s on the eastern side of the
southern end of Whitmore Island. He caught 62 salmon in 1895, and 100
in 1896. He thinks that the removal of obstructions to the passage of
fish to their spawning-grounds would be all that is necessary to secure
a good run of fish in the river, but believes that under present
conditions the salmon-cultural work of the Government is very useful in
sustaining the fishery.

Three weirs of Mr. E. A. Bowden, located on the eastern side of
Whitmore Island, above those of Mr. Heath, took, 31 salmon in 1895, and
85 in 1896. Mr. Bowden says:

"I think that if it was not for the hatchery we would not have any
salmon to speak of, for all the school we have is in June. April, May,
and July salmon are very scarce."

Mr. Charles G. Atkins, superintendent of the government salmon hatchery
in Orland, Me., informs the writer that he has been inclined to believe
that each year a great many salmon succeed in reaching their spawning
grounds; but recent observations have caused him to change his mind,
and he is now of the opinion that only relatively few salmon elude the
traps, weirs, and gill nets, surmount the dams and fishways, escape the
poachers, and succeed in depositing their eggs under conditions
favorable to their development. The dam at Bangor, while certainly a
formidable obstruction to the passage of fish, is probably passable at
high water. It is provided with a fishway, and some fish are known to
surmount the dam by this means. Above Bangor, in the main river, there
are dams at Great Works and Montague, the dam at Montague being an
especially serious obstruction, although it is provided with a good
fishway. Below the dam at Bangor there is little poaching, but below
the other dams--especially at Montague--comparatively large numbers of
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 Penobsc