The sun., 1904-06-12
SALMON OF BROOK TROUT SIZE
A Discovery which Worries Some OF tn
Fish Culturists in Maine.

WEST SEBoIs. Me-, June l1.-Some fish
culturists in Maine are worried and sur
prised by the discovery Of mature salmon
not more than eight inches in length in
Sebois stream and in the east branch Of
the Penobscot River.
Every year few of the fishermen who
have come to this place from New York
for brook trout have declared that the
fish they caught bore closer resemblance
to young salmon than to trout. The local
experts asserted that the fish were genuine
brook trout of a kind that had resided in
those waters for many years.
Last year the difference between the
Sebois trout and the trout caught else
where was SO marked that box OF typical
specimens was sent to the United States
Fish Commission, which led to the sending
down hers OF DR. A. G. Kendall, an expert
on salmon and trout. DR.. Kendall said he
was impressed with the belief that the
trout caught on Sebois stream were youn
salmon, but he would not go on record
either way until he had applied proper
tests.
Last fall he liberated 5000 yearling sal
mon In the stream, all Of which were marked
with small tags. As soon as the law was
Oh and the fishermen came the anglers
began to capture many fish that had been
tagged.
They were about nine inches long and
bore striking resemblance to young
salmon. though all OF the males and many
Of the females were mature, a condition
chat is not reached by healthy salmon
until they are three or four years Of age and
from IL tn c5 inchas in Ian 9TH
DR.. Kendall then declared that the 30
Sebois were not trout at all, but precocious
salmon, which had matured two years
ahead OF time. This discovery recalled
other cases where young salmon have
been mistaken for trout by experts in
different waters Of Maine.
For ten years or more the boys who have
been fishing in Burr's Brook, which flows
into the Penobscot River below the Bangor
waterw orks dam, have caught many Ash
similar TO those found at Sebois stream.
On two occasions fishermen have been taken
to court on the charge of capturing young
salmon. which are proteced by law until they
are three years OF age; but when the fish
were dissected before the trial justice, and
found to contain milt and roe, the evidence
That they were trout was presumed to be
established. and the accused were dis
charged,
Itnow, appears that most Of the so-called
trout eaten In Bangor and its vicinity for
wears have been youthful salmon.
Fiah Commissioner Stanley, who has been
in the employ Of the State for forty years.
ana SHOWS more about Maine salmon and
Maf9e trout than any other man living, Ia
much worried over the discovery made by
Dr. Kendall. He fears that the continued
propAgation Of ealmon by artificial means
has Aused the raoe to degenerate and made
y pncocious to such degree that the
hsh b In danger Of becoming extinct.
He contends that, II Penobecot River
salmon are going TO grow ne bigger than
brook trout. there Is no longer any reason
for continuing to breed them artifciaiiy,
as trout afford more sport to the angler
and ere better eating He recommends
that no salmon which has been stripped OF
eggs or milt for one season shall be used for
such purposes again; thus avoiding the
danger OF deReneracy from inbreeding.
In case this change OF method fails to
prcdnce tho desired results, Mr.. Stanley
lhinln .thet young fry from the Pacific
Coasi should he put In the river thus effect.
inG what the farmers call change sf sssd.