90 



KENDALL: NEW ENGLAND SALMONS. 



TABLE 18. 



Annual Catch of Salmon of One Weir at Calais for 16 Years 1862-1877 



The following accounts of the tributaries of St. John River and the St. Croix River 

 are largely extracted from the report of the Joint Commission relative to the Preserva- 

 tion of the Fisheries in Waters contiguous to Canada and the United States, by Richard 

 Rathbun and William Wakeham, 1897, to which are added some notes taken by the 

 present writer who took part in the investigation by this Commission, in 1893, and in 

 1909 during inquiries conducted by a later joint commission. 



Meduxnekeag River. — This is the lowermost of the international tributaries, joining 

 the St. John River at Woodstock, New Brunswick, and consists mainly of two branches 

 of nearly equal size, which unite about 12 miles above its mouth and only a few miles 

 east of the boundary Une. Authentic records show that during the early part of this 

 century salmon entered this river in abundance, more especially in the vicinity of Houl- 

 ton, Maine, where they continued plentiful untU shut out by dams about 1826. During 

 some years, however, it is reported that a few salmon still find their way into the lower 

 part of the river (Rathbun and Wakeham p. 17). There is no recent available informa- 

 tion concerning this river. 



Big Presque Isle River. — The river is naturally a clear and rapid stream, about 40 

 miles long, lying between the Meduxnekeag and Aroostook valleys, and reaching the 

 St. John River a few miles below Florenceville, New Brunswick. It was formerly re- 

 sorted to by salmon, but it has been impossible to ascertain what extent. (Rathbun 

 and Wakeham p. 17). 



Aroostook River. — 'The Aroostook empties into the St. John River about six miles 

 above the town of Andover, New Brunswick, and 16 miles below Grand Falls. It is the 

 largest tributary of this system, having a length of 138 miles. Only the last four miles of 

 its course are in New Brunswick. ReUable information respecting the amount of salmon 

 taken annually from the Aroostook is not obtainable, as the fishing is carried on only 

 by sportsmen and poachers, but many relatively large catches are reported from time 

 to time. The species was undoubtedly much more abundant in early times than it 

 is at present, as many if not most of the tributary streams containing the original 

 spawning grounds are now closed by dams or encumbered with refuse. That some 

 spawning places are still accessible, however, is indicated by the continued presence of 

 the salmon in the river (Rathbun and Wakeham p. 17-18). 



