HISTORY OF SALMON ANGLING IN NEW ENGLAND. 97 



In 1898, specific mention is made of seven fish weighing respectively 30, 24, 21, 21, 

 201-2, 19K and 18 pounds. In 1899, 12 fish are recorded as follows: 243^, 24, 23, 22, 

 213^, 213^, 21 and five of 20 pounds each. During the season of 1900, it is stated the most 

 successful anglers of which there were five, killed 34 fish, the largest of which ranged in 

 weight from 25 to 18 pounds, as follows: One of 25, one of 24, two of 233^, three of 23, 

 two of 22, five of 21, four of 20, one of 19 and one of 18 pounds each. 



Again in 1901, according to the Maine Sportsman (Anonymous 1901, p. 268), the 

 first salmon was taken April 3 and from then to June 30, 109 fish, aggregating 19273^ 

 pounds were killed by 42 anglers. These salmon ranged from 10 to 25 pounds and 

 averaged 17.68 pounds each. The numbers taken by individual anglers ranged from one 

 to 15 fish. The latter number aggregated 232^^ pounds. They ranged from 10 to 213/^ 

 pounds and averaged a little over 123-^ pounds. 



190S. 



The first Penobscot salmon of the 1902 season was a 20-pounder, taken in the weirs 

 at Verona, near Bucksport, and selling at Boston for $25. The first fish at the Bangor 

 Pool was taken April 6, also a 20-pounder. Up to April 21 the season was a failure. The 

 weirs below in the river were blamed and the sportsmen predicted the pool would soon be 

 a thing of the past. But on April 29 the pool was cited as affording better sport than last 

 year, with Miss Jennie Sullivan, the first woman to land a salmon last year, capturing 

 the honor again this year with a 20-pound landing. The fish were reported as still rising 

 on May 17, much better on June 30 and fish seen in the pool August 4, also jumping 

 onto the apron of the dam, but not taking the hook. In May Mrs. George Willey was 

 recorded taking three fish aggregating 53 pounds, the largest 23 pounds, and was ac- 

 claimed champion woman angler of the Penobscot. 



1903. 



The season of 1903 must have been very discouraging for weeks, for but two fish were 

 recorded caught up to May 2, the first by Charles Hodgkins, 223^ pounds and the other 

 by Arthur E. Weeks of New York City, 15 pounds. The weirs were barren of catches. 

 On June 20 at the Bangor salmon pool the fishing was sUghtly improved over the pre- 

 ceding weeks, but even then it was nothing to boast of. 



The Maine Season (Rowe, Herbert W. 1903, p. 147): 'Bangor, Me., Aug. 15 . . . The 

 principal surprise of this season has been the catching of salmon late in the season, for 

 until this year no salmon have been taken, if indeed fished for, after the middle of July, 

 when the down river weirs are taken up and the salmon have, for the first time in the 

 season, free access to the river. It has been urged that as salmon can be taken in Cana- 

 dian rivers until the latter part of the summer, so the Penobscot ought to be able to do 

 as well, but the average angler has not been venturesome enough to face criticism by 

 trying the pool in late July and August. This year, however, several have kept at the 

 sport right along, and to the surprise of most people July and August have maintained 



