92 I^ENDALL: NEW ENGLAND SALMONS. 



season, Mrs. George W. Dillingham of New York landed a ten-pounder, thus becoming 

 the first lady to take a salmon on a fly in the Penobscot. The 1885 season accounted 

 for 40 salmon taken at Bangor. 



1886. 



The 1886 season was a salmon furore at Bangor. Anglers flocked there from New York 

 and Boston to vie with the natives in the exciting sport. The whole town went wild over 

 the sight of big catches almost daily within a mile or so of the civic center. The best 

 catches were made from boats on the Brewer side of the river, the principal fishing ground 

 beginning at a point 300 yards below the Water Works dam. A 24-pounder was credited 

 to Mr. Fred W. Ayer, who also took three more aggregating 51 pounds, all on the fly. 

 He was also credited with another big one, 20 pounds. Jack Guthrie, Henry A. Wing, 

 Dr. Simmons and Wilham Munroe were hsted as taking large fish. 



1887. 



The season opened late in 1887. On April 29 the ice had been out but a few days, 

 while fish were taken on the fly on April 27 in 1886. The situation gradually improved, 

 however, 17 fish being taken at Bangor May 23 with 20 noted sportsmen there. On 

 May 24, 1887, the Fish Commissioners of Maine reported that the fishing below Bangor 

 dam was in full blast. Nine were captured May 23, eight the day before and as many 

 more hooked and lost. The catch ran large in size; from 14 to 25 pounds. They were 

 taking as many on the Bangor side of the river as on the Brewer — something not done 

 heretofore. 



The showing of a 21-pound fish in Dame, Stoddard and Kendall's fishing tackle 

 window set all Boston talking salmon, and the interest centered around Bangor. 

 The season had been good there since the late opening, and those high up in salmon lore 

 claimed it was going to hold out well. Mr. Fred Aj^er went on record as beheving that 

 later there is to be a good run of smaller fish and everybody could take them. 



Mr. Ayer's prediction was borne out by a second run of salmon, excellent fish, though 

 smaller than the first run. More fish were caught with hook and line than last season 

 and the captures down river by the market fishermen were also in excess of the 1886 

 take. Propagation and protection were credited with the wonderful increase of salmon 

 in the river, after the fishery had nearly played out, 



1888. 



The first take of 1888 was on April 27 — Mr. Fred Ayer again being the lucky man. 

 The river, however, was at full freshet flood caused by rain and warm weather and this 

 caused a lull, when no catches were made. Then came two days of big fishing, 18 fish 

 being taken. The season proved to be by far the most successful since fishing began at 

 the Bangor pool. 



