THE RIVER FISHERIES OF MAINE. 677 
drought the water becomes brackish above Richmond, 14 miles farther up, and the flood-tide is 
strong enough to reverse the current some 10 miles farther still. On the Penobscot marine alge 
are not found above Winterport, 18 miles below the natural head of the tide. 
The brackish portions of a river have a lower temperature than the fresh portions, varying 
with the proportions of sea water present. The ocean water on the coast of Maine has a lower 
temperature than the fresh rivers all the summer season, from May to October, inclusive. When 
the salt and fresh water meet they do not immediately commingle, but the fresh water, being 
lighter, flows out on the surface and the salt water sinks to the depths. On the flood tide a 
strong inflowing current of salt water exists at the bottom often while the surface current is still 
flowing seaward. The salt water in the lower stratum, exposed over its entire upper surface to 
‘the fresh water, slowly commingles with it and rises, to be replaced by the constantly renewed 
flood from the sea. 
The most of the rivers empty into broad estuaries before reaching the open séa. The most 
notable example is the Penobscot, whose estuary is 30 miles long and 20 wide at its mouth. The 
most notable exceptions are the Kennebec and the Saco, whose lower courses are confined in 
narrow channels quite to their entrance into the open sea. 
The river fisheries are mainly carried on in the tidal portions, where strong flood and ebb 
currents alternate. Weir fishing is never attempted above the flow of the tide, and the most 
common form of weir depends for its working upon the retreat of the tide, which leaves the fish 
stranded upon a floor. 
The tide averages about 11 feet rise and fall, varying from 84 feet at Saco to 18 feet at 
Eastport. 
ARTIFICIAL CONDITIONS.—The artificial alterations in the condition of the rivers are very 
considerable. They arise in part from the cultivation of the soil, but mainly from the erection of 
dams and the throwing of refuse from the saw-mills into the water. The exposure of the bare 
earth to the action of rains, as in all cultivated fields, especially in hilly districts, results in the 
washing of great quantities of soil into the rivers, where it settles in all places not swept by strong 
currents, but more especially near the mouths of the rivers. From the first occupation of the 
country* until very recent times it has been the-general custom to throw into the river all refuse 
from the saw-mills, including not only sawdust but shavings, edgings, and in many cases even slabs. 
* The aborignal population of Maine does not appear to have been at any time very dense. It has been estimated at 
37,000in 1615, but the data are exceedingly meager and this may be erroneous. Aboutthattime they were greatly reduced 
by intertribal war, and still more by a destructive pestilence, by which it is believed that whole tribes were nearly ex- 
termmated. Between 1675 and 1758 they were involved in repeated destructive wars with the whites, by which many 
perished and many more were driven to emigrate to Canada. By the close of the eighteenth century but a fow hundred 
remained. The coast was much frequented by European fishermen at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and 
the first settlements were mere fishing stations, located at points convenient for the capture and curing of cod and 
other marine species. The trade in furs early attracted attention, and many posts were established at accessible points 
on the coast and larger rivers, mainly with an eye to trade, Afterthe fishermen came the lumbermen, attracted by the 
magnificent forests of timber which covered the whole land with the exception of the corn fields of a few thousand 
aborigines ; and after all there came the white tillers of the soil. The earlier settlements experienced many vicissitudes; 
some of them were abandoned after a few years existence, and many were swept out of existence by their savage 
foes ; but there are some settlements that have been continuously occupied from as early a date as 1623, and many 
others that can claim almost as long an existence, with the exception of a temporary suspension in consequence of 
Indian hostilities. Yet so slow was the increase in population that in 1675 (just before the beginning of the Indian 
wars) there were but 6,000 people in the whole State, there being at that time from 120,000 to 150,000 in all New 
England. In 1675 a desolating Indian war broke out, and the progress of settlement was arrested for about forty 
years. In 1735 the white population is estimated to have been 9,000; in 1743 there were eleven towns and 12,000 
people. Wars with the Indians finally closed in 1758, and a year later fear of their renewal was allayed by the con- 
quest of Canada from France. Immediately after this began an extensive immigration from Massachusetts, which 
continued uninterruptedly for more than half a century, and brought the population from 24,000 in 1763 to 96,540 in 
1789, 298,269 in 1820, and 399,455 in 1830. The population in 1880 was 648,936. 
