32 REPORT OF COMMISSIOI^ER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



distance between tlie liatchery and retaming-ponds was offset by other 

 advantageous conilitious. 



Until ISSO no attempt was made to rear salmon, and with unimpor- 

 tant exceptions the work was confined to the collection of salmon eggs, 

 their development during the earlier stages, and their transfer in winter 

 to other stations to be hatched. In 1889, however, the United States 

 Fish Commissioner decided to establish a permanent station at Craig 

 Brook, and in anticipation of the purchase of the premises, which was 

 concluded the following year, the rearing of salmon to the age of six or 

 seven months was undertaken as the leading work of the station. 



COLLECTION' OF STOCK SALMON. 



The only salmon fisheries available for the purpose of supplying Craig 

 Brook station with breeding fish are those carried on by weirs about 

 the mouth of the Penobscot. Arrangements are made early in the 

 season with weir fishermen to save their salmon alive and deliver them 

 daily to the collecting agent of tlie station, who makes the rounds of 

 the district about low water with a small steamer, which tows the cars 

 containing the fish on the flood-tide to Orland village, where they are 

 passed through the lock abont high water and taken by a crew of oars- 

 men to the inclosure at Dead Brook. 



In anticipation of this work, the fisherman places the floor of his 

 weir a little lower than he would otherwise do, so that at low water the 

 salmon may have water to swim in instead of being left high and dry 

 by the retreating tide, in case of an accidental delay or failure to visit 

 the weir at the usual hour. It is, however, the ordinary practice to 

 take the salmon out at each "fish-tide,'^ i. e., low water, and place them 

 in a car. Cars enough are stationed among the fishermen to bring one 

 at least in each neighborhood, and in most cases the car is brought 

 alongside and the salmon transferred to it directly from the weir, 

 though in some cases it is necessary to place the salmon first in a box, 

 in which it is carried by a boat to the car. The car employed is made 

 from the common dory, divided transversely into three compartments. 

 The central one, which is much the larger, is occupied by the fish, and 

 is smoothly lined with thin boards and covered with a net to prevent 

 the fish jumping out or being lost by the car cajisiziug. which some- 

 times occurs, while to guard them from fright and the rays of the sun 

 a canvas cover is dxawn over all. 



The first cars of this form constructed had iron gratings to separate 

 the central from the forward and after compartments, the water 

 being admitted through the forward and discharged through the after 

 compartment, but this was objectionable because the salmon were 

 constantly seeking to escape through the forward grating, and often 

 injured themselves by rushing against it. Smooth wooden gratings 

 were afterwards used and for many years cars were employed in which 

 the compartments were separated by tight board j>artitioiis. the open- 

 ings for the circidation of jrat^r communicating through the sides of 



