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 Cape Gellison, the fishing is mainly for salmon. The shore of Cape 
Gellison 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 ouly 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 ot 
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 Hastern River) was 1,000 
salmon. 
Directly in the mouth of the Penobscot (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 Orland, 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, their total 
catch being 1,044 salmon. The most of these weirs are located in the towns of Buckgport, on the 
east side, and Winterport, on the west. Above Winterport Village the yield rapidly diminishes, 
and 2 miles below Hampden 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 and Hampden, using 16 set-nets, but not con- 
stantly. At Veazie and Eddington there were six men, with 10 drift-nets, and their catch was 100 
salmon. On the east branch of the Penobscot 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. 
