The Salmon Fishery of Penobscot Bay and River in 1895-96 | Page 5

weir," Orland. A brush hook, about 50 feet long and extending down stream, is built on some of the weirs. It serves the purpose of leading the fish into the net. Value, $35.
+-------+ | | | | | | | x x | __ |x x| ( \ x x \ \ x x \ x x \ x x \ x x \ x x \ x x \ x x \ x x \x x x | x x x | x x x | x | | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | | ----+----

The salmon fishery of the Penobscot basin is carried on with practically a single type of apparatus, namely, the brush weir. In most parts of the region this trap is used in the same form that it had in the primitive days of the fishery, but in some sections the weir has undergone evolution into a combination brush and twine trap, and in places into a trap made wholly of netting.
Some of the types of salmon nets used in this region are illustrated and described by the accompanying figures. In addition to these, which are wholly or partly of brush, a common apparatus is the floating trap, constructed entirely of twine, such as is now generally employed in the New England States. This is the only salmon net in use at Islesboro and in some other sections. The local and individual variations in the form of the nets depend on the topography of the bottom and shore and the habits of the salmon, and are the result of long experience.
The fishing begins as soon as the ice moves out in spring and continues until some time in July. Fish are rarely taken before the last two weeks in April. May and June are the best months. In that part of the river adjacent to Bangor there is a small fishery prosecuted with set gill nets. The nets are from 100 to 200 feet long and have a 6-inch mesh.

Salmon weir, Castine. Hedge 200 feet long, made of stakes driven in mud interwoven with brush to low-water mark, covered with netting beyond. Great pound, 30 feet long, 30 feet wide at base, made of netting; entrance 8 feet wide. Inner pounds, 10 feet wide, with board floors; outer entrance 2 feet wide, inner 1 foot. Value, $70.
+-------+ | | | / \ | |/ \| | | | | | / \ | |/ \| / \ / \ / / \ \ / / \ \ / / | \ \ // | \\ / | \ | | | | | | | | |
| | | | ----+----

Salmon weir, Stockton. Leader or hedge, 400 yards long, all brush except 20 yards next to head, which piece is netting above low-water mark and brush below. Main compartment or great pound 80 feet long and 25 feet wide, with 10-foot entrance on each aide of leader. Smaller compartments, directed downstream, 21 feet long; with 2-foot entrance to first and 8-inch entrance to second. Value, $100.
xxxxx xx xxx x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x | x x x x x x | x x x x xx | xx x x x x | xx xxx | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | ----+----

Salmon weir, Stockton. Leader 200 feet long; brush from shore to low-water mark; remainder brush at bottom, netting at top. Head 60 feet long; outer pound 40 feet, middle pound 12 feet, inner pound 8 feet; brush below low-water line, netting above; plank floors in two smaller compartments. Value, $40.
+-------+ | | | | | | | / \ | |/ \| | | | / \ | |/ \| / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / / | \ \ \ / | \ / \/ | \/ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | ----+----

Salmon weir, Winterport. Leader, brush, 6 rods long. Heart, brush or netting, 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, with 8-foot entrance on each side of leader. Pockets, netting, 10 feet in diameter, 9-inch entrance, wooden floor. Value, $50.
xxx x x xx x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x | x x x x xx x x | x x xx x | x | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | ----+----

"Upanddown" Salmon