salmon are sacrificed by the illegal use of the spear and drift net. In
1896 all the salmon below Montague were at the mercy of poachers after
July 15, when all wardens on the river were laid off. The supply of
spawning fish was thus greatly reduced. The people above Bangor have no
interest in preserving the salmon supply of the river, as they receive
none of the benefits from fishing which are enjoyed by fishermen of the
lower river.

This year Mr. Atkins, having this matter under consideration, visited
the east branch of the Penobscot River. A certain tributary of the east
branch, which was said to be one of the best spawning-grounds for
salmon in the Penobscot basin, was obstructed by a dam in the spawning
region. The dam was impassable to fish in July, and had been so during
the previous months. In a deep pool below the dam, which was reported
to be a favorite resort for salmon each season, no salmon were found.
In other words, if the salmon had reached this stream they could not
have gotten above the dam, and would undoubtedly have congregated in
the pool mentioned and been noticed, but no fish had ascended even that
far.




Extension of salmon-hatching operations on the Penobscot.

The establishment of branch hatcheries has been suggested in order to
utilize the spawning salmon in the region which lies above commercial
fishing, and thus increase by artificial means the production of young
fish. It is well known that even under the best conditions now
prevailing in our streams the eggs of anadromous fishes like the salmon