentioned took #dbf salmon1 and a large number of fishermen secured between #ajj and #bjj fish in #b to #e nets4 ,thus1 in ,stockton #ajj fish were caught in #b nets1 #aje in #c nets1 and #aaj in #a net2 in ,penobscot #aib salmon were taken in #b nets1 #aje in #b nets1 and #abg in #b nets2 in ,northport #e nets obtained #bjd fish and #d nets #abe fish2 in ,islesboro #c nets took #acj fish1 #c nets #aej fish1 #d nets #aij fish1 and #b nets #ajj fish2 in ,verona #c nets caught #agd fish1 #b nets #ajf fish1 #c nets #aej fish1 #a net #ajj fish1 and #b nets #agj fish4 ,about #hj per cent of the fishing is done in that part of the river between the northern end of ,whitmore ,island and ,islesboro4 ,while single weirs in that part of the river between ,bucksport and ,bangor may take as many as #ej or #fj salmon some seasons1 the average was only #ad in #ahie and #bf in #ahif1 and the aggregate is comparatively small4 ,in the townships of ,lincolnville and ,camden1 which are the lowest points in the ,penobscot region at which salmon fishing is done1 the average catch to a net in #ahie was only #af salmon and in #ahif only #ai salmon4 ,detailed statistics for #ahie and #ahif4 ,the following tables show1 by townships1 the extent of the salmon fishery of ,penobscot ,bay and ,river in #ahie and #ahif3 ,,table4 ,persons ,employed ,towns #ahie #ahif -------------------------- ---- ---- ,brooksville 7,cape ,rosier7 #d #b ,bucksport #aj #i ,camden #b #b ,castine #c #b ,hampden #a #a ,islesboro #g #f ,lincolnville #g #g ,matinicus ,ragged ,islands #d #h ,northport #g #f ,orland #ag #bb ,orrington #e #e ,penobscot #af #ae ,searsport #c #b ,south ,brewer #b #b ,stockton and ,prospect #ag #ae ,verona #ba #ba ,winterport #g #h --- --- ,total #acc #acc ,,table4 ,apparatus1 boats1 etc4 ,weirs and traps499 ,gill nets4 #ahie #ahif #ahie #ahif --------- --------- --------- --------- ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value --- ----- --- ----- --- ----- --- ----- ,brooksville 7,cape ,rosier7 #g #dbj #d #bdj #j ,bucksport #ac #eaa #aa #dee ,camden #e #bjj #e #bjj ,castine #d #beb #c #bja ,hampden #b #bf #b #bf ,islesboro #ag #ibe #af #hge ,lincolnville #ab #fej #ad #gjj ,matinicus and ,ragged ,islands #a #a1jjj #b #b1ejj ,northport #ae #a1aee #ab #a1jje ,orland #ai #ffd #bf #hhh ,orrington #b #ii #b #ii #e #eh #e #eh ,penobscot #bd #a1ehg #bb #a1dba ,searsport #d #bac #c #aeb ,south ,brewer #c #aje #c #aje ,stockton and ,prospect #bf #a1ecj #bj #a1ahc ,verona #cg #b1hja #cg #b1gfj ,winterport #g #dfg #g #dfg #a #aj --- ------ --- ------ -- --- -- --- ,total #aic #ab1dgd #ahd #ac1adf #aj #ahi #aa #aii 99,includes accessories ,boats and scows4 ,total investment4 #ahie #ahif --------- --------- #ahie #ahif ,no4 ,value ,no4 ,value --- ----- --- ----- ---- ---- ,brooksville 7,cape ,rosier7 #c #cj #b #bj #dej #bfj ,bucksport #af #bgj #ad #bch #gha #fic ,camden #b #de #b #de #bde #bde ,castine #e #be #d #bj #bgg #bba ,hampden #a #ab #a #ab #ch #ch ,islesboro #g #id #f #gi #a1jai #ied ,lincolnville #g #acb #g #aag #ghb #hag ,matinicus and ,ragged ,islands #b #ge #e #aie #a1jge #b1fie ,northport #h #afc #g #ach #a1cah #a1adc ,orland #be #dfg #cb #ece #a1aca #a1dbc ,orrington #b #aa #b #aa #afh #afh ,penobscot #cj #dcf #bh #dac #b1jbc #a1hcd ,searsport #f #ade #d #abe #ceh #bgg ,south ,brewer #a #f #a #f #aaa #aaa ,stockton and ,prospect #cc #dac #ca #chc #a1idc #a1eff ,verona #ce #a1ajj #cf #a1aaj #c1ija #c1hgj ,winterport #aj #aha #aa #ahi #fdh #fff --- ------ --- ------ -- --- -- --- ,total #aib #c1fje #aic #c1fcf #af1bfh #af1iha ,,table4 ,catch #ahie #ahif ---------------------------------------- ------ ,no4 of ,weight ,no4 of ,weight ,towns salmon 7pounds7 ,value salmon 7pounds7 ,value ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,brooksville 7,cape ,rosier7 #afc #b1jib #bhc #adf #a1fbf #aij ,bucksport #bje #b1hhe #ddh #bde #b1gbi #dga ,camden #fd #ifd #acf #ga #iij #aci ,castine #gg #a1aej #bjg #ic #a1aff #aef ,hampden #cj #eaj #ajb #cb #ddh #ij ,islesboro #dgd #f1eea #a1jdb #fdc #h1bfe #a1cac ,lincolnville #bje #c1bdj #ehc #big #c1ejc #ebe ,matinicus ,ragged ,islands #fe #ghj #aji #ahb #a1fbg #age ,northport #bhf #d1jff #fig #dah #e1dja #haj ,orland #gh #a1jgg #bjb #aeb #a1hjb #cjf ,orrington #fe #a1aja #afe #hb #a1aej #afa ,penobscot #dhe #g1bgj #a1cac #iei #ab1dhc #a1iib ,searsport #deh #g1bgh #a1def #dbf #e1aab #hah ,south ,brewer #fc #a1jga #afa #agj #b1chj #cji ,stockton and ,prospect #fbi #aj1jfg #a1gac #hbi #aj1dga #a1eij ,verona #ijh #ab1eee #b1ccg #a1dba #ag1gfa #c1agb ,winterport #adj #b1ced #djb #bcg #c1caa #dii ----- ------ ----- ----- ------ ------ ,total #d1cie #fe1jaa #aa1cef #f1djc #hj4age #ab1gaf ,comparative data relative to the salmon fishery4 ,in #ahhj the catch of salmon in ,penobscot ,bay and ,river and their tributaries was #aj1jaf1 having an estimated weight of #aaj1agf pounds4 ,the weirs and traps used numbered #bcj2 the gill nets1 #cf4 ,the fishery yielded #afi1hid pounds1 valued at #cb1hjj1 in #ahhg2 #aib1agg pounds1 worth #ch1jdi1 in #ahhh2 #adj1dfi pounds1 valued at #ca1aef1 in #ahhi1 and #ib1bhb pounds1 worth #ai1abd1 in #ahib4 ,as previously shown1 in #ahie #aic traps and #aj gill nets took #d1cie salmon1 weighing #fe1jaa pounds1 valued at #aa1cef1 and in #ahif1 #ahd traps and #aa gill nets caught #f1djc salmon1 weighing #hj1age pounds1 valued at #ab1gaf4 ,comparing #ahif with #ahhj1 it appears that there was a reduction of #bg per cent in the number of nets used and a decrease of #cf per cent in the number of salmon caught4 ,a relatively large catch was made in #ahhg to #ahhi1 inclusive1 and the decrease in #ahif1 as compared with those years1 was marked4 ,from #ahib to #ahie the output declined nearly #cj per cent1 and the general tendency for the past eight years has been toward a decrease1 #ahif presenting a very pleasing contrast1 of which the fishermen all make mention4 ,following is a continuous record from #ahgd to #ahif of two of the most successful salmon weirs4 ,these are located on the east side of the river1 in the town of ,penobscot1 a short distance from the southern end of ,whitmore ,island4 ,the number of salmon taken in #ahif was #bj per cent greater than in any previous year and over #ic per cent greater than the average for the preceding #bb years4 ,similar comparative statements for other nets are at hand1 showing the increase in #ahif over previous seasons4 ,,table4 ,record of two ,penobscot ,river salmon weirs1 from #ahgd to #ahif1 inclusive4 ,date ,date of ,date of ,total ,aggre- ,avg when ice catching catching number gate weight ice left first largest no4 of weight of of ,year river salmon of salmon salmon salmon salmon ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- #ahgd ,apr4 #bj ,apr4 #cj ,june #aj #hf #a1bec #ad4eg #ahge ,apr4 #ah ,may #ac ,june #ae #gj #ijh #ab4ig #ahgf ,apr4 #ad ,apr4 #be ,june #ag #fh #a1jbg #ae4aj #ahgg ,mar4 #cj ,apr4 #bd ,june #i #gb #a1jjb #ac4ib #ahgh ,apr4 #d ,apr4 #ba ,june #bf #aea #b1jeb #ac4eb #ahgi ,apr4 #be ,may #ab ,june #bj #adg #a1gef #aa4ie #ahhj ,apr4 #i ,may #g ,may #ca #hf #a1aaa #ab4ib #ahha ,mar4 #ba ,apr4 #ag ,june #i #he #a1dhj #ag4da #ahhb ,apr4 #aj ,may #a ,may #bi #aed #a1gaa #aa4aa #ahhc ,apr4 #ac do ,june #ab #ih #a1fdc #af4gg #ahhd ,apr4 #i ,apr4 #bi ,june #bh #ie #iaa #i4ei #ahhe ,apr4 #ai ,may #h ,june #d #ia #a1ajd #ab4ac #ahhf ,apr4 #af ,apr4 #ba ,june #b #ajj #a1fca #af4ca #ahhg ,apr4 #bc ,may #h ,june #be #aej #b4jbj #ac4dg #ahhh ,apr4 #ae ,apr4 #bi ,june #i #aei #b1aif #ac4ha #ahhi ,apr4 #b ,apr4 #ba ,june #f #he #a1bdf #ad4ff #ahij ,apr4 #g ,apr4 #bj ,may #cj #da #fda #ae4fc #ahia ,apr4 #b ,apr4 #bh ,june #i #af #aag #a1aii #aj4be #ahib do ,apr4 #i ,june #e #fe #ihi #ae4bb #ahic ,apr4 #ae ,apr4 #bc ,june #aj #ajb #a1chd #ac4eg #ahid ,apr4 #ab ,apr4 #ai ,june #a #c #hh #a1afj #ac4ai #ahie ,apr4 #f ,apr4 #ba ,june #c #ge #a1aia #ae4hh #ahif ,apr4 #ab ,apr4 #af ,june #f #aib #b1ebd #ac4ae ,note4--,the weirs are set one or two days after the ice moves out4 ,occasionally they are put in place before the ice leaves4 ,apparatus and methods of the fishery4 ,there is probably no other river in the ,united ,states in which a fishery of such magnitude has undergone so few changes with respect to methods1 number of traps operated1 and sites where nets are set1 as the ,penobscot4 ,this is chiefly owing 7#a7 to the character of the bottom1 7#b7 to the fact that the fishing is a riparian privilege enjoyed only by those who own land fronting on the water1 7#c7 to the circumstance that the fishing is almost entirely of a semi-professional character1 and has been taken up by generation after generation as a part of the regular duties connected with the small farms1 and 7#d7 to the small number of food-fishes occurring in the river1 and the preponderating importance of two of them--the salmon and the alewife--for which the nets are exclusively set4 ,salmon ,net ,types ,salmon weir1 ,penobscot4 ,leader of stakes interwoven with brush1 #age yards long4 ,great pond brush1 #db feet long4 ,middle pond and back pond1 netting with board floor1 each #aj feet long4 ,outer entrance1 #af feet wide2 middle1 #b feet2 inner1 #a foot4 ,value1 #ge4 x x x x x x x x _/ x x_/ x _/ _/ x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x -------- ,salmon weir1 ,bucksport4 ,leader1 brush1 #d to #h rods long4 ,middle pond1 #dj feet long1 #h-;foot entrance2 inner side1 brush2 outer side1 twine4 ,pockets1 twine1 #aj feet long1 #aj-;inch entrances1 wooden floor4 ,value1 #be4 ,some weirs have only one 7upstream7 pocket4 x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx -------- ,hook weir1 ,orland4 ,a brush hook1 about #ej feet long and extending down stream1 is built on some of the weirs4 ,it serves the purpose of leading the fish into the net4 ,value1 #ce4 ------- x x x x 7 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x -------- ,the salmon fishery of the ,penobscot basin is carried on with practically a single type of apparatus1 namely1 the brush weir4 ,in most parts of the region this trap is used in the same form that it had in the primitive days of the fishery1 but in some sections the weir has undergone evolution into a combination brush and twine trap1 and in places into a trap made wholly of netting4 ,some of the types of salmon nets used in this region are illustrated and described by the accompanying figures4 ,in addition to these1 which are wholly or partly of brush1 a common apparatus is the floating trap1 constructed entirely of twine1 such as is now generally employed in the ,new ,england ,states4 ,this is the only salmon net in use at ,islesboro and in some other sections4 ,the local and individual variations in the form of the nets depend on the topography of the bottom and shore and the habits of the salmon1 and are the result of long experience4 ,the fishing begins as soon as the ice moves out in spring and continues until some time in ,july4 ,fish are rarely taken before the last two weeks in ,april4 ,may and ,june are the best months4 ,in that part of the river adjacent to ,bangor there is a small fishery prosecuted with set gill nets4 ,the nets are from #ajj to #bjj feet long and have a #f-;inch mesh4 ,salmon weir1 ,castine4 ,hedge #bjj feet long1 made of stakes driven in mud interwoven with brush to low-water mark1 covered with netting beyond4 ,great pound1 #cj feet long1 #cj feet wide at base1 made of netting2 entrance #h feet wide4 ,inner pounds1 #aj feet wide1 with board floors2 outer entrance #b feet wide1 inner #a foot4 ,value1 #gj4 ------- _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ -------- ,salmon weir1 ,stockton4 ,leader or hedge1 #djj yards long1 all brush except #bj yards next to head1 which piece is netting above low-water mark and brush below4 ,main compartment or great pound #hj feet long and #be feet wide1 with #aj-;foot entrance on each aide of leader4 ,smaller compartments1 directed downstream1 #ba feet long2 with #b-;foot entrance to first and #h-;inch entrance to second4 ,value1 #ajj4 xxxxx xx xxx x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx xx x x x x xx xxx -------- ,salmon weir1 ,stockton4 ,leader #bjj feet long2 brush from shore to low-water mark2 remainder brush at bottom1 netting at top4 ,head #fj feet long2 outer pound #dj feet1 middle pound #ab feet1 inner pound #h feet2 brush below low-water line1 netting above2 plank floors in two smaller compartments4 ,value1 #dj4 ------- _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ -------- ,salmon weir1 ,winterport4 ,leader1 brush1 #f rods long4 ,heart1 brush or netting1 #dj feet long1 #bj feet wide1 with #h-;foot entrance on each side of leader4 ,pockets1 netting1 #aj feet in diameter1 #i-;inch entrance1 wooden floor4 ,value1 #ej4 xxx x x xx x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x xx x x -------- ,upanddown ,salmon weirs1 ,orland4 ,constructed of brush except final compartments1 which are of netting with wooden floors4 ,value of set1 #fe xxxxx x x x x----------------- x x x x x x _/ _/ x x x _/ _/ x x x _/ _/ xx x_/-------_/---------- xxxxx x x x x----------------- x x x x x x _/ _/ x x x _/ _/ x x x _/ _/ xx x_/-------_/---------- -------- ,salmon weir1 built at ,verona in #ahhi4 ,the most elaborate net used in the ,penobscot region4 xx xx x x x x x x x x x xx xx x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x -------------- x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x x x xx xx xx xx x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x -------------- x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x x x xx xx -------- ,salmon at ,matinicus and ,ragged islands4 ,matinicus is a small island located south of ,penobscot ,bay and about #ae miles southeast of the nearest mainland 7,thomaston74 ,it is in the route of salmon coming in from the sea to ascend the river1 and nets set in favorable positions would naturally be expected to intercept the fish4 ,on the western side of the island ,messrs4 ,r4 ,crie ,sons have operated a trap for mackerel and herring for four years1 and during that time have incidentally taken a number of salmon4 ,between ,may #bj and ,july #aj marketable fish are caught1 while in ,august and ,september salmon too small to utilize are taken in considerable quantities2 in the opinion of the ,messrs4 ,crie these small fish were on their way to sea from the ,penobscot ,river4 ,it has been observed that when an easterly wind is blowing very few salmon are taken1 but during a westerly wind salmon are always obtained in the months named1 and the quantity of salmon secured in any given year bears a close relation to the direction of the prevailing winds4 ,in #ahie the number of marketable salmon caught was #fe2 in #ahif the catch was #afg4 ,the largest fish taken in the two years weighed #cj pounds1 the smallest #a_/b pound4 ,the largest daily catch was #ca salmon1 in #ahif2 the next largest1 #bg1 in #ahid4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,b4 ,young1 of ,matinicus ,island1 has a herring weir on the southwestern part of ,ragged ,island1 which lies a short distance south of ,matinicus ,island4 ,in #ahif this weir during ,june and ,july caught #ae salmon with an aggregate weight of #bjj pounds4 ,the largest weighed #bd #a_/b pounds4 ,no small1 unmarketable ones were obtained4 ,salmon at the ,cranberry ,isles4 ,the ,cranberry ,isles lie a few miles south of ,mount ,desert ,island and about #be miles east of ,penobscot ,bay4 ,they are in the track of migrating salmon1 as a few herring weirs set around the islands have for several years taken one or more salmon almost annually4 #c ,mr4 ,w4 ,i4 ,mayo1 a correspondent at the islands1 reports that in ,june1 #ahie1 ,colonel ,hadlock took a #ag-pound salmon in a weir1 and on ,may #e of the same year ,mr4 ,mayo caught one weighing #ai pounds4 ,none had been taken1 however1 in #ahif up to ,september #a4 ,footnote #c3 ,see paper entitled ,notes on the capture of ,atlantic salmon at sea and in the coast waters of the ,eastern ,states1 ,bull4 ,u4,s4,f4,c4 #ahid4 ,salmon caught with hook off ,maine coast4 ,instances are multiplying of the taking of salmon at sea on trawl lines on the ,new ,england coast4 ,the salmon are usually taken during the time when the fish are running in the rivers1 but occasionally one has been caught in midwinter4 ,the following data relate to fish that probably belonged to the ,penobscot school4 ,on ,june #ai1 #ahif a ,gloucester fishing vessel brought into ,rockland a #aj-pound salmon that had been caught on a cod trawl #bj miles southeast of ,matinicus4 ,the fish was sent home to ,gloucester by the captain of the vessel1 through ,mr4 ,charles ,e4 ,weeks1 a ,rockland fish-dealer4 ,several salmon have been taken on hooks off ,frenchman ,bay within a few years4 ,one #be-pound fish was caught on a cod trawl #c miles off ,gouldsboro1 in #bj fathoms of water1 and another was taken southeast of ,mount ,desert ,island in #ce fathoms4 ,some years ago1 on ,may #bb1 one of the crew of the schooner ,telephone1 of ,orland1 ,me41 while fishing for cod on ,german ,bank1 caught a #aj-pound salmon4 ,german ,bank lies about #ej miles southeast of ,mount ,desert ,island and has #fe to #ajj fathoms of water4 ,destruction of salmon by seals4 ,seals are known to kill a great many salmon in ,penobscot ,bay and the lower river4 ,they enter and leave the weirs and traps without difficulty and cause great annoyance to the fishermen4 ,when a seal enters a net1 the fish are frightened and usually become meshed2 the seal may then devour them at its leisure4 ,the initial bite usually includes the salmon's head4 ,fishermen in some places report a noticeable increase in seals in the past few years1 and a consequent increase in damage done to the salmon fishery4 ,the ,state pays a bounty of #a each for seal scalps1 which serves to keep the seals somewhat in check1 although the sagacity of the animals makes it difficult to approach them with a rifle and to secure them when shot4 ,within a few years some weir fishermen have been obliged at times to patrol the waters in the vicinity of their nets1 in order to prevent depredations4 ,in the ,cape ,rosier region1 where some salmon trap fishing is done1 seals were very troublesome in the early part of the season of #ahif4 ,mr4 ,george ,ames1 who set three traps in #ahif and took about #ajj salmon1 had knowledge of #ac other salmon that were destroyed by seals while in his nets4 ,similar instances of relatively large numbers of salmon killed by seals might be given4 ,with salmon worth #bj to #ej cents a pound the loss of #aj or #ab salmon by seals1 in a total catch of #ge or #ajj1 is a matter of importance to the fisherman4 ,evidences of results of propagation4 ,the opinion is now practically unanimous among the salmon fishermen of ,penobscot ,river and ,bay that the artificial hatching of salmon by the ,u4,s4 ,fish ,commission is producing beneficial results4 ,about the same arguments in support of their opinions are presented by all1 and these accord well in the main with the observations of other persons who have given this matter attention3 7#a7 ,the opportunities for natural reproduction are exceedingly limited1 owing to the obstructions to the passage of the fish to their spawning grounds in the headwaters of the ,penobscot basin4 7#b7 ,the salmon that are naturally hatched are1 even under the most favorable conditions prevailing at the present time1 not numerous enough to keep up the supply of market and brood fish1 with the fatalities incident to the long residence at sea and to the passage of immature fish down from the spawning grounds to the sea4 7#c7 ,the remarkable run in ,may and ,june1 #ahif1 of fish of comparatively small size that had apparently just reached maturity and the relative scarcity of large fish that had evidently been in the river during one or two previous seasons seemed to show a tendency toward the depletion of the run of old fish and the substitution of a run of young1 artificially hatched fish4 7#d7 ,a feature of the salmon supply in recent years1 on which the fishermen nearly all lay considerable stress1 is that the runs in ,april and ,july1 which in former years were often quite important and remunerative1 have of late been very poor1 although the fish constituting them are of large size1 while the runs in ,may and ,june have kept up1 but have consisted chiefly of comparatively small fish4 ,in this the fishermen believe they see evidence of the work of the hatchery1 for the young salmon artificially hatched have been from eggs of ,may and ,june fish1 and the fishermen think that such young fish1 when they return to the river to spawn1 will come at about the same time that their parents did4 ,many salmon fishermen might be quoted on the question of results of propagation4 ,a few sample statements and records of salmon taken will be given covering different parts of the bay and river4 ,mr4 ,francis ,french1 an experienced salmon fisherman of ,stockton1 on the western side of ,penobscot ,bay1 reports that of the #fa salmon taken in his weir in #ahif1 #ef were under #aa pounds in weight1 and all evidently belonged to the same year's brood4 ,in #ahie the #bi salmon obtained by ,mr4 ,french averaged #bj pounds each4 ,according to his observations1 a very large percentage of the salmon in the ,penobscot region in #ahif were hatchery fish that then entered the river for the first time4 ,mr4 ,a4 ,h4 ,whitmore1 a salmon fisherman of over thirty years' experience1 who fishes three weirs off the southern end of ,whitmore ,island1 states that in that part of the river the catch in #ahif was the largest in thirty years1 with the exception of one season4 ,he thinks there is no doubt whatever of the beneficial results of artificial propagation1 as shown by the maintenance of the supply when obstructions to the passage of salmon to the upper waters must greatly curtail natural spawning4 ,mr4 ,joseph ,hurd1 of ,winterport1 has two weirs at ,oak ,point1 which is the upper limit of weir fishing for salmon on the west side of the river2 the nets are about #ab miles below ,bangor2 #be salmon were taken in #ahie1 and #fj in the following year4 ,the catch was better in #ahif than in a number of years4 ,eight years before1 ,mr4 ,hurd took #adj salmon1 which was the best season in his experience2 since then the fish have been decreasing until #ahif4 ,he thinks very few fish get to their spawning-grounds1 owing to dams and other obstructions in the river above ,bangor1 and has no doubt the small fish which were so conspicuous in #ahif were from the ,government hatchery4 ,mr4 ,william ,f4 ,abbott1 of ,verona1 who has two weirs on ,whitmore ,island1 caught #da salmon in #ahie1 and #hj in #ahif4 ,he makes the following statement3 ,in my opinion1 there would not enough salmon come into the river to pay for building weirs if there had been no salmon artificially hatched2 and ,i hope the ,government will continue to keep the salmon fishing up1 so it will pay to build our weirs4 ,no person that knows anything about it can doubt that it is a good thing for the fishermen4 ,mr4 ,harvey ,heath1 of ,verona1 has two weirs on the eastern side of the southern end of ,whitmore ,island4 ,he caught #fb salmon in #ahie1 and #ajj in #ahif4 ,he thinks that the removal of obstructions to the passage of fish to their spawning-grounds would be all that is necessary to secure a good run of fish in the river1 but believes that under present conditions the salmon-cultural work of the ,government is very useful in sustaining the fishery4 ,three weirs of ,mr4 ,e4 ,a4 ,bowden1 located on the eastern side of ,whitmore ,island1 above those of ,mr4 ,heath1 took1 #ca salmon in #ahie1 and #he in #ahif4 ,mr4 ,bowden says3 ,i think that if it was not for the hatchery we would not have any salmon to speak of1 for all the school we have is in ,june4 ,april1 ,may1 and ,july salmon are very scarce4 ,mr4 ,charles ,g4 ,atkins1 superintendent of the government salmon hatchery in ,orland1 ,me41 informs the writer that he has been inclined to believe that each year a great many salmon succeed in reaching their spawning grounds2 but recent observations have caused him to change his mind1 and he is now of the opinion that only relatively few salmon elude the traps1 weirs1 and gill nets1 surmount the dams and fishways1 escape the poachers1 and succeed in depositing their eggs under conditions favorable to their development4 ,the dam at ,bangor1 while certainly a formidable obstruction to the passage of fish1 is probably passable at high water4 ,it is provided with a fishway1 and some fish are known to surmount the dam by this means4 ,above ,bangor1 in the main river1 there are dams at ,great ,works and ,montague1 the dam at ,montague being an especially serious obstruction1 although it is provided with a good fishway4 ,below the dam at ,bangor there is little poaching1 but below the other dams--especially at ,montague--comparatively large numbers of salmon are sacrificed by the illegal use of the spear and drift net4 ,in #ahif all the salmon below ,montague were at the mercy of poachers after ,july #ae1 when all wardens on the river were laid off4 ,the supply of spawning fish was thus greatly reduced4 ,the people above ,bangor have no interest in preserving the salmon supply of the river1 as they receive none of the benefits from fishing which are enjoyed by fishermen of the lower river4 ,this year ,mr4 ,atkins1 having this matter under consideration1 visited the east branch of the ,penobscot ,river4 ,a certain tributary of the east branch1 which was said to be one of the best spawning-grounds for salmon in the ,penobscot basin1 was obstructed by a dam in the spawning region4 ,the dam was impassable to fish in ,july1 and had been so during the previous months4 ,in a deep pool below the dam1 which was reported to be a favorite resort for salmon each season1 no salmon were found4 ,in other words1 if the salmon had reached this stream they could not have gotten above the dam1 and would undoubtedly have congregated in the pool mentioned and been noticed1 but no fish had ascended even that far4 ,extension of salmon-hatching operations on the ,penobscot4 ,the establishment of branch hatcheries has been suggested in order to utilize the spawning salmon in the region which lies above commercial fishing1 and thus increase by artificial means the production of young fish4 ,it is well known that even under the best conditions now prevailing in our streams the eggs of anadromous fishes like the salmon and shad are liable to numerous destructive agencies2 that only a small percentage of the eggs laid under natural surroundings ever hatch1 and that the young are subject to heavy mortality up to the time when they leave the river and enter the salt water4 ,probably #e per cent would be much too large an estimate of the number of salmon eggs which in a state of nature produce fish that reach the ocean4 ,fish-culture1 on the other hand1 hatches #ie per cent of the eggs and raises #ge per cent of the fry to the age of yearlings4 ,of #bjf1cej ,atlantic salmon eggs obtained in #ahie at the government station at ,craig ,brook1 #bjf1aji were hatched and #aea1gfa yearling fish were liberated in the fall4 ,the percentage of eggs hatched was thus #ii4hh and the percentage of yearlings raised was #gh4ci4 ,this is sufficient ground for interfering with the salmon even after they have reached their spawning-beds1 and justifies the establishment of hatcheries in the headwaters of the ,penobscot1 provided the supply of fish in any section is large enough to insure a reasonable take of eggs4 ,no examinations of the upper tributaries of the ,penobscot thus far made have disclosed the existence of any stream on which the construction of a branch salmon hatchery is warranted1 owing to the few salmon obtainable4 ,the matter deserves further investigation1 however1 and will receive due consideration at an early date4 ,it is thought that a satisfactory supply of fish may be secured by constructing a dam or rack which will intercept fish in the main stream and lead practically the entire run into one tributary1 where they may be retained4 ,the operation of a branch salmon hatchery in the river above ,bangor would of course depend on the successful working of the fishways and the enforcement by the ,state of the anti-poaching laws4 ,planting of quinnat salmon and steelhead trout in ,maine streams4 ,the ,united ,states ,fish ,commission is making the experiment of planting large numbers of non-indigenous salmon in the ,penobscot ,basin and other ,maine waters with a view to test whether the fishes are adapted to those streams4 ,the species with which trials have thus far been made are the quinnat or chinook salmon 7,oncorhynchus tschawytscha7 and the steelhead trout 7,salmo gairdneri74 ,it is intended to plant sufficiently large numbers of yearling fish to fully test the feasibility of the project2 and in the event of success two extremely valuable species will have been added to the fishery resources of the ,maine streams4 ,during the years #ahif and #ahig over #b1jjj1jjj young quinnat salmon and steelheads were deposited by the ,commission in the ,penobscot ,river and adjacent waters1 several hundred thousand of which were four to six months old4 ,the planting of additional fry and yearlings is contemplated in order to thoroughly demonstrate whether their introduction is possible4 ,the quinnat salmon ranges along practically the entire ,pacific ,coast of ,north ,america north of ,mexico1 entering all suitable streams4 ,it is the most valuable member of the salmon family1 and is taken in very large quantities for canning1 salting1 and fresh consumption4 ,its flesh is very rich and of a deep-red color4 ,it is caught in the rivers with gill nets1 seines1 pound nets1 traps1 weirs1 wheels1 and other appliances4 ,in ,monterey ,bay1 ,california1 large numbers are taken with trolling hooks baited with small fish1 and1 although the fish abstains from food after entering the fresh waters1 it may often be lured with artificial or other baits4 ,the chinook salmon begins to enter the ,california rivers in ,february1 the ,columbia in ,march1 and the ,alaskan rivers in ,may and ,june4 ,the spawning season covers six months1 extending from ,june to ,december1 although the spawning period in any given basin is more limited1 seldom exceeding one or two months4 ,the highest accessible positions in the streams are sought by the spawning fish1 which make rounded excavations in gravelly bottoms1 in which the eggs are deposited4 ,the vitality of the fish rapidly decreases after spawning1 their bodies become mutilated and diseased1 and in a short time they die4 ,the steelhead 7,salmo gairdneri7 also known by the names of salmon trout1 winter salmon1 and ,gairdner's trout1 closely resembles the ,atlantic salmon in size1 form1 and habits4 ,it is found from southern ,california to ,alaska1 and enters the coast rivers in large numbers4 ,its flesh is light-colored1 but is of excellent flavor1 being not inferior to the eastern salmon4 ,it is caught in large quantities with gill nets and traps1 for canning and use in a fresh condition4 ,as a game fish the steelhead enjoys a high reputation in the ,pacific ,states4 ,its principal run in the rivers is during the fall and winter months1 when it ascends the streams long distances1 spawning in late winter or early spring4 ,in order that anglers1 fishermen1 fish-dealers1 and others may be able to distinguish from the ,atlantic salmon and from each other any specimens of quinnat salmon and steelhead that come to their notice1 the following key #d has been prepared to cover the principal differential characters1 and illustrations of the three species are shown3 ,footnote #d3 ,the parts referred to in the key may be defined as follows3 ,anal fin1 the single fin on the median line of the body1 between the vent and the tail2 gillrakers1 bony protuberances on the concave side of the bones supporting the gills2 branchiostegals1 small bones supporting the lower margin of the gill cover2 pyloric coeca1 worm-like appendages of the lower end of the stomach2 vomer1 a bone in the front part of the roof of the mouth4 ,i4 ,anal fin elongate1 with #af rays2 gillrakers #i #ad2 branchiostegals #ae to #ai2 pyloric coeca #adj to #ahj2 caudal fin considerably forked2 average weight about #bj pounds1 maximum #ajj pounds4 ,quinnat salmon4 ,illustration3 ,chinook or quinnat salmon 7,oncorhynchus tschawytscha7 ,,ii4 ,anal fin short1 with #i to #ab rays2 gillrakers #h #ab3 branchiostegals #aa2 pyloric coeca less than #gj4 #a4 ,teeth on vomer little developed1 those on shaft few and deciduous2 scales large1 about #abj in lateral series2 pyloric coeca #fe2 caudal fin emarginate2 average weight #ae pounds1 maximum #dj pounds4 ,atlantic salmon4 ,illustration3 ,atlantic salmon 7,salmo salar7 #b4 ,teeth on vomer well developed1 those on shaft of bone numerous and persistent in a zigzag row or two alternating series2 scales about #aej 7#acj to #ahj7 in lateral series2 pyloric coeca #db2 caudal fin squarely emarginate2 average weight #aj pounds1 maximum #bj pounds4 ,steelhead trout4 ,illustration3 ,steelhead trout 7,salmo gairdneri7 ,illustration3 ,map showing the location of the salmon weirs and traps fished in ,penobscot ,river and ,bay in #ahif