784 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



thougli the fish had been speared before completing them ; fonud two 

 boats arranged for spearing. 



November 15. — Went to Sandy Beach and Northwest Eiver; saw no 

 fish ; saw no sign of fish having spawned at Sandy Beach. There is a 

 small brook at the north extremity which is said to have been dry pre- 

 vious to the recent rains. A native said he had not seen any fish there^ 

 this fall ; subsequently, Sam. Nason said only brook-trout were speared 

 there. Explored Northwest Eiver from the mill to the lake ; saw 10 

 nests apparently made by land-locked salmon. At this time, in i^laces 

 where there is a moderate current, the stream is about 20 feet wide and 

 has an average depth of 18 inches. When the mill is running, the stream 

 is raised about 6 inches ; in time of freshet the volume is more than 

 double ; judge the distance from the mill to the lake by stream to be 

 about one mile ; direct line, one-half that distance. 



Novemher IG. — Visited the old mouth of Songo Eiver ; saw no signs 

 of fish having been there. There was no current coming from it, and 

 the water thereabouts is very shoal. 



November 19. — A man on the canal-boat said the net had been cut near 

 the bottom, and we pulled it up and examined it to-day; found it in 

 good condition. Took one small brook-trout this afternoon — a male 

 with milt. 



November 20. — Took one male salmon to-night ; was in bad condition ; 

 evidently had been struck with spear ; gave some milt. 



November 24. — Wet and rainy weather has kept Crooked Eiver grad- 

 ually rising for several days past. We have kept the nets in good con- 

 dition, but last night leaves, pine foliage, and drift and brush of all 

 kinds began to accumulate in the upper net. We went out about mid- 

 night and drew it up, cleared and returned it, but to no i^urpose. We 

 left it about 3 a. m., and by daylight it was full again and badly wrecked. 

 We cleared it the best we could and secured the main hedge as thor- 

 oughly as possible. 



November 25. — Water continued rising, and this morning the whole of 

 our works except the main pound and upper trap were completely 

 wrecked. Do not think any arrangement of nets of ordinary strength 

 could have been kept in place. Passed the day clearing the wreck ; 

 could not get the main net, but cleared away stakes, braces, &c., so that 

 we hope it has gone nearly to bottom. 



June 25, 1880. — After the wrecking of the works above described, we 

 cleared out two or three boat-loads of brush, drift-wood, &c., and got every- 

 thing in place again about the 27th of November, and kept on exploring 

 the river for fish and watching the traps until December 1, when word 

 came to abandon the enterprise, and we stored everything with Dilliug- 

 ham. (The apparatus was afterwards transported to Bucksport.) 



At Trickey's Pond we left a small house, 11 by 15 feet, on the land of 

 L. L. Crockett, and he says it may stand there without paying rent. 



Before we began to get any fish, I feared that we should not find it 



