Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-24
BASEBALL, BOXING,
BOWLING, TENNIS.
RACING, YACHTING
Something Must !.
Be Done for Our
Fishing in Maine

The Bangor News in the following
editorial makes pertinent remarks
which should be read and digested by
every true sportsman and everyone
else:
SALMON IN THE PENOBSCOT.
Exactly why. after having failed
with the larger species of Pacific sal
mon the fish and game authorities
of Maine should seek the much small
er and much lighter colored hump
| back salmon from the western shores
of this continent this freakish con-
duct is hard to account for save that
Decatur Bridges salmon hypothesis
! is the correct one, that smaller and
| less-desirable species of salmon are
much better for Penobscot river--if
they may be secured-than no salmon
| at all.
Times were soon after the Philadel-
| pha Centennial Jubilee in 1916 when
| Penobscot river weirs were congested
with great Penobscot river beauties
weighing from 20 to nearly 40 pounds
each, when the Whitmore weirs at the
head of Verona Island were made to
yield from five to a dozen salmon at
every tide, and when great sea-green
Holsters were caught in weirs as far
up the river as Winterport.
Charles G.. Atkins was then as now
| in charge of the salmon hatchery at
Craigie Brook, and paid above mar
1 ket price for what female salmon as
were caught for breeding purposes.
and big bonus for whatever salmon
were captured for the second or third
time of their return from the Allan
tic.
1t must be confessed that the arti-
fetal propa cation of this very king OF
Atlantic fish has been largely fall
ure all along the Maine coast.
/ 1t was learned early that Penob-
scot salmon Stunned waters which had
been polluted with sawdust, and leg
| islative acts were passed forbiddlng
under fines, all millmen from casting
all sawdust, edgings. bark and other
polluting refuse into the river. Salmon
already had practically vanished from
| the Kennebec waters; 1t was claimed
from too much sawdust and though
punitive legislative acts were enforc-
ed by the wardens too late in the
day. the advent of the sulphite. pulp
mills to all the Maine rivers seemed
to have finished the job for all the
salmon.
A few continue to arrive annually
at the weirs, but most of the once
abundant weirs now remain.
An expensive tidewater weir, con-
strueted by old Sargent Luke Walker
in the river below Fort Knox, which
from April until July every year USED
to yield from three to five salmon ev-
ery tide, has long ago been ABANDON
ed and the little board house whlch
formerly was perched on the shore
has been hauled away and converted
into kindling wood.
The famous old weir owned by Capt
E,1iakin Hartman, which reached out
| into "Sammys Eddie" and winch lor
4 wears Welded salmon, shad, aiewlves;
noreies and cells, has been abandoned
since the death of Capt. Hartman.
Another weir near Smelt Brook WOODS
in Bucksport, has gone the same way.
Wherever pulp mills, or sawmiiis OF
tanneries have been placed the misra-
tory fishes have fled before them, ana
for the obvious reason that less en-
nloyment for honest labor in the state
can be found in the Maine hsheries.
Maine fish weirs are disappearlhs'
there are already too many Name
| sunuorted fish hatcheries-soon ma
ioritv of what are now known as
| "Nsine luxuries'' must become seii-
sunnorting even If shad, alewiVes ana
salmon must totally vanish from 'he
| old time Maine bill or rare.