in Merryraeeting Bay and possibly is carried up the Kennebec by tidal action as 

 far as Richmond. This pollution appears to have destroyed the fishery in the 

 lower Androscoggin below Brunswick as early as l88h. While probably an important 

 factor in the decreases occurring in Merrjoneeting Bay about I906, no direct evi- 

 dence supporting this conclusion is available. 



The Eastern river, presiJ'aably because of its relative isolation from the 

 direct influence of the Kennebec and the Androscoggin^ maintained normal catches 

 of shad for a period of years after the fishery in Merrymeeting Bay had all but 

 ceased to exist* 



Two rivers, the Nonesuch and the Sheepscot, have small runs of shad at the 

 present time. The Nonesuch run appears to be stabilized. The run might possi- 

 bly be improved through deepening the channel at some points to allow free ac- 

 cess to upper pools where the gravel and sand bottom is favorable for spawning. 

 As for the Sheepscot, the opening of the dam at Headtide should make it possi- 

 ble for the shad to recover naturally in this river„ Steps tp guarantee that 

 the passages through the dam are kept free of debris at all times are recom- 

 mended. 



Three rivers with former shad runs appear suitable for stocking, when 

 and if such a measure is contemplated. They are, in the order of their s\iit- 

 ability^ the Eastern, the Cathance, and the Abagadasset, The Abagadasset is 

 considered the least suitable because of the small volume of fresh water enter- 

 ing its tidal portion, because it does not offer much sand bottomj and because 

 it is subject to possible tidal iriflow of pollution coming from the Androscog- 

 gin, The Cathance river, in its upper part is probably free from the influence 

 of the Androscoggin and has a good proportion of sand and gravel bottom « The 

 inflow of water from its drainage area is about equal to that of the Eastern 

 river. 



The Eastern river not only has a greater area of sand and gravel bottom 

 than the Cathance but is probably beyond the influence of water from the An- 

 droscoggin, The presence of alewives, smelt, and sturgeon indicate it to be 

 relatively free from serious pollution from the Kennebec, 



The remaining coastal rivers of the State are, for the most part, vn- 

 suitable for shad because they are dartiined near their mouths, making spawning 

 areas inaccessible. The few which remain unobstructed have, with one or two 

 exceptions, no history of a shad run and therefore may be presumed to have 

 natural conditions unsuitable for shado 



26 



