96 KENDALL: NEW ENGLAND SALMONS. 



1899. 



On April 17, 1899, the Penobscot had become free of ice only up as far as Bangor and 

 no salmon reported. The water was four feet over the Bangor dam on April 24; too high 

 for fishing the pool below. There was still a big body of snow in the woods. 



New England fishing ('Special' 1899, p. 89), dated Boston, July 22: 'Late Bangor 

 reports say that the salmon season on the Penobscot has been a failure. Very few have 

 been taken from the pool by anglers, and the netters "down river" have not made half 

 their usual catches. Those most famiUar with that river and its salmon interests say 

 that the greater need is a close time of from two to three days a week, to allow part of 

 the salmon to reach their spawning beds. During the close time all weirs should be open. 

 The New Brunswick rivers have some protection of this sort, and the salmon are greatly 

 benefited thereby. From July 15 to April 1 all weir and net fishing is closed on the 

 Penobscot, though lead and single Une fishing is allowed till September 15. It is con- 

 tended, however, that the salmon start up the Penobscot early, and that to almost 

 entirely stop them from going up during all the spring and early summer will soon de- 

 stroy the whole stock.' 



1900. 



The 1900 season was counted a very poor one. The first salmon of the 1901 season 

 has been taken at the 'Big Pool' by a lady. The fish weighed 18 pounds and sold for 

 $1.25 per pound. 



1901. 



Up to April 29, the 1901 season at the Bangor Pool did not pan out very well owing 

 to rains and freshet. George Willey had landed two 24-pound salmon and Samuel Drink- 

 water a 22-pounder. By May 6 conditions were improved and the fishermen were having 

 better sport. Twenty fish were taken for the week weighing from 17 to 27 pounds. Mrs. 

 Wm. A. Munroe took two salmon weighing about 20 pounds each. 



Neiv England waters ('Special' 1901, p. 408): 'Boston, May 20. . . The season at the 

 big Bangor Salmon Pool still promises to be a record breaker. An account kept by a 

 Bangor citizen interested in the sport says that sixty salmon have been taken, of a 

 united weight of 1,066 pounds. This shows an average of a Uttle over 16 pounds.' 



In a sportsman's journal J. S. Rowe (1901, p. 214) gives us a brief summary of the 

 principal catches of salmon in the pool, for several years prior to 1901, particularly as 

 regards large fish. It is stated that in previous years, the largest fish of tradition were 

 three of 30 pounds each. In 1896, four fish are mentioned weighing respectively 253^, 

 24, 213/2 and 21 pounds. The biggest salmon of 1897 weighed 28 pounds and three 

 others taken by the same angler weighed respectively 25, 20 and 19 pounds. Other large 

 fish recorded in the same year, were seven of specific weights, 273^, 263^, 22, 213^^, 20, 

 20 and 20 pounds. Mention was made of three others aggregating 60 pounds, and two 

 of the combined weight of 35 pounds. 



