The Portland daily press., 1886-11-05
FISH CULTURE IN MAINE.
Visit to the Salmon Matching Works
at Edes Falls.
An Experiment Which Has Proved a
Grand Success.
How Our Inland Waters are Re-
stocked With the FInny Tribe.
The Excellent Work Of Fish Commits
sIoners stlIIweII and Stanley.

Ameng those who took the Grand Trunk
passenger train at the station in this city,
Wednesday morning, were Hon. Z. NJ. Still
well Of Bangor, Hon. II. o. Stanley of Dix
field, Fish and Game Commissioners Of
Maine; X. II. Stanley, correspondent Of
the Boston Globe; and a representative Of
the PRESS. The objective point Of the party
was Edes Falls, in the town Of Naples, this
county, and the object Of the visit was 10 in
spect the new salmon Matching works at that
place. At Mechanic Falls the train was left,
and a team taken for a 20 mile trip overland
This part of the journey was over a hard
road, through monotonous scenery, and on a
day when the atmosphere was heavily sur
charged with moisture, which threatened at
any moment TO fall in rain. The ride, how
ever, was made pleasant by the conversation
Of the commissioners. who gave facts In re-
lation to and comments upon Names fish
and game interests.
In 1866 or '67 Mr. Charles G. Atkins,
now an assistant of Prof. Baird Of Washing
ton, ID. c., and Mr.. Foster, who has since
died, were appointed the first Fish and Game
Commissioners Of this State. In 1872 the
present incumbents Of the Offices were ap-
pointed. and have held the positions until
the present time because Of their thorough
competency to do the work which deyolves
upon them.
The work Of restocking the waters Of
Maine with salmon, rightly called the king
Of fish, began as early as 1878. Salmon then
run to the head-waters Of some of our rivers
TO spawn, but the work Of restocking the
lakes and streams In a natural way was a
slow process. The spawn Of the salmon has
deadly enemies in the rivers-the eel, plckerel
and other ashland it is estimated that from
10000 eggs deposited by salmon not over
one per cent reach maturity. A resort
was had to artificial means. In 1878. the first
salmon fry. the name for the young fish.
were purchased for Maine in Ontario at
cost per 1000 of $40 in gold.
Then experiments began in earnest and
from Matching works at Orland and Grand
Lake Stream good results have been obtain
ed. The waters Of Maine, in many parts,
have been re-stocked with this noble fish,
and many thousands Of dollars have been
added to the revenue Of the State The fly
fishing has attracted tourists 10 Maine, and
they have left thousands of dollars within
our borders.
Many interesting things, by experiments
have been learned Of the habits Of salmon.
1t is now well established that they spawn,
but once in two years. After spawning they
go, no one knows where, but some think far
out to sea, as far even as the Grand Banks.
1t is the opinion Of Prof. Baird that they go
only to find deep water where they feed upon
shrimps which gives the rich color and deli
cate flavor to their meat. Salmon have been
taken in the Penobscot and, after having
been weighed and measured, and tin tags
numbered tied to them, have been set free.
In two years salmon, thus marked ,bave been
caught again in the weirs of the Penobscot
A salmon always returns TO the river of its
nativity. Two salmon, one born ia the Pc
nobscot, the other in the st. Croix, may meet
at sea but when the time for their return to
their former homes arrives, each seeks its
old haunts. The salmon has its enemies
and schools OF suckers follow them to the
spawning beds to devour the eggs. BY the
long course of experiments made it has been
determined how fast salmon increase in
weight and size. The number Of eggs which
a salmon produces is about 600 to pound,
and so the number obtained rom the aver
age fish is about 5000, once in two years.
SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT.
Lake Sebago has been noted for many
years for its so-called land-locked salmon.
Now, what is the difference between land
locked and sea salmon2 This is a question
which cannot be satisfactorily answered.
Some advance the theory that by some con-
vulsion of nature salmon have been "loeked
in" so as to prevent their return to the sea
and SO they gradually change in appearance,
and size, but this theory hardly seems reas
enable. as some Of the so-called land-lockes
salmon can return to sea II they wish so Il
| do. A reasona Bile theory Is that the salmon
raised in different rivers differ In certain
| ways, as the New Yorker has characteristic:
which distinguish him from the typica
''down-easter." The expert can distinguish
the Penobseot from the Kennebec salmon
and even the amateur can at once tel
you that the coarse feshed Oregon salmon
was not born and did not come to maturity
| In the waters of Maine river.
| For some years the Fish Commissioners
| have had their attention called 10 the salmon
| of Sebag0. The salmon which go to the
sandy beaches of the headwaters Of SebagC
to spawn were gradually being extinct BY
poachers, who, sPesared s1s them. A,
night, and this too at the season when they
were on the spawning beds Again, thu
| Commissioners were anxious to obtain egg
from the laLd-locked salmon in order to re
stock the Sebago waters, as well as Moose
head and other places. In accordance witt
this plan place was selected this season OF
Crooked river, the sprincipal stream whicl
runs into Sebago, on which to conduct tn
experiment.
Our party Of four arrived at this spot
little after II o'clock, Thursday. 1t is
beautiful place at the head Of short piec
OF quick water On one side the bank slope
TO the river and on the other side the ban
rises abruptly, and is covered with a secon
growth OF oak, poplar and other trees.
more charming spot could hardly have beel
found. After hearty dinner in the camp
which was built by order Of the commits
siOners, Investigations began.
Several years ago Prof Baird attempte
experiments on Crooked river. which by tn
way Is rightly named. From the spot ab0y
mentioned to Lake Sebago, over land, 1t /
four miles. To follow the winding strear
1t is II miles. The Professor stretched ne
across the river. But II caught drift wood
the fish often broke through it, and tn
pOachers one night cut large piece out q
1t, rendering it useless. Prof. Baird's ex
pertinent was not great success.
Messrs. Stillwell and Stanley had weir Z
wood build entirely across the stream. Thl
weir is rs feet In length. and TO protect
against freshet IL Is weighted with 100 ton
Of stone. At short intervals places ha,
been left through whichsrefuse matter fioa
ing down the river can pass. In the cent
Of the weir, on the down river side, ha
been built trap" In the shape Of lett
V, the apex Is towards the weir. In Oh
centre OF the apex has been left an Opel
ing which enters into another trap 12x
feet in size The salmon going up the riv,
on his way to the spawning grounds. passG
into the first trap" thence into the seconl
and there he is a secure prisoner. He wi
swim around and around his prison, bl
never succeeds In passing out OF the plIee
which he entered. The salmon is taken frOl
his pen by means OF a dip net, and placed
apond 4Ox20 feet, and then the males an
females are separated, and placed In cars
These are simply rough floating boxes Ok
feet In size. They are useful for keepiI
the salmon In small space, and also 10 to
the fish TO the lake again. AS cook luck wOu
have 1t a salmon had the kindness TO con
up the river Thursday, and the visitors hs
an opportunity to see an eighteen pound 50
mon taken with dip net.
How has this experiment succeeded?
The weir was finished the LIST day Of Sc
tember. and on the 18th Of that month u
work Of taking the eggs was begun. Whl
all Is ready for the operation to begin the m,
dress themselves In suits Of Oil cloth, al
placed on their hands woolen mittens, the /
sides Of which are roughened so as to no
fast to the fish. A female salmon Is iii