Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Summer 1994 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

6-1-1994

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Summer 1994 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Summer 1994" (1994). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 128. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/128

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Maine State Documents. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine by an authorized administrator of Maine State Documents. For more information, please contact statedocs@maine.gov.

T!f.L/.

/w,'

3<o/JJ

I E

(i. /

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE

LIBRARY USE ONLY

SUMMER 1994

$4.50

A License To Conserve!

annually (half of that is taxdeductible) in addition to \ Âˇ your normal registration fee. Funds over and above production costs will be used for improvements at state-owned parks and historic sites, and for protection of endangered wildlife. These plates are available at all state motor vehicle branch offices and at many town offices. H they're not available in your town, you can obtain them at the nearest branch office or by mailing a copy of your registration and a check for $20 to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Specialty Plate Clerk, Station 29, Augusta ME 04333. Vanity plates in this design are also available for an additional $ 15. Show your support for the "natural treasure" we have in our state of Maine. Dress up your car, spruce up our parks, and protect our endangered wildlife-a.II with one check! I

94-02

AINE

.NE ~ILDLIFE

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

VOL. 36, NO. 2

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9

D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $15

D Please bill me later by Brad Allen -find out hoots who!

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

94-02

and John R. Moring etter inform biologists

by Steve Wilson Jere 's how they'll benefit if it passes

FISH AND WILDLIFE

,ill grace the stamp this fall

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

-take home 24 prizes!

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

by Agnes V Spicer

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

by Robert Kimber Jutdoors for 35 years!

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address

the difference-it ain 't always easy!

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

? Questions are answered here

94-02

FISH AND WILDLIFE

by Butch Carey

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

" courtesy Persis Clayton Weirs l1. l -800-445-4833.

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

OB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

on recyclable paper

â&#x20AC;¢

A Lice11 To Con Maine's conservatio at motor vehicle re! provide a way for p , show support for M and endangered wil This attractive multicolored plate costs $20 annually (half of that is taxdeductible) in addition to your normal registration fee. Funds over and above producti state-owned parks i endangered wildlifE These plates are c1 offices and at man) town, you can obta mailing a copy of y4 Bureau of Motor Vel Augusta ME 0433~ available for an adc Show your suppo1 state of Maine. Dre~ tect our endangere1

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

Place Sta.mp Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

Place Sta.mp Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

•

Governor John R. McKernan, Jr.

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Ray B. Owen, Jr., 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 Eugene Churchill, Orland Chairman Gary Cobb, North New Portland Vice Chairman John Crabtree, Warren Dr. Ogden Small, Caribou Carroll Cutting, East Sebago Gene Brown, Durham Thomas Jagger, Sanford Wilmot Robinson , Millinocket Joseph Robbins, Machias Stanley D. Milton, Andover

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE SUMMER 1994

VOL. 36, NO. 2

Features Maine's Owls

by Brad Allen

Always an entertaining group of silent stalkers-find out hoots who!

by Agnes V. Spicer

10-4, Salar!

and John R. Moring

Atlantic salmon smolts take to the airwaves to better inform biologists

We'll Be Hatching Some Plans!

by Steve Wilson

A hatchery bond issue vote waits in the wings-here's how they'll benefit if it passes

The 1994 Maine Duck Stamp

This new winn ing design-mallards this time-will grace the stamp this fall

Poster Contest Winners

Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine W . Thomas Shoener, Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor Denise M. Moore, Advertising

Entrants in two categories-wildlife and parks-take home 24 prizes!

All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information & Education Division unless otherwise indicated.

This organ ization has been battling for Maine's outdoors for 35 years!

fighting For Maine's Outdoor Future Grouse: Ruffed Or Spruce?

by Robert Kimber

A one-page cheat sheet to hzlp bird hunters tell the difference-it ain 't always easy! MAINE FISH AND WIIDUFE OSSN 0360-00SXJ 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 : $18.00 per year. No stamps, please. Second class postage paid at Augusta, Maine and at additional mailing offices. © Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1994. Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WIIDUFE. 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 WIIDUFE Magazine, 284 State St. , Sta. #4 l , Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WIIDUFE, 284 State St., Sta. #41 , Augusta, Maine 04333.

A Special Advisory

Mercury in Maine 's f ish? How? Why? How much? Questions are answered here

Departments FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH: Cock Robbin Bucktail

KID-BITS

THE MARKETPLACE

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

by Butch Carey

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Just caU 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.

The Front Cover: "Dancing Water-Loons " courtesy Persis Clayton Weirs and Wild Wings Inc., Lake City MN 55041. 1-800- 445-4833.

#• Printed with vegetable-based

\..,

inks on recyclable paper

"Hoots Who"

Swift-Winged And Silent by R. Bradford Allen

wls belong to the grnup of birds commonly referred to as raptors. In North America, there are 18 species of native owls, 11 of which are found in Maine. Of these 11, only three species-the barred owl, great horned owl, and Northern saw-whet owl-occur as common residents. And even with these species, detailed information on their abundance in Maine is lacking. In addition to the three common species, there are four winter visitors from the north that visit Maine. Of these, the snowy owl is most often seen; its large size and white plumage make this bird quite distinctive. The sighting of a great grey owl or a hawk-owl often creates a great stir of excitement

Rounded head and distinctive streaks, bars, and spots identify the barred owl. among bird watchers. The fourth winter visitor is the boreal owl, which resembles a saw-whet in size but has a yellow bill and a spotted head. These northern owls visit Maine during periods when populations of their prey, namely lemming and voles, are low in their habitual range. This lack of prey seems to occur every four or five years. c::

" z

"' ,;

The author is a wildlife biologist with the Bird Group in the department's Wildlife Resource Assessment Section in Bangor.

] >.c 0

,:;; 0..

'Maine Fish and Wildlife

Short-eared owls and long-eared owls are uncommon residents of Maine. The short-eared owl is a ground nester that prefers extensive open grassland with abundant populations of rodents. Conspicuous black patches on the underside of the wings of this owl distinguish it in flight. The long-eared owl is often found in coniferous woodlands, woodland parks, and sometimes small woodlots. It is similar in coloration and appearance to a great horned owl, but about half the size. The two owl species commonly found in warmer climates south of Maine, but less often in Maine itself, are the barn owl and the screech owl. The barn owl is also characterized by its long, sparselyfeathered legs. This owl is known to be especially prolific, having as many as 11 eggs in a single nest. Screech owls, the smallest of the "eared" owls, are the only owl with two distinct color phases, gray and reddish-brown. Furthermore, screech owls are closely associated with hardwood forests, which may be one reason why they may not prefer to nest in Maine. The status of these two owls species in Maine at this time is unclear; neither species has been known to nest in Maine in a long time. Department biologists and others, however, believe there is evidence to suggest that special management may be warranted. To this end, these two bird species have been nominated for "Species of Special Concern" status on Maine's rare bird list. Despite variability in abundance, owls display certain common but distinctive features and characteristics. Most owls in Maine are considered year-round residents, preferring to overwinter in Maine's sometime harsh climate. Owls resemble hawks, with hooked bills and powerful feet

with long, sharp talons specialized for grasping, killing, and carrying prey. They are in some ways different from hawks as welltheir soft, fluffy plumage, seemingly neckless heads, and forward-facing eyes. Unlike many birds, the female is larger in size and weight than the male. Owls are freeloaders when it comes to nesting, often seeking hawk, crow, or squirrel nests in which to place their eggs. In general, owl eggs are plain white; the normal clutch numbers from two to six eggs. Egg incubation in most birds begins after the last egg in the clutch is laid, but owls begin incubation after the female lays the first egg. Therefore, the hatching of young owls is staggered and unsynchronized, resulting in various sized fledglings in a nest. The male owl is a model father, assisting in the feeding of the young owls. The fledglings are rather slow to develop and have a long dependence on parental care-up to five weeks in some species. Both parents are often hostile and belligerent in defense ot their nest against intruders. There are numerous documented cases of humans being "dive-bombed" and

attacked by owls while climbing trees to examine nests. When disturbed by humans, owls will click their bills repeatedly in a distinctive manner. The flight of owls is silent, and most of them hunt at night. Those that feed in the daytime include the snowy, short-eared, and hawkowls. Owls exhibit a varied diet, most often feeding on whatever prey is most readily available. Research shows that many owl populations fluctuate in relation to rodent abundance. When food is lacking, some owls do not nest, or else their offspring succumb to starvation. Interspecies competition between owls may even result in large ow ls feeding on smaller ones. Owls seldom kill prey in excess of their immediate food needs. They swallow their prey in large chunks, digest the flesh, and then regurgitate the cleaned bones and fur or feathers in a pellet form. Owl presence can often be detected by an accumulation of these pellets and fecal splashing on the ground beneath roost trees, which are often used again and again. Although, like humans, owls have their eyes in the front of their heads, their eyes are in a fixed

Four saw-whets-and a saw-whoops!

Summer 1994

position; they must move their heads for side vision. This binocular vision gives the birds the three-dimensional sight necessary for distance determination when hunting live prey. Unlike hawks, most owls are nocturnal. Owls' eyes contain more rods than cones, adapting them to acute night vision. Another feature that all owls have in common is their acute sense of hearing, also helpful in locating prey. Owls are difficult to observe because of their nocturnal activity. And in the daytime, they often retire to dense forest vegetation where they remain inactive. Fortunately for bird watchers, the shy and retiring owls tend to be vocal, particularly during the breeding ~eason, which begins in March for the great horned owl in Maine. Calling is part of the courtship ritual and facilitates the defense of the nesting territory, thereby restricting intruding owls. A reasonably good, human imitation of an owl call at dusk or ::? daybreak will often elicit an i" answer from an owl deep S in the dense forest. (Editor's note: see boxed item on page 5 for the pros and cons of calling owls.) The calls of Maine's three common ow1 species are distinctive and readily recognized. The barred owl calls frequently, and seems to say, "who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all?" The great horned owl's hoot or call consists of a series of consecutive "hoo-hoohoooo." The single note of the tiny saw-whet owl sounds somewhat like a saw being sharpened with a file.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

et us consider in a little more detail the three common owls of Maine. The great horned owl is often referred to as the "tiger of the air." A good-sized female will have a wingspread of four feet and weigh four pounds; males average three pounds. One of the frequent

The barred owl is a generalist in feeding habits, consuming a variety of birds, mammals, snakes, and insects. Unlike the other Maine owls which have light-colored eyes, the barred owl has dark brown eyes. Barred owls are often found near lakeshores or rivers and are also common denizens of cedar swamps, where they often prey on snowshoe hares. The smallest of our native owls, the saw-whet, weighs only four to five ounces! The saw-whet owl is the only owl with distinct immature plumage that differs from the adult feather coloration. First-year

Snowy owl.

items in the diet of the great horned owl is the striped skunk, but this owl has been known to take even larger prey. During a wild turkey research project in Waldo County in 1987, a great horned owl was believed responsible for the deaths of two eightpound female turkeys, taken on successive nights out of the birds' night roost. The great horned owl is the first to nest in late winter.

saw-whets are a solid, not streaked, color, normally chocolate brown, with conspicuous white "eyebrows." The adult birds are light brown and streaked in appearance. Saw-whets prefer conifer forests, and often nest and roost in old woodpecker holes, but have also been known to nest in duck boxes. Department biologist Jim Dorso found a pair of saw-whets nesting in one of the hundreds of duck boxes he annually maintained. This particular pair of expectant parents (the eggs hadn't hatched yet) had caught several field mice and "stacked them up like cordwood" in a corner of the nest box, perhaps in anticipation of having several hungry mouths to feed. One management practice to aid owls involves the building and placement of owl nesting boxes to simulate natural cavities in woodland areas. Care must be taken to roughen the inside or to provide a wire ladder so that the young owls can climb up to the hole when

they are ready to leave the box. A horizontal sun perch near the entrance hole also enhances box usage. Owls have few enemies other than man. They are often harassed and pestered by crows, and some owls have been known to prey on other owls, as mentioned. In

What

addition, Maine's long winters and often deep snows can make small rodents inaccessible, causing owls to starve. Lastly, based on the reports and calls we get each year from concerned individuals, utility wires and motor vehicles are major contributors to owl injuries and deaths.

can we do to help increase owl populations? Most importantly, we need to publicize the fact that all owls are completely protected by state and federal laws. Support of these laws and habitat protection by the general public is essential if owls are to flourish. •

Immature great horned owl (left). Peering out from the right photo (circled) is a nestling great horned. "'"' e u in ~ 0

.c a_

To Call Or Not To Call Taped bird calls have long been used by bird watchers to attract birds that are elusive and hard to observe. Taped owl calls are not used just to attract and see owls, but to attract warblers and other songbirds that exhibit excited 'mobbing' behavior when the unseen predator is heard. This behavior gives the birdwatcher a good opportunity to see and identify a variety of birds as they home in on the taped call. As birdwatching increases in popularity, the ethics of using calls is being debated. People should not use tapes in popular or well-used viewing places; it is actually a violation to do so anywhere in a national park. These are some of the arguments for and against using tapes:

FOR: • tapes are the only way to see some species • attracting birds with tapes only distracts them for a few minutes and is less of an impact than tromping through their habitat to get a look • tapes shouldn't stress or impact birds because territorial defense (the birds' response to taped calls) is already a builtin part of the birds' behavior, and already 'budgeted for' in its time/energy allocation • if calls are played repeatedly to a certain population, the birds will learn to ignore the 'phantom calls' , with no long-term detrimental effect

AGAINST: • tapes are unnecessary; the same success seeing birds can be achieved through patience and persistence • dozens of people in the field playing taped calls exhausts, confuses, and distracts local bird populations • playing tapes agitates and stresses birds , keeping them from normal feeding , courting, nest building and care of young • if calls are played repeatedly to a certain population, the birds will learn to ignore the 'phantom calls', so taped calls become useless anyway

adapted from an article from Colorado's Wildlife Company, Colorado Division of Wildlife

Summer 1994

Radio-Tracking Young Salmon

''10

, Salar!'' by Agnes V. Spicer and John R. Moring Photos by the authors

tlantic salmon smolts

have a difficult time. Only about one percent of the eggs dep os-

than one percent ever return as adults. So it's not surprising that Swedish scientists estimate that

predators on salmon smolts. These birds are protected under fede,.al law, and during the smolt

Tracking antenna attached to the wing strut of the tracking airplane.

ited by females in redds (nests) ever result in young fish moving Into the ocean two years later. After that, mortality is almost as high at sea. Marine mammals, birds, fishes, and commercial fisheries all take their toll. Even when salmon are reared in a hatchery and stocked in a river as smolts (young fish ready to migrate to the ocean), less

Maine Fish and W ildlife

half the smolts heading downstream never reach the ocean. In mos t rivers of New England, smolts encounter myriad obstacles during their downstream migrations. Some of these are physical-like dams and dead-end branches of rivers-but others are biological. There are at least seven species of birds that can be effective

run in spring, cormorants (shags) and other birds congregate below dams, where smolts are especially vulnerable, or in the forebays above dams, where smolts are delayed during their passage downstream. Otters, mink, and seals (in the lower river) are also known to be predators of salmon. Then there are the fish predators. Small-

Here's the story of how fisheries biologists are bringing radio technology into play on Maine's largest river in an attempt to learn more about Atlantic salmon and what they go through on their awesome travels up and down river-and what we may be able to accomplish with what is learned from these "aquatic broadcasts."

The Penobscot River. mouth bass and chain pickerel, among other species, are known to eat smolts in rivers. A recent study by Oliver van den Ende, using a predictive model, esti-

mated that tens of thousands of smolts may be consumed by chain pickerel and smallmouth bass In the lower Penobscot River each spring during migration.

Once in the estuary, smolts encounter other predators. The few studies that exist tell us that predation by seals and cormorants (from offshore rookeries)

Agnes Spicer Is aquaculture extension specialist with the West Virginia University Extension Service. John Moring is Assistant Leader for Fisheries with the National Biological Survey's Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and a University of Maine professor of zoology. Cooperators are the Maine Department of inland Fisheries and Wildlife, National Biological Survey, University of Maine, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Swm11er 1994

Tracking downstream positions of smolts using mobile receivers and handheld antennas from vehicles on roads along the Penobscot River.

does exist, but it may not be as important as predation by marine fishes. Norwegian scientists estimated that 20 percent of the salmon smolts passing through one river estuary, and 25 percent passing through another, were eaten by cod congregating at the river mouths in spring. So, the smolt stage Is critical in determining how many adult Atlantic salmon will eventually return to spawn. To learn more about smolt migration In the

Penobscot River, we conducted studies in 1990 and 1991 using radio tags-small transmitters attached to smolts. These tiny tags were about the diameter of a cigarette and just over one Inch long. Tags were secured to the back of each smolt with suture material, inserted while the fish was under anesthesia. A thin wire antenna trailed -hind. Each tag was expensive (almost $200 each), and the battery lasted only about 17 to 20 days. So, it was impor-

tant to get the most information possible from the fish released. After recovering from the anesthetic, the smolts were released In groups of five on a weekly basis from April 13 to May 18, 1991. Each tagged fish was stocked by hand In the Penobscot near Howland, about 57 miles upstream from the river mouth. Tracking was the exciting part of the study. Once released, most smolts moved rapidly downstream. in 1900, we attempted to follow the young fish with specialized radio receivers and antennas mounted in boats. But, the fish were too fast. They easily outdistanced the boats and, only by following along the shore in trucks, using mobile receivers, were we able to make contact, in 1991, we were much more successful. We used smaller tags and tracked fish using airplanes. Again, smolts moved downstream very rapidly, but observers in the airplanes were able to

Tracking airplane flying low along the Penobscot River.

Maine Fish and W ildlife

Radio tag used with Atlantic salmon smolts (compared to an average pocket knife for size). accurately plot locations of the smolts and the rates of movement One fish, released on April 13, moved three miles downstream in the first hour! We found that smolts averaged four miles per day during their migration, but it wasn't one continuous trip. Most smolts alternated periods of active downstream movement with a day or two when they were stationary. in most cases, these inactive periods seemed to be resting pauses as the fish moved downstream or interruptions when salmon seemed to be reorienting themselves to the flow of the river. When they decided to move, however, smolts were very fast, travelling at an average speed of over 9 miles per day. Few fish were tracked farther than 25 miles downstream,

which may have been due to one of several factors. first, the batteries on the radio transmitters may have died, in which case fish may have continued their downstream migration undetected. Second, smolts may have simply stopped migrating. We do know that some hatcheryreared smolts never do migrate to sea. We also found that, after mid-May, few of the radiotagged smolts moved below Howland. Third, smolts may have been eaten by birds, fish, or mam-

mals. The peculiar tracks of several of the salmon suggested that, when passing through or holding in slower portions of the river, they may have encountered predators. Because of this potential mortality, current studies of predation on smolts all the more important. Within a few years, scientists working on the Penobscot River and the Connecticut River, in southern New England, may be able to shed more light on the gauntlet of predators that Atlantic salmon encounter on their long, difficult journey to the sea. â&#x20AC;˘

Radio-tagged Atlantic salmon awaiting release. Summer 1994

If The Voters Approve ...

We'll Be Hatching by Steve Wilson Photos by Lisa Kane

n the ballot this November, along with many, many office races and other considerations, will be a proposal for a $10 million bond issue for Maine's fish hatcheries. The bond issue emerged from the Appropriations Committee with a unanimous "ought-to-pass" recommendation, and has the vocal support of many of Maine's sportsmen. Since the late 19th century, the department has been actively involved in the rearing of game fish to support fisheries management programs. These programs have resulted in the establishment of landlocked salmon, brook trout, and a variety of other species in more than 200 waters throughout the state. The annual production of fish from the department's fish hatcheries continues to play a vital role in the maintenance of inland fishing opportunities highly valued by Maine anglers, as well as the thousands of visitors who come to Maine each year to enjoy the state's outdoor heritage. More than 68 percent of the state's landlocked salmon waters have inadequate spawning habitat and are maintained by stocking. Likewise, many waters do not support wild self-sustaining populations of brook trout or lake trout; these waters are entirely supported or substantially augmented by hatchery trout stocking. Many waters that require stocking are located near population centers; these management programs are the result of efforts to bring angling opportunities closer to the public. Currently, the department stocks 1,500,000 fish annually in waters across the state, thus creating fishing opportunities that would not otherwise be available. Most of Maine's nine fish rearing facilities were built in the late 1930s and 1940s, with the newest production facility constructed at Enfield in 1959. Over the past 20 years, the department has not had the funds needed to keep pace with the ever-increasing maintenance needs associated with these aging facilities. If this situation continues, five of the nine facilities are likely to be inoperable or have their production severely curtailed in the near future. This would include loss of entire programs for brook trout, brown trout, and splake, and up to a 50 percent reduction in the landlocked salmon program .

The author is superintendent of hatcheries for the department .

Mame Fish and Wildlife

The economic impact of Maine's inland sport fishery has been studied by Kevin Boyle , a resource economist from the University of Maine's Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. Based upon the results of a survey of fisherman in 1989, Boyle estimated the economic impact of Maine's inland sport fishery to be at least $160 million per year. At least $40 million of this was generated by nonresidents. Hatchery fish currently provide 40 percent of thC' coldwater fishery in Maine lakes and ponds and are crucial to maintaining the economic benefits derived from these resources. The loss

Wade Hatchery Casco

The Wade Hatchery is where the world famous Sebago landlocked salmon is raised and distributed to the southern, western and central parts of the state. Half of the landlocked salmon stocked in the state originate from this vital facility. The water supply comes from a single 16" pipe from Pleasant Lake. Typically all eggs come from "wild" adult salmon trapped in the fish weir at Jordan River (Panther Run) a tributary of Sebago Lake. Needed improvements are: another intake line to increase water supply; a micro-screen filtration unit to remove silt, debris, and possible pathogens ; a water effluent treatment system ; more fish rearing units to increase production ; repair of deteriorating raceways.

Some Plans! of the department's fish rearing capabilities would result in at least a $50 million annual reduction in these economic impacts from fishing . The funds from this bond issue will provide the monies needed to overcome a large number of problems that are impacting the production of fish needed to meet the department's stocking needs, but will also result in a 25 percent expansion in fish production-nearly 400,000 fish per year! Increased production capabilities will allow initiation of a rainbow trout program, to be stocked pri-

marily into selected rivers and streams. In addition , the department will be able to establish a restoration program for lake whitefish , and to raise American shad fry in support of Department of Marine Resources shad restoration initiatives on the Kennebec River. In a letter to us recently, former Maine Fish Pathologist Peter Walker attempted to explain his feelings about the special niche that fish hatcheries occupy in the scheme of things. Walker said that "hatcheries that have remained open into the 1990s are particularly valuable

Ela Fish Rearing Station Embden One of two rearing facilities operated by the hatchery section, this station receives brook trout and landlocked salmon from sister hatcheries and raises them to stock in waters of central and western Maine. Because of its superior and abundant water supply from Embden Lake, this facility would be a prime candidate to expand into a fully functioning hatchery. This would entail expansion of the water intake system, instaUation of a micro screen filtration and ultraviolet purification system to remove debris, parasites, and pathogens; providing oxygen supplementation , constructing an egg/fry rearing building , adding more fish rearing units, and repairing deteriorating or damaged raceways .

Dry Mills Hatchery Gray One of the oldest and perhaps the best known Maine hatchery, the Dry Mills Hatchery is adjacent to our Gray Gamel Farm & Visitors Center. This facility is the Department's premier brook trout hatchery, raising exceptional brook trout and lake trout to stock the southern and central section of the state. Fry are also raised for transfer to sister rearing stations. Some of the needed improvements are: further development of well water sources to enhance growth rates of fry; a micro-screen filtration to cut silt, parasites, and pathogens; repair of raceways ; development of a public education facility.

Summer 1994

â&#x20AC;˘

state resources. Their survival means they have been able to withstand the scrutiny of auditors; that in turn means they have been able to produce fish of the species, quantity, and quality that the public demands at a reasonable cost. These are resources to be protected and cherished ."

Phillips Hatchery Phillips

This hatchery's contribution to Maine's fisheries is valuable far beyond mere stocking totals. Until the late 1960s, more than 80 percent of brook trout fry hatched in Maine hatcheries died from infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Then, thanks to the insight and foresight of then Fish Pathologist David Locke (recently retired as Superintendent of Hatcheries), Phillips was depopulated, disinfected, and reopened as Maine's diseasefree brook trout broodstock facility. Situated in a heavily wooded valley along the old bed of the narrow gauge railroad between Farmington and Rangeley, Phillips has produced several million certified virus-free brook trout eggs for Maine's hatchery system each year since the late 1960s. All the brook trout stocked in Maine originate as eggs from this hatchery. Maintenance needs include: increase the water supply to enhance the rearing environment; repair damaged or deteriorating raceways ; increase egg-holding capacity; install an oxygenation system; install a water discharge treatment unit; cover raceways to prevent predation and improve fish holding conditions.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

During an interview for a Bangor television station around 1982 or 1983, the reporter must have thought Walker was a little too enthusiastic in his praise of Maine fish culture. Off camera, he asked him: ''Truthfully, how far ahead of other states are these guys?"

Cobb Fish Hatchery Enfield

This is one of our most versatile hatcheries, due to its high-tech water purification system and two-pipe water supply running from Cold Stream Pond. The supply is plumbed in such a way as to allow independent temperature control in each of six different lines of raceways. This versatility has made the Enfield Hatchery an ideal facility for fish culture and fishery management experimentation over the years. As needs have changed from year to year, so has this station's production. Cobb typically produces large numbers of landlocked salmon and brook trout that are stocked in eastern and northern Maine. Maintenance needs include: a water effluent treatment system ; repair of raceways; repair of ultraviolet/filter building; construction of a public education facility; adding fish rearing tanks to increase fish production, and repair of deteriorating or damaged raceways.

Light years," Walker answered. And he says it's still that way to this day. The 1989 Boyle economic survey of fishing and hunting stated that expanded fish production of the type being discussed here would conserva-

tively increase Maine's economy by $15 to $20 million. Simply maintaining existing fish cultural facilities will prevent the loss of $50 million to the state's economy! The department strongly believes that a $10 million investment in Maine's sport fish hatcheries would result in a

Palermo Rearing Station Palermo The Palermo Rearing Station , located on the outlet of Sheepscot Lake near the intersection of three counties, receives its brown and brook trout from sister hatcheries to raise and stock in the central and eastern parts of the state. Like the Ela Station, Palermo has a superior water source, fed to the station by a dual warm and cool pipe system. This allows for maximum water temperature manipulation to create optimum growing conditions. This would be another ideal station to develop into a full fledged hatchery facility. This would require installation of a micro-screen filter and an ultraviolet purification system to eliminate possible parasites and pathogens; build a hatchery structure to r~ar eggs and fry on site, add fish rearing units to increase fish production and a public education facility.

Grand Lake Stream Hatchery Grand Lake Stream This hatchery is situated along the east bank of one of eastern Maine's most famous landlocked salmon streams. Despite the shallowness of the unit's single intake pipe in nearby West Grand Lake, the steady 2,000 gallons per minute flow stays cool enough throughout the summer to rear a healthy crop of the renowned West Grand strain of landlocked salmon . This was the first Maine hatchery to have a modern pretreatment system installed on its water supply, about 21 years ago. This virtually eliminated serious infectious diseases at this facility. Grand Lake Stream Hatchery also supplies eggs and fingerlings to sister hatcheries to stock throughout Maine. Much needed maintenance needs are: develop a well water source to accelerate development of eggs and fry ; replace old micro-screen filtration and ultraviolet purification units; provide water effluent treatment; repair deteriorating fish rearing tanks; add new rearing units to increase production.

Summer 1994

very large return to the people of the State of Maine. Not to mention the boost such improvements would make to the hea/fn of Maine's fish , hatchery and wild! In this article, we acquaint you with each of the nine fish culture facilities , then give each one its own special character, and finally give you a glimpse-station by

station-of what the major needs are for the Maine fish culture system to enhance it, carry it into the next century, and maintain it as one of the finest programs in operation today. And as the future of fish culture and stocking programs goes, so goes a significant part of â&#x20AC;˘ sportfishing in Maine.

New Gloucester Hatchery !Yew Gloucester This is the last survivor of the many fish production units constructed across Maine in the 1930s by the Civil Conservation Corps. Despite the best of intentions, most of those facilities, constructed almost entirely by hand labor during FDR's administration , were built on small or unreliable water supplies which proved unable to produce fish consistently or economically. But not so the New Gloucester unit. Its spring-fed brook water supply and primitive but effective earthen raceways have turned out the bulk of Maine's brown trout production for some 56 years, justifying many times over the rather meager original investment. Planned modernization of the facility may insure New Gloucester's continued participation in Maine fish culture for years to come. Much needed repairs are: repair dam/reservoir that is current water feed; develop water supply; build new hatchery complex to increase production and install modern round fish rearing tanks to replace the earthen raceways.

Governor Hill Hatchery Augusta Located within the city limits of the state capital and situated on land bequested by the late Governor John F. Hill, this spring-fed hatchery is the source of the department's lake trout program and a major brood trout incubating facility. In addition , it is the hatchery responsible for producing the department's splake program , an increasingly popular lake trout/brook trout hybrid. Desired improvements include : development of wells to increase the water supply, installation of new brood fish holding units to free up raceways for increased fish production , and installation of a micro screen filter and reservoir covers.

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Mallards Featured on Maine Duck Stamp An Ellsworth-area woman has won the 1994 Maine duck stamp competition with an acrylic painting of a pair of mallards. Susan Knowles Jordan, 33, of Waltham took top honors in the contest, entered by 42 Maine artists all painting the same species of waterfowl. Jordan's painting will be reproduced on Maine's 1994 migratory waterfowl conservation stamp, better known as the "duck stamp," available to hunters and stamp collectors beginning in September. Contest runner-up was Michele Witham of East Millinocket. Honorable mentions were won by Donna Chase of

Patten, Patti Carter of Brunswick and Rick Alley of Islesford. Judges were Jeannine Staples, who won the contest in 1993 and cannot enter for two years; C .. D. Armstrong, chairman of Maine Ducks Unlimited; Jim Perry, founder and director of the Talent Tree Art Gallery in Augusta; Mal Coulter, a wildlife biologist and retired chair of the University of Maine's Wildlife Department; and Norm Trask, deputy commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This year's was the seventh duck stamp art contest, each featuring a different species of duck or goose native to Maine. Four previous stamps were com-

missioned to nationally prominent waterfowl artists. Jordan, an Ellsworth High School graduate, is primarily a self-taught artist, focusing most of her painting effort on wildlife art. In 1992, the first year she entered the duck stamp art contest, she won an honorable mention. Her 1993 entry earned runner-up honors. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife uses income from sales of the $2.50 stamp to buy and manage waterfowl habitat in Maine. The winning artist receives a cash award of $1,000 and a sheet of stamps reproduced from her painting. â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 1994

Wildlife & Parks Po! School children from across the state entered the state parks and endangered wildlife poster contest, sponsored jointly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Bureau of Parks & Recreation in an effort to promote sales of Maine's new conservation registration license plate. We have reprinted the first prize-winners on the pages that follow; second and third prizes were also given in each category.

L iVe_..

Jeffrey Killam Monson Elementary School Monson First Place-Wildlife K-2

Megan Rehmeyer Walker School Liberty First Place-Parks K-2 16

Mnine Fish nnd Wildlife

Choose

+h"

c.onstrv().+ion

l,t.~'Mt. ~\~e

;ter Contest Winners Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Ray B. Owen noted that "a few of the students who entered the poster contest have licensed their first car, but all know the conservation plate's value to other things they look forward to: continued enjoyment of Maine's parks, and the prospering of the state's endangered wildlife." Turn to page 31 for a list of the second and third prize winners.

â&#x20AC;˘

Here's what the winners received for prizes in each age division: First prizes: Family season passes for free admission to all day-use areas at Maine state parks and historic sites, plus one week of free camping at any state park (including Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, and the Penobscot). Second prizes: Family season passes OR one week of free camping. Third prizes: Individual season passes for free day-use of Maine state parks and historic sites.

Ryan McIntyre St. George School ( Tenants Harbor \ First Place-Wildlife 3-5 T.

J. White

Zippe[ Elementary School Presque Isle First Place-Parks 3-5 Summer 1994

Kristin Wurpel Belgrade Central School Belgrade First Place-Wildlife 6-8

Here's what the winners received for prizes in each age division: First prizes: Family season passes to Swan Island Wildlife Management Area in Richmond. Second prizes: Family season passes to the Game Farm and Visitors Center in Gray. Third prizes: Subscriptions to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE

Magazine

Rhea Kane Mt. Blue Junior High School Farmington First Place-Parks Grades 6-8 18

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Weston Currier Thornton Academy Saco First Place-Wildlife Grades 9-12

Soon !,.,,T,f4, r«nery l,ke T,;r won r be r.i~ . .._So b,,y a c_..:,r>ser-vofoon f/oTe. fo,1>;· n J h../p TI;,. envilb""'";; Le,r

8.ve.r1:,r1e ~hOW

yov c,or ,

:a re

Brian Howland Thornton Academy Saco First Place-Parks Grades 9-12

Summer 1994

Fighting For Maine's esou es Council of Maine Outdoor Future by Robert Kimber

The

Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) celebrates its 35th birthday this year and is going stronger than ever. The Augustabased organization describes itself as a "nonprofit, independent citizens' organization dedicated to protecting Maine's environment through a program of advocacy, education, and legal defense." That modest self-definition is accurate enough, but it is a bit too abstract and bloodless to convey the fire, energy, and vision that have characterized the Council ever since its inception. NRCM' s founders were outdoorsmen who had fished the rivers and roamed and hunted the woods of Maine most of their lives and were appalled at the environmental degradation they were seeing in the rnid-50s. In 1954, Jim Briggs of Caribou, an outspoken firebrand who was way ahead of his time, ran for the state senate on an environmental platform and

Maine 's North Woods, 10.5 million acres in all, is the largest undeveloped forested area left in the eastern United States. The Natural Resources Council of Maine is working to protect the fish and wildlife and scenic beauty of this vast area for future generations.

.c: C

Cl)

~ Cl)

z"' >,

.c: Q_

Maine Fish and W ildlife

Continuing a series on state and national outdoor organizations you might wish to join

won an upset victory despite the opposition of local industrial interests. "Pollution was so bad," Briggs observed, "that folks in Presque Isle had to come to Caribou to take a shower." Sparked by Jim Briggs, the NRCM was officially constituted in 1959 with Bob Patterson as its first president. Not surprisingly, rivers and water quality issues were among NRCM's first priorities; from that day to now, a river has run through the Council's history. If that were not so, the map of Maine would doubtless have suffered some changes that no angler, canoeist, or river lover could have witnessed without a heavy heart. During its first six years, the council took the lead in developing a plan for the Allagash River, which was then threatened at the same time by increasing road access and, even more seriously, by a federal hydroelectric project which would have flooded the Allagash valley. The happy ending to this effort came when Maine voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in a 1966 referendum led by NRCM. Thwarted on the Allagash, the Army Corps of Engineers turned to the Dickey-Lincoln hydroelectric project which would have dammed the St. John River and inundated the longest stretch of wild river remaining in the eastern United States. Again, the Council took a lead role, this time preserving the free-flowing St. John. The group was the most outspoken advocate for the 1983 Maine Rivers law, which provided permanent protection for river segments with outstanding fisheries, boating, scenery, and scientific interest while permitting development on less valuable segments. The most dramatic river campaign of the 1980s was the Big A controversy. In this case, as in those

The author, a published professional outdoor writer, has been a member of the Natural Resources Council for some time, and has served on the organization's board.

previously described, the council, in cooperation with the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, Trout Unlimited, and other conservation groups, acted to save one of the prime whitewater runs in the Northeast and the Big Eddy landlocked salmon fishery from hydroelectric development. Currently, the Council is working to remove the Edwards Dam in Augusta and restore 17 more miles of the anadromous fishery the Kennebec River once supported above the present dam. Just as high on the Council's agenda as the preservation of free-flowing rivers is the quality of Maine's waters. In the 1960s, when many of our rivers were still dumping grounds for municipal sewage and industrial effluents, the Council led a successful campaign to clean up Maine's rivers. Our eyes and our noses tell us that we enjoy vastly improved water quality today. However, toxic

In 1966, the Natural Resources Council of Maine led a successful statewide referendum campaign to preserve the Allagash River, one of Maine's most spectacular treasures. The Allagash is now protected forever from dams and development. Pictured are Allagash Falls, near the river's confluence with the St. John River. pollutants we cannot see, smell, or taste remain in our waterways. Dioxin, a highly toxic byproduct of the chlorine-bleaching process used in many paper mills, accumulates in fish, making them a health risk to eat. The Council has urged paper mills using chlorine bleach to switch to a chlorinefree process, and it also drafted and supported legislation to establish a water-testing program that will let scientists gather precise information on Summer 1994

toxic pollution in tion is only one Maine waterways. example of this link. Two Council initiaBy summarizing some of NRCM' s tives of recent years work on rivers and are of similar imporwater quality here, tance to wildlife. I do not mean to NRCMwas the suggest that the driving force behind Council has fothe Growth Managecused on these ment Law of 1988, issues to the one of the major exclusion of others. goals of which is to The mission the preserve open land Council has set for and wildlife habitat itself is "to protect, by preventing conserve, and suburban sprawl. restore Maine's Similarly, the In 1985, the Natural Resources Council of natural environment Council's proposal to Maine helped to stop harmful timber-cutting establish a North and to ensure the operations in the Scientific Forest wise use of its Woods Conservation Management Area at Baxter State Park. An resources." That is a Area seeks to protect independent commission of forestry wildlife habitat and broad mission, and experts supported the Council's claim that the Council has public access to prime acted on it on many recreational area the cutting operation, supervised by the while maintaining fronts, helping to Maine Forest Service, was damaging healthy wood-prodblock the construcvaluable fish and wildlife habitat, as well as tion of supertanker ucts industries. violating the Forest Service 's own timberports and oil refinercutting rules for the Park. ies on the Maine vision that Coast that threatened to ruin valuguided NRCM' s founders thirty-five able fisheries, reduce air pollution, initiate years ago still guides the Council today, a recycling and reduce vision of Maine as a solid waste, Encourplace with clean air, age energy efficiency clean water, and and thus reduce the .c t ~ flourishing forests, a need for nuclear "' place where both power, coal - and oil- f--2 :'l .., game and non-game fired generation, or z species of fish and new hydropower. ~ .c wildlife can thrive, a Indeed, the range of issues the Council place with healthy populations of human beings, trout, sugar maples, takes on is so broad that its connection to traditional mayflies, otter, black bears, ovenbirds, and all the "conservation" issues and the interests of sportsmen other plants and creatures that make up the rich and women may not always seem clear. However, and intricate web of Maine's natural world. nearly every issue the Council is involved in does in fact have a direct and major impact on fisheries, If you would like to join the Natural Resources wildlife, and the quality of the environment that all Council of Maine or would like further information about its work, please call or write to Carol outdoorsmen and women in Maine enjoy. Cole, NRCM, 271 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330; The relevance of NRCM's rivers and water(207) 622-3101, (800) 287-2345. â&#x20AC;˘ quality work to aquatic habitats and fisheries protec-

The

Maine Fish and Wildlife

COCK ROBBIN BUCKTAIL rom the Fly Tying Bench

by Butch Carey THE PATTERN

HOOK: #79580 #2 THREAD: Black monocord TAG: Flat silver tinsel TAIL: Small bunch mixed red-orange and white bucktail .. RIBBING: Narrow flat silver tinsel BODY: Rear yellow wool; front half red wool

111

Cast on back of hook with black thread,

L!J then attach small tag of flat silver tinsel.

Tie tail on just ahead of tag, using sparse bunch of mixed red-orange and white bucktail. Tail should not extend much beyond bend of hook.

WING: A small bunch of red-orange bucktail, then a small bunch of white bucktail, then another small bunch of red-orange bucktail THROAT: A short, sparse bunch of red bucktail, EYES: Jungle cock tied in on each side (we've used the optional painted eye, white with black center)

, 1

Attach narrow flat silver tinsel for ribbing; tie in over butt of tail.

Attach yellow wool just ahead of ribbing. Move thread halfway up hook, cement rear half of shank, then wind yellow wool to thread, tie off, trim, and cement. Attach red wool just ahead of yellow, wind thread to front, cement shank, wind red wool to front, tie down, cement, and trim surplus.

Summer 1994

f"i:1 Wind ribbing to the front in evenly ~ spaced turns; tie down.

For wing, tie in red-orange bucktail, then white bucktail, then red-orange bucktail.

-Âˇ

After finishing winding head, paint eyes (white, with black center, see howto in Maine Fish and Wildlife, Fall 1991 ). Or tie in jungle cock eyes before finishing head. Cement head, two coats, and your fly is ready to use!

Maine Fish and Wildlife

Tie in small sparse bunch of red bucktail underneath for throat. Bucktail should extend about halfway to barb.

CAN

YOU

u r

DISTINGUISH BE1WEEN THE LEGALLY HUNTED RUFFED GROUSE (PARTRIDGE) AND THE SPRUCE GROUSE, FOR WH ICH THERE IS NO OPEN SEASON?

-------1SPRUCE GROUSE I•------Behavior

• generally act very tame; may allow a hu nter or a slowmoving vehicle to approach to within a few feet • will often "crouch" low to the ground when approached • when finally ready to move, will often run only a short distance, or fly only to a nearby tree

Physica l Characteristics • tail feathers have red-brown tips and lack the broad black band of the ruffed grouse • male spruce grouse are slate gray and black above (considerably darker than ruffed grouse), with a characteristic unfeathered red patch of skin above the eye • female spruce grouse are gray and brown above and white . Immature male spruce grouse; female is and brown below; under certain light conditions, they may similar, but without red eye patch look similar to the red phase of ruffed grouse

-------1

(inset-male spruce grouse)

RUFFED GROUSE [ ------

Behavior

• when approached by someone on foot or in a vehicle, frequently "perk" head up like a chicken • commonly flush and take flight when disturbed

""'

• may also lower head, with neck extended, and run for cover ~

Physical Characteristics ( spruce grouse lack all of these features) • conspicuous broad black band on the tail • black ruff feathers on sides of neck • small feathers pointing up from top of head

Male ruffed grouse

Spruce and ruffed grouse can and do occur in the same areas of Maine. In certain light cond itions, t hey may look similar. Nearly half a million ruffed grouse are harvested here annually. Although the Fish and Wildlife Department.does not have a population estimate for spruce grouse, we do know that t hey are far less numerou s than ruffed grouse-even considered rare-in much of Ma ine. Cur rently there is NO OPEN SEASON on spruce grouse in Maine. As in any hunting situation, it is imperative that the hunter be certain of his/her target before discharging a f irearm.

Sum mer 1994

Can you catch all these sunfish with just one line? Without taking your pencil off the page or folding the paper, link all nine fish by drawing four straight lines. HINT: the lines CAN cross!

CAN FISH SMELL? Chemicals that you would sniff in the air are also carried in water. The senses of smell and taste are similar in fish; both senses detect these chemicals through a process known as chemoreception. (key-mowre-SEP-shun) In trout and salmon, smell chemoreceptors line the pits inside the nostrils. Taste receptors are clustered on the head and in the mouth. Scientists believe that salmon and sea trout use chemoreception to return to their birth rivers to spawn .

Maine Fish and Wildlife

1rs 5UMMERII COME ON IN - THE WATER~5 FINEii You drink in it, bathe in it, and swim in it. But how much do you really know about good old H20, and how it affects the planet? (Hint: More than one answer may be correct.)

1. Seawater evaporates into the air as water vapor. It rises, cools, and forms ... a. flying saucers b. waterfalls c. clouds

6.Streams drain water from mountains and upland areas to form rivers. Some water sinks into the ground to become ... a. Coca Cola b. swimming pools c. groundwater and springs

2. Water covers about how much of Earth's surface? a. all b. three quarters c. one sixth

7. a. b. c.

3. Bony fish such as salmon and trout move through the water by ... a. bending from side to side to make their tails swish b. doing the dog paddle c. making figure-eights with their fins

8. Trees and plants absorb much water directly. They "breathe" water vapor out again through their ... a. leaves â&#x20AC;˘ b. mouths C. gills

4. The hydrologic cycle is ... a. the continuous circulation of water from clouds to earth and back again. b. another name for the water cycle c. a philosophy class held underwater 5. H20 stands for ... a. Hug Two Octopuses b. two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom-the chemical makeup of water c. a television station

{\'(1 0wer0 o'(I

a0e32

Clouds release their rain or snow ... when water vapor cools and condenses when pressure changes make it happen whenever they feel like it

9. Most fish breathe underwater by ... a. gasping air at the surface and storing it under their tongues b. taking water through their mouths and passing it over oxygen-gathering gills at the sides of their bodies c. snorting water through two holes on their snouts 10. What two gases, dissolved in water, are important to aquatic animals and plants in streams, lakes, and oceans? a. oil and gasoline b. oxygen and carbon dioxide c. oxygen and helium

Thanks to: On The Rise, a publication of the American Salmon Federation, for activity ideas Summer 1994

A health issue comes to light. The presence of questionable levels ( fresh waters is a situation sadly not unique to Maine. Other states ~ similar testing in recent months. This article will hopefully answe~ put the Maine test results into proper perspective. "Pregnant women, nursing mothers, women who may become pregnant, and children less than eight years old should not eat fish from Maine lakes and ponds. Others should limit annual consumption of fish from Maine waters as f vllows: those who eat large (older) fish should consume no more than six fish meals per year, while those who limit themselves to eating smaller (younger) fish may consume up to 22 fish meals per year." From a statement issued jointly by the Maine Departments of Human Services, Environmental Protection, and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

What are the health effects of mercury? Organic mercury can have toxic effects on the nervous systems of developing individuals (unborn and young children) and on the nervous systems and kidneys of adults, depending on exposure. Children from prenatal to seven years of age are more sensitive to mercury than are adults because of the developing status of their nervous systems.

Is there a problem with swimming in Maine waters, or any other problems associated with this contamination? There is no health risk related to mercury from activities such as camping, swimming, boating, or fishing (and releasing) in Maine waters. Handling fish will not expose anyone to elevated levels of mercury. The state continues to encourage the general use of Maine's freshwaters as healthy and enjoyable forms of recreation. Catch and release, particularly of larger or older fish, is a good way to continue to enjoy fishing, improve fish populations in Maine, and still avoid eating contaminated fish.

risk of mercury-related adverse health affects. The risk is low, even with these very sensitive populations, but caution is advised if any high risk person is involved.

Do other states in this area also have a problem? Yes. All the New England states that have tested for mercury in their freshwater fish have detected elevated levels. More than 30 states, including most of New England, have issued health advisories and/ or posted warnings concerning mercury-contaminated fish.

If fish from a specific lake have not been tested, is it possible to get such fish tested? There are no state resources at present to pay for additional testing of fish. Any individual or group, however, may arrange for private testing .

Will there be changes in this advisory as more information becomes available?

contaminated fish?

Yes. Public health advisories are based on the most current information available, and will be updated as more information is obtained. Data from this mercury study, along with data expected on other contaminants, will be analyzed during 1994. A new advisory will most likely be released before the 1995 fishing season.

No, at least not for the general population at the levels detected in Maine's freshwater fish. Those with developing nervous systems (children up to seven years old, pregnant women, women who may get pregnant, and women whe are breast feeding), however, are at higher

Mercury is a naturally occurring element of the groups collectively referred to as "heavy metals." It can exist as elemental mercury (the mercury in thermometers and

Are there any immediate health effects that would

occur if someone ate a large number of mercury-

Maine Fish and Wildlife

What is mercury?

1ÂŁ mercury in fish tested from our

lave like concerns following the most common questions and

Were the fish which were tested for mercury also tested for other substances? Yes. Other substances for which tests were performed include cadmium, lead, DDT, PCBs, and several commercial pesticides. Results are expected in the fall.

Does this warning apply to river fish?

dental fillings), as inorganic mercury (most commonly used in manufacturing), and as organic mercury (used as a pesticide, this is the form usually found in contaminated foods). The element changes from one form to the other in the environment and in the human body (aided by bacteria). In high enough doses, all three forms present serious threats to human health, but organic mercury (especially methylmercury) is a serious threat to human health even at much lower doses.

Although only a limited number of Maine's river fish have been tested for mercury, it is likely that many large river gamefish may also contain high levels of mercury. There is an existing warning for dioxin which advises pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women who may become pregnant against consumption of river fish caught in Maine's three largest rivers.

Does this warning apply to fish caught in salt water off the Maine coast? No. Saltwater fish were not tested in this study. While there is some mercury contamination of tuna, this problem is currently regulated by national programs.

Why is mercury in our Maine environment? While mercury is a natural component of the earth's crust and sediments, it has also been used in various forms in medicine and industry for 3,000 years. Although most medicinal uses have now stopped and pesticide use is rapidly declining, industrial use of mercury continues. Burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal; disposal of mercury-tainted solid waste in landfills; municipal waste incineration; application of mercury-containing points, fungicides, and pesticides; and combustion of waste oils-all these contribute to increased mercury levels.

How did mercury get into Maine's freshwater fish? Any mercury released into the environment may be changed to its organic form and concentrated in the fish. In the past, some industries discharged mercury directly into Maine waters. Although such discharges have now ceased, quantities of this mercury remain in the environment and can be accumulated by fish. In addition, mercury emitted into the atmosphere (such as by burning coal or garbage) can be transported long distances and deposited in remote environments. Although the amount of mercury is small, it is sufficient to account for the levels found in Maine's fish.

Have fish from all Maine lakes and ponds been tested for mercury? No. In the most recent study, 127 lakes and ponds were statistically selected at random from approximately 1,800 lakes and ponds that have been surveyed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. There are also results from other studies on roughly 30 additional lakes and ponds from this same surveyed group of 1,800. There are about 4,000 smaller ponds in Maine that have not yet been surveyed. There is reason to believe that mercury levels in fish from other as yet untested Maine lakes and ponds are similar to those found in our sample.

How was this problem with mercury in fish discovered? We had limited data on mercury levels in Maine's freshwater fish from earlier studies, but the first comprehensive study conducted in Maine was the "Fish Tissue Contamination in the State of Maine Project" under the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP). For this project, fish were collected in 1993 by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW), and the EPA. The contaminants were analyzed by the Maine State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory in Augusta and the National Biological Survey's National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center in Orono.

Why aren't lakes being posted to warn people about the mercury contamination? Fish contaminated with high levels of mercury were caught in a large number of the lakes and ponds sampled. The general advisory provides the warning necessary for all these lakes. At this point, a posting would only provide an extra warning to those who might not hear or read the general advisory. There is also the risk of creating a false sense of security. Some people might mistakenly think that only posted lakes have fish contaminated with mercury, when fish from non-posted lakes may in fact have similar levels as those in posted waters.

Is there a way to reduce or eliminate mercury in the fish through cooking or other treatment? No special cleaning or cooking method will decrease mercury in fish. Mercury is stored in the fish fillet or muscle portion of the fish, not in the fat, so removing fat, skin, or other parts from the fish will not lower mercury levels. Summer 1994

t 940s Poster Reprinted We don't really know much about it. The original silkscreened version of this poster measured about 22 by 28 inches; they were screened sometime in the mid-1940s, w e believe. There are thought to have been more than just this one poster in what might have been a series designed to promote conservation efforts. We hope that if you, the readers, have an y information or background about this or other such posters, you'll let us know. What is obvious is that this poster's message is just as relevant today as it w as 50 years ago- probably even more so. The message needs to be repeated again and again, while there are still some fish to throw back. We're offering a 14" by 18" (about half-size) reprint of this handsome and topical poster for $5, shipping and handling included. If others in the series come to light, our plans are to offer reprints of them as well.

To order, send check or money order to: GEE, MISTER! Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 284 State Street, Station #41 Augusta ME 04333 Please allow four weeks for delivery.

Watchable Wildlife Guide Now Available! This newly-published 64-page pocket guide contains more than two dozen full-color wildlife photographs and descriptions of 62 great places in Maine to go in search of that once-in-a-lifetime photograph or that ever-remembered glimpse of wildlife in its natural setting. Most of the sites listed are on publicly-owned land, but all sites are open for careful public use and enjoyment. The book is organized by geographic regions and describes each site in detail - how to get there, the species you might expect to see, details on the availability of restrooms, parking, and other facilities, and much more, including information on access for persons with disabilities. The new publication is the result of a year-long effort by staff of MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine, generously assisted by many volunteer naturalists and photographers throughout the state. Production ntoneY funding was provided cbec~ or through the magazine's rder, send ayab\e to O budget, which in turn TO for $&.95 (~\dlife) to: will benefit from proorder Âˇsb and \\II L~ ceeds from sales of the Maine fi 1tA&Lf. \\llLD tation 4 l book. \\!ATC street, S

. '184 state ME. o4:;:;l Augusta,

30 Fish and Wildlife

Mame

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS 1994 POSTER CONTEST SECOND & THIRD PRIZES

A Subtle Killer!

Kindergarten - Second Grade

Wildlife Category 2. Joanna Hoyt First Grade Fairfield School, Saco 3. Vanessa McPhail Second Grade Edmunds School, Dennysville

Parks Category 2. Mary-Anne Chesley* Second Grade Marcia Buker School, Richmond

j CL

.c 0

3. Marysa Eon Second Grade Young School, Saco "'Won second prize last year. Entered through Richmond Trail Blazers 4-H Club (both years)

Grades Three-Five

Wildlife Category 2. Grace Currie Fifth Grade Wentworth Intermediate School, Scarborough 3. Peter Repucci Fourth Grade Village Elementary School, York

Parks Category 2. Sonia Welch Fifth Grade Wentworth Intermediate, Scarborough

(I) >,

.c 0

.c CL

There are admittedly scores of uses for monofilament fishing line-it's handy stuff to have around! But please be careful with it. This house sparrow discovered one characteristic of this product which we seldom consider-its deadliness! Wrapped in a snarl of discarded line, presumably becoming more and more entangled with every minute of struggle, this creature finally strangled itself (it appears). Or maybe it swallowed a tangled knot of line, or starved to death. Whatever the cause of death, and however small the species involved, this would not have happened if this line had been discarded in the proper manner. Even the biodegradable line, so-called, designed to disappear in a relatively short time, still has plenty of potential for this kind of situation while it's still around! If you 're finished with it, bring it home and dispose of it properly. Our " throwaway" mentality has caused a growing problem over many years. And if we 're now coming to grips with it, let's confront ALL of it, not just the "big" issues!

3. Elizabeth Maloney-Hawkins Third Grade Mildred L. Day Memorial, Biddeford

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!

Grades Six - Eigh t

To place a display advertisement in MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine, please contact

Wildlife Category 2. Tiel Fitzwater Sixth Grade Belgrade Central School, Belgrade

contined on page 32

Denise Brann at the

Maine Fish and Wildlife Department 284 State Street, Station #4 l Augusta ME 04333 (207) 287-5244 Summer 1994

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Sirs: What a grand idea and what an interesting article! I do hope you find more in this series(?) Just this week I had seen one of the original posters (Gee Mister!) so I could not resist your offering. It was so nice to hear that some of the Maine agencies can work together. My hat is off to you and the museum people who are doing a splendid job of which your cover can attest. Sincerely, Carol Young P.S. The whole Spring Issue of Me. F & W was especially nice, I thought!

Gentlemen: The cover on the spring issue of the magazine is just out of this world! The p icture of the little boy wistfully wondering if there will be any fish left when he grows up is right from the heart. I have seen this poster on display in the fishing department at L L Bean's in Freeport, and have wondered how to get a copy, bu t have just put off doing something about it. And so here it is in our magazine. I have called and requested an extra copy of the magazine, and would like to order two of the reprints of the poster. My check for $10.00 is enclosed. Thanks for the great job in tracking this down, and I wish you success in locating others in the series. Sincerely, Dean S. Jordan Retired Warden

Dear Sirs: We were quite interested in your article on the "Gee, Mister!" poster and available reprints. We're afraid we won't be requesting a reprint, though, as we have one of the originals! We own and operate Frost Pond Camps above Ripogenus Darn and are currently in the process of dismantling our large old barn, built not long after the darn was completed and the orad was pushed through to Frost Pond. The "Frost Pond Storehouse" was probably built in 1919, according to a date found on one of the beams. Our poster, which was covered by cardboard, certainly isn't in the good shape of the copy shown in your photo, but it's quite intact and legible, except for some mold. We've cleaned it up, ironed it flat, and plan to cover it with clear contact paper and display it. We discovered

Maine Fish and Wildlife

it practically as soon as we discovered your article. We believe we may have found, and sold to an antique dealer (alas!) another "Gee, Mister" poster a number of years ago, because when we discovered this latest one and read your article, the poster was familiar to us, and we know we sold two posters about four or five years ago. One of the two we are certain we sold was a rather gruesome poster of about the same size as the "Gee, Mister" poster, but that one portrayed a very dead hunter with blood flowing copiously (and in red) from a head wound, while another hunter looked down with horror on his face and (I believe) smoke still wafting from his rifle barrel. I'm afraid I can't recall what words were on the poster - maybe none; words were scarcely necessary. While dismantling our barn, we also salvaged a smaller poster, about 11" x 14", in black and white, which has no picture but says, "REMEMBER: Perpetual CLOSED SEASON on MEN." They really made good posters back then, didn't they? We cleaned this one up and covered it with contact paper, also. We hope this adds a little more interest to the topic of old posters, although we suppose it does not actually provide more enlightenment to the background of the "Gee Mister!" one. We enjoy reading Fish and Wildlife. Thanks! Sincerely, Frost Pond Camps Judy Givens P.S. My daughter tells me the "dead hunter" poster said, "Look Before You Shoot." From The Editor: Thanks fo r all your nice comments regarding the poster effort. We couldn't resist re-issuing this message to today's anglers. As the letter above states: "11zey really made good posters back then, didn't they?"

Contest Winners contined from page 31 3. Melissa Hall Seventh Grade Ka tahdin Junior High, Sherman Station

Parks Category 2. Danielle Fotter Sixth Grade Belgrade Central School, Belgrade 3. Erica Gallant Sixth Grade Belgrade Central School, Belgrade Grades Nine - Twelve

Wildlife Category 2. Jeremy Paquette Freshman Thornton Academy, Saco 3. Sarah Harper Sophomore Thornton Academy, Saco

Parks Category 2. Rose Schaed Sophomore Thornton Academy, Saco 3. Johnny Falt Junior Thornton Academy, Saco

Help Us Stop Maine's Fish 8 Wildlife Law Violators

KI D-BITS ANSWERS - WATER QUIZ 1,c 2,b 3 ,a

4 ,a & b 5,b

6,c 7,a & b 8,a 9,b 10,b

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

Place Sta.mp

Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

Place Sta.mp

Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

1estlng box was an

LETTERS Dear Sirs: What a grand idea and what an interest ing article! I do hope you find more in this series(?) Just this week I had seen one of tJ original posters (Gee Mister!) so I could not resist your offering. It was so nice to hear that some of the Maine agencies can work together. My hat off to you and the museum people who are doing a splendid job of which your cover c. attest. Sincerely, Carol Yoz. P.S. The whole Spring Issue of Me. F & ' was especially nice, I thought!

94-02

AINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL RALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $ 15 D Please bW me later

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

l'OB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

94-02

Gentlemen: The cover on the spring issue of the ma1 zine is just out of this world! The picture o. the little boy wistfully wondering if there \I be any fish left when he grows up is right from the heart. I have seen this poster on display in the fishing department at L L Bean's in Freeport, and have wondered h01 to get a copy, but have just put off doing something about it. And so here it is in ow magazine. I have called and requested an extra COf of the magazine, and would like to order tv of the reprints of the poster. My check for $10.00 is enclosed. Thanks for the great job in tracking this down, and I wish you success in locating

Address ___________ ___________________

others in the series. Sincerely,

City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Dean S. Jore. Retired Wart

Dear Sirs: We were quite interested in your article on the "Gee, Mister!" poster and available reprints. We're afraid we won't be requesting a reprint, though, as we have one of the originals! We own and operate Frost Pond Camps above Ripogenus Darn and are currently in the process of dismantling our lar1 old barn, built not long after the darn was completed and the orad was pushed throuf to Frost Pond. The "Frost Pond Storehouse was probably built in 1919, according to a date found on one of the beams. Our poste which was covered by cardboard, certainly isn't in the good shape of the copy shown ii your photo, but it's quite intact and legible, except for some mold. We've cleaned it up. ironed it flat, and plan to cover it with clear contact paper and display it. We discovere,

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL RALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

0 2 years only $15 D Please bW me later

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

94-02

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

.SPECIAL RALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $15 D Please bW me later

l'1Bl1le ____________________________~

City/State/ Zip _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

OR FASTER SERVICE CALL TOLL-FBEE 1-800-288-8387 32

Maine Fish and Wildlife

;1: ~ . _...._ _ _ __

This saw-whet owl decided that this unoccupied duck nesting box was an Ideal place to call home! See story on page 2.

fisheries Biologist Dick Arsenault (left) weighs in an eightpound, seven-ounce female brown trout with help from angler Robert Fountaine of Raymond (son of former de1>artment hatchery employee Henry Fountaine). Fountaine took the 27inch brown on a Red Ghost streamer while trolling in Range Pond May 1 f. Not a record-breaker (it needs about 1 f more pounds for that!), but still a real n-i- i - 1ce fish! Photo by Tom Carbone