THE RIVER FISHERIES OF MAINE. 707 



In the district stretching from Moose Point eastward to Fort Point, including Searsport Har- 

 bor, Brigadier's Island, and Gape Gellison, the fishing is mainly for salmon. The shore of Cape 

 Gellisou trends about east-northeast, and is exposed to the full violence of southerly storms, which, 

 together with the hard character of the bottom, necessitate greater care in building than in most 

 districts. The use of frame foundations is common. The fishing is wholly with weirs, except two 

 traps that were used in Searsport in 1880, but not regularly. The natural features of the district 

 are favorable to the capture of salmon, and some of the most productive berths on the river are 

 found here. Ninety per cent, of the money yield of- these fisheries is derived from the salmon. In 

 1880 there were 20 weirs and 2 nets in this district, and their aggregate catch was 1,398 salmon. 



From Fort Point north to Fort Knox, opposite Bucksport, weirs only are used, and 20 of 

 them were built in 1880. The incline of the bottom being mostly steep, they are with one excep- 

 tion, built on separate hedges. Salmon are here also the most important fish caught, constituting 

 in value 88 per cent, of the catch. The aggregate product of these 20 weirs in 1880 was 1,000 

 salmon. 



On the eastern side of the bay salmon fishing now begins at Castine, where there has been a 

 fairly productive fishery since early times near the light-house on Dice's Head. Between this point 

 and Morse's Cove a few weirs are built, but they are not very productive. From Morse's Cove to 

 the mouth of Eastern River the shore is thickly studded with long-hedged weirs, which are fairly 

 productive of salmon, and take nearly twice as many alewives as the weirs on the opposite side 01 

 the bay. Within the mouth of Eastern River few salmon are taken, the yield falling off rapidly, 

 while that of alewives increases as we ascend this river. The yield of 31 weirs and one net in the 

 towns of Castine and Penobscot (the latter extending a mile up Eastern River) was 1,000 

 salmon. 



Directly in the mouth of the Peuobscot (or according to the pilot books, 8 miles above the 

 mouth) is the island of Verona, formerly known as Orphan's Island or Whitmore's Island. This 

 is one of the best salmon districts, but the salmon fishing is mainly confined to the south end, and 

 to the west side, which is washed by the main channel. Weirs alone are employed. In 1880 

 there were thirty-four of them built, including one on Odom's ledge, and their aggregate yield of 

 salmon was 2,053. 



The town of Orlaud, including all of Easton River above the town of Penobscot, and all that 

 part of Bucksport lying on the "Thoroughfare" (or channel that separates Verona from the main- 

 land on its northeast side), make up a district little interested in salmon, 37 weirs taking but 420. 



Above Fort Knox, on the west side, and Indian Point (formerly known as Mack's Point), on 

 the east, are built 30 weirs, which are, however, far less productive than those below, thair total 

 catch being 1,044 salmon. The most of these weirs are located in the towns of Bucksport, on the 

 east side, and Winterport, on the west. Above Winterport Village the yield rapidly diminishes, 

 and 2 miles below Hatnpden Village we find the last weir. 



Above Hampden there is no fishing done except by gill-nets, which are commonly employed in 

 drifting, but are sometimes " set." Their operations in recent years are much limited by protective 

 laws, which have driven them from their former grounds near the Treat's Falls dam. In 1880 

 there were eight fishermen thus employed in Bangor aud Ilampden, using 16 set-nets, but not con- 

 stantly. At Veazie and Eddiugtou there were six men, with 10 drift-nets, aud their catch was 100 

 salmon. On the east branch of the Peuobscot there were 10 set-nets used, and 686 salmon taken. 

 This was an illegal fishery, was never followed to such an extent or so successfully before, and is 

 not likely to be permitted in the future. 



