New England Salmon Hatcheries and Salmon Fisheries in the Late 19th CenturyVarious
History
New England Salmon Hatcheries and Salmon Fisheries in the Late 19th Century
Various
Fish hatcheries -- New England; Fisheries -- New England; Salmon -- New England
The drawing of a seine in a large body of fresh water is likely to be
a serious undertaking unless the bottom has been previously cleared of
snags. In this respect the long and narrow inclosure at Dead Brook
possesses great advantages, since it can be swept with a comparatively
short seine. However, the influx and efflux of a considerable volume of
water is of great advantage in enticing the gravid fish into traps that
can readily be contrived for them by any ingenious fisherman.
The existence of a gravelly bottom in the inclosure must be considered
a positive disadvantage, inasmuch as it affords the fish a ground on
which they may lay their eggs before they can be caught; but the danger
of such an occurrence is less as the bounds of the inclosure are more
contracted and the facilities for capturing the fish are better.
As to the number of fish to a given area, I think we have never
approached the maximum. I should have no hesitation in putting 1000
salmon in the inclosure at Dead Brook, which covers an area of less
than 3 acres. Of course the renewal of the water supply, or its
aeration by winds, is of importance here.
The capture and transport of the fish in June involves methods
requiring some explanation. The salmon fisheries about the mouth of the
Penobscot River are pursued by means of a sort of trap termed a "weir."
It is constructed of fine-meshed nets hung upon stakes, arranged so as
to entrap and detain the fish without insnaring them in the meshes.
They swim about in the narrow "pound" of the weir until the retreating
tide leaves them upon a broad floor.
Just before the floor is laid bare, the salmon destined for the
breeding works are dipped out carefully with a cloth bag or a very fine
bag-net and placed in transporting cars or boats, rigged specially for
the purpose, sunk deep in the water, which fills them, passing in at
two grated openings above, and passing out at two others astern, and
covered with a net to prevent escape. In a boat 13 or 14 feet long (on
the bottom) we put 10 or 15 salmon, to be towed a distance of 7 miles.
If the water is cool, twice as many can go safely, but there must be no
delay. It is very important that this car be smooth inside, with no
projections for the salmon to chafe on, and the gratings must be so
close that they cannot get their heads in between the bars.
If conveyance overland is necessary, a wooden tank 3 feet long, 2 feet
wide, and 2 feet deep, with a sliding cover, will take six salmon at a
time for a mile and perhaps farther, and they may be jolted along over
a rough road in comparative safety.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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