The flora of the Eastern River differ xn t.everal noticeable respects 

 from those of the Abagadasset and Cathance rivers, i^/here pickerelweed 

 (Pontederia) and arrowhead (Sagittari>?) predoiainate in the latter two rivers, 

 these^forms are much less abundant in the Eastern River » liiB.ld rice ( Zizania) 

 on the other hand^ is very abundant, covering acres of the bordering marshes o 

 Sedges (Scirpus sp.) and rushes (J uncus sp.) vrere more frequently observed o 

 Entirej-y aquatic vegetation^ such as Fot^ogeton , Naias, and Vallisneria j was 

 more plentiful than in either the Abagadasset or the Cathance. In shallow 

 areas, a thick matting of a filamentous green alga was observed. One former 

 shad fisherman interviewed on the river remarked about this growth, statirig 

 that it was unusual, and had been noticeable only the past two years. 



One sucker fisherman, a Mr. LemaXT^ was inter\d.ewed. He stated that he 

 had not fished for shad for some sight or nine years „ Before that time, he 

 had caught a few shad each spring with drift gill nets, but vihen his nets 

 eventually rotted out he did not consider it worthwhile to replace them. 



Sturgeon were reported seen by three different persond ruing the past 

 summer. Their presence in t he river was not considered unusual. According 

 to one report, certain local residents claim to be able to get sturgeon at 

 any time they want them by dynamiting the deep holes of the river. 



An alewife run exists in the Eastern River and was reported to be un= 

 usually noticeable the spring of 1950, although apparently no attempt was 

 made to catch any, such attempts requiring suitable seines or weirs. One 

 resident of the lower river, a Itr, Mayers, reported that thousands of alewives 

 were killed in May, 19^0, when piling was dynamited at the old lower bridge 

 to clear the channel for navigation. 



The Eastern River is noted for the excellence of its winter smelt 

 fishery. During the past three winters, however, the smelt fishing has been 

 very poor. The decline in the catch of smelts cannot be attributed to ar^ 

 •unique condition in the Eastern River. Mr. F. T, Baird, Jr., Main Depart- 

 ment of Sea and Shore Fisheries, in charge of smelt investigations, states 

 that a similar decline has been reported all along the Maine coast. 



Sheepscot River 



The Sheepscot River enters the ocean through a long tidal estuary a 

 little east of the entrance of the Kennebec River, The two rivers are con- 

 nected between Bath and Hockomock Bay by a navigable channel, the Sasanoa River. 



Atkins (1889, p. 719) writes? 



"The Sheepscot drains about 200 square miles. Its tributary 

 lakes are few and small, and it seems to have been, as tradition 

 asserts, frequented by salmon and shad to a greater extent than any 



