376 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



ring and after the hottest term of each summer (the month of August) 

 very few died. 



The supply of salmon was obtained mainly, as in 1871, from the weirs- 

 in the southern part of Verona. They were placed in cars, specially 

 fitted for the purpose, and towed to Bucksport on the flood tide. From 

 the river to the inclosure they were hauled on drays in wooden tanks 

 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep, half a dozen at once. From 

 the weirs to the boats and from the boats to the tanks they were dipped 

 in great canvas bags. From all this handling but few losses ensued. 



In the establishment at Bucksport village the work was carried on 

 for four years, from 1872 to 187G, with a fair degree of success. Then 

 ensued a suspension till 1879, when the reappearance of salmon in the 

 Merrimack, Connecticut, and some other rivers renewed the hopes of 

 final success, and encouraged the commissioners to reopen the station. 

 It had, however, been found that the old location had serious defects. 

 The inclosure was costly to maintain, and the recapture of the fish in- 

 volved a great deal of labor and trouble. The water supplied to the 

 hatchery was liable in seasons of little rain to be totally unfit, causing 

 a premature weakening of the shell and very serious losses in transpor- 

 tation. After a careful search through the neighboring country it was 

 found that the most promising site for an inclosure was in Dead Brook, 

 near the village of Orland (though within the limits of the town of 

 Bucksport), and for a hatchery no location was equal to Craig's Pond 

 Brook, the spot where the original experiments were tried in 1871. The 

 only serious drawback was the separation of the two by a distance of 

 some 2 miles, which could not offset the positive advantage of the 

 hatchery site. Accordingly the necessary leases were negotiated, an in- 

 closure made in Dead Brook, and a stock of breeding salmon placed 

 therein in June, 1879. Since then the work has been continued with- 

 out interruption. 



It is still found most convenient to obtain the stock of breeding sal- 

 mon, as in the early years of the enterprise, from about a dozen weirs 

 in the Penobscot River along the shores of the island of Verona. The 

 fishermen are provided with dip-nets or bags with which to capture the 

 fish in their weirs, with tanks or cars in which to transport them to the 

 collecting headquarters, whither they are brought immediately after 

 capturing, about low water. The collection is in the hands of a fisher- 

 man of experience, who receives the salmon as they are brought in, 

 counts and examines them, adjudges their weight, and dispatches them 

 in cars to the inclosure at Dead Brook. The cars are made out of the 

 common fishing boats of the district, called dories, by providing them 

 witli grated openings, to allow of a free circulation of water in transit, and 

 covering them with netting above to prevent the fish from escaping over 

 the sides. The car is ballasted so that it will be mostly submerged. 

 Ten to fifteen salmon are placed in a single car, and from one to four 

 cars are taken in tow by a boat with two to four oarsmen. From the 



