Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-29
FISH CULTURE.
CRAIG BROOK HATCHERY AT
EAST ORLAND.
PROPAGATION OF PENOBSCOT RIVER
sALMON-SUPERINT At
KINS AND HIS WORK.

The artificial propagation Of the food
fishes may justly be regarded as one Of the
triumphs Of modern science. But like
good many discoveries which have had
their origin in somewhat obscure causes,
it is not exactly known to whom belongs
the credit Of having first experimental in
the matter with view of reaching prac \
tical results on large scale; or in other
words, Of attempting to restock the rivers
with edible fish and thus contribute to
the production OF human food. AT least
we do not know that his is certain SO far
as work in this direction i'll this country
is concerned.
In England and Scot land the depleted
rivers had been restocked with food fish
by means of artificial propagation, and it
is likely hat it was the continued success
of the experiments there which led those
in this country, interested III the matter,
to experiment in the same direction. The
late Hon George z. Marsh prepared
treatise on the artificial propagation OF
Vermont, in 1857. As early as this, or
very nearly early, DR.. Theodore Gar
lick had made similar studies in Ohio;
while Rev. w iliam Gilt, of Stonington,
Conn, was not much behind these gentle
men in point of time, in Investigating and
writing upon this subject.
The movement for the re-esta Bills hment
OF the fisheries OF salmon, shad and other
fish in American rivers orig mated in ac-
ton OF he legislature OF New Hampshire,
seconded by that Of Massachusetts, hav-
ing in view primarily he fisheries OF the
Merrimac and Connecticut rivers. The
course OF the Merrimac lies wholly within
the states OF New Hampshire and Massa-
chusetts; that OF the Connecticut lies
partly in the state OF Connecticut, while
many of its tributaries are in the state OF
Vermont. These two states were, there
fore, early interested in the project, and
their action soon led to a similar move
ment on the part Of Rhode Island and
Maine.
The governments OF these states APP
pointed boards Of commissioners to whom
was confded the work OF restocking the
exhausted rivers Of New England with
edible fish. Within the borders OF the
New England states are all OF the rivers
of the United States known to have been
frequented by the sea going salmon, sal
mo salar, with the possible exception OF
the Hudson and certain rivers tributary
to the St. Lawrence in the northern part
Of New York.
tom . coll frnv
the rivers OF New England compelled the
commissioners to consider the best mode
of introducing the salmon from abroad,
and eggs were obtained from the spawn
ing beds Of Canadian rivers and Matched
with comparative success. But i'll 1871 the
attention Of the commissioners OF the
New England states and OF the general
government was directed to the Penob-
scot river as the source Of supply Of eggs
for Matching.
In the very mouth of the Penobscot
river lies an island some five miles in
length and half as wide, formerly known
as "Orphans lsland'', but on the govern
meut charts called "Wetmore Island",
and constituting town by itself, bearing
the name of verona. Verona forms a
part OF the principal fishing district of
the Penobscot river, and It's lower Cor
SOUTHERN extremity is central point for
the salmon fishery.
On the eastern side OF this island the
Penobscot receives small tributary
called Eastern river, fed by several
lakes or ponds" and many brooks, lying
almost wholly in the three towns OF Or
LAND, Dedham and Bucksport. Eastern
river is navigable for schooners as far as
Orland village, about five miles, where the
original flow of the tide is interrupted by
dam, which, however, is provided with