558 BUI,L,ETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



under 3 pounds; and on August 30, 1876, it was reported that trout were rising to the 

 fly very handsomely. 



September 21, 1901, fly fishing was reported good, and on September 26, 1905, it 

 was stated that there was excellent fly fishing from the wharf in front of the Mountain 

 View Hotel, and more than 100 fish had been taken there, but it was not stated whether 

 they were trout or salmon. The first of the large trout taken by Commissioner Stanley 

 at Upper Dam in 1878 was on September 22. Trout were caught throughout September 

 and until October 10, inclusive. 



It is stated that the largest trout taken on the fly were caught in September, but 

 large trout have been taken on the fly at other times, and doubtless many of the records 

 not definitely stated as taken on the fly were so caught. The largest so taken by any 

 angler is one caught by the late Senator Frye, that weighed slightly over 10 pounds. So 

 far as the available published records show, the next in size, one of 9X pounds, was taken 

 at Upper Dam by Thomas Barbour in 1897. Other records are of September, 1874, one 

 of 7 pounds; August, 1876, two of 5 pounds and some of i>^ to 3 pounds. In September, 

 1885, one angler caught one of 4, one of 7K1 and one of 8K. and three others got one each 

 of 5>2, 7K1 and g^4 pounds. J. A. French furnished and vouched for the correctness of 

 a list caught at Upper Dam on a fly in August and September, 1890: August 29-31, 6)4, 

 6K, aH, and 6K; September 1-30, inclusive, S,^, 6^, 4, 6^, 9K, 6K, 7H, 7H, 7ts> 

 6^, SA, 6A, 6K, 5. 5A. 7A. 6X, 7A> 6K, 6^. 6,^, 4^, and 8^- 



Plug fishing. — ^As elsewhere stated, the so-called plug fishing is from anchored boat 

 over some deep hole where the fish congregate in the summer months. Oftentimes these 

 places are or have been baited to attract the fish. For many years plug fishing was an 

 approved and favorite method of even those who disapprove of it now. The alleged 

 and apparent, or perhaps it should be said evident, decrease in number of large trout 

 gradually and justly became to be, in part at least, laid to this method. From time 

 to time efi'orts were made to secure legislation to prohibit plug fishing, but the influen- 

 tial antagonism to such measures defeated them. Therefore, plug fishing has continued, 

 but not wholly unabated. There are sportsmen who will not resort to that mode 

 even if there are those who will not desist. The plug fishing method is due to the fact 

 that, as a rule, trout, especially large ones, could be caught in no other way during 

 the midsummer season, and there were places where trout could be caught throughout 

 the season. Mr. Rich stated that if one wished to catch a big trout in midsummer he 

 must bait and sink in deep water, the usual depth being 40 to 50 feet. Letters to the 

 writer from Daniel Haywood and Daniel Haley, both experienced guides of Rangeley 

 and lifelong residents of the region, stated that still, or plug fishing, was all done in 35 

 to 40 feet of water with clay bottom. 



It was reported that on August 6, 1874, a party of two at Stony Battie, Moose- 

 lucmaguntic Lake, took with bait 26 trout that weighed about 30 pounds, and good 

 success was had at Bugle Cove. In 1880 it was authentically reported that on August 

 20 one man and his guide, fishing from i p. m. to 5 p. m., in 30 to 40 feet of water, in 

 Mooselucmaguntic Lake, took 16 trout weighing 52 pounds, as follows: One, 8>2; one, 

 5K; one, 5; one, 4K; two, 4; one, 3K; three, 3; one, 2; and six, i pound each. In 1884 

 an angler, writing on August 9, contributed the following statement to a sportsmen's 

 paper : 



The trout fishing here is something remarkable. Yesterday, August 8, a gentleman took five trout 

 weighing together 28 pounds. A few days before he captured 8 weighing 38 pounds. The only mode ' 



