Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-10
The PENOBsCOT SALMON.
Only One Caught So Far Question Of Opening
Weirs Discussed.

Bangor, Me. April Eight days Of the
open season on sea salmon have passed.
and but one fish has been taken from the
PenobscOt. that one having been an IS
FOUNDER, caught with the fly on the first
day of the season at Bangor pool by
George Wiley. a veteran angler of Yea
zie. The ice still fingers in the PenobscOt.
and il is not likely that many fish will BE-
taken. either at the pool with the fly or
at the weirs that line the lower river AMI
bay. for some weeks yet.
For some years past the United States
fish commission has maintained at
Craig's brook, in the town Of Orland,
Matching station where, every fall hun
dreSs of thousands of eggs are taken
from the mature salmon, TO be Matched
out during the winter, the fry, or small
fish. being in the spring time distributed
in waters all over the country where sea
salmon will live. The State OF Maine has
an arrangement with the government au-
thorities whereby the State FISH and game
commissioners receive every year, sew
eral hundreds Of thousands Of the baby
salmon for distribution in rivers and
streams Of Maine. Some are put into the
St. Croix, some into the ArOostook, but
BY far the greater number into the
PenObscOt, which is regarded as the MAJ
ural home in this region of the sea
salmon.
After a few months. such Of the young
salmon as escape the ravageS of poach-
ers. boys and bigger fish, pass down the
!
until two or three years afterward. when
they are full-grOwn salmon. Were the
way clear, We're there nothing to hinder
their progress up the Penobscot, the in
fluX of these fish. on their way 10 the
spawning grounds. would be enormous.
but there is an obstacle to their progress
up the river in the form Of countless
weirs, which line both shores Of the bay
and river-miles ana miles Of traps for
the salmon.
When the habits Of the salmon and the
number Of these wcirs are taken into con
sheraton it seems miraculous that any
Of the FISH ever get up the river, and eV-
cry year there is protest from anglers
and those having the interest of the fish
1T heart-v both from the Sportsmans aud
the economic point of yiew-against these
Wers being operated every day. 1t is de-
sired that the Welrs be opened for one or
TWO days in the week, in order to give
ing grounds. as is the case on the rivers
uf New Brunswick. where tne wers are
opened from Saturday at sunset until
monday a daybreaE Thus far. however.
nothing has been done tD restrict weir
fishing OH the PenObscOt ana il will re-
quire the best efforts Of the government
breeders at Orland. year after year. to
save the salmon from utter destruction.
Under the present system and laws. the
United States and the State of Maine are
simply furnishing 4 great expense fish
for the weir owners to gobble up Tor mar
ket. Should the work of propagation be
stopped, even for Il season or two. and
the fish not be afforded an opportunity
Of reaching the spawning grounds and
make natural increase, then the weirs
would soon swallow up the entire supply,
and, there being no source OF replenish-
ment the salmon would become extinct
in the PenobsCOt, as ii did long ago in
the Kennebec.