Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Summer 1992 by Maine State Library

"The way fishing should be."

Photo by Tom Carbone

~AI

FISH AND WILDLIFE Governor John R. McKernan, 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 Charles A. Atwater, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Herbert W. Vernon, Director, Bureau of Warden Service Advisory Council John Crabtree, Warren Chairman Eugene Churchill, Orland Vice Chairman Dr. Ogden Small, Caribou Alanson Noble, Otisfield, Carroll Cutting, East Sebago Gene Brown, Durham Thomas Jagger, Sanford Gary Cobb, North New Portland Wilmot Robinson, Millinocket Joseph Robbins, Machias Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine W. Thomas Shoener, Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor Dale S. Clark, Editorial Assistant Denise M. Moore, Advertising

SUMMER 1992

VOL. 34, NO. 2

Features Early Recollections of a Maine Angler

by Ken Warner

The "good ole days" - a veteran angler and fisheries biologist remembers when

Guidelines to Fish Stocking In Maine

The policies that govern the what, where, why, and when of stocking Maine waters

Flshable/Swlmmable: What Does It Mean?

by Barry Mower

Just exactly what ls fishable water . .. swlmmable water . .. and what ruins 'em?

PFD Primer

by Ron Bennett

Law and common sense agree - life preservers do what their name implies

Maine Boat Access Sites

A pull-out brochure listing state sponsored & assisted access sites - salt and fresh! All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information & Education Division unless otherwise indicated. MAINE FISH AND WllDUFE (IS.SN 0360-00SX) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04330, under Appropriation 01009A-0529 . Subscription rate: $14.00 per year. No stamps, please. Second dass postage paid at Augusta, Maine and at additional mailing offices. ÂŠ Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1992. Permission to reprint text material Is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WllDUFE. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers, and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WIIDLIFE Magazine, 284StateSt., Sta. #41, Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WllDUFE, 284 State St., Sta. #41, Augusta, Maine 04333. QUESTIONS ABOITT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Just call toll-free 1-800-288-8387 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.

Maine's Record Fish List

From the 1907 landlocked salmon to this year's pickerel - the biggest ones!

For Better or For Worse?!

by Owen Fenderson

Trends in Maine's sportfishing community - how have things changed?

Depart1nents FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH: The Denny Buster

KID-BITS: Special Fish Poster

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

The Front Cover: "Anticipation" -pre-spawning Eastern brook trout, by Peter C. Thompson of New Sharon, Maine. Printed with vegetable-based Inks on recyded paper

Early Recollections of a Maine Angler

been further from the truth. An insurance agent, store clerk, or mechanic has a lot more time to fish than a fishery biologist! Besides, after messing with \ fish all week, it \' tO \A\' Âˇ is kind of hard to .C\ tS1' force yourself to 1 S \ get up at the "crack of doom" on Saturday morning, filled with anticipation of once again staring into the glazed eyeballs of those Editor's Note: Last winter, we slimy critters. published a list of people who've In my early school years, before worked for the Department of Inland embarking on a fisheries career, Fisheries and Wildlife for more than however, I was untainted by the 25 years. At the top of that list was one Kendall Warner, supervisor of bias within me now, and was franfishery research and management. tic to go fishing - anytime. The Ken first worked for the department following diatribe is an attempt to as a summer assistant in 1948, and relate some early fishing experibecame a full-time employee, a ences that survive in my memory fisheries biologist, in 1952. He might in some form or another. If these deny he's our Resident Old-Timer, seem trite to you, they probably and disavow that he's a darned good are, and you may want to skip angler, but the editor knows ahead. (I used to like "trite," but otherwise. SO when we thought it when someone told me it was a would be fun to have someone spin a few yarns about fishing "back cow's stomach, I quit eating it.) when," who better to do it? I suppose my interest in fishing resulted from my early associations with my grandfather, the late Dr. W. C. Kendall, ichthyologist hen I first enrolled in the with the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. Wildlife Conservation curriculum He took me fishing with him reguat the University of Maine, I figlarly, starting just after I was ured this would be my best shot "potty-trained." at getting in a lot of fishing and at We fished the brooks around the same time EARNING Freeport and Durham for trout, MONEY. Nothing could have mainly. My mother would drop us

Maine Fish and Wildlife

by Ken Warner off at a road crossing, then pick us up at another later in the day. My grandfather had fished these brooks for years and knew every hole where a trout might be "snaked out." Of course, he would give me the first crack at every hot spot. Sometimes I was successful, but more often I messed up in some way, like hooking up in the alders, really muddying the already turbid water, or "stiff-heeling'' a trout into the trees 10 feet above my head. I never got many trout, but those I landed were zealous! y slid into the creel-basket for future consideration. Trout were our quarry, but no kind of fish hooked and landed escaped the basket. Suckers and chubs were eagerly popped into the creel to "show Mom and eat," despite the urgings of my grandfather to "let him go." They often took on the appearance of strawberry jelly by the time we got home, but at least I could show them to Mom - and then to the cats, who usually turned up their noses and strode away in disgust! The story goes that I caught my first trout in the big hole below the bridge on Witcher' s Brook when I was two years old. The one-pound

trout was a "denizen" by age-two standards. I don't remember the feat, but because of constant reminders during my boyhood, I thought I did for a while. But, the photographic evidence can't be denied. A picture of "Ken holding a pound trout from Witcher' s Brook" still hangs in my den. When I asked if I landed it alone, the answer was always, "you had some help." My second round of recollections was fishing Sebago Lake. We had (and still have) a camp there, salvaged by my grandfather in an uncompleted real estate deal. My Sebago fishing fell into three categories: white perch, salmon, and the "smelt hole." We hit the "perch hole" about every evening in the summer, starting about an hour before sunset and quitting after dark. When a school of white perch swam by, action was furious for a while and then the doldrums. When we started to catch hornpout and eels after dark, we'd quit and head for camp. One time, though, we chose to stay after dark to fish for hornpout, but we ran out of worms. A quick trip to camp to check for more worms revealed none. The only possible bait in the ice box was a couple of hot dogs. We grabbed these, ran to the shore, and returned to the "perch hole." After baiting our hooks with small chunks of "dogs," we presented them to the 'pout, which gobbled them up with great gusto. The eels wouldn't touch them, however. The pink-rneated 'pout fillets, floured and fried in butter, were great - and they didn't even taste like hot dogs! Salmon fishing was the ritual of spring at Sebago. Because of an

"unnecessary" school commitment, the only time I could fish salmon was on weekends, holidays and vacation. I wolfed down a breakfast of cornflakes and milk while my grandfather leisurely sipped his coffee and nibbled on a dry doughnut. Pursued to the shore by squadrons of ravenous rnosquitos, we doused ourselves with oil of citronella, the "fly dope" of those days. The fragrance of citronella and salmon fishing have been synonymous to me ever since. We fished from a canvas-covered, double-ended Rangeley Guides rowboat. Propulsion was effortless on calm mornings. With one stroke of the oars, the craft would glide silently for 100 feet! We used bamboo or steel trolling rods and silk line, which had to be dried each night. Night crawlers on catgut hooks, rigged with spinners were used whenever trolling for salmon. I used a string of "killer" Dave Davis spinners, big ones, with a gob of worms about the size of a golfball. Grandfather used only a small Rangeley spinner and fewer worms. Every time we went out he would repeat, "My God, Kenny, there's no need in using all those dishpans." Wobblers and artificial lures were unknown to us then, except for one I remember that resembled a smelt. It was made of canvas, painted silver, resembling a cigarette and bristling with treble hooks. It worked great! We occasionally found a dead smelt floating or beached, which we quickly impaled on an Archer spinner, with guaranteed devastating results. The salmon didn't have a chance. Fishing success was highly variable, as it is today. It usually

slowed down in July when the salmon went deep. A heavily sinkered Dave Davis would go down just so far, and we had no lead lines. Sometimes in the spring we could have "filled the boat," but quite often we "couldn't buy a strike." But that's salmon fishing - then and now. The "smelt hole" was another story. It wasn't really a hole, but a "location" in about 70 feet of water with sand bottom, off the north tip of Frye's Island. My grandfather discovered this place in 1908 when he depth-sounded Sebago for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. It had to be sand; clay bottom was no good. Consequently, it was necessary to locate sand by repeated soundings with a hollow lead weight filled with soap. Once sand was located, the anchor was dropped .in that precise location and fishing began .. Smelts were fished with handlines baited with 3- to 4-inch shiners. We were after "jack smelt," measuring from 10-16 inches long. Besides smelts, we often caught cusk, whitefish, and salmon. Cusk were caught on bottom, of course. The whitefish were caught on smaller shiners after they "gummed" the bait in to submission. Salmon lines were on flyrods with free swimming shiners - no sinkers. Eventually, several other boats horned in on the "hole" and set buoys for easy re-location. Even so, my grandfather insisted on "sounding for sand" every time we went out. "They" might be in the wrong place! This concludes the summary of some of my earlier recollections of fishing in Maine. If readers demand a sequel relating more experiences, I' rn afraid I can't comply. I can't remember anyâ&#x20AC;˘ thing that recent! Summer 1992

Guide ines to Fis Stocking in Main A statement of policies followed by the Fisheries Division in stocking Maine waters - revising and updating an earlier article from Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine. compiled by the Fisheries Research & Management Section he science of fish culture has come a long way in Maine since 1864 when David Pottle hatched out a few eggs and raised some trout in a spring brook on his Head Tide farm. Today, modem fish hatcheries and rearing stations produce more and better fish more efficiently than Mr. Pottle ever dreamed possible. As hatcheries have changed through the years, so too have fish stocking procedures and policies. The stocking of hatchery fish in "the good old days" was done in a hit-or-miss manner, with little thought given to the fish; if it looked like trout water, trout were stocked there - likewise with salmon and other hatchery fish of the day. Stocking policies have developed and changed as fishery biologists and fish culturists have gained more knowledge of their complex fields. The following is a statement and description of procedures currently followed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for stocking landlocked salmon, brook trout, lake trout, brown trout, splake, rainbow trout, and warmwater species. Although these written guidelines are brief, it should be recognized that they result from thousands of days of research on the survival, behavior, and ecology of both wild and hatchery-reared fish,

Maine Fish and Wildlife

in Maine and elsewhere. These procedures cannot be considered final or ultimate; changes will undoubtedly be made as more and better information is acquired through continuing research. Public access must be provided to all waters being stocked. Minimum access acceptable for stocking purposes is the right or privilege to reach a body of water without trespass. All fish stockings in Maine fall into one of the following categories: Introductory stocking is done to establish a species not originally present, which will then be able to maintain itself by natural reproduction. Stocking is discontinued when the species has become established. Maintenance stocking is a program of routine, continuous stocking intended to supplement or substitute for natural reproduction. Hatchery fish are released, survive, and grow to an acceptable size, and then they are caught by anglers. Maintenance stocking is done where there is suitable habitat, limited natural reproduction, and sufficient potential fishing pressure to ensure that the fish will be harvested. Experimental stocking is used in special situations. It is sometimes difficult to predict the success of a proposed stocking program where complex biological interactions exist. In such cases, the department may undertake stocking on an experi-

Fishery biologists evaluate success of stockings through programs of fin clipping or tagging, followed by creel census and angler reports of marked fish. mental or tentative basis. Fish stocked on an experimental basis may be marked by fin clipping or tagging to allow analysis of the program, which may then be changed to a routine maintenance stocking, or it may be discontinued, depending upon the results. Legal-size trout stocking involves the release of legal-size trout in waters where they are expected to be caught within a short time. This type of stocking provides a short-term artificial fishery with no lasting benefits, it has no biological basis, and it receives the lowest priority of any stocking done by the department. Stocking private waters: The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife does not provide fish for stocking private waters. Fish may be purchased within Maine for stocking private waters from any of several commercial hatcheries. Anyone planning to import fish into Maine should first contact the department for importation requirements. The approval of the commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is required before any fish can be stocked in any Maine waters. Current guidelines for stocking of various fish species are as follows:

LAN

MON

Where stocked Salmon are stocked in waters capable of growing salmon but where spawning is either limited or absent. They may be stocked in waters having other coldwater fish species; the most common associations are salmon/brook trout and salmon/lake trout. In any case, abundant quantities of smelts must be present to provide forage and sustain salmon growth. Size and age when stocked Studies have shown that spring yearling (SY) salmon (age 1+) give the best return to the angler. These fish range from 7 to 10 inches when stocked. Stocking rates The number stocked is determined by the ability of the water to grow salmon. In lakes, the stocking rate is expressed as the number of salmon per surface acre stocked and does not exceed 1.5 spring

yearlings per acre. Most waters receive between 0.5 and 1.0 spring yearlings per acre. Stocking frequency Annual stocking is most common, but some small waters are stocked only every second or third year, for economy and to maintain acceptable salmon growth rates. Stocking procedure Normal procedure is to stock near shore, but in waters where newly stocked salmon may be subject to predation they are boated and scattered offshore. Experimental stocking Salmon studies may be undertaken involving stocking rates, sizes, or methods that differ from those outlined in this policy. Studies are set up on a timetable and their results are evaluated at the end of specified period of time.

Maine's fishery managers give preference to wild brook trout populations where they exist, and efforts are made to preserve them through regulatory protection. In waters where natural reproduction is lacking or inadequate, brook trout fisheries are provided by stocking hatchery-reared fish. Because of the possible loss of genetic integrity, hatchery-reared brook trout and/ or lake trout that are derived from non-indigenous stocks are not introduced in waters where wild populations of these species are reproducing successfully. Biological Stocking Brook trout are stocked in waters capable of supporting trout but which have insufficient natural reproduction to provide good fishing. Waters with the highest priority are stocked with small fish (primarily fall fingerlings) which have the potential to grow to attractive size, thereby substituting hatchery-reared fish for that part of a trout's life cycle which is ordinarily carried out through natural reproduction. Size when stocked Fry, approximately 1 to 4 inches long, are stocked in late spring or early summer where growing conditions are favorable. Fry are the most economical size to stock where competition is negligible and high survival is therefore likely. Success from fry stocking usually decreases as competition increases. Fry stocking preserves the esthetics of trout fishing by closely approximating natural conditions. Fall fingerlings, approximately 5 to 7 inches long, are stocked in waters where conditions for fry Summer 1992

survival and growth are reduced by competition or other factors. Fall fingerlings usually grow to a size of about 8 to 9 inches by the following spring. This age group accounts for the majority of brook trout stocked in Maine waters. Spring yearlings, averaging 7 to 11 inches in size, are stocked in waters with marginal water quality and/ or competition from other species which results in poor survi~al of smaller stocked brook trout. Smaller spring yearlings may be stocked in streams; larger ones are stocked in lakes. Stocking rates Lakes and Ponds: Stocking rates are based on the ability of a body of water to produce good trout growth. Because most food organisms are produced in shallow water, lakes and ponds having a high proportion of shallow water are usually the most productive and are stocked at higher rates than deep lakes and ponds. Rates are presented as ranges due to the variability in the contribution of natural reproduction, competition from other species, and fishing pressure. Fry stocking rates are based on the number of acres of lake bottom falling within the Oto 20 foot contours. Recommended fry stocking rates are 150 to 250 per acre. Fall fingerling and spring yearling stocking rates are based on. the number of acres of lake bottom falling within the contours Oto 20 feet as well as the size-group of the lake or pond. Recommended stocking rates for fall fingerlings and spring yearlings are as follows: Acreage

No. stocked per surface acre 0-20 ft. deep Fall fingerlings

Spring yearlings

25-150 10-50

5-25 1-5

200 or less Over 200

Rivers and Streams: Most Maine rivers and streams that have habitat capable of supporting brook trout have adequate natural reproduction. For the documented exceptions where natural reproduction is inadequate to support a fishery, and where adult habitat is suitable1, the following stocking rates are recommended: Age Group Fry Fall fingerlings Spring yearlings

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Acre

150-250 50-150

Number per 100 sq. yd. 25 3-5 1-3

Non-biological stocking Reclaimed ponds, the first year after reclamation, are stocked with legal-size spring yearling brook trout at the above rates; these fish are immediately available for harvest. Hatchery production of brook trout over and above the requirements of the biological programs is available as legal-size fish for stocking to provide immediate fishing. The numbers of legal-size stocked in a body of water are based on the total number available, the number of waters requiring stocking, fishing pressure, and other factors determined by fishery managers. 1

Minimum summer water quality standards for streams stocked with brook trout on other than a putand-take basis are as follows: Water quality variable Temperature Dissolved oxygen Aver. thalweg depthâ&#x20AC;˘ % instream cover % pools pH Flow

Value 72Â° or less In stream or refug ia At least 7 ppm (parts/million) Stream width up to 15 ft: 8 in. Stream width over 15 ft: 12 in. 10 20 5.5-8.5 At least 40% of average annual daily flow

â&#x20AC;˘ Average of maximum depths of a series of cross sections of a stream channel.

Rivers and streams stocked with fall fingerling brook trout must have habitat to ensure their survival over winter. Where stocked Lake trout are stocked in deep, coldwater ~akes and ponds, where summer temperatures in the deepest water are less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and where dissolved oxygen concentrations in the deepest water exceed 5 parts per million. Adequate populations of suitable forage fish species must be present to assure growth of the stocked fish. Lake trout are stocked to provide fishing in waters where natural reproduction is not successful, or where natural reproduction does not maintain populations large enough to support satisfactory fisheries. They may also be introduced to waters with suitable habitat to create new fisheries. As lake trout usually spawn in shallow water on

rocky shoals or shorelines, an abundance of this type of habitat in a body of water will improve the prospects of establishing a population that can be sustained through natural reproduction. Size when stocked Lake trout are stocked as spring yearlings, at an average size of 7 to 9 inches. Stocking rates The amount of habitat available during the summer, and the productivity of the water are important factors to consider in stocking lake trout. Water at depths less than 40 feet is usually too warm to support lake trout during the summer. Water deeper than 100 feet is generally not very productive, even though lake trout can be found there. Therefore, the area less than 40 feet deep and greater than 100 feet deep should be discounted from the total area of a body of water considered for lake trout stocking. Other factors affect the growth and survival of lake trout stocked in any body of water, including the size of the fish at stocking, the type and abundance of forage available, the presence of other coldwater gamefish (especially salmon), and the presence of potential predators. These will influence the stocking rate on a water-by-water basis. Followup surveys of the fish populations and sport fisheries in each water stocked with lake trout will determine the success of the stocking program, and may lead to refinements in the recommended stocking rate. Up to 5 spring yearlings may be stocked per surface acre of water with depths between 40 and 100 feet.

Scatter-planting over deep water is often done where predation poses a threat to newly-stocked fish.

Stocking frequency Waters are usually stocked on an annual basis. Follow-up surveys may justify less frequent stocking on individual waters. Stocking procedure Prior to stocking, most lake trout are marked with a fin clip to aid in future identification. Stocking occurs as soon as possible after ice-out, while the surface water is still cold. In lakes and ponds where predation may threaten survival immediately after stocking, lake trout are boated away from the shore and scatter-planted over deep water. Experimental stocking Lake trout studies may be undertaken involving stocking rates or methods that differ from those outlined in this policy; studies are set up on a timetable, and their results are evaluated at the end of a specified time period.

Introductory stocking (lakes and ponds) The ability of brown trout to compete successfully with warmwater fishes and to inhabit lakes with less-than-ideal water quality has enabled the department to provide quality fishing in many waters considered marginal for other salmonids. Brown trout are generally not managed in drainages with natural spawning populations of sea-run Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, or brook trout. Habitat requirements of the brown trout are very similar to these other species, and competition from brown trout in spawning and nursery areas could greatly reduce production of salmon and trout. Stocking rates vary from one to three fall yearling brown trout per surface acre of water. Lakes are evaluated for 3 to 5 years to monitor the success or failure of the introduction. Waters not providing a satisfactory fishery within this time are discontinued. Successful introductions are put on a maintenance stocking program. Introductory stocking (stream) Current policy is to manage brown trout in only those streams where populations of browns once existed, or in streams where brown trout already exist. No introductions are considered for streams or drainages supporting populations of sea-run Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, or brook trout. Introductions are accomplished either with fry stocking or with spring yearlings. No specific rates Summer 1992

Hatchery fish rearing and stocking are continually monitored to provide optimum returns to the angler. provide naturally reproduced fish. Such streams often have the ability to support trout but may not have enough spawning habitat to produce enough wild fish to sustain a population. In these waters a maintenance stocking program is necessary to maintain populations and produce a fishery. Maintenance stocking rates are usually based on habitat. For small-to-moderate size streams, the suggested rate for fry stocking is 25 fish per salmonid unit (100 square yards). For spring yearlings, the suggested rate is from 3 to 5 fish per salmonid unit. In larger rivers and impoundments, rates of 5 to 10 spring yearlings per surface acre or fall yearlings at a rate of 1 to 3 fish per surface acre are recommended. have been established. Stocking rates are generally based on the amount of stream habitat available and similar to the maintenance stocking rates listed below. Maintenance stocking (lakes and ponds) Brown trout are stocked on a maintenance basis in lakes and ponds that have demonstrated the ability to provide and maintain a satisfactory fishery and provide carry-over into older age classes. Changing conditions in the lake caused by competition from other species or by water quality may result in discontinuation in favor of other species. Brown trout are sometimes managed in combination with other salmonids. The most common combination is with stocked fisheries for brook trout. The maintenance stocking rate for brown trout is 1 to 3 fall yearlings per surface acre of water. Fall yearlings usually average 10 to 12 inches in length and become legal size within their first year in the lake. Maintenance stocking (streams) Several streams and drainages in Maine are managed for brown trout. Most of these streams are located in the central and southern part of the state. For the most part, browns either exist by themselves or in combination with hatchery-reared brook trout. Many factors enter into the decision to implement a maintenance stocking program. Many streams have limiting factors that prevent fish populations from becoming established or maintaining themselves. Some waters exhibit very little ability to

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Splake are currently stocked in Maine on an experimental basis. Splake are hybrids between brook trout and lake trout, and in most waters are stocked as an alternative to hatchery brook trout. Splake have shown good catch, growth, and survival rates in many waters where brook trout have failed to provide acceptable fisheries. They are not currently being stocked to provide or enhance any river or stream fisheries. Splake do have the ability to reproduce in the wild; however, natural reproduction has not been documented in Maine. Therefore, the "put-growtake" fisheries for them are totally maintained through stocking. In waters where competition from other fish species is considered light, fall fingerling splake (about 6 inches) are stocked. Spring yearling splake (about 8 inches) are stocked in waters where competition is considered a limiting factor. A permanent fin-clip will be applied to all splake to assist in proper identification and aging. Stocking rates for splake are based on several factors including acreage of suitable habitat, fishing pressure, harvest rates, and special regulations. Habitat suitable for splake is critical, primarily during the summer months when cool, well-oxygenated water is needed to survive. Therefore, the acreage of water with summer temperatures less than 60 degrees and oxygen

(continued on page 29)

DENNY BUSTER the Fly Tying Bench

Streamer

by Butch Carey

ABOUT THE FLY

by Dennis Wheelock Every Memorial weekend for the past 12 years, a group of us have fished Allagash Lake. We troll with both lures and streamer flies. In 1986, I learned how to tie streamer flies from Butch Carey. This is when I really started to experiment with different fly patterns. In the winter of 1987, I approached Butch with some ideas I had for some new streamers with a new material called crystal Mylar. Butch was interested; we got together and tied 8 to 10 different patterns using bucktail and crystal Mylar. That year for our annual Memorial weekend fishing trip, I gave my fishing group the different flies to try. We all did really well with this particular fly. I called the fly

the Denny Buster, named after one of the popular sandwiches at my pizza shop. I caught 15 brook trout and two togue that weekend; all but one was caught with this streamer fly! I have had great success with the Denny Buster at both Allagash and Moosehead lakes, and welcome you to try it as well!

THEPATIERN HOOK: #2, 79580 or tandem #4 94840 BODY: Gold tinsel WING: Dark green krystal on top of pink krystal on top

of blue bucktail on top of gray bucktail on top of white bucktail (Whew!) TOPPING: Peacock herl HEAD: Black monocord

Cast on at back of hook. Lay even winds of black monocord up to the eye. Cement

Tie on gold mylar up front, gold side up in nice close winds, with no overlap. Continue winding a second layer back to the eye. No overlapping. Trim, tie, and cement.

Tie on sparse bunch of white bucktail, a little longer than hook. Trim and cement.

Ti~ on sparse bunch of gray bucktail same length as white bucktail. Trim and cement.

Summer 1992

Tie on sparse bunch of blue bucktail, same length as bucktail. Trim and cement.

Tie on five strands of gray krystal, same length as bucktail. Trim and cement.

Tie on five strands of pink krystal, same length as bucktail. Trim and cement.

Tie on five strands of dark green krystal, same length as bucktail. Trim and cement.

9 10

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Tie four strands of peacock her/ on top. Finish head with black thread. Trim ; cement, two coats. Finished fly.

Fishable /Swimmable: What

Does It Mean? by Barry Mower

<I) <I)

The life of the fish and recreation of the fisherman both depend on clean water. And clean water is important for both the aesthetics of swimming and for human health.

0 i:D

ew environmental matters are more important to wildlife and fish, and to people, than water quality. But apart from believing they know clean water when they see it, or when they don't see it, most people know little more about the subject. The reason is likely in the fact that water quality classification systems are established in federal and state laws, and they do tend to be on the technical side and not easily understood. One term often used in reference to water quality is of particular importance to people interested in water-based outdoor recreation: fishable/swimmable. The objective of the federal Clean Water Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. One of its goals is that, wherever attainable, water quality should be suitable for protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and for recreation in and on the water. In other words, fishable/swimmable.

In Maine, the legislature has also enacted a Water Classification Program that establishes these same goals for all surface waters of the state. What exactly does fishable/ swimmable mean? Swimmable simply means that a given body of water is considered acceptable for swimming. The major threat to swimmers is the risk of contracting a waterborne disease by accidentally swallowing water contaminated with human sewage. Although the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) try to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage, there are probably remain a few undetected discharges of raw sewage, and there are occasional malfunctions of septic systems. In addition, during heavy rains many municipal treatment plants become overloaded and discharge a mixture of storm water and raw

The author is a biologist with the Bureau of Water Quality Control in the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Summer 1992

sewage through combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Since the cost of eliminating CSOs statewide would be hundreds of million of dollars, it will be a long time before this source of water pollution is eliminated. For these reasons, there is always some risk of contacting dis- ~ .c ease when swimming in any sur- a.:a. ui face water, particularly below c:i known discharges after storms. Dead fish are not the only sign, Disease-causing agents (called but a very visible one, that pathogens) are not easily desomething is very wrong tected. Their abundance, howin the habitat of the ever, and the risk of contracting biological community. some disease is proportional to the amount of human waste present in the water, which can be measured by the levels of certain Once a familiar scene on bacteria. For this reason, bacteria several Maine rivers, now once are used as an indicator of conagain fishable/swimmable tamination. thanks to major improvements Bacteria levels acceptable in in pollution control in the each class of water in Maine are past two decades. shown below. Note that there are different kinds of bacteria used in Severe waterborne diseases of fresh waters.,.a nd marine waters. the past, such as typhoid fever, The acceptable risk was set by the cholera, and hepatitus are not Maine legislature at one chance in much of a threat today due to one hundred for the lowest good public health programs classes of water, class C in fresh and reasonably good sanitation waters and class SC in marine and human waste disposal pracwaters. For the next higher tices. The most commonly conclasses, classes B and SB, the risk tracted disease is gastroenteritis is one-half as much, or one chance with the symptoms of a stomin two hundred. Other classes of ach ache and diarrhea caused water have even less risk.

a.:

ui c:i

CRITERION

CLASS

AA A B C GPA SA

SC 12

ANO (as naturally occurs) ANO 64 average; 427 maximum 142 average; 949 maximum 29 average; 194 maximum ANO B average; 54 maximum 14 average; 94 maximum

Maine Fish and Wildlife

BACTERIA TYPE

E.coli E.coli E.coli Enterococcus Enterococcus

by bacteria. Disinfection of treated waste, usually with chlorine, prior to discharge is the most common way municipalities try to ensure that receiving waters remain swimmable and that shellfish beds remain open to harvest.

(continued on page 21)

PFD Primer 0

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by Ron Bennett

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chool's out, the weather's warm and the beaches are crowded. It's also prime time for boating. Maine's recreational boating season gets going in a big way every year with the mid-April Kenduskeag River canoe race, the largest event of its type on the East Coast. From then through the glorious boating days of September and the increasingly tempestuous weeks to follow, many hundreds of pleasure-filled days will be spent on Maine's waterways. Whether the enjoyment comes from canoeing or rafting a wild northern river, fishing a quiet pond, cruising or sailing on the coast in August, or sculling black ducks on a blustery November day, only a thin line of safety separates a day of fun from one ending in tragedy. Using good judgment and following basic safety laws can keep any boater on the right side of that line. Among the most important of all boating safety laws, and also common sense practices, are those

The author is the department's boating and ATV safety coordinator.

concerning the use of personal flotation devices - PFDs. There are several types of PFDs, with varying flotation characteristics and for use in different situations. They are described in detail in the Maine Boat Law booklet, which can be obtained at municipal offices and boating supply dealers throughout the state. To meet the requirements of the law, PFDs must be of the right type for the situation and must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, information that is found on the label attached to each PFD. In boa ts less than 16 feet and all canoes and kayaks, the law requires a minimum of one PFD of Type I, II, III, or IV for each person on board. Flotation cushions are a common kind of Type IV PFD, but though they minimally satisfy the law in smaller watercraft, once you're in trouble on the water, they are of little help. Most other types of PFDs are vest-type. The law does not require that they be worn, only that they be readily accessible in the craft, and that's where common sense comes into the PFD picture. Since it is almost impossible to put on a PFD after an accident occurs,

it's good judgment to wear one whenever you are on board. And in certain situations such as foul weather and cold water boating, or with non-swimmers, it is foolhardy not to wear one. It should also be common sense to check PFDs periodically for buoyancy and serviceability. A basic PFD costs under $10, so there is no good reason not to replace one that you wouldn't trust with your life. As an added benefit, the vesttype PFDs can also help protect the wearer against hypothermia - the effects of cold water on the body. /

For anyone who would like to learn more about safe boating, we offer a Boating Basics Course (6 hours minimum) covering boats and equipment, safe operation, legal requirements, charts and compass, and emergencies (including cold water survival). For more infonnation, contact the Safety Division, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Station 41, Augusta, Maine 04333. Phone (207) 287-5220 )

Summer 1992

Let's Go F1sh1ng

Fishing is something everybody can do - boys , girls, moms, dads, and grandparents. Anyone who enjoys fishing is called an angler. To catch fish , the angler must firsHocate them! Fish are found almost everywhere there is water with enough food , oxygen, cover, and proper temperatures; yet each species of fish prefers a certain kind of habitat , or home , within its water environment. The fish shown below are just a few ~ of the more common and popular species we have in Maine. Pay close attention to their different "'-"" habitats , and you'll have better luck catching them! ', A fish you plan to eat must be kept fresh. Clean it and place it on ice to avoid spoilage. In Maine , the law ~ , says you must either kill your fish immediately or release it unharmed. If you don't plan to keep your fish to '"eat, free it quickly! To release a fish , keep it in the water if you can. Handle it gently, with wet hands. Many ~~times you can carefully shake a fish off the hook without even touching it! If the fish is hooked deeply, simply · ·., ' ~ cut the line as close to the hook as possible. The hook will rust away without harming the fish. -~ Fishing regulations are meant to protect the fishery resource, to ensure there are enough fish for everyone. Fishing is a wonderful privilege; learning and obeying Maine's fishing laws is the responsibility that goes with that privilege. Now try your luck in the nearest pond, lake , or stream - and have a great time!

Brook Trout

Often called "squaretail" in Maine, the brook trout requires cold, clean, well-oxygenated water. Doing best in streams or spring-fed ponds that offer no competition from other fish species, brook trout eat aquatic insects, worms, leeches, crustaceans, and small fish such as smelts. Spawning occurs in the fall , when the female digs a small egg pit, called a redd , with her tail and fins. The male fertilizes the eggs as they are deposited in the redd; the eggs hatch in about 90 days. Young trout feed on immature aquatic insects. Approximately 800,000 brook trout are stocked by Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Maine's rivers and lakes annually. The state record is 8 lbs. 8 oz. , 25" in length. You can fish for brook trout in stream pools or, if you are fishing a pond, near the mouth of a stream or drop-offs. Popular lures are worms with a sinker and maybe a bobber; the more adventuresome try flies or spoons.

Large1nouth Bass Largemouths were introduced to Maine in the early 1900s, and were well established in Long Pond, Messalonskee Lake, and other area waters by 1940. The largemouth thrives in shallow, warm, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds and sluggish streams; they seldom venture into deep waters. Adults lurk --...~ beneath low-hanging branches or fallen logs, waiting for prey such as insects, fish , crayfish, and even an occasional songbird, mouse , or snake! _. .....-... Male largemouths are responsible for construction of the nest; after eggs are fertilized and deposited in the nest, the male guards it until and even after the young hatch. A few days after hatching, schools of young bass may be found in and around the shelter of aquatic vegetation. B t '. <. ,.111 ~,1_· l11tUC l ll <.H ll h~. di<_' ,)I l ill ( tt'.J~inqlv po p, tl,,r n,.1me fi ~h in M,,in,~, ,. j . ,ii .. ,,.

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Where can you find ml/lions of acres of premiere quality recreational space near your home? A. On Maine's publicly owned Inland and coastal waters. Maine's land Is 95 percent privately owned, but most of the water Is pub/le. From Moosehead Lake, New England's largest body of fresh water, to the Maine coast, our waterways are an unexcelled natural asset. Every year, Maine's world class lakes, rivers, and coastal waters provide numerous hours of the highest quality recreation. But you can't enjoy these recreational opportunities unless you can get your boat into the water. That's why we have published this list of boat launching sites developed by state access programs. The State of Maine has recognized the Importance of public access to Its waters by a/locating about 1.5 percent of the revenues from the state gasoline tax for boat access sites. The money is used by the Maine Department of Conservation's Bureau of Parks and Recreation to acquire, develop and maintain access sites. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Sport Fish Restoration Program for Maine also designates 10 percent of Its annual revenues, which are collected from federal excise taxes on sporting equipment and from a percentage of the federal gasoline taxes, for acquisition and development of pub/le access sites. This I/st of boat launching sites Include:; basic Information to help you use and locate the sites: • Maine Atlas (Delorme) map numbers are provided. • Ramps are Identified as either hard-surface or gravel; sites with no ramps are listed as either carry-In or canoe sites. • All-tide coastal sites are Identified; other tidal sites are not usable st low water. Fees are not charged at most of the state-administered sites on the list. In a few Instances, the ramps are located within a state park and a day-use fee may be charged. Many boat sites are maintained by the communities where they are located; most do not charge a use fee. If you know of an opportunity or a need for a public access or If you would like to assist In helping locate access sites, please, contact the Boating Facilities Division, Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Department of Conservation, Station #22, Augusta, Maine 04333; telephone 287-3821 or the Realty Division, Department of lnl~nd Fisheries and Wildlife, Station #41, Augusta, Maine 04333, telephone 2875210.

MAINE BOATING LAW HIGHLIGHTS Age Requirement for Operating Watercraft: A person under the age of 12 must be under the Immediate supervision of a person located In the boat who Is at least 16 years of age while operating a motorboat propelled by machinery greater than 10 horsepower. Operating Within the Water Safety Zone: No person may operate a watercraft at greater than headway speed while within the water safety zone, except to pick up or drop off one or more persons on waterskis, or while actively fishing. The water safety zone is the area of water within 200 feet of any shoreline, whether the shoreline of the mainland or of an island. Headway speed is the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage and control of the watercraft while the watercraft is moving. Waterskiing: No person shall operate any watercraft towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboard or other similar devices unless there Is a person at least 12 years of age In the watercraft, In addition to the operator, who Is In a position to continually observe the person or persons being towed. Personal Flotation Devices: Recreational (pleasure or rental, lease or charter for non-commercial uses) boats less than 16 feet In length and all canoes and kayaks regardless of length are required to have either a Type I, II, Ill or IV PFD for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet or longer have to have the same PLUS one Type IV device Immediately available In the boat. PFDs f1ll!H.be worn when operating personal watercraft (jet skis, etc.). Alcohol: Operating a watercraft while under the Influence of Intoxicating liquors or drugs, or with 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol In your blood, Is Illegal In Maine; penalties for violations are virtually the same as those for similar offenses with r.oad vehicles. The Maine Boating Law Is found primarily In Title 12, Chapter 715, M.R.S.A.

Printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled paper

PUBLIC BOAT ACCESS

FRESHWATER LAUNCH SITES (cont.) C.

=gravel ramp

Cl)

o =canoe only

Water Lovewell Pond Lower Patten Pond Lower Range Pond Lower Unknown Lake Madawaska Brook Madawaska Lake Maranacook Lake Maranacook Lake Mattakeunk Lake Mattanawcook Lake Mattawamkeag Lake Meddybemps Lake Messalonskee Lake Messalonskee Lake Middle Unknown Lake Mill Stream Millinocket Lake Molasses Pond Moose Pond Moosehead Lake Moosehead Lake Mooseleuk Lake Mousam Lake Mulligan Bog Narraguagus River Nickerson Lake North Pond Number Nine Lake Old Farm Pond Orange River Passadumkeag River Pennesseewassee Lake Penobscot River Penobscot River Penobscot River Penobscot River Penobscot River Penobscot River Pierce Pond Piscatquis River Pleasant Lake Pleasant Pond Pleasant River-Bog Stream Pleasant River-l. Meadow Pleasant River-Rt. 1 Bridge Pleasant River- Artie Stevens

Town Fryeburg Surry Poland T4 ND Palmyra T16 R4 Readfield Winthrop Lee Lincoln Island Falls Meddybemps Belgrade Oakland T4 ND Dedham T1 R9 Eastbrook West Paris Beaver Cove Pit. Greenville T10 R9 WELS Acton St. Albans Cherryfield Linneus Sm ithfield T9 R3 WELS Howland Whiting Passadumkeag Norway Brewer Eddington Greenbush Lincoln Medway Passadumkeag Penobscot Guilford Island Falls Litchfield T18 MD Columbia Columbia Falls Columbia n ...

,•,•i. . ,...,-.. -

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481 23E5 5A3 3581 21A5 68E4 1283 12C3 44E3 44E1 5284 3604 12A5 21E1 3581 23C4 43A1 24C4 1181 41C3 4102 57A1 282 22A1 2502 53A3 2004 59C1 33A3 2781 3384 1005 2382 2383 3304 43E5 4385 3384 15A3 3185 52B4 12E4 25C3 25C3 2505 25C4 'II.A'>

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•• ••• •• • •• •• •• • •• •• ••• • •• • •• • • •• •• • •• •• ••

Remarks

At state park At dam

At dam

At state park At dam At dam

6. 6.

,..

At dam

0 0 0 0

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Rocky Lake Round Lake Ruffingham Meadow Sabattus Pond Saco River Saco River Saco River Saco River Saco River Saco River at Swans Falls Salmon Lake Sand Pond Sandy Point Flowage Sandy Stream to Unity Pond Sawtelle Deadwater Scammon Marsh Scraggly Lake Sebago Lake Sebago Lake Sebasticook Lake Sebec Lake Sebec Lake Sebec River Seboeis Lake Seven Tree Pond Sheepscot Pond Skelton Head Pond S. Br. Meduxnekeag Rvr. South Branch Lake South Pond South Twin Lake Spednik Lake Spicer Pond St. Croix River St. George River St. John River Stevens Pond Taylor Pond Thomas Pond Three Mile Pond Tilton Pond Toddy Pond Torsey Pond Trafton Lake Tunk Lake Umberhind Marsh Umsaskis Lake Upper/Middle Range Pond Upper Richardson Lake Washington Pond . W Br. Penobscot Rvr.-Gravel Pit W Or P1111nh,aot nvr Novorn Cor

T18 ED Charlotte Searsmont Sabattus Biddeford Brownfield Dayton Fryeburg Saco Fryeburg Belgrade Baldwin Stockton Springs Unity T6 R7WELS Eastbrook T7R8 Casco Standish Newport Dover-Foxcroft Sebec Milo T4 R9 Union Palermo Dayton Hodgdon Seboeis Greenwood Indian Purchase Vanceboro Shapleigh Baileyville Appleton Van Buren Liberty Mt. Vernon Raymond Vassalboro Fayette Orland Readfield Limestone T10SD Richmond T11 R13 WELS Poland T4 R1 Washington T2 R10 T~ R 10

26A3 3605 1482 12E1 3C3 482 381

4A1 3C2

4A1 20E5 404 23E1 2105 51A3 24C3 57E3 581 501 22A1 32A2 32A3 32A5 43C1 1401 1384 381 53C3 43E3 1084 4382 46C3 282 3683 14C2 6902 1481 12A2 5C1 1382 12A2 23E3 1283 6593 2501 12E4 61E5

5A3 18A2 13C5 5004 SOE!",

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Portage Lake Porter Lake Presque Isle Stream Pushaw Lake Quantabacook Pond Rangeley Lake Rangeley Lake (Town Park) Rangeley Lake @ Oquossoc Richardson Lake

Portago Strong Presque Isle Orono Searsmont Rangeley Rangeley Rangeley Township C

64C 1 2081 6501

23A2 1482 28E4 28E5 28E3 18C2

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Webber Pond Wesserunsett Lake Wilson Pond Wilson Pond Wood Pond Woodbury Pond Wyman Lake Wytopitlock Lake

Vassalboro Madison Monmouth Wilton Jackman Litchfield Pleasant Ridge Pit. Glenwood Pit.

1381 20A5 12C2 1905 3984 1203 3003 52E5

Orrington Verona Eliot Addison St. George Rockland Rockport Biddeford Saco Tremont Searsport Southwest Harbor Calais Robbinston Stockton Springs St. George Ellsworth

23C2 23E2 1B3 2504 8B1 14E3

1• 1Al •lfno pnr At dam At dam

•• •• •

TIDEWATER LAUNCH SITES 6.

=gravel ramp

o =canoe only

Androscoggin River Back River Belfast Bay Blue Hill Harbor Buttermilk Cove Carvers Harbor Casco Bay Cathance River Chandler Bay Cobscook Bay Damariscotta River Fore River Frenchman Bay Frenchman Bay Gleason Cove Johnson Bay Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River (Morse Cove) Linekin Bay Machias River Mackerel Cove Medomak River Middle Bay Narraguagus River New Meadows River No. Bay & Bagaduce River Nonesuch River Pemaquid River Penobscot River Penobscot River

Town Brunswick Westport Belfast Blue Hill Brunswick Vinalhaven Portland Bowdoinham Jonesport Edmunds Twp. Damariscotta South Portland Bar Harbor Lamoine Perry Lubec

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a. E a,

6C3 7B1

14A4 15B4 6C4 15E1 SES

6A4 26E1

27A2 7A3 3A5 16B4

16A3 37E3

Augusta

27A4 12C5

Bath Chelsea Gardiner Hallowell Richmond Phippsburg Phippsburg Boothbay Machias Swans Island Waldoboro Brunswick Milbridge Brunswick Penobscot Scarborough Bristol Frankfort Hampden

685 12C5 1205 12C5 12E5 605 6C5 7C2 26C3 1601 7A5 6C3 25E3 6C4 15A3 384 7C3 2301 23C2

U:2

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•• •• •• • ••• • • •• •• • •• •• •• • •• •• • •• •• •• •• •••

Remarks Limited parking

At state park

Limited parking At state park

1404 3C2 3C2

16A2 14A5 16C3 36B5

3702 15A1 882 24E1

••• •• •• • •I •• •• •• , •• •• ••• ••

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Limited parking

I Limited parking

, I Limited parking

SOME RULES OF THE ROAD FOR LAUNCHING SAFETY & COURTESY

•• •••

•• • •• •• • • •• •• • •• • •• ••

Penobscot River Penobscot River Piscataqua River Pleasant River Port Clyde Rockland Harbor Rockport Harbor Saco River Saco River Seal Cove Searsport Harbor Southwest Harbor St. Croix River St. Croix River Stockton Harbor Tenants Harbor Union River

Limited parking

At Col. Pemaquid

• Read and observe posted boat access site rules. • Park carefully to conserve limited parking space, even If you are the first to arrive In the morning. • Prepare your boat for launching and for the trip home away from the ramp, on a side area. Preparations Include transferring equipment between the boat and tow vehicle, removing or attaching tie-downs, lnsta/1/ng drain plugs, and adjusting the motor position. • Do not leave boats tied to floats. • Avoid power loading. It can change the configuration of the bottom and make ramp use dlfflcun. • Take trash and litter home for recycling or proper disposal. Please carry out everything that you carry In.

ll Others using these launch sites w/11 appreciate your consideration.

...

FRESHWATER LAUNCH SITES C.

=gravel ramp o =canoe only

"O 0

Water Alford Lake Allagash Lake Ambajejus Lake Androscoggin Lake Androscoggin River Androscoggin River Androscoggin River Androscoggin River Androscoggin River Arnold Brook Lake Aroostook River Attean Pond Aziscohos Lake Bald Bog Baskahegan Stream Bauds Pond Beech Hill Pond Berry Pond Black Lake Bog Brook Brassua Lake Bryant Pond Buker Pond Cathance Lake Cathance Lake Cedar Lake Center Pond Chain of Ponds Chamberlain Thoroughfare Chickawaukie Pond China Lake Churchill Lake Clay Pond Clearwater Pond Cobbosseecontee Lake Cobbosseecontee Lake Cochnewagon Lake Cold Stream Pond Crescent Lake Cross Lake Crystal Lake Crystal Lake Cupsuptic River (Lake) Damariscotta Lake Desert Pond Drews Lake Duck Lake

Town Hope Ta R15 WELS T1 R9 Wayne Bethel Durham Lisbon Rumford Turner Presque Isle Caribou TS R1 Lincoln Pit. Brownfield Danforth New Vineyard Otis Wayne Fort Kent Beddington T1 R1 NBKP Woodstock Litchfield No. 14 Pit. No. 14 Pit. TA-Ra & R9 Sangerville T2R6 T6 R11 WELS Rockland China T10 R12 WELS Fryeburg Industry Monmouth Winthrop Monmouth Enfield Raymond T16 R5 Gray Harrison T4 R3 Jefferson Mt. Vernon New Limerick T4 ND

1402 55C2 43A1 1292 1082 681

6A1 19E1 11C5 65E1 6581 3984 2aE1 482 4583 2081 24C1 1282 6aC1 2581 4095 1095 1203 36E3 36E4 43C2 32C1 3aE5 56E2 14E3

13A3 56A1 4B1 20C2 1203 12C4 1202 33A5 5B2 6803 5C3 10E4 2802 13E3 12A2

53A1 45E1

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Remarks

Limited parking

At dam At dam

At dam

Limited parking

Eagle Lake Eagle Lake E. Machias River-Gaddis Pool East Pond Echo Lake Echo Lake Egypt Pond Embden Pond Fahi Pond Flagstaff Lake Flying Pond Gardner Lake Gassabias Lake Georges Pond Graham Lake Grand Lake Great East Lake Great Moose Lake Great Pond Great Works Pond Green Lake Hancock Pond Highland Lake Holeb Pond Horn Pond Hunnewell Lake Hutchinson Pond lronbound Pond Jamie Pond Jones Pond Kenduskeag Stream Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Kennebec River Lake Auburn Lake Hebron Lake Onawa Lake St. George Lewy Lake Little Madawaska River Little Norridgewock Stream Little Ossipee Pond Little Pennesseewassee Pond Little Sebago Lake Lobster Stream Long Lake Long Lake Long Lake Long Pond Long Pond Long Pond

Eagle Lake T9 R13 WELS East Machias Oakland Mt. Vernon Presque Isle Chesterville Embden Embden Eustis Mt. Vernon East Machias T41 MD Franklin Ellsworth Danforth Acton Hartland Belgrade Edmunds Twp. Ellsworth Denmark Falmouth T6 R1 Acton St. John Pit. Albany Twp. Solon Manchester Gouldsboro Kenduskeag Madison Norridgewock Sidney Skowhegan Solon Waterville Auburn Monson Elliottsville Twp. Liberty Princeton Stockholm Chesterville Waterboro Norway Windham T3 R15 WELS Bridgton Harrison St. Agatha Lincoln Mt. Desert Mt. Vernon

67E5 55C5 26C4 2005 12A2 65E1 20E2 20A3 20A4 29C2 20E3 2684 35C1 2403

2401 45A4 281 21A3 20E4 26A5 2401

484 503 3982 281 6702 10C4 31E1 12C4

17A1 32E5 2084 20C5

13A1 2191 30E4 21E2 11E5 31A3 41E5 1395 3682 68E5 20E1

2A4 1101 5C2 4903

4A4 10E4 68C3 44E1 1692 20E4

• 101• •• •

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I• I At state park

1: 1

I At dam

•• 1• •• •• •• 1• •• 1• ••I I •• • 10• •• •• •• •• ••• • I • ·1 • I• 1• •• ••• •

Atdam

Atdam Limited parking

rh(• •,I.ill' t'(•cord i-; I t 11,,, IO O '." ':Jr', l ,,,;, in lc·nf1ll1 Tn; fi •,hit1q ror 1:-,rn('nK,lllhc; tn shallow areas near weed beds, fallen logs, or trees. They are often caught with plastic lures, plugs, and spinner baits.

S1nall111outh Bass First stocked in Maine in 1869, smallmouths originally came from the Midwest, and have adapted easily to our shallow, clear waters. The smallmouth is now one of Maine's most valuable game fish. June is the peak of the smallmouth spawning season in Maine. The male builds the nest, then persuades a female to deposit her eggs in it. An average of 8,000 eggs per pound of body weight are carried by the female! The eggs are adhesive and attach themselves to the gravel cleaned and prepared by the male. The male bass guards the eggs and young, and fans the nest with his fins to keep them well-oxygenated. As they grow, young bass feed on tiny animal life and plankton, then move on to immature aquatic insects and small fish; and as adults, larger fish and crayfish form staples of the diet. The state record is 8 lbs. even, 20 3/4" in length. Fish for smallmouths near rocky shorelines and drop-offs. The best lures include plugs, spinner baits, and spoons. Many people use soft plastic lures and live minnows or crayfish for catching smallmouths.

Yellour Pereh The yellow perch is generally found in warm, weedy lake habitat throughout Maine. Spawning takes place near shore in April and early May. The eggs, unique among freshwater fishes, are laid in jelly-like, coiled strings. These strings of eggs swell considerably upon contact with water, becoming one to eight feet long depending upon the size of the female, and are woven in and around aquatic plants or underwater brush. Yellow perch are carnivorous, feeding on young fishes (including other yellow perch), insects, and crustaceans. The state record is 1 lb. 10 oz., 14" in length. You can fish for yellow perch in shallow coves near weed beds or drop-offs. Worms and grubs, or even live minnows on a hook attached to a bobber, work best!

Chain Piekerel The chain pickerel is one of the most abundant gamefish in Maine. It is distributed throughout most of Maine, in quiet, warm, and weedy waters. Recognized as a voracious predatory fish, the adults lie motionless in wait for their prey, capturing it in one quick lunge. Prey may include small perch, minnows, frogs, snakes; and even ducklings, mice and young muskrats! Chain pickerel are one of the first fishes to spawn ~ after ice-out in the spring. Mature adults migrate ~ to swampy or marshy backwater areas, where spawning occurs with much splashing and lashing of tails as eggs are fertilized , and drop randomly to the bottom. The adhesive eggs cling to whatever they happen to fall on, and hatch within one or two weeks. The state record is 6 lbs. 12.8 oz., 28" in length. Fish for pickerel in shallow coves with spoons and plugs, or use live minnows and a bobber.

C....

Maine's Record Fish List Grows here's been a change on the list of Maine's record freshwater fish, but not much of one. A new record chain pickerel, which topped the old record by 1.8 ounces, was caught on Androscoggin Lake by an ice fisherman from Rumford named Arsenault. The old record, which has stood since 1976, was also caught on Androscoggin Lake by an ice fisherman from Rumford named Arsenault. Joseph "Mickey" Arsenault set the new pickerel standard: 6 pounds, 12.8 ounces. He caught the big fish .on a shiner on February 11. It was 28 1/4 inches long and had a girth of 15 1 / 4 inches. Game Warden Richard Mills of Andover certified Arsenault's big pickerel for recognition by The One

That Didn't Get Away Club, which also called it to the attention of the keeper of state fish records in the Fish and Wildlife Department. That keeper, who also doubles as ye editor, is always interested in potential new state records. The rules are simple: the fish must have been taken from Maine public waters, by rod and reel or handline, and in accordance with state fishing laws; species identification and weight must be verified by a game warden, fisheries biologist or two disinterested witnesses; if weighing was not on a state certified scale, the scale used must be presented for checking. Historic records are also sought for all freshwater fish species; such claims must be adequately documented.

MAINE'S RECORD FRESHWATER FISH Angler

Year

Brook trout

James Foster, Howland

1979

8 lbs. 8 oz

Brown trout

Norman Stacy, Fitchburg, MA

1958

Lake trout (togue)

Hollis Grindle, Ellsworth

Blueback trout Sunapee trout

Species

Weight

Water (County)

Lure

Chase Pond (Aroostook)

spoons/worms

19 lbs. 7 oz.

Sebago Lake (Cumberland)

Flatfish

1958

31 lbs. 8 oz.

Beech Hill Pond (Hancock)

live bait

Merton Wyman, Belgrade

1973

4 lbs. 4 oz.

Wayne Dillon, Brownville

1989

4 lbs. 10 oz.

Lower So. Branch Pd (Piscataquis)

spoons/ nightcrawlers

1907

22 lbs. 8 oz.

Sebago Lake (Cumberland)

live bait

(undisclosed)

self-tied nymph

Thompson Lake (Oxford)

live minnow

Moose Pond (Cumberland)

Pfleuger Shiner

Landlocked salmon Edward Blakeley, Darien CT Atlantic salmon

Howard Clifford, Portland

1980

28 lbs. 1 oz.

Smallmouth bass

George Dyer, Augusta

1970

8 lbs. 0 oz.

Largemouth bass

Robert Kamp, Denmark

1968

11 lbs. 10 oz.

White perch

Mrs. Earl Small, Waterville

1949

4 lbs. 10 oz.

Yellow perch

Chad Mostas, Portland

1989

l lb. 10 oz.

Chain pickerel

Joseph Arsenault, Rumford

1992

6 lbs. 12.8 oz.

Whitefish

Neil Sullivan, Worcester, MA

1958

7 lbs. 8 oz.

Cusk (burbot)

Annette Dumond, Fort Kent

1986

Northern pike

Richard Dodge, Union

Muskellunge

Basin Pond (Kennebec)

Messalonskee Lake (Kennebec) Worthley Pond (Oxford)

Creek Chub

Androscoggin Lake (Kennebec)

shiner

Sebago Lake (Cumberland)

Mooselook Wobbler

18 lbs. 8 oz.

Eagle Lake (Aroostook)

live smelt

1989

26 lbs. 12 oz.

Great Pond (Kennebec)

live shiner

Lance Geidel, Fairfield

1988

22 lbs. 12 oz.

Baker Lake (Somerset)

Bomber

Black crappie

Wayne Morey, Benton

1986

3 lbs. 4 oz.

Sibley Pond (Somerset)

Mepps Mino

Fallflsh

Wayne Morey, Benton

1986

3 lbs. 12 oz.

Sibley Pond (Somerset)

Mepps Mino

Maine Fish and Wildlife

able

Fishable S (continued from page 12) Fishable means not only that the fish are able to survive, but also that they grow, reproduce, and are healthy. Also implied is that the fish should be suitable for consumption by humans and wildlife predators. Three Maine state agencies DEP, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Department of Marine Resources - try to protect fish and other aquatic life by controlling activities that would be detrimental to them. These activities include not just direct discharge of pollutants from an industry or municipality (called point source pollution) but also other potentially detrimental projects, such as hydropower developments, subdivisions, dredging and filling of lakes, streams and wetlands, and numerous other everyday activities (called nonpoint source pollution) which can affect the habitat of the biological community. Habitat is the home of a fish or other aquatic organism, and it includes all of the physical, chemical, and biological factors the organism needs to thrive. The most important physical factor, of course, is the presence of water. Hydropower projects, irrigation, stream diversions for subdivisions and other developments that significantly reduce the flow of rivers and streams can have serious consequences for fish populations in those waters. Temperature is another important physical factor affecting habitat. Aquatic organisms, especially trout and salmon, com-

mon to most flowing waters in Maine during some portion of the year, have very exacting thermal

requirements. If the water gets too warm in a section of river or stream, fish may not be able to survive there. In addition to the direct discharge of heated effluents and cooling water, other activities that raise stream temperatures

Agricultural run-off and soil erosion can adversely affect water quality and aquatic life in a number of ways. Summer 1992

ppm). DEP ensures that these include discharge of silt and levels are provided. No disdarkly colored water which besolved oxygen requirements comes heated by the sun, runoff from paved areas, dams which have been established for lakes create impoundments, and elimiand ponds because no discharges are allowed into them. nation of trees and shady vegetation from stream banks. Normally there is enough oxyThe discharge of suspended gen naturally dissolved in water solids (dirt) from erosion can to meet the needs of aquatic organisms. However, when ordamage gills of fish (affecting their ability to breathe), decrease ganic material is discharged into light penetration (decreasing the water, bacteria break it down production of food), cover food and use up oxygen in the proitems, and cover fish spawning cess, which may not leave areas (preventing spawning or enough for fish. Among the smothering their eggs). many sources of organic material Another important physical are sewage, manure and indusfactor that affects aquatic organtrial waste. Organic material is isms is pH, or the water's degree of acidity or alkalinity. Most Maine waters are naturally mildly acid, Âˇ and a few lakes and streams have become more acid through deposition of airborne contaminants, commonly called "acid rain." As with other physical factors, each aquatic species has its own degree of tolerance for changes in the pH of the water it lives in. Increased biomass accelerates hemical factors affect decomposition~ habitat in many different ways. One of the most important chemical factors is Sediments dissolved oxygen. Maine law requires a minimum of 5 parts per million (ppm) of disalso produced indirectly when solved oxygen in all flowing wawaterbodies are excessively fertilized with nitrogen and phosters. The law also requires that phorus, which stimulates an the water be suitable to support all native species of fish, which abundant growth of algae; when the algae die they settle to the requires higher amounts of disbottom and become a source of solved oxygen at certain times organic matter. for growth (a monthly average of 6.5 ppm), and for spawning and Reduced dissolved oxygen occurs more frequently in deep egg incubation (a minimum of lakes and ponds which become 8.0 and a weekly average of 9 .5

Mlline Fish and Wildlife

thermally stratified, meaning that the water at the bottom of the lake is so much colder than the surface water that due to a great difference in density the two layers do not mix when the wind blows. Consequently, the bottom layer gets its oxygen renewed only at spring and fall turnovers when the surface waters are the same temperature as the bottom layer and the whole lake is mixed by the wind. During the summer bacteria break down the organic matter and use up the supply of oxygen. If there is too little oxygen remaining in the bottom layer, trout and

Increased composition causes low oxygen levels. This releases phosphorus that was trapped

ÂŽ

salmon, which need the colder water, may not thrive in the lake. In our society we use thousands of chemicals every day, and many of them are discharged directly or indirectly into waterways. Some are toxic to aquatic organisms. Some such as heavy metals from direct discharges, runoff from paved areas, and atmospheric deposition

can be extremely toxic. Runoff of pesticides, gasoline and oil, antifreeze, and other organic pollutants can also affect populations of aquatic organisms. Many of the environmental disasters of the past,Âˇwith respect to contaminated fish and wildlife, have been due to chlori~ted organic pollutants (DDT, PCB, dioxin). Chlorine added to control bacteria in sewage discharges is also toxic to aquatic organisms at the same levels used to kill bacteria. The Department of Environmental Protection now requires dischargers to remove chlorine before discharge where necessary. Even chlorinated drinking water is usually toxic to aquatic organisms and cannot be discharged to small streams. Bioaccumulation of pollutants in fish to levels unhealthful for human or wildlife consumers is a relatively new concern. The discovery of fish contaminated with dioxin from several Maine rivers in the mid-1980s resulted in a fish consumption advisory issued by the Maine Bureau of Health. Fortunately the sources of dioxin have been discovered and reduced. Through Maine's Dioxin Monitoring Program, DEP monitors the dioxin content in contaminated fish each year, and already levels seem to be declining. At present Maine has no programs to monitor bioaccumulation of other pollutants, such as mercury, which might be a threat to human health. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently monitoring contaminants in fish and bald eagles as part of an effort to determine a reason for reduced reproductive success in the eagles.

iological factors can also affect habitat for fish. The most important one is food. An activity may not affect fish directly, but if the food supply is affected then ultimately the fish will be also. For example, treating small streams with pesticides to eliminate blackfly larvae reduces the food available to small brook trout that inhabit those streams and feed on blackfly larvae. Often a pollution activity does not eliminate a biological community, but simply changes conditions. A change directly affecting the abundance of some smaller organisms may in tum affect desirable fish species. For instance, heavy sedimentation of rivers and streams eliminates habitat for mayflies and stoneflies, preferred as food by trout, in favor of small worms and midge larvae that are less available to trout. Also, the elimination of habitat for fish may crowd them into smaller space, which may promote increased competition among them and result in lower growth and reproduction and increased disease.

Any change in the physical, chemical, or biological factors affecting a fish's e:1\vironment may cause a change in part of the aquatic community. Sometimes these changes are small and acceptable. Other times they may prevent the fishable goal from being met and are therefore unacceptable. Most of Maine waters are fishable/ swimmable as shown by Maine's Water Quality Assessment, a report presented to Congress and the Maine legislature every two years. DEP and other state and federal agencies will continue to work to ensure that all Maine waters are truly fishable and swimmable. â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 1992

Fishing Quality on Maine's Inland Waters

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE? by Owen C. Fenderson and Kevin J. Boyle

ince the time man learned how to fashion fishing hook$ from bones and snake fish from the water with the jerk of a rawhide line, the question of "How's fish'n" has been hotly debated by anglers everywhere. There seems to be universal agreement that fishing is not as good as "The Good Ole Days." But how good were they? And is it really that bad today? The answers to these persistent questions are of great concern to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife because the quality of fishing is a reflection on the effectiveness of its fisheries management programs. To investigate the trends in fishing activity and fishing quality on a statewide basis, we used a mass of statistics collected by the department's Fisheries Division over the last two decades. The sources of these statistics included interviews of anglers at fishin~ sites (creel surveys), voluntary reports from an-

The authors are, respectively, fisheries resources planner with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and associate professor of resource economics in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maine.

Maine Fish 11nd Wildlife

Likely due to increases in length limits, lake trout now average 2.9 inches longer than in the 1970s.

glers who keep annual diaries for the department, mail questionnaires completed by anglers, and records of annual fishing license sales. Unfortunately, records on fishing activity and success before 1970 are insufficient for comparison purposes, but we do have good information since then that show some interesting trends. For this analysis of fishing quality we took the averages of four commonly used measures of angler success: • the harvest rate - the number of legal fish kept for the creel divided by the number of anglers surveyed, • the catch rate - the number of legal fish kept plus legal fish released divided by the number of anglers surveyed, • the average length of a legal fish in the creel, and • the average weight of legal fish in the creel. We will sometimes refer to the harvest and catch rates collectively as the "success" rate.

We also looked at the percentage of legal fish that were being released as an indicator of any trend toward more adoption of the "catch-and-release" fishing ethic. And, finally, we looked at the relative amount of "fishing pressure," calculated as the number of angler days per acre and fish harvested per acre of water. Data from angler interviews conducted on site by trained creel survey clerks were analyzed separately from the data obtained by voluntary reporting because it is known that the two sources provide quite different statistics on fishing quality. For example, the catch rates obtained from volunteers, who often represent the most avid and expert anglers, generally have higher catch rates than anglers sampled during creel surveys, which may include a higher proportion of novices.

The average fishing success experienced by lake anglers during three time periods as obtained from creel surveys and voluntary reports is shown in Table 1. Table 1. Trend in fishing success of lake anglers. Years

No. of surveys

Aver. fish kept/angler

Aver. fish kept + released/angler

Percent released

Obtained from creel surveys: 1969-79 67 0.29 1980-84 168 0.47 1985-89 273 0.46

0.31 0.51 0.56

4.7 5.3 16.4

Obtained from voluntary reports: 1969-79 40 0.73 1980-84 406 0.91 1985-89 673 0.77

0.79 1.09 1.08

8.3 14.6 22.8

Although, as expected, the success rates obtained from voluntary reports are higher than those from creel surveys, both show similar trends. Fishing success in the la t decade (1980-84 and 1985-89), in terms of the number of fish caught per angler trip, does not support the common argument that fishing is getting poorer. A scientific test of the significance of the differences in the catch and harvest rates between the first decade (1969-79) and the last decade (1980-84 and 1985-89) strongly indicated that the difference was real and not a chance occurrence. Any statement about trends in fishing quality on streams is tenuous because of the small amount of data available. Possible trends can only be shown for summer fishing during the 1980s, and only for

coldwater species (salmon and trout) during the summer. The data on streams are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Trend in the fishing success of stream anglers. Average harvest rate

Average catch rate

Percent released

0.37 0.11

0.51 0.48

24.5 69.3

Obtained from voluntary reports: 1980-84 32 1.08 1985-89 62 0.69

1.55 1.63

39.3 57.6

Years

No. of surveys

Obtained from creel surveys: 1980-84 5 1985-89 8

Although the samples of creel survey data are very small, they suggest the same trend in fishing quality as the voluntary data. The catch rate was stable from the early to the late 1980s, but there was a marked increase in the percentage of fish released, with an associated decline in the harvest rate. Whether the growing tendency to release more legal fish is due to more restrictive bag and size limits or to a change in angling ethics, or a combination of the two, is not certain. Results of a recent survey by the University of Maine, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, suggests that there is probably both a voluntary and involuntary component to the higher release rate. Anglers were asked if they fished in designated catch and release areas, defined as any water with special regulations permitting the taking of less fish than allowed under the general law. These included waters with a one-fish bag limit, a "no-kill" (zero bag limit), or a minimum length limit that is higher than permitted by general law. Because there are currently only a few "no-kill" regulations in effect, most anglers are fishing in areas with restricted bag and/ or length limits. About a quarter of the anglers reported that they fished on waters with such regulations, and over 80 percent said they practice catch and release even on waters where not required to. When asked why, they responded as follows: Answer Small fish Undesirable species Concerned about fish stocks Enjoy catching a lot of fish Do not eat fish

Residents Nonresidents 65% 61% 52% 38% 10%

62% 54% 61% 50% 12% Summer1992

These results indicate that the main reasons anglers release legal fish are for the opportunity to take larger fish or fish of more desirable species to fill a limited bag. Conserving the resource is also a strong motivation. When asked if they would support new catch and release regulations, and which type of regulation they would favor, they said: Answer

Residents Nonresidents

Do not support any Increase minimum length One-fish limit No kill

34% 56% 32% 8%

19% 63% 43% 12%

There is obviously a low level of support for a pure catch and release or "no-kill" regulation. Many anglers still want to take home a few fish, and they choose to fill the bag with larger fish of the preferred species. Because they are permitted a small number, and are mindful of the need to conserve, anglers support more restrictive regulations provided it is not a complete ban on killing fish for the table. This does not, of course, negate the biological need or desirability of having "no-kill" regulations !n appropriate locations to maintain or restore fish stocks. Rather, the majority of anglers apparently do not see the need, or are not ready to accept, broad application of the no-kill regulation. For a comparison of the fishery statistics on a species basis we combined species into two groups, coldwater and warmwater. Coldwater fish primarily include landlocked salmon and the trout species. Warmwater species include the perches, bass, and pickerel. The catch rates for both groups are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Trend in the fishing success for coldwater and warmwater species obtained from lake creel surveys and voluntary reports.

Years

Creel surveys No. of Average fish kept+ surveys released per angler

Voluntary reports No. of Average fish kept+ surveys released per angler

Coldwater species: 1969-79 67 1980-84 157 1985-89 258

0.26 0.33 0.42

38 386

643

0.70 0.96 0.86

Warmwater species: 1969-79 32 1980-84 108 1985-89 159

0.10 0.30 0.22

15 133 206

0.28 0.37 0.56

Maine Fish and Wildlife

The most surprising finding is that catch rates for warmwater species are lower than those of coldwater species. This was unexpected because it is generally believed that angler catch rates for the more prolific and less regulated warmwater species are generally higher than for coldwater species. This could mean the fishing quality for warmwater species is actually poorer than perceived, or it may reflect the fact that the department's survey coverage concentrates on the coldwater species and does not adequately sample the better warmwater lakes. Nevertheless, the lower average success rates of warmwater species may indicate that the department should consider a change in its creel survey strategy in order to monitor the warmwater fishery more closely. Next we looked at the trend in fish quality, as indicated by the length and weight of fish in the creel. Table 4 shows average sizes of the major species sampled during creel surveys of lakes. Not enough data were available for streams to establish trends. As expected, average fish sizes reported by volunteer anglers were slightly larger than those obtained from creel surveys, but the general trends over time were similar. Table 4. Trend in the average length and weight of fish in the creel obtained from creel surveys of lakes.

Species

L.L. Salmon Brook trout Lake trout Brown trout Cusk Whitefish Black bass White perch Pickerel

LENGTH (inches) Years 80-84 85-89 69-79 17.5 12.8 18.6 13.9 23.7 14.8 11.6 16.6

16.8 12.5 20.5 14.9 18.6 17.8 15.1 9.7 16.5

16.9 13.0 20.2 14.8 18.4 17.5 15.2 10.5 16.0

WEIGHT (pounds) Years 69-79 80-84 85-89 2.0 1.0 2.5 1.3 3.9 2.0 1.1 1.3

1.6 0.9 3.1 1.4 2.1 2.1 2.0 0.7 1.0

1.6 0.9 2.7 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.0 0.7 1.2

Disregarding length differences of less than 1 /2 inch, which may be due to sampling errors, the following was noted over the two-decade period: A decline in the average size of landlocked salmon is indicated, although it apparently stabilized in the 1980s, perhaps due to more restrictive bag limits. No change is indicated for brook trout, but the average length of lake trout (togue) and brown trout have shown increases. Lake trout are now 2.9 inches longer than in the 1970s, probably a result of minimum length regulations increasing from 14

inches to 16 inches in 1979, and then to 18 inches in 1982. Brown trout sampled during creel surveys in the 1970s were about an inch shorter than those sampled in the 1980s, but average weights have been constant. Freshwater cusk has shown the most dramatic size change during the study period. On average, cusk are now 5.3 inches shorter and 2.3 pounds lighter than in the 1970s. This species is taken almost exclusively through the ice and has been "discovered" recently by an increasing numbers of anglers. There are currently no bag or minimum size limits on cusk. The magnitude of the deterioration in size quality of cusk could indicate excessive exploitation and a need for some restriction on the harvest. Lake whitefish are also being "discovered" by anglers, and although survey data are lacking, it is believed that their average size has declined somewhat since the 1970s. Declines in average size of two other species, white perch and pickerel, are also indicated, although the perch samples were small and may not reliably represent a significant trend. These two species have received little protection from size or bag limits. On the other hand, black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) are regulated species and average sizes in the creel have not changed appreciably. Figure 1. Fishing license sales from 1970 to 1989 320

cii 300 0 z < ~ 280 0

E (/)

260

zw ~

...J

240

An analysis of fishing pressure using information from creel surveys (Figure 2) does not show the same upward trend. Angler days per acre increased from 2.7 in 1969-79 to 5.92 in 1980-84 but Figure 2. Summer and winter lake fishing pressure

1111 Summer

3.5

mm Winter 3.0 UJ

a: 0 C

2.5

2.0

a: UJ ti)

~ C a:

1.5

..J

1.0 0.5 0.0 1969-79

1980-84

1985-89

YEARS

dropped back to 2.84 in 1985-89. Comparisons between years are complicated by the fact that surveys conducted in southern Maine dominated the samples in the earliest years, and this area of the state generally receives the highest fishing pressure. The estimates of angler activity during the early and late periods of the 1980s, however, are based on a large number of surveys widely distributed over the state. Unfortunately, few surveys have measured fishing pressure on streams which may be increasing faster, relative to lakes, as a result of pollution abatement and increased public interest in recreational use of Maine's rivers and larger streams. With fishing pressure on streams factored in, the values for 1985-89 probably would have been higher than the previous time periods.

220

1970

1974

1978

YEAR

1982

1986

1989

Fishing pressure and summer versus winter One indicator of potential fishing pressure is the trend in fishing license sales (Figure 1). Over the last two decades, license sales have become cyclical while showing an overall increase of 24 percent, or an average increase of about 1 percent per year. If fishing opportunities have deteriorated, either in real terms or as perceived by the public, it certainly has not deterred anglers from buying licenses.

With several exceptions, and contrary to common opinion, indications are that fishing quality has held its own in Maine over the past two decades. Summer 1992

The most interesting finding, illustrated in Figure 2, is the change in the proportion of summer and winter fishing pressure. In the 1970s and in to the early 1980s the predominant fishing activity was during the open water season, but ice fishing pressure increased during the late 1980s to about equal the summer fishing pressure. This supports the general impressions of both department biologists and the public that the winter fishery is now as important as the summer fishery on lakes that are open during both seasons. The trend toward more ice fishing is even more evident when one looks at the rate at which fish are harvested (Figure 3). Figure 3. Summer and winter rate of lake fish harvest

1.4 1.3

a: w

ffi

> a:

,c % %

"'a:

1.2 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0

1969-79

1980.a4

SUnvner

Win1er

1935,a9

YEARS

The summer harvest rate appears to have progressively decreased to the point where now the winter harvest rate has surpassed the summer rate. For the growing debate over summer versus winter fishing, these data support the argument that anglers who prefer to fish in the summer are no longer getting their "fair share."

Department surveys in 1974 and 1983, and the University of Maine survey in 1988 provide some insight as to how Maine anglers feel about summer versus winter fishing, and how the harvest should be allocated between the seasons. All three surveys asked: ~'Do you think the number of waters open to ice fishing in Maine should be increased, decreased, or remain the same?" These are the responses: Residents Nonresidents 1974 DIF&W questionnaire 25% 27% Increased 16% 23% Decreased 59% 51% Remain the same 1983 DIF&W questionnaire 21% 29% Increased 25% 24% Decreased Remain the same 54% 47% 1987 UMO questionnaire 24% 17% Increased Decreased 25% 27% Remain the same 52% 55% Answer

All 25% 18% 57% 23% 25% 53% 21% 26% 53%

The responses are remarkably similar and indicate that a majority of anglers prefer that the number of ice fishing waters remain about the same. There was only a slight trend toward less negative feelings about ice fishing: more respondents in the later surveys felt that waters open to ice fishing should be decreased. In the University of Maine survey, anglers were also asked: "On waters open to both ice and open water fishing, how do you feel the Department should try to allocate the harvest of fish between the two seasons?". These are the responses: Answer More for ice fishing More for open water About equal

Residents

Nonresidents

All

0.6%

44% 52%

63% 37%

52% 45%

Anglers clearly do not favor allocating more of the harvest for ice fishing. Residents either want the harvest allocated equally or in favor of open water fishing. As expected, nonresidents strongly favor open water fishing. As a clincher, anglers

Ice fishing pressure increased during the late 1980s to about equal summer fishing pressure.

were also asked if they thought that any waters should be managed only for ice fishing and closed to open water fishing. Only 15 percent of residents and 8 percent of nonresidents thought this was a good idea. These results suggest that fisheries managers will be challenged in the coming years as they try to balance fishing opportunities equitably to the satisfaction of both summer and winter anglers, particularly if fishing pressure continues to increase during the winter months. The statewide averages presented here, of course, tend to obscure persistent problems with fishing quality on some individual waters or fish-

Fish Stocking (continued from page 8) levels greater than 5 parts per million must be considered when determining the stocking rate. Annual stocking rates

Up to 40 fall fingerling (FF) splake per surface acre of water 60 degrees and colder with oxygen levels of 5 ppm or greater. Up to 30 spring yearling (SY) splake per surface acre of water 60 degrees and colder with oxygen levels of 5 ppm or greater. In waters with special regulations designed to protect splake from harvest until larger sizes, such as higher minimum length limits and reduced bag limits, stocking rates will be lower than those waters in which splake are harvested quickly. More information is needed from special-regulation waters to determine the appropriate stocking rates.

Experimental introductions

Experimental introductions of rainbow trout were made in the 1960s and 1970s in several ponds and rivers to provide information on the biological feasibility of rainbow trout management in Maine. These introductions did not provide any better angling than that produced by our native salmon and trout species. We were unable to establish naturally reproducing populations of rainbow trout with the strains used. For these reasons, we are not now rearing or stocking rainbow trout in public waters. Further experiments with different strains of rainbows are possible in the future.

ing quality that varies from year-to-year. This analysis is not intended to minimize local problems that are often the focus of public concern and debate, and that require continued intensive management to solve. However, with the possible exception of declines in the average sizes of some of the fish species, which should be monitored closely in the future by continued surveys, and the problem of apportioning the harvest between summer and winter, fishing quality in Maine seems to be holding its own. In another 10 years, we hope to report back with another set of statistics that will show nothing but favorable trends! â&#x20AC;˘

Introductions of smallmouth and largemouth bass in public waters are accomplished by transferring wild fish trapped from local populations. The introduced fish establish themselves by natural reproduction. One successful spawning is usually sufficient to establish the species. All authorized introductions are made by department fishery biologists. Great care must be taken in selecting wild fish for transfer because of the danger of spreading diseases and parasites. Many specimens from the donor lake must be examined to determine that the fish are truly disease- and parasite-free. The bass tapeworm is one of the dangerous parasites that could be spread through careless introductions.

STOCKING BY OTHER THAN FISH Anyone who wishes to stock fish in any water, whether public or private, must submit an appÂľcation for a permit to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Applications are available from all department offices and from private fish hatcheries in Maine. Regional fishery biologists will ad vise the commissioner whether the desired species will be compatible with fishery management in the watershed where the pond is located. If the species is not compatible, the permit may be denied. A lot of thought and work went into the formulation of this fish stocking policy. It should be emphasized that adjustments will be made as new research findings come to light. It is only through continuing review, appraisal, and updating of these guidelines that we are sure of the best possible use of the hatchery product and, in turn, the best returns to the angler. â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 1992

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS Deer Update Applications are now available for 1992 any-deer permits, which give hunters the option of taking a deer of either sex in a selected deer management district. The department will issue about 49,600 permits this year, an increase of 7,500. Permit allocations have been increased in deer management districts in southern and central Maine, where the herd is growing toward the desired population, but were reduced or only slightly changed in northern and eastern Maine, where the population has remained static. Any-deer permit allocations are intended to result in a deer harvest in line with the department's goal of gradually bringing the state's deer population up to 300,000. Deer Biologist Gerald Lavigne estimated the herd size after the 1991 hunting season at roughly 240,000, or 12 percent higher than in 1990. He predicts the 1992

What's new .. . what to do .. . how to stay legal in the Maine outdoors

Q. I know boats are supposed to be operated slowly near shore, but what about islands? And does the law apply on the coast as well as on fresh water? Are jet-skis included? A. Maine's two-year-old ''headway speed law" applies to all shorelines of all waters of the state including flowing water, islands and tidal waters, and to all types of watercraft including personal watercraft (jet skis, etc.). The law says that watercraft may not be operated faster than ''headway speed" within 200 feet of shore. Headway speed is defined as the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage and control of the craft. "No wake" describes the law's intent. Exceptions are granted only to boats actively engaged in fishing and boats picking up or discharging water-skiers.

Maint! Fish and Wildlife

adult buck kill will be about 17,925, which would make it one of Maine's highest buck harvests ever. He also predicts a harvest of about 7,100 does and 4,250 fawns, for a total deer kill next fall of about 29,250 deer. All hunters who applied for an anydeer permit last year should automatically receive an application in the mail before the end of June. Application forms are also available at town offices, license agents, deer tagging stations and offices of the Fish and Wildlife Department. The application deadline is August 15, a Saturday. The department's Augusta office will be open that day until 5 p.m. to receive applications. Hunters without permits, and permit holders hunting outside their assigned district, are limited to ''bucks-only." Final figures for the 1991 season show a total deer kill of 26,736, an increase an increase of 3 percent over 1990. Five hundred deer were taken during the archery season, 26,113 during the regular firearms season, and 123 during the muzzleloader season. Increases occurred in all three seasons, with the greatest increase (181 deer, +57 percent) during the archery hunt. Antlered bucks accounted for the greatest percentage increase. Statewide, 16,804 antlered bucks were registered, up 10 percent. Healthy increases were noted among yearling (6,400) and trophy-aged (four years and older) bucks (4,000) in 1991, as compared with 1990 (6,100 yearlings and 3,200 trophy-age bucks). A planned reduction of at least 550 adult does was achieved with a statewide adult doe harvest of 6,114.

PHONE NUMBER CHANGE Anyone with reason to contact the Augusta office of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by telephone should note a change in phone numbers: All department numbers with a 289 exchange have been changed to 287. Either 287 or 289 can be used until January 1993; after that, only 287 will work. The change is part of a phone system upgrading affecting all state agencies in Augusta.

Apple Orchard Restoration to Aid Wildlife To the casual observer, they might be just two more wood-cutting operations, but the recent tree felling at two department-owned wildlife management areas in Waldo County is aimed at providing additional food for wildlife. Through a cooperative project, overgrown apple trees were "released" at the Howard L. Mendall Wildlife Management Area in Prospect and the Frye Mountain WMA in Montville, benefitting partridge (ruffed grouse), deer and other wildlife that eat their fruit. The national Ruffed Grouse Society cooperated in the habitat improvement work by paying part of the cost of supervising a crew of woodcutters from the Maine Conservation Corps. According to Gene Dumont, the regional wildlife biologist in charge of both tracts, the men removed forest growth which for nearly a century has been growing up in old apple orchards and robbing the apple trees of sunlight and nutrients. The apple trees, of unknown varieties, grew in a 40-acre orchard in what later became the wildlife management area in Prospect. Through years of competing with the encroaching forest growth the apple trees have grown tall and slender in order to reach sunlight. The five-member crew, under the supervision of Linwood Curtis of the Maine Conservation Corps, "released" the apple trees by felling competing trees and selective pruning of the apple trees. Over several weeks the cutters released more than 1,000 apple trees at both areas, according to Dumont. Several thousand apple trees have been similarly released at the Frye Mountain area over the last several years. Releasing the trees from the competition of other trees will allow them to not only produce more fruit to provide fall and winter food for wildlife, but will also allow the orchard to live for a longer period of time.

West Grand Lake Yields Ancient Togue A lake trout stocked over two decades ago was caught by an ice fisherman at West Grand Lake last winter.

Donald Annis Warden of the Year Game Warden Donald W. Annis of Monson is Maine's Game Warden of the Year for 1991. Annis was chosen by a board of his fellow wardens for the honor, which is bestowed each year to an outstanding member of the Maine Warden Service. He received his commendation in April from Chief Warden Bill Vernon and only a day later was involyed in a harrowing rescue of two men trapped in a house in Blanchard when it became flooded and surrounded by an ice jam. In nominating Annis for the award, Warden Sergeant Daniel Tourtelotte, his immediate supervisor (who was also in the rescue boat with Annis), wrote: "Don Annis is a game warden's game warden. Respected by his peers and well-liked in his community, Warden Annis is a symbol of the dedication, respect, and wisdom that the Maine Warden Service strives to maintain. Warden Annis has been chosen because he excels in the knowledge of both his district and surrounding districts - not only for his physical knowledge of the district but also for his personal knowledge of the people in those areas. "Warden Annis is a dedicated family man. Despite having had to deal with tremendous changes in hours, schedules and furlough days, as with all wardens, Don's enthusiasm for the job over his 15-year career has become an example of dedication to all wardens." Tourtelotte noted that Annis is "a warden with many skills, and is rated very highly for his quality care of his warden equipment, and his knowledge of its use. He is a marksman with both a pistol and shotgun, having received awards for his skill. "Warden Annis is one of the most physically fit game wardens, having maintained an excellent level of fitness during his career. Perhaps his most distinctive quality is his knowledge of the woods and the wildlife resources. He has an uncanny ability to find lost hunters, or uncover violations. He is an expert tracker who has shown his skill many times in search and rescue, and in assisting other agencies. He is known for his willingness to give a hand, whether for law enforcement, or for someone in need." Annis, 40, joined the Maine Warden Service in August 1977, and was first assigned to Jonesboro in Washington County. The next year, after graduating from Warden School, he was assigned to the Monson District, where he has remained. During his career, Warden Annis has received several awards for exemplary service. He is a native of Dover-Foxcroft, and a graduate of Madison High School. He is married to the former Cynthia Lou Cobb of Harmony. They have two sons, Glenn and Ryan; both attend Unity College.

Regional Fisheries Biologist Ron Brokaw says he checked the "most unusual" fish while surveying anglers there March 7. Brokaw says the rare specimen was a 21-year-old stocked togue (lake trout). Its clipped fins identified it as one of 17,000 four-to-six-inch togue stocked in the spring of 1972. The biologist notes that normally only a handful of hatchery-reared togue survive beyond age 15, but that "this particular year-class (1972) clearly produced more than its share of old-timers in a variety of waters statewide."

He adds that, "although fish from this year-class clearly possessed the genes for unusually long life, their growth rate generally has been sub-par. The West Grand specimen was gaunt, emaciated, measured 21.9 inches in length, and weighed only 2 1/2 pounds."

Department Employees Honored Several employees of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have recently received awards for their work from other organizations. Paul J. Fournier, the department's news media coordinator, was recognized

by the Maine Tourism Commission for his contributions to the state's second largest industry. The commission annually honors several outstanding non-supervisory employees in the tourism industry, and although Fournier does not work directly in tourism, he was selected for recognition for his involvement with several projects that gain favorable national attention for Maine. Among the activities specifically cited were the restoration of the Presidential Salmon tradition and Maine's successful bid to host the 1994 conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Fournier has worked for the department since 1981 and is the department's primary person responsible for news media relations. Three department biologists have received awards from the Sunkhaze Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Fishery Biologist Kendall Warner received TU' s prestigious "Silver Trout" award, which is presented annually to a fisheries professional who has made a significant contribution to fishery science in Maine. Warner first worked for the department in 1948 as a fishery aide and has held a number of other fisheries positions through the years. He is presently supervisor of fishery research and management. He is co-author, with the late Keith A. Havey, of "The Landlocked Salmon Its Life History and Management in Maine," and has also authored numerous scientific papers for technical journals and popular articles on fisheries subjects. The Sunkhaze TU Chapter also presented ''Biologist of the Year" awards to Fisheries Biologist J. Dennis McNeish and Wildlife Biologist Patrick 0. Corr. McNeish was honored for his "outstanding personnel-management procedures" and his studies and recommendations for the management of black bass fisheries in Maine. Corr was recognized for his "dedication to the conservation and utilization of the game bird and waterfowl resources of the State of Maine." McNeish began work for the department in 1970 and has been a fisheries biologist in the Moosehead, Grand Lake, Belgrade Lakes regions. Corr joined the department in 1973 as assistant leader of migratory game bird activities and is now leader of the group responsible for all work with birds not designated as threatened or endangered. Summer 1992

Go Easy with DEET The state Pesticides Control Board is cautioning Mainers to go easy in their use of insect repellents containing N,Ndiethyl-m-toluarnide, commonly known asDEET. The chemical is the active ingredient in most effective repellents used against black flies, mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. Concern about DEET' s potential health effects has prompted the federal Environmental Protection Agency to require products containing it to carry additional label precautions, but not until after August. ''That's one black fly season away," said Paul Gregory, a spokesman for the pesticides board. "Because folks may use DE.ET products purchased last year

LETIERS TO THE EDITOR Theory Changed to Fact From my childhood, I have enjoyed, learned and become informed through your magazine. I always look forward to the articles and the excellent photography accompanying them. I was however, quite disappointed when I started reading ''Kid-Bits" (Spring, 1992). It appears you have incorporated the "Theory of Evolution" into your articles as fact. It is my understanding that even in our school systems, evolution is taught for what it is: a theory. Spending much of my time in the out of doors, it is much easier and more practical for me to believe in God's creation. Dwayne West Wiscasset

Let Nature Do It I do not agree with the survey results concerning which animal populations to increase and which to decrease, in the article entitled ''Nonconsumptive Use Of Maine's Wildlife" in the Spring 1992 issue. I believe that any animal can be troublesome if people let its population increase, but we should not attempt to greatly decrease animal populations. Both increasing and decreasing may lead to a new heading under the Endangered Species List, which should be shortened, not lengthened any more than it is. What we should do, as conservationists, is to keep both sides of nature, predators and prey, in balance. Kristina A. Larson Milbridge

Maine Fish and Wildlife

or before the August 31 deadline, we felt it important to share expected label directions as this year's biting fly season begins." Information from the EPA indicates most adverse reactions result from accidental exposure, such as swallowing the repellent or spraying it in the eyes. However, children and some adults may be especially sensitive to the substance and may experience reactions including skin irritation, headaches, mood changes and nausea. In rare instances, convulsions or unconsciousness may result. The new label instructions advise users to apply the material sparingly, to avoid getting it in the eyes or mouth and not to spray in enclosed areas. Once back indoors, users are advised to wash the material off their skin. Still, the potential effects "do not pose unacceptable risks," Gregory said. "Lyme disease from deer ticks or encephalitis carried by mosquitoes are serious health problems which can be reduced with proper use of insect repellents."

Gravel Pit Pond Becomes Trout Fishery What can you do with an abandoned gravel pit? A new use has found for such former eyesores on the landscape in the Shirley-Greenville area: turn them into trout ponds. This spring, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife worked with the International Paper Company to enhance the recreational potential of an abandoned gravel pit in Little Squaw Township, west of Greenville. In 1988, IP Timberlands used gravel from the pit for a road construction project. The pit, on IP-owned land, is located near the East Branch of the Piscataquis River. Because of the high water table in the area, the pit filled with water after the gravel was mined, creating a 2.5 acre pond with an average depth of 8 feet. During the summer of 1990, regional fishery biologists surveyed the pond and found conditions acceptable for trout. Although mid-summer water temperatures may limit carry-over from year to year, they concluded that stocking legal-size brook trout each spring could provide a seasonal "put-and-take" fishery. With no competition from other species, trout should be able to feed on the aquatic insect life available in the pond and produce good returns to fish-

ermen. Depending on summer conditions, some carry-over to older ages and larger sizes is possible. For the past eight years, brook trout stocked in another small gravel pit located on public land near Greenville Junction have produced a very popular fishery which lasts into the summer months. Youngsters frequent the pond in pursuit of trout. During evenings and weekends, parents have found it an ideal location to bring their children and teach them angling skills. The IP Timberlands gravel pit pond offers similar potential. As it is less than 10 acres, and therefore not a Great Pond, the landowner controls access to it as well as all rights to use it. IP' s land use policy allows public access and recreational use at the site, and the company has granted the department permission to begin an experimental stocking program. A special 2 trout daily bag limit has been adopted at the pond to help distribute the catch of fish among anglers. In May, it was stocked with 250 legalsize (8-to-10-inch) brook trout. Thus in the Greenville-Shirley area another pit no longer suitable for mining gravel will be "recycled" to provide additional fishing opportunity, and anglers will benefit from the mutual efforts of IP Timberlands and the department to provide for public use of privately-owned land.

Sebago Lake Fisheries Report A detailed report on fisheries management and angler success in Sebago Lake is now available from the department's regional office in Gray. Prepared by Fisheries Biologist "Sonny'' Pierce, the report focuses on fishery management efforts in recent years at the 28,771-acre lake, Maine's second largest, which is located in a heavily populated area of southern Maine and subject to heavy use by the public for fishing and other recreation. Principal fisheries in Sebago Lake include landlocked Atlantic salmon, which are stocked annually to augment limited natural spawning, and togue (lake trout), which are reproducing naturally and sustaining a population without stocking. The lake also provides angling for largemouth and smallmouth bass, lake whitefish, burbot (cusk) and brook trout. Much of the report is based on fishery surveys, including angler interviews, voluntary angler reports, and

information collected at a local store and camping areas frequented by anglers. Additional information came from regular aerial angler counts, gillnetting surveys, sampling of salmon at a fish trapping facility, and a program of fin-clipping of salmon for future identification. Highlights of the report include: • Angler use at Sebago continues fairly stable, ranging from 49,066 to 52,824 trips from 1989 through 1991. • Total combined harvest of salmon and togue was 1.03 to 1.05 pounds per acre in 1988-90 but increased to 1.45 pounds in 1991. • Average salmon size kept by anglers increased: 20.1 inches and 3.0 pounds in 1991 compared to the average of 19.9 inches and 2.8 pounds during the period 1988-1991. • Wild lake trout increased in the catch from 55.8 percent in 1988 to 76.8 percent in 1991. The report lists a number of recommendations for future management of the Sebago Lake salmon and togue

Water and Wetlands Brochures Available Anglers, hunters and other recreationists concerned about clean water and wetland habitat can learn more about protecting these vital resources by obtaining the Izaak Wal ton League of America's new brochures, "A Citizen's Guide to the Clean Water Act" and "Saving Wetlands: Why Should I Care?" Up to 99 copies of the brochures are available free to individuals or groups. Orders of 100 copies or more are $5 per 100. Send requests and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for single copies to IWLA, 1401 Wilson Blvd., Level B; Arlington, VA 22201.

ATVs: Knowledge Promotes Safety The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife reminds all-terrain-vehicle users that safe procedures and knowledge of regulations are essential for safe and legal operation. Five people died in ATV accidents in Maine last year; 120 others were injured, some permanently. "If people only read the law book, and attended our free courses on ATV use, deaths and injuries could be prevented," says Ron Bennett, recreational safety coordinator. Bennett says growing numbers of people, especially youngsters, are attending the courses, which are taught

throughout the state by volunteer instructors, but many who could benefit from attending a course have yet to do so. Analysis of accidents and their victims reveals that in most cases, laws and rules were not being followed. Bennett cites several ATV laws with which participants should be particular!y familiar: • ATVs must be registered before being ridden on someone else's land. • Riders under 18 must wear a helmet, whether on their own or another person's property. • Anyone under 16 is required to successfully complete a training program approved by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before operating an ATV on any land other

than where they live, or land owned or leased by their parent or guardian. • Anyone under age 15 must be under adult supervision while operating an ATV. • Children under 10 must wear a helmet, stay on their own property, and be under adult supervision. Bennett concludes by urging ATV operators "to use the buddy system, obtain landowners' permission, leave property as it was, and carry out all litter. Also, be sure to tell someone where you're going and when you plan to return." Anyone interested in learning more about ATV safety courses may call or write the Safety Section, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Station 41, Augusta, ME 04333. Telephone 287-5220.

Change Coming to Northern Forests Conversion of large forested tracts to non-forest management purposes can have negative impacts on wildlife and recreational resources. Such conversions can occur as a result of public policies which discourage landowners from practicing long-term forest management. In 1990, the Governors' Task Force on the Northern Forest Lands determined that the best way to maintain the region's traditional patterns of land ownership and use is to create and maintain the conditions favorable to a strong, natural resource-based economy. This would help to maintain the large, forested tracts so important to wildlife and recreational resources. The Northern Forest Lands Council (NFLC) is currently analyzing the impacts of recent conversions of large forest properties. Such development has slowed in the last two years, but signs indicate that subdivision activity will pick up when the economy does. Forest management's impacts are generally short-lived. In contrast, development can permanently alter or destroy habitat. Traditional recreational uses, such as hunting and fishing, can also suffer when land changes hands. According to a recent landowner survey, new landowners are more likely than established landowners to deny access to their land. The message is clear: Change is coming to the northern forest. The question is whether we will try to guide the change to maintain the natural resource base or be forced to deal with the impacts of undirected change. Since nearly all of the region's land is privately-owned, the NFLC will analyze and recommend market-oriented incentives which encourage landowners to keep their lands in forest management and open for traditional recreational uses. Once the Council makes those recommendations, it is up to the states and Congress to act. Landowners trying to steward their land for the long run face an uphill battle. This situation has serious consequences for both wildlife and recreational resources. By leveling the playing field to give long-term forest management a better chance, these resources can be protected and enhanced. For more information on the Northern Forest Lands Council, contact: Donald J. Mansius, Northern Forest Lands Coordinator, Department of Conservation, State House Station #22, Augusta, ME 04333-0022

Deer Isle artist Persis Clayton Weirs is the winner of Maine's 1992 duck stamp art contest. A panel of judges selected her acrylic painting of a pair of Oldsquaw ducks from among 43 entries submitted by Maine resident artists. Weirs, who previously was Runner-up in the competition three times, is a native of Deer Isle and a self-taught artist. She is recognized nationally for her wildlife art. The contest Runner-up was Jeannine Staples of Topsham, who won the competition in 1989. Honorable Mention placements were awarded to Kick Alley of Islesford, also a previous winner (1988), Robert E. Goodier of East Machias and Susan K. Jordan of Ellsworth. The judges were: Patti Carter, Brunswick, last year's winning artist; Charles "Chippy" Chase, Brunswick, an internationally acclaimed bird carver; Jim Konkel, Portland, state chairman of Ducks Unlimited; Jerry Longcore, Orono, a wildlife research biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Don Mairs, Belgrade, a naturalist and wildlife art collector; and Bill Vail, Limerick, commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Maine waterfowl hunters are required to buy the $2.50 state duck stamp. Many of the colorful stamps are also sold to collectors. Each annual stamp features a different species of waterfowl native to Maine. Limited edition prints, signed by the artist, are also available; for more information, call (207) 289-2871. Revenue from the sale of stamps and prints is used to fund acquisition and management of waterfowl habitat in Maine.