Hugh M. Smith - The Salmon Fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895 96
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Hugh M. Smith >> The Salmon Fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895 96
THE SALMON FISHERY OF PENOBSCOT BAY AND RIVER IN 1895-96
by
HUGH M. SMITH
_Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission_, 1898
Pages 113-124
Contents
Introduction
Extent and condition of the fishery in 1895 and 1896
Detailed statistics for 1895 and 1896
Comparative data relative to the salmon fishery
Apparatus and methods of the fishery
Salmon at Matinicus and Ragged islands
Salmon at the Cranberry Isles
Salmon caught with hook off Maine coast
Destruction of salmon by seals
Evidences of results of propagation
Extension of salmon-hatching operations on the Penobscot
Planting of quinnat salmon and steelhead trout in Maine streams
During the months of August and September, 1896, the writer visited
the shores of Penobscot River and Bay in the interests of the United
States Fish Commission, for the purpose of securing data regarding
the condition and extent of the salmon, shad, and alewife fisheries.
Special attention was given to the salmon fishery, as the Penobscot
is now the only important salmon stream on the Atlantic coast of the
United States and has been the field for very extensive fish-cultural
operations on the part of the Fish Commission. A large majority of the
owners of the salmon weirs and nets along both sides of the bay and
river were interviewed and accurate accounts of their fishing obtained,
together with their observations as to the effect of artificial
propagation on the supply.
The history and methods of the salmon fishery of this basin have been
well presented in papers by Mr. Charles G. Atkins, superintendent of
the Government hatchery at Craig Brook, Maine. [1,2] The present paper
is primarily intended to show the extent and condition of the salmon
fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895 and 1896 and the influence
of artificial propagation on the supply. The methods and apparatus of
the fishery are briefly considered. A chart of the Penobscot region,
giving the location of salmon weirs and traps in use in 1896, is
appended, and illustrations of some of the types of salmon apparatus
are shown.
[Footnote 1: On the Salmon of Eastern North America, and
its artificial culture. In Report of Commissioner of Fish
and Fisheries 1872-3, pp. 226-337, 9 plates of apparatus and
methods, and map showing location of salmon weirs in
Penobscot region.]
[Footnote 2: The River Fisheries of Maine. In The Fisheries
and Fishery Industries of the United States, section V, vol.
I, pp. 673-728.]
Extent and condition of the fishery in 1895 and 1896.
While the number of nets operated in these two years was practically
the same, the catch in 1896 was much greater than in 1895, and was one
of the largest in the recent history of the fishery. A comparatively
large number of fishermen reported that they took more salmon than in
any previous year. The salmon, however, were smaller than usual, and
their market value was but little more in 1896 than in 1895.
The traps set especially for salmon, or in which salmon were taken,
numbered 193 in 1895 and 184 in 1896. These, with the accessories,
had a value of $12,474 and $13,146, respectively. The boats and scows
required in the construction and operation of the nets numbered 188
in 1895, the same in 1896, and were valued at $3,576 and $3,599,
respectively. The number of men engaged in the fishery was 127 in
1895 and 126 in 1896. In the comparatively unimportant branch of the
fishery carried on with gill nets in the vicinity of Bangor, 10 nets,
valued at $189, were used in 1895, and 11 nets, worth $199, in 1896;
these were set by 6 men in the first year and 7 in the next. The boats
numbered 4 in 1895 and 5 in 1896, and were valued at $29 and $37,
respectively.
The total number of salmon caught in 1895 was 4,395; these weighed
65,011 pounds and yielded the fishermen $11,356; in gill nets 117
salmon were caught, weighing 1,985 pounds and valued at $323. In 1896
the result of the fishery was 6,403 salmon, weighing 80,175 pounds,
with a market value of $12,716; the gill-net catch this year was 246
salmon, with a weight of 3,444 pounds and a value of $492.
The outcome of the fishery in 1896 exceeded that of 1895 by 2,008
salmon; increase in weight was 15,164 pounds, and in value $1,360. The
percentage of increase in these items was as follows: Fish taken, 46
per cent; weight of catch, 23 per cent; value of catch, 12 per cent.
As an illustration of the uniform increase in the number of salmon
taken in 1896, the following facts may be cited: The nets that were
set in both years numbered 162; of these, 146 nets, or 90 per cent,
took more salmon in 1896 than in 1895; and only 16, or 10 per cent,
took the same number or less. The comparative figures for the nets
that secured more fish in 1896 were 3,449 salmon in 1895 and 5,681 in
1896. The nets whose catch was the same or less in 1896 caught 295
fish in 1895 and 289 in 1896.
The largest number of salmon taken by one fisherman in 1895 was 408;
these were caught in 3 nets on the lower side of Sears Island, in the
township of Searsport. Other catches by single fishermen in 1895 were
104 salmon in 4 nets in Stockton, 102 in 5 nets in Northport, 150 in 3
nets in Islesboro, and 150 in 3 nets in Verona.
In 1896 the 3 Searsport nets first mentioned took 426 salmon, and a
large number of fishermen secured between 100 and 200 fish in 2 to 5
nets. Thus, in Stockton 100 fish were caught in 2 nets, 105 in 3 nets,
and 110 in 1 net; in Penobscot 192 salmon were taken in 2 nets, 105 in
2 nets, and 127 in 2 nets; in Northport 5 nets obtained 204 fish and 4
nets 125 fish; in Islesboro 3 nets took 130 fish, 3 nets 150 fish, 4
nets 190 fish, and 2 nets 100 fish; in Verona 3 nets caught 174 fish,
2 nets 106 fish, 3 nets 150 fish, 1 net 100 fish, and 2 nets 170 fish.
About 80 per cent of the fishing is done in that part of the river
between the northern end of Whitmore Island and Islesboro. While
single weirs in that part of the river between Bucksport and Bangor
may take as many as 50 or 60 salmon some seasons, the average was only
14 in 1895 and 26 in 1896, and the aggregate is comparatively small.
In the townships of Lincolnville and Camden, which are the lowest
points in the Penobscot region at which salmon fishing is done, the
average catch to a net in 1895 was only 16 salmon and in 1896 only 19
salmon.
Detailed statistics for 1895 and 1896.
The following tables show, by townships, the extent of the salmon
fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895 and 1896:
TABLE. Persons Employed
Towns | 1895 1896 |
--------------------------| ---- ---- |
Brooksville (Cape Rosier) | 4 2 |
Bucksport | 10 9 |
Camden | 2 2 |
Castine | 3 2 |
Hampden | 1 1 |
Islesboro | 7 6 |
Lincolnville | 7 7 |
Matinicus & Ragged Islands| 4 8 |
Northport | 7 6 |
Orland | 17 22 |
Orrington | 5 5 |
Penobscot | 16 15 |
Searsport | 3 2 |
South Brewer | 2 2 |
Stockton and Prospect | 17 15 |
Verona | 21 21 |
Winterport | 7 8 |
| --- --- |
Total | 133 133 |
TABLE. Apparatus, boats, etc.
| Weirs and traps.* | Gill nets. |
| | |
| 1895 1896 | 1895 1896 |
| --------- --------- | --------- --------- |
| No. Value No. Value | No. Value No. Value |
| --- ----- --- ----- | --- ----- --- ----- |
Brooksville (Cape Rosier)| 7 $420 4 $240 | 0 |
Bucksport | 13 511 11 455 | |
Camden | 5 200 5 200 | |
Castine | 4 252 3 201 | |
Hampden | | 2 $26 2 $26 |
Islesboro | 17 925 16 875 | |
Lincolnville | 12 650 14 700 | |
Matinicus and | | |
Ragged Islands | 1 1,000 2 2,500 | |
Northport | 15 1,155 12 1,005 | |
Orland | 19 664 26 888 | |
Orrington | 2 99 2 99 | 5 58 5 58 |
Penobscot | 24 1,587 22 1,421 | |
Searsport | 4 213 3 152 | |
South Brewer | | 3 105 3 105 |
Stockton and Prospect | 26 1,530 20 1,183 | |
Verona | 37 2,801 37 2,760 | |
Winterport | 7 467 7 467 | 1 10 |
| --- ------ --- ------ | -- --- -- --- |
Total | 193 12,474 184 13,146 | 10 189 11 199 |
*Includes accessories
| Boats and scows. | Total |
| | investment. |
| 1895 1896 | |
| --------- --------- | 1895 1896 |
| No. Value No. Value | |
| --- ----- --- ----- | ---- ---- |
Brooksville (Cape Rosier)| 3 $30 2 $20 | $450 $260 |
Bucksport | 16 270 14 238 | 781 693 |
Camden | 2 45 2 45 | 245 245 |
Castine | 5 25 4 20 | 277 221 |
Hampden | 1 12 1 12 | 38 38 |
Islesboro | 7 94 6 79 | 1,019 954 |
Lincolnville | 7 132 7 117 | 782 817 |
Matinicus and | | |
Ragged Islands | 2 75 5 195 | 1,075 2,695 |
Northport | 8 163 7 138 | 1,318 1,143 |
Orland | 25 467 32 535 | 1,131 1,423 |
Orrington | 2 11 2 11 | 168 168 |
Penobscot | 30 436 28 413 | 2,023 1,834 |
Searsport | 6 145 4 125 | 358 277 |
South Brewer | 1 6 1 6 | 111 111 |
Stockton and Prospect | 33 413 31 383 | 1,943 1,566 |
Verona | 35 1,100 36 1,110 | 3,901 3,870 |
Winterport | 10 181 11 189 | 648 666 |
| --- ------ --- ------ | -- --- -- --- |
Total | 192 3,605 193 3,636 | 16,268 16,981 |
TABLE. Catch
| 1895 | 1896 |
|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| No. of Weight | No. of Weight |
Towns | salmon (pounds) Value | salmon (pounds) Value |
--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
Brooksville (Cape Rosier) | 163 2,092 $283 | 146 1,626 $190 |
Bucksport | 205 2,885 448 | 245 2,729 471 |
Camden | 64 964 136 | 71 990 139 |
Castine | 77 1,150 207 | 93 1,166 156 |
Hampden | 30 510 102 | 32 448 90 |
Islesboro | 474 6,551 1,042 | 643 8,265 1,313 |
Lincolnville | 205 3,240 583 | 297 3,503 525 |
Matinicus & Ragged Islands| 65 780 109 | 182 1,627 175 |
Northport | 286 4,066 697 | 418 5,401 810 |
Orland | 78 1,077 202 | 152 1,802 306 |
Orrington | 65 1,101 165 | 82 1,150 161 |
Penobscot | 485 7,270 1,313 | 959 12,483 1,992 |
Searsport | 458 7,278 1,456 | 426 5,112 818 |
South Brewer | 63 1,071 161 | 170 2,380 309 |
Stockton and Prospect | 629 10,067 1,713 | 829 10,471 1,590 |
Verona | 908 12,555 2,337 | 1,421 17,761 3,172 |
Winterport | 140 2,354 402 | 237 3,311 499 |
| ----- ------ ----- | ----- ------ ------ |
Total | 4,395 65,011 11,356 6,403 80.175 12,716 |
Comparative data relative to the salmon fishery.
In 1880 the catch of salmon in Penobscot Bay and River and their
tributaries was 10,016, having an estimated weight of 110,176 pounds.
The weirs and traps used numbered 230; the gill nets, 36. The fishery
yielded 169,894 pounds, valued at $32,800, in 1887; 192,177 pounds,
worth $38,049, in 1888; 140,469 pounds, valued at $31,156, in 1889,
and 92,282 pounds, worth $19,124, in 1892.
As previously shown, in 1895 193 traps and 10 gill nets took 4,395
salmon, weighing 65,011 pounds, valued at $11,356, and in 1896, 184
traps and 11 gill nets caught 6,403 salmon, weighing 80,175 pounds,
valued at $12,716.
Comparing 1896 with 1880, it appears that there was a reduction of 27
per cent in the number of nets used and a decrease of 36 per cent in
the number of salmon caught. A relatively large catch was made in 1887
to 1889, inclusive, and the decrease in 1896, as compared with those
years, was marked. From 1892 to 1895 the output declined nearly 30
per cent, and the general tendency for the past eight years has been
toward a decrease, 1896 presenting a very pleasing contrast, of which
the fishermen all make mention.
Following is a continuous record from 1874 to 1896 of two of the most
successful salmon weirs. These are located on the east side of the
river, in the town of Penobscot, a short distance from the southern
end of Whitmore Island. The number of salmon taken in 1896 was 20 per
cent greater than in any previous year and over 93 per cent greater
than the average for the preceding 22 years. Similar comparative
statements for other nets are at hand, showing the increase in 1896
over previous seasons.
TABLE. Record of two Penobscot River salmon weirs, from 1874 to 1896,
inclusive.
| Date | Date of | Date of | Total | Aggre- | Avg |
| when ice | catching| catching | number | gate | weight |
| ice left | first | largest no. | of |weight of| of |
Year | river | salmon | of salmon | salmon | salmon | salmon |
--------------------------------------------------------------------|
1874 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 30 | June 10 | 86 | 1,253 | 14.57 |
1875 | Apr. 18 | May 13 | June 15 | 70 | 908 | 12.97 |
1876 | Apr. 14 | Apr. 25 | June 17 | 68 | 1,027 | 15.10 |
1877 | Mar. 30 | Apr. 24 | June 9 | 72 | 1,002 | 13.92 |
1878 | Apr. 4 | Apr. 21 | June 26 | 151 | 2,052 | 13.52 |
1879 | Apr. 25 | May 12 | June 20 | 147 | 1,756 | 11.95 |
1880 | Apr. 9 | May 7 | May 31 | 86 | 1,111 | 12.92 |
1881 | Mar. 21 | Apr. 17 | June 9 | 85 | 1,480 | 17.41 |
1882 | Apr. 10 | May 1 | May 29 | 154 | 1,711 | 11.11 |
1883 | Apr. 13 | do | June 12 | 98 | 1,643 | 16.77 |
1884 | Apr. 9 | Apr. 29 | June 28 | 95 | 911 | 9.59 |
1885 | Apr. 19 | May 8 | June 4 | 91 | 1,104 | 12.13 |
1886 | Apr. 16 | Apr. 21 | June 2 | 100 | 1,631 | 16.31 |
1887 | Apr. 23 | May 8 | June 25 | 150 | 2.020 | 13.47 |
1888 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 29 | June 9 | 159 | 2,196 | 13.81 |
1889 | Apr. 2 | Apr. 21 | June 6 | 85 | 1,246 | 14.66 |
1890 | Apr. 7 | Apr. 20 | May 30 | 41 | 641 | 15.63 |
1891 | Apr. 2 | Apr. 28 | June 9 & 16| 117 | 1,199 | 10.25 |
1892 | do | Apr. 9 | June 5 | 65 | 989 | 15.22 |
1893 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 23 | June 10 | 102 | 1,384 | 13.57 |
1894 | Apr. 12 | Apr. 19 | June 1 & 3 | 88 | 1,160 | 13.19 |
1895 | Apr. 6 | Apr. 21 | June 3 | 75 | 1,191 | 15.88 |
1896 | Apr. 12 | Apr. 16 | June 6 | 192 | 2,524 | 13.15 |
Note.--The weirs are set one or two days after the ice moves
out. Occasionally they are put in place before the ice leaves.
Apparatus and methods of the fishery.
There is probably no other river in the United States in which a
fishery of such magnitude has undergone so few changes with respect
to methods, number of traps operated, and sites where nets are set,
as the Penobscot. This is chiefly owing (1) to the character of the
bottom, (2) to the fact that the fishing is a riparian privilege
enjoyed only by those who own land fronting on the water,
(3) to the circumstance that the fishing is almost entirely of a
semi-professional character, and has been taken up by generation after
generation as a part of the regular duties connected with the small
farms, and (4) to the small number of food-fishes occurring in the
river, and the preponderating importance of two of them--the salmon
and the alewife--for which the nets are exclusively set.
Salmon Net Types
Salmon weir, Penobscot. Leader of stakes interwoven with
brush, 175 yards long. "Great pond" brush, 42 feet long.
"Middle pond" and "back pond," netting with board floor,
each 10 feet long. Outer entrance, 16 feet wide; middle,
2 feet; inner, 1 foot. Value, $75.
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Salmon weir, Bucksport. Leader, brush, 4 to 8 rods long.
Middle pond, 40 feet long, 8-foot entrance; inner side,
brush; outer side, twine. Pockets, twine, 10 feet long,
10-inch entrances, wooden floor. Value, $25. Some weirs
have only one (upstream) pocket.
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"Hook weir," Orland. A brush hook, about 50 feet long and
extending down stream, is built on some of the weirs. It
serves the purpose of leading the fish into the net.
Value, $35.
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The salmon fishery of the Penobscot basin is carried on with
practically a single type of apparatus, namely, the brush weir. In
most parts of the region this trap is used in the same form that it
had in the primitive days of the fishery, but in some sections the
weir has undergone evolution into a combination brush and twine trap,
and in places into a trap made wholly of netting.
Some of the types of salmon nets used in this region are illustrated
and described by the accompanying figures. In addition to these, which
are wholly or partly of brush, a common apparatus is the floating
trap, constructed entirely of twine, such as is now generally employed
in the New England States. This is the only salmon net in use at
Islesboro and in some other sections. The local and individual
variations in the form of the nets depend on the topography of the
bottom and shore and the habits of the salmon, and are the result of
long experience.
The fishing begins as soon as the ice moves out in spring and
continues until some time in July. Fish are rarely taken before
the last two weeks in April. May and June are the best months. In
that part of the river adjacent to Bangor there is a small fishery
prosecuted with set gill nets. The nets are from 100 to 200 feet long
and have a 6-inch mesh.
Salmon weir, Castine. Hedge 200 feet long, made of stakes
driven in mud interwoven with brush to low-water mark,
covered with netting beyond. Great pound, 30 feet long,
30 feet wide at base, made of netting; entrance 8 feet
wide. Inner pounds, 10 feet wide, with board floors;
outer entrance 2 feet wide, inner 1 foot. Value, $70.
+-------+
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----+----