The Salmon Fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895-96Smith, Hugh M. (Hugh McCormick)
Science
The Salmon Fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895-96
Smith, Hugh M. (Hugh McCormick)
Atlantic salmon fisheries -- Maine
Matinicus is a small island located south of Penobscot Bay and about 15
miles southeast of the nearest mainland (Thomaston). It is in the route
of salmon coming in from the sea to ascend the river, and nets set in
favorable positions would naturally be expected to intercept the fish.
On the western side of the island Messrs. R. Crie & Sons have operated
a trap for mackerel and herring for four years, and during that time
have incidentally taken a number of salmon. Between May 20 and July 10
marketable fish are caught, while in August and September salmon too
small to utilize are taken in considerable quantities; in the opinion
of the Messrs. Crie these small fish were on their way to sea from the
Penobscot River. It has been observed that when an easterly wind is
blowing very few salmon are taken, but during a westerly wind salmon
are always obtained in the months named, and the quantity of salmon
secured in any given year bears a close relation to the direction of
the prevailing winds. In 1895 the number of marketable salmon caught
was 65; in 1896 the catch was 167. The largest fish taken in the two
years weighed 30 pounds, the smallest 1/2 pound. The largest daily
catch was 31 salmon, in 1896; the next largest, 27, in 1894.
Mr. W. B. Young, of Matinicus Island, has a herring weir on the
southwestern part of Ragged Island, which lies a short distance south
of Matinicus Island. In 1896 this weir during June and July caught 15
salmon with an aggregate weight of 200 pounds. The largest weighed
24 1/2 pounds. No small, unmarketable ones were obtained.
Salmon at the Cranberry Isles.
The Cranberry Isles lie a few miles south of Mount Desert Island
and about 25 miles east of Penobscot Bay. They are in the track of
migrating salmon, as a few herring weirs set around the islands have
for several years taken one or more salmon almost annually. [3] Mr. W.
I. Mayo, a correspondent at the islands, reports that in June, 1895,
Colonel Hadlock took a 17-pound salmon in a weir, and on May 5 of the
same year Mr. Mayo caught one weighing 19 pounds. None had been taken,
however, in 1896 up to September 1.
[Footnote 3: See paper entitled "Notes on the capture
of Atlantic salmon at sea and in the coast waters of
the Eastern States," Bull. U.S.F.C. 1894.]
Salmon caught with hook off Maine coast.
Instances are multiplying of the taking of salmon at sea on trawl lines
on the New England coast. The salmon are usually taken during the time
when the fish are running in the rivers, but occasionally one has been
caught in midwinter. The following data relate to fish that probably
belonged to the Penobscot school.
On June 19, 1896 a Gloucester fishing vessel brought into Rockland a
10-pound salmon that had been caught on a cod trawl 20 miles southeast
of Matinicus. The fish was sent home to Gloucester by the captain of
the vessel, through Mr. Charles E. Weeks, a Rockland fish-dealer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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