694 HISTORY AND METHODS <JF THE FISHERIES. 



there iu June full of spawn, which is not, however, ibtiud ripe (luring the shad-fishing season, which. 

 extends sometimes into July ; while iu the fall they contain no spawn unless iu the very first stages 

 of growth. Bass sometimes attain a great size in Maine, though they do riot appear to average so 

 large as farther south. The largest reported, weighing lOOi pounds, is said to have been taken 

 some years ago in Middle Bay, an arm of Casco Bay, and specimens of over 50 pounds in weight are 

 not very rare,* yet the average weight of all caught is probably less than 5 pounds. Those caught 

 in the weirs will hardly exceed 2 pounds. Those taken in gill-nets under the ice at Sheepscot 

 Bridge weigh from 3 to 12 pounds, rarely 30 to 40. 



MODES OF CAPTURE. Bass of marketable size are caught in the spring weirs, but to no great 

 extent at the present time. The. fishermen say that they are difficult to catch, being cunning 

 enough to find their way out of the weirs. Four methods appear to have been specially employed 

 for their capture: (1) Dip-nets, set under the ice. (2) Stop-nets, set in summeraiul autumn across 

 the mouths of coves. (3) Gill-nets. (-1) Ilook and line. 



Dip-nets. These, were used many years ago in the mouth of Eastern Eiver, Dresden, specially 

 for bass. They were plain bags, 7 or 8 feet wide at the month, hung on a semicircular bow 

 at the end of a large pole which was held in the hand, and were operated by pushing down 

 through holes in the ice and resting on the bottom. As soon as a bass struck the net it was im- 

 mediately pulled out. This iishing was done in the edge of the evening on the "dark" of the moon. 

 As many as sixty nets were counted at one time Iishing at that place. This fishery was discon- 

 tinued iu consequence of scarcity of bass, about 1850. In Winncgauce Creek, just below the city 

 of Bath, one winter a man who was spearing eels in the mud took, by accident, a bass. Nets were 

 immediately brought into use and "tons and tons" of bass taken out.t 



Stop-nets. The '-stopping" ul' coves is a modern method. At high water a stout net, generally 

 12 feet deep and of 2.1 to ''> inches mesh is stretched at high-water directly across the mouth of a 

 cove, and kept iu place until low water. Bass doubt less frequent such places for the purpose of 

 feeding. They move very quietly and close to the bottom, and their presence is not easily ascer- 

 tained till the tide has left them. This method of Iishing, therefore, proceeds entirely at random 

 as to the presence of the prey. Sometimes it is entirely unsuccessful, and at other times great 

 hauls are made. It was first practiced by Thomas Spinney and John Marr, of Georgetown, who 

 made their first attempt with salmon nets at Treble's fiats, opposite Bath, somewhere between 

 181-1 and 1818. On that occasion they took out 11,000 pounds of bass, and during that year 

 shipped 52, 000 pounds to New York. Another instance of a successful haul occurred at Butler's 

 Cove, an arm of Merrymeeting Bay, one autumn about 18.30, on which occasion fifteen cart-loads 

 of bass were secured. Eighty-live barrels of them were sent to New Orleans and sold for $8 per 

 barrel. This method of fishing is employed irregularly, and no one appears to have been engaged. 

 iu it in 1880. 



Gill-nets. These are used, among other places, in Sheepscot and Dyer's Rivers, above Sheep- 

 Scot Bridge, iu the winter, under the ice. The nets used at this place are commonly 35 feet long, 

 12 to 15 feet deep, and of a 1-inch mesh, furnished with ordinary floats and very heavy sinkers, 

 costing, complete, about $1. In operating, a narrow opening is cut through the ice across the 

 channel (whose width is about equal to the length of the nets, though quite deep), and the nets 



"Mr. M. B. Spinney, of Georgetown, who has made a business of lishiug for bass with stop-nets, says that he once 

 took a- bass of S'J pounds, aud another, which, after dressing, weighed 62 pounds, equivalent, he thinks to over 90 

 pounds live weight, and of specimens t hat exceeded SO pounds he has taken hundreds. Mr. S. is also the authority for 

 the capture of the bass weighing 100^ pounds. 



t Statement of John Brown. 



: Siati-m.-iil of M. ]',. Spinney. 



