The facilities for the recapture of the salmon when the spawning season approaches must be considered.  In the lake at Bucksport village (No. 3) we hoped at first that their desire to reach a suitable spawning ground would induce them all to enter the small brook that forms the outlet, which was within the limits of the inclosure.  In this matter our expectations were but partially realized.  Many of the fish refused to leave the lake through the narrow opening that was afforded them, and were only obtained by pound-nets, seines, and gill-nets, all of which involved a considerable expenditure of labor and material.

The drawing of a seine in a large body of fresh water is likely to be a serious undertaking unless the bottom has been previously cleared of snags.  In this respect the long and narrow inclosure at Dead Brook possesses great advantages, since it can be swept with a comparatively short seine.  However, the influx and efflux of a considerable volume of water is of great advantage in enticing the gravid fish into traps that can readily be contrived for them by any ingenious fisherman.

The existence of a gravelly bottom in the inclosure must be considered a positive disadvantage, inasmuch as it affords the fish a ground on which they may lay their eggs before they can be caught; but the danger of such an occurrence is less as the bounds of the inclosure are more contracted and the facilities for capturing the fish are better.

As to the number of fish to a given area, I think we have never approached the maximum.  I should have no hesitation in putting 1000 salmon in the inclosure at Dead Brook, which covers an area of less than 3 acres.  Of course the renewal of the water supply, or its aeration by winds, is of importance here.

The capture and transport of the fish in June involves methods requiring some explanation.  The salmon fisheries about the mouth of the Penobscot River are pursued by means of a sort of trap termed a “weir.”  It is constructed of fine-meshed nets hung upon stakes, arranged so as to entrap and detain the fish without insnaring them in the meshes.  They swim about in the narrow “pound” of the weir until the retreating tide leaves them upon a broad floor.

Just before the floor is laid bare, the salmon destined for the breeding works are dipped out carefully with a cloth bag or a very fine bag-net and placed in transporting cars or boats, rigged specially for the purpose, sunk deep in the water, which fills them, passing in at two grated openings above, and passing out at two others astern, and covered with a net to prevent escape.  In a boat 13 or 14 feet long (on the bottom) we put 10 or 15 salmon, to be towed a distance of 7 miles.  If the water is cool, twice as many can go safely, but there must be no delay.  It is very important that this car be smooth inside, with no projections for the salmon to chafe on, and the gratings must be so close that they cannot get their heads in between the bars.