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Salmon at Matinicus and Ragged islands.

Matinicus is a small island located south of Penobscot Bay and about 15 miles southeast of the nearest mainland (Thomaston).  It is in the route of salmon coming in from the sea to ascend the river, and nets set in favorable positions would naturally be expected to intercept the fish.  On the western side of the island Messrs. R. Crie & Sons have operated a trap for mackerel and herring for four years, and during that time have incidentally taken a number of salmon.  Between May 20 and July 10 marketable fish are caught, while in August and September salmon too small to utilize are taken in considerable quantities; in the opinion of the Messrs. Crie these small fish were on their way to sea from the Penobscot River.  It has been observed that when an easterly wind is blowing very few salmon are taken, but during a westerly wind salmon are always obtained in the months named, and the quantity of salmon secured in any given year bears a close relation to the direction of the prevailing winds.  In 1895 the number of marketable salmon caught was 65; in 1896 the catch was 167.  The largest fish taken in the two years weighed 30 pounds, the smallest 1/2 pound.  The largest daily catch was 31 salmon, in 1896; the next largest, 27, in 1894.

Mr. W. B. Young, of Matinicus Island, has a herring weir on the southwestern part of Ragged Island, which lies a short distance south of Matinicus Island.  In 1896 this weir during June and July caught 15 salmon with an aggregate weight of 200 pounds.  The largest weighed 24 1/2 pounds.  No small, unmarketable ones were obtained.

Salmon at the Cranberry Isles.

The Cranberry Isles lie a few miles south of Mount Desert Island and about 25 miles east of Penobscot Bay.  They are in the track of migrating salmon, as a few herring weirs set around the islands have for several years taken one or more salmon almost annually. [3] Mr. W. I. Mayo, a correspondent at the islands, reports that in June, 1895, Colonel Hadlock took a 17-pound salmon in a weir, and on May 5 of the same year Mr. Mayo caught one weighing 19 pounds.  None had been taken, however, in 1896 up to September 1.

   [Footnote 3:  See paper entitled “Notes on the capture
   of Atlantic salmon at sea and in the coast waters of
   the Eastern States,” Bull.  U.S.F.C. 1894.]

Salmon caught with hook off Maine coast.

Instances are multiplying of the taking of salmon at sea on trawl lines on the New England coast.  The salmon are usually taken during the time when the fish are running in the rivers, but occasionally one has been caught in midwinter.  The following data relate to fish that probably belonged to the Penobscot school.