114 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The total number of salmon caught in 1895 was 4,395; these weighed 65,011 
pounds and yielded the fishermen $11,356; in gill nets 117 salmon were caught, 
weighing 1,985 pounds and valued at $323. In 1896 the result of the fishery was 6,403 
salmon, weighing 80,175 pounds, with a market value of $12,716; the gill-net catch 
this year was 246 salmon, with a weight of 3,444 pounds and a value of $492. 
The outcome of the fishery iu 1896 exceeded that of 1895 by 2,008 salmon ; the 
increase in weight was 15,164 pounds, and in value $1,360. The percentage of increase 
in these items was as follows: Fish taken, 46 per cent; weight of catch, 23 per cent; 
value of catch, 12 per cent. 
As an illustration of the uniform increase iu the number of salmon taken in 1896, 
the following facts may be cited: The nets that were set in both years numbered 162; 
of these, 146 uets, or 90 per cent, took more salmon in 1896 than in 1895; and only 16, 
or 10 per cent, took the same number or less. The comparative figures for the nets 
that secured more fish in 1896 were 3,449 salmon in 1895 and 5,681 in 1896. The nets 
whose catch was the same or less in 1896 caught 295 fish in 1895 and 289 in 1896. 
The largest number of salmon taken by one fisherman in 1895 was 408; these 
were caught in 3 nets on the lower side of Sears Island, in the township of Searsport. 
Other catches by single fishermen in 1895 were 104 salmon in 4 nets in Stockton, 102 
in 5 nets in Nortbport, 150 in 3 nets in Islesboro, and 150 in 3 nets in Yerona. 
In 1896 the 3 Searsport nets first mentioned took 426 salmon, and a large number 
of fishermen secured between 100 and 200 fish in 2 to 5 nets. Thus, in Stockton 100 
fish were caught in 2 nets, 105 in 3 nets, and 110 in 1 net; in Penobscot 192 salmon 
were taken in 2 nets, 105 in 2 nets, and 127 iu 2 nets; in Northport 5 nets obtained 
204 fish and 4 nets 125 fish; in Islesboro 3 nets took 130 fish, 3 nets 150 fish, 4 nets 
190 fish, and 2 nets 100 fish; in Yerona 3 nets caught 174 fish, 2 nets 106 fish, 3 nets 
150 fish, 1 net 100 fish, and 2 nets 170 fish. 
About 80 per cent of the fishing is done in that part of the river between the 
northern end of Whitmore Island and Islesboro. While single weirs in that part of 
the river between Bucksport and Bangor may take as many as 50 or 60 salmon some 
seasons, the average was only 14 in 1895 and 26 in 1896, and the aggregate is com- 
paratively small. In the townships of Lincolnville and Camden, which are the lowest 
points in the Penobscot region at which salmon fishing is done, the average catch to a 
net in 1895 was only 16 salmon and in 1896 only 19 salmon. 
Detailed statistics for 1895 and 1896 . — The following tables show, by townships, 
the extent of the salmon fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895 and 1896 : 
Persons employed. 
Towns. 
1895. 
1896. 
Towns. 
1895. 
1896. 
Brooksville (Cape Rosier) 
4 
2 
Orrington 
5 
5 
10 
9 
Penobscot 
1C 
15 
Camden 
Searsport 
3 
2 
Cast ine 
3 
- 2 
South Brewer 
2 
Hampden 
1 
1 
Stockton and Prospect 
17 
15 
Yerona . . . 
21 
21 
Lincolnville 
„ 
7 
Winterport 
Matinicus and Bagged Islands 
Northp^rt -- ........... 
4 
6 
Total 
183 
133 
17 
22 
