Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-03
PLACE FISH.
United States Commission Will
Soon Free Salmon.
Will Be Turned Into Upper Waters
of Penobscot.
The Largest Number Of Fry Ever
Put Out.
PLACE FISH.

Bangor Me, May 2.-Between now
and the first OF July it is expected that
over two and half millions of Allan
tic salmon will be turned into the upper
waters Of the Penobscot by the United
States Fish commission, which greatly
exceeds the number put into the river
In any of the years preceding.
Charles D. Atkins, in charge of the
United States fish hatchery at Craig
brook, East OrlInd, was in Bangor,
Sunday, on his return from the branch
hatchery on the East branch, at Little
Spring brook. Mr. Atkins says that the
work at the Little Spring brook hatch
cry is progressing finely this season
and it now looks as if it would be far
more successful than in any preceding
year.
Last fall the United States Fish COM
mission built a branch of the Craig
brook hatchery OH Little Spring brook.
Is miles from Staceyville for the par
pose of better handling the fish which
are annually put into the East brancl.
There are now 200, 900 Atlantic salmon
eggs In the branch which are rapidly
Matching and from which it is expected
that fully 100000 small salmon will
be Matched.
All Of these 2.6J0,000 salmon will be
turned into the river at that point and
the various streams which can be en-
tered as soon az they hatch and are
ready TO feed. This is by far the largest
number of fis.. that has been placed in
the river at any one time.
The hate hery at Little Spring brook
is expected to prove of grcaf. benefit TO
the East branch fishing. In former
years the fry have been taken, when
at the hate hery at ChaiS brook. carried
to Bucksport by team and thence in ii
car of the fish commission to Grind
stone and placed in the river there.
The process now is 10 take the eggs
from Craig brook in the winter time.
which is loss hazardous to the life of
the fish and hatch them at the branch
station, which is far less work.
IF We had to transport them this
year from Gratis brook it would keep
Il car going constantly fov i month"
said Mr. Atkins, which shows that the
number is greatly increased this year.
Tie hatchery at Little Spring brook
enables the fry To be placed in better
positions in tn" river. Formerly, it was
impossible to tax" the fry above Grind
stone to PIT then in the water. The
breeding ana feeding grounds of the
salmon. the place where the fish would
naturally grow UP is several miles
above Grindstonc and for that reason
the officials think that the hatchery at
Little Spring, being on the natural
feeding grounds, will prove far more
successful for the amount of work done.
As soon as the fish are large enough
Ia begin feeding they are turned into
the water ana allowed to feed them
selves in places where they have found
themselves had they been Matched i'll
the river. At this stage, when they are
several weeks old, they are slightly
over m inch in length.
At Craig Brook hatchery the officials
are handling Il large number of Atlantic
salmon and brook trout of which
largo nart are nearly Matched out and
ready TO be distributed. There are at
present 60. 900 trout and $50. 600 salmon
at the hatchery.
These fish will be distributed in a few
weeks under the direction Of the fish
commission. Mr. Atkins said he did
not know where the distribution would
I've made. this year. the papers not yet
being received from the department at
Washington. It is likely. however, thst
they will be distributed as in former
years. some even being carried out OF
the state.