THE RIVER FISHERIES OF MAINE. 701 
marked contrast with the Penobscot River, where the principal catch is in the month of June, and 
where the number of salmon to be taken after the first ten days of July is rarely enough to 
warrant the fishermen in keeping their weirs in working condition. 
PENMAQUAN RIVER.—This little tributary of Cobscook Bay drains a small territory in the 
towns of Charlotte and Baring, nét exceeding 50 square miles in area, and affords an outlet to 
Penmaquan Lake and several smaller bodies of water. It is naturally well adapted to the growth 
of alewives, which formerly abounded in it, and -tradition also says that there were once a good 
many salmon here. But very far back in the history of the country dams were built without suit- 
able provision for the ascent of migratory fish, and the usual result followed. The salmon have 
entirely disappeared and very few alewives remain. 
DENNY’s RIVER.—This is the first considerable stream west of the Penmaquan, and is the 
principal tributary of Cobscook Bay. It drains a basin of about 150 square miles, including two 
considerable lakes, Meddybemps and Cathance. The character of both the Denny’s and its prin- 
cipal branch, the Cathance, is favorable for the breeding of salmon, and alewives find a breeding 
ground of great extent in Meddybemps Lake. Both of these species are known to have abounded 
in the river anciently, and tradition says that shad, too, frequented it. The shad disappeared 
early, but the salmon and alewives continued to ascend the river until 1846. Since the first 
settlement of the country there has been a dam at Dennysville, near the mouth of the river, but 
fish were able to pass it. In 1846 another dam, quite impassable, was built a mile farther up the 
river. The effect of this was to nearly exterminate the alewives, and the salmon, though they 
continued to breed in the river below this dam, were reduced to very small numbers.. In 1858 
this dam was destroyed by a fire which consumed the mill, and fish were again admitted to the 
upper waters. The alewives were stilleshut out from Meddybemps Lake, but in 1863 a fishway 
was constructed there which admitted them to the lake. 
After the reopening of the river the salmon increased but slowly, owing to their persistent 
persecution at the dams and the setting of gill-nets at the mouth of the river. The alewives, 
however, increased very satisfactorily; in 1865 the number taken was estimated at 2 barrels; in 
1866 at 15 barrels, and in 1867 at 240 barrels (about 125,000 fish). Since then the passage of the 
river has been a second time obstructed by a difficult dam, and a falling off in the number of fish 
resulted. At present the alewives are increasing, and it is estimated that in 1880 there were 
taken about 75,000, of which 30,000 were pickled and shipped to New York, and the remainder 
mostly smokéd and consumed at home. The only mode of fishing for alewives employed here is 
with the dip-net. 
Salmon are taken occasionally by spear and dip-net at the dams, now and then with the hook, 
but mainly in set-nets at the mouth of the river in tide-water. In 1880 there were four of these 
nets in use, and the total number of salmon taken is estimated at 200. 
Denny’s River is noted as the only river in the United States where. fly-fishing for salmon has 
been practiced. In 1867, and for some years previous, it was the resort of several gentlemen 
from Portland, who succeeded fairly well, and the sport bas been continued down to the present 
time by residents of Dennysville. 
CoBscookK OR ORANGE RIVER.—This is a very small river, lying almost wholly in the town 
of Whiting. It was in primitive times inhabited by many salmon and alewives, and according to 
tradition by shad also. Near the head of the tide three insurmountable dams were built many 
years ago, utterly exterminating the salmon, and reducing the alewives so that the catch was 
barely a dozen a year. In 1861, and subsequent years, an effort was made to restore both ale- 
wives and salmon, but it was only partially successful and at present the river is entirely unpro- 
ductive. 
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