The Salmon Fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895-96 | Page 2

this year was 246 salmon, with a weight of 3,444 pounds and a value of $492.
The outcome of the fishery in 1896 exceeded that of 1895 by 2,008 salmon; 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 in 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 nets, 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 Northport, 150 in 3 nets in Islesboro, and 150 in 3 nets in Verona.
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 in 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 Verona 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 comparatively 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:

TABLE. Persons Employed
Towns | 1895 1896 | --------------------------| ---- ---- | Brooksville (Cape Rosier) | 4 2 | Bucksport | 10 9 | Camden | 2 2 | Castine | 3 2 | Hampden | 1 1 | Islesboro | 7 6 | Lincolnville | 7 7 | Matinicus & Ragged Islands| 4 8 | Northport | 7 6 | Orland | 17 22 | Orrington | 5 5 | Penobscot | 16 15 | Searsport | 3 2 | South Brewer | 2 2 | Stockton and Prospect | 17 15 | Verona | 21 21 | Winterport | 7 8 | | --- --- | Total | 133 133 |

TABLE. Apparatus, boats, etc.
| Weirs and traps.* | Gill nets. | | | | | 1895 1896 | 1895 1896 | | --------- --------- | --------- --------- | | No. Value No. Value | No. Value No. Value | | --- ----- --- ----- | --- ----- --- ----- | Brooksville (Cape Rosier)| 7 $420 4 $240 | 0 | Bucksport | 13 511 11 455 | | Camden | 5 200 5 200 | | Castine | 4 252 3 201 | | Hampden | | 2 $26 2 $26 | Islesboro | 17 925 16 875 | | Lincolnville | 12 650 14 700 | | Matinicus and | | | Ragged Islands | 1 1,000 2 2,500 | | Northport | 15 1,155 12 1,005 | | Orland | 19 664 26 888 | | Orrington | 2 99 2 99 | 5 58 5 58 | Penobscot | 24 1,587 22 1,421 | | Searsport | 4 213 3 152 | | South Brewer | | 3 105 3 105 | Stockton and Prospect | 26 1,530 20 1,183 | | Verona | 37 2,801 37 2,760 | | Winterport | 7 467 7 467 | 1 10 | | --- ------ --- ------ | -- ---