HISTORY OF SALMON ANGLING IN NEW ENGLAND. 95 



two salmon weighing respectively 153^ and 10 pounds. Seven fine fish were taken on 

 one day. Rev. Newman Smythe caught a 20-pounder; William Hale, two weighing 

 20 and 21 pounds; John T. Clark, one weighing 18 pounds; Guy Getchell, one weighing 

 22 pounds; C. P. Hodgkins, one weighing 12 pounds. 



1895. 



In 1895, one salmon was taken from the pool at Bangor while the ice was not yet out 

 of the river below. The ice moved down from a favorite fishing spot, and a number of 

 fishermen gave the salmon a try March 30. One salmon weighing 23 pounds was taken. 

 Mr. Perley was the lucky fisherman. This was one of the earliest catches on record at 

 that pool. 



1896. 



April 2, 1896, Frank Cowen, of Bangor, hooked and landed the first salmon of the 

 season at the pool. A few hours after John E. Kent, of Veazie, got another salmon on to 

 the land, that weighed 173^^ pounds. The weather was cold, with the river full of floating 

 ice. It was understood that the above fish were both caught with bait, nothing having 

 yet been done with the fly. However, it turned out to be a great year at the pool. 

 The fish were reported as coming up the river in myriads and probably twice as many 

 were caught as during any season in recent years. It was believed the latter part of the 

 run were cultivated fish with which the river had been stocked. They were all young 

 fish, averaging five pounds less in weight than the usual fish and of a different shape, 

 being characterized by a blunter snout. 



1897. 



The 1897 season started poorly. The ice left the river April 6, four days earher than 

 1896. On the opening day, April 3, Charles Bissel of Brewer took a 143/^ pound salmon. 

 Rain and roil then spoiled the fishing for a spell, then came improvement and one 

 fish weighing 263^2 pounds was taken, among others. The record fish for the pool was 

 28 pounds, taken three or four days previously. The May run was far from satisfactory 

 at the Bangor pool, but E. J. Hunt was credited with a 273/^-pound fish taken the last 

 week in the month. The June run was better than the May run however and J. Henry 

 Peavey of the Bangor Edge Tool Works was reported taking 'a monster,' a 28-pound 

 salmon, on June 28, and was credited therefor with one of the very largest fish ever 

 taken on the Penobscot with a fly. 



1898. 



On April 1, the opening day of the season of 1898, at the Bangor pool, two fish were 

 taken with flies, George Willey of Veazie landing an 18-pounder; the other, by W. W. 

 Fogg of Bangor, weighing nine pounds. They sold at $1.25 per pound. On April 3, 

 two more were caught. A fish weighing 23 pounds was among the June catch. 



