Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-16

| struction. The unauthorized statement has
been made to the Messrs. Sprague that fish
ways were thing of the past, and that there
was no probability of their ever being re.
quired to build one. The charter of the Ken
nehec Dam Company contained a provision
requiring them to build a.good and suffcen
passage-way for fish, over or through the
dam, and that unless such way shall be COM
pleted and ready for use within five year,
from the passage of the act, all the powers
granted should become void. Under thi.
charter the present owners hold. A fishway
at this dam, such as has been planned by the
commissioner, would use not more than the
one hundred and fiftieth part of the water,
would not weaken the dam, and its entire
cost, including the erection of pier to guard
it from ice and logs, would not exceed $4,000
The commissioner adds ITO allow this dam
to escape the plain requirements Of the law
would be a robbery of the public on the whole
length of the Kennebec river, for the benefit
of Augusta.
The fishery laws have been well enforced on
the kennebec. The warden Mr.. T. II. Spear,
of Gardiner, has expended good deal Of time
in looking after the weirs, and has been very
successful.
Androseoggin Rirer. The falls at Bruins
wick have been examined and fshways locat-
ed. This was formerly salmon river but
one of the fish is now rarely seen in it. They
enter and pass up the Kennebec, yet rarely
does enc turn aside into the Androscoggin.
The multiplication of fish by artificial breed.
ing is next treated of at considerable length
There are excellent breeding grounds in the
Penobscot and other waters, but the difficulty
of obtaining eggs renders the business ex-
tremely expensive and uncertain. The prop
agation of fresh water fishes promises so much
less than that of migrating species, that the
commissioner thinks it wisest for the State to
engage only in the latter. The breeding OF
salmon should at once be improved, as nearly
or quite every river in the State can be made a
salmon river.
The commissioner made two expeditions to
the Penobscot river and its tributaries for
the purpose of ascertaining whether the
salmon spawns could be found in accessible
localities and in sufficient numbers to warrant
the attempt to collect the eggs and subject
them to artificial incubation, both for the pur-
pose Of restocking exhausted rivers and in
crcasng the present yield. Excellent spawn
ing grounds were found. An interesting &C.
count is given of the visit to the different
streams leading into the Penobscot. The re-
suit of these expeditions convinces the COM
missioner that it would be. economically prac-
the localities visited. To conduct such an en-.
terprise it is necessary that building Should
be erected in which those eggs that are to be
removed to other rivers can undergo partial
incubation, and those that are to be turned in
to the Penobscot can undergo complete incu-
baton. The cost of a house and fixtures
would be but about $50. The ponds and
bitches would be an extra expense. The value
of the young salmon obtained from the hatch
ing, TO be used in the improvement of the
fisheries of the State cannot be estimated in
dollars and cents. The idea has suggested
itself of locating the Matching house near Au-
gusta, or near one of the dams on the Penob-
scot, or even near the salmon weirs on the
latter river, catch the salmon there, and carry
them to some small pond where they could lie
until the maturity of their eggs.
The following is summary of expenditures
during the year:
For fish culture, Salmon eggs &c. $i45.OO
" pay of Commissioner, 5000
travelling expenses, 1869
Is guides, $3.50
- drawings, 1901
"a sundries, postage, exchange photo.
graphs, &c., s5.96
Total, $l,620.65
Mr.. Atkins closes his valuable report with
an appendix, giving papers from several ex-
perienced fsh-culturist, on various matters
pertaining to this enterprise.