Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Winter 1976-77

WINTER 1976-77 75 CENTS

ON NOVEMBER 11, 1976 ...

23-year old International Paper Company cruiser Christopher Greene went into the woods with map and compass. He was reported missing late that night, and fish and wildlife wardens joined IP employees and others for nine days of intensive searching beginning the 12th. At least three wardens were present throughout this period, during which 10 dives were made into the icy waters of the Baker Branch of the St. John River.

Helicopters were utilized in the search for ease of access to the remote area, and to quickly remove the divers to warmth when they emerged from the water.

Although it was fairly obvious where Greene had gone into the river, in tensive ground, aerial, and underwater probing failed to show a trace of the victim.

The Maine Warden Service expended more than 6,000 hours in such search and rescue operations during the past fiscal year. Some were successful - others were not - but the Warden Service is ready to respond when the call for help comes.

Photos by Tom Carbone

Governor James B. Longley

MAINE .FISH AND WILDLIFE

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Maynard F. Marsh

Commissioner

J. William Peppard

Deputy Commissioner

Kenneth H. Anderson

Director, Planning and Co-ordination

David 0. Locke

Supt. of Hatcheries

Charles S. Allen

Chief Warden

Lyndon H. Bond

STATE OF MAINE Vol. 19, No. 1

Winter, 1976-77

Chief, Fishery Division Business Manager

Ralph C. Will Robert W. Boettger

Chief, Wildlife Division

William C. Mincher

Director, Information and Education

Maine Coyote Questions

2

Henry S. HiUon

Clayton G. Grant

Chief, Engineering Division

Deer Winter Habitat Management

5

Douglas L . Marston

Richard B. Parks

Chief, Realty Division

Winter Bass, Anyone?

10

What You Told Us

12

KID-BITS

14

Annual Report Section

16

Letters, Notes, Comment

30

Fish Smoking Made Easy

33

Lorenzo J. Gaudreau Alfred L. Meister

Director, Recreational Safely and Registration Chief Biologist, Atlantic Salmon Commission

Advisory Council Dr. Alonzo H. Garcelon, Chairman Augusta, Maine Glenn H. Manuel Littleton Robert D. Steele Scarborough Ralph L. Noel Auburn

Asa 0. Holmes Belfast Burleigh Richards, Jr. Buxton

Richard Arsenault

John M. McPhee

Rodney W. Ro s Brownville

Maine Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 2 4 State St., Augusta, Maine 04333, under appropriation 4550. No advertising accepted.

William C. Mincher, Editor W. Thomas Shoener, Managing Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Features Editor William W. Cross, Photo Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photographer

Š Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1977. Written permission must be secured from the Department before reproducing any part of this copyrighted material.

Subscription rates: $2.50 for one year, $4.00 for two years $5.50 for three years. No stamps, please.

Second class postage paid at Augusta, Maine 04330.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

THE COVERS Front: This scene of an eastern coyote howling in a Maine field captures the esthetic value of Maine's wildlife while emphasizing the rapidly growing need for sound wildlife management. Photo

by Henry Hilton, who wrote the coyote story beginning on page 2.

Inside Front: This series of photographs by Tom Carbone illustrates one of the many duties of the Maine Warden Service searching for lost persons. This particular search was unsuccessful, but many lost hunters and recreationists are found by the Warden Rescue Unit each year.

Back: Staff Photographer Tom Carbone caught this silhouette of an ice fisherman during a trip with an ice fishing party last winter. Looks cold - but inviting- doesn't it?

1

MORE ANSWERS TO

MAINE COYOTE QUESTIONS

By Henry Hilton Editor's note: A native of Weld , Maine, the author based this article on his thesis for master of science degree , University of Maine, Orono. He has studied Maine coyotes since 1970.

THE PAST 15 years, there have been several articles in Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine concerning coyotes or coyote-like animals in Maine. Henry Carson in 1962, Alden Kennett in 1970, and Peter Cross and others in 1972 documented the occurrence of the animals in Maine as much as was then known. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, research in New Hampshire and Ontario was conducted and reported, which led the way to a better understanding of the coyote situation in the northeast. Candie Teer summarized much of that work in this magazine (Fall 1975). Further understanding of the coyote in Maine is now at hand, as a result of a recent study I conducted - using new techniques in systematics (the science of classifying and relating organisms to one another); larger numbers of specimens provided by hunters, trappers, and wardens; and the fortunate acquisition of an intact litter of local coyotes.

VER

O

Photo graphs b y th e auth o r.

Mai ne coyot es: Ma le, above, shows long nose, fu ll tail , tai l gland spot , and dark co lor. Lig hter color of female at right is a ty pica l varia t ion.

2

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

Relationship to Other Canids. As Carson reported in 1962, wild dogs, coydogs, and coyotes have all occurred in Maine. It appears that we currently have wild dogs and coyotes but few if any coydogs. The question, then, is: did coydogs ever really exist, and if so, what happened to them? The answer seems to be that they did exist and that they simply died out as coyotes became established.

A typical adult eastern coyote found in Maine looks much like a western coyote, although 15-20 pounds heavier on the average and quite variable in coloration. The large size (they often look larger than they really are) and wolfish appearance are partly responsible for the confusion over names and identification. Just as in other parts of the Northeast, the coyote in Maine is often called a coydog, new wolf, brush wolf, or simply wolf.

The word "coydog" implies a direct coyote-dog ancestry, the first-generation offspring of a coyote and a dog. Such an animal would display some coyote and some dog traits, but it would also display traits unique to itself. Both coyotes and wolves of the northern temperate zone breed annually, and the young are born in the spring after a 63 day gestation period. Both males and fem ales are in breeding condition for only a brief period, but the timing provides that pups will be born when warm weather and other conditions are best for their survival and growth.

Male dogs, on the other hand, are constantly in breeding condition, and the females are in heat twice a year according to each individual's own schedule.

So while a male dog could breed with a coyote if their meeting coincided with the female's heat, the odds are against many male coyotes (which have a restricted breeding season) mating with female dogs (that also have a restricted breeding period).

But should the odds be right and a mating occur, the offspring ( coy dogs) would have characteristics different from either parent! They retain the annual breeding cycle of the wild parent, but the timing is shifted so that hybrids breed about three months

earlier. Several things effectively stopped the development of viable populations of these types of hybrids in Maine: (1) they could not breed back to coyotes because of the phase shift in breeding seasons; (2) offspring of their own were born in the middle of the winter; ( 3) male coydogs did not help rear the young - a necessary function in most wild populations.

What then accounts for the difference between Maine coyotes and coyotes from Kansas? Maine coyotes are most likely descendents of animals that moved eastward north of the Great Lakes where they apparently hybridized with a small race of wolf ( Canis lupus lycaon, Algonquin Type) which occurs in parts of southern Ontario and Quebec. The only difference in their breeding schedules is that western coyotes reach sexual maturity one year sooner than wolves. Interestingly, eastern coyotes do not appear to breed in their first year!

It has been demonstrated by researchers in Ontario and elsewhere that coyotes and wolves can and do interbreed; logically, subsequent offspring should be much superior to a coyote-dog cross for living in the wild. The Maine animals are predominately coyote probably because the behavioral characteristics of coyotes provide a necessary capability to co-exist with man and the adaptability to respond to a variety of habitats and food sources, characteristics less pronounced in the more specialized wolf. In regions where wolves are present in their preferred environment and in close proximity to the preferred environment of coyotes, there seem to be coyote-wolf hybrids that are predominately wolf (C. lupus lycaon, Tweed Type). But in Maine at this time we have "new coyotes," not "new wolves."

Predictably, when coyotes first expanded into Maine in small numbers, there were more frequent hybridizations with domestic dogs. Such hybrids

have been reported periodically from New York to Maine since the late 1930s; but in Maine where coyotes are now well established, there are few coydogs.

There are, however, wild and free-running domestic dogs which may reflect some coyote genetic influence and be confused with coyotes.

To determine whether a certain specimen was coyote, dog, coy dog, or wolf, I first measured different skull and tooth structures and then subjected the measurements to a mathematical analysis, a method that reduced all of the measurements to one "value."

That value was then com pared to the known values for the other animal types; and identification was very clearly determined for eastern coyote, dog, wolf, and various hybrid animals. Ex. cept for five dogs, all of the animals from Maine sent in by sportsmen, trappers and others from 1968 to 197 5 were identified as eastern coyote .

Appearance. So what does this eastern coyote look like? The general color may vary from reddish blond to grizzled gray. The guard hairs have from three to five color bands (dogs never have more than three), and the outermost bands give the characteristic markings such as the V shaped "shoulder harness." The tail is generally black tipped, full (bottle brush), and straight (dog tails curl upward). The tail gland is covered with distinct black hairs forming a spot on the top of the base of the tail. The ears are erect, relatively longer than those of wolves but shorter than the ears of most dogs. A rufous or reddish color is usually present on the backs of the ears and the flanks; the belly and throat are normally white or cream colored. The nose is long and narrow, and the feet are generally small in relation to the body size.

In full winter coat, the coyote may appear to weigh 60-80 pounds; but it is, in fact, the rare animal that reaches much over 40 pounds.

PROBABLE EASTWARD EXPANSION OF COYOTE RANGE

MINN.

IOWA

PENN .

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

3

As puppies, Maine coyotes could be confused only with fox pups. The latter are grayish black with distinct white tail tips, and their eyes have eliptical pupils. Coyote pups have grayish bodies, reddishbrown heads , and white bellies; their eyes have round pupils. Some coyotes may have white tail tips, but this color generally disappears or becomes indistinct with age. As a final characteristic difference, fox pups chatter and bark, while coyote pups whine and HOWL! Their Habits. Unlike wolves, coyotes do not appear to travel or live in organized social packs although often two and sometimes more coyotes hunt or travel together more or less regularly. During the summer and early fall , coyote "groups" consist of one or both parents and the young of the year, perhaps five or six coyotes together. But the survival rate of pups appears to be low - more than 50 per cent of the pups do not live through the first winter.

Maine coyotes appear to hunt and eat whatever is most available; and in the wilderness areas, wild game appears to be more important than in settled areas where other food sources are easier to find.

While coyotes can and do kill deer, the research to date has shown that the deer killed are often those that can be removed from the herd without hurting the populations as a whole. There is no good evidence that wild game population levels have been significantly depressed by coyote predation, even during recent years in Maine when coyote numbers have markedly increased. When snow is crusted in the spring and when pregnant females need added nutrition, coyotes may kill more deer; but the same snow conditions afford wild dogs and free-running dogs the same advantage, and because they are numerous, they present a serious problem.

The numbers of eastern coyotes are still increasing, and their range currently e11compasses most of the state. They are a true breeding form intermediate to western coyotes and wolves, having the wide adaptability of the former and some physical advantages of the latter. The ultimate effect of this population of predators on man, game, and domestic stock is difficult to predict. But it has been shown repeatedly that predators do not control prey, but rather that prey numbers often determine predator numbers i.e., the more prey available, the larger number of predators they can support.

In this human dominated environment, problems arise for which there often are no clearcut solutions.

But with the continued support of sportsmen , trappers, and all people who respect and admire wildlife, we will learn more about these relationships; and with understanding will ultimately come more solutions.

Acknowledgement All sportsmen, trappers, and Fish and Wildlife Department personnel who have co-operated in providing information and specimens for this and other studies are owed a debt of gratitude. Without their assistance, this type of research would not be possible, and we would not be able to continue in the attempt to understand - and thereby manage - our invaluable wildlife.

A wary adult is pict ured above. Pups at r ight were located by w ardens Ora l Page an d Rodn ey Siro is in nort hwestern Maine and used by th e author in his research. M rs. Siro is helped with t he care and fee ding.

4

Deer Winter Habitat Management

By Douglas L. Marston Forest Wildlife Habitat Management Leader

OST Maine sportsmen are aware that white-tailed deer spend their winters in what are commonly called deer wintering areas or " yards. " These wintering areas are characterized by conditions that offer protection to the deer from deep snows and cold winds. Throughout most of Maine, these areas support stands of conifers, primarily spruce, fir, cedar, hemlock, and occasionally pine, with crown growth dense enough to intercept snow and reduce wind velocity.

Travel conditions for deer are easier under the more dense coniferous tree growth because snow depth is less, and the snow tends to pack more firmly.

In the more southerly portions of the state, wintering deer make use of a greater variety of habitat types and locations. They often use higher ground, and their need

M

Well-planned timber harvesting in and around t heir wintering areas provides deer wit h shelter and food on a sustained basis.

This fawn is inset into an aerial view of a patch cutting operation in a deer wintering area in Aroostook County . Deer photo Š by Leonard Lee Rue 111 .

for extensive softwood or coniferous cover is less critical.

Cover or shelter is, of course, only one aspect of deer habitat.

The availability of food is, obviously, extremely important. Deer are browsers, and their main winter diet consists of buds and twigs of a variety of trees and shrubs. Recently cutover areas with a lush growth of young seedlings and sprouts provide abundant winter food, but since the snow is deep in these areas, the food may not always be available to deer.

Cutover areas are generally very productive of deer browse for 10 to 15 years, or until the young growth is above the reach of deer.

This period of high deer food production is very brief in the lifetime of a stand of trees; normally , 50 to 100 or more years will be required before the forest is mature enough to be harvested.

Deer will usually feed on the edges of cutover areas that are adjacent to coniferous shelter stands.

The dense coniferous growth, normally used for shelter by deer, provides very little food. Forest stands that contain a mixture of hardwood and softwood trees that have recently been partially cut provide ideal opportunities for deer to find food close to shelter.

The utilization of available food supplies by deer is greatly affected by travel conditions within the deer wintering area. Exceptionally deep snows may restrict deer to the dense coniferous cover and prevent travel to more distant though preferred food supp lies.

The browse that is available near the shelter may be heavily utilized during such periods of confinement.

During periods of extreme cold, deer may not feed at all, relying

on stored fat reserves for their energy needs.

The amount of energy stored in the form of fat is related to the amount and quality of food available to the deer during late summer and fall. n Maine's forested lands, the quality of deer habitat is di0 rectly related to the age and species composition of the various timber stands that comprise the forest.

Such conditions are the result of the forest management and timber harvesting practices employed by landowners.

For the benefit of those readers who may not be familiar with forestry terminology, a forest stand is defined as an aggregation of trees or other woody growth occupying a specific area and sufficiently uniform in composition, age, arrangement, and condition so as to be

distinguishable from the forest or other growth on adjoining areas.

As mentioned earlier, deer require mature, dense softwood or coniferous growth for winter shelter, with adjacent young cutover areas for their food supplies.

Heavy cutting over the entire deer wintering area can easily destroy the shelter value; and although there may be ample food, the lack of shelter will normally cause the deer to abandon the area, either increasing the number of deer in the remaining wintering areas or forcing the animals to make use of less desirable habitat.

In both cases, the end result is a

Selection Limber harvest with 25-50 per cent volurne removal, near Moosehead Lake.

Aerial view of group selection timber harvest in deer w in tering area in Pisca taquis County.

6

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

gradual decline in the quality of habitat available to the deer and an eventual decline in the abundance of the species.

Ideally, deer wintering areas should contain a variety of forest stands representing a wide range of age-classes. This would allow for the orderly harvest of different stands as they mature.

With periodic harvests occurring every 10 to 15 years, a portion of the area would be in adequate deer winter shelter at all times, and the young cutover areas would provide a sustained supply of browse.

In most instances, the timber stands presently existing within

Cl ear cu t timber harvesting i n and adjacent to deer wintering area in Somerset County.

deer wintering areas do not contain the variety of age-classes that would normally result in this desired periodic harvest of timber.

Many deer wintering areas are composed of forest stands that are essentially even-aged and often consist primarily of mature timber that could be harvested.

R

ealizing that a better sequence and pattern of timber harvesting practices were required if we were to provide for the continuance of essential wintering habitat for deer, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife embarked on a co-operative, voluntary, deer winter habitat management program with some landowners in the 1950s. This was an exploratory program to see what might be done for the benefit of deer. The co-operative program continued

through the 1960s with moderate, local success but not enough to meet the overall needs of our wintering deer herd.

In 1970, a growing awareness that winter deer habitat had been reduced in some portions of the state prompted the Department to reappraise the program. It was generally believed that an expanded deer wintering area habitat management effort was justified.

We decided to determine the amount and location of deer winter habitat in the state as a first step to embarking on such a program.

We began a statewide, deer winter habitat inventory to gather basic information for the development of a more intensive co-operative management program with landowners.

The initial phase of the inventory consisted of aerial observation during the winter period at a time when deer activity was normally confined to the vicinity of softwood shelter areas.

Results of these aerial surveys then formed the basis for ground surveys to determine more accurately the size and relative use of the areas by deer.

Shortly after we initiated our deer winter habitat inventory , the Land Use Regulation Commission adopted standards for the zoning of 10.5 million acres of unorganized and deorganized townships in Maine.

The interim standard adopted by L.U.R.C. included a subdistrict for "areas significant in maintaining populations of wildlife and fish ." This subdistrict permitted the protective zoning of deer wintering areas.

The zoning process required public hearings before interim boundaries could be adopted . To obtain the maximum amount of background information for these hearings, we accelerated our efforts

G, oup selectio n and patch cuts in deer wintering area in A , oostook County.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

7

Foresters Si Balch of Boise Casca de Paper 1 Group and Gary Morse of the Maine Bureau of Forestry discuss timber harvesting in a deer wintering area with Wild life Biologist Peter Cross of the Maine Fish and Wildlife Dept.

to complete the deer winter habitat inventory.

In the spring of 1975 the interim zoning was completed, and 903 deer wintering areas were recommended and accepted for inclusion in land use protection subdistricts. These areas contained 363,436 acres and represented 3.5 per cent of the 10.5 million acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Land Use Regulation Comm1ss1on.

The law required that after the adoption of the interim zoning maps, landowners wishing to harvest timber within the interim protection subdistricts would be required to file an application with the Land Use Regulation Commission. The application was subject to review by appropriate state agencies in addition to the Commission staff, and was then presented to the commissioners for action. primary objective in deer Ourwinter habitat management is to maintain a portion of each area in mature or nearly mature trees to provide the necessary winter shelter for deer. The remaining portion of the area would, ideally,

8

be in various stages of growth represented by seedling, sapling, and young pole-sized forest stands.

This objective can be met by having trees harvested in groups, patches, or blocks at periodic intervals of 10 to 15 years. This will eventually result in a variety of forest stand age-classes ranging in age from O to 100 or more years.

Individual forest stands of a specific age-class might vary in size from % to 50 or more acres, and ideally, these forest stands of various age-classes would be interspersed throughout the deer wintering area. Such a variety of forest stand age-classes, along with the desired periodic timber harvests, will provide for both deer winter shelter and the necessary food supplies on a sustained basis. ollowing the interim zoning of the first block of townships in western Maine, biologists of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have been working closely with landowners and the Bureau of Forestry to develop timber harvesting programs. Since 197 3, there have been approximately 150 requests for harvesting

F

timber in deer wintering areas, and these permits have been issued by the Land Use Regulation Commission.

Landowners have been very cooperative in working to modify timber harvesting procedures for the benefit of the white-tailed deer. The recommendations for cutting timber in deer wintering areas are developed on the ground with biologists and foresters working closely together. Upon receiving an application for a forestry operation permit, the regional wildlife biologist normally makes a field investigation of the deer wintering area. This is a joint investigation including a forester from the Maine Bureau of Forestry and a forester representing the landowner. At the time of this writing, forestry operation permits providing for the harvesting of timber on more than 16,000 acres of deer wintering areas have been issued by the Land Use Regulation Commission.

Al though timber harvesting operations within deer wintering areas that have been zoned as protection districts are subject to the regulatory powers of the Land Use Regulation Commission, these regulatory powers have been used primarily as a means of bringing foresters and biologists together.

Often com promises are made, both to insure adequate protection for the deer and to maximize timber harvest opportunities.

The forest landowners of the unorganized and deorganized portions of the state deserve the highest praise of the citizens of Maine for their efforts in insuring that the needs of wintering deer are being considered in planning and executing forestry operations. •

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

N JOIN AND SUPPORT THf NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION A D ST ATE AFFILIATES

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1977

9

WAS A TIME, not so very long ago, when the bass was almost exclusively in the domain of the summer fisherman.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass were both protected by special laws that kept them from the angler's legal possession during periods of the year when all of their finny cousins could be caught and kept. One of those periods - a rather long one in Maine - was the wintertime.

With the recent relaxation of some of these unnecessarily protective laws came the potential of a new sport - winter bass fishing - for ice anglers to enjoy. On most Maine lakes that are open t0 ice fishing, bass now may be taken during February and March although some lakes are open to bass fishing as soon as the ice forms in the fall.

So far, however, few fishermen have taken advantage of the opportunity to try winter bass fishing, possibly because of the persistent belief that only rarely could bass be caught through the ice.

Any ice fisherman worth his salt can learn to catch both smallmouth and largemouth bass by applying his angling skill and following these helpful hints and suggestions that have worked very well for me.

First, it would be useful to know some of the general habits of bass in the winter that will help put fish in the creel.

1.

Bass are strongly object-oriented.

They really congregate around shallow, rocky reefs, bars, points, shoals, and rocky shorelines in the wintertime. The more rocks and boulders in any given area from 3 to 30 feet in depth, the more bass that area is likely to have.

2. Bass are quite sluggish in cold water and feed mostly on crayfish and small minnows that abound in rocky areas. 3. Bass tend to travel in schools. 4. Large bass seem to prefer a large mouthful.

Golden shiners 4 to 6 inches long are excellent bait. If you

T

•

By Richard P. Arsenault Fishery Biologist

10

HERE

fish these large minnows three to five feet from bottom - with a plan - you will usually catch bass.

Generally speaking, you will do best fishing your tip-ups about 7 5 feet or more apart. This covers a lot of water effectively. Once a bass is caught, move the 2 most remote tip-ups to within 7 5 feet of the hole that the fish was taken from.

Fishing gear is th next important aspect, and suggestions are as follows: Always make sure each tip-up works properly before each fishing trip. Use a 5 to 8 foot, 20-pound test, monofilament leader, attached to a strong shortshanked hook in size 2 to 4. A strong snap swivel can be used to attach leader to hook. Generally, I use a hook with a short looped

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

Shiners 4 to 6 inches long are good bass bait - big bass I ike them, and they aren't too likely to be taken by perch and other small fish. Hooks should be number 2 to 4.

leader attached, and snap it on with a swivel. For weight, I find that 2 small, shot sinkers about 1 foot apart and above the swivel are most effective. If you fish in this manner, you may often catch a bonus fish in the form of a large pickerel, brown trout, or togue.

ow FOR THE LAST and the most important step - how to prepare the bass for cooking.

The method that I like best is skinning and filleting. Women and children like the results of this method, too, for, when done properly, the fillets are boneless. The only articles I use when preparing bass for cooking are a penknife and a dry piece of cloth. These are the steps that I follow: l. Make an incision across the back, behind the head and above the gills, about a quarter-inch deep and an inch long.

2. Insert the small blade, sharp edge up, under the skin at the incision and push it along the back on one side of the dorsal fin to the tail. Repeat on opposite side of the dorsal fin.

3. Again insert the blade at the incision, sharp side up, and push the blade towards the vent and then ventrally to the tail. Repeat this procedure for the other side of the bass.

4. Grasp the bass's head with one hand; using the dry cloth, grasp a corner of skin at the incision, and pull the skin from that side of the fish.

5. Now, with the large blade of the penknife, work the meat away from the dorsal fin and backbone.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 on opposite side of carcass. The results will be 2 nice boneless fillets, ready for cooking.

Good luck.

I'll see you on the lake! •

A nice, boneless bass fillet o n the way!

N

Ready for the cook!

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

11

ORE THAN 300 readers took the time to fill out and send in the Editorial Questionnaire that appeared in the Spring 1976 issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife. Although the daily mail still occasionally contains another one, they've slowed down enough for us to tally them and find out a little bit about you, the readers, and your ideas about the magazine and a few other subjects. In the order that the questions appeared in the questionnaire, here is what we learned:

M 1.

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The first question dealt with the number of persons who read each copy of Maine Fish and Wildlife and the age and sex breakdown of the readership. It turns out that an average of a little over four people read an individual copy of the magazine.

Age and sex groups and the percentage of the total are as follows: Males under 18 (14 per cent), females under 18 ( 5 per cent), males 19-39 (27 per cent), females 19-39 (13 per cent), males 40-65 (19 per cent), females 40-65 (14 per cent), males over 65 (4 per cent), and females over 65 ( 4 per cent).

Next, we were interested to know whether the magazine is used for school purposes. About one person in every four who answered this question indicated that their copy of the magazine was used in some way for school work, and they further indicated that an average of about two children use it and that the use is almost evenly divided between grades 4-8 and 9-12, with less use by children in the elementary grades.

KID-BITS has been a regular feature of the magazine for the past three years, and in question three we were interested in finding out how well it has been received. Sixty-two per cent of the returned questionnaires indicated some use of the KID-BITS feature, 18 per cent said there was no use, and on 20 per cent of the questionnaires this item was not answered. About half of the affirmative replies indicated - as one might expect - that the children in the family read this feature; however, the interesting finding is the large number of adults who also read the kids' pages.

Another regular magazine feature in recent years has been the Ecologogriph outdoor crossword puzzle. The questionnaire told us that someone

works this puzzle in 57 per cent of the magazines.

We've given some consideration to the possibility of sponsoring a nature photography contest, and one-half of the people who answered the editorial questionnaire indicated that they would enter it if we did.

6.

In the sixth questionnaire item we asked whether there were any aspects of the work of the Department that the reader would like to know more about. Responses to this ranged from no answer to the other extreme which was a threepage letter. The subjects mentioned were quite varied and not conducive to tabulation , but by reading through them we can get a good idea about the kinds of things readers are interested in seeing in future issues.

7, 8. Questions seven and eight were related, dealing with new subject matter that the magazine might broaden into and desired changes in the magazine as it presently exists.

The clearest message that came out of responses to these questions was that many readers are happy with things the way they are now and don't want us to change the magazine at all.

Those who wanted broadened subject matter were in general agreement that the change shouldn't go beyond Maine's natural history, environmental improvement, and nature related outdoor recreation.

9.

In another related question we asked the readers what they thought we ought to try hardest to keep as it is now in the magazine; i.e., what they like best about it. Expressed in many different ways, the message that we received from this question is that readers want a magazine devoted almost entirely to Maine's fish and Maine's wildlife and Maine fishing and hunting.

10. Asked what they thought was the greatest single problem facing wildlife in Maine, 51 per cent of the questionnaire respondents named either loss of wildlife habitat or environmental degradation, which as far as wildlife are concerned, really mean the same thing. The next closest answer, at 26 per cent, was illegal hunting, followed distantly by a long list of other responses.

11. When asked about the greatest single problem for fish, 54 per cent of the r~spondents gave answers like water pollution, euthrophication, 5.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

pesticides, shorefront development/alteration all of which could be categorized as degradati'?n of the aquatic environment/fish habitat. Too much fishing pressure followed at 18 per cent.

12. Just for the fun of it, we wanted to find out something about the bird feeders in our readership. Seventy-seven per cent of the readers who sent in their questionnaires said they feed wild birds, and the average amount spent on birds last year turned out to be almost $36.

13. A limited open season on moose hunting in Maine was strongly supported by the questionnaire respondents, with 72 per cent in favor, 12 per cent opposed, 8 per cent undecided, and 8 per cent not answering this question.

14. Our last question dealt with favorite outdoor activities, and here we came up with a tie. Fishing was listed by 39 per cent of the respondents as their favorite activity, and the same number said their favorite was hunting. The remaining 22 per cent was almost evenly divided among camping, hiking, bird watching , photography, canoeing, gardening, and smaller numbers of many more which together Wâ‚Ź will call "all other."

W

E WOULD LIKE to thank all those who answered the Editorial Questionnaire. What you told us will be valuable in planning future issues of your Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine.

ecologogriphs ..................................................... test your outdoor knowledge ACROSS 1.

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A male duck.

A male cat.

A young wolf.

A large, heavy, northern duck.

Low, marshy ground (pl.)

The black grouper.

Large earn ivorous cat.

A command to a dog.

Chopped.

3.14159 Very young fish.

Annually, or periodic, as northerly Mediterranean winds (meteorol.).

Falcon-shaped hawk with all-black tail: Mississippi _ _ _ .

Zoological suffix.

Mother-of-pearl.

The neuter pronoun.

A rabbit.

Extinct, wingless rail of New Zealand.

The best time for conservation.

Close to the wind (naut.).

Field Service Regulations (abbrev.).

Two or three fish hooks joined together: _ _ _ hook.

Tall, annual herb of the mallow family.

The reedbird or bobolink.

Gland at rump of bird: gland.

A choke on shotgun governs this.

A chafflike bract (Bot.).

Promise.

55. Audubon!s first initial.

56." asafox."

57. To molt.

58. Oxygen (chem. sym.).

59. Female lobster.

61. Jayhawker's native state (abbrev.).

DOWN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

13.

15.

17.

20.

21.

22.

24.

26.

Maine Fish and Wildlife-.- Winter 1976-77

Small droplets of moisture.

Inlets.

Drifting.

European falcon, resembling American sparrow hawk.

A division of geological history of highest rank.

Tensile strength (abbrev.).

A young owl.

Delicate and graceful fern: hair.

A female swan.

Country with natural resources to make it the greatest.

Behold.

West Africa (abbrev.).

Very narrow and elongate, as a leaf.

The influence of pollen upon maternal tissues of another species.

Land set apart for public pleasure (pl.).

The pelt of a small animal.

Thirty-six inches (abbrev.).

Very small owl with black bill and no ear tufts: whet.

27. Steepest part of glacier resembling a frozen waterfall.

29. Instrument placed at a bird's nest for counting parents' visits.

30. Gorilla or chimpanzee.

34. What Izaak Walton did, then wrote about.

35. Natural Resources Officer (abbrev.).

38. Fleshy process, hanging from the throat of bird or snake.

42. Recorded.

44. In South Africa, a hillock.

45. Inlet.

46. Observation Post (abbrev.).

47. Large southern constellation, The Ship.

48. A direction.

50. Steller's, Blue, and Gray.

53. Our largest deer.

60. Compass point.

ANSWER ON PAGE 31

13

COULD YOU FLY??

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to fly like a bird? Do you think that if you had wings and feathers, but were the same otherwise, you could fly? Well, you couldn't.

There are several reasons why your body, even with wings and feathers, couldn't soar through the air like a bird. First, a bird's body is streamlined, so the air passes around it easily. From beak to tail, his body is sleek and mooth, cutting down on wind resistance.

Although birds do have skeletons the same as we, they have far fewer bones - and many of them are hollow, making them much lighter than our solid ones. Bird's muscles, however, are much stronger than ours, and they have many more of them to control the small movements necessary to stay in flight.

Another very important difference between birds and humans is the air sacs which fill empty spaces in the bird's body. These can be filled with air when the bird takes flight, making him even lighter.

14

Those are some of the reasons why you couldn't fly like a bird - but let's talk about HOW a bird flies.

If you hold your hand outside a moving car ( or as you ride your bicycle) tilted slightly up in the direction you are traveling, the air will push your hand UP. A bird, while soaring, tilts his wings in the same way if he wishes to rise further in to the sky.

And he tilts the front edge downward if he wishes to drop lower.

When a bird flaps his wings (moving both of them at the same time), it is the same as when you push with both hands against the water when doing the breaststroke. Onl the bird is pushing th air behind him, making him move forward.

When landing, a bird twists his wings so that the underside is facing front. This acts as a .brake, since the air is pushing hard against the direction the bird is traveling.

Some birds also drop their tails downward, adding another brake. Then, as they near their landing spot, their feet are pushed out in front to be ready to touch the ground or grab a branch.

To turn in flight, a bird simply tilts his body down in the direction he wants to go.

Since one wing is then higher than the other, the difference in air pressure does the rest.

Birds are really some of nature's most marvelous creatures - and man has admired and tried to copy them for years and years.

Today, although we do "fly," it will never be with the ease and grace of nature's "airborne animals."

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

Everyone seems to be interested in ECOLOGY and CONSERVATION today.

But here are some words we often hear which we should understand if we are going to talk about environmental problems.

See if you can choose the correct

definition.

I. CONSERVATION-a) national movement b) wise use of natural resources c) stockpiling of wildlife d) land not in use 2. DROUGHT-a) dustbowl b) endless sunshine c) very dry weather d) hot wind 3. HABITAT-a) natural environment b) secret place c) reflex action d) farmland 4. NATURAL-a) beautiful b) belonging to nature c) akin to man d) emotional 5. NATURAL RESOURCE-a) c) wildlife d) all of the above

crude

oil

b)

coal

6. EROSION-a) river delta b) water or wind torn land c) mountain slope d) deep hole 7. POLLUTION-a) burning eyes b) bad smell c) environmental poison d) all of the above 8. EXTINCTION-a) species destruction b) dinosaurs c) periodic die-off d) passenger pigeon 9. MIGRATION-a) bird movement b) crazy flight c) flock of waterfowl d) Pacific Flyway 10. FLYWAY-a) airport run-way b) migration route c) Mississippi River d) all of the above Answers on page 31

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

15

Financial Statement Ralph C. Will, Business Manager

The Income Dollar

The Department remains in a sound financial condition for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1976. However, inflation and cost increases continue to erode the value of each dollar available for expenditure. Revenues increased approximately 6.4 per cent from the prior year, largely as a result of the increased sale of resident and nonresident hunting and fishing licenses. Costs have continued to increase faster than revenues - thus requiring further reductions in expenditures for equipment and initiating of a policy of not filling positions when vacated.

Our awareness of continuing financial pressure has reqÂľired tight controls of the funds available for expenditure.

Success was illustrated by expenditures exceeding revenues by only $36,316, which was 6 /10 of 1 per cent of revenues.

We have no reason to believe that the cost pressures will diminish in the future, and we expect further erosion of the buying power of the dollar to continue in the next few years.

The Department recognizes its responsibility for continuously reevaluating priorities, to minimize the impact of inflation upon our many ongoing fish and wildlife management programs.

Nonresident fishing licenses 10.4%

iscellaneous licenses and permits 1.1 %

Federal id 10.0%

esident fishing licenses 1 7. 8 %

:All other revenues 5.2%

Resident hunting licenses 16.8% Transfers from Watercraft and Snowmobile Registration 7 .5%

Year

-

July

The Expense Dollar

t

1975 to June 30, 1976

Planning Division 3.2%

Warden Service 53.9%

Wildlife Division 11.4%

Hatchery Improvements 0.6%

Cash Balance July 1, 1975 Add: Revenues & Transfers Deduct: Expenditures and Encumbrances Net Decrease in Cash Balance Unencumbered Cash Balance June 30, 1976 Less Cash Reserves: Operating Capital Resistance to Non-Resident License Increase Unanticipated Pay Increase Settling Basins at Fish Hatcheries to Meet E.P.A. Standards Ultra-Violet System Enfield Fish Hatchery

$1,858,881 $6,050,680 $6,086,996 $

(36,316)

$1,822,565

YEARS

$ 450,000 $ 250,000 $ 150,000

$ 100,000 $ 100,000 $1,0 50,000

Balance of Unreserved Cash

REVENUES

$ 772,565

1972-76

REVENUE (x 1000)

71-72

$4, 540

72-73

5 , 008

73-74

5 , 231

74- 75

5 , 684

75-76

6 , 050

Warden Service Charles S. Allen, Chief Warden This past year was a busy and very successful but generally routine year for Warden Service. A pursuit driving school was held in July for the eight wardens who had not attended previously. State Police were the instructors for the class, held at Waterville and the Norridgewock airport.

In July, Patrick Dorian was selected from the eligible list to fill a warden vacancy at Round Pond.

In August and September, wardens were involved in a search for a four-year-old youngster lost in northern Franklin County.

Although the search lasted for several days and included several hundred people from all walks of life, the child was not located. It was heart-warming to see the public response to needs for food, searchers, and support facilities.

In spite of all the volunteers and donated food, our cost in the search was in excess of $25,000.

New, eight-frequency radios were installed in warden vehicles before the 1975 hunting season.

Wardens under the supervision of Harold Knight did the work in record time at several locations around the state, amounting to a considerable saving to Warden Service. When the whole state-wide system is in operation, it will permit wardens to talk directly to local, county, and state enforcement officers. It certainly should be a great improvement over the old system.

Inspector Eric Wight attended a two-week firearm course in Massachusetts, in preparation for assuming the duty of conducting all firearm training for Warden Service.

It was very evident during the 197 5 fall season that the new night-hunting penalty was having an effect on the number of violators apprehended. Apparently $500 and three days in jail caused some to think twice before starting out with a light and gun. During the year ending June 1975, wardens prosecuted 199 persons for night-hunting; for the next year, the total was 76.

Warden Phil Dumond was selected as "Warden of the Year."

Except for a short while, Phil has spent his 19 years of service in our northern-most district and is a quiet, dedicated, hard-working warden.

The winter months of 1975-76 were very quiet in the snowmobile law enforcement field.

Even though there seemed to be as much if not more activity, our violations showed a decrease of 415 from the previous year. Accidents were down also, which might indicate that people were more aware of the regulations and a bit more safety-conscious.

Winter fishing activity remained about the same with many fine catches of game fish reported in our northern waters.

As for dogs chasing deer, wardens experienced one of the best winters for several years. Only a few areas presented problems, but the use of our helicopter and plane made the wardens' work much easier.

In March, 16 supervisors and inspectors attended a five-day supervisory officers training session at Waterville. Everyone agreed that the school was very informative and worthwhile.

The 7 per cent budget reduction imposed for the last six months of _the fiscal year caused some problems and reductions in certain areas. Wardens, for the most part, accepted the restrictions on mileage and hours worked and made the most out of an uncomfortable situation.

Inspector Bryan Buchanan and Warden Mike Collins went to Ohio and participated in a controlled reduction of deer on a military reservation. Much valuable information was gathered for estimating the time of death of deer. With several other states now using this method of determining time of death, it is obvious that science does have a place in apprehending poachers.

Warden Phil White of Wesle y was one of severa l wardens w ho ass i sted Radi o Technician Haro ld Kn ight i n th e in stallation of t he new radios in Warden Service ve hicles.

18

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 197 6-77

In May , Supervisor Harold Knight retired after 20 years.

Harold was in charge of communications, and his skill, knowledge, and friendly smile will certainly be missed. In June, Supervisor John Shaw and wardens Eben Perry, John Swasey, Sherman Clement, and Maynard Pelletier retired. Their shoes, too, will be hard to fill. One warden left to enter private business. Warden Supervisor Vernon Moulton assumed command of Division D. The Search and Rescue Unit participated in eight underwater searches for nine drowning victims.

Six victims were recovered by members of the unit. There were no requests for any mountain rescues. Our divers spent a total of 156 hours in search-related work. Their total expenses for the year amounted to $1,790.00.

Our capital improvement program, along with several other programs, was curtailed again due to budgetary problems.

Only minor repairs were performed on camps, and only 28 sedans, 7 regular pickups, 8 four-wheel drive trucks, 1 boat trailer, and 8 outboard motors were purchased.

In addition, $25,000 was cut from the clothing and small equipment account.

Our total of violations prosecuted was down by 397. Two categories were considerably less, these being snowmobile violations, down 415, and night-hunting, down 123.

Hunting Trapping Fishing Dog law

1,228 68 1,375 313 Other

Snowmobile 4 33 Boating 580 Litter laws 254 Environmental 39

32

Information and Education Di vision staffers T om Carbone and T om Chamberlai n put the f inishing touches on a specia l slide disp lay in the lobby of t he Department headquarters in Augusta. The slide shows, with accompanying narration , concern hunting , snowmobiling, and boating safety, and are shown during the appropriate seaso ns ot t he year.

Information and Education Division William C. Mincher, Director With sizeable cost increases, due largely to inflation, this fiscal year required that economy be the watchword more than ever. Postage and printing costs were among the larger items the I & E Division confronted. The frequency of the Newsletter was decreased, and we also made fewer mailings of news releases to news media. We planned as often as possible for multiple mailings - sending several routine items in the same envelope after arranging production schedules so the several printed publications would become available at about the same time. Our computer program which produces mailing labels contains certain features to expedite the multiple mailing idea while avoiding duplicate labels for addressees who may be on the lists for several mailed items. For example, we assigned a non-existent zip code of 04339 to all addressees within the interdepartmental mail system. The computer produces labels in zip code sequence so we remove the 04339 labels and use them for interdepartmental mail that does not require postage.

The general mailing list was reduced by about 800 names in mid-winter 1976 when we conducted the survey required by law. Those recipients who did not return a letter we sent them were automatically dropped from the list(s). This resulted in a substantial saving in both postage and printing. (After the fiscal-year-end in June, we reduced the list of complimentary subscribers to Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine for additional savings in printing and postage.)

The Department worked on behalf of a move by the American Association for Conservation Information for a special secondclass mailing rate for conservation magazines. (The measure p~ssed in Congress and was signed in September by President Ford; we look for savings of somewhere near $1,000 a year with the new rates, now in effect.) Our delegation to Congress assured us of support on this measure.

Looking toward savings in printing costs, we removed the trapping and guiding regulations from the hunting regulations booklet and arranged to have them printed in a small folder. This produced enough saving to allow returning the hunting regulations publication to the better-liked booklet form rather than a folder, but at about the cost of the previous folder containing the guiding and trapping material (which needs to be produced in a far smaller quantity).

An added benefit is that the trapping regulations can be updated and republished at a much smaller cost in folder form, which helps us keep the public informed of current regulations and seasons.

The list of films in our library (distributed at no charge to us by the University of Maine Film

19

Rental Library at Orono) was updated and reprinted as a folder instead of a booklet, with resultant savings in printing costs.

Reprints from Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine - which are in considerable demand by the public - are being ordered in reduced quantity, and at the beginning of the new fiscal year July 1, 1976, we began a new policy of recovering part of the printing cost for each reprint requested by the public. We still pay the postage , however.

Inflation also caused an increase in the subscription price for Maine Fish and Wildlife, with new prices as of July 1. It is too early to tell if the increase will cut down the number of subscribers, but there is no indication of any substantial drop.

A joint effort by I & E and the Watercraft and Snowmobile Registration divisions resulted in the appearance of a slide show which runs during business hours in the lobby of our headquarters building Concentrating on in Augusta. safety education, the program changes emphasis as boating, hunting, and snowmobiling seasons arrive.

Other audio-visual work included administering the Department display at Eastern States Exposition; shooting pictures of wildlife and Department activities; filling picture requests from news media, writers, and so on; producing photographic illustrations for the magazine; and other regular routine work. Production work on a short film on the 197 4 eagle egg transplant moved toward completion (prints for the film library were received in November 1976, and the film library at Orono now has them for public booking). The deer film editing was nearing completion; a small amount of additional shooting remained before final production work could be done. This film will be an important statement about deer in Maine, and we are being very 20

particular about how it is made.

Species management plans for both fish and non-fish wildlife have been completed by the Planning Division , and at mid-1976, condensations of these plans were under way for presentation as nontechnical special segments of Maine Fish and Wildlife in the Fall 1976 and Spring 1977 issues.

I & E updated and produced the open water fishing, migratory bird hunting, and ice fishing regulations publications in addition to the others mentioned earlier. The 197 6 ice fishing regulations came out in a different format designed to make them easier io understand; these regulations are complicated because basic rules differ somewhat from county to county.

Routine work occupies much of

the time of the I & E staff. This included supplying materials for the publications program for use in schools, formulated by the Maine Environmental Education Forum and carried out through the co-operation of the Maine State Library. Information - by letters, telephone, and publications - was supplied to the public in considerable volume (total outgoing mail for the year for I & E was 39,263 pieces). We maintained and distributed film and slide shows used in the hunter safety and snowmobile safety programs , and we maintained the computerized list of safety instructors for the Safety Division.

Other work and administrative functions accounted for a busy year.

Engineering Division Clayton G. Grant, Chief Engineer During the fiscal y ear ending June 30, 1976, the Engineering Division has been primarily engaged in small projects involving maintenance and repair activities.

Due to the present inflationary situation, several badly needed capital construction projects have been postponed or cancelled to enable the Division , as well as the entire Department, to function on a day to day basis.

Installation of the filter units, and related piping, heating and wiring, as well as stream restoration and final grading, were all completed at Enfield hatchery.

In compliance with newly imposed environmental regulations, settling basins were installed at both Phillips and New Gloucester hatcheries. These basins are designed to function at the outlets of the hatchery pools. The velocity of flowing water is diminished over the enlarged flow channel, and solids are settled from the effluent before it is returned to

the downstream flow. It is anticipated that as standards become more stringent, several additional facilities will have to be designed and constructed by this Division.

Various small projects were completed, such as renovation of area headquarters buildings, roof repairs, and fishway and dam repairs and maintenance. Routine property surveying and field investigations were performed for the several divisions in the Department.

Several projects are planned for the upcoming construction season.

Among these are the replacement of the public landing facility at Swan Island which has been badly deteriorated by weather, replacement of a water control structure at Bog Brook (Narraguagus River) for the same reason, and a new A second floor room over the old garage at the Greenville headquarters received a face I ifting during t he y ear .

Engi neering Division emp loy ees Kem p Hescock an d Mark Haske l I d id much of the work on t he room , w hich is used for meetings and conferences.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 197 6-77

low head dam at Clay Pond ( Fryeburg) to create a desirable fisheries and waterfowl habitat.

In addition, the usual routine

maintenance work will be performed, as well as duties assigned by the Commissioner or requested by other divisions.

Personnel complement during the period covered remains at four men. No vacant positions have been filled.

Fishery Division Lyndon H. Bond, Chief Environmental investigations occupied fishery biologist time in all seven of the state's fishery regions.

Routine work in all regions included water quality monitoring, lake and stream survey work, age and growth study work, and similar activities relating to the continuing overseeing of Maine's fisheries. Highlights of special projects and regional reports are presented below.

Hooking Mortality Study. East Outlet of Moosehead Lake was sampled in June 197 5 to evaluate relative mortality of salmon caught on flies and worms and released in river habitat in late spring. Of the salmon caught on worms, 33 per cent died of hooking injuries, while no fly-caught salmon or control (trapped) fish died. The majority of angled salmon were twoyear-olds, nearly all sublegal size.

All fish hooked in stomach, throat, or gills died.

Brook Trout Longevity Study.

The goal of this long term study,

now in its fifth year, is to develop brook trout stock with exceptional longevity (to survive one year in the hatchery and then three or more years in the wild).

A change in 197 6 was designed to reduce indicated predation on the small, fall fingerling trout; larger, fall yearlings were stocked instead.

Also, hybrid trout from a special New York strain are to be finclipped for 1977 introduction into test waters where their survival, growth, and recovery by anglers will be compared with those now under test.

Sunapee and Blueback Trout Stocking three more Studies. lakes with Sunapee trout brings the total to seven plus the native population at Floods Pond. Growth rates vary in different lakes, and work is in progress to improve food supplies in some of the ponds. Anglers are having some difficulty in catching Sunapees, deep-dwelling fish.

Chances of success are best for fishermen us-

ing almost any method designed to catch lake trout - especially jigging and still fishing.

Forage Crustacean Project. Freshwater shrimp were introduced into Moosehead Lake in this project to enhance forage species ¡ for salmonids; further checks are planned to monitor the success of the stocking. A successful introduction of aquatic isopods was made at Eagle Lake, Mt. Desert; the organisms are particularly beneficial to brook trout and appear to be well established in the northern end of the lake. Field work is completed on tests of various brook trout stocking rates for small ponds.

Analysis of population and creel census information is under way.

Other work has shown a significant increase in brook trout growth when smelts were introduced as forage for a stunted trout population. Numbers of trout present decreased greatly, however.

Federal Aid Co-ordination. Approved for funding by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a new, five-year federal aid project in fish restoration, entitled "Maine Inland Fisheries Operational Plan." Effective date was October 1, 1976.

The project reflects jobs to attain goals and objectives of major fish species plans adopted by the Department.

Region A- Sebago Region. Much time was spent on surveys on salmon and trout waters in the 1975 winter and summer seasons, with anglers interviewed and catches checked. Good information for 18 waters in the region has helped greatly in estimating fishing pressure and harvest of fish for refinement of management programs to

21

improve fishing. Stream electrofishing revealed a decline in trout populations in the more heavily fished streams in southern Maine.

Recommended is a change back to the six-inch limit on trout in York, Cumberland, and Oxford counties to increase trout numbers and size.

Salmon fishing at Sebago Lake was quite slow this past season.

Growth rate has declined due to an apparent decline in the number of smelts, the major diet of the salmon. Stocking rates were reduced, and the 14-inch length limit was returned for the 197 6 season. Lake trout fishing was again spectacular at Sebago for the 1975 season, with many anglers taking home limits of togue. The Sebago Lake salmon study report has been published and is available at 50 cents a copy from the Augusta office.

Region B - Belgrade Region. The species management plan for largemouth bass was finished and job descriptions written. Largemouth bass transfers and evaluations of previous stockings were made. Initiated were creel censusing and netting of the region's salmon/ togue/smelt waters to evaluate interrelationships and determine present status. Some brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout ponds not checked for some years were netted for evaluations of their fisheries and stocking programs. Four ponds were reclaimed for trout in fall 1975.

Region C - Grand Lake Region.

Winter creel census data from six waters allowed estimates for seasonal angler use and seasonal catch for a variety of sport fisheries.

Many of the 18,000 spring yearling brown trout stocked in the Union River were boated to remote areas to improve their chances of finding good habitat. Large browns (2.75 to 3.75 pounds) were captured in Great Pond and Spectacle Pond, demonstrating the river system's capacity for producing trophy brown trout. Many anglers were concerned about liberaliza22

tion of fishing regulations for smallmouth bass; fishing pressure for this species was light during the early season al though those few anglers venturing out met with considerable success. The regional biologist and assistant helped in development of the operational phase of management plans for chain pickerel and smallmouth bass.

Region D - Rangeley Region.

Work on the Rangeley chain of lakes showed smelts continuing to increase, with corresponding increase in the average length of salmon.

Fishing is slowly but surely improving in all three of the large lakes (Rangeley, Mooselookmeguntic, and Richardson).

More use of brown trout in selected waters has met with angler approval, as at least one formerly unproductive lake now provides a nice fishery. Plans were made to evaluate two strains of rainbow trout in selected waters for possible fish management use in the future.

Region E - Moosehead Region.

Several management recommendations have resulted from the long term Moose head Lake study, which has produced creel census data and aircraft counts of boats for 10 years of activity. We are able

to prepare estimates of total catches. of salmon, togue, and brook trout for each year from this 7 5,000-acre lake.

The 18-inch length limit on togue has been in effect for five years, and we believe it is beginning to result in an increase in the population and greater angler satisfaction. Reduced salmon stocking and elimination of togue stocking in 197 6 were designed to allow wild populations to attain maximum potentials in size and numbers.

Lowered bag limits may be necessary to maintain good fishing for large fish. Completed were surveys of the upper Piscataquis River watershed and the sport fishery on the West Branch of the Penobscot River below Ripogenus Dam. Work was done on the Jackman area lakes, the Chamberlain-Telos lakes area, Sebec Lake, and other waters. A 12-inch length limit at Sebec Lake for several years is no longer desirable: and was changed to 14 ioches. The togue length limit was increased to 18 inches to allow a nucleus of stocked togue to attain spawning age and, we hope, result in a self-perpetuated population in the future.

Region F - Penobscot Region.

Field work emphasis was on evaluation of stocked brook trout, sal-

mon, lake trout, and recently reclaimed ponds.

An expanded voluntary fisherman census produced considerable information.

Tabulation and analysis of the clerk creel census at Cold Stream Pond has led to recommended changes in management and will contribute to changes on other waters, too. Systematized aerial counts of ice fishermen on about 90 waters was completed and data produced to give winter use estimates for much of the region.

Other work included officiating weights and measures at one fishing derby and creel census at two others; assistance in monitoring effects of spruce budworm spraying program; opening day creel census on the excellent salmon fishery of the West Branch, Penobscot River; and spring and fall fish marking at several hatcheries.

Region G - Fish River Region.

Aircraft counts of ice fishing pressure on the Allagash chain and other northern Maine w~t,ers indicated a slight increase overall and a greater increase in pressure for lakes near the southern end of the Allagash drainage. Square Lake was opened to ice fishing for the first time in 197 6 and was censused regularly to determine effects of ice fishing on salmon and brook trout fisheries. Fishery biologists provided assistance in monitoring the effects on brook trout of the spruce budworm spraying with Sevin-4-oil. Eleven new surveys of remote brook trout ponds were completed.

Hatchery Division Stanley P. Linscott, Supt.

(Editor 's note: Upon the retirement of Stan Linscott at the start of the 1976-77 fiscal year, this division's fish rearing and stocking activities became the responsibility of the Fishery Division, while game farm management went to the Wildlife Division. Current Superintendent of Hatcheries David 0. Locke wrote this report.)

Several personnel changes occurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976. Stanley P. Linscott, superintendent of hatcheries since 1961 and employed by this Department since 1939, retired June 30.

Cecil McAllister, hatchery foreman at New Gloucester, and Henry Fountaine, fish hatcheryman at Embden, also retired near the end of the fiscal year. These three employees had a total of more than 100 years of service to this Department, and their experience and abilities will be greatly missed.

Walter Hinds , assistant fish hatchery foreman at New Gloucester was promoted to replace Cecil McAllister as foreman.

Miles Maltby, fish hatcheryman , was promoted to assistant fish hatchery foreman, also at New Gloucester.

Fish hatcheryman Charles Heath of Phillips attended a Fish Cultural Workshop sponsored by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Spearfish, South Dakota, in March. Indepth training of this type pro-

vided Charlie with an opportunity to learn the latest fish cultural techniques.

The water filtration plant for the Enfield hatchery water supply was essentially completed. Final modifications and improvements are under way, and the filtration system should be operating on a full-time basis early in 1977. This filtration equipment will remove from the water supply fish parasites and particles larger than 10 microns (0.00039 inch) in size.

An ultraviolet water treatment system is still badly needed at Enfield in conjunction with the filtration equipment to eliminate bacterial disease problems. Money for this equipment has been cut from budgets for several years.

Settling ponds to remove fish wastes from hatchery effluents have been constructed at Phillips and New Gloucester. These water treatment facilities are required by both state and federal regulations.

The following fish were stocked during 1975 : Number Pounds Brook t rou t 7 20 , 233 Brown t rou t 29 7,5 20 Lake t rou t (t ogue) 44 5,4 6 4 Rainbow t rou t 50 ,06 7 Sunapee t rou t 15 ,000 Landlocked salmon 567 ,834 2,096 ,11

4 9 ,9 87 32, 709 1 9 ,0 54 5,84 3 273 4 6,331 1 54, 19 7

Planning and Co-ordination Division Kenneth H. Anderson , Director

Fisheries biologists from t hree regions of t he state work at Govern or Hill hatchery , fi n-clipping you ng lake trout for later identification. From left to rig ht, t he clip pers are Grand Lake Reg ional Biologist Dennis McNeish, Ashland Regional Biologist Peter Bourque and Assistant Biologist Forrest Bonney, and Penobscot Regio nal Biologist Steven Timpano.

The Planning Division engaged in a variety of activities supporting the Department's efforts to keep abreast of the current status of Maine's inland fisheries and wildlife resources and to focus regulations and other management activities on current and developing conditions. Data collection and

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 197 6-77

analysis included land and water inventories; hunter, trapper, and fishermen surveys; fur tagging records; and evaluations of the impact associated with proposed developments on inland fisheries and wildlife. Automated data processing and analysis support was also provided to many administrative

23

and technical jobs undertaken by other divisions within the Department.

Inland fisheries species assessments and management proposals were completed in co-operation with the Fishery Division. Specific proposals were selected and included in a four year fisheries management operational plan based upon species management objectives, species management needs, and expected job effectiveness and cost considerations.

The Department's Stream Alteration Law (Title 12) was administered by this Division. Division personnel processed approximately 150 applications during the past fiscal year. In addition, the Division co-ordinated the development and processing of the Department's technical recommendations concerning proposed developments affected by other environmental statutes. These reviews included 407 Great Ponds applications; 164 Tidal Wetlands applications; 245 Site Location applications; 116 Forest Operation Permit applications; 12 L.U.R.C. subdivision applications; 51 L. U. R.D. development applications; 11 L.U.R.C. bridge construction applications; and 103 Department of Transportation road construction and maintenance projects.

Co-ordination of the latter work involved the routing of individual applications from the administering agency to Department personnel in the field for their asses:;men t

of the potential impact of the proposal on inland fish and wildlife resources, and conveying the Department's response back to the administering agency for its consideration.

The intra-agency co-ordination function of the Division covered a great variety of public, legislative, environmental, and technical activities.

This work included

Dickey-Lincoln environmental impact investigations, Coastal Zone Management, soil erosion control, the Governor's Council on Land and Water Use, remote sensing, Commission on Maine's Future, Maine State Policies Plan, Army Corps of Engineers wetland control jurisdiction, Outer Continental Shelf, and numerous other intra-agency activities.

Realty Division Richard B. Parks, Chief If you have looked around lately, especially in southern Maine, you may have noted houses and trailers in places where woodland and fields were last year. Maine is growing in population faster than the national average, and these people must live somewhere!

The Realty Division is charged with setting aside tracts of land for our wildlife. With the financing now available to it by means of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Acquisition Fund ( our $4 million bond issue), it is pursuing the Department's Acquisition Plan as fast as time and personnel will To date, approximately allow.

8,000 acres of valuable wildlife habitat have been purchased with bond money.

A major part of our plan calls for increasing the size of some of the existing wildlife management

areas.

Significant purchases of land during the past year are as follows: We added 2,731 acres to our Brownfield Bog wildlife management area, bringing its total size to 5,470 acres. This area now has a great diversity of habitat and cover types, it is our largest, and we believe it to be one of the finest management areas in the state.

The addition of 723 acres to the Newfield wildlife management area made its total size approximately 4,220 acres. Our goal is a minimum of 5,000 acres for this unit, and, with current negotiations, this goal is nearly in sight.

According to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Acquisition Plan, a new wildlife management area was initiated in the Augusta area with purchases totalling 2,250 acres. This, we hope, will be considerably expanded in size.

At the Manuel wildlife management area in Aroostook County,

Clay Pond, Fryeburg - a portion of the more than 2,700 acres added to the Brownfield Bog Wildlife Management Area during the year. Realty Division workers were successful in adding considerable acreage to existing management areas this year, in addition to purchasing some parcels of land as starting points for new management areas.

an increase of 300 acres brought our owned acreage to 2,965. We have options covering some 450 additional acres, and negotiations are proceeding on many more additional land tracts.

With the addition of 60 acres, the Scarborough wildlife management area is nearly complete. This unit now contains some 2,970 acres, with an original goal of 3,000. Negotiations are proceeding for several small parcels which will complete the area.

Several small parcels were added to the Peaks Island w. m. a. in Portland and the Mendall w. m. a.

in Prospect and Frankfort.

A gift of 50 acres of upland in Belgrade was accepted as the nucleus of a new wildlife management area. The gift of additional land in this area will be forthcoming.

Several conservation easements were signed during the year on property in the towns of St. George, Bremen, Lamoine, Bristol, Boothbay, Westport, Cutler, and Rockport.

Many routine duties were performed by Division personnel including obtaining leases, making appraisals, title abstracting, and numerous negotiations.

I

Watercraft Registration and Safety Division Robert H. Johnson, Director (Editor's note: In early September of 1976, this division was combined with the Safety and Snowmobile Registration Division, resulting in the Division of Recreational Registration and Safety.

Current Division Director Lorenzo A. Gaudreau prepared this report for Robert H. Johnson, who retired September 30.)

The Director participated in numerous meetings and conferences with the Maine Marine Trades Association and the Maine Boatbuilders and Repairers Association and gave water safety demonstrations and talks on the Maine Boat Law to the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary flotillas, U. S. Power Squadrons, American Red Cross watercraft schools, and numerous clubs and organizations interested in boats.

Boating safety literature and films were mailed to the public; safety messages sent to radio stations. Boating safety presentations were given in schools and summer camps throughout the state by four recreational safety co-ordinators.

The safety program was

funded by the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971.

At the close of the calendar year, December 31, 1975, the registry had some 105,950 boats listed. During the first six months of 197 5, the Division had registered an additional 15,638 boats, issued 211 operator licenses, granted 31 permits for races and regattas, and forwarded all required accident reports to the U. S. Coast Guard.

Listings of all boat registrations were mailed monthly to the tax assessors of all towns and cities in the state as required by law.

(Legislation has now changed this procedure to one mailing each year.)

Nine public hearings were held covering requests to limit the horsepower of motorboats on inland waters. Safety messages were set up on bulletin boards at launching areas throughout the state. An exhibit of personal flotation devices and boating safety slides was presented during the summer months in the lobby of our building at 284 State Street, Augusta.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 197 6-77

Division of

Safety and Snowmobile Registration Lorenzo A. Gaudreau, Director (Editor's note: This division, in early September, absorbed the functions of the Watercraft Registration and Safety Division to become the Division of Recreational Registration and Safety.

Lorenzo A. Gaudreau is director of the new division.)

The Division of Safety and Snowmobile Registration registered 71,272 snowmobiles, certified 404 snowmobile dealers, and issued 86 duplicate registrations last season. All registrations were processed in Augusta by mail or overthe-coun ter at our new Fish and Wildlife headquarters, 284 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04333.

Both the hunter and snowmobile safety efforts utilized volunteer instructors to give safety courses.

Part time recreational co-ordinators assist in soliciting for sponsors and volunteer instructors.

Last season, 166 hunter safety courses were given and more than 4,000 students graduated. Volunteer instructors gave 100 snowmobile safety training courses and graduated more than 2,000 students. Both the hunter and snowmo bile safety programs have been a tremendous help in teaching participants enjoyment of their sport in a safe, responsible manner.

Anyone interested in participating in the programs as an instructor or sponsor, or taking a training course, may con tact the appropriate co-ordinator listed below, or write the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Division of Safety and Snowmobile Registration, at the above address, to the attention of the Safety Office.

25

REC REATIO NAL SNOWMOBI LE SAFETY CO-ORDINATORS

Na me and Address Janice La Brecque RFD #2 Gorh am , Maine 04038 Te l: 892-9532

All of Cumberland and York cou nties an d F ryebu rg sou th of Oxfor d Co u nty.

Vaca nt al press ti m e

2

Oxford and Frankli n cou n ties excep t F rye bu rg south of Oxfor d County.

R alph L. Watso n So u th Mai n Street Mon m o u t h , Ma ine 04259 Te l: 933-2962 Off : 623-3521 - Ext. 284

3

All of Kenne bec, An d roscoggin, Saga da hoc, L incoln and Knox co u nties .

Edwi n R . Wuori Star Ro u te Ell swo rt h , Maine 04605 Te l: 584-3272

4

All of Hancock a nd Wash ington co un t ies.

Do nald H. Clark R F D #1 Ha mpde n Highlands, Maine 04445 Te l: 234-2627

5

All of Wal d o an d Penobscot cou n t ies exce p t Me dway north of Penobscot.

Do uglas Si de lin ger Detro it R oad Pittsfie ld , Ma ine 04967 Te l : 487-5386

6

All of So merset an d Piscataqu is cou n ties.

Mich ae l Sawyer RFD #1 Smyrna Mi ll s, Maine 04 7 80 Te l: 757-8102

7

A ll of Aroostook County a nd Me d way north of Peno bscot.

REGIONAL HUNTER SAFETY CO-ORDINATORS

Na me and Address Ste phen C. Sta n to n Gle n Have n Circle Saco, Mai ne 0407 2 Tel : 282-0939

26

Yo rk

Woodbury D. Tho mpso n 3M Business Produ cts Sales In c.

P. 0 . Box 3573 Po r t land , Maine 041 0 4 Te l: 772-0179 o r 797-2463

2

Cumberl a nd , Oxford , (Fryeburg a nd Sou th)Androscoggin (All sou th of Auburn ), a nd Sagadaho c coun t ies.

(Serve d by t he Augusta office)

3

Oxford (All nort h o f Fryeburg ) Androscoggin (Auburn and no rt h ), Frankl in , Kennebec, a nd Somerset.

Norman C. Martin Te nants Harbor , Ma ine 0486 0 Te l: 37 2- 660 8

4

Lincoln , Knox , and Waldo (no r th to Rou te 9 to Ba ngor, sou th on Rou te lA to Ellsworth ).

George L. Curr ier 20 9 Silk Street Bre we r, Ma ine 0 4412 T el : 989-24 77

5

Pe nobsco t, Piscataquis a nd So uthe rn Ha ncock to Mt .

Desert Island .

Harl and Hi tchings P. 0 . Box 145 Princeton , Ma ine 0 46 68 T el : 79 6-2282

6

Washingt on Coun ty a nd Nort heastern Pe nobsco t to Route 9 5 a long Rou te 188 (includes Lincoln).

Michael G . Sawy er R.F.D . l Smyrn a Mills, Ma ine 0 4 7 8 0 Tel : 7 57-8 102

7

Aroos took Coun ty from Washington Coun ty line to Westfi eld .

Robe r t J. Ba rry 4 St. John Stree t Fort Ken t, Maine 0 4 7 4 3 Tel : 8 34- 399 8

8

Aroostook Coun t y (Nor thern Section)

Charles L. Duggins 1 0 Old South Place Bath , Ma ine 0 4530 Tel : 44 3-2 60 1

Wildlife Division

Coun t ies

Survival T echniques Specialist

Robert W. Boettger, Chief The Wildlife Division continued to operate primarily on funds generated by the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. This federal aid program has been in existence since 1937 and reimburses the Department for three-quarters of the total cost of approved wildlife research and management projects. Its funds are generated by an 11 per cent excise tax on sporting arms, bows and arrows , and ammunition.

Liaison has been maintained with the State Planning Office to assure that wildlife receives adequate consideration under that office 's various programs, including those dealing with critical areas and coastal zone management.

Recommendations are made to the Board of Environmental Protection concerning the effect upon wildlife of the various development proposals brought before the Board.

Last but not least, Division personnel make sure that wildlife interests are protected under the Stream Alteration Law administered by our own Department.

Although it may not be common knowledge, the Wildlife Division is responsible for administering and controlling scientific collecting and bird banding permits.

These deal with those persons engaged in bona fide scientific studies which require the collection of certain numbers and species of Maine birds and/or mammals. During the past year, in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and

Wi ld life Tec hn ician James Dorso had ass ista nce aga in t hi s y ear from w il dl ife students at t he Uni versit y of Mai ne.

Here , Ji m watc hes w hil e t w o of t he students co nduct a hunter bag check, a regu lar event during each duck season.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 197 6-77

Wildlife Service ( which also has jurisdiction over migratory species), we have revised the rules and regulations pertaining to these permits so that more responsibility is required of and more control exerted over permi ttees.

During the past year, the Division has acquired, through the efforts of Realty Division personnel, more land to be added to the total acreage of state-owned wildlife management areas. Acquisition goals for the Scarborough, Lt. Gordon Manuel, and Brownfield Wildlife Management Areas are close to being met and should be attained in the near future.

In summary, this past year has been one of moving forward toward pre-determined goals and objectives.

Operating procedures have been revised, and efforts are being made to obtain some outside funding in order to continue to

make progress within a tight budget situation.

We have also investigated the possibility of obtaining additional funding from other governmental or acceptable private sources that would not require state matching monies. These funds would be used to support some of the lower priority jobs that are still important in meeting the goals and objectives of our species plans. So far, we have been successful in obtaining this type of federal funding for work on woodcock and are now attempting to obtain private and federal funds for support of additional work on black bear and woodcock.

Close co-operation has continued with other state and federal agencies whose activities affect the welfare of Maine's wildlife community. Division personnel have worked successfully with the Land

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

Use Regulation Commission and private timberlands owners regarding the management of deer wintering areas placed in interim L URC protection zones. Also, we have provided information and recommendations to the LURC staff and commission which they incorporated into the sections of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan and standards that deal with wildlife.

Members of the Wildlife Division are also working with U. S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel to make certain that wildlife interests are considered and protected under any proposed Corps projects, including the Environmental Impact Statement now being prepared for the proposed Dickey-Lincoln Power Project.

The Division is working closely with the State Bureau of Public Lands to assure that wildlife habitat and management practices are considered in any management plans being prepared for those public lands now administered by or being acquired by the Bureau.

Research and management jobs under our species management program were all approved for federal reimbursement to the limit of funds available. Because of budget limitations, especially at the state level, it was not possible to fund and implement all of the jobs that we felt were important to the meeting of species plans, goals, and objectives. Therefore, priorities were assigned to all proposed jobs, and only those with the highest priorities were activated.

Various categories of these jobs include continuing population studies, determination of effects of hunting and trapping pressure and other mortality factors, habitat assessment, regulations recommendations and changes, habitat management demonstration areas, and determination of specific management plans for critically important wildlife habitat. Important examples of these activities would be a study of black duck population pro bl ems in Maine and the 27

Atlantic Flyway by a committee of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl specialists (the chairman of this committee is the Wildlife Division's Migratory Bird Studies Leader, Howard "Skip" Spencer); a major revision of the trapping regulations with the primary purpose of consolidating these regulations to deal more effectively with steadily increasing trapping pressure and to provide more protection to the state's heavily utilized fisher population; inventories of all important deer wintering areas and bird nesting islands in the state (these inventories are nearing completion and will be continually updated); determination and updating of management plans for deer wintering areas, bird nesting islands, and state-owned wildlife management areas; and establishment of habitat management demonstration areas for grouse and woodcock on some of our state-owned wildlife management areas.

Also, because of considerable interest among Maine sportsmen and a high level of success in other northeastern states, it has been decided to stock wild turkeys experimentally in southwestern Maine during the coming year, and plans and preparations have been completed for this project.

In addition to the 7 5 per cent federal funding support for approved research and management projects, we have recently entered into an agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service concerning studies and management of endangered wildlife species. This agreement can provide 66 2/3 per cent federal matching monies. A subsequent agreement with the University of Maine at Orono has provided state matching money which, matched with these endangered species funds, will support a bald eagle research study.

During the past fiscal year, the Division's research and management program has been directed towards meeting the needs, goals,

and objectives of the long range comprehensive species plans for the various groups and species of Maine's wildlife. (These species

plans have been summarized in the Fall 197 6 issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife. )

Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission Alfred L. Meister, Chief Biologist The salmon angler will remember the 197 6 season with mixed emotions. High temperatures and extreme low water levels in June resulted in the death of some early-run salmon on the smaller rivers such as the Sheepscot and the Union. The Washington County rivers reported below-average rod catches during the peak angling season of mid-May through June.

These extremely adverse angling conditions did an about face in early July, and throughout the season, exceptionally high water levels were encountered.

The above-normal water levels permitted fish to ascend to headwater spawning areas, and this escapement will permit adequate egg deposition and insure increased natural production.

The sport fishery picked up during the late summer and early fall with catches reported from headwater areas of the Machias and Penobscot as well as increased catches from the lower reaches of the Union river.

Known rod catches accounted for 10 to 15 per cent of the runs on both of these rivers.

The Salmon Commission operates traps on both the Union and Penobscot rivers. Trap catch figures for the period 1970 - 1976 are presented in Figure 1.

In 197 5, native brood stock yielded more than 1. 3 million eggs for the hatchery program, and it is expected that the brood stock on hand will provide in excess of 1. 7 million eggs in the fall of 1976. These eggs and the resulting young fish will be reared

at the federal salmon hatcheries at Craig Brook and Green Lake.

During the spring of 197 6, more than 300,000 migratory-sized salmon were released from these hatcheries into the rivers of Maine.

Included in this number were 105,000 smolts representing the initial production from the new hatchery at Green Lake. An additional 150,000 salmon are being reared at this facility for release in the spring of 1977.

In 1976, additional unexpected problems were encountered at the hatcheries. Commercially-prepared fish foods were found to be contaminated with chemicals detrimental to fiah. Diet trials and feeding regimes were disrupted, and substitute diets had to be

FIGURE 1.

1000 900 800 -

700 -

PENOBSCOT RIVER TRAP UNION RIVER TRAP

600 500 400 300 200 100

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

*Trop inoperob l• (undu construct ion )

28

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

procured. In addition, outbreaks of bacterial diseases caused mortalities that reduced hatchery pro- , duction before the diseases were brought under control through the use of antibiotics.

On the Machias River, a cooperative project resulted in the removal of old logs and other debris and a cleanup of the lower reaches of the river at the site of existing and potential fishing areas.

More than 600,000 board feet of sunken saw logs have been removed to date, and a long-range enhancement program has been prepared in co-operation with the Downeast R C & D organization.

The long-range spawning and natural production project is providing valuable data on spawning sites and fry emergence. In 1975, initial spawning occurred on October 15 in Washington County rivers. Water depths and velocities measured at the time of spawning ranged from .2 to .49 meters and .27 to .80 meters per second respectively. The use of a standpipe permitted measurement of water flows through the gravel of the spawning sites (permeability) during 1976. During the winter of 1975-76, ice and high water destroyed some of the study redds; but at the other redds, hatching and fry emergence was complete by late May. It was found that spring seepage areas with their warmer water promoted early emergence (2-3 weeks), and fry from these areas averaged 28. 9 mm in length. Egg survival ex ceeded 90 per cent, and fry emergence occurred primarily at night. /A. sim~lar study on the upst~e~~ ¡ migration of the adults was m1tiated in 197 6. University personnel, using radio transmitters implanted in the adults, tracked salmon as

James Fletcher, right, Machias regional biologist for the Maine Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission, chats with a salmon angler on the Dennys River.

far upstream as Kingman on the Mattawamkeag and to Ebeemee and Silver lakes on the Pleasant River, a tributary of the Piscatauis.

In 1976, a new memorandum of agreement was signed among the State of Maine, the University of Maine, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This updates the original agreement signed in 1948 and expands the university participation in the program as well as delineates the duties and responsibilities of the signatory agencies.

A reduction in field personnel and seasonal employees encountered in 1976 prevented the Commission from implementing programs and necessitated a cut in routine management investigations. Budgetary reductions, beyond the control of the Commission, promise to restrict further the management and restoration activities of this organization.

On the Penobscot, fish passage problems were encountered at the site of the Bangor dam. Decay and erosion of the center spillway increased the fish-attraction flow at this breach, and numerous salmon were injured in an attempt to surmount this obstacle. It is expected that ice and high water in the spring of 1977 will remove this obstruction.

The breaching of this dam will require that trapping

facilities be built at the next dam upstream. On the positive side, the removal of the dam will provide an additional 2 1h miles of needed fishing area in the lower reaches of the Penobscot.

On the main stem, indications are that additional fish passage will be required at the West Enfield dam.

Salmon are currently detained at this obstruction, and the delays are detrimental to restoration and full utilization of the East Branch and Mattawamkeag areas of the Penobscot.

Adult returns from the smolt release pond in Brewer provide cautious optimism for the expanded use of this technique as a good management tool. In the spring of 197 6, the first salmon angled from the famed Salmon Pool came from a stocking released at the pool, and the second fish was from the smoli release pond. More than 20,000 smolts were stocked in this pond during April 1976 and allowed to migrate at a time of their choosing. ~ The rate and route of migration from the river to the ocean was documented in a co-operative study with the University of Maine.

Smolts were found to migrate actively at rates in excess of four miles per hour, and they were tracked down-river and well out into the waters of Penobscot Bay.

PERSONNEL NOTES

There have been quite a number of retirements and a few promotions within the Department since the last time personnel changes were reviewed in Maine Fish and Wildlife.

In September, Robert H. Johnson retired as director of the Division of Watercraft Registration and Safety after having worked for the Department since 1961. His position was filled by Lorenzo J. Gaudreau, formerly head of snowmobile registration but now in charge of both functions, which have been merged into the Division of Recreational Safety and Registration.

In the Wildlife Division, W. Sidney Howe of Old Town retired after 27 years service as a wildlife biologist.

Two warden supervisors also retired recently. Virgil M. Grant of Houlton, 23 years with the Warden Service, had been a warden supervisor since 1965. Charles B. "Bert" Lombard of South Casco had been a warden for more than 30 years, a supervisor since 1969. Grant's warden division was taken over by Warden Supervisor E. Leonard Ritchie of Lincoln, who retained responsibility for his former division as well; the merged division is called Division F. Warden Inspector Russell E. Dyer of Steep Falls was promoted to supervisor 30

and took charge of Division A, replacing Lombard.

Also in the Warden Service, Warden Inspector Lee G. Downs of East Corin th retired after a 19 year career. His responsibilities in Division F have been assumed

by Warden Inspector Bryan C. Buchanan of East Corinth.

Recent district game warden retirements have been Linwood J. Folsom of Bucksport, 25 years; Wjnfield L. Gordon of Warren, 23 years; Lawrence W. "Joe" Caron of Old Town, 29 years; John B. Swasey of Andover, 23 years; and Martin C. Savage of Tern ple, 18 years.

Another recent promotion was that of David E. Wilbur who has become Superintendent of the Department's Game Farm at Gray.

Final figures for the 197 6 deer kill were not available at press time; however, the preliminary figure - subject to minor change - is 29,619 deer. Although 15 per cent lower than the previous year, the 197 6 deer kill exceeded the 1971-7 5 average harvest by 4 per cent.

We'll try to have more deer season details in the spring issue, after the great amount of information gathered during the season is compiled and studied by the Wildlife Division. It is evident,

however, that hunting conditions played a big role in the outcome of the season, and it is likely that hunting pressure did, too .

In a nutshell , where there were good hunting conditions (northern and northwestern Maine), the deer kill was higher than in 197 5, and where they were not so good, the kill was down. Record low temperatures during November, coupled with a relentless wind and widespread absence of a tracking snow in central and southern sections resulted in less interest in hunting and tough conditions for those who did hunt.

The reported decrease in the number of hunters afield might also have been partly a result of higher license fees in 1976, particularly affecting nonresident hunters. We'll try to have final license sale figures in the spring issue, also.

REPORT EAGLE SIGHTINGS

A project is underway at the University of Maine at Orono to investigate the ecology of the bald eagle in this state. The initial phase of the study will be to evaluate winter habits, and will include a census of the wintering population, location of roosting and feeding sites, and identification of food items.

The success of these efforts will depend heavily upon input from the citizens of Maine. All individuals who make sightings of eagles are encouraged to record their observations and forward them to Charles Todd, School of Forest Resources, Nutting Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04473.

If possible, include the following for each sighting: (1) Date, (2) Time of day and length of observation, ( 3) Specific location, ( 4) Number and age class of birds, (5) What bird was doing when sighted, (6) Other specifics (prey items, etc.), (7) Observer's name, address, and telephone number.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

T HE WORLD RECORD LANDLOCKE D SA LMON was caug ht in Sebago Lake in 1907 - and the Maine Fish and Wildlife Department now has the mounted specimen on display in the Augusta office. The fish was caught by the late Edward Blakeley of Darien, Connecticut, who donated the mounted sp_ecimen to Yale University, with the agreement that it was to go to the State of Maine upon his death . Yale museum curator Ralph Morrill restored the mount recently, and his brother , James, of Brunswick, Maine, presented it to Commissioner Maynard Marsh. The fish weighed 221/2 pounds and was 36 inches long. Also on disp lay in the Augusta office is the Maine state record lake trout , a 31 Yrpounder caught in 1958 in Beech Hill Pond by Hol I is Grindle of Ellsworth.

1977 LICENSE FEES

THE LABEL HELPS

Nonresident Citiz en Big Game Hunting - 1 0 y rs. and ov er $ 60.50 Alien Big Game Hunting 100.00 Nonre sident Small Game Hunting 16 yrs. and ov er 30.50 Nonresident Junior Small Game Hunting - 10-15 yrs. inc.

15.50 Nonresident Archery Deer Hunting 12 y rs. and over 60.50 Nonresident Junior Fishing 12-16 yrs. inc.

4.00 Nonresident Season Fishing 16 yrs. and over 25.50 Nonresident 15-day Fishing 15.50 Nonresident 7-day Fishing 12.50 R eside nt or nonresident 3-day Fishing 7.50 Resident Fishing-16 yrs. and over 7.50 Resident Junior Hunting 10-15 yrs. inc.

1.50 Resident Hunting-16 y rs. and ove r 7.50 Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing - Over age 7 0 free Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing - 16 yrs. and over 12.50 Resident Serviceman Combination 3.50 Resident Archery Hunting 10 yrs. and o ver 7.50 Resident Trapping (Statewide) 13.00 Resident Guide - 18 yrs. and over 32.00

If you are renewing your subscription, notifying us of an address change, or have any other reason to write about your subscription to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE, please include a label from your magazine, or at least a copy of all the information on the label. It will greatly help speed the processing.

If you are moving, we also need your new mailing address, including zip code. We must have this information at least four weeks in advance of the next publication date. The magazine is not forwarded automatically.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 13

Answers to KID-BITS quiz: 1. b; 2. c; 3. a; 4. b; 5. d; 6. b; 7. c; 8. a; 9. a; 10. b.

31

liffet Spoil$路 fhe Spomtnen'~ World ..... and tnakes if stnaller.

KEEP MAINE SCENIC Dep a rtm en t of Conse rvation / Au 9 ust a, M ai no

THE TRASH you LEAVE i3E.~ HIND ON THE ICE DW~ING THE WINTER CLU"fTER$ ANO POLLUTES OU~ WATERWAYS 路" GOOD MANNERS IN THE. OUT-OF路t?OO~S HELPS KEEP

MAINE SCENIC ALL 'r'EAR'rzoUNO.

WHY DON'T THE WHITE DUCKS FLY? The scene was a common one: A small pond, nestled among suburban homes, with a half dozen ducks paddling around its surface.

Passing by, a small boy reacted as small fry often do. "Daddy, look at the ducks. Can we stop?" Dad did stop. As the boy approached the pond, the two pairs of mallards jumped from the water and flew off. The two white ducks remained, simply moving away toward the other side of the pond.

"Why didn't the white ducks fly away, Daddy?"

"Because those white ducks don't fly."

"But, why don't the white ducks fly?"

Why, indeed?

"Well," replied the father, "a long time ago all ducks were wild, and they all could fly. But, even in those days, a lot of people thought ducks were good to eat and often tried to catch them for food.

But wild ducks were hard to catch. So, when the people were able to catch more than they needed for a single meal, they'd keep the extra ones in a covered pen or tied to a stake so they couldn't fly away.

"Gradually, the people started keeping more and more captive ducks, feeding them and letting them breed so there would always be plenty of ducks available, and it wouldn't be necessary to hunt them.

"Over the many, many years, these captive ducks lost their desire and ability to fly so that, eventually, a new breed of non-flying ducks developed. Today, there are people who specialize

32

in raising ducks for food. Whenever you want one, you just go to the supermarket or butcher shop and buy one all ready to be cooked."

"But, Daddy, if you can get tl-ie white ducks at the store, why do you hunt the dark ones? Lots of times you don't get any."

"That's kind of complicated to answer," replied the father. "Let's say for now that I like the old style, hard way of doing things sometimes."

Now, the moral of this story involves some questions. There are people today who disapprove of and protest the hunting of ducks on the premise that this is wrong. They somehow separate ducks, the tame, domestic ones and the wild, free ones, into two different categories.

Can it be right to capture and tame birds for easy transfer to the table (even if the process occurs gradually over hundreds of years and becomes highly specialized) and wrong to hunt birds for the same purpose under proper controls and regulations? Although we believe that, ethically and morally, both are right, we can at least understand the opinion held by some sincere vegetarians that both are wrong.

However, among those who still insist that the captive method is right and the hunting method is wrong, is not this a blatant form of self-serving hypocrisy? In summary, we like the final comment of the little boy at the pond. "Well, I'd rather be one of the wild ducks. At least they have a chance to fly away路" --Dick Dietz Remington Arms Company

Maine Fish and Wildlife -Winter 1976-77

FISH SMOKING MADE EASY

By John M. McPhee Warden Pilot

A

TRIP

TO

THE

LIBRARY

will quickly tell you that an awful lot of material has been printed on how to smoke fish, meats, or just about anything else you can imagine! There are thousands of recipes to pick from, hundreds of types of smokers to use, and who knows how many methods of preparation to decide upon. Unfortunately, most people usually end up putting their fish in the freezer and forgetting about any notions they might have had about smoking them.

The art of smoking originated - and is still practiced in some parts of the world - primarily as a means of preserving foods, with flavor enhancement being only a coincidental benefit. Smoking for

preservation takes a cold smoke for long periods of time to insure a fine product that is cured and not just cooked.

More people today smoke for flavor, which involves a quicker and easier process. The finished product is often eaten immediately, eliminating the need of preserving it. If the user wants to store smoked fish for longer than a few days, he can place it in the freezer where it will keep indefinitely.

The following procedures are simple and time saving, designed to do the job on the "spur of the moment" with the least amount of fuss. They have proven to give a good product many times. I know better results can be realized if you have more time to devote, and I shall hint at some of these

Fish are usually cut in half lengthwise for smoking. Oily fish like lake trout and mackerel smoke best .

This homemade smoker has both smoker and firebox underground. Fish are hung on wires and smoked vertically.

more time-consuming procedures as we go along.

THE FISH. Let 's assume you are returning from a fishing trip with a good catch of lake trout.

I say lakers because the "togue'' is the best fresh water species I know to smoke. Why? Because he's so greasy. Fish like togue and the salt water mackerel can take a lot of heat and smoke without drying out. As a general rule, the greasy, oily fish smoke the best.

PREPARATION. Remove the head and fail and cut the fish in half lengthwise. You can smoke whole fish if you like, but it takes a little more fuss. Simply lay the halves flat, rub salt into the flesh, and you are ready to go to the next step. (If you can spare the time, you will get a better product 34

by placing the fillets in a pail, covering them liberally with salt, and letting them set over night.

The salt combines with the fish and makes its own brine. Before smoking, wash each fillet with fresh water. I might add, I seldom go through this process since it is so time consuming).

THE SMOKER. The accompanying photographs show three effective and relatively inexpensive smokers - one homemade, one commercial, and my own which is half a commercial product and half homemade.

The homemade one has both smoker and firebox buried in the ground; this is not necessary but convenient. The firebox and smoker are connected with a buried stove pipe. Heat is controlled by the firebox draft. In this case,

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

the fish were cut in quarters and placed on hooks (telephone wire) to smoke in a vertical position.

Over the last few years, a commercial, electric smoker has become quite popular. It operates on 110 volt AC house current, flavors fish in 2 to 4 hours, and completely smokes and cures up to 20 pounds in 10 to 12 hours.

It has U. L. approval, contains a 170 watt element, and comes with instructions and recipe book.

For my own smoker, I used a discarded refrigerator, cut a hole in the bottom, and hooked up a six-inch stove pipe from the firebox. To create a draft to vent the smoke, I removed the rubber gasket around the refrigerator door.

I made my own wooden and screen racks to lay fish on horizontally. I used an old box stove for my firebo x and placed it in the exit of the cellar. I can tend it in my p.j . 's and bare feet without stepping outside - . a nice feature late at night in a rain or snowstorm!

Any one of these smokers or a variation thereof will work. On several of my trips in northern Quebec, we simply dug a pit and built a three-sided affair with roof and hinged door. The fire and the fish were in the same enclosure, which necessitated constant tending. If the smoke source just once burst into flames, the fish ended up resembling a burnt marshmallow!

One fellow I know on the Allagash uses an old fashion ice-box . He puts his smoldering chips in an open can and places it right under the fish. As the box is very tight, he has good control over the draft.

SMOKING. This portion of the discussion should be considered under the headings of fuels, heat, and smoking time.

The first thing to consider about fuels is to use something that is readily available. In my home town, a hardwood mill dumps a mixture of birch and maple shavings as waste. I haul these by the

Electric smokers have become popu lar in recent y ears.

barrel loads for smoking purposes.

If a source of this type is not

available to you, you can obtain hardwood and split it fine. Green alder, cut fine, works well, too.

I do not recommend soft woods because they are very pitchy. But in Quebec, where there is little but soft woods, I have found a dead, standing tree and made sawdust from it with a chain saw.

Using green river willow and the softwood sawdust, I smoked salmon and togue with great success.

I never could detect any pitchy taste.

Probably more than any other factor, heat determines the quality of the finished smoked product.

Regardless of the kind of smoker you use, you must have control over heat. Hence, a good draft control is needed either on the firebox or in the connecting pipe, or both. Another help in controlling heat is to locate the firebox at least five feet from the smoker. This allows for dissipation of heat from the smoke.

Heat is a large factor as far as smoking time is concerned. The

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

size of the fish and the kind of fish are factors, also. Generally speaking, with togue, which are pretty good size fish, if you'll heat the smoker so it is warm to the touch, you can complete the smoking process in a day ( 5-15 hours). If you take more time and keep the inside of the smoker cold, you can realize a very fine product in two days of smoking ( 40-45 hours).

The fish is done when the free moisture on the tops and sides is gone, and the flesh looks other than raw. A little sampling as you go along is necessary! The smaller fillets and the ones closest to the smoke source cure first.

This might necessitate rotating the fish around during the smoking process or removing some fillets before others. In smokers designed to lay fish horizontally, place fillets skin side down. This keeps the flesh from drying out too rapidly and gives the product a pleasing appearance.

STORAGE. If smoked fish are not to be consumed immediately, you might store them for a while in the smoker. If you choose to bring them into the house to the refrigerator or freezer, for example, put them in air-tight containers. I like the zip-lock bags placed again into a second, larger, plastic bag. This is important to insure that other food items are not permeated with smokey odors.

I freeze all my smoked fish. Besides being a simple means of storage, freezing improves the smoked product. As a matter of fact, it seems of no consequence to freeze ¡fish before smoking, as well as to refreeze them afterwards.

A FEW MORE SMOKING TIPS. If the fish smokes up too dry, it is

probably because too much heat was used and the product was overcooked.

If the fish definitely looks undersmoked and is already dried out, it could be that the

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Th e author 's smoker is a discarded refri gerator co nnected w ith stove pipe to a wood stove in his cel lar. Smoker design ca n be either sim pl e or elaborate , provided a f ew basic ru les are fo l lowed.

fish was too dry to begin with.

Some fish just aren't suitable for smoking. Whitefish, small trout, and salmon are quite dry and may not turn out to suit your taste.

Using a tip from northern Quebec, I have added maple syrup to small trout after salting. After a rapid curing ( 5-6 hours) in hot smoke, they are still moist and tasty, sort of like candy. Large "landlocks" smoke well, as do most other large fresh-water fish.

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If your finished product is too wet, it probably just required more curing.

If the flavor is good already and you don't want to smoke it any more, just open up the draft and dry it out.

Sometimes smoked fish will turn out too salty. There isn't anything you can do about it this time, but when you set up for smoking again, remember to rub in less salt. If you use the brine method, shorten the time of this

process. Also, it might be that you forgot to wash the fillets sufficiently with fresh water.

If the opposite happens, which is much more common, it is just a matter of adding more salt. I have added salt directly to the flesh during the smoking process.

This is another reason why you should taste as you go. If you wait until the smoking is done and then find you are lacking salt, it is really too late to do much about it.

If your product turns out to have a poor flavor, chances are you are smoking the wrong variety of fish. The one time I cured a four pound brook trout, I was sorry I ever did it. The flavor just wasn't in the fish to begin with. I feel the same way about whitefish. They are OK smoked, but I'd rather have them fresh!

The old, fatty togue is the best for me!

As I previously mentioned, smoking fish whole does involve a little more work. A solution of salt and water that will float an uncooked egg must be used to cover the fish overnight. During the smoking process, the fish should be repositioned several times to insure complete smoking.

If you use a warm smoker, the process takes roughly 5 hours for a 3 pounder, 6 hours for a 4 pounder, 7 for 5, and so on. The product is not nearly as rich as it would be using the shorter method.

Hence , this is an excellent way to smoke fish that you in tend for a whole meal.

Although some folks make a meal of smoked fish, my delight is serving it to guests as a hors d'oeuvre, on crackers, with either coffee or something stronger to drink. Seated around the kitchen table or in front of the fireplace you'll find it's hard to beat! •

The finished product . If your smoked fish look like this, you're on t he right track!

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Winter 1976-77

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