116 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES EISH COMMISSION. 
Comparative data relative to the salmon fishery . — In 1880 the catch of salmon in 
Penobscot Bay and Kiver and their tributaries was 10,016, having an estimated 
weight of 110,176 pounds. The weirs and traps used numbered 230; the gill nets, 36. 
The fishery yielded 169,891 pounds, valued at $32,800, in 1887; 192,177 pounds, worth 
$38,019, in 1888; 110,469 pounds, valued at $31,156, in 1889, and 92,282 pounds, worth 
$19,121, in 1892. 
As previously shown, in 1895 193 traps and 10 gill nets took 4,395 salmon, weigh- 
ing 65,011 pounds, valued at $11,356, and in 1896, 184 traps and 11 gill nets caught 
6,403 salmon, weighing 80,175 pounds, valued at $12,716. 
Comparing 1896 with 1880, it appears that there was a reduction of 27 per cent in 
the number of nets used and a decrease of 36 per cent in the number of salmou 
caught. A relatively large catch was made in 1887 to 1889, inclusive, and the 
decrease in 1896, as compared with those years, was marked. From 1892 to 1895 the 
output declined nearly 30 per cent, and the general tendency for the past eight years 
has been toward a decrease, 1896 presenting a very ideasing contrast, of which the 
fishermen all make mention. 
Following is a continuous record from 1874 to 1896 of two of the most successful 
salmou weirs. These are located on the east side of the river, in the town of Penob- 
scot, a short distance from the southern end of Whitmore Island. The number of 
salmou taken in 1896 was 20 per cent greater than in any previous year and over 93 
per cent greater than the average for the preceding 22 years. Similar comparative 
statements for other nets are at hand, showing the iucrease in 1896 over previous 
seasons. 
Record of two Penobscot River salmon weirs, from 1874 to 1896, inclusive. 
Year 
1874.. 
1875. 
1870. . 
1877.. 
1878. . 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884.. 
1885. 
1886.. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890.. 
1891.. 
1892.. 
1893. 
1894.. 
1895. 
1890. 
Note.— The weirs are set one or two days after the ice moves out. Occasionally they are put in 
place be ' ore the ice leaves. 
left river. 
nrst 
salmon . 
Apr. 20 
Apr. 30 
Apr. 18 
May 13 
Apr. 14 
Apr. 25 
Mar. 30 
Apr. 24 
Apr. 4 
Apr. 21 
Apr. 25 
May 12 
Apr. 9 
May 7 
Mar. 21 
Apr. 17 
Apr. 10 
May 1 
Apr. 13 
....do ... 
Apr. 9 
Apr. 29 
Apr. 19 
May 8 [ 
Apr. 16 
Apr. 21 
Apr. 23 
May 8 
Apr. 15 
Apr. 29 
Apr. 2 
Apr. 21 
Apr. 7 
Apr. 20 
Apr, 2 
Apr. 28 
....do ... 
Apr. 9 
Apr. 15 
Apr. 23 
Apr. 12 
Apr. 19 
Apr. 6 
Apr. 21 
Apr. 12 
Apr. 16 
Date of catching 
largest number 
of salmon. 
Total 
number 
of 
salmon. 
Aggre- 
Average 
we|htofKx h *“ f 
T, 480 
1, 711 
1, 643 
911 
1, 104 
1,631 
2, 020 
2, 196 
1,246 
641 
1, 199 
989 
1,384 
1, 160 
1, 191 
2, 524 
14. 57 
12. 97 
15. 10 
13. 92 
13. 52 
11. 95 
12. 92 
17. 41 
11. 11 
16. 77 
12. 13 
16. 31 
13.47 
13. 81 
14. 66 
15. 63 
10. 25 
15. 22 
13.57 
13. 19 
13. 15 
