Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Spring 1964 by Maine State Library

F'ISH AND GAME Department of Inland Fisheries and Game Ronald T. Speers

Commissioner

STATE OF MAINE

George W. Bucknam Deputy Commissioner Stanley P. Linscott

Supt. of Hatch eries

Maynard F. Marsh

Spring, 1964

Vol. VI, No. 1

Chief Warden

Dr. W. Harry Everhart Chief, Fishery Division Lyndon H. Bond Co-ordinator, Fishery Research C. Keith Miller

Business Manager

Kenneth W. Hodgdon

Fishing Roundup

Programs in Pictures

Return of the Native

Today's Laws for Tomorrow's Fishing

William H. Meyer

Farmland Fat-man

Robert W. Boettger

Fish Cookery ... Maine Style

Kenneth E. Gray

Ten Easy Ways to Drown

Edward M. Korb

Conservation Education Summary

Franklin A. Downie

Atlantic Salmon Report

Richard E. Cutting

Once Common-Now Gone

Donald F. Mairs & Richard B. Parks

The Crayfish

Matthew Scott

Letters, Notes, Comment

White Perch Are for Everyone

Roger P. AuClair

Atlantic Salmon Fishing ... A Look Back

Alfred L. Meister

William C. Mincher

Chief, Game Division William C. Mincher Director, Information and Education Laurence F. Decker Chief Engineer

Advisory Council Dr. Alonzo H. Garcelon, Chairman Augusta, Maine Arthur Bennett James Mendelson Presque Isle Belfast Fred B. Howard Philip F. Rowe South Portland West Buxton Reginald L. Parker Don Wilson Bath Moosehead

:Unlne Flsh nnd Gnme is published by the Maine Departm nt of Inland Fisheries and Game, Augusta, Main . © Maine Dept. of Inland FishPri es and Garn 1964.

William C. Mincher, Editor Kenneth E. Gray, Photo Editor William W. Cross, Photographer adverti~ing accepted. Written permission mu!'-t be secured from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheri s and Game before reproducing any part of this copyrighte d material. Unsolicited manusc.-ipts, photos, etc., will be handled with car . hut Jlnine J<'iio.h nnd Game cannot a.·sume r es ponsibility for loss or damage to same. They will be returned to th e sender if a<:C'ompanit-cl h~· ~ufficient po. tage. o

CREDITS .\II photographs in this issue were made by the J nformation and Education Division unless

otherwis indicated. 8ketches not otherwise ·r·edited ar· by T d Hunker. Cover photo!'l by Dill rqs.· .

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 196..f

THE COVER Visitors to Baxter State Park may be able to catch a glimpse of a caribou if they're lucky. For a closer look at these interesting animals, a trip to the Fish and Game Dept. Game Farm in Gray is suggested. It's easy to get pictures of the three exhibited there.

Fishing Roundup A brief look back at '63 and a guess about '64

OLDING this monster for the camera was quite a chore for Lucien Caron of Lewiston, who caught the big togue (lake trout) June 2, 1963, at Moosehead Lake. It weighed 28 pounds. This was typical of some of the big togue taken in Maine last year, and we hope the 27-pounder landed early in May this year by Donald White of Bath will be just as typical of the way the 1964 season goes. At press time, some nice fish had been taken-several species, not just togue--and it's a safe bet that this season will stack up well when the comparisons are being made. Maine fishing is consistently good. Not for every fisherman, without a doubt (from season to season, listen to the comments!). But the reports of trophy fish, many of which are registered in the "One That Didn't Get Away Club" each year, show that the fishing is holding up. The club also shows that most sportsmen and women who know what they're doing, manage finally to tie into these lunkers that defy anglers for years in a surprising number of Maine lakes and streams. Some fishermen don't enter their fish in the club, which means that the club listing shows only some of the trophy fish each year. We hear of many good fish, too, which just miss the club requirements but are beauts, nonetheless. Details on the club, sponsored by the Department of Economic Development,

Maine Fi h and Game- Spring, 1964

We have every confidence that things will go well in 1964. Little kids will catch sunfish, and they'll have a ball. More sophisticated kids will catch white perch and brook trout, and they'll have a ball. Many nonresidents will be happy with the smallmouth and largemouth black bass they like to catch but which many Maine anglers overlook. Some anglers have learned to catch the wily brown trout that others cuss out ... and the sportsmen who go for the landlocked salmon, togue, and other trout will have their share of success. Yes, it's safe to say that we'll have a fine fishing season in Maine in 1964. And 1965. And 1966. And .... We always do. And that's the truth!

are available from that department and from any fish and game warden. The weather wasn't the best for fishing last year, considering the entire open water season. Ice-outs came at about the average dates, but the summer and fall were shy of rain. Water flows were low, and waters were warm. Especially for Atlantic salmon fishing, this doesn't augur well; some respectable Atlantics were taken although conditions were below par. This year, ice-outs were also about normal, after a slightly early start that was interrupted by a cold snap that saw new ice making again all over the state. The month of May was warm, and good fishing was off to a fine start as we went to press.

THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY CLUB FOR 1963

TOP FISH IN

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The Angler

Brook Trout

William W. Jones, Putnam, Conn. Robert Moreau, Waterville, Maine George Kelley, Portland, Maine David S. Bertolotti, Jr., Bangor, Maine

6-4 6-4 6-3 5-14

Brown Trout

Joseph H. McKay, Houlton, Maine Stanley Plisga, Waterville, Maine Bernard L. Jackson, Sr., Rockland, Maine George E. Pelchat, Lewiston, Maine Gerald LeBlanc, Springvale, Maine

16-14 13-5 11-12 10-12 10-12

24 22 22¥.i

The Lure

Where Caught

15 20 20 20

Parson Tom Nite-walker Par on Tom Mooselook wobbler

Pierce Pond Great Pond Pierce Pond Great Pond

Sewed bait Red & white bucktail Sewed smelt Maribou weighted fly fooi!!elook wobbler

Nickerson Lake almon Lake Alford Lake Lake Auburn Mousam Lake

Sebec Lake

29 28 291A 28%

20 20 15 30

Lake Trout (Togue)

Marion Blake, Milford, Conn. Kenneth Purdue, Brownville Jct., Maine

27 26

Warren Pierce, Mechanic Falls, Maine Roy Bradford, Bath Maine

23 23

38 38

20 20

Pearl wobbler Homemade spoon & live bait Sewed bait Mooselook wobbler

Landlocked Salmon

Edward N. Fleischer, Mountain Lakes, N. J. J. Claude Pelletier, Clinton, Maine Abbott W. Ranger, South Paris, Maine John H. ·Overlock, Augusta, Maine.

9-3

Mooselook wobbler

Colcord Pond

8-13

8-10

8-2

Pearl wobbler Horsefly Mooselook wobbler

St. Froid Lake Rangeley Lake Rangeley Lake

Atlantic Salmon

Charles A. Dowling, Whitneyville, Maine Dr. Nathaniel Fuller, Canton, Mas .

35 20

Down east special fly Rusty rat patten fly

Machias River Narraguagus River

Black Bass

Marcel E. Dutil, Lewiston, Maine Hayward W. Harris, Topsham, Maine John Mahmarian, Oradell, N. J . Daniel Borders, Brunswick, Maine

Flatfish Jitterbug gray & white Hula popper Live bait

Cobbosseecontee Cobbosseecontee Stream Moose Pond, Denmark Bath Water Works

Maine Fish and Game - Spring, 1964

18 16-12

38 36

7-13· 7-1

23% 23 23 21

7 6-8

20 5

Schoodic Lake Moosehead Lake Sebec Lake

Flume with windows was built at Jellison Brook at Green Lake for fish behavior study by Fishery Biologist Owen Fenderson, left, assisted by Malcolm Redmond. Brook flow and fish were diverted into flume for observation.

Progranis â&#x20AC;˘ in Fishways are now being built in dams at Woodland, above, and Grand Falls, farther up the St. Croix River, to pass Atlantic salmon and other fish. Work is financed by Georgia-Pacific Corp., U. S. Accelerated Public Works Progr.am, and the Maine Fish and Game Department.

New area-headquarters building has been built for use of department personnel in Ashland. Similar building at Machias also serves Atlantic Salmon Commission.

Pietu res Rugged training by Mountain Rescue Unit, including game wardens and Baxter State Park ranger, has already helped the recently formed unit on mercy missions. Instructor, right, and Warden Don Walker watch Warden Roger Spaulding.

Training session in boating safety was conducted for warden supervisors by Rowland Hastings, U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Left to right: Wilfred Atkins, Chief Warden Maynard Marsh, Walter Bissett, Curtis Cooper, David Priest, Hasting s, and Robert Johnson, director of new Bureau of Watercraft Registration and Safety.

Engineering Division built new dam with 80-foot spillway for water control at game management area in Hodgdon, Aroostook County, used by waterfowl. Joint tests by Central Maine Power Company and the Fish and Game Dept. showed that fish could withstand high water-pressures in pumping system involved in company operations under development.

Game Division is testing effect of 3" square mirrors of metal in preventing accidents at night. Auto light beams reflect into woods to scare deer, moose, etc., into immobility long enough for cars to pass by.

State Police co-operation enabled Warden Service inspectors to get training in firearms use and safety. From left: Alanson Noble, Harry Kearney, Herbert Vernon, State Police Sgt. Francis Woodhead, Homer Edgecomb, Gene Mallory. Woodhead is instructor at his department's training school. 5

in early December, 1963, when the native caribou returned to Maine-twenty-three of them, free to roam the windswept slopes of Mount Katahdin and other areas of Baxter State Park. Maine has been without these once abundant animals since the early 1900's when they disappeared because of over-hunting, lack of enough winter food, and, probably, other reasons. Negotiations with the Canadian Province of Newfoundland resulted in an exchange of twenty caribou for 320 partridge or ruffed grouse, which the province wants to establish as a game bird. After the 101 st Maine Legislature had directed the Fish and Game Department to carry out the importation, Cole's Express and the Boston & Rockland Transportation Company donated two trailer trucks and three drivers, and the United States Navy agreed to airlift the animals to the rocky mountaintop. Dr. Ladd Heldenbrand, Portland veterinarian, volunteered his services for the animals during their twelve-hundredmile trip. Kenneth W. Hodgdon, Game Division Chief, and Game Biologist Harold "Doc" Blanchard went to the island province over Thanksgiving, along with the truck caravan, on the eight-day journey. Photographer Kenneth E. Gray of the I & E Division went, too, to make still and motion pictures of the highly unusual project.

â&#x20AC;˘6

T WAS

Showing great stamina, the animals withstood the trip very well. Nor did the airlift seem to bother them, although one died, apparently of suffocation, on her Âˇway to the Northwest Basin area of the mountain. The caribou were captured in November, after the October breeding season, so it was hoped -that the seventeen females would ~roduce one calf each in late spring of 1964. November was chosen for the capture because the animals can be taken best when they swim Victoria Lake in southwestern Newfoundland on their fall migration to wintering areas. For the highway and ferry journey, each animal received a shot of penicillin, streptomycin, and tranquilizer. At Baxter State Park, before their release, each got another shot-penicillin and streptomycin to help them warn off any infection. The caribou, or American reindeer, weren't brought back as a game animal for hunters. Though it is hoped that the herd will grow with the years, Maine doesn't have enough suitable habitat to support large numbers of caribou. And the animals are protected by law, both in and out of the 201,000-acre park. Baxter Park has long been noted for its many varieties of wildlife, and now still another species has been added, for future generations to enjoy. Maine Fish and Game- Spring, 1964

Pictures by Ken Gray, Bill Cross, and Bill Mincher

Signs identifying the Caribou Caravan were attached to the trailer trucks. The Boston and Rockland Transportation Co. and Cole 's Express both donated trucks and drivers for the highly unusual project. .

By Bill Mincher

The trucks were too large to go below deck, as is usual on the ferry between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. They were hoisted to the after deck and chained down.

After they were captured, the caribou were held in a corral on the lake shore while the crew from Maine was journeying

road and sea to the island province.

A goodly crowd of spectators watched the unloading at Lower Togue Pond

Above: a drug to immobilize the animals was injected by dart gun. Then , right, unable to walk, they were carried to a smaller corral for " processing. " 8

Among the operations of processing were the attaching of numbered tags to ears and antlers, and painting of yellow numbers on the backs of the animals so they could be identified from the air.

Everyone watching seemed much interested in the goings-on. With their eyes covered, the caribou were less excited over their adventure. Feet were kept tied for the airlift.

Navy ground crew members-at the corral and on the mountaindirected the helicopters. Although the around was frozen at the corral, the bl;st from the whirling rotor blades kicked up stinging clouds of dust and gravel. Safety goggles were a " must" for those working near the aircraft. 9

It was 8 :05 a.m. , Tuesday, December 3, 1963, when the first pair of caribou left the ground at the corral. Fifteen minutes later, +hey arrived on the top of Mt. Katahdin and were turned loose.

Six caribou were released at a lower altitude-Roaring Brook Campground-after a storm moved in and flying conditions deteriorated.

Pickup trucks and station wagons, rather than helicopters , were used to take the last six animals to Roaring Brook. The caribou were lined up on the ground, headed in the same direction so they would stay in a group. 10

The Prime Movers So many individuals took part in Operation Caribou that it would be impossible to list all of them. Men from the department's Game Division, Informa tion and Education Division, Warden Service ... from the Province of Newfoundland 's conservation branch . . . from Ma ine State Po lice and the Baxter Park staff of rangers ... from Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, which supplied aircraft fuel. Reginald Parker of Bath, of the Fish and Game Advisory Coun ci l, maintained liaison with the U. S. Navy. Torben K. Andersen , executive vice-president of the M a i n e T r u c k Owners Association, made arrangements for trucking the caribou to Maine. On this page are pictured some of the key people. From left to right are, top left, Cdr Claude C. Coffey, Jr., skipper of the he licopter squadron HU-4; Fish and Game Commissioner Rona ld T. Speers ; and LCdr L. J. Owen, project officer from the Naval Air Station at Brunswick , Maine. Top right: Game Division Chief Kenneth W. Hodgdon presents a souvenir antler to Cdr C offey. Right center: Dr. Lore Rogers, State Senator Ida Harrington, and former fish and game warden Caleb Scribner, all of Patten and all enthusiastic backers of the project which was approved by the IO I st Maine Legislat ure through the efforts of Sen. Harrington. Bottom right: Most of the Navy personnel , with one of the two jet helicopters. In front are pilots: LCdr Morton Altman and LCdr L. J. Owen, Navy Brunswick; LCdr Paul Kirchner, LCdr Harry Sundberg , Cdr Coffey, and Lt Fred Lakeway, all of Squadron H U-4, Lakehurst, N. J. Back row: PH2 Robert Smith, Brunswick; AT2 Dann Batting, HU-4: JOC Joseph Celentano, Navy public relations , Boston; AMS2 Augustus Palmer, HU-4; ADJ2 Donald George, HU-4; AF2 Charles Bryan, HU-4; ADR2 Homer Pelton, H U-4; and CPO Harry Zukerman , crew chief, HU-4.

, 4

, By William H. Meyer Fishery Biologist we read an article declaring, "Carp Fishing Can R be Fun." It may be fun, but we

ECENTLY

hope that Maine anglers won't have to depend on "hot" carp fishing for their future sport! Maine has passed a law which states: "It shall be unlawful to sell, use or have in possession, either dead or alive, for use as bait for fishing in the inland waters of this state any pickerel, goldfish, yellow p e r c h, w h i t e perch,bass, sunfish,crappi~hornpout, carp, or any spiny-finned fish." The purposes of the law are: 1. To prevent the introduction of these species into our cold-water lakes; 2. To delay the increase of these species where small populations already exist in cold-water lakes; and

Bullhead

Sunfish

3. To prevent the introduction of parasites (such as the bass tapeworm carried by basses, perches, sunfishes) from infected to parasite-free waters. The ultimate value of this law lies with you-the sportsman and the bait dealer. The bait dealer must cull his fish before they are in the bait tanks. Too often, the bait dealer's family will unknowingly sell illegal species during his absence. The sportsman must carefully check his bait for illegal species whether bought from a dealer or trapped by himself. Dealers selling spiny-finned fish should not be patronized. Please notify your local warden if you know of any of these species for sale. As added insurance, kill any remaining bait fish when the fishing trip is completed; do not empty your bait bucket contents into the water. These are your responsibilities for tomorrow's fishing. Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

Biology in Brief

THE WOODCHUCK:

Farmland Fat-man By Robert W. Boettger, Game Biologist ROBABLY you recognize him as a woodchuck or just plain "chuck," or perhaps by one of his aliases: grou~d hog, whistle pig, or sitfleur. Those concerned with such thmgs as biology and zoology know him formally as Marmota monax, his scientific name, and classify him as a rodent and member of the Sciuridae or squirrel family. For such a common and rather unassuming fellow, he has contributed a great deal to the folklore of our country. Who hasn't heard of Groundhog Day? And many are familiar with that o!d tongue twister, "how much wood would a woodchuck chuck 1f a woodchuck could chuck wood?" His supposed ability to forecast the length of late winter is under great suspicion in most. of Maine, where every Feb. 2 would have to be sunny to provide Mr. Woodchuck with any degree of accuracy. Although an unreliable weather prophet, he is, nonetheless, a very interesting fellow. The woodchuck is one of our largest rodents. His stocky, powerful body is well adapted _to bu:rowing in the. soil. Being built close to the ground, he 1s easily concealed m the short grass of an open field while feeding. An adult animal may weigh four to ten pounds and measure eighteen to twentyfive inches from the tip of his broad, blunt head to the end of his stubby, furred tail. The medium-long, coarse fur is usually grayish brown or reddish brown and frequently grizzled. Pure black ( melanistic) animals seem to occur more frequently among woodchucks than among most other animals. The ground hog's gnawing teeth or incisors are rather unusual in that they are white although those of our other large rodents are yellow. Woodchucks are distributed throughout Maine but are more common in agricultural regions with gently rolling terrain. They, like the white-tailed deer, have benefitted a great deal from man-created clearings in unbroken forests and from tilling of the soil. Their pref erred food is found in fields, in the form of food and forage crops, and in truck gardens. Good burrow sites can be located on sunny, well drained knolls in these fields. These burrows usually consist of a network of connected tunnels. The main entrance can be easily identified by a mound of excavated earth just outside. Sometimes, there are as many as four or five additional emergency entrances that have no identifying mounds of earth. These have been dug from within the burrow. Depending on the type of soil and his natural ambition, a single animal may have a burrow system from nine to one hundred or more feet long and from two to seven feet deep. Sleeping chambers are generally located at the ends of main tunnels and are usually excavated somewhat higher than the mid-portion as a precaution against flooding. Abandoned woodchuck burrows often provide homes for other animals such as skunks and cottontail rabbits. The 'chuck is primarily a diurnal animal (active in the daytime). The major exception to this rule occurs on bright moonlight nights, especially during early spring, when Mr. Woodchuck is very actively seeking a Mrs. Early morning, late afternoon, and evening are normal mealtimes. While feeding, he seldom wanders far from the entrances to the burrow. Feeding is frequently interrupted while the 'chuck sits up on his haunches and surveys the surrounding terrain for signs of danger. If alarmed, he usually drops to all fours and races for safety. Sometimes, he emits a sharp, shrill whistle as an alarm signal, hence the nickname "whistle pig." If surprised some distance from his den, he is likely to climb a nearby tree to escape his antagonist. By early autumn, friend woodchuck is hog-fat and, as the first heavy frosts occur, he usually retires to his underground chambers to sleep for the winter. Occasionally, after

Maine Fish and Game - Spring, 1964

going to sleep, a hibernating woodchuck has a skunk or cottontail rabbit for a bedfellow. In his bedroom, he rolls up into a ball and enters a state of true hibernation. His body's metabolism slows down drastically, breathing practically ceases, and body temperature drops to between forty-three and fifty-seven degrees Fahrenheit. He is insensible to sound or touch. If he were taken to a warm place, it would take several hours for him to resume normal activity. Some time in late winter, the long nap ends, and our friend emerges from his den, often into a world still blanketed with snow. He is much thinner than when he went to sleep, because he has been living, albeit at a reduced rate, on stored-up body fat all winter. Although hungry for food, he is just as anxious for female companionship. Males literally wander miles in search of a mate, braving inclement weather plus hungry foxes, dogs, fishers, hawks, and owls. If he encounters a fellow woodchuck Lochinvar, a battle usually ensues. However, a suitable member of the opposite sex is finally found, even if it means digging through a couple feet of snow to locate her burrow. (Woodchucks seem to lean toward promiscuity although this may not always be the case.) About four to four-and-one-half months after mating, an average of four young are born. However, litter sizes have been known to vary between two and nine offspring. The newborn woodchucks are pink and naked, less than four inches long, and weigh between one and one-and-one-half ounces. They are quite helpless and blind and .are nursed by the mother until a month old. At that time, their eyes open, and they are gradually weaned to the adult diet of succulent green vegetation. Mother and youngsters usually live in the same den until mid-summer. After this, most of the juveniles move to nearby dens; during the fall, they wander off to find territories of their own. Woodchucks do not attain their full growth and weight until the end of their second year, but some may mate when only a year old. The woodchuck's burrowing activities and preference in food do not exactly endear him to the farmer. He makes an excellent rifle target, especially while sitting up for a look around, and sportsmen will find him a good off-season quarry. Often, the landowner will welcome anyone willing to help him get rid of those pesky ground hogs. The hunter should always ask permission before hunting on private property and be sure of a backstop for his bullet in case he misses. Woodchucks are tough to kill outright, but a head shot will do the job. A hunting license is required to shoot these animals. Are woodchucks good eating? Frankly, I don't know although I've shot a few. However, an acquaintance of mine used to dine on every 'chuck he could render hors de combat. Incidentally, he also relished a combination of oyster stew and beer for breakfast.

Almira Pratt's Baked Trout or Salmon (also works we ll with bullheads)

Clean fish, leaving heads intact. Wash and wipe them dry. Place in buttered baking pan, and sprinkle with salt and two tablespoonfuls of corn meal. Dot with butter and add enough light cream to just cover the fish. Bake in 375Â° oven for 30-40 minutes, or until fish will flake from bones.

Pickerel Fillet (a lso bass and perch}

Fillet fish and soak it in lemon juice 30-60 minutes, depending on size of fish. Melt butter in a casserole dish and season with salt and ground pepper. Place fillets in casserole in a medium oven, about 350Â°, until the fish will flake apart at the touch of a fork.

, ,

Broiled Trout or Salmon After cleaning, lay fish on its back and spread o p e n. C u t through ribs along one side of backbone, for the length of the fish. Take care not to cut through to the skin along backbone. Rub salt into meat and apply melted butter or bacon fat. Lay fish flat in broiler and place over hardwood coals. Cook fast.

, SAUCES Fried fish are usually much tastier when served with a good sauce. Here is an easily prepared sauce that will add a great deal to the meal. Melt butter in a saucepan; stir to keep from burning. When hot, add flour and stir while adding one of the following, depending on the kind of sauce desired: I. tomato soup. 2. milk-for a white sauce . 3. ketchup thinned down, or tomato sauce. (Use 2 tablespoonfuls of butter and two of flour to each cup of liquid.) A mixture of horseradish and ketchup is also an ideal fish sauce.

Baked Lake Trout BAKED BASS Cut fillets from fish with a sharp knife; rub salt lightly into the flesh. Marinate 30-60 minutes ( depending on thickness of meat) in a mixture of white and tarragon vinegars in equal parts. Roll fillets in flour and sprinkle with vegetable oil and a little Worcestershire sauce. Bake on a baking sheet about 30 minutes. 1-l

Use one or more large bass-the larger the better. Prepare stuffing in these proportions: I cup of ground, dry bread crumbs; 2 medium chopped onions; 1/4 teaspoonful salt and pepper; 2 tablespoonfuls of melted butter. After mixing ingredients, salt the body cavity of the fish and stuff. Sew up the body cavity with a needle and a clean piece of white string. Brush fish on both sides with melted butter, and sprinkle with flour. Place fish on a piece of aluminum foil on a baking sheet, and brush with butter every 8-10 minutes until done . Maine Fish and Game- Spring, 1964

'f'oue(e,z,4 FROM

THE

OLD GUIDE'S COOKBOOK Frozen trout are as good as when fresh ... IF they are prepared soon after thawing. An improperly cooked fish is the most unpalatable food imaginable . There is nothing better to fry fish in than a heavy, castiron frying pan. The sooner fish are cooked after being caught, the better they will taste. Don 't expect fish to taste good if they are improperly cared for. Small brook trout are best fried. All fish except brook trout should be scaled or skinned. Most of the strong odors in a fish originate in the tissue between the skin and the flesh. If you dislike scaling or skinning fish and prefer a milder taste, simply hold the dressed fish under a hot water tap for about one minute. The skin will peel off very easi y.

TIPS TO THE CHOWDER COOK Salt pork is as important as the fish, to a chowder. Dice it up into half-inch cubes, fry to a medium brown, and add to the chowder. Always cook a chowder the day before, and let it sit in the refrigerator over night. This greatly improves the flavor. White perch are among the tastiest chowder fish. If you wish to avoid the bones (and who doesn't!), here's a trick that works to perfection ... and with other chowder fish, too. First, clean the fish and remove their heads. Place the fish in a five-pound salt sack or an improvised substitute. Dip the sack in the water in which you are boiling potatoes, and let it remain just long enough for the fish to parboil . . . probably just a minute or two. Remove fish from the sack, and pull off the skin. The meat may then be removed from the bones and placed in the chowder. Garnish the top of a chowder with melted butter, pilot-bread, and paprika.

PLANKED TROUT (salmon, bass, and lake trout)

KEN GRAY

Prepare as for broiling, but tack fish to a plank, preferably ash or maple, with flesh side out. Prop plank up in front of an open fire for 20-30 minutes, depending on size of the fish.

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

Many sportsmen pass up eels because they don't like the looks of the critters. But, if eels are properly cooked, their taste and appearance are hard to distinguish from Bay scallops. The eel is skinned by first nailing the head to a tree or plank. A cut, skin deep, is made around the body just back of the head. The skin is pulled from the fish like peeling off a glove, using a pair of pliers. Clean fish and cut into 2" chunks: roll them in a mixture of flour and corn meal and fry in deep fat. Some cooks parboil the fish, to remove excess fat, before rolling the chunks in the flour and corn meal.

ga,ed ';ui

IN ALUMINUM FOIL

Aluminum foil is excellent for cooking fish, in camp or at home. It makes dish washing much simpler as it prevents the fish from sticking to the pan. For back-pond, open-fire cooking, rub salt and pepper into the cleaned body cavity of a fair-sized fish. The head need not be removed, but scales should be if the fish is not a trout. Wind a piece of bacon around fish, or add a pat of butter and chopped onion for flavor. Do up tight in aluminum foil. Build up a good, hardwood fire, and when it burns down, place the wrapped fish on the live coals for about 20 minutes, depending on the size of the fish.

WHITE PERCH

';,z,9

Clean the fish out thoroughly and remove the fins. Cut skin around the body behind the head, using a sharp knife. Make a cut, skin deep, along the back from head to tail. Continue the belly cut-made for eviscerating the fishto the fish's tail. On each side of the fish, start to skin it near the belly and head, and with a pair of pliers, pull the skin from the flesh from head to tail. Fillet the perch and roll fillets in corn meal and flour. Fry out enough salt pork to cover the fry pan about lj4 " deep. Âˇ Place fillets in fry pan and cook to a crispy, golden brown. Place them on brown paper to remove the fat. Serve with a relish. 15

By Edward M. Korb

more than 100,000,000 people participated in various activities either in, on, or about the water. Most of them were safe, sensible people who considered the preservation of life of paramount importance. However, there were a few who, through their actions, indicated they had little regard for life. AST YEAR,

Would you think of going water skiing without a life belt if you were a non-swimmer, especially without a lookout in the boat? One fellow did. Of course, he drowned. Would you think of skipping down three flights of stairs and doing a jack-knife dive from the shallow end of a pool into twelve inches of water, especially when small children were standing in the water up to their knees, which indicated the water was shallow? Well, one fellow did. But he did it just once.

How about taking a fourteen-foot aluminum boat, mounting a forty horsepower motor, and zooming wide open through a mooring area, with no lights and at night? Nobody's that crazy? Oh yes: I saw him. Apparently there are people who are determined to die or at least have an accident. They must, or they wouldn't be doing the thingsÂˇ they do. So, if a person is really determined to drown, let's discuss ten easy ways to do it. 1. Don't learn how to swim. You can always drink your way a few feet if you really have to. Anyway, who's going to fall overboard? Actually, there has been no authenticated case on record where a nonswimmer has been able to progress any appreciable distance through the water. Each year, a great many drownings occur within arm's length of safety.

2. Swim in unsupervised or unsafe places. Why go where the crowd is? Why have people staring at you? Why not find a nice place off by yourself, with nobody to bother you? Of course, a safe area would be one that is supervised. It would have a gently sloping sandy beach, no sudden drop-offs, no underwater obstructions, no undertow, no clam shells, rocks, or pilings. The water would not be too cold or the surf too rough. However, this is not for you, the rugged individualist. 3. Fight undertows, tide, and currents. In the event you get caught in a rip tide, undertow, or 16

strong current, by all means fight it. When you realize _you are not making any progress, get panicky. That adds the finishing touch. Of course, a person with a little common sense would not fight an undertow. He would swim in with each wave and tread water on the backwash. Each succeeding incoming wave would take him closer to shore, and he would soon be able to touch bottom. Against a strong tide or river current, swim diagonally across the current or tide. You cannot swim against either of these forces. 4. Swim alone and after eating. Why bother with the other fellow when you go swimming? You are a good swimmer; he will just slow you down. First of all, swim out as far as you can. (Remember, you swam across the lake last year, and you'll get your Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

Director of Safety Services Portland Maine Chapter American Red Cross

EASY WAYS

TO DROWN ---

6. Stand up in your boat. As 22 per cent of all boating fatalities are caused by falling overboard, by all means stand up. Besides, you can see better. Who wants to be safe, anyway? 7. Don't stay with a capsized boat. If your boat capsizes, don't stay with it. Head for shore right away. The boat will probably sink, anyway. You might even get caught in the dark. Just think of the embarrassment if the Coast Guard picked you up clinging to a boat! Such publicity! Besides, it's only a short distance to shore. If you stay with your boat, you will probably be late for supper, and your wife will bawl you out. (Actually, with your clothing on and the cold water, panic, tide, and current against you, your chances of making shore are practically nil.)

8. Don't bother with safety devices. Why bother to wear a life jacket? You can swim. You're no sissy. Store them away out of sight. They scare people. Sure, it's true that 75 per cent of all victims had no life jacket on, but that's the other fellow. You can take care of yourself. Who even needs a fire extinguisher? There is plenty of water around. 9. Don't learn the Âˇright of way laws. Why bother learning that junk? After all, the other fellow knows them. Don't take any boating courses. You might learn something that could save your life. Toot your horn at every other boat and pretty girl you see. That's what your horn is for. Don't carry any charts. You can see the water, and, besides, they get in the way. Watch the scenery. The other fell ow will stay out of your way.

second wind, anyway.) To help things along, dive right in when you are good and hot. After all, you went swimming to cool off. Don't wait an hour or so after eating. It's the best time for a swim, and there are only so many hours in a day. Maybe you have a slight heart condition or perhaps are subject to epilepsy. So what? Why can't you live like other people? You haven't had a spell for some time, anyway. 5. Go scuba diving without a flag. If you are a scuba diver, don't have any flotation device floating above you. Don't have a red flag with a diagonal white stripe. Go diving alone. This is the quickest way to have the propeller of a boat cut off your head or maybe a leg or arm. They won't even know you are down there. Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

10. Drive your boat recklessly. Forty-two per cent of all boating accidents are caused by capsizing. That's your cue. If you want to drown, over-power your boat, drive at an excessive speed, make sharp turns, overload the boat, don't trim your boat, don't carry any extra gas, open her up in a rough sea, and don't bother to look for underwater obstructions.

o, IF YOU really want to drown the easy way, mix at one time, as many as you can of the above unsafe practices. The more you do wrong, the better chances of drowning.

Actually, boating and swimming are two of the safest recreational activities that you can participate in. But remember, "There are old sailors, and there are bold sailors; but there are no old, bold ailors." 17

@©Cru0@(7'90~0©Cru ~c£Jm@0~0©@ ~(!)Gw0w0 (l~ By Frank Downie, Conservation Educat or

Maine's program in conservation education, since its inception in 1957, has maintained its original objective while showing a gratifying growth in acceptance and scope. This objective is to develop in the young people of Maine an appreciation of the state's natural resources and the need for managing them wisely.

Editor's note: Franklin A. Downie died suddenly May 5, 1964. Maine Fish and Game publishes this previously-scheduled article with a different accent now. Much of the growth of the conservation education program took place under Frank's capable and devoted supervision. We can all be proud of his work.

The stone lodge, central building on the Bryant Pond campus, was firs+ the classroom bu ilding, now serves as library, study hal! , and office and living space .

It was long ago decided that the best method of accomplishing this goal is through school teachers. Once the teachers gain an understanding of natural resource conservation, they may use their knowledge within their existing teaching programs. To do this, it is necessary to come into direct contact with teachers, and Maine was extremely fortunate to receive a substantial gift from the late Mrs. Lillian R. Waterhouse of Portland to help make this possible. She gave her private, summer estate to a group of citizens who formed a non-profit organization known as the Conservation Education Foundation of Maine. This gift was made with the understanding that it would be used as a school devoted to teaching the story of conservation of natural resources. On the shore of beautiful Christopher Lake, in the Town of Bryant Pond, the estate con-

Lillian Rogers Hall, combination dining room, recreation room, and study area, was named after the late Mrs . Lillian Rogers Waterhouse, who gave generous support to the school i

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

Prof. Robert Miller tells class of teachers in stone lodge how a Maine crystal was formed. Field trips include visits to Maine mines as first-hand experience for teachers.

sisted of thirty acres of land, a stone lodge, a log cabin, and two garages. Through subsequent purchases by Mrs. Waterhouse, and gifts of other citizens, the property now encompasses 125 acres. With funds donated by the Inland Fisheries and Game Dept., Maine Forest Products Industries, the Maine State Grange, and Mrs. Waterhouse, two dormitories and a combination recreation/ dining hall have since been built. The program got started in 1957, under the guidance of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. The science department heads at Gorham and Farmington State Teachers colleges, Robert Miller and John Mudge, made up the basic teaching staff; they were assisted generously by visiting instructors from state and federal agencies. The position of conservation educator was established in the Fish and Game Department by then Commissioner Roland H. Cobb. This position was created primarily to provide leadership in the conservation education field. During the first summer, two three-week workshops for teachers were offered, each session carrying three semester hours of credit acceptable at the University of Maine and the teachers colleges. Through the efforts of the resident staff and

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

visiting instructors, these teachers were given firsthand information about our natural resources and the story of their management. They left the conservation school at Bryant Pond well equipped to integrate the information obtained within their regular classes. Since 1957, the Âˇprogram, like Topsy, has grown. The Maine State Grange and 4-H clubs are allotted time each year to participate in a conservation education experience.

The year 1960 saw a new phase develop. In May of that year, two groups of students were taken from their regular school environment, transported to Bryant Pond, and provided with a one-week outdoor laboratory experience. These young people received instruction in the areas of soil, water, forestry, wildlife, fish, and marine resources. They went to "school" morning, afternoon and evening and were taught by instructors from state and federal resource agencies. This program has been approved by school administrators who have sent groups to the conservation campus. Through 1963, eighteen such groups participated in this offering. In the first seven years of operation, more than four hundred school teachers have attended the annual workshops. In addition, more than twelve hundred young people have been provided with a one-week natural resource conservation experience, and many more have made one-day or week-end visits and have received worthwhile instruction.

Youth groups, from schools, 4-H clubs, the grange, and other organizations, enjoy and profit from forestry class.

Use of the increment borer is..i.explained on field trip as forestry specialist using borer is typical of instructors provided by resource agencies.

The chewing ability of the beaver comes in for discussion by Game Biologist Bob Boettger.

Department safety officer, Warden Dean Jordan, conducts session on safe handling of firearms.

Present facilities permit operation for only twenty-two weeks each year. It is hoped that eventually, by winterizing buildings, the program may operate for a longer period, thus providing an opportunity for a great many more to learn about the resources of this state and the role they play in our everyday life. 20

Maine Fish and Game -

S pring, 1964

AtQan.tic ÂŁ.aQmon.

By Richard E. Cutting Salmon Commission Biologist

ably strayed from these routes during their feeding migration. The approximate distances of the migrations from the Narraguagus River are 170 miles to Nova Scotia and 760 miles to Newfoundland. These few tag returns and minimum distances travelled show the Atlantic salmon to be quite a wanderer. The life history of the Atlantic salmon is much like a jigsaw puzzle made of odd-shaped pieces of information that must fit together to tell the whole story, although singly, each piece is interesting. The use of tags on adult salmon is one more tool to provide information about the fish. Each piece of information improves our understanding of the Atlantic salmon. A clear understanding develops slowly, and everyone's help is needed. The commercial fishermen in Canada and Denmark have taken the time to aid the study of our Atlantic salmon. Will you help, too, by reporting on all the Atlantic salmon you angle in Maine? Returning tags is most important; including a scale sample, length, weight, and place and date caught will also help.

EOPLE are curious about Maine's King of Gamefishes -the Atlantic salmon. They often ask "Do the fish always die after spawning?" Upon hearing that many do not die, they ask their next question: "Where do the fish go after the spawning season?" Fishery scientists and most fishermen are well aware that some Atlantic salmon do survive the rigors of the spawning season. Many of the salmon, after spawning in November, over-winter in the river. Evidence that the fish do not die after spawning is decisive. These spent fish migrating to the ocean in the spring provide the catch in the "black salmon" or "kelt" fishery during April. Recent research by the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission has produced some insight to an answer for the oft-asked "Where do they go?" The Narraguagus River research project includes counting the salmon using the Cherryfield dam fishway . Adult salmon coming into the river to spawn have been tagged since 1962. A small loop of plastic tubing with a numbered green tag is inserted through the tough tissue at the base of the adipose fin (see map insert) . Here the tag is out of the way and does not interfere with the fish's activity. Tagged salmon continue on their way upstream. There is a long wait before many tag returns start coming in although a few fish are angled during the summer. In the spring of 1963, the 1962-tagged salmon began appearing in the kelt catch as these fish were moving out to the ocean. Then came a long lull until July when we received a report of a tagged salmon being taken in Nova Scotia. Then another report, and another. Newfoundland was the next site of recapture of tagged salmon. In October, a Danish scientist reported that one of our tagged female salmon was netted on the west coast of Greenland about thirty miles north of the Arctic Circle. All in all, we had nine tag returns from the commercial fishermen of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Denmark. All these fish were taken in the ocean waters and not in other salmon rivers. The map shows the distribution of the recaptured salmon, with the lines indicating the shortest routes that the fish might have taken. Of course, the salmon prob-

Maine Fish and Game - Spring, 1964

DISTRIBUTION

ATLANTIC

SALM ON

RETURNS

FROM

ATLANTIC

NUMBER

DCEAN.

INDICATES

TAGS THAT WERE

THE THE

Atlantic

1963

TAG

NORTH THE

CIRC LE NUMBER

RECOVERED AREA . TH E TAGGED

CHERRYFIELD

NARRAGUAGUS

THE

FROM SALMON 1962

Ocea

THE

RIVER,

0 MALCOLM

REDMOND

200

400

MILES

l'hoto cour tesy r ortl11nd ~oc•ipty of :'in tnrnl ITi sto1·y

STORY of this country's vanished wildlife, frequently told, does not make pleasant reading. Often, we like to think of the disappearance of any species as • • • occurring only in distant places and at the hands of ancestors other than our own. But the truth is that Maine, too, has its list of creatures once common and now gone, and that list is not as short as we might wish.

Take, for example, the passenger pigeon. The history of this large and beautiful member of the dove family is well known to bird enthusiasts. Literally billions of these birds inhabited our continent in the early years of settlement. Single flocks of many millions were frequently seen in times of migration, and in places, trees would be bent and broken for miles around from the weight of birds lighting to rest! The edibility of the passenger pigeon proved its undoing: it was indiscriminately slaughtered everywhere. The nesting grounds were despoiled by squab hunters, and the birds sold for less than a penny apiece as food for people, dogs, and hogs. The peak of the slaughter occurred in the 1870's when professional hunters and netters plundered the great breeding areas of the Midwest. But where does Maine fit into this picture? We are fortunate in having available the writings of John Josselyn, an English naturalist who lived in what is now Scarborough in 1638 and 1639, and from 1663 through 1671. Of the passenger pigeon, he says, "there are millions of millions," and adds that the flocks were so extensive during migrations that "I could see no Sun." 22

There are many other references to the passenger pigeon in writings on the natural history of Maine. It was an abundant species here until about 1820 and was much shot and trapped until the middle of the century, when its numbers began to decline sharply. The last positive record for Maine was for a bird shot in Dexter in 1896 although it appears probable that another was taken in 1904 at Bar Harbor. The last live passenger pigeon known to man died at the Cincinnati zoo on September 1, 1914.

ONCE COl\fMON NOW GONE

Few tears , however, have been shed over the apparent loss to the Maine fauna of one creature, the timber rattlesnake. This impressive serpent was once found in the outhwestern part of the state, but no valid report of a native rattler has been recorded during the past one hundred years. Most present day sightings of "rattlesnakes'' in Maine refer to large milk snakes, nonpoisonous reptiles whose coloration vaguely resembles that of a rattler. When cornered, a milk snake will sometimes as ume a threatening attitude and rapidly vibrate its tail on the ground, frequently causing the inexperienced observer to beat a hasty retreat, certain that he has seen a rattlesnake. Another unwelcome species of wildlife, the timber wolf, was once common throughout Maine. A statewide bounty was placed on wolves in 1832, and some individual towns had bountied the animals even earlier. Comparatively few claims were paid, but the state bounty remained in effect until 1916. Maine Fi<;:h and Game -

Spring, 196-l-

There is little concrete evidence to show when the wolf actually disappeared from the Maine wilderness, but it appears that few were left by the time of the Civil War. Some trappers in northern areas feel that even now a wolf occasionally enters the state from Canada. One wolf was shot in Washington County in 1953; the origin of that specimen is uncertain, but it has been suggested that it may have come from a traveling zoo.

ow ABOUT the world of fish? There, the story is repeated as we look into the history of the blueback trout, but this time it has a happier ending. These handsome fish ran in the tributary streams of the Rangeley Lakes in the 1800's in such numbers that people pitchforked them from the water and carried them away by the cartload for food and fertilizer! The runs dwindled, and finally, about 1900, the fish came no more; to this day, they have never reappeared there. But in 1948, a specimen of the supposedly extinct fish was sent to the University of Maine for identification. Subsequently, routine fishery management surveys of more than one thousand lakes and ponds have disclosed populations of this beautiful trout in eight remote bodies of water in northern Maine.

The cougar, panther, or mountain lion was once found in Maine as well as over much of the rest of North America. We have no positive records to establish its presence within our borders at this date although supposed sightings of the animal are quite frequently reported. The mountain lion is yellowish-brown, shading to dull white on the underparts; the lips are white with a dark spot at the base of the whiskers; and the tail, two to three feet long, has a blackish tip. As published, the average total length of eight northeastern specimens was just over ninety inches; the average weight of five of these animals was 145 pounds, with the males running larger than the females. The best available information indicates that the species had all but disappeared from the eastern half of the United States, except Florida, by 1920. The last Vermont panther was bountied in 1896, and in New Hampshire the latest kill appears to have been in 1885. For Maine, there is a published account of a kill near Mt. Kineo in 1906. Do we now have mountain lions in Maine? Until a flesh-and-blood specimen toms up to answer the question, the status of this creature will remain shrouded by the aura of mystery and folklore which has characterized it for so imany years.

the common mink and the fur very coarse. There is only one known mounted specimen. Aside from that, the only preserved parts of the animals are skulls found in Indian shell heaps. The sea mink were seldom trapped. Rather, they were shot or hunted with dogs trained for the purpose by those who made a business of gathering their pelts. Manley Hardy was a well known hunter-naturalist of Brewer, Maine, and in an article he describes the method hunters used to kill these animals: "They carried their dogs with them, and besides guns, shovels, pickaxes, and crowbars, took a good supply of pepper and brimstone. If they (the mink) took refuge in holes or cracks of the ledges, they were usually dislodged by working with shovels or crowbars, and the dogs caught them when they came out. If they were in the crevices of the rocks where they could not be got at, and their eyes could be seen to shine, they were shot and pulled out by means of an iron rod with a screw at the end. If they could not be seen, they were usually driven out by firing in charges of pepper. If this failed, then they were smoked with brimstone, in which case, they either came out or were suffocated in their holes. Thus, in a short time, they were nearly or quite exterminated." Again, man alone was apparently the destructive force that caused the complete extermination of the Labrador duck or pied duck. This little sea duck was supposed to have bred on the Labrador coast and ranged south in winter to Chesapeake Bay. It was probably a winter resident along the Maine coast. The male's head, neck, and wing feathers were chiefly white to pearl gray, and the rest of the plumage was black. The female was brown with a white wing patch or speculum. This sea duck was small compared to the eiders which it resembled in color, measuring only eighteen to about twenty-four inches in total length. In the 18th century, vessels were outfitted in New

interesting member of our native Maine fauna became extinct about 1860. The giant sea mink, once quite common in the Penobscot Bay area and northward into the Bay of Fundy, succumbed to fur hunters. This large mink was about thirty-six inches long. Its tail was about ten inches long, and its hind foot measured 3 ~ inches long. The pelt was much more reddish than

NOTHER

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

As late as 1860 or 1870, these ducks were on the New York market for table use, but a writer of the times states that "full plumaged males were then exceedingly rare." The last known Labrador duck was taken on Long Island in 1875, and only about forty-two specimens remain in the museums of the world.

Other birds, and animals, too, have vanished from the Maine scene. The great auk (a large, flightless, penguinlike creature), the wild turkey, and an undetermined species of crane (probably the sandhill crane) have left us. The handsome woodland caribou was once a common animal in the northern part of Maine and was a favorite with Maine big game hunters during the past century. The exact reasons why the caribou is no longer with us are not definitely known. At any rate, the heyday of the caribou in Maine was over by the turn of the century although a few stragglers lingered on for about another decade. A program is now underway to re-establish a caribou herd in the Baxter Park area of north-central Maine.

is much more easily come by than foresight, and it is not difficult to criticize our ancestors at this distance in time. But certainly we cannot blame the Indians and early colonists who killed to supply their needs; and at the time of the great slaughters, there was little in the way of actual experience-and no scientific knowledge--to indicate that these seemingly inexhaustible supplies of fish and game could be entirely depleted. Even that most famous of American naturalists, John James Audubon, believed with "the man in the street" that shooting and trapping would never eliminate the passenger pigeon! Man's inroads on game populations have changed the natural balance of species in most areas of the world, in some cases causing extinction of certain animals. As the human population continues to grow, the need for a solid scientific approach to game and fish management will become even more vital. INDSIGHT

The handsome passenger pigeons once existed by the billions, are now extinct.

England for the sole purpose of visiting Labrador and capturing birds for their feathers. These voyages were usually made in the breeding season-when the adult wild-fowl had lost their power of flight through the molting of their wing feathers and before the young could fly. Millions of wild-fowl, including this little duck, were destroyed.

Another one-time resident of Maine, the great auk, no longer exists.

Biology in Brief

The Crayfish By Matthew Scott, Fishery Biologist HE CRAYFISH, crawfish, crawdad, crab, or fresh-water lobster, call it what you may, is a small (three to six inches) freshwater crustacean closely related to and resembling the lobster. It is nearly world-wide in distribution, and at least two different kinds occur in Maine. Some live in swift streams and others inhabit only still waters. Crayfish vary in color from brown to a greenish black. Their entire body is covered with a hard structure called the exoskeleton meaning "outside skeleton," which serves as a suit of armor or shell to protect the soft body tissues from injury. When a crayfish is ready to shed his old shell, he is actually growing. The old shell is too small and must be cast aside for a new one to form. Shedding is sometimes referred to as molting, and young crayfish molt several times a year. Their new coverings are soft, and the animals usually stay in hiding until the new shells harden. Crayfish have five pairs of legs. The front pair are large claws or pincers, similar to those of the lobster. The crayfish uses them to defend itself and also to capture and hold prey or other food. The remaining four pairs of legs are for walking. Attached to the bases of these five pairs of legs are internal "feathery gills" that serve as breathing devices. Located under the abdomen or

tail of the crayfish are smaller structures called swimmerets, for swimming and carrying eggs. Crayfish also have two long and two short feelers or antennae. These serve as sense organs for touch, taste, and smell. Crayfish walk forward with a slow and jerky motion; when disturbed, they dart backwards very quickly out of harm's way. This is done by contracting their abdominal muscles and flipping their strong, flattened tails. Usually crayfish are active at night, walking about on the shallow bottoms of lakes and streams in search of food. Some may be seen in these shallow waters during the daylight hours. They may be hiding under stones or digging shallow burrows. Crayfish usually mate in the fall and spawn in the spring. The exact time of mating varies with the climate and distribution of the species. Both Maine species follow this general pattern. Male crayfish may be distinguished from the females by the larger size of the first pair of swimmerets. The male uses these appendages to transfer the sperm cells to the female at mating time. After mating in the fall, the male and female crayfish move to their hiding places and remain there for the winter. In the early spring before spawning, the female cleans the underside

of her tail with her legs. When ready to spawn, she lies on her back, curving her tail upward. A few hundred eggs pour over the undersurface of her tail, sticking to the swimmerets in a solid apron. During this time, crayfish, like lobsters, are said to be "in berry." Hatching time varies with the water temperature, but usually all the eggs are hatched in one week. Early developmental stages are completed while the eggs remain attached to the female, and the young remain attached for some time after hatching. Young crayfish grow rapidly throughout the summer months. Some of them become sexually mature their first summer and will mate in the coming fall months. Crayfish are rather inactive during the winter, moving about slowly and growing little or none at all. Crayfish have a short life span and may never attain three years of age. Jn the wild, they die from old age and predation. They are an important food for fishes, frogs, turtles, snakes, water birds, and such mammals as raccoons, muskrats, and mink. In Europe and some areas of the United States, crayfish are considered a delicacy. They are of such importance in some states that regulations are needed to govern the selling and harvest. In the Belgrade Lakes area of Maine, crayfish are sold in great numbers to bass fishermen who use them for bait.

SUGGESTED READING Crocker, Denton, W. "The Crayfish Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque) in Maine." Maine Field Naturalist, Vol. 14, No. 3 (1958), pp 63-66. Forney, John L. "Raising Bait Fish and Crayfish in New York Ponds." Cornell Extension Bulletin 986 (1957), 30 pp. Huxley, Thomas H. "The Crayfish," London, C. Regan Paul & Company (1880), 371 pp. Webster, Dwight. "Notes on Food of ~mall Mouth Bass (Mi'cropterus dolomieu) m Columbia Lake Connecticut." Copeia, No. 2 (1944), pp 125-126.

Maine Fish and Game- Spring, 1964

Wildlife Quiz Note : These questions are taken from previous quizzes in Maine Fish and Game. Here's a chance to test your memory, if you've been with us from the start. True or false: All Maine trout spawn in the fall.

2. How many young will a female white-tailed deer usually have each year?

Letters of general interest are welcomed.

They should

be signed, but initials will be used on request.

Publication List may I suggest that a list of publications made available during each year be published in the annual report issue of Maine Fish and Game. I appreciate having received Maine Fish and Game for the past several years, and find little opportunity for improvement. I would, however, like to see it published on a quarterly basis, but not if this were to detract from present quality.

Would you please mail me your latest issue of the Maine Fish and Game magazine, along with your first issue if you have any left. Also I would like you to put my name on your subscription list. This is a wonderful magazine and everyone I have talked to who has read it all enjoyed it as much as I have. I would like to see it issued more frequently, but realize it would be quite difficult ...

Carroll B. Knox R.F.D. #2 Washhurn, Main~

Mrs. Jan Blake 204 Chamberlain St. Brewer, Maine

• A good idea ... one we'll start in this fall's annual report issue. A list of all publications issued by the department is available to anyone on request, by the way. ( And thank you fo1· that second paragraph.)

• We're glad you like the magazine but sorry we cannot offer many back issu es. A few older issues are available bu t not the earliest or the fall, 1963, magazine. Readers really snapped 11p those two!

3. What do these words mean as applied to fish: redd, fry, kelt, kype? 4. True or false : The following animals all belong to the weasel family - marten, skunk, badger, otter, mink, wolverine. 5. The largest antlered animal that has ever Ii ved on earth is : the moose, caribou, reindeer, elk. 6. Why is the loss of a front tooth (incisor) often a serious matter to a beaver ? 7. Eastern brook trout are relatively short - lived fish. What is the average age of brookies taken by fishermen? 8. True or false: The American black bear may be black, cinnamon brown, or chocolate brown in color. 9. What's the difference between a smelt and a smolt? 10. Are there any poisonous snakes native to Maine? (Answers are on next page)

Memberships in the National Rifle Association and the Maine Rifle and Pistol Association were recently presented by Dr. Alonzo H. Garcelon, left, to (I. to r.) Governor John H. Reed, Fish and Game Commissioner Ronald T. Speers, and State Police Chief Robert Marx. Dr. Garcelon is a director of t'<t.R.A. and chairman of the Fish and Game Dept. Advisory Council. 26

Maine Fish and Game- Spring, 1964

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Back Issues Scarce Thank you for my first copy of Maine Fish and Game. I would be remiss if I failed to inform you that I believe this publication one of the finest I receive in sporting magazines. You and your staff have done an excellent job . . . If there are any back copies available I would appreciate some, if not just forget it. Keep up the fine work. Maynard W. Shorey 46 Atlantic A venue Old Orchard Beach, Maine I recently received a copy of your Maine Fish and Game magazine from a friend in East Machias, George Johnson. I would like very much to be put on your mailing list if possible. This magazine should, judging from this issue, promote a much better understanding of fish and wildlife in this state. Certainly learned a lot from this fall issue. William H. Booth 24 Chester St. Pittsfield, Maine

• If the aim of Maine Fish and Game can be expressed simply, it is to create an understanding of the problems the department faces in its work for the public, and also of the reasons and methods involved in solving these problems. We believe we're achieving tkis aim to some degree, if letters like these are valid indicators.

. ~here i~ no charge at the present time for Maine Fish and Game. The magazme 1s published for the benefit of the public, in accordance with the aims of the !?formation and Education Division to cre~te an interest and understanding in wildhfe resources, the problems connected with management and conservation of the resource, and the work of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Game in accomplishing its objectives. Maine Fish and Game is published twice a year with the fall magazine designated as an annual report issue. ' To subscribe, simply send your name and your post office address - be sure it is the post office address - to the Information and Education Division, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game, State House, Augusta, Maine 04330. If you should change your residence, please let us know. Under our mailing rates, THE MAGAZINE IS NOT FORWARDED AUTOMATICALLY. Send your name, old post office address, new post office address, and zip code. setting a high mark for other state conservation magazines. Roger M. Latham, President Outdoor Writers Association Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • M1·. Latham's letter brightened our day especially since it came from him and the 0. W.A.A. In the past, he has aided us considerably at our request and helped us learn much of what we know about magazine work.

The fall 1963 issue of Maine Fish and Game has been received and read fully, cover to cover. I fully enjoy reading the whole coverage and after I have read it I share it with several members of the Pomfret Rod & Gun Club, then the magazine is kept for future reference . . . W. Gardiner Davis Pomfret Center, Conn.

Letters We Like I want to congratulate you on the high quality of your fall, 1963, issue of Maine Fish and Game. I liked it particularly because every last article was informative, educational and of interest to sportsmen and others interested in fish, wildlife and the out-of-doors. Keep up the good work. You're

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wildlife quiz and the annual report and review of operations was very good and easy to understand. The best to you all for the coming year. J. A. Canade #31 May Brook, New York I want to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your fall 1963 issue of Maine Fish and Game, which I was introduced to in the home of a sportsman friend of mine. My comments would only duplicate the fine Notes to the Editor you have received ... James T. Buckley 2391 Bedford A venue Brooklyn, New York 11226

• We'll try to continue to rate this kind of letter.

Richard A. Nichols 33 Woodland St. Na tick, Mass.

I have received your fine magazine Maine Fish & Game, I cannot say anything but excellent all the way through. The articles are varied and this makes it a most interesting magazine for all outdoors minded people. I am particularly interested in the many reports on Maine deer that are published from time to time . . . If there is any charge for these reports and bulletins, please advise me for I will be happy to make remittance for them. Thank you.

Received my fall copy of Maine Fish & Game. Thank you. It is a very easy to read magazine. I like the

Donald J. Perriello 135 George Waterman Rd. Johnston, R. I. 02909

Just finished reading your fall 1963 copy of Maine Fish and Game. Terrific! I would greatly appreciate receiving this publication. I am a property owner and enjoy fishing & hunting in the great Pine Tree State.

NONRESIDENT SEASON, FISHING .. ... ... . . 15-DA Y, FISHING . . . . . . . . . . (EXCHANGEABLE FOR SEASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JUNIOR, FISHING . , . . . . . . . . THREE DAY, FISHING . . . . . . BIG GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMALL GAME ... ... . . . . . . . JUNIOR, SMALL GAME . . ... . ARCHERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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3.25) 2.25 3.75 25.25 10.25 5.25 10.25

RESIDENT FISHING . . . . . . . . . . HUNTING . . . . . . . . . HUNTING & FISHING ARCHERY . . . . . . . . .

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Maine Fish and Game- Spring, 1964

Answers to Wildlife Quiz on Page 26 1. . False. All Maine trout spawn in the fall except the rainbow, which is a sprmg spawner. 2. Two, as a rule, although it's often one. Triplets occur occasionally, quadruplets rarely. 3. Redd: a nesting area, usually of a trout or salmon; fry: young fish just hatched; kelt: a salmon that has spawned; kype: the hook that is often prominent on the lower jaw of the older male trout and salmon. 4. True. 5. The moose. 6. The beaver's incisors grow constantly and are kept at the proper length by wearing as the animal bites. If a tooth is broken, the one opposite it does not wear; an upper tooth "growing wild" can curve down under the lower jaw so the beaver cannot open its mouth to eat; a "wild" lower tooth may grow up, pierce the skull, and kill the beaver. 7. Most are two-to-three years old. On rare occasions, a brookie as old as seven may be taken. 8. True. The color varies considerably. 9. A smelt is a species of fish; a smolt is a young salmon after it turns silvery color. 10. No. A timber rattler might find its way into extreme southern Maine, but it's been about 100 years since one has been captured.

Life History Series

White Perch Are For Everyone

By Roger P. AuClair, Fishery Biologist of one-pound white perch were placed in a pond and only 1 per cent of their offspring survived, they could increase to more than two million perch in four years ! In two or three more years, the numbers would look like those of our national budget. "One million" may not impress us very much, but can you visualize catching 2,700 perch every day for a year? That would come to just under one million. Have you ever seen twentyseven fishermen catch one hundred perch apiece every day of the year from your favorite lake? Chances are that most ponds are not fished enough in an entire year to remove 2,700 perch from them. If a lucky or enterprising fisherman happens to be seen with a bushel basket full of white perch, a cry of alarm is heard all the way to the State House. Actually the person who does remove large quantities of perch from a pond is improving the growth of the millions of small ones waiting for their chance to grow. With large numbers of young perch coming each year, it's easy to see how the perch in a lake can become stunted. They literally pile up at a certain size until there is not enough food to go around. The older perch continue to grow because they are large

F A PAIR

enough to eat small, stunted perch that nobody wants to keep. White perch live much longer than salmon or trout. Perch twelve and thirteen years old are common in Maine waters. The oldest one we have on record was seventeen years old. The largest perch we have recorded from our work was 15.4 inches long and weighed two pounds. This fish was twelve years old. It is common knowledge that slow growing fish live longer than fast growing ones. This fact would also tend to aggravate a stunted condition in a lake. How many times have we heard people say, "We used to catch nice big perch years ago, but now you cannot catch one more than four inches long. We should close the pond to fishing for a few years to allow the small perch to grow." But how can the small perch grow under conditions so crowded that each one is fortunate if it can find a few insects a day to eat? Unlike many other animals, fish can live for years with very little food, but they do not grow in such situations. Most fish can live for months with no food at all! On the other hand, warm-blooded animals need a good supply of food just to maintain their body temperature. Our Maine waters have the lowest fertility of any in the country. Most of our waters that are not polluted can be used in your car battery as you would use distilled water. This is very good for car batteries and steam irons and for drinking, but the fish food production is very low. Lakes and ponds in Maine can sustain from twenty-five to one hundred pounds of fish per acre. The warm, shallow ponds are the high producers. The large, deep cold-water lakes are the low producers. If we have a million fish in a 1,000-acre lake which can sustain only 25,000 pounds of fish, most of the fish will be very Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

mall. Their average weight will be less than half an ounce. We cannot have many large perch in our waters unless their numbers are kept low enough to allow each individual to find an abundant supply of food. True, large fish prey constantly on smaller ones, reducing their numbers, but we are busy catching and removing these large fish because they are the ones we like to catch for sport. And no fish can prey on the small fish until it is large enough to do so. Sport fishermen can effectively reduce the relatively small numbers of large game fish, but they cannot begin to reduce a population consisting of hundreds of thousands of stunted white perch. It is difficult to accomplish this even with thousands of feet of nets set twenty-four hours a day! When I was a boy, we fished every day or evening, or both, during the summer vacation. We brought home and ate every fish we caught: white perch, yellow perch, pickerel, bass, hornpout, eels; and when the water was still cold, we also ate the chubs and suckers. Many of the neighboring families did the same. We went to the same fishing places year after year, and the supply never failed. If we went hornpout fishing we tried to fill a bucket, and we didn't care whether the fish were four inches or eight inches long. They were fun to catch and good to eat. We had a special method of skinning or caling each kind of fish, and we could boast about cleaning a bucketful in so many minutes. But now, if the perch are not large enough or if we cannot catch salmon or trout, we may lose interest in fishing. LOOK at the life history of the white perch will

show more reasons why they are so plentiful. A Some time between May and July, depending upon

the water temperature, schools of white perch begin to move around the lakes and ponds seeking suitable

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

places to spawn. Usually, they choose a quiet cove or a sluggish stream. White perch do not spawn in pairs as many of our other species do. Large schools mill around as a unit when spawning. The females drop millions of eggs, and the males release billions of sperm. The sperm are attracted to the eggs, and most of the eggs are fertilized. A one-pound female will release as many as 150,000 eggs in one spawning season. The eggs sink and stick to whatever they happen to touch. A sudden drop in water temperature at this time can kill the eggs, but spawning takes place over a period of several days, and it is unlikely that all the eggs would be lost in any single spawning season. In a few days, the tiny fry-almost too small to see-wriggle out of the egg membrane and are on their own from then on. As the fry grow larger, they require large quantities of the right-sized food. When they first begin to feed, the fry eat food organisms that we cannot see with the unaided eye; as they grow, they consume mosquito larvae, larger insects, and finally, when they are five or six inches long, they begin to eat small fi h. The growth of white perch depends upon the amount of food easily available to them. If the proper size food is not obtainable at the right time of the school's life, all the fish of this size will cease to grow until the food becomes available again.

AY THROUGH "EARLY JULY is the best time to catch large white perch. At this time, they are . earching for the mouth of a sluggish stream or a sheltered cove where they congregate by the thousand to spawn. Worms are the best bait for perch. Some anglers u ' e a small pinner with worms and troll this bait. Those who like to fly-fish can catch perch on flies when the perch are surfacing. Spinning lures and small live bait are also very effective. During the warm weather, perch spend the daytime in the deeper parts of the lake. In the evening, they

White perch are for everyone. Removing large numbers of them from a pond improves things for millions of small ones waiting for their chance to grow. move toward the shallow waters. Shallow bars or reefs are excellent places to try. Evening is undoubtedly the best time to catch white perch, and the fisherman who knows where to anchor his boat will make good catches night after night all summer long. Some fishermen tie a fine line with a small bobber to a perch and then release it. The perch will return to the school and stay with it. When the fish move, the fisherman can follow the bobber and maintain contact with the entire school. During the late summer and early fall, white perch often range all over the lake area. At this time, large ones can be caught easily by trolling a spinner and worms in the daytime. When the school is located, trikes will come as fast as you can unhook the fish and change baits. Of course, you must try to stay with the school, or the fun will cease immediately. To catch perch in the winter you must know exactly where to fish. The perch retreat to the deeper areas of the lake; if you are not familiar with the area, it will be best to watch the other fishermen or ask them where the white perch are biting. Small minnows or small pieces of cut bait will work, but worms are still the best bait. Lower the bait to the

Since white perch have thick skins and heavy scales, it is better to skin them completely. The method I have always used also applies to bass and yellow perch: 1. Make a slit the entire length of the fish along the belly and also along the back. Join the slits on both sides of the belly fin near the tail and also around the large fins on the back. Now remove the large fins; tear them out toward the head by holding the fin between the knife blade and the thumb, or by using a pair of pliers. 2. Now make slits crosswise behind the head to join the slit on the 30

bottom of the pond, raise it a foot or two, and keep moving it up and down slightly. Some ice fishermen cut two holes close enough together so they can sit on a box or stool between the holes and hold a line in each hand. I suppose one could use tip-ups, but if the perch are biting fast, you can probably catch more by using a couple of handlines instead of dashing around trying to get to the flags before the perch take all the bait from the hook. HITE PERCH are present in many of our Maine waters. They are good swimmers, and they can navigate swift streams. We must be very careful not to introduce them to the remaining trout waters where they are not now present. They are so prolific that they soon dominate the areas of shallow and medium depth. Fishery biologists have caught white perch in gill nets set fifty feet deep. When white perch enter trout waters, the trout soon disappear, and the only way to reverse this process is to use chemicals to kill all the fish in the drainage. This is often impossible because of large streams and other connecting waters. It is illegal to use white perch for bait, and it is the duty of every fisherman to ob erve this precaution.

belly with the one made on the back. 3. Dig the knife blade under the corner of the skin near the top of the head and pull the skin off toward the tail. Do this for both sides of the fi h. 4. Cut off the head and tail, remove the entrails, and the clean fish is ready for the pan. White perch are excellent for making chowder or for frying. To fry them, put a cupful of flour or com meal in a paper bag, add salt and pepper, and shake each fish in the bag to coat it completely. Fry the perch in butter or shortening until they are a golden brown and the

flesh can be removed easily from the bones. Large perch can be filleted by separating the flesh from the bone beginning at the back. This is done before the fish are cooked, and will result in delicious morsels of flaky white meat. For a chowder, boil the fish until the flesh can be removed from the bones. Potatoes that have been cut .into small pieces and cooked along with cooked onions can now be added with hot milk. Salt and pepper generously. The chowder should be simmered until all the ingredients are well done and the full flavor has been attained. Maine Fi h and Game- Spring, 1964

ATLANTIC SALMON FISHING AlookBack Lunkers like these were once common in the famous Bangor Salmon Pool. The Atlantic SeaRun Salmon Commission is working to restore and increase such runs on the Penobscot and other rivers.

By Alfred L. Meister, Salmon Commission Biologist

The exact date commemorating the start of a sport fishery for Atlantic salmon in Maine is lost in the dim pages of the past and is so inexorably bound to the early settlers' quest for food that a historical discussion must of necessity include the commercial fishery. The history of commercial fishing along the Maine coast goes back to the early days of the 16th century. But the migratory fishes, salmon, shad, and sturgeon, were not of economic importance until the establishment of permanent settlements in the 17th century. From the native Maine Indian tribes, to whom the sea-salmon was known as Pl-Zahm, the early settlers learned to form nets, baskets, and brush weirs similar to those still in use along our coast. Describing the Indian fishery, Williamson's History of the State of NOTES ON THE EARLY Maine tells us : ATLANTIC SALMON Fish were caught by hook and line, FISHERY by entangling them in weirs, by dipping April I, 1939 : Horace P. Bond of Bangor, left (now chairman of the Salmon Commission), with I 31f2-pound salmon, one of three Presidential fish he caught at Bangor pool. Son Lyndon, who netted the fish, is now assistant chief of the Fishery Division, Fish and Game Dept. Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

with scoop-nets, or by striking them with spears. Fish lines and nets were constructed of deer's linews (sic), the bark of trees, or tough grass, spun into threads between the hands and teeth; the hooks were bone grated to a point and bearded. Many Indian weirs were constructed of large stones.

This fish-for-food era, history tells us, was followed by a modest commercial fishery for migratory species that probably dates back to 1628, when the 31

first settler in the Merrymeeting Bay area, one Thomas Purchase, "pitched his habitation near the foot of Pejepscot Falls" at Brunswick. It is said that he was a trader in furs and peltry, catching, curing, and packing salmon and sturgeon for a foreign market. A Christopher Lawson, it is believed, was the first settler on the Kennebec. He had previously been in the employ of the above Mr. Purchase. Records show that during a three-week period "about 39 bbls. of salmon besides what they spoiled for lack of salt, and about 90 kegs and many bbls. of sturgeon, and that if they had been fitted with salt, and apt and skillful men, they might have taken abundance more" were put up from the river below Pejepscot Falls by Lawson with the help of Purchase. As settlement of the coast progressed, the fisheries increased in stature. It was not until the advent of the trap weirs that the salmon fishery attained its peak. The first trap weir was installed on the Kennebec in 1808, followed by installation on the Penobscot in 1815. Farther along the coast, large catches were reported from the Union, Machias, and St. Croix rivers. Early documents indicate that on the St. Croix, "daily catches of at least 100 barrels have been reported, and it is also stated that a single individual would occasionally obtain as many as 50 to 100 and even more salmon." By the end of the 19th century, many river fisheries were no longer On the Penobscot, in existence. yearly catches of twelve thousand fish were followed in a few years by declining catches. For, in addition

to trap weirs, stationary or drifting gill-nets frequently blocked whole rivers, not only in the estuaries but in the inland waters as well. As late as 1880, a profitable gill-net fishery existed on the East Branch headwaters of the Penobscot. It was during this 19th century period of commercial exploitation that the present day sport of salmon angling was born. When and where are matters for speculation. But the first recorded catch for sport goes back to 1822 when a Captain Eldridge of Bucksport caught a salmon on hook and line off Seal Island. He was trolling for pollock, with seven or eight fathoms of line and squid for bait, from a vessel under sail. Fragmentary notes lead us to believe that the Dennys River was the first in Maine on which angling for sea-salmon was practiced, possibly as early as 1832. The St. Croix was the next to prove the practicality of salmon angling above tide water; in 1873, it is reported, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Game, Mr. Henry 0. Stanley, hooked a seasalmon below Vanceboro. The exact method or the types of lure used in the early angling are open to debate, for the belief was widespread in Maine that sea-salmon would refuse to strike at an artificial fly. This belief was proven erroneous in 1882 when Mr. Fred W. Ayers of Bangor demonstrated the art of angling. He surprised the local scoffers by landing a large seasalmon on an artificial fly at what came to be known as the Bangor Salmon Pool. Local opinion, however, still insisted that salmon could

not be caught above tidewater on artificial flies. Why this belief persisted, no one knows. There is no reason to disbelieve the reports that Messrs. J. F. Leavitt and H. L. Leonard caught a large sea-salmon on a fly in Wassataquoik Stream in the year 1880, and in 1886, Mr. Henry A. Wing is reported having caught a fine salmon in the Mattawamkeag River. Perhaps the serious anglers, then as now, kept their angling methods deep, dark secrets. On the Aroostook River, fine sport was provided salmon anglers at the turn of the century, but lists of rod catches are conspicuous by their absence. The sport fishery apparently came into its own at Caribou in 1890 but rapidly declined following construction of the Tinker Dam in 1906. The same story can be repeated for other rivers where dams without fish passage facilities, plus the effluent from man's activities, curtailed salmon production and finally eliminated both the commercial and sport fisheries. Today, an active restoration program is returning the Atlantic salmon to Maine streams where the ardent fisherman can once again experience the thrill of salmon angling. From the time a salmon is hooked to the last spine-tingling jump, no holds are barred, and the angler is not always the victor. The title "King of the Sport Fishes" is not easily earned. And for the devotees of salmon angling, no truer words have been spoken than those of the late Dr. William C. Kendall who once stated, "Taken all in all, it is doubtful if a salmon angler who may have tried all other game fishes of inland waters or of the sea, if restricted to one game fish , would choose other than the Salmon."

Old clubhouse of Penobscot Salmon Club, 1946. For many years, firs+ fish from the pool, background, was sent to the President of the U. S.

Photos:

Courtesy of Horn ce P. Bond

Maine Fish and Game -

Spring, 1964

Maine Department of . Inland Fisheries & Game State House Augusta, Maine

04330

give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully to defend from waste the natural resources of n1y country--its soil and minerals, its forests, waters, and wildlife.