to 30 fish with the season total variously estimated between 200 and UOO fish. 

 As many as I4.O persons ray be found fishing in a single night. The usual gear 

 is a dip net between five and six feet in diameter. 



The taking of shad in the Nonesuch is restricted by law to dip or bag 

 nets r.jt exceeding 19 feet in circumference or to artifical fly. Fishing is 

 permitted only in the tidal portion of the river south of U, S. Route 1. The 

 daily catch limit is five fish. (Maine Sea and Shore Fisheries Laws and Regu- 

 lations 19h9) p. 103). 



Presumpscot River 



The Presumpscot River once had a shad run, although no information on 

 its size and importance has been found, Presumpscot Falls, one mile from 

 the sea, was passable to shad according to Atkins. A dam was built at this 

 point in 18G2 and remained there until 1852. In 186? Atkins (I868, p. 33) 

 reported shad ascending the river to Cumberland Falls, nine miles from the 

 sea, where a 9-foot dam prevented further passage. 



The dam of the S. D. ferren Paper Company at Westbrook completely ob- 

 structs the river and the waste products from this mill may have discouraged 

 the return of shad to the lower river. 



A survey of river and stream conditions in 1930 (Walker, p, lIi, 1930) 

 indicated that at least one point between Westbrook and the sea had a dis- 

 solved oxygen content which fell below three parts per million, attributable 

 to sulphite wastes. 



Stroudwater River 



The Stroudwater River is blocked just above tidewater by a masonry dam 

 about 10 feet high. No mention of a shad run in this river has been found 

 in the various records examined. 



Royal River 



An impassable dam about l/k mile above tidewater bars the ascent of fish 

 in the Royal River, Atkins does not mention this river as having shad and 

 it is possible that rapids just above tidewater formed a natural barrier. 



Kennebec River 



The Kennebec River once supported the principal shad fishery in Maine 

 and this fishery continued to flourish for many years after the shad had be- 

 come all but extinct in the other rivers of the state. In addition to shad. 



