Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Spring 1988 by Maine State Library

NIAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE SPRING 1988

$1.75

Favorite pastime - hello, springl

Photo by Jacki Bragg

~AINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE Governor John R. McKeman, Jr. Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife William J . Vail, Commissioner Norman E. Trask, Deputy Commissioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr., Director, Bureau of Resource Management Peter C. Brazier, Director, Bureau of Administrative Service Larry S. Cummings, Director, Bureau of Warden Service Advisory Council

Carroll York, West Forks, Chairman F. Paul Frinsko, Portland, Vice Chairman Marc S. Plourde, Eagle Lake, Nathan Cohen, Eastport Asa 0. Holmes, Belfast F. Dale Speed, Princeton Sally C. Rooney, Houlton Alanson B. Noble, Oxford Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine W. Thomas Shoener, Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor DaleS. Clark, Circulation All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information Division unless otherwise indicated.

SPRING 1988

VOL. 30, NO. 1

Features Try It -

You'll Like It! by Kenneth Beland

Trackin' The Fisher by Stephen M. Arthur

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine, 284 State St., Sta. 1141, Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. Your post office cannot rorward copies unless you provide forwarding postage. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE, 284 State St., Sta. 1141, Augusta, Maine 04333. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write to The Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Report on the ecology of this wily predator

Two Decades Old! by Scott Roy Moosehead Lake study still yielding surprising answers

Reversing The Trend by J.

Dennis McNeish

Why Parker Pond stopped giving up big salmon -and what to do now

Use What You Shoot by Gary Anderson Part 6 in the "Duck Hunting From Head To Tail" series

Rx For Timber Management by Tom Charles Managing timber on public lands -

how and why

Big Fish, 1987 The biggest and best from 11 categories

MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE (ISSN 0360005X) Is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. or Inland Fisheries and Wildltre, 284 State Street, Station 41, Augusta, Maine, 04330, under Appropriation 4550. Subscription rate: $7.00 per year. No stamps, please. Second class postage paid at Augusta, Maine and at additional mailing offices. ÂŠ Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wild Iife, 1988. Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers, and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work.

The wheres and hows of Atlantic salmon fishing

Rescue by Gary Anderson

New gear and new methods are improving effectiveness

10 13

18 22

26 27

Departtnents KID-BITS FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH: Dragonfly Bullet Bug

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

Covers Front: Parker Pond, Ice-out: not always this peaceful and quiet {see article beginning on page t 3). Photo by Jacki Bragg Back: The porcupine, a common sight In the Maine woods. More on this species In this Issue's KID-BITS. Photo by Dean Tuttle

by Kenneth Beland

Maine

enjoys the distinction of being the only state in the country that provides recreational fisheries for Atlantic salmon. As a result of an active program to restore salmon to their historic habitat, Atlantic salmon are currently more abundant in Maine than at any time in the past 50 years. Salmon fisheries occur on at least 10 rivers, and anglers occasionally catch Atlantic salmon on several other Maine rivers . The average salmon caught by a Maine angler weighs approximately nine pounds, and has spent two years in the river and two years at sea before returning to spawn. Such salmon make up about 85 to 90 percent of the rod catch in Maine rivers. Maine rivers also produce some very large salmon. The state record was caught in 1981 and weighed 28 pounds, 1 ounce. Salmon weighing between 15 and 20 pounds are caught on several Maine rivers each year. These large salmon are on their spawning migra2

Late in the day, on the Penobscot River below the dam In Bangor, the area commonly known as the Bangor Salmon Pool still plays host to a few "die-hard" salmon anglers. Photo by Paul Fournier

tion, or have spent three years at sea. Grilse (salmon that spawn after one year at sea) make up less than 10 percent of the catch.

WHEN The angling season for Atlantic salmon in inland waters of Maine extends from May 1 through September 15. The season is extended through October 15 in the lower reaches of many rivers. Many tributary streams and areas near springfed brooks close to salmon angling on July 15. Waters of the Dennys River upstream of the narrows in Dennysville close to salmon angling on June 30. Atlantic salmon may enter Maine rivers at any time between early May and late October. The peak salmon runs generally occur between Memorial Day and July 15. The timing of the run may vary slightly among individual rivers according to water conditions, but the best fishing normally occurs in June. September and

October often provide some good fishing for Atlantic salmon as well. In general, salmon fishing is at its best when water temperatures are between 55 and 70 degrees Farenheit. Salmon are less apt to strike a fly when temperatures are above 70 degrees.

WHERE The Penobscot River (Maine's largest) boasts the largest Atlantic salmon run of any river in Maine. In recent years, the run has varied from about 2,000 salmon to a high of nearly 5,000 salmon in 1986. The Penobscot also provides the most active sport fishery of any Maine salmon river. Recent catches have ranged from 600 to 1,000 salmon; about 50 percent of those salmon are released. Anglers on the Penobscot River may keep only one salmon longer than 25 inches per season. Most of the anglers' activity takes place in the half-mile of river downstream of a hydroelectric dam in

The author is an anadramous fish biologist with the Maine Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission, with headquarters in Bangor.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Veazie, about three and one-half miles upstream of Bangor. Most anglers opt for such well-known and proven pools as the Eddington, Dickson, Wringer, Beach, and Guerin pools, as well as the Bangor Water District pipeline between Eddington and Veazie. This section of river is fished from both banks, as well as by boat. During May, salmon are also taken from the Bangor Salmon Pool, which is best accessed from the Penobscot Club in Brewer. Many miles of potentially productive salmon water lie upstream of the Veazie Dam. Exploration of waters between Howland and DoverFoxcrof t, or in the Mattawamkeag area (about 50 miles upstream), could pay dividends to an adventurous angler. Salmon are usually taken in upriver areas in July and August. The Narraguagus River may be the best known of the smaller Atlantic salmon rivers in Maine. It flows through the town of Cherryfield, located about 50 miles east of Bangor along U.S.Route 1. The river provides an average rod catch of about 7 5 salmon per year. The most popular pools are located in Cherryfield. About half of the catch occurs in the Cable Pool, where anglers take turns fishing in a downstream direction, on a "rotation" basis. Other good pools in Cherryfield include the Maples, Stillwater, Railroad Bridge, and Gull Rock pools. Salmon are also taken at the Tidal Falls in Milbridge, about five miles south of Cherryfield. For those seeking solitude, a hike into Little Falls or a canoe trip between Deblois and Cherryfield may provide a memorable fishing experience. The best fishing on the Narraguagus usually occurs between Memorial Day and July 4, although a few salmon are occasionally taken during September and early October. The estuaries of the Machias and East Machias rivers join near the town of Machias (80 miles east of Bangor on Route 1). Each river supports a self-sustaining run of Atlantic salmon. The Machias is the larger of

the two rivers, and generally has the larger salmon run. Salmon pools are scattered throughout the lower 30 miles of the river, and fishing generally peaks between June 15 and July 15. Water levels on the Machias are usually quite stable, so the fishery is less dependent upon regular rainfall. Popular fishing sites on the Machias River include the Point Pool, Money Island, the Railroad Bridge, and Munson's Pitch, all located in the Machias-Whitneyville area.

Pools further upstream include Great Falls, Holmes Falls, The Wigwam Rapids, and Little Falls. Access to those and other upriver areas is primarily via privately owned logging roads open to public travel. Finding some of the sites may be difficult without first obtaining good directions. The East Machias River provides angling catches approximately one-half as large as those from the Machias River. Rod catches are a bit more variable than on the Machias

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

LEGEND St.Croix Dennys East Machias Machias Pleasant Narraguagus Union Penobscot Ducktrap Sheepscot Kennebec Androscoggin Saco

Figure l . Map of Maine's many fine Atlantic salmon rivers.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

River, averaging about 40 salmon per year. The East Machias River also provides a bonus of landlocked salmon of up to four pounds in weight to a few lucky anglers. Most of the salmon on the East Machias River are caught between Memorial Day and July 4. In contrast to the Machias River, nearly all of the fishing on the East Machias occurs in the lower three miles of the river, in the town of East Machias. Productive sites include the Gaddis Pool, the Jacksonville Pool, and the Berry Pool. Anglers occasionally have success fishing the rips in the middle reaches of the river as well. Those sites are best accessed by canoe, although logging roads pass close to some pools. The Dennys River is the easternmost river in Maine with a selfsustaining salmon run. It enters Cobscook Bay in Dennysville, about 100 miles east of Bangor along Route 1. The rod catch on the Dennys has averaged about 60 salmon over the past 10 years. Angler success on this relatively small river is dependent upon water levels in the river. The timing of the Dermys River salmon run is somewhat more erratic than on Maine's larger salmon rivers. Salmon fishing is usually at its peak in late June and early July, although summer rainstorms may bring on brief flurries of angling activity in July and August. Productive pools on the lower river include Charlie's Rips, the Community Pool, the Ledge Pool, and the Dam Pool. Further upstream lie Trestle and Dodge pools, Those willing to hike or take a canoe trip often find success at such other sites as Little Falls or Long Point. The St. Croix River forms part of the international boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, and is the site of international efforts to restore a run of Atlantic salmon. Current regulations on this river prohibit the taking of salmon longer than 25 inches, although grilse (which average 22 inches in length) may be kept by anglers. The fishery

on this river is quite new, and many potentially productive sites have yet to be discovered. Nearly all of the fishing presently takes place in the Calais, Maine - St. Stephen, New Brunswick area, especially in the waters downstream of the Milltown hydroelectric dam. Some other rivers in central and southern Maine provide limited fisheries for Atlantic salmon. The Sheepscot River flows through the town of Wiscasset, about 40 miles east of Portland. The salmon run on this river is relatively small, and the rod catch averages only about 20 salmon per year. Popular angling sites include the Tidal Falls and Larrabee Pool, both located in Alna, as well as a number of smaller pools scattered along the length of the river. The fishery may take place through summer and early fall, depending upon river flows. The Ducktrap River enters Penobscot Bay in Lincolnville Beach about 50 miles south of Bangor. This is the smallest river in Maine that provides salmon fishing. Salmon typically enter the river in September and October, and anglers catch up to 20 salmon per year from two pools in tidewater. Atlantic salmon restoration efforts on the Saco River have provided a limited sport fishery in the BiddefordSaco area. It is anticipated that sport fishing opportunities on this river will improve as restoration progresses. There are presently no Atlantic salmon restoration programs on the Kennebec or Androscoggin rivers, yet anglers on those rivers take a few salmon in most years. The salmon that enter those rivers are predominately strays from other rivers, although a few salmon are naturally spawned in tributary streams. The Union River in Ellsworth is managed as a broodstock source for the two national fish hatcheries in Maine. Salmon returning to this river are occasionally caught by anglers, although the fishery has been very erratic in recent years.

HOW Fly fishing is the only method by which Atlantic salmon may be taken in Maine rivers. Anglers seeking Atlantic salmon in inland waters must possess an Atlantic salmon license and an inland fishing license. Anglers in designated coastal waters Âˇare only required to have an Atlantic salmon license to fish for salmon. License fees are published in the regulations folder. The daily bag limit in Maine is one Atlantic salmon per day, with a season limit of five salmon. Salmon caught and released by an angler do not count toward the daily or season limits. Special regulations further limit the number of salmon longer than 25 inches that may be taken from some rivers. It is wise to consult the regulations folder to determine the special regulations for certain rivers. All salmon taken by anglers in Maine must be immediately tagged with one of the tags provided with the salmon license. Atlantic salmon must also be presented for registration at designated stations located near salmon rivers.

TACKLE Most salmon fishermen in Maine use an 8 1/2 to 9 1/2-foot fly rod, matched with an 8, 9, or 10 weight fly line. The reel should have the capacity to hold plenty of backing (100 yards or more), and it should have an adjustable drag. Weightforward floating fly lines are commonly used, although a double-taper line will work well on a calm day, or where shorter casts are more common. During high water and on the larger rivers, sinking tip lines work well with wet flies. Leaders are typically 8 to 10 feet long, and the breaking strength of the tippet varies from 6 to 12 pounds. Perhaps no subject will stir as much debate among Atlantic salmon anglers as that of which fly to use. Certain flies, however, have become standard on nearly all Maine rivers. Among wet flies, the Cosseboom, the Rusty Rat, and the Black Bear

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Hair flies (with green, red, or orange

butt) may be found in nearly any angler's vest. On the Penobscot , several patterns developed by local tyers have become popular, including the Wringer, the Verdict, and the Pink Ant. Dry flies are also an effective means of taking Atlantic salmon in Maine. Perhaps the most popular dry fly of all is the Bomber, a deer hair fly that looks like a small mouse without a tail. The Butterfly is one that is fished dry, wet, or dragged through the surface film. The Wulff series of dry flies have proven effective for many years, especially the White Wulff. Many lesser known or homemade patterns are also effective on Atlantic salmon. Salmon flies are tied on virtually any sized hook. Early in the season, when the water is high and cold, flies in sizes 2 to 5/0 are popular. As the water levels drop and temperatures rise, sizes 4 through 8 become more prevalent. Double-hooked flies are also popular, especially in the smaller sizes. Much has been written about where salmon will lie as they rest during their upstream migration. Salmon "lies," as they are called, invariably occur in areas of moderate water velocity, often near a transition from high velocity to slower moving water. Such areas may be found near boulders or submerged ledges, below a dam, or near the upstream end of a long set of rapids. Anglers unfamiliar with a stretch of water are well advised to watch the water for a while, since a salmon may jump, roll, or porpoise, and thus reveal its position. Atlantic salmon stop feeding after entering the river on their spawning migration, so proper presentation of a salmon fly is not a matter of matching a food item, but rather a matter of passing the fly slowly through the salmon's field of vision. The rest is up to the fish. When fishing wet flies, the common practice is to cast the fly

diagonally downstream and allow it to sweep through a slow downstream arc. Salmon will of ten strike just as the fly comes to a stop, so it pays to fish out a cast completely. It is best to avoid creating a "belly" in the line, as this can cause the fly to move too quickly past the salmon. When fishing dry flies, there is a bit more variety in technique. Although most anglers prefer to allow the fly to "dead drift" through the lie, it is wise not to abort a fly that has begun to drag through the water. Salmon will often strike at a dry fly cutting a wake through the lie. Fishermen typically drift the dry fly over the salmon from upstream, but salmon will also take a dry fly presented from the side or from downstream. Perhaps the most exciting moment in salmon fishing is the strike. Each angler has his or her own theory about when to set the hook. Since each strike is somewhat different from the previous one, there is no single "right moment" to set the hook on a taking salmon. Some salmon will take the fly hard and quickly, while other salmon seem to be taunting the angler to strike too

soon by taking the fly deliberately. One point can't be overemphasized, set the hook hard, especially when using large flies. While playing the salmon, the rod should be held high and the line should be kept taut. The salmon should be allowed to run when it wants to, but it should have to work for line. The angler should be agressive , bringing the salmon back quickly when it stops running. When the fish jumps, it is wise to drop the rod tip to avoid having the salmon fall on a taut leader and break the tippet. The salmon should also be played quickly, in order to maximize its chances for survival. If the salmon is to be released, a net or tailer should not be used, as it may injure the salmon. It is also worth noting here that use of a gaff is illegal in Maine. One of the best ways to release a salmon is to cut the leader, and the salmon will usually rid itself of the fly. Do not beach or remove a salmon from the water if it is to be released. One last tactic for the arsenal of all successful salmon anglers is PATIENCE! ! Remember - the next cast may be charmed! â&#x20AC;˘

The day's last cast on the Munson Riffles, East Machias River. This is salmon fishing!! Photo by the author

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

by Stephen M. Arthur

Tracking That

Elusive Ole' Fisher

s a graduate student at the University of Maine, I began studying fishers in northeastern Waldo County in the fall of 1983. This was part of the Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit's (MCFWRU) ongoing research into the ecology of predators in Maine (see Maine Fish and Wildlife, Vol. 23, No. 4 and Vol. 24, No. 4). I was assisted by a number of students and technicians from the University of Maine and Unity College, and by several local trappers. By tracking fishers with radio-collars, we hoped to determine the amount of area used by each fisher, the amount of overlap among neighboring individuals, the habitat types that fishers preferred, and their patterns of activity and movements. The project was supported by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), the University of Maine, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Maine Trappers Association (MTA). Fisher research is not new to Maine. An intensive fisher study was conducted here during the early 1960s by Dr. Malcolm Coulter, then the assistant leader of the cooperative Wildlife Research Unit (Maine Fish and Game, Vol. 1, No. 2). Several attempts to radio-collar fishers in northern and western Maine were made between 1979 and 1982, but only a few fishers were captured. Recent studies by Paul Rego, another MCFWRU graduate student, and biologists from the MDIFW examined physical characteristics of fishers caught by trappers. Fishers belong to the weasel family and are most closely related to the pine marten, although at five to fifteen pounds, fishers are significantly larger. Because of the silky texture of their dark-brown fur, fishers have long been sought by trappers. During the early 1900s, over-harvesting and habitat loss to agriculture nearly eliminated the

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

populations were found throughout northern New England, the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and most forested regions of Canada. Although hunting fishers has been prohibited in Maine since 1976, trapping is allowed during a 5-week season in the fall. The annual harvest has been relatively stable, averaging about 1900 animals over the last five years. With fisher pelts bringing an average price of between $150 and $200, the fisher is now Maine's most valuable furbearer, in terms of both the average pelt price and the total value of the harvest.

Technician Sully Howard examines a male fisher captured in Thorndike. Photo by the author

fisher from Maine and most of New England. By the mid-1930s, fishers were absent from all of Maine except the area north and west of Moosehead Lake. Hunting and trapping of fishers were prohibited from 1937-1950. As Dr. Coulter's study illustrated, fishers rapidly repopulated much of the species' original range. Hunting and trapping fishers were permitted during January, 1950, and then prohibited until 1955, when a harvest season was again opened. Between 1959 and 196 7, fishers from western Maine were sent to Vermont and Nova Scotia for reintroduction projects. Similar projects were also taking place in other parts of the northern U.S. By 1980, sizeable fisher

The author recently completed a Ph.D. degree in Wildlife at the University of Maine, Orono. He is currently employed as a research associate with the Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, continuing fisher research and also compiling a summary of predator research in Maine.

r 3 mi.

Figure l . Home ranges of l O fishers during 1986. Note that although male ranges (solid lines) overlap those of females (dashed lines), there is little overlap with fishers of the same sex.

A high-priced pelt is not the fisher's only value, however. Long thought to be one of the most effective predators of porcupines, fishers were reintroduced into several states and Canadian provinces partly to reduce porcupine populations that were damaging commercial forests. Recent interest in transplanting fishers to Connecticut has centered around the aesthetic value of the fisher as a symbol of the northwoods. Although fishers, like most predators, may occasionally prey upon small domestic animals and pets, they are generally quite shy around humans, and are not as likely to cause trouble

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

as are less wary species like raccoons or skunks. In fact, many Waldo County residents were surprised to learn that fishers were living in the neighborhood, as they are rarely seen by people other than trappers. Fishers once were thought to require remote wilderness areas with large, unbroken expanses of coniferous forest. However, they do not seem to fit this pattern in much of New England. Most research has suggested that fishers are more adaptable. Maine's wildlife managers have estimated the size of the fisher population in various parts of the state by comparing the number of fishers harvested per square mile with the number of trappers working in each area, and by counting fisher trails in winter. This information suggested that fishers were most abundant in south-central Maine, in an area roughly bounded by the Kennebec River, U.S. Route 2, and Penobscot Bay. Although more than 7 5 percent of this ~rea is forested, the forest is mainly second-growth, and consists of a variety of types, intermixed with many small farms and pastures. The many roads in the area provide easy access, and this is partly why the fisher harvest is so high. The fisher population seems to

Looking less than totally contented, a young fisher peers out from a den tree over his newly-acquired stylish yellow collar. This chic addition to the fisher's fur coat is more than just stylish, however; it helps the author keep track of where in the world the little guy isl Photo by Daniel S. Light 7

be extremely productive, because the high harvest level has not caused the population to decline. This suggests that the area contains high quality fisher habitat. In addition to identifying what is good fisher habitat, Maine's wildlife managers needed to know more about the biology of the species, including how much land area an individual requires, and whether neighboring fishers overlap ranges or if each required an exclusive territory. With this information, a biologist could determine the number of fishers that an area could support. Studies conducted in New York, Ontario, and Maine during the 1950s and 60s relied on following fisher trails in snow to determine the area each animal used. These

studies produced estimates ranging from 10 to 320 square miles of range per fisher. Most researchers believed that fisher ranges overlapped, and that densities of about one per square mile were common in good habitat. During the early 1970s, the development of radio-telemetry equipment provided a method of marking an animal, and then following its movements. Because each animal was equipped with a transmitter operating on a unique frequency, it was possible to tell one individual from another much more accurately than could be done with snow tracking. Telemetry studies of fishers in New Hampshire, Michigan, and Manitoba during the late 1970s provided better estimates of fisher

movements and habitat requirements. However, none of these areas areas resembled the habitat in south-central Maine, and only a few fishers were monitored in each study. Using large, wire cage traps, we have captured more tha_n 50 fishers, and fastened radio-collars around their necks. We have followed several individuals for more than three years. This has provided a unique opportunity to observe the spacing pattern among individuals, and how this pattern may change with time. Most adult fishers occupy home ranges of about five to ten square miles. Although males may share their ranges with females, adults of both sexes seem to exclude other adults of the same sex from their ranges. Female ranges are generally stable in size and location throughout the year. Males, however, often travel outside of their established ranges during the breeding season in March and April. This probably is because fishers are polygamous, and males attempt to mate with several females. Male and female fishers do not associate except for a few hours or perhaps a day while mating, so males must travel simply to locate potential mates. During these travels, a male may also discover an area where there is no resident adult male. At the close of the breeding season, several of our radio-colored males settled into new ranges. These areas may have been left vacant by the removal of the resident adult males buy fur trapping the previous fall. In contrast, females seemed to remain in the same ranges from one year to the next, although the boundaries of the ranges did show some variation.

An aerial infrared photograph shows the diversity of forest types In Waldo County. Coniferous trees appear red, while deciduous trees appear gray.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Although one might expect the movements of the males during the spring, we found no evidence of this. However, one adult male was severely injured in a fight with another fisher during the fall, when fisher territories are more rigidly defined. I suspect that the function of territoriality among fishers is to reduce competition for food, especially during the fall and winter. Although a male and female may share ranges, no more than two adult fishers generally will be found in the same area. Males tend to be about 30 percent longer and twice as heavy as females, so they may tend to take larger prey. Both sexes may kill and eat porcupines, the largest prey species usually taken by fishers. However, we found that male fishers commonly had fresh wounds from porcupine quills, while females did not. This suggests that males may eat porcupines more often than do females. Some earlier studies suggested that males and female fishers had similar food habits, so more research will be needed before we fully understand the importance of territoriality among fishers. Besides porcupines, fishers commonly eat a variety of small mammals, including snowshoe hares, squirrels, and mice. The fisher is not strictly carnivorous, however, and fruits such as raspberries, chokecherries, and apples are important foods during the fall and winter (apples are common in the abandoned farmland of Waldo County, and are eaten by fishers all winter long). Studies elsewhere have indicated that fishers will also eat beechnuts, acorns, and fungi, when these are abundant. The variability of the fisher's diet provides a clue to the species' habitat requirements. Some prey, such as red squirrels and snowshoe hares,

are commonly found in coniferous forests. Other species, such as porcupines and gray squirrels are more common in deciduous forest, while mice, raspberries, and apples may be most abundant in abandoned farmland. Although good tree climbers, fishers generally hunt on the ground. We monitored the foraging movements of fishers with radios and followed their tracks in the snow. This showed that fishers hunted in many different forest types, and usually avoided open areas. During winter, fishers hunted most intensively in areas with dense coniferous undergowth, where hare tracks were plentiful. However, fishers also foraged in deciduous stands, evidently hunting gray squirrels, mice, and porcupines. During summer, we could find no evidence that fishers preferred any particular type of forest for hunting, although they preferred coniferous stands for resting sites. This was because fishers usually rested in the branches of a fir or spruce tree during warm weather. When cooler temperatures occurred during the spring and fall, fishers rested in hollow trees, and they used old woodchuck burrows during winter.

At right, the author checks out a beautiful example of the "elusive ole fisher,Âˇ all radio-collared and ready to go (with the author following)! Photo by Catherine Frazer

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Fishers usually rested during the day, and were active for periods of two to six hours during the early morning or evening. When active, they usually moved from one to five miles before choosing a new rest site. Fishers did not move around their home ranges in regular patterns, although many of them had preferred foraging areas to which they frequently returned. Fishers did not use the same rest sites for consecutive rest periods, except for females that were raising young. Beginning when they are two or three years old, females bear litters of two to four young during March and April. Litters are usually born in dens in hollow trees. These are used for about eight weeks, until the young are weaned. During this period, mating takes place for the next year's litter. However, implantation of the embryo is delayed until the following winter, so that active gestation lasts only a month or so. The function of thi's complex mating system is not fully understood, but it probably allows both mating and the birth of the young to occur at the most advantageous time of year. After weaning, young fishers either accompany their mother as she hunts, or may be left in temporary dens. Sometime around the end of August, the young become independent, although they may remain within their mother's range for another month or two. Most juvenile fishers roamed extensively during their first winter. Some covered as much as 50 square miles of area before establishing new home ranges the following summer. The movements and inexperience of the juveniles make them especially vulnerable to trapping during their first fall. Of our radio-collared fishers, more juveniles than adults were caught each year by fur trappers. Least vulnerable of all were the adult females, who were only about half as likely to be caught as were

(continued on page 21) 9

by Scott Roy

I n conjunction with a complete physical resurvey of Moosehead Lake in 196 7, what has turned out to be one of the state's longest continuous sport fishery surveys was initiated. Originally intended to last for five years, the survey of Moosehead Lake fishermen completed its 21st year in 1987. Theresults of the period 1967 through 1979 have been published and can be obtained through the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ... ask for Moosehead Lake Fishery Management, Fisheries Research Bulletin No. 11 (price: $2.50). The publication, written by retired Regional Fisheries Biologist Roger AuClair, provides an excellent history of the development of sport fisheries and the early management of Maine's largest lake. Stocking histories, population statistics, use and harvest estimates, and management strategies are among the topics discussed in the Moosehead Lake report. Much of the work started by Roger AuClair continues today. Use and harvest are estimated each season. Various investigations of fish populations are conducted as required, including trapnetting, trawling, gillnetting, fishway trapping, etc. Voluntary record keepers provide valuable information to complement information collected by Department personnel Our involvement with public awareness has increased. This report will summarize our most recent work and findings at Moosehead Lake. During the winter of 1987, Greenville regional fishery personnel collected information from 3,608 days of fishing on Moosehead Lake. The information requested during the angler interviews included the times that each day's fishing began and ended, the number of legal fish 10

kept, legal fish released and short fish released, by species. Catch statistics were collected for salmon, lake trout (togue), brook trout, burbot (cusk), and yellow perch. All fish observed on the ice were measured, weighed, and scale samples were taken for age determination. From unfrozen game species, stomachs were removed, bagged and returned to the office for later examination. Two days each week, one weekday and one weekend day, we flew over the entire lake to count the number of parties fishing. Based in the aerial counts we estimated total use by fishermen (fishing pressure in angler-days). Using the catch statistics we determined the total catch of each species. From the fish sampled we calculated the average size of the fish harvested by species, and the total weight of the fish removed from the lake. Examination of the scale samples yielded the age distribution of the catch for comparison with catches from previous years. The analysis of the stomach contents provided a valuable insight into the status of the smelt population. The use and harvest estimates are shown in Table 1. In 1987 Greenville regional personnel also collected information from 5,492 days of fishing through personal contact with open-water fishermen on Moosehead Lake. An aerial survey was conducted, with flights scheduled on two weekends and one weekend day each week. Fish observed were sampled in the same manner as the winter caught fish except that stomachs were not collected during the summer. The summer use and harvest estimates are shown in Table 1. Reports from anglers keeping voluntary records provided information from an additional 359 days in the The author is assistant regional fishery biologist in the Moosehead region, with headquarters at Greenville.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Moosehead Lake Fisheries Survey ...

Two Decades Old And Still Going Strong! Table 1. Use and harvest estimates, Moosehead Lake, 1987. Winter

Summer

Annual

31,768 Total angler-days Salmon: 6,461 Legals kept 1,671 Legals released 8,132 Total legals 5,772 Shorts released Total weight kept 9,223 lb. Togue: 6,708 Legals kept 2,769 Legals released Total legals 9,477 20,292 Shorts released Total weight kept 14,917 lb. Trout: Legals kept (12") 1,443 Legals released 774 Total legals 2,217 1,847 Shorts released Total weight kept 1,374 lb. Cusk: Day caught 2,572 Night caught 2,840 Total kept 5,412 Total weight kept 7,345 lb. Yellow perch: 5,394 Total kept Total weight kept 2,778 lb.

54,660

86,428

5,985 7,752 13,737 9,386 8,446 lb.

12,446 9,423 21,869 15,158 17,669 lb.

3,032 2,632 5,664 10,558 8,088 lb.

9,740 5,401 15,141 30,850 23,005 lb.

1,530 530 2,060 1,626 1,731 lb.

2,973 1,304 4,277 3,473 3,105 lb.

10 13 lb.

2,582 2,840 5,422 7,358 lb.

1,472 758 lb.

6,866 3,536 lb.

winter and 235 days in the summer. Trends in catch rates and fish size in the voluntary survey closely paralleled those observed in the clerk survey. The similarity of the findings in the two surveys increases our confidence in both. The combined samples of salmon, togue, and trout measured as part of the angler survey in 1987 are as follows: Total Winter , Summer 476 135 341 Salmon 330 72 258 Togue 76 28 48 Trout 882 235 647 Total

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Spencer Bay Camps has voluntarily maintained a complete record of all game fish kept since 1982. In 1987 the camps were open only during the summer season; yet, they provided individual lengths and weights of 4 77 salmon, 222 togue and 87 brook trout. Trends observed in both samples over the past few years have been similar .. .lending a degree of confidence to both samples. Figure 1 shows the total estimated annual harvest of salmon, togue and trout (in pounds) for the past 21 years. The harvests of 1967 and 1968, each approaching 60,000 pounds, were followed by a "crash" and a period of more than 10 years of slow recovery."5ince 1980, the harvest estimates have remained within a range of 40,000 to 50,000 pounds with the noticeable exception of 1985. Based on the physical and chemical characteristics of Moosehead Lake, we feel that 50,000 pounds is the maximum allowable harvest that can be sustained and still provide the quality of fishing people expect. Angler use reached its peak in 1985 (98,545 angler-days) as did total harvest (64,374 pounds). Hoping to avoid a repeat of the "crash" of the late 1960s, new regulations were promulgated to reduce the harvest to within the 50, 000pound allowable maximum. In recommending changes, we assumed that use would remain at approximately 100,000 angler-days. Use dropped to 84,011 angler-days in 1986 and 86,428 in 1987. Harvest was again less than 50,000 pounds. The decrease in the total weight harvested was also effected by a decrease in the average size of the fish kept in 1986 and 1987. The average sizes follow: 1985 1986 1987 Salmon 17.4" 25.6 oz. 17.1" 24.4 oz. 16.7" 22.7 oz. Togue 20.3" 42.4 oz. 20.1" 38.9 oz. 20 .1" 37.8 oz. Trout 13.4" 16.6 oz. 15.1" 21.8 oz. 14.2" 16. 7 oz. Data from the various surveys and sampling techniques suggest a few possible causes for the apparent change in growth. There has been a dramatic increase in the abundance of young wild togue, especially in the number of 16" to 19" fish. The large number of short and small legal togue released (Table 1) indicates the extent to which the population has grown during the past few years. 11

Figure 1. Total pounds of salmon, togue and trout harvested at Moosehead Lake 60,000-

...

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50,000 -

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40,000 -

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30,000 -

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67 68 69 70 71

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72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81

82 83 84 85 86 87

Year

Concurrent with the increase in togue, there has been a significant increase in the number of legal game fish released ... for salmon and togue combined, 7,234 legal fish were released in 1985, 9,430 in 1986 and 14,824 in 1987. It is likely that the present abundance of gamefish in Moosehead Lake may be higher than at any time in recent history. Analysis of the stomach contents of the salmon and togue over the same time period reveals a decrease in the frequency of occurrence of smelts, the primary forage at Moosehead Lake. Of the salmon and togue stomachs combined, 82 percent of the 1985 stomachs contained smelts, 80 percent of the 1986 stomachs, but only 60 percent of the 1987 stomachs. One of the reasons for the close monitoring of Moosehead's fisheries - a healthy landlocked salmon that measures up! Photo by Paul Fournier

Whether this reflects a real decline in the abundance of smelts or the effect of more predators on a relatively stable smelt population is impossible to determine ...to some degree, both explanations are probably valid. The drop in average size of the salmon and togue in the Moosehead Lake fishery, in light of the expanding togue population and the exceptionally high release rate of legal fish, prompted a critical review of the 1985

(continued on page 28) 12

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Reversing the Trend at Parker Pond

Are-The â&#x20AC;˘

ÂˇSalnion Coniin'Âˇ Back? 0

by J. Dennis McNeish

Many

central Maine fishermen can remember when a fishing trip to Parker Pond meant something special - an opportunity to catch a trophy salmon. You actually had a fighting chance to land a truly big fish just 20 minutes drive from the state's capital. As recently as 1981, a 9-pound, 11-ounce salmon was taken at Parker. Our records are the best source of information. In 1970, the average size of winter-caught salmon recorded by cooperating anglers and wardens was 19. 7 inches and 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Also, fishermen caught few salmon of sublegal length (the legal length limit on salmon in 1970 was 14 inches). Our fall trapnetting operations in 1970 provided data which corroborated the information obtained through observing angler catches. For instance, we captured 184 salmon in the fall of 1970 which averaged 20.3 inches and 3. 0 pounds. The 38 age 4 salmon in our catch averaged 24.3 inches and 4 pounds,15 ounces. We also netted seven age 6 salmon averaging 26. 5 inches and 5 pounds, 12 ounces! Then what? Well, in the late '70s, we began to hear from the fishermen. They weren't happy- and they let us know about it! According to the anglers, fishing at Parker was going downhill, fast! It wasn't that you couldn't catch salmon at Parker. Far from it. The fishing was fast enough - but fish size had decreased alarmingly. Our first reaction was to look at growth rate, but our fall trapnetting indicated that the pond had largely recovered from a growth problem. The anglers continued to be impatient. They wanted some action, and soon! We were anxious to comply with their wishes, but first we had to find a rational basis for action. We needed to develop a management plan, complete with goals and objectives. A management plan is, of course, a blueprint for action. Goals and objectives are blueprint details. Looked at another way, a management goal is a "target to shoot at" and objectives are measuring devices to help us determine just how close we've come to the mark.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Some basic assumptions were obvious. Clearly, Parker Pond was capable of producing some very large landlocked salmon but was no longer doing so. Just as clearly, the pond's devotees were very unhappy with the situation. They had grown rather fond of taking a large salmon at Parker from time to time and were ready for a return to the "good old days," so there wasn't a great deal of speculation about choosing a management goal: we would attempt to provide Parker Pond's anglers with a reasonable opportunity to take a large salmon. As for the objectives: just how large a salmon ~ and just what was a "reasonable opportunity," anyway? The department's Fisheries Division had developed a "Special Management Salmon Waters" program in 1979. "Special Management Salmon Waters" is a euphemism for waters wherein we hoped to develop and/or maintain fisheries for large salmon. Parker seemed an ideal water for inclusion in this program. Thus, the standards for special management salmon waters provided excellent objectives for Parker's fishery management program (Table 1, Column 1). We laid out our management plan this way. First, we would attempt to determine just where we were in relation to our management goal and objectives. At the same time, we would try to discover the factors responsible for the present situation. You could refer to this part of the management program as the "pre-treatment" phase. Hopefully, the data gathered in this phase of the study would help us devise an effective management strategy, a "treatment" for dealing with the situation. The next portion of the program, the "post-treatment" phase, would be geared towards monitoring the results of our treatment; i.e., measuring its effectiveness against our objectives. But that was eight years ago! How did we fare? The "pre-treatment" phase of the study commenced in 1980. We employed fall trapnetting and winter creel census as the primary sources of data. Additional information was provided through limited summer censuses, the fishing records of cooperating anglers, and aerial angler counts. This sampling effort continued through 1983. The author is regional fishery biologist in the Belgrade region, with headquarters in Augusta.

study, we were able to estimate angling effort summer and winter. Winter angling effort in 1981 was over twice the effort expended by anglers in the open water season of that year and the ratio of winter to summer angling in 1982 was about 1.2: 1. The data indicated that the decline in the number of large salmon in the Parker Pond fishery was probably caused by over exploitation, not by slow growth. It seemed to be a classic case of overfishing, with most of the salmon harvest taking place during the winter season. The treatment we prescribed was as follows: 1) maintenance of growth rate through low stocking densities (less than 1 spring yearling salmon/acre); 2) seasonal redistribution of the salmon harvest through reduction of the length of the winter season (3 months to 1 month); and 3) delaying harvest of a given stocking of salmon until at least sometime in their second summer at large by increasing the minimum legal length limit on salmon (from 14 inches to 16 inches). The treatment was implemented in 1984. Posttreatment monitoring began in 1985. These monitoring efforts utilized the same techniques we employed during the pre-treatment years. Intensive post-treatment monitoring continued through 1987. Post-treatment catch rates were intermediate between those we observed during the pre-treatment winter censuses and those proposed in the "standards." Exploitation rates were lower than the "standards" and lower than those calculated from pretreatment census work. The number of salmon harvested/ acre/winter season, pounds of salmon harvested/acre/ winter season, and angler-days of fishing effort/acre/ winter season were fairly similar pre- and post-treatment and comparable to those values proposed in the "standards."

The results of our census efforts (pre- and posttreatment) are shown in Table 1 (Columns 2 and 3). In comparing the pre-treatment fishery to the "standards," the reader should bear in mind that unless othervJise noted, the census data cited for the pre-treatment study at Parker Pond are based on winter census only, while the "standards" are meant to apply to the winter and summer fisheries combined. With that qualification in mind it is easy to see that winter anglers removed a substantial number of salmon from Parker between 1980 and 1983. Pre-treatment estimates of catch rate (salmon/angler-day), exploitation rate (the proportion of a given stocking creeled by anglers), number of salmon harvested/acre/year, pounds of salmon harvested/acre/year, and fishing effort (number of angler-days/acre/year) all equalled or exceeded the "standards". At the same time, the average size of winter caught salmon at Parker was much lower than the standards. Obviously, we were a long way from providing appreciable numbers of large salmon in the Parker Pond fishery! The fall trapnetting data drew the same picture. A total of 70 salmon were taken in the four years of the pretreatment phase. The average size of the salmon we netted was 17.5 inches and 2.0 pounds. Just one of the fish taken in four years of effort was older than age 3. Compare these values to those cited for the 1970 fall trapnetting effort! Still, growth rates seemed to have held up as threeyear-olds netted during the pre-treatment phase averaged 19 inches and 2 pounds, 8 ounces, close to the average size of age 3 fish netted in the fall of 1970. Some additional data are worth considering. In two (1981 and 1982~of the four years of the pre-treatment

FIGURE 1. PARKER POND SALMON HARVEST

en LL LL

a: w al

::,

â&#x20AC;˘

500 450 ................... 400 ...... ........... . 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 .... 1980

1981

1982

1983

(PRE-TREATMENT PERIOD) 14

1985

1986

WINTER SUMMER

1987

(POST-TREATMENT PERIOD) Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

On the other hand, the average size of the fish harvested in post-treatment was somewhat larger than those harvested pre-treatment but less than the standards proposed for the average length and weight of salmon in special management salmon waters. Additionally, the age classes which contributed most heavily to the winter fishery had shifted from ages 2 and 3 during pre-treatment to ages 3 and 4 in post-treatment. Nevertheless, the age/class distribution we observed in post-treatment fell short of the distribution expected for special management salmon waters (mostly age 4 and 5). We trapnetted a total of 246 salmon in the period 1985-1987 (the post-treatment years). Much of this increase was due to an increase in the number of age 2 fish captured. In fact, the post-treatment capture of age 2 salmon was almost eight times as great as the catch of age two salmon during the four years just prior to the treatment. The overall average of the salmon we netted during the post-treatment phase of the management program was 18.5 inches and 2.2 pounds; i.e., about one inch longer and two ounces heavier than those taken prior to treatment. Further, the average size (20. 0 inches and 2. 71 pounds) of the age 3 salmon captured was slightly larger than those captured in pre-treatment. We were able to estimate winter and summer fishing effort in just one (1987) of the post-treatment years. This was the only year during which we observed more summer angling effort (2300 angler-days) than we observed winter angling effort (1500 angler-days). Getting back to the question, "How did we fare"? The short version would be, "So, so." No apparent decrease in winter angling effort with a modest increase in average fish size and a slight improvement in the age class distribution of the salmon harvest. But a closer look is warranted. First, the average total winter catch (all salmon, kept and released) was very nearly the same, pre- and posttreatment. That is, a reduction in the length of the winter season by a factor of 6 7 percent failed to decrease the total number of salmon handled. On the other hand, total average winter harvest (the number of salmon kept by anglers) was somewhat smaller in the post-treatment years (270 salmon vs 350 salmon, post- and pre-treatment, respectively). But don't forget that all of the salmon harvested posttreatment were at least 16 inches in length while many of those harvested prior to the increase in the minimum length limit were just over 14 inches long. If we compare the pre- and post-treatment periods on the basis of the average number of 16-inch+ salmon harvested (kept), the latter is the clear winner (an average of 160 16-inch+ salmon were taken in pre-treatment vs. an average of 270 16-inch+ salmon taken in post-treatment). Thus, while the decrease in the season length seems to have been an outright failure as a means of reducing the number of

salmon caught, the increase in the minimum legal length limit did result in an increase in the number of 16-inch+ fish in the catch. Our data does indicate that winter angler effort was unaffected by the regulatory changes we made; however, there may have been some effect on the seasonal distribution of the salmon harvest (Figure 1). On the average, the ratio of winter to summer salmon harvest decreased only slightly in the post-treatment years. However, the seasonal distribution of fishing effort does seem to have stabilized, as the overwhelming domination of the winter harvest, such as occurred in 1981, has not been repeated in the post-treatment period. A companion to the question, "How did we fare"?, is, logically, "What does the future hold"? It is my opinion that, at least in terms of fish size, we can expect little additional improvement in the Parker Pond fishery on the basis of the existing management plan. If anglers are committed to significant further improvements in the average size of salmon in the Parker Pond fishery, we must continue to experiment with our management strategies. Even more conservative regulations will be necessary. At present levels of fishing pressure, the price for providing larger salmon must be a decrease in the harvest of smaller fish! â&#x20AC;˘

TABLE 1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WINTER SAIMON FISHERY OF PARKER POND PARAMETERS

Salmon/Angler-day Exploitation Rate No. Harvested/Acre/Year Lbs . Harvested/Acre/Year Angler-Days/Acre/Year Mean Weight (Lbs .) Length (In .) Major Ages In Fishery

STANDARD

0.23 0.38 0.15 0.33 0.66 2.15 18-19 4-5

PREPOSTTREATMENT TREATMENT

0.36 0.35 0.22 0.31 0.62 1.40 15.8 2-3

0.28 0.27 0.17 0.30 0.62 1.76 17.4 3-4

Larry Fortin of Farmingdale and Scott Peary of Hallowell, enjoying some early-season ice action on Parker Pond. Photo by Jacki Bragg

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

liere

is no better way to show

disrespect for fish and game than to allow it to go to waste. In my opinion, nothing should be reduced to bag if it isn't intended to be utilized. Further, it is felt that every species has its own distinctive flavor, texture, and bouquet that lend flavor to traditional dishes Venison for steaks, bear for roasts, rabbit for stew, and squirrel for pie - these are but a few examples. Let us explore these possibilities with duck. I have often seen it written, or heard it said, that eider and scoter aren't palatable and can't be made so. In one respect, that attitude suits me fine; all the more for the rest of us! On the other hand, these birds might be taken for sport, then wasted for want of an enlightened cook. So here are some hints for dealing with your ducks. Always try to pluck your ducks as soon as you can, since they pluck easily soon after shooting, and the down can be rolled off easily with the palm of your hand. A bunch of burning grass held in your hand like a torch or placed on a rock can be used to "bum" off any remaining

hairs and down. When removing entrails, cut off the entire tail, including the oil gland - this oil and gland impart nothing desirable when cooking! Scrape everything possible out of the cavity, being mindful of possible broken bones; they' re hollow and very sharp!! Eiders, scoters, and old squaw should be skinned. Ducks to be boiled are also better when skinned. Remember to leave one wing on the carcass for identification purposes, as the migratory waterfowl law requires. Dispose of parts properly so as not to off end others or make a mess. Rinse the bird well to get rid of blood, then soak it in salted water for a few hours before freezing or preparing for table.

Select several ducks that are thoroughly and perfectly cleaned, and that have already been soaked in lightly salted water. Dry them and place them over a smoky fire of fruit wood (I have also used hickory, maple, and alder). Don't use oak, evergreens, or any pungent wood, because an unpleasant flavor will be imparted to the meat. Our smoker is a "wet" smoker - the smoke flows over a pan of heated water. Four to six hours is usually enough. These can then be frozen or baked immediately, or used as hors d'ouvres.

The author, the department's safety officer, is also an avid duck hunter!

Ma ine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 19 88

Duel< Hunting From Head To Tail

Part 6 :

Using What You Shoot by Gary Anderson Photos by Jacki Bragg

SMOKING YOUR DUCK MEAT Clockwise from upper left, stokin' the fire (be careful what wood you use); pluckin' the bird (there are some tricks to thi~); leavin' one wing on (for identification purposes); searin' the bird (to remove the last traces of plumage); and cookin' the birds in the fragrant smoke (can't you just smell 'em?!)

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Here are some recipes to tempt the gourmet cook in all of us. They would all work well with any species of duck, but I have chosen them because they make the "inedible" birds taste BAKED WILD DUCK - SEA BIRDS DELICIOUS!!

Drain water. Shake (or pat with paper towel) all excess water from inside bird. Stuff with bread stuffing of your choice (ours is usually Bell stuffing mix with celery and onion added.) Place ducks on aluminum foil and sprinkle garlic salt, ground thyme, and a touch of poultry seasoning over birds - lay two strips of bacon over each duck, then wrap foil over and close up tightly. Use a baking pan with rack. Place birds in foil on rack and add 1/2 C. of water to pan. Bake at 350 degrees 1 to 1 1/4 hours, depending on size of birds.

FRIED COOT BREASTS Coot should be breasted and soaked in salted water overnight. Roll breasts in flour, to which garlic powder and pepper have been added. Brown in a fry pan in 1/4 C. cooking oil. Add 1/2 C. of water and cover; lower heat and cook until water is gone. Breast meat should be done by then.

DUCK BREASTS - MARINADE Slice duck breast very thin - marinate in Italian dressing for two hours; drain. Saute in oil until brown ( a few minutes). Serve with brown or wild rice.

DUCK BREAST AND PEA PODS 1 2 1 1/2 2 1

lb. duck meat - partially fr~nen. Slice as thin as possible across the grain . T. cooking oil clove garlic, minced tsp. grated ginger root C. fresh pea pods (or one bag frozen pea pods, thawed) 8 oz. can water chestnuts (drained and sliced)

Place meat in wok. Heat. Stir fry in oil 30 seconds. Add garlic and ginger root. Stir about one minute, then remove from wok. Place in saucepan and mix: 2 1 1/2 1/2 2 1/4

tsp. cornstarch tsp. sugar tsp. salt tsp. pepper T. soy sauce C. water

Roll duck breast in this mixture and return to stir fry in wok. Cook two to three minutes until brown. Add remaining soy mixture; as mixture thickens, stir in pea pods and water chestnuts. Cook one minute. Serve at once.

The author's wife , Anne, preparing a family favorite baked wild duck (see recipe above). Reports are that this time , as always, it was delicious!!

Here's a delicious recipe for merganser; another species that is considered inedible. Breast them by cutting down the center of the breastbone and cutting left and right along the undershell, lifting off the pieces of clear meat. Dust in flour mixed with salt and pepper and pan-fry. If you prefer planking them or broiling them; baste with orange juice and margarine. Generally speaking, it is possible to overcook ducks; they should be a trifle rare. Cook them too long and they become tough.

Planking - (To cook and serve on a board with garnish of vegetables or dressing.) In the field, build a fire and let it die to coals while a flat rock tipped toward the fire heats. When ready, slap the breasts (in this case), or fish or meat, on the rock. It will stick and cook and sizzle and smell good and you'll probably miss a lot of ducks that decoy while you're fooling with it. If you took some margarine, you might baste them a little - or better yet, mix some margarine and diet Russian dressing and apply liberally! WICKED GOOD!!

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

And finally, two recipes from Don Mairs, a former department employee, an avid duck hunter, and a fine cook!

BUFFLE SCUFFLE Here's a good use for the meat left on the "rack" of a duck after you've breasted it for other recipes. 3-4 buffleheads, or 2 whistlers salt pork, 1 x 1 x 2 inches, diced (or bacon fat) 1 large onion, sliced or chopped 1 can cream soup (mushroom or celery) 1/2 C. any wine, cooking sherry, or hard cider Skin ducks and remove fat from breasts and legs. Cut breasts into several pieces. Soak meat for several hours in salted water (if ducks were shot on salt water). Fry out salt pork or bacon fat. Fry onion in fat until transparent. Flour the duck meat and brown in the fat along with the onion. Add 1/2 inch of water and simmer until meat begins to tenderize, then add soup and wine. Cook down until sauce is thick and meat is tender. Serve with rice and a hearty red wine. (This is good with about any selection of vegetables and/or salad. I like boiled onions and fiddleheads with ducks, along with some tart jelly; I also pref er fruit salads or molded salads instead of tossed salads with vinegary dressings, if wine is served.)

FRIED FRESH-WATER MERGANSER Remove breast from merganser as soon as possible. Remove all fat. Slice and place in salt water (approx. 1T. salt to two or three C. water). Refrigerate two or three days. To prepare, dredge in seasoned flour and fry in hot bacon fat or butter. Cook until crispy brown on outside, pink and moist inside.

Whichever method you use to prepare your ducks for consumption, do yourselves and the future of Maine waterfowl populations a favor - don't shoot them and throw them away! Looking back on our six-part series, which finishes with this episode, should convince you that you've put a lot of time, talent, and money into preparing for this moment. So sit â&#x20AC;˘ back and enjoy your "homemade" duck dinner; you've earned it!

Fisher

(continued from page 9)

adult males. The lower vulnerability of females may allow fishers to withstand a higher harvest rate than would otherwise be possible. A far more serious threat to fishers than fur trapping is the potential loss of habitat that will accompany increased development in southcentral Maine. The amount of forested land in this part of the state increased from less than 20 percent in 1880 to more than 75 percent in the early 1970s as farmland was abandoned. The great diversity of habitat types that this produced probably is the reason the fisher population is so productive. In recent years, this diversity has been

maintained by small woodlot management in the area. The amount of land that has been cleared has been balanced by open land reverting to forest.. Projections indicate that in the future, however, more forest land will be converted to housing, and this will reduce the amount of habitat available to fishers. Although fishers seem to be much more tolerant of human disturbance than was once believed, the population is almost sure to decline as their habitat shrinks and becomes fragmented. In the current five-year wildlife management plan, the MDIFW predicts a five percent decline in fisher habitat and population levels in south central

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Maine by 1990. Some habitat may be preserved as parks and wildlife management areas, but these efforts alone will not maintain current population levels. Preserving the existing wildlife community will require thoughtful management by woodlot owners and long-range planning by citizens to direct the growth of their towns, so that sufficient undeveloped land is maintained to provide the necessary habitat. With support from the MDIFW and the MTA, we are planning to continue fisher research through 1989, to learn more about fisher reproductive ecology, and other factors that affect the population. This knowledge will help managers to ensure that fishers continue to thrive in Maine.

â&#x20AC;˘

On the Public Lands:

Prescriptions For Tiniber Managenient by Tom Charles Once a compartment is chosen, the manager prepares a .preliminary map, using photography and existing maps. Roads, brooks, and boundaries are shown and an initial timber-type designation is made to delineate the different forest stands. A stand is an area where the trees are enough alike in species, size, and condition to allow similar management throughout. Figure 1 shows a sample of timber typing used by the Bureau; the "S", "M", and "H" refer to softwood, mixed wood, and hardwood. The number and letter following refer to stand height (2 means 31-60 feet) and density (A is used for a stand whose tree crowns cover more than 70 percent of the site). Next, the manager must lay out where on the compartment the data collection plots will be located. Usually, three to five plots will be located within each stand more in very large or variable stands. The bureau's method is intended to intensively measure and evaluate the forest at each plot, considering timber and non-timber values, the objective being to arrive at a management decision (a "prescription") right within the particular stand. This helps ensure that the professional forester's field time is focused on deciding the proper management activity (and sometimes "no activity" is the right prescription), rather than merely collecting the basic timber data such as tree species, size, and height. At each plot examined by a BPL forester, this basic data is recorded. In addition, the site is evaluated for its productivity, operability, susceptibility for damage, and tree regeneration (the next stand of trees). Note is taken of wildlife sign and habitat, water, recreational use or potential, extraordinary features such as old growth, and anything else that will help in making a balanced, multiple-use decision. Before leaving the plot, the forester records a stand prescription. 1

Figure 1. Yellow lines superimposed over an infrared aerial photograph give a graphic example of stand typing; the first letter designates the type of trees predominant in the stand, the digit is a reference to stand height, and the final letter refers to stand density.

managers of large forest areas have systems for examining their lands and arriving at management decisions. The systems may be simple or complex, and vary according to management objectives. On public lands, the objectives, as stated in the Bureau of Public Lands' Integrated Resource Policy, are designed to "acknowledge the simultaneous requirements of a variety of resource values and user interests .... " To wildlife and timber, the objectives are to "develop and enhance wildlife habitat" and to "produce high-quality commercial forest products on a sustained yield basis." How do forest managers at Public Lands reach decisions to meet these objectives? The process has several steps. The first is the selection of a compartment to examine. A compartment is a conveniently-sized area, usually 500 to 1,500 acres, for examining at one time. On the smaller-sized public lots, the compartment is the entire parcel; on the large consolidated units (tracts ranging in size from 5,000 to 35,000 acres), compartments are separated using distinct features like brooks or roads wherever possible. Figure 2 shows a typical unit, with compartments outlined in heavy lines. Each compartment is scheduled to be examined once every 10 years. Currently, the bureau is about halfway through the first examination cycle. Scheduling of compartment examinations is done according to forest conditions and importance of non-timber concerns, such as recreational use and importance to wildlife. 22

The author is a silvicultural specialist with the Bureau of Public Lands, Maine Department of Conservation.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Once all the stands have been examined, and other areas of the compartment evaluated if needed, the next step is to prepare the written prescription. Non-timber issues are covered on a compartmentwide basis under a series of separate headings. These headings are insect/disease, wildlife, land use/water, recreation/visual, soils/geology, engineering/surveying, and others. Âˇ Before the prescription is considered complete, it must undergo peer review at a "prescription review." At these sessions, the forester presents the prescription to a panel of the bureau's regional managers and foresters, the bureau director, and staff specialists in planning, recreation , wildlife, and silviculture. Often, personnel from outside agencies such as Parks and Recreation, the Maine Forest Service, or the Land Use Regulation Commission ask, or are asked, to sit in on prescriptions which affect their areas of responsibility. Invariably, the review brings the need for revisions, based on comments, recommendations, and critiques during the session. After revision, it is reviewed individually and signed, if acceptable, by the staff specialists and finally by the director. Only then does it become a part of the bureau's in-place management. When all the parts of the prescription are assembled, it becomes a 10-year working plan for the compartment, and a record for future managers.

~CCmA@@JLW IL~~ Wl~Il1r T7R8 (South 1/2) Penobscot County

Figure 2. This illustrates the designating of compartments within a unit too large to be typed as one compartment; in this case, the Scraggly Lake Unit In T7R8 .

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Pete Smith, a forester in the Bureau of Public Lands' Western Region (headquartered In Farmington), conducts a compartment exam prior to writing a prescription. Note the softwood regeneration in foreground.

Following the prescription's approval, its activities, if any, may be implemented. Close supervision of harvests are necessary to ensure adherence to the recommendations. Most is done by the forester who prepared the prescription, but others also inspect periodically. These include the director, staff specialists, the bureau's Silvicultural Advisory Committee, (a group of highly-experienced non-bureau forestry and wildlife professionals assembled specifically to view and critique Public Lands forest management), as well as many "landowners," the people of Maine. Though this process of making and implementing multiple-use management decisions may sound a bit cumbersome, it was designed to ensure that the public's interest and objectives on their land would be addressed in a balanced manner, while allowing the forester the flexibility to tailor the prescription to the conditions found on the ground. â&#x20AC;˘ 23

Test Your Animal Knowledge! Identify each animal, then write the name in the proper space. If you do the ones you know first, that will help you with the others. Here's a hint to get you started - two of these animal names are mentioned in other places in this issue. Fill in the blanks, check your answer, then find more interesting information about 2 Across and 3 Down. Good hunting!

2 Across

5 Across

4 Across

9 Across

10 Across

11 Down 2 Down

7 Down

6 Down Answer on inside back cover 24

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

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.Letters sllould

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be sent to:

_Liz·· cbipman,· KID:BITS Editor'". .· .Mi'\INE f.lSH ANDJNILDLIFE :Magazine '284 -State Stree°tf Statio·n # 41 . ,:):'): <;.·_.··.::·.

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MAINE TKACKBK This animal: 1. Is a member of the weasel family 2. Has the scientific name Martes pennanti 3. Can be active at any time of day or night 4. Is very elusive and is rarely seen 5. Is sometimes called a "polecat" 6. Is one of the only animals that can kill and eat a porcupine

2 1/2"

Answer on inside back cover

PORCUPINE QUILLS

point of quill, enlarged

quill, about normal size

Porcupines are slow-moving animals - they waddle along on the ground of sit quietly in trees. The porcupine does not need to depend on speed to escape from predators because it already has an excellent defense - the thousands of quills that it carries on its back. Porcupines cannot throw their quills, but they come out of the porcupines skin easily and get stuck in an attacker's body.The quills work their way deeper into the skin because the tip of each quill is covered with hundreds of tiny barbs. The barbs expand when stuck in tissue, and each time the victim's muscles move, the quill is drawn in deeper. The quills can go in up to an inch a day - they can kill the victim if they hit an important organ. Quills should be taken out immediately with pliers. If your pet gets porcupine quills, take him or her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. See back cover for a good close-up of a porcupine!

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

The One That Didn't Get Away Club-1987 Top Freshwater Catches From Maine Last Year -Winter and Summer The Fish Brook Trout (Qualifying weight 4 poWlds)

19 entries in 1987

Brown Trout (Qualifying weight 6 poWlds)

27 entries In 1987

Lake Trout (Tague) (Qual ifying weight 15 poWlds)

Landlocked Salmon (Qualifying weight 6 poWlds)

16 entries In 1987

Atlantic Salman

The Angler

Lbs. Length Date Oz. Inches

Omer Lebel, Van Buren , ME Robert G . Kennedy, New Portland , ME Scott Snell, Greenville Jct., ME Lucien Pouli n, Aug usta, ME Reginal G. Kimball, Millinocket, ME Maurice Saucier, Van Buren , ME Percy T. Peters, Oakland, ME Mike Troy, Exton, PA

8-4 7-8 6-8 6-0 5-5 4- 13 4-13 4- 13

24 24 25 22 3/8 23 20 1/4 20 191 /2

2/24 519 9/15 811 514 8120 2/14 7/28

Ned Meehan, Westbrook, ME Al Crowley, Dedham, ME Jeffrey P. Austin, East Holden, ME Linda M. Corson, Skowhegan, ME David Jewell, Porter, ME Russell Nisbet, Jr., New Harbor, ME Lenox Putnam, Winthrop, ME Camron A. Stearns, Oakland, ME Michael D. Baran.Monmouth, ME Dwaine Micye, Oakland, ME Corey A. Austin, Lisbon Falls, ME Roger J. Pelletier, Belgrade, ME

15-7 12-1 8-2 7-12 7-9 7-8 7-8 7-8 7-8 7-6 7-3 7-0

31 28 1/2 291 /4 26 241/4 29 25 25 231 /2 28 25 26

Ralph Burgess, Orland, ME Reuben Butch Ph illips, Dover-Foxcroft, ME Mau rice (John) Eng land, Bangor, ME Richard A. Drouin, Portland, ME Donald L. Harrison , Kezar Falls, ME Rod ney Mitchell, Costigan, ME

22-10 20-10 16-14 16-15 15- 14 15-1 2

Arthur Vick, Van Buren, ME Michael Andrews, Nashua, NH Wayne S. Morey, Sr., Waterville, ME Richard Castonguay, Van Buren, ME William F. Cyr, Van Buren, ME Maurice Saucier, Van Buren, ME James A. Cyr, Van Buren, ME

Where Caught Long Lake, T17R3

Lure Swedish Pimple

East Outlet, Ke nnebec River Great Pond, Belgrade Smith Pond, Ind ian Twp. Long Lake, T17R3 Great Pond, Belgrade (Moosehead area)

Grey Ghost smelt worm Mooselook Wobbler smelt Little Cleo

4/17 1/31 2/14 3115 613 2/28 513 513 4/23 3115 5117 1/ 14

Hancock Pond, Denmark Phillips Lake, Dedham Branch Lake McGraw Pond Hancock Pond, Sebago Pemaquid Lake Androscoggin Lake Salmon Lake Little Wilson Pond Maranacook Lake, Winthrop Androscoggin Lake Salmon Lake

Rapala night crawler live smelt smelt sewed smelt smelt Mooselook Wobbler sewed bait smelt live smelt live bait live bait

381 /2 40 1/2 321 /2 36 36 37 1/2

51 13 318 4/27 5124 7/8 5128

Tunk Lake, Franklin Sebec Lake, Dover-Foxcroft E. Grand Lake, Weston Sebago Lake Sebago Lake East Outlet, Kennebec River

Joe's Smelt Streamer live bait smelt sewed shiner Flat Fish fly

9-0 8-10 8-8 8-8 8-4 8-2 8-2

27 29 1/2 31 251 /2 25 271 /4 27

5121 5129 2/21 5130 814 5115 513

Long Lake, Van Buren Cove Long Lake, Sinclair Minnehonk Lake, Mt. Vernon Long Lake, Van Buren Cove Long Lake, St. Agatha Long Lake, T17R4 Long Lake Cove

Swedish Pimple Mooselook Wobbler Mapps Rapala Flash King Super Duper Red Gray Ghost

Bill Claus , Kennebunkport, ME

19-8

37 1/2

6110

Penobscot River, Veaz ie

hot orange wet fly

John P. Murphy, Great Falls, VA Christopher Haff, Slatington, PA Michael Duguay, So. Rumford, ME Aaron Fox, Belfast, ME

5-2 5-2 5-0 5-0

21 201 /2 20

8126 7/17 2/8 7/24

Grand Falls Flowage, Princeton Grand Falls Flowage, Princeton Round Pond, N. Livermore Halfmoon Pond, Searsport

rubber worm live bait Swedish Pimple R~la

John D. Decourcey, Cape Elizebeth, ME Dana T. Pomerleau, Casco, ME Glenn McDougal, Springvale, ME Andre' Goulet, Saco, ME Richard Irvin , Corinna, ME Rick Fernald, Kittery, ME Richard Lessard, Gorham, ME John S. Hepfner, Readfield , ME

9-12 9-0 8- 12 8-8 8-5 8-1 8-0 8-0

22 1/2 24 23 25 25 23 3/4 23 3/4 23

5113 4/26 3131 818 3121 9/27 7/5

Thorrpson Lake, Oxford Moose Pond , Denmark Balch Pond, Acton Wadley Pond, Lyman Pleasant Pond Balch Pond, Acton Round Pond, Locke Mills Tripp Lake, Poland

spinner bait Cotton Cordell large golden shiner Splitfi re Tail - rubber worm live bait rubber crayfish Floating Rapala live shiner

Peter Bourque, Farmingdale, ME C. Harold Newcomb, Livermore Falls , ME Tom Coyle, Howland, ME Wayne Morey, Sr., Benton, ME William J. Bloomfield, Waterford, CT Peggi Jean Rogers, Coopers Mills, ME Percy Peters, Oakland, ME Louis A. Caret, Oakland, ME Edward M. Jazdzewskl,Westbrook, ME Tonmy Kincaid, Gardiner, ME

5-10 5-10 5-8 5-7 5-6 5-4 5-4 5-0 5-0 5-0

27 261/2 261/2

3114 3125 3129

817

26 251/2 281 /2 27 25

6111 311 1/6 1/27 1/10 1/20

Messalonskee Lake Lovejoy Pond, Fayette Nicatous Lake China Lake, China Androscoggin Lake Great Pond Great Pond, Belgrade Great Pond, Belgrade Brandy Pond Snow Pond, Belgrade

golden shiner shiner shiner Mapps Black Fury Probass rubber worm shiner shiner shiner smelt shiner

Michael Thebarge, Skowhegan, ME Brenda Morey, Waterville, ME Anthony Connors , Gorham, ME James W. Thorpe, Norridgewock, ME Peter Goodno, Oakland , ME Percy T. Peters, Oakland, ME Christopher Fogg , Gorham, ME Wayne E. Cunn ingham, Oakland, ME Tammi Caron, Oakland , ME

2-7 2-2 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-14 1-13 1-12 1- 12

15 18 15 141 /2 14 141/4 131 /4 141/2 14

1/26 1/26 4/24 1/ 10 311

Salmon Lake, N. Belgrade East Pond, Oakland Stickey River, Sebago Lake Great Pond Great Pond , Belgrade

Stickey River, Sebago Salmon Lake Great Pond

smelt Mapps worm smelt shiner smelt worm shiner shiner

Lawrence Lord, Charleston, ME

18-0

391/2

8119

Baker Lake

Rebel

Wayne Morey, Sr., Benton, ME

3-4

231 /2

811

Sebasticook River, Burnham

Mapps Comet Mino

(Qual ify ing we ight 15 poWlds)

Smallmouth Bass (Qualifying weight 5 pounds)

Largemouth Bass (Qual ifying weight 7 pounds)

22 entries in 1987

Pickerel (Qualifying weight 4 pounds)

32 entries in 1987

White Perch (Qual ifying we ight 1 1/l pounds)

14 entries in 1987

Muskellunge

317

1/27 2/16 519

317

(Qualifying weight 15 pounds)

Black Crappie (Qualifying we ight 3 pounds)

Maine Fish an d Wildlife - Spring 1988

New Gear, New Methods

Search and Rescue Is Growing Up!! by Gary Anderson

S EARCH AND RESCUE is a lifesaving duty that is delegated to Warden Service by statute. But a lesser known and certainly less glamorous duty is that of retrieval of victims of fatal accidents. We are most ably and generously assisted by volunteer search and rescue groups and others at search scenes. People are no less caring and helpful in situations when virtually all hope of saving lives is past than they are in situations involving the rescue of persons whose lives can be saved. A recent such problem (of magnitude that would have caused many to despair) was solved by means of air boats donated by Bill Blake of Yankee Airboats and a robot underwater camera donated by Jim Curry of Aqua Tech, Marine Construction Inc. The victim was in 184 feet of water under an inch of ice. In such dangerous conditions, the only stable work platform that can guarantee the safety of rescues is an airboat. Normally, scuba divers or drag gear would be employed and the object readily retrieved. But in this case, the depth of water and the restricted work space seriously hampered dragging. Work time on the bottom for scuba divers is a mere two or three minutes, and we really don't like using divers under the ice at all. When Jim Curry called and explained his device and his willingness to give it a try, we readily accepted. The result is now history in Maine search and rescue diaries. Sometimes it is necessary to feed ropes from one hole to another under the ice in order to pull sweep seines or drag gear along bottom. The prairie ice jigger would then be utilized. A somewhat complicated device, it was originally invented in Canada to sweep-seine prairie potholes for bait fish. Our fisheries people are well versed in its use for the same reasons.

Some of the new equipment coming into use in Maine search and rescue efforts: airboats (above), the robot underwater camera (right), and the tub trawl (inset, below). Photos by Jacki Bragg. But none of these could ever replace the human element of search and rescue the scuba divers (below). Photo by Tom Carbone

Another backup device, and a standard for coastal work, is the tub trawl. The ground line is more than 500 feet long and contains 250 hooks! I assure you something will come up when retrieving it. You may spend a day putting it back in the tub, however! We are currently testing two other methods of search and retrieval electronic fish finders and scent dogs. Fish finders are routinely used in such searches in the Midwest, with consistently good results. And many search and rescue groups are successfully using scent dogs to find submerged bodies - a human body evidently gives off sufficient scent to

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

allow these dogs to detect it, even through many feet of water! I can think of no greater anguish than having your loved one missing, even though you are convinced that he or she is dead; not being able to provide properly for his or her memory is a frustrating situation at best. It is a great source of pride for us that, with wonderful help from such people as Jim Curry, Bill Blake, and others, the department is so often successful in such underwater searches.

â&#x20AC;˘

The author is the department's safety officer.

Moosehead (continued from page 12) regulations. Considering all factors, especially the reduction in total annual fishing pressure, it became apparent that we could recommend a slightly more liberal bag limit and still remain within the maximum allowable harvest of 50,000 pounds. From years of interviewing Moosehead Lake fishermen, it is obvious that togue is the most sought-after species in the winter, salmon in the summer. Therefore, we proposed at two public hearings (Rockwood and Waterville) that the bag limit be liberalized to allow for the possession of two togue in the winter and two salmon in the summer within the two fish aggregate bag limit. The proposal was well-received at both hearings and has been adopted. The changes became effective January 1, 1988. In 1987 we performed a limited amount of sampling to examine the extent of use of the freshwater opossum shrimp, Mysis relicta, by small, young togue. In 1975, approximately 50,000 shrimp were transferred to Moosehead Lake from Lake Memphremagog, situated on the Vermont-Canada boundary. Evidence of the success of the transplant was first discovered when several mysids were recovered in a series of beam-trawls in 1984. Use of mysids as forage by cusk was observed during the winter of 1986. It was not until 1987 that use of mysids by togue was documented from a gillnetted sample of juvenile togue. Although we have no measure of their abundance, the sh(imp appear to be present throughout the lake. Much more work is required to determine the extent of utilization of Mysis relicta by the lake's major predators. We continue to investigate and document the progress of the recent illegal smallmouth bass and white perch introductions into Moosehead Lake. Smallmouth bass were introduced into the Moosehead drainage in the midto-late 1970s; the white perch in 1984. Both species are presently established in Prong Pond, which flows into Moosehead Lake at Beaver Cove. In 1987, for the first time, several young-of-the-year smallmouth bass were electrofished in Moosehead, near the mouth of Beaver Creek. We have yet to find evidence of white perch reproduction in the lake; however, an adult (possibly one of the original stocked fish) was captured in a trapnet at the mouth of the Roach River in Spencer Bay. With white perch reproduction occurring at Prong Pond, we fear that their establishment in Moosehead Lake is assured. We know of no lake with an established white perch population that has a significant fishery for wild brook trout. The eventual loss of the brook trout fishery at Moosehead Lake may be inevitable. We cannot predict how long the process will take ... we can only hope that through management (low bag limits, high length limits) we can maintain a fishable population of wild brook trout as long as possible. 28

In response to concerns about the effects of fishing on the fall spawning runs of brook trout and salmon in the Roach River, we fished a trapnet at the river's mouth from September 14 to October 2, 1987. Seventy-two brook trout were captured, of which 54 were legal (12"). The 54 legals were jaw-tagged and released upstream of the trap. Seventy-one salmon were taken; 68 legals were tagged and released. The angler catch of tagged trout and salmon in the Roach River was followed through a voluntary card survey. The card survey figures indicate that 85 percent of both the legal trout and the legal salmon caught in the Roach River in September were released. Post-season sampling of the spawning run by regional fisheries personnel yielded results similar to the card survey. Estimates of the spawning runs of both species indicated an abundance of fish during and after the September fishery. We are extremely encouraged by the amount of spawning activity observed this past fall. A suspected togue spawning area in Lily Bay was sampled using trapnets and gillnets. A known spawning site in Spencer Bay was also netted. A total of 31 legal togue were tagged and released. The togue ranged in length from 18.0" to 24.6", the heaviest weighing 4 .5 pounds. Several brook trout and salmon were also handled during the "togue operation"; they were released untagged. Our long-running tradition of trapnetting hatchery salmon at Greenville Junction was continued in 1987. One trap was fished from October 10 to 30. Of the 196 individual salmon caught, 177 were legal fish that we tagged and released. One interesting observation from the Junction net was that at least 20 percent of the salmon that we handled exhibited obvious signs of having been previously hooked. Based on the returns of the jaw-tagged fish in the clerk survey, the voluntary record books and our future nettings, we hope to gain some insight into the degree of the Moosehead Lake gamefish. We have often attributed the lack of large fish at Moosehead Lake to what we assumed to be high exploitation. The tagging exercise could give us a basis by which to evaluate that exploitation. The fishery surveys, fish sampling, stocking evaluations, spawning investigations, etc., provide the base of information from which we make our management recommendations. A thorough analysis of all the available data is critical. .. we can not afford to be lured into false conclusions or erroneous judgments by approaching the information with anything less than a fully open mind. There are often subtle interrelationships between the various surveys and sampling methods that require close scrutiny. Over the past several years we have made an effort to report our interpretations of each season's findings to the fishermen of the state at public meetings and through local and statewide newspapers and magazines. We believe that Maine's fishermen want, need, and deserve to be kept informed about the management of the waters they fish. â&#x20AC;˘

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

DRAGONFLY BULLET BUG

the Fly Tying Bench

BASS FLY #1

by Eddie Reif Photos by Tom Carbone

(Author's note: this edition's column initiates a new fly category - flies tied primarily for largemouth and smallmouth bass angling. While Maine people in general have all but ignored bass because of the bounty of coldwater fisheries on their doorstep, anglers in the rest of the country, spend more of their time fishing for bass than for any other gamefish! Lately, however, anglers in Maine have started to pay more attention to bass. More and more Mainers are discovering the fighting qualities of this fish, and when they seek for waters in which to fish for bass, they will not be disappointed! Maine has many, many fine bass waters. Washington County, for instance, has long been a smallmouth bass Mecca, but anglers "from away" have traditionally enjoyed this Down East bounty. But other areas of Maine have equally fine bass fishing opportunities - the Belgrade Lakes, for example, are internationally known for both largemouth and smallmouth fishing. Often overlooked as Maine bass waters are the Kennebec, Penobscot, and St. Croix rivers, which rival such famous bass waters as the Potomac, Susquehanna, and Delaware rivers. This column hereby goes on record as the author's official recognition of bass as a fly-rodder's gamefish, par excellence.

ABOUf THE FLY The Dragonfly Bullet Bug is the product of a two-year collaboration between me and Ray Stout of Bangor. The original idea was provided by M. 0. Porter of New York; he showed us a fly tied by an upper Hudson River smallmouth angler. We used it with great success on the Penobscot River that same day, and spent much of the rest of the year experimenting with the pattern, modifying it and attempting to learn which colors were the most productive. Two color schemes appear to bring the best results: olive with purple, or olive with blue. This is not surprising, since adult dragonflies and damselflies of these colors predominate on Maine waters. These bullet bugs are deerhair bass bugs, and are fished as surface lures to imitate dragonflies. They seem to work best when darted in quick jerks across the surface, much the same way as dragonflies move when attempting to lift off the water.

Secure thread at rear of hook and tie in a small clump of olive marabou three or four times as long as the hook. Add three or four strands of peacock herl and four to eight strands of flashabou, spreadIng around the marabou as you tie it in.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

THE PATTERN HOOK:Mustad 94840 dry fly, size #2 or #4 THREAD:Danville Fly-Master plus in neutral white, or some color which matches deer-hair TAIL: A slim strand of olive marabou, three or four pieces of peacock herl, and four to eight strands of pearl flashabou, dyed olive - mixed together and all the same length. Outside of these are two olive or brown dyed grizzly hackles, one on each side, splayed outward. All parts of the tail are three or four times longer than the fly body. For the purple version, use bright blue or purple marabou, bright electric blue or pearl dyed purple flashabou, and bright blue or purple dyed grizzly hackles. At base of tail, and jutting out from under body, is a small section of medium or large pearl Mylar tubing. BODY: Olive deer hair with black stripe (optional) in middle. In purple/blue version, substitute purple or bright blue deer hair. Deer hair is cut and shaped somewhat bullet-like from rear with point at hook eye.

Take two dyed grizzly hackles, strip, fluff off base of each, and tie in one at a time on each side of the tail, splaying each outward to the side.

Now push the tubing backward so it doubles over the spot where it is tied down; tie it securely at same spot. Tubing should now be hiding the tying thread by extending back over tying-in spot by about 3/16" - 1/4 inch. Now tie knot again. Since the thread was looped over the outside of the tubing to secure it the second time, this precaution is taken so that the fly will not unravel if the exposed thread is broken. Tail is now complete.

Now take a short piece of mylar tubing (l l /2 " long) and clean out center piping so it is hollow. Slip one end around eye of hook and push over hook till end extends about l /8 " -1 /4 " beyond point where tail is tied down; secure at that point with thread. Tie a whip-finish knot or half-hitch before proceeding, but do not cut thread.

Now take a fair-sized clump of olive deer hair, hold it over shank, loop thread around it loosely twice, and pull tight so that hair flairs out in big bunch. Knot thread . Take a small bunch of black deer hair, repeat same process, and knot thread . Do same with a small clump of olive, knot and cut off excess thread. Inset, how the fly should look after this step is finished.

Take the fly out of the vise and trim the head with scissors to a bullet shape. Size of the head can be varied by tying in more hair and packing it back on shank so that it is tighter. Or you may trim the head less so that it remains larger. After trimming, your fly is complete. But all deer-hair bugs should be made more secure by putting several drops of varnish on the hair along the hook shank. Varnish diffuses into the hair and will secure it tightly to the shank, thus ensuring a longer life for your fly.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS NEW FISHING lAW BOOKLETS Maine anglers should obtain and read a copy of the 1988 open water fishing rule booklet before heading out on the first trip of the spring. It's the first new booklet in two years, and it contains a few new statewide rules and a number of local changes. Fishing law booklets are now issued every other year. In the off year, anglers needn't be concerned about changes in the rules of their game, but then comes the even-numbered year, a new booklet . . . and some catching up! Among the new statewide rules is a 2inch increase in the minimum legal length of smallmouth and largemouth bass, to 12 inches. It is also now required that fishermen immediately release any fish they catch, or kill it at once and count it in their daily limit. The only exceptions to this releaseit-or-kill-it provision are baitfish and smelts. There is also a change in the fishing season and rules on flowing waters. The new uniform general provision on brooks, streams and rivers allows fishing from August 16 to September 30, but only with artificial lures, and with a daily limit of one salmon, trout, or togue {lake trout). Existing seasons, methods and limits before August 16 are unaffected by this change.

'88 HUNTING SEASONS For early planning purposes, the following is the status of Maine's 1988 hunting seasons at press time. Deer. The Rsh and Wildlife Department is proposing a four-week regular firearms season on deer opening Monday, October 31, and ending the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 26). Final determination - pending public comment on the proposal and action by the Rsheries and Wildlife Advisory Council - will be made this spring. Residents-only Saturday will precede the regular deer season. The special archery season will begin October 1 and run until the Friday before the regular firearms season. The special muzzleloader season will run for six days, beginning on the Monday following the end of the regular firearms season.

The any-deer permit system will be in effect in 1988, with basically the same procedures as last year. A permit allows the option of harvesting any deer in the

district it is valid for; hunters lacking permits are limited to "bucks-only" hunting statewide during the regular firearms and muzzleloader seasons. The

1987 Warden of the

Year

Glen P. Feeney of Jackman has been selected as Maine's Warden of the Year for 1987. Feeney has been a Maine district game warden for 19 years, with service in some of the state's most rugged terrain. Feeney, 44, is a native of Jonesboro and a graduate of Machias High School. He joined the Warden Service in September 1968, and has spent his entire warden career in the Jackman district. His father, the late Colin Feeney, was a game warden who retired in 1968. Feeney' s district, considered one of the tougher patrols in northwestern Maine, encompasses a large section of the Maine-Canadian boundary, with many lakes, mountains and large roadless remote areas which necessitate much foot patrolling. Selection of the Warden of the Year is made by a panel of five fellow wardens and one member of the public, from a list of nominees submitted by Warden Service field personnel. In his nomination to the selection committee, Feeney's immediate superior, Sgt. Patrick Dorian, observed that "Glen works the year-around with the enthusiasm of a new recruit. You can count on him putting all his efforts in enforcing the fish and wildlife laws. He continually

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

prosecutes excellent cases as a result of his patience and determination. In the past year Glen encountered over 150 fish and wildlife violations. "To work with Glen, one is amazed at his ability to unravel what has happened at the scene of a violation long after it has taken place. He is an excellent tracker and can usually tell you when the violation took place, how many persons were involved, and what they had for a motor vehicle. "Glen has been involved in several community organizations in Jackman, which has earned him the respect of the people there. He is considered fair and impartial, and he treats people accordingly. Glen's hard work and dedication have also earned him the admiration of his fellow game wardens ... " Last year, Warden Feeney was honored by the Maine Trappers' Association for his fine work in enforcing the trapping regulations. He was also given an Exemplary Service Award by the Department of Inland Rsheries and Wildlife in 1987. "Warden Feeney has exhibited all the qualities necessary to be a truly great game warden during his entire career: enthusiasm, dedication, honesty, patience and determination," said Sgt. Dorian. Feeney is married to the former Sandra Polley of Machias . They have a married daughter, Christie Ann Brown of Orrington; two other daughters, Patricia and Katie, and a son, Stuart.

number of permits and district allocations will be finalized by late May or early June, and the permit application period is scheduled for mid-June to August 15 (see summer issue for details). Bear. The 1988 open season on bruins will run from August 29 through November 30. Moose. (See separate article.) Wild Turkey. Rve hundred permits were available for the May 9-28 York County turkey hunt, but only 339 residents and 16 nonresident hunters applied before the February I deadline, and all who applied will receive permits. Small game. No significant season changes are anticipated in 1988. Nontoxic shot will be required statewide for waterfowl hunting in 1988. Hunters should be sure to obtain and read a copy of the 1988 Hunting and Trapping Summary, which should be available by mid-August. Hunting license fees will be unchanged in 1988

PERSONNEL NOTES The retirements of the chief game warden and the senior department wildlife biologist, and the naming of their replacements, are prominent among recent personnel news in the Maine Department of Inland Rsheries and Wildlife. Colonel John F. Marsh of West Gardiner retired in.,.February after a career in the Warden Service that began in 1966, when he became the department's safety officer. In the mid197 Os the Gorham native began work in fish and wildlife law enforcement supervision, culminating with his promotion to chief warden in 1981. Named by Commissioner Bill Vail to succeed Marsh was Major Larry S. Cummings, a Gould Academy graduate and Madison resident who worked his way through the ranks in a Warden Service career of over 20 years; he had been the deputy chief warden since 1986. In the Wildlife Division, a career of over 40 years ended last October with the retirement of John H. Hunt. Although well known for his work with beaver and other furbearers, he had worked in a variety of wildlife management and research positions before becoming the department's small game and furbearer project leader in 1971. Replacing Hunt in that position is a new employee in the Wildlife Division, Kenneth D. Elowe, a University of Massachusetts graduate and former employee of the Utah Dilvision of Wildlife Resources. Also hired and filllng the vacant the big game project leader

position was Richard L. Dressler, a Penn State graduate and former environmental consultant. In the Fisheries and Hatcheries Division, David P. Boucher, a University of Maine graduate and former aquatic biologist with the Department of Environmental Protection, has been appointed assistant regional fisheries biologist for Region B, headquartered in Augusta. Hired to fill a vacant position in the Fisheries Research Section, Bangor, was Joan G. Trial, a University of Maine graduate with extensive experience in research and environmental consulting. In the Bureau of Administrative Services, the department's long-time personnel assistant, Lillian R. Belden, retired in February after a 30-year career.

WATERFOWL STUDY RESULTS The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service recently released preliminary results of a 5-year study on the effects hunting regulations have on waterfowl populations. During the five years the two federal agencies held waterfowl seasons relatively constant, breeding populations of mallards, blue-winged teal and pintails declined. The declines are attributed largely to droughts in the prairie pothole region of the Midwest and decreasing habitat quality in Canada. It's felt waterfowl populations can't rebound as quickly after poor breeding seasons as they could in the past. Furthermore, predation seems to be

getting more significant, especially for hens, as the birds are forced into smaller areas of nesting habitat. Drakes, it seems, suffer higher mortality rates during the hunting seasons. Finally, despite declining numbers of waterfowl, hunter harvests remained fairly constant, indicating a need for conservative hunting regulations.

WHAT ARE THE THREATS? A University of Michigan survey of wildlife professionals, outdoor writers, and leaders of sportsmen's groups found that each group considers loss of habitat the most serious threat to hunting and fishing . Environmental pollution was rated either the second or third most pressing problem. The groups differed on other issues, though. Wildlife professionals ranked private land closure as the second most important problem, while representatives of sportsmen's groups ranked that problem behind gun control and antihunting propaganda.

MOOSE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Hopeful moose hunters have until April 30 to apply for the 1988 permit drawing. One thousand permits will be issued for the October 17-22 hunt, which is limited to northern, western and eastern portions of the state. Nine hundred Maine residents and 100 nonresident hunters will be selected to receive moose hunting permits at a public drawing in June. In order to be in the drawing, mailed applications must be postmarked no later than April 30; applications hand delivered to the Department's Augusta office must be received before 5:00 p.m., April 29. As a new fish species in Maine, muskellunge are also new to the state record fish list and The One That Didn't Get Away Club. This new state record muskie, caught by Lawrence Lord of Charleston, weighed 17 pounds, 15 ounces and was 39 .6 inches long . It took a Rebel on August 19 at Baker Lake. Muskellunge spread into waters of the St. John River watershed following a 1970 stocking in Canada. Popular game fish in many places. they can have negative effects on other fish populations, and thus were not welcomed by Maine fisheries managers. Photo by Paul Johnson.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

Maine residents may obtain application blanks from license agents or from any office of the fish and Wildlife Department. Nonresident hunters who applied for the 1987 moose drawing, or who held a Maine 1987 big game license should have received a 1988 moose application by direct mail from the Department by the end of March. Resident or nonresident applications may also be obtained by writing to: Moose Application, Maine fish and Wildlife Dept., Station 41, Augusta, ME

04333. Nonrefundable application fees are $5 for Maine residents, $10 for nonresidents. Applicants successful in the drawing must then acquire permits, which are $25 for residents, $200 for nonresidents. Under Maine's moose permit system, two hunters may hunt together on the same permit, and the pair may take one moose. In 1987, record numbers of Maine residents (52,919) and nonresidents (14,807) applied for the drawing. Permit holders set another record during the hunting season by harvesting 8 91 moose.

GO FISHING - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU! If you are a fisherman, you probably knew it already, but a recent study has shown that fishing is good for your mental health and for improved communication within the family. A national research project conducted by Central Missouri State University revealed that over 7 0 percent of families who go fishing together believe that fishing makes a positive to very positive contribution to their family life. The study's sponsor, Rudy C. Nail, a family counselor, is evaluating various forms of leisure activities to determine

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Our MAINE TRACKER animal is the fisher. Read more about him beginning on page 6.

which are best to foster good relationships within families. "All leisure activities contain elements which may be more or less beneficial to participants," says Nail. "Watching television, for example, contributes little to family communication or interaction. Essentially, it's a passive, individualized activity. "A father taking his son or daughter to a ballgame," continued Nail, "usually is more positive. In this case, family members communicate and interact more although, as spectators, their level of activity is limited. In fishing, there are a surprising number of positive factors that make it one of the best shared activities. fishing offers a chance for family members to have a positive influence on each other, yet provides opportunities to be alone without being lonely. finding a spot to fish away from the rest of the family can provide a sense of separateness, while being aware of others close by." Nail is also concerned about the level of competition inherent in many leisure activities. "In fishing, there is usually an atmosphere of healthy family competition on the size, number or lack of fish caught," observed Nail. "When competition focuses on doing the best you can, rather than beating someone else, valuable lessons are learned." Nail's research indicates that people fish for a wide variety of reasons, but many respondents talked about increased cooperation and communication that can develop while fishing. Nail notes that when fishing, people, even strangers, tend to share information about locations

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1988

where fish are biting or what bait is working. He also cites the diversity of people who fish and the independence demonstrated as children learn to bait their own hooks, pick their own fishing spots, accept or reject advice and take Âˇ responsibility for their own equipment. Âˇ The research results indicate that most people find fishing very relaxing, and Nail attributes this to the fact that most fishing takes place away from the fast pace of the modern city. He notes that being around water has long been acknowledged as conducive to tranquility and reflection. Among those responding to the survey, fishing was the number one recreational activity for their families, followed by baseball, swimming and golf. Bowling, exercise, hunting, tennis and skiing were next in order. The study indicated that fishing is most popular among those living in small towns or rural areas and earning between $10,000 and $20,000 per year. This group was closely followed by persons living in suburbs earning between $20,000 and $30,000. fishing, anyone?

1988 LICENSE FEES RESIDENT Hunting (16 and older) $15.00 Fishing (16 and older) 15.00 Combination Hunting and Fishing 28.00 (16 and older) Supersport 38.00 Small Game Hunting 8.00 Junior Hunting (10 to 15 years inclusive) 3.00 Combination Fishing and 28.00 Archery Hunting (16 and older) Serviceman (resident) Combination Hunting and Fishing 15.00 Archery Huntin~ (16 and older) 15.00 Muzzle-loading (16 and older) 7.00 Trapping (16 and older) 29.00 Guide (18 and older) 40.00

NONRESIDENT CITIZEN Big Game Hunting (10 and older) Season Fishing (16 and older) Junior Season Fishing (1~ to 15 inclusive) 15-day Fishing 7-day Fishing 3-day fishing 1-day Fishing Combination Huntlri!J and Fishing (16 and older) Small Game Hunting (16 and older) Junior Small Game Hunting (10 to 15 years inclusive) Archery Huntin~ (16 and older) Muzzle-loading (16 and older) Guide (18 and older) Trapping (any age)

77.00 42.00 5.00 30.00 26.00 17.00 5.00 107.00 47.00 23.00 47.00 25.00 142.00 304.00

NONRESIDENT ALIEN Big Game Hunting (10 and older) Season Fishing Combination Hunting and Fishing (10 and older) Small Game Hunting (16 and older) Archery Huntln~ (16 and older) Muzzle-loading (16 and older) Guide (18 and older)

117.00 62.00 160.00 62.00 62.00 50.00 167.00

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wlldllfe

284 State Street, Station #41

Augusta, Maine 04333