Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Fall 1978

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE

FALL 1978

75¢ · ISSN: 0360-00SX .)

FROM THE BEGINNING AN INDEX TO MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE MAGAZINE Vol. 1, No. l through Vol. 20, No. 3 ANIMALS The Mud Puppy-Robert E. Foye . . ... .. ... . . . ... .. .. . . ..... ... Spr. '61 Fresh-water Jellyfish in Maine-Matthew Scott . ............. Spr. .'63 The Crayfish-Matthew Scott ..... . ..... ..... .............. . . . Spr. '64 Salamanders-Donald F . Mairs . . . ... .... .. ..... . .... ... ... .. . Spr. '65 The Bryozoa-Matthew Scott ........ .... ..... .... ...... .. ... . Fall '65 A Look at Leeches--:Peter M. Bourque . . .. .. ....... . . . ... .... Smr. '66 The Ancient Snapper-Dr. Malcolm W. Coulter .. ............ Smr. '68 Turtles-Philip S . Andrews .. . .. ... . .. .... . . .. .. . ... ...... ... Smr. '66 The Swampla_n d Singers-Donald F. Mairs . . ..... .. ..... Wntr. '67-'68 Maine Snakes Are Harmless-William C . Mincher . .. ..... . . Smr. '71 The "Good Guys" and the "Bad Guys" Ruth Sawyer Billard ......... . ... . ..... ...... .... .... . . Wntr. '73-'74 The Journal of Four Beaver K i ts-John O. Leathers .. ........ Spr. '73 GAME

Bear Facts-Howard E. Spencer, Jr. . ............... . .... . ... . Fall '61 The Dam Builders-John H. Hunt ........ .. ................... Fall '62 The Deer' s Year-Dr. Donald F. Behrend . . ... .... . ....... Wntr. '67-'68 The Life of the White-tail-Dr. Frederick F. Gilbert . ......... Smr. '69 The Bambi Myth-Clarence Beezley .................. ... ... .. Spr. '72 Deer Facts of Life-Chester F . Banasiak ................. Wntr. '65-66 The River Otter-Harold M . Blanchard . ..... ..... . .. . ... Wntr. '65-'66 Favorite Furbearer-Harold M. Blanchard .. ...... ............ Spr. '66 The Lynx-John H. Hunt ......... . .. . ........ .. . .. ... .. . ...... Fall '64 Farmland Fat-man-Robert W. Boettger . ...... .... .... . .... .. Spr. '64 The Marten Makes a Comeback-Harold M . Blanchard ...... . Fall '74 Maine' s Marten-Harold M. Blanchard . . .. .. .. . ............ .. Smr. '67 Maine' s " Cooneys" -Douglas L. Marston .... . . .. . ... ........ . Fall '67 Caribou Report-Kenneth W. Hodgdon . .... . ......... ...... ... Spr. '65 The Wily One-John H. Hunt .... . . . .. ..... ... . ........ .. . Wntr. '66-'67 The Woodland Caribou-Francis D . Dunn . ....... ........ Wntr. '66-'67 Maine's "Rabbits" -Douglas L. Marston ....... ... .. .... . .. . . Smr. '66 Return of the Native-William C. Mincher ... . .... ......... . .. Spr. '64 Black Bear-Roy D. Hugie .. ..... .. .. .. ...... . .. . ... .... . Wntr. '74-'75 Meet Mr. Mink-Lee E. Perry ... .. .. .... ........ . . ....... Wntr. '73-'74 Crafty Cousins-Harold M . Blanchard .. .......... . ...... Wntr. '67-'68 Wanderer of the Woodland-Malcolm Coulter ..... .. . ... ... . . . Fall '59 Maine's " Black Cat" -Dr. Malcolm W . Coulter .. .. ......... .. Smr. '74 The Raccoon-Steven E . Powell . . . ........ . ....... .... ... ..... Spr. '75 Weasels-Harold M. Blanchard ... .. .. .... . . .... ......... Wntr. '68-'69 Tree-top Travelers-Peter R. Davis ....... . .. ................. Spr. '68 His Majesty, the Moose-Kenneth W . Hodgdon . . .... . ... . .. . Smr. '74 Maine' s Coyotes-Alden T. Kennett ........ .................. Smr. '70 Coyote or Dog?-Rodney D. Sirois . . ....... ....... .. . . ... Wntr. '74-'75 The Eastern Coyote-Candie L. Teer . ..... .. . . ........ .. . . .... . Fall'75 Maine Coyote Questions-Henry S . Hilton .. ... . ...... .. . Wntr. '76-'77 The Coyote-Peter A. Cross, Voit B . Richens, Roy D . Hugie . .. ... . ..... ... . ....... . .... . . .. ...... . ... .. . . . Smr. '72 NON-GAME MAMMALS

Steward of the Woods-T. Robley Louttit . .. .... ............. Smr. '67 Voles-Stephen E . Powell ...... ....... ....................... Smr. '67 Bats in Your Belfry?-David C. O 'Meara ... . . .. ............. . Spr.'69 The Little-known Lynx-John H . Hunt .. ..... . .. . . ............ Spr. '74 Woodland Asset or Liability?-W. Sidney Howe .. .. .. .. . . . ... Spr. '68 The Improbable Possum-Robert W. Boettger . ..... .. . ....... Spr. '74 A Polecat By Any Other Name-Robert W. Boettger ... ....... Fall '70 The Shrews-Robert W. Boettger . .. ... .. .. . . . ..... . ..... . .... . Spr. '70 RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT

(see also LAND MANAGEMENT) Editorial: Maine' s " Deer Problems" .. .. .... . .. ... ...... .. Wntr. '71-'72 Deer and Snowmobiles: Are They Compatible?-Gerald R. Lavigne, Voit B . Richens ...... .. .... . . ........... . .. .. . .......... . . . . Spr. '77 The Maine Co-operative Wildlife Research UnitHoward L. Mendall . ............. .. ......................... Smr. '70 Managing Maine' s Beavers: How & WhyRobert W. Boettger . .. . ..... .. ... ...... . ....... . .. .. ... . . Wntr.'66- '67 Wildlife Inventory: A Practical Approach-W.S. Howe .. Wntr. '65-'66 Cedar and Game-John D. Gill, William C. Mincher . ... . .. ... Spr. '66 Aging By Tooth Sections-Andrew S . Clauson ............... Fall '77 How Many Moose?-Francis Dunn ..... ...... .. . ....... .. . . .. Fall '66 The Latest Word on Maine's Moose-Francis Dunn . ..... Wntr. '70-'71 The New Look in Moose-Francis Dunn . ...... . ....... . ...... Spr. '70 Game Kill Questionnaires-Kenneth W. Hodgdon . . .. ... .... . Fall '61 How To Bug a Bear-Roy D . Hugie ...... ..................... Fall '77 Baxter's Bears-Roy D . Hugie .. .. ... .. ............. .. ... . . . . Smr. '77 Food Problems of Our Deer Herd-Chester F. Banasiak ..... . Spr. '59 Deer and Pulpwood-John D . Gill ... . ... . .. . . .... . ..... .... ... Fall '60 Deer Winter Habitat ManagementDouglas L . Marston .. .... . .. ...... . ... ............ . .. . . Wntr. '76-'77

Winter Weather and the White-tail-Dr. Frederick F. Gilbert, Dr. Voit B . Richens ..... . ...... . .... ....... . .... . .. . .. . Wntr. '70- '71 Winter Deer Losses-Dr. Frederick F. Gilbert . ..... ... .. . .. ... Spr. '70 Information on the Maine Deer HerdRonald T . Speers ... .. ... . .. .. . . ... .. ... .. . .......... . .. Wntr. '69-'70 How Old is Your Deer?-Dr. Frederick F . Gilbert ............. Fall '69 To Trap A White-tail-Henry S. Carson . ........ .. ........... Smr. '71 York-Cumberland Deer Study-Douglas L. Marston . . . . ..... . Fall '69 Deer Mirrors Save Deer . .. and Cars-W. Sidney Howe .. Wntr. '66-'67 Dividends for Deer-Kenneth W. Hodgdon ........... .... Wntr. '66- '67 Severe Winter Confirmed-Charles B. Fobes . . .... .... .. ..... . Spr. '71 What Do Deer Do in the Winter?-Myrtle C . Bateman . . . Wntr. '71-'72 Conservation Careers: The Wildlife BiologistRobert W. Boettger .. . ...... . . .. ... ...... . .... . ......... Wntr. '77-'78

BIRDS GAME

Ducks That Nest in Maine-Howard E . Spencer, Jr. ........ . . Spr. '68 Brant and Snow Geese-Patrick J. McGarvey . .... .. .. . .. . .. . Fall '75 Honkers!-Howard E . Spencer, Jr. .... ....... . ... . .... . . . ... . . Spr. '67 Maine' s Dabbling Ducks-J. William Peppard .. ...... .... .. .. Spr. '67 Maine's Diving Ducks-J. William Peppard . .. ... . ........... Fall '67 Blue-wings-Gary G. Donovan . . .. . .. .. . .. ..... .. ........... Smr. '70 No. 827-00239 and Associates-Howard E. Spencer, Jr... Wntr. '68- '69 The Ring-neck Duck-Howard L . Mendall ..... . . . ........ .. . Smr. '72 Upland Game Birds-Richard B. Parks . .. . ..... .. ...... ..... . Fall '64 Timberdoodlings-J. William Peppard . ...... ... ........ .... .. Spr. '63 The Ring-Necked Pheasant-Richard B . Parks ...... . . . . ... . Smr. '66 Don't Slight the Snipe!-Howard E. Spencer, Jr ......... . . .. .. Fall '66 The Unpredictable(?) Partridge-Nathaniel R. Dickinson .. .. Fall '60 Forest Drummer-Henry S . Carson ........ ..... ..... ..... . .... Spr. '66 Snow Roosting-Tom Shoener . ...... ..... . ... .. . ..... . . . Wntr. '71- '72 The Spruce Grouse-Henry S . Carson .. ................. Wntr. '67-'68 Crows and Ravens-Peter A. Cross . . . ....... ... ......... Wntr. '70-'71 NON-GAME

To Soar Again Another Day-W. Thomas Shoener ...... Wntr. '67-'68 Our National Emblem-Edward A. Sherman ....... ... . .... . Smr. '67 What's the Latest on Maine's Eagles?-Francis J. Gramlich .. Fall '75 The Bald Eagle in Maine-Linda Wright ....... . .. .... ... Wntr. '72-'73 An Endangered Species: The Bald Eagle-Ray B . Owen, Jr., Charles S. Todd, Patrick 0. Corr, Francis J. Gramlich . ... . Smr. '78 Osprey-Kenneth H . Anderson . . . . ....... . . . ................. Smr. '66 Hawks: Friend or Foe-Dr. Sanford D. Schemnitz . ..... .. .... Spr. '70 Maine's Owls: Hoots Who?-Dr. Sanford D. Schemnitz ....... Spr. '74 The Lonely Yodeler of Maine Lakes-W. Thomas Shoener ... Smr. '74 The Mourning Dove-Warren A . Eldridge ............... Wntr. '71-'72 Maine' s Seabird Nesting ColoniesChristopher M . Packard ........ . .. . . . .............. . ... Wntr. '69-'70 Gulls, Gulls, and More Gulls-Richard B. Anderson . ........ Smr. '72 The Mudflat Crowd-Peter A. Cross ............ ....... .. . .. . Smr. '78 RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT

(see also LAND MANAGEMENT) Winter Pheasant Food-Clayton 0 . Totman . .. .. ...... .... ... . Spr. '72 Any Woodcock in Your Back Forty Tonight?William B . Krohn and Ray B. Owen, Jr... .. .... . ..... .... . . Smr. '73 Banded Maine Woodcock-William B . Krohn ........... . ... . . Spr. '73 Great Blue Herons: Rookery RoundupElizabeth C. Pierson .. ..... .. . ......... .. ..... .. ... . ....... Smr. '77 Fall and Winter Foods of Ruffed GrouseDr. Sanford D . Schemnitz . . . .. .......... . ..... .. . .... .... ... Fall '68 What About Wild Turkeys for Maine?Kenneth H . Anderson .. ..... . ...... .. ........................ Fall'63 Tracks of the Wild Turkey-Philip A. Bozenhard ... . ..... . .. Smr. '77 Turkey Transplant ............. ... . . . ....... .. . . .. .... ........ Spr. '77 Black Ducks: Going, Going, .. . ?Howard E . Spencer, Jr... . ... .... .. ......... . ...... .. . .. Wntr. '75-'76 An Experiment in Black Duck ManagementHoward E . Spencer, Jr..... . .......... . ........... . . .. . .... .. Fall '67 Winter Black Duck Banding-Howard E. Spencer, Jr. . .. Wntr. '77-'78 What Mallards Mean To Maine-Howard E . Spencer, Jr.. .... . Spr. '78 Nest Boxes for Ducks-Howard E . Spencer, Jr. .. .. . .. ... Wntr. '65-'66 Keeping a Watch on Waterfowl-Howard E. Spencer, Jr. .... . Fall '66 Banding the Goldeneye-Richard Gibbs ... .. ..... .... ..... .. . Spr. '61 Keeping Tabs on Waterfowl-Howard E. Spencer, Jr. .... .. .. . Spr. '61 A New Look at Woodcock-William C. Russell ...... .. . ... .. . Spr. '69 The Sharp-tailed Grouse-Douglas L. Marston . .. ........... Smr. '72

(continued on page 32)

MAINE Governor James B. Longley

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Maynard F. Marsh J. William Peppard Kenneth H. Anderson David 0. Locke Alanson 8. Noble Lyndon H. Bond Ralph C. Will Robert W. Boettger William C. Mincher Clayton G. Grant Richard 8. Parks Lorenzo J. Gaudreau Alfred L. Meister

Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Director, Planning and Co-ordination Supt. of Hatcheries Chief Warden Chief, Fishery Division Director, Administrative Services Chief, Wildlife Division Director, Information and Education Chief, Engineering Division Chief, Realty Division Director, Recreational Safety and Registration Chief Biologist, Atlantic Salmon Commission

Advnory Council Dr. Alonzo H. Garcelon, Chairman Augusta, Maine

FISH AND "'7ILDLIFE

'

STATE OF MAINE Fall 1978

Index to Feature Articles

Vol. 20, N o.4

Inside Front Cover

Big Bucks: A 20-Year Summary

4

What 's Happening: The Steel Shot Program

6

Jerry R . Longcore Howard E . Spencer, Jr. Patrick Corr

Moosehead: Then and Now

8

Roger P. Au Clair

What We're Shooting For

14

Gareth S. Anderson

Maine Rivers: The Dennys

16

James S. Fletcher

Ralph L. Noel Auburn

Nathan Cohen Eastport

Tough It Out

20

Alan G. Clark

Rodney W. Ross Brownville

Robert E. Moore Casco

Legislation Summary

23

William C. Mincher

George E. Prentiss Rumford

Dennis L. Smith Otter Creek

Hardwood Habitats

24

Harold M Blanchard

Maine Rivers: The West Branch

27

Paul R. Johnson

KID-BITS

30

Maine Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by . the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St., Augusta, Maine 04333, under appropriation 4550. No advertising accepted.

William C. Mincher, Editor W. Thomas Shoener, Managing Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Features Editor William W. Cross, Photo Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photographer Patricia J. Hogan, Circulation Phyllis M. Norton, Circulation

ON THE COVER

Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1978.

Written permission must be secured from the Department before reproducing any part of this copyrighted material.

The greys and browns of weathered wood set the scene for this collection of autumn shapes and colors, arranged and photographed by Bill Cross.

Subscription rates to U.S. zip code addresses: $2.50 for one year; $4.00 for two years, $5.50 for three years. No stamps, please. Second class postage paid at Augusta, Maine 04330. Publication Number 326280.

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

Š

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

HIS ISSUE'S LISTING of the biggest dee r ente red in the Bigge t Bucks in Maine Club ma rk s the 20th anniversary of this popular feature of Maine Fish and Wildlife. In reviewing twenty years of Club hi story, perhaps the mo t i ntere. ting discovery is how little change ha occurred.

The number of <l er entered each year ha almo t a lways been in the 400 to 600 range. T he grea te t number of deer meeting the Club's minimum weight req uireme nt (200 pounds, woods-dressed) in one year wa 608 in 1970 ; the smallest number wa 379 in 1962. In 1977 , 4 99 Big Bucks qualified, an increase of 19 over t he prev iou ¡ear.

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At the top of the list almost every year has been a buck in the range of 260 to 290 pounds, dressed. The most noteworthy exception to this was a huge buck taken in 1964 by Lowell Barnes of Hiram, Maine . This one dres ed-out at 312 pounds and had a calculated live weight of 406 pounds! There have been two other 400pound-plus bucks entered in the Club since 1958 and 42 others with live weights of 350 or more. Deer of this size, and even those that make the Club on a much more regular basis, are unheard-of in other white-tail deer states.

Another area where little change has occurred over the past twenty years is in the geographical distribution of Big Bucks. They have been taken in every county every Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Fall 1978

year. They have come from Eastport and Coburn Gore, from Kittery and · Allagash, and at one time or another from ' most every town between.

Twenty years ago, the .30-30 was the most popular rifle with Maine hunters, at least with those who bagged Big Bucks. The number-one position was gradually taken over by the .30-06 and later by the .308. Shotguns a nd bow and arrow are a ppearing on the Big Buck application cards with increasing regularity in recent years.

Nonresident hunters do not show up quite as well in the Club registrations as they do in the total de~r kill figures, indicating, perhaps, that residents have a little advantage when it comes to the Big Bucks. This is especially noticeable, in the accompanying list of the top deer entered in

the Club in 1977 ; resident hunters completely dominated top honors last yea r.

The Biggest Buc ks in Maine Club was sta rted in 1949 as a state promotional program a nd is now administered by the Maine Sportsman (Box 507, Yarmouth, ME 04096), with application cards available from game wardens and wildlife biologists of the Fish and Wildlife Depa rtment.

Space does not permit listing information on all of the deer entered in the Club each year, but we do try to give recognition to the largest ones. The accompanying table lists the biggest of the Biggest Bucks entered in the Club in 1977.

•

BIGGEST BUCKS, 1977 Name Russell Lee, Jr. Harold D . Quiet Cecil E. King Gerry Cote Merrill G. Colbeth Richard S. Leask Christopher F. Flynn Harvey Walker Kenneth Morgan Woody Martin David Perry Cleon M. Fletcher, Jr. Ronald Bolduc Daniel Poreda Edmund Kenney Edmund Bernatchez Alfred Gardiner Eric R. Seekins Francis Bubier Lloyd E . Wardwell, Jr. Dominic Gemelli Robert Harmon Lenny Warner Brent Bunnell Michael D. Pratt Tom Boudreau David Croteau Peter Polashenski Ronald Moody Gary A. Gardiner Robert L. Gordon Gerard J. Pineau James Leo Richard G. Logemann Vaughn Higgins Barry D. Strout Michael A. Parsons Vincent Howard Eugene Dumont

Address

Date Killed

Where Killed

Danforth, Me. Machias, Me. Houlton, Me. Caribou, Me. Bucks Harbor, Me. Scarboro, Me. Carroll, Me. Brownfield, Me. Harpswell, Me. Rockwood, Me. Belfast, Me. Dixfield, Me. Skowhegan, Me. Stratton, Me. Madison, Me. Belgrade, Me. Presque Isle, Me. Hartland, Me. So. Monmouth, Me. Mapleton, Me. Monmouth, Me. Kezar Falls, Me. Kingston, Mass.

Caribou, Me. Carmel, Me. Bangor, Me. Bangor, Me. Mountain Top, Penn.

Cherryfield, Me. Unity, Me. Parkesburg, Penn.

Jay, Me. Deptford, N .J. Westport, Conn.

New Sweden, Me. Skowhegan, Me. Etna, Me. Richmond, Me. Oakland, Me.

11-5-77 11-12-77 11-25-77 11-25-77 11 -15-77 11-11-77 11-5-7.7 11-5-77 10-29-77 11-18-77 11-7-77 11 -8-77 11-12-77 10-19-77 11-7-77 11-5-77 11 -10-77 11-5-77 10-29-77 11-18-77 10-29-77 11 -7-77 11-18-77 10-29-77 11-5-77 11-5-77 11-8-77 11-1-77 11-10-77 11-17-77 11-7-77 11-8-77 11-14-77 11-7-77 11-3-77 11-25-77 11 -10-77 11-5-77 11-19-77

Danforth Marion Haynesville Connor Machiasport Dresden Carroll Fryeburg T .l ,R.14

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

Belfast Dixfield Cornville Coplin Madison Fairfield Ctr. Chapman St. Albans Seboomook · Ashland T.4,R.18 Parsonsfield T .2,R.6 T .16,R.4 Dexter Etna Bucksport Allagash Solon Thorndike Milliken Burbank Burkettville New Sweden Cornville Etna Richmond Smithfield

Firearm .30-30 .300 .308 12 gauge .30-06 20 gauge .30-06 .308 6mm .30-06 .308 .30-30 .30-06 Bow (51 lb.) .308 .308 .308 .315 .35 .308 .30-06 .30-06 .30-30 8mm 20 gauge .308 12 gauge .30-06 .270 .30-30 .270 .308 .308 .30-06 .308 .300 .30-30 .30-06 12 gauge

Dressed Weight

Live Weight

280 264 262 260 259 255 255 254 1/2 254 252 250 247 246 245 245 244 244 243 242 252 241 241 240 240 240 240 238 237 237 237 236 235 235 235 235 235 235 235 235

364 344 340 !/2 338 336 332 332 331 330 328 325 321 320 318 318 317 317 315 315 315 313 313 312 312 312 312 309 308 308 308 307 305 305 305 305 305 305 305 305

5

STEEL SHOT LEADSHOT By Jerry R. Longcore, USFWS Maine Field Station, MBHRL

Howard E. Spencer, Jr. and Patrick Corr Maine Fish and Wildlife Department

N THE WATERS of the Kennebec River known as Merrymeeting Bay boundedasfollows:fromthe high tension wires at Chops Point to the first dam on the Androscoggin River, to the first road bridge on the Muddy, Cathance, Abbagadasset,and EasternRiversandthe RichmondDresdenbridgeonthe Kennebec River,andwithinal 50-yard zone of land adjacent to the margins of these waters being in the counties of Cumberland, Sagadahoc and Lincoln."

With that description, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated Merrymeeting Bay as a steel shot zone for the 1976-77 waterfowl season. The Bay is one of the most famous waterfowling areas in Maine.

This action was taken to reduce the losses of waterfowl from lead poisoning.

I

Lead poisoning among waterfowl has occurred commonly in many prime hunting areas where lead pellets accumulate and are eaten by foraging ducks and geese. Documented reports of the deaths of ducks and geese from lead toxicity have been noted since the l 800's. Surveys and research studies on lead incidence, toxicity, and distribution in marsh bottoms have been underway since the 1950s when F.C. Bellrose conducted his classic studies on lead poisoning as a mortality factor among waterfowl populations. In 1974, 20 years later, efforts to combat this waste culminated in the issuance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of a Draft Environmental Statement which summarized the current knowledge, status, and alternatives to use of lead shot. After comments were solicited from interested parties, a Final Environmental Statement was published in 1976, and the use of steel shot was implemented in the Atlantic Flyway states. The only area in Maine that had a high enough harvest of ducks to meet the criteria for selection as a steel shot zone was Merrymeeting Bay.

LTHOUGH LEAD POISONING has been fairly well documented on a national scale, the history of lead poisoning in Maine has been sketchy, at best. There have been no reported large-scale waterfowl die-offs in Maine. In fact, we are aware of only one reported case of acute lead poisoning mortality in Maine - a ring-necked duck. However, waterfowl also suffer chronic lead poisoning from ingested pellets, and ducks are often weakened so that they are more prone to die of disease or to be taken by predators.

Because we do not always observe lead poisoning cases, especially chronic poisoniqg losses, we have examined indirect data sources.. which indicate that Maine waterfowl have been exposed to lead pellets.

For example in the early 1930s and 1940s, gizzards from hundreds of Maine waterfowl were studied to determine food habits. An examination of these food habits records from ducks collected around Pocomoonshine Lake, Moose Pond, Merrymeeting Bay, and other scattered locations showed a lead shot incidence of 5.1 per cent in all ducks combined. The lead shot incidence in black ducks from Merrymeeting Bay was 5.3 per cent.

In 1959, F.C. Bellrose reported a lead shot incidence of 4.8 per cent in the gizzards of 975 waterfowl examined from Maine; most of these ducks (725) were black ducks. One of the more recent studies of

A

The duck at left was poisoned by lead shot. Note tho emaciated condition as compared with normal duck beside it.

6

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

lead exposure in Maine waterfowl was conducted in 1972, when lead residue levels in wing bones of black ducks were determined. In a sample of 56 immature, black duck wings, lead residues averaged 5.2 parts per million (ppm), with some wings containing more than 20 ppm of lead. The average lead level in black duck wings from five Atlantic Flyway states was 8.1 ppm. These high bone residues of lead are believed to be from ingested pellets.

Although these data suggested that there is some exposure of Maine waterfowl to lead pellets, the selection of Merrymeeting Bay as a steel shot zone was made on the basis of the number of waterfowl harvested per square mile ( 10) and/or per county (10,000).

Because the criterion of documented waterfowl losses was not used in the decision to designate the zone, and because of the paucity of data on lead shot occurrence in waterfowl or in the mud of the tidal flats of the Bay, many individuals felt the action was unjustified.

The need for objective data on these questions was apparent; thus, co-operative studies by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife were initiated in the fall of 197677. Gizzards from hunter-killed waterfowl to be examined for ingested pellets, were collected from co-operators during the first part of the waterfowl season.

There were no data on the presence of shot pellets in the Bay; and, furthermore, the possibility existed that some ducks may have migrated into the Bay already carrying ingested lead shot. Therefore, a limited sampling of the marsh bottom was conducted between the split seasons in 1976-77.

These initial efforts revealed that 3.4 per cent of all the duck gizzards examined (381) contained lead pellets. One steel pellet was also found. The incidence of lead shot in the black duck was 8.1 per cent, which nearly equaled the incidence (8.3 per cent) which was reported nationwide for black ducks in 1959 by F.C. Bellrose. Limited, preliminary, bottom sampling of 40 square feet showed that about 17,000 shot per acre occurred in the top 2-4 inches of the Bay bottom.

Thus, a large-scale sampling of the tidal flats of the Bay was needed to obtain a random sample of the distribution of lead shot in the Bay. This sampling was not done until just two weeks before the 1977-78 hunting season so that there was a maximum period of settlement for the shot deposited the previous season. A 2 14 -square-foot sample was taken from each of 45 randomly selected sampling stations.

The results were startling; an average of 1 lead pellet

Arrow indicates lead shot in gizzard. Swelling of digestive tract indicates presence of a food block caused by the shot.

Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Fall 1978

was found every 1 square foot! Calculated on a peracre basis, the top 2 to 4 inches of mud of the Merrymeeting Bay tidal flats contained 41,000 lead pellets.

Compared to two dozen other prime waterfowl hunting areas across North America, this density of shot in Merrymeeting Bay is nearly twice as high as the median level (21,000 shot/acre) in these other areas. Interestingly, not a single steel shot was found in the 100 square feet of bottom sample collected although steel shot was required in 12-gauge guns in the previous hunting season.

The gizzard examination was continued into the 1977-78 waterfowl season with results similar to those of the previous year. Lead shot incidence was up slightly to 3. 7 per cent overall and continued fairly high in black ducks at 6.1 per cent. Lead pellets were also found in 2 mallards, 1 green-winged teal, and 1 ring-necked duck. Again, no ingested steel pellets were found. In contrast, in other areas Michigan, for example - 5.6 per cent of 4,229 gizzards examined ¡ in 1977 contained ingested pellets, and 59.0 per cent of these pellets were steel (Wildlife Division Report, Mich. DNR).

HAT HAS HAPPENED in W steel shot implementation has

Maine regarding also happened in many other states. With the implementation of steel shot zones, biologists are taking a hard look at thousands of waterfowl gizzards and marsh bottoms and through these efforts are obtaining objective data to pinpoint better the locations where steel shot is really needed.

The impacts of the steel shot program in Maine are not fully known at this time. Nevertheless, Maine waterfowlers have played an important role in supporting our investigations at the Bay. We are optimistic that the interest and concern of these responsible sportsmen will continue. If so, the exposure of Maine's waterfowl resource to toxic lead will undoubtedly decline. Only time will tell. We will keep you posted as our studies in Merrymeeting Bay continue.

NORMAL

LEAD POISON ED

7

MOOSE HEAD THEN & NOW Fishing pressure is causing problems on Maine's largest lake

By Roger P. AuClair Regional Fishery Biologist

OOSEHEAD LAKE holds a special significance to Maine people and to many others who have enjoyed vacations in Maine. It is not the fishing alone that one remembers about this large, deep, clear body of water; it is perhaps a feeling of returning to the time when Europeans had not yet settled this continent.

Exploring the many isolated coves and rocky, forested shores, one can easily imagine a birch bark canoe, paddled silently by a native American, emerging from a morning mist enveloping Mt. Kineo - the source of material used for arrow points, and the focal point of many Indian legends.

Moosehead Lake history has passed through the phases of discovery, hunting and trapping, early logging, resort hotels and sporting camps for the wealthy, and it is now well i.n to the phase of individual seasonal homes, condominiums and four-season resorts. The impact of these changes on the water quality and fisheries is difficult to assess. We feel that the water quality has changed little from the "pristine" condition of more than a century ago.

However, comparing the present fishing quality objectively with the lightly exploited condition and fishing habits of anglers at the turn of the presen t century can be littl e more than a guess.

When we study or discuss the fish and fisheries of Moosehead Lake, we must consider all waters that flow into Moosehead, as fish cannot be prevented from travel ing downstream for any great period of time. Moosehead Lake drains an area of about 1,266 square miles, and by far the largest portion of the basin (about 18 townships) is drained by the Moose River and its tributaries. The Moose River originates at the height of land on the Ca-

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nadian-U .S. border west of Jackman and has about 91 lakes and ponds with surface areas of 10 acres or larger in its drainage. These have a combined area of 23,000 acres. Since the Piscataquis County line follows the western shore of Moosehead Lake, all of these waters are in Somerset and Franklin counties.

The second largest drainage system is the Roach River on the eastern side of Moosehead Lake. This system, much smaller, includes all or portions of 7 townships.

There are 13 great ponds ( IO acres and larger) in this drainage, with a total surface area of 5,426 acres.

The remaining 21 lakes and ponds that empty into Moosehead Lake amount to 3,550 acres. The 126 waters including Moosehead Lake add to 106,569 acres of lakes and ponds 10 acres or greater. Many small ponds (less than IO acres), bogs, deadwater, etc. , are not included.

Moosehead Lake's area of 74,8 90 acres is 70 per cent of the total. Waters of more than 500 acres total 101 ,467 acres or 95 per cent of the grand total surface acreage.

Biological surveys have been completed for 66 (52 per cent) of the waters in the drainage. However, the surveyed waters contain about 104,800 acres of 98 per cent of the total acreage in the drainage. The 60 waters not surveyed yet are small, and mostly remote, ponds.

Except for gravel extraction, there are no mining or manufacturing operations dumping large quantities of wastes that would lower the water quality or introduce toxic substances into these waters.

There are approximately 3,200 dwellings occupied throughout the year, and an additional 1,000 seasonal dwellings, occupied only occasionally, near the waters of this drainage basin. More than 95 per cent of the drainage is forested and in various stages of cutting and growth. Between the early 1800s and the near present, most of the waters in the drainage were used to transport and store logs or short wood (pulpwood) . Men and supplies were transported by water or along water routes to remote Jogging camps.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

NTIL LESS THAN FIVE YEARS ago, pu.lpwood was tran ported out of Moosehead Lake down the outlet, the Kennebec River, all the way to Augu ta.

At some time or other between the early 1800s and as late as the 1950s, timber dams were built on the outlets of practically every lake, pond, or bog large enough to provide sufficient water storage for driving logs either part way down the Moosehead drainage to local saw mills or into Moosehead Lake to be stored near sawmills or "boomed" down to the outlet to continue down the Ke nnebec River.

Now there remain only three timber dams capable of holding water in the entire drain age. However, many old timber dams in various stages of decomposition may be seen throughout the area. The only " permanent" dams remaining in the drain age are the large, concrete truc tures on the outlets of Brassu a Lake and Moo ehead Lake, and sma ll concrete dam s on Crocker Pond and Squaw Pond.

After the last ice age (10,000-15,000 years ago) and the subsequent continental uplift, high falls preve nted the most recent pecies of fishes from a cending the Ken nebec River to Moosehead Lake. Atlantic salmon apparently went over Caratunk Falls in Solon but could not urmount the high falls below the original Indi an Pond several mi le downriver from Moose head Lake. The e falls kept all downstream fish from entering the Moo head drainage, and the fish species in thi s drainage remained uncha nged until man decided he could "i mprove" the situation by adding a fe\.1 more. As la te as the 1870s, the only game species, so called, in these waters were brook trout and Jake trout (togue). Whitefish, sucker , and cusk were present and utilized by man mainly for food. Minnows and a few lesser known species were to be found in so me waters. Some ponds were tota lly devoid of fish , and many waters contained brook trout only.

Because Maine, especially the central and northern portions, was a considerable distance from popul ated area , depletion of fish populations in many of our inland water did not occur until the late 1800s and ea rly 1900s. Nonetheless, Maine went through the " regular" process of depletion and subsequent trial and error stocking of several exotic specie including Chinook sa lmon, brown trout , black bass, rainbow trout, walleyed pike, a nd even the potentially very destructive carp. We have remnants as reminders of some of these introduction , including carp, to this day.

Access to Moosehead Lake was by buckboard and stagecoach only, until the late 1800s, · when railroads were extended to Greenville. Thoreau wrote about his canoe trip the length of Moosehead Lake in the 1840s, during which he mentioned that his guide caught ome 4-pound lake trout while he and his companion hiked to the top of Mt. Kineo. A note in Harper's Monthly of August 187 5 said the fishing was not what it used to be and that the largest lake trout at that time weighed 27 pounds and a 5-pound trout (squaretail) was a big one.

U

Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Fall 1978

Until salmon were introduced to Moo ehcad akc in 1879, all the fi hing wa. for trout (squaretails) and Jake trout (togue). Sme lt wer introduced aroun<l 1892 as a forage pecie, for the salmon. However, few sa lmon were caught before the 1900s. Camp Comfort's recon.b note the fir t almon caught by their angler~ \ a. a 4 1 pound fish caught in 18 95. The Moine SporT.\'111<111 ( 1893) tated "Salmon have been put into the lake but only a few have been caught. Guides and all people intere ·ted in preserving the fi h interests of the region are agreed i 11 the ir opinion that these wat rs should be sto ·ked , ith fi h natural to them and that it is a wa te of money and energy to put in sea salmon and other fish which might prove d estructive to trout" . These comments are surprising, coming at a time when strong pr ssurcs for al I kinds of introductions w re being exerted ·n 1110 t circle.· intere ted in fi h and wi ldl ife. Pri ate hatchcri s and hatch erie built and operated by fi h .. prot ective" associations were springing up all over the state, it eluding one at Kineo (Moo ehead) where salmon and trout fry \ ere reared and put into the lake. It is now question able , hether salmon ' hould ha e been i ntrodu ·cd to the Moo ·ehead Lake drainagP. 1

T

HERE ARE MANY ACCOUNTS of th excellen t trout fishing at Moose head Lake during the 1890. and early 1900s w ith limit of 50 pounds including some 4 and 5 pound trout. One might suggest that th Jake was not ti hed much in those days, but this is debatable as ther were several hotels and large sporting camps catering to angler and hunters around the turn of the century.

I have estimated ti at there could hav~ been up to 1.000 angler fi hing the lake at times from shortly after iceout through June. Another flurry of fi hing activity oc-

9

curred in September. One difference was that there was little serious fishing during July and August.

Practically all the fishing was from canoes, each one paddled by an experienced guide. It is quite probable that more than 50,000 pounds of trout and lake trout were harvested from Moosehead Lake annually during the late 1800s. Some salmon were in the catch, but not in significant numbers. In 1895, the weight limit was reduced from 50 to 25 pounds plus one fish. A reduction to 15 pounds occurred around 1908 and remained in effect until about 1942. Even with a 15 pound limit, it would have been possible for, anglers to have harvested more than 50,000 pounds of salmonids from the lake annually .

We have good harvest estimates beginning with 1967; and in I 968 , under an 8-fish, 7 1/2 pound limit, anglers probably caught 45 ,000 pounds of salmon, togue and trout. Details of these harvests are presented in this report.

limit to 7 1/2 pounds did result in a decrease in the catch, and this was mentioned in the Camp Comfort records.

Guides who were active during the 1920s and '30s have related that each guide had a wooden box of certain dimensions which, when filled, held approximately 15 pounds of fish and that there were very few days when the fish box was not filled or could not have been filled. On many days, the box was filled in a short period of time.

During the fishing day, some fair-sized fish were released, depending upon the preference of the "sport" as to size or to species (some did not keep lake trout or salmon).

Guides have also stated that it was rare to catch fish less than legal length.

CAMP COMFORT TABLE 14(a) 60-YEAR TOTALS AND MEANS

NE FAIRLY GOOD RECORD of fishing on Moose( ) oead Lake came from Camp Comfort, a private camp built and maintained by a group of nonresident business and professional men for their exclusive use. Beginning in 1894 and through 1953 (60 years), an average of 7 men per week fished mainly during the first 5 weeks after ice out each year. Each man fished from the bow of a canoe paddled by a guide. Awards were given daily to guides and anglers for the biggest fish and the most fish, to maintain a sense of competition among the guides and anglers. The camp log, which is not complete but nearly so, includes the number of anglers and the number of trout, salmon, and lake trout caught each day. Also, the camp kept a record of all trout 4 pounds and over, salmon 5 pounds and over, and lake trout 8 pounds and over.

For the 60 years, the largest trout taken was 5 3A pounds; salmon, 7 1h pounds; and lake trout, 17 3A pounds. The last 5 pound salmon was recorded in 1945, and the last 4-pound trout was caught in 1950.

The anglers did not fish for lake trout with deep-trolling gear; consequently, the record for lake trout is not representative of large fish of this species that the lake has produced over the years. Eight-pound lake trout were caught commonly, and we have many records of lake trout larger than 20 pounds, with the largest weighing more than 29 pounds. Summaries of Camp Comfort records are presented in the accompanying tables. The author of the Camp Comfort summary notes that not all men in camp fished every day, and on many days, no one could fish because of stormy weather. Therefore, catch-per-man-day information should probably be increased by at least 20 per cent. From the tables, it appears that these anglers probably averaged 4 fish per day on days fished. During most of the years of their activity, a 15-pound limit was in effect, but the 15-pound limit was always interpreted to mean 15 pounds plus one fish, as one could have 14. 9 pounds of fish and catch another 4- or 5-pound fish. The 1942 change in weight 10

AFTER MAN FISH PER MAN-DAY ICE-OUT DAYS TROUT SALMON LAKE TROUT TOTAL Week 1 2.42 3.11 .37 .33 1814 Week 2 2.44 3.25 .33 .59 1856 Week 3 3.1 5 4.36 .23 .98 1226 Week4 4.22 3.11 .10 1.02 561 Week 5 1.39 2.06 .29 .39 70

CAMP COMFORT TABLE 14(b)

PERCENT OF

60-YR TOTAL

TOTAL CATCH

Trout Salmon Lake trout Not identified

14,416 1,601 3,419

74 8 17

4+ lbs.

5+ lbs.

8+ lbs.

268

1

--

-

TOTALS

19,706

--

120

SPECIES

-

TROPHY FISH SIZE NO. 44 49 27

GUIDE I KNOW believes the quality of fishing in Moosehead Lake began to decline during the late 1930s. This does coincide with the time period ( 19421968) when successive changes in regulations were enacted to decrease numerical and weight limits from 25 pounds or 25 fish to 7 1/ 2 pounds or 8 fish. The 1930s may possibly have been the beginning of the period of better road networks and more common use of automobiles for recreational purposes by other than the wealthy.

The reduction in legal weight limit to 7 1/ 2 pounds did little to reduce the steady decline of the fishing quality, especially for big trout and salmon, and stocking of hatchery fish probably obscured the decline in wild fish populations. As the average size of fish in the catch decreased

A

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

and more young fish were stocked, anglers probably made up their weight limit of 7 1/2 pounds by taking 7 or 8 I -pound fish whenever it was possible to do so. Apparently, there was a period during the 1940s and early 1950s when the fishing was very good for larger (3-5 pound) fish. This was probably due to relaxed fishing pressure during World War II, allowing an accumulation of fish to occur.

In his biological survey of Moosehead Lake, Cooper ( 1945) analyzed warden reports from 1935 to 1943 and determined that, as in his netting operations, the catch

22

20

18

il5

•

SALMON

§

TOGUE

0

TROUT

16

ii:: 14

.... o

12

U)

~ 10 ~ => 8

0

:,:

f-

6

67

68

69

70

71

72 YEAR

73

74

75

76

77

composition was about 40 per cent trout, 35 per cent lake trout, · and 25 per cent salmon. The average catch per angler day may have been between 3 and 4 fish. Warden reports I have analyzed for the years 1959-65 indicate a catch composition of 36 per cent trout, 38 per cent togue, and 26 per cent salmon - not much different from the 1940s. There is some evidence that these warden reports included brook trout caught from other nearby waters, resulting in a slightly high proportion of them in the analyses. The catch per angler day apparently decreased from more than 3 to fewer than 2 fish during the latter period. During years of our intensive study ( 19671977), the proportion of salmon in the catch increased from 40 to more than 70 per cent, but this should decrease to less than 50 per cent with decreased salmon stocking and increasing togue and trout numbers.

E BEGAN A STUDY of Moosehead Lake in 1967 to determine causes related to the decline in fish populations and fishing success, and to initiate management procedures to maintain and, we hope, improve the fishing. A resurvey of the lake disclosed little significant change in water chemistry since 1944 and only one change, but an important one, in fish species. This was the introduction of yellow perch, which occurred around 1958.

The most difficult and challenging part of the study was to determine how many anglers fished the lake and

W

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

what they caught. We have done this with reasonable accuracy by counting anglers over the entire lake, summer and winter, almost every other day. Counting anglers on this 75,000 acre lake was made possible by using Fish and Wildlife Department aircraft based in Greenville.

Biologists and college students have worked part time interviewing thousands of anglers during all or part of the summer and winter fishing seasons for the past 11 years.

At the beginning of the project, all fish stocked in Moosehead Lake were marked by removing one or more fins so we could recognize and know the age of these fish as they appeared in the anglers' catches. The creel census made it possible to determine how many salmon, trout, and lake trout were caught by anglers per fishing trip, the duration of fishing trips, the proportion of anglers on the lake at any hour of the day, and, after a few years, what proportion of the catch consisted of marked fish originating from our hatcheries. After a few years, when most of the unmarked hatchery fish from past stockings were gone, we could assume that the unmarked fish were of wild origin.

We have good information on several year classes (fish of the same age growing up together) of wild fish of the three species. Census workers measured, weighed, and took scales from fish actually handled. The combination of census clerk information and counts made by using aircraft enabled us to estimate total annual angler trips; total catch by species; average and individual sizes, weights, total weights, etc., for each of the 11 years from 1967 through 1977. We are continuing the census and estimates into the future to monitor results of management changes.

Total numbers of fish caught (by species), total weights (also by species), and fish per angler for each year are presented here in the form of bar graphs. Relative proportions of each species may be estimated visually on these illustrations. The graphs of estimated angler trips have

32 30 28 26

•

24

§TOGUE

SALMON

22

IZJTROUT

20

18 16 14

10

4

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

YEAR

11

50

•

WINTER

D

SUMMER

40

30

20

10

YEAR

winter and summer values separate, but all other graphs have winter and summer totals combined. The estimated number of angler trips beginning in 1967 was 35,650 but decreased gradually, summer and winter, until 1972 when we had a substantial increase. This increase corresponds to the year we established an 18-inch limit on lake trout. The number of winter angler trips reached its low point that year and increased gradually from then on.

During the past 3 years especially, the number of angler trips increased, and in 1977 we had a significant jump to a total of 51,700 angler trips for that year.

LOOK AT THE GRAPH of the estimated numbers of fish caught each year shows a gradual decrease in all 3 species caught until 1971 , when we had an increase, then a continuing decline in the togue and trout catch.

Stocked salmon tended to take up the slack in most years.

Stocked salmon attain legal size ( 14 inches) the second summer after stocking, when they are 3 years old. Stocked togue do not attain legal length ( 18 inches) until they are 6 years old, 5 years after stocking.

Marked trout were stocked for 2 years, but as we found in other large lakes, stocked brook trout provided almost no returns to anglers. We are hopeful that the gradual increase in the catch for 1976 and 1977 marks the beginning of a recovery period, but this graph tells only part of the story.

As mentioned previously, there has been quite an increase in the number of angler days and a change to an 18-inch minimum size limit on togue. If we look at the graph indicating thousands of pounds of fish caught each year, we find a pattern similar to the previous graph except that the first 2 years we had similar high total pounds in the catch, even though in 1968 much greater numbers were caught, indicating a substantial decrease in the average size of the fish. Salmon went from an average weight of 27 ounces in 1967 to 20 ounces in 1968; and togue, from 45 ounces to 28 ounces. This sudden change has the characteristics of a crash in the populations, which may have begun earlier, before our census began in 1967.

In each of the two years of 1967 and 1968, between 55,000 and 60,000 pounds of salmon, trout, and togue were harvested an amount equal to about 7/10

A

12

of a pound per acre. This amount is significant because research done on large, deep, cold-water lakes of these latitudes suggests these waters cannot tolerate harvests of more than Y2 to ¥ i of a pound per acre per year of salmon, trout, and togue. Computations for Moosehead Lake suggest a potential harvest of about 6/10 of a pound per acre per year or a total of 45,000 pounds.

Perhaps we can stretch this to 50,000 pounds.

Harvests similar to those of 1967 and 1968 may have been taking place for some time. When game species are over harvested, the suckers, chubs, and other non-game species multiply rapidly, grow larger, and consume much of the small food items normally eaten by young game species. The " balance" is difficult to restore, as only large togue can prey on large suckers and chubs.

T

HE CATCH OF SALMON in 1973 was more than 70 per cent hatchery fish , and most of them from one year-class as 3-year-old fish. Beginning in 1972, an 18inch length limit on lake trout (togue) became effective.

There was an immediate decrease in numbers and total weight of the togue catch, as we expected. We hope this action has resulted in an increased number of togue spared for spawning.

The low point in the togue catch occurred in 1975, but there was a promising recovery in 1976 and 1977.

Winter and summer catches of 1977 were particularly pleasing, especially the unusually high catch of brook trout. Several 4-and 5-pound brook trout were reported, and salmon also averaged longer and heavier in 1977.

With the increase in the number of anglers noted previously (for the past 3 years especially), one might tend to say this is the reason for the higher catches. However, the graph of number of fish per angler trip reveals that the fishing was somewhat better. The low point of this graph was 1975, with modest improvements in 1976 and 1977, even though in 1977 the new bag limits of 2 salmon, 2 togue, and 2 trout (maximum of 5) became effective on June 1, 1977.

1.4

1.2

1.0

.8

•

SALMON

E3

TOGUE

CJ

TROUT

n

ALL SALMONIDS

.6

.4

.2

67

68

69

70

71

72 YEAR

73

74

75

76

77

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

Other restnct10ns imposed on Moosehead waters as a result of the study are a fly-fishing-only regulation with low bag limits, on the Roach River; and flies-andartificial-lures-only, with low bag limits, on the East Outlet and Moose River. These regulations are necessary as Roach River is the principal salmon spawning tributary to Moosehead Lake, and Moose River and the East Outlet are also producing some young wild salmon. All three waters produce wild trout. Recent studies by the Maine Fish and Wildlife Department have shown that the use of worms for bait may result in a 35 per cent mortality of hooked and released young salmon compared to about 5 per cent mortality for flies and artificial lures.

ANAGEMENT GOALS. The 11 years of study on M Moosehead Lake have given us an insight on pos-

sible past performance and, more importantly, on the potential annual production of this large lake. We believe the lake can produce between 45,000 and 50,000 pounds of salmon, lake trout, and brook trout annually. We do have some choice in determining the proportion of each of the 3 species to be grown in the lake, by varying length limits, bag limits, and the number of hatchery salmon we stock. The following is a table of realistic goals for the harvest of the 3 game species we are concerned with.

Species

Salmon Lake Trout Brook Trout Totals

Number

12,000 10,000 5,000 27,000

Average Weight (ounces) 20 40 16

Total Weight (pounds) 15,000 25,000 5,000 45 ,000

Before 1969, anglers had harvested more than I 0,000 lake trout weighing in excess of 25,000 pounds in a year.

Moosehead Lake shorelines have an abundance of spawning areas for lake trout, and with adequate water level control and the 18-inch length limit, we should meet this goal within a few years through natural reproduction, without the need for stocking. The brook trout goal of 5,000 fish averaging 1 pound is purposely low. In fact, this number and weight was exceeded in 1977. If the trout fishing continues to recover, during the interim period of the next few years required for the wild lake trout population to build up to optimum levels, we can adjust salmon stocking rates downward until most of the salmon caught are of wild origin.

Brook trout grow very well in Moosehead Lake. In 1977, many of the 2-year-old trout caught by anglers

were longer than 12 inches; and since many Moosehead brook trout live to be 5 and 6 years old, we would get a better return and probably increase their numbers by increasing the minimum length limit to 12 inches. Ideally, we should try to return the salmon/togue/trout ratio to that of the 1940s-to-1960 period by decreasing the number of salmon and increasing brook trout numbers.

The measures taken to protect young salmon in the Roach River nursery areas have resulted in substantial increases of the yearling salmon there in 1977. Salmon growth has improved in the past 2 years, and with increasing reliance on natural reproduction, we may find that a 15-inch minimum length limit is desirable. Few salmon are mature when they reach 14" in length.

T

HE GREATEST THREAT to the Moosehead Lake fishery i~ the increase in the number of anglers who fish the lake. The 1977 estimate of almost 52,000 angler trips and estimated catch of 42,200 pounds of salmon, togue, and trout is close to the maximum allowable.

Since we cannot readily limit the number of anglers who choose to fish this lake, our only recourse will be to decrease the bag limit on one or more species to 1 fish and perhaps lower the total bag. limit. The logical change at this time would be 2 salmon, 2 trout, 1 togue with a maximum of 3 fish. This may seem low to some anglers, but a 40-ounce togue, a 20-ounce salmon, and a 16-ounce trout add up to 76 ounces or ·434 pounds of fish. An expert angler with some luck could exceed the weight limit with one big fish.

E SHOULD CONTINUE to monitor Moosehead W Lake for catch per angler;·the proportion of salmon,

trout, and togue in the catch; and mean length, weight, and age of each species. All stocked fish need to be marked so they can be recognized in the catch. An est~mate of total angler trips should ·be made from angler counts by aircraft at least every three years.

• ·

An otter trawl, useful in sampling at Moosehead and other lakes, is rigged by the author.

Main~ Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

13

FATAL -0 ...

"What We're Shooting For,,

By Gareth S. Anderson Safety Officer

T

HE HUNTING ACCIDENT, like everything else, is rapidly changing in Maine. At one time the typical hunting accident involved an adult male, experienced, in the early afternoon, on a clear day at extremely close range.

As you can well imagine, an experienced deer hunter is a reasonably good shot, and with a rifle he is used to carrying and shooting can usually inflict a serious, and quite frequently , fatal wound. Should I take the reader back over the last few decades, I would have to recount the awful days when we have had as many as 70 total accidents with an incredible 19 deaths.

You may wish to refer to 'Figure I' for an overview of past seasons' statistics.

There are those who will look wise and all seeing and , drawing from vast stores of knowledge, state emphatically that you will have 'X' amount of accidents for every so many thousand licensed hunters. They will also imply that neither God nor man can prevent this. But we know that it is possible to control the hunting environment in such a manner that both hunter and "innocent bystander" are quite safe.

It is evident from our chart that while hunters have more than doubled , we have reduced accidents by at least 50

per cent, and all of the fatals of the last five years don't total the worst of some of our past "good old days."

How has the Department brought this about? Actually , the answer is complex and covers several years of

hard work. The Hunter Safety Program was instituted in a formal manner in the mid 60s. It has since grown to cover all of the 16 counties and is available to anyone who desires it. There are 800 volunteer instructors

The incorrect way (top photo, finger on trigger, thumb on hammer) and the correct way (bottom photo, finger away from trigger, web of hand preventing cocking of the firearm) to handle a lever-action rifle while traveling through the woods. In case of a fall, the firearm is still under nearly total control, but the chance of an accidental discharge is very smal I.

14

Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Fall 1978

with seven regional coordinators overseeing and assisting them in the field.

For the present, it is a volunteer program. However, Maine is one of the few eastern states that has not gone mandatory, and there is ample evidence many sportsmen would favor such a move. A training program is offered for these instructors also and this year marks the I 0th Annual Hunter Safety Workshop which will be held at the Augusta Armory. In addition, several 'regional' workshops are held each year.

During these past 10 years, we have had a steady progression of students until 1978 will see the 50,000th graduate; truly a remarkable record for a state with but a million people. We have also been plared in the top IO in the nation and Canada 4 times in IO years in the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' competition for all around excellence of the subjects offered and methods of presentation.

We have received invaluable assistance from various legislators and legislatures during this period. They have presented and enacted bills preventing hunting after sunset, driving deer, and hunting from public ways, as

well as requiring each person hunting with firearms during the open season on deer to use fluorescent orange clothing. Each of these wise laws has caused a decrease in the type of accident usually associated with that particular activity. One of the additional benefits of hunter orange is the ease of locating a lost or injured hunter from the air on a search.

O NOW WE COME to the new typical hunting accident. We have a tally of accidents from 1970 to 197 4 totalling 214. During this time, there were 19 fatalities that were not self-inflicted, or the total for just one year of the 50s. However, from 1975 to present there has been an even greater reduction of fatalities , only 8 in 3 years, and the overall accident rate continues to decline. It would seem the average accident now involves a grouse or rabbit hunter out of sight of the shooter, or a self-inflicted wound resulting from horseplay or carelessness. The latter is a problem that parents can help solve as the majority of victims are juveniles in an unsupervised situation.

We must not be complacent, however; our goal should be an absolute

S

zero whether the doom prophets feel it is possible or not. We can continue to make progress through training, wise laws, and perseverance. A wonderful side effect of fewer accidents is the removal of a club from the hands of the anti-hunt, anti-gun element, with which they could certainly beat us to death.

It is timely to thank all the people who encourage and support this program, not the least of whom are the many volunteer instructors. We quite simply could not function without them, as the cost would be prohibitive to use state personnel. Speaking of costs, the instructors permit us to use their time as our share of the "seed money" to acquire Pittman-Robertson money (that is the 11 per cent tax you pay on guns and ammunition) so that in 1978 to date, we have not spent a penny for hunting safety. This should continue for the next four years on the present agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior. Next time you see a man or woman with the big orange patch identifying an instructor in your hunter safety program, be a sportsman yourself and thank them for the debt you owe. â&#x20AC;˘

LICENSE SALES

HUNTING ACCIDENTS

YEAR

DEER REGISTRATION

TOTAL

RESIDENT

NONRESIDENT

1977 1976 1975 1974 1973

31,430 29,619 34,675 34,667 24,720

219,894 214,974 224,471 210,572 197,922

188,505 183,610 188,550 177,008 165,025

31,389 31,364 35,921 33,564 32,897

1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960

28,698 18,903* 31 ,750 30,409 41,080 34 ,701 32,160 37,282 35 ,305 29,839 38 ,807 32,747 37,774

181,680 194,052 212,080 201,248 205 ,323 199,311 199,171 185,928 183,346 175,723 176,766 172,435 182,652

151 ,916_ _ _ _ 155,572 170 ,593 162,636 169 ,174 165,846 166,954 152,665 153 ,212 147,205 150 ,877 146,636 157,025

29,764 38,480 41,487 38,612 36 ,149 33 ,465 32,223 33,263 30,034 28,51 8 25,889 25,799 25 ,627

TOTAL

Hunter

Orange (law)

41 31 33 33 31

- - - -37 36 52 49 52 43 58 47 43 57 47 60 58

FATAL

NONFATAL

2

3 3 3 43'_ __

39 28 30 30 27 34

4 8 6 6 6

5 7 5

10 6

14 9

32 44 43 46 37 53 40 38 47 41 46 49

*In 1971, season was shortened due to low deer population.

Figure 1. Comparison of license sales to hunting accidents. Note: Before 1960, accident figures were for the fall hunting season only. Yet, from 1948 through 1952, as many or more hunters died each year than in all the years since hunter orange became mandatory in 1973!

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

15

Maine Rivers:

THEDENNVS

By James S. Fletcher Biologist Atlantic Sea-Run Salmon Commission

Cobscook Bay

HE DENNYS RIVER is one of Maine's smaller coastal river systems, yet its watershed enjoys a fisheries reputation unmatched by many larger drainages. Long noted for Atlantic salmon in the river and tidal waters of Cobscook Bay, the Dennys is also the locale of the original landlocked salmon stocking in Maine and the source of a renowned smallmouth bass fishery in its headwaters. It may be said that inland fisheries made the Dennys River famous.

More than 200 years ago, the Indian chief John Dennys and his tribesmen, the Passamaquoddies, occupied the lands through which Cathance Stream flows before reaching its confluence with the Dennys River which flows a half-mile to the tidal reaches of Cobscook Bay, Washington County, Maine.

When the chief and his two sons, Nicholas and Michel, were enrolled in the service of the United States at Machias in 1780, the record of enlistment indicated: "they had famous hun~ing and fishing grounds on the river called K'themis." Anglicized, t~e river K'themis became Cathance Stream, and the 1786 settl;merit at its mouth became ¡ known as Dennysville, on the Dennys River.

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16

Almost 100 years later, George Colby's 1881 edition of the "Atlas of Washington County, Maine" noted the fine salmon for which the Town of Dennysville was known. Salmon - splendid salmon of more than 30 pounds - were being sold for 10 cents a pound, and several Dennys Bay weirs reported daily catches of as high as 29 fish. Though the Dennys was overshadowed by the tremendous catches of salmon, alewives, and shad being taken by weir fishermen at the mouth of the nearby St. Croix River, it continued to make a name for itself because of its fisheries based on rod and reel fishing rather than commercial catches in weirs and gill nets.

Not long after woodsmen began felling the forests surrounding Cathance and Meddybemps Lake, the forest industries' d~ms, log-holding ponds, and water-powered mills brought about a change in the watershed's fisheries. .

The practice of netting large numbers of trout and salmon to feed logging crews resulted in a reduction in the numbers of these fish that caused concern to the general public and camp operators. As fisheries management science was unknown, it became a comMaine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

mon practice to stock other species of fish to supplement the dwindling cold-water species. The chain pickerel, introduced into the Penobscot County area as early as 1819, soon found its way into the barren warm-water lakes and ponds of Washington County.

Fortunately, a lack of vegetative cover around the boulder-strewn shores of Meddybemps and Cathance lakes was a limiting factor in pickerel production. Neither lake has developed a productive pickerel fishery to this day.

HE LAST HALF of the nineteenth century was witness to two extraordinary developments affecting the fisheries of the watershed. Washington County, in modern times, has been described as "20 years behind the times"; however, in those days it was in the forefront of changes: one involving fisheries management; the other, the practice of sport fishing by nonresidents.

Not many of us remember back to the day when "sports" meant "summer fishermen," and a hatchery was the abominable brainchild of out-of-staters.

Those were the days when a "sport" maintained a camp or cottage on a wilderness lake, yet lived and worked the rest of the year in far-away Massachusetts or beyond. Some were regular guests at an inn or boarding house. At first, transportation by steamer to Eastport, or by horse-drawn carriage beyond the railroad at Machias, meant that passengers and baggage would be dropped off at one of the hundreds of stops where pre-arranged pickups by a guide, caretaker, or innkeeper's carriage heralded the arrival of the summer people, "the sports." The gentleman might remain with his family for a few days before returning to the city, only to return before Labor Day for a few days of fishing and the annual camp closing. It was these sometimes wealthy and influential summer people who were most responsible for the change in the area's fisheries. The fisheries based on nets gave way to hook and line.

"Let nature take its course" thinking clashed with the ideas of those who saw a need for hatching and rearing facilities. Squandering of the area's resources became opposed by men willing to demonstrate a firm commitment to the principles of sound fisheries conservation.

The 1860 s saw a decade of fisheries activity in Washington County that centered around the Dennys River and lakes of the drainage.

The first hatchery in the United States was reportedly opened at Munford, New York, in 1864;

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A popular stretch of river is known as Charlie's Rips.

In the background is the club house of the Dennys River Salmon Club.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

however, during the same year, the Messrs. Treat were taking Atlantic salmon eggs from weir-caught salmon for rearing in facilities at Eastport. Maine's first and most ardent exponent of fish cultural methods and fish passage over obstructions was Dr. Eziekial Holmes of Winthrop. He had become familiar with old-country methods of handling eggs and young fish, and he relayed that information to all interested individuals.

He emphasized the need of artificial stocking in areas where barriers or marginal spawning areas were reducing the carrying capacity of a body of water. Many hatcheries and rearing stations came into being as a result of his inspiration and knowledge of fish culture. The well-traveled Dr. Holmes knew of the Treats' project in Eastport, where a section of stream had been enclosed for the cultivation of Atlantic salmon.

Maine's fisheries commissioners, with financial help from nonresidents, caused Schoodic salmon to be captured at the outlet of West Grand Lake during the spawning season of 1867. While only one of the eggs taken developed into a living fish, the following year's effort was of historical significance to fish culturists and the Dennys River watershed.

On December 10, 1868, Commissioner Atkins packed 8,000 eyed salmon eggs in gauze bags, packed them in a tin box lined with sphagnum, and began the trek from Grand Lake Stream to Manchester where the eggs were to be hatched at a private hatchery.

The first day's trip across the Crawford Road to Grove in what is now Cooper undoubtedly ended at the "Ashley Farm," family home of Cooper's founder General John Cooper. History fails to mention what influence the general's son, William, may have had over his cold and tired fish culturist guests, but it does

record the fayt that the first water to be stocked with landlocked salmon was a tributary to Cathance Lake.

The lake's largest tributary, Mill Stream, originates on Cooper lands, passing within a stone throw of the host's homestead. Maine's first stocking of landlocked salmon may have been the result of finaneial commitment to the project by the affluent Mr. Cooper.

Such stockings began a practice that was lasting Cathance Lake has continued to be stocked regularly, and the success of the fishery speaks for the soundness of the commissioners' action more than 100 years ago.

T WAS IN THE 1870 s that smallmouth bass were first distributed in Maine. Following releases in the St. Croix River, our newest sportfish soon found a home in Meddybemps Lake, headwaters of the Dennys River. These fertile waters literally exploded as the smallmouth bass responded to the plentiful food supplies uf the 6,000 acre warm-water lake. Summer residents of Meddybemps, coming as they did from as far south as New York, and west as Illinois, were delighted with the new fishery. The fame of trophy bass was spread throughout the land and became the staple attraction of Meddybemps Lake. With few exceptions, it was the nonresidents coming to Maine for a season - people seeking out a lake on which to build a cottage and take advantage of the fishing opportunities in a wilderness setting - that accounted for the popularity of smallmouth bass introductions.

Locals were apt to sneer at the thought of catching a warm-water fish (or hatchery fish in general). Contempt for the fish and those who would fish for them was hard to disguise, but times have changed those attitudes.

The Dennys River was stocked with Atlantic salmon as early as 1875. These early stockings may have come from Coffin's Iron Works hatchery in Pembroke, from Treat's Eastport facility, or, most likely, from the hatchery operated by Benjamin Lincoln on what is now called Higgins Brook in the Town of Dennysville. All eggs were obtained from weir-caught salmon.

In 1870, at a cost of $44.80 in gold per thousand, Atlantic salmon eggs were purchased from the Province of Ontario by the Maine commissioners of fisheries.

In 1871, in a joint effort financed by the fishery commissions of Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, as well as a Reverend William Clift, proprietor of the Grand Lake Stream hatchery, an Atlantic salmon egg-taking facility was constructed at Craig Brook in Orland, Maine.

Eyed eggs stocked in the early winter from either federal or private hatcheries probably did more for the morale of anglers than they did for the river's fisheries. Interest in stocking Atlantic salmon ran high; accounts of the number of willing hands awaiting the arrival of the "hatchery fish" at Dennysville and the

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subsequent removal of ten-gallon milk cans with their precious load of eggs or fry for distribution showed no lack of support for the hatchery program. Locals seemed to accept hatchery products destined to spend several years in the wild and at sea before entering the rod fishery.

HE MANY mill and log-driving dams on both the warm-water and cold-water lakes of the drainage had an impact on fisheries. At Meddybemps, the several water-powered mills surrounding the outlet depended upon the impounded waters to activate their machinery. Gradual metering of these waters during working periods meant a prolonged period of operation and near stabilization of the lake's water level. Smallmouth bass benefited by the stable water levels that insured coverage of the egg _nests. If Meddybemps water had been used to drive logs downstream, the resulting lowering of the lake level would have exposed the nests, and complete loss of eggs would have been inevitable.

Mill discharges into the Dennys River below Meddybemps Lake were retained at Gilman dam where they were used to drive logs to mills at Dennysville.

This dam definitely was a barrier to upstream fish passage much of the year; however, the ponded waters seeping through its earthworks may have provided some flow at all seasons to the productive nursery areas downstream.

The log-driving dam at the outlet of Cathance Lake, unlike the mill dam at Meddybemps, caused the lake level to be anything but stable. Closed in the early spring to retain a log-driving head, then released

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The new water control structure and fishway were built in 1953 at the outlet of Meddybemps Lake to regulate the flow in the Dennys River.

Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Fall 1978

to drive logs to Marion and Dennysville, this dam was a deterrent to the establishment of bass populations and made stocking of landlocked salmon a necessity.

While spawning salmon populations may have moved from Cathance Lake to the stream during the spawning period, their return was obstructed by the dam.

Such obstructions, or inadequate spawning areas, made stocking a necessary management tool. While stocking of brook trout has been tried at Cathance, it has not been as successful as the landlocked salmon, for the habitat requirements of brook trout are not fulfilled at Cathance Lake.

HE EMPHASIS on salmon angling and the formation of the Dennys River Salmon Club in the mid 1930s brought an end to commercial weirs and gill netting along the river. Club members financed the purchase of netting rights, did considerable work on stream bottom improvement, and actively pursued the stocking of hatchery-reared salmon as they acknowledged the necessity of several years' work required to bring the river back. Within a few years of its 1936 founding, the Dennys River Salmon Club enjoyed a membership approaching 700 members and had gained the title, Outstanding Fly Fishing Salmon River of the Nation for its namesake.

While it is impossible to duplicate the physical aspects of the Dennys of nearly 50 years ago, It IS interesting to contemplate them in any evaluation of present day management practices. The 1938 Annual Report of the Dennys River Salmon Club contained a list of 84 fish taken during the 1937 season and the following comment: "The number of salmon hooked and lost was gr'eatly in excess of those killed, probably running into the hundreds. The number spawning was probably the largest in fifty years (thousands of them), and perhaps for a longer period. One fisherman wrote in our record book under date of August 24th, 'We saw more salmon today, on Dennys River, than we have seen alewives on any spring run'. Another reports seeing in one day, six tons. All those fishing the upriver pools in late summer, report seeing them in large quantities, anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand a day."

The river's old dams were either removed or breeched by the early 1930s. In subsequent years, water control structures at three dam sites have been erected and a natural barrier bypassed with a fishway.

A water control dam and fishway at Cathance Lake was erected originally in 1962 on the site of a former log-driving dam. This structure was rebuilt in 1973 and provides a minimum flow year round from the lake to Cathance Stream. Stabilization of the lake level has resulted in an increase of smallmouth bass -

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Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

to the delight of many and to the chagrin of others.

The fishway makes it possible for fish to return to the lake following spawning and for fingerling and parr landlocked salmon developing in the stream to enter the lake. Normal operating procedures at Cathance Lake have minimized lake level fluctuations during both summer and winter months.

A Denil fishway bypasses the natural falls in Marion.

It was constructed in the 1960s following the completion of a water control dam with fishway at Great Works in Edmunds. The Great Works dam was built to provide a marsh for migratory waterfowl, and its fishway assures passage for species of fish moving in either direction. Both of these structures on Cathance Stream have fulfilled the purpose for which they were built; periodic maintenance is planned for the future.

In the late 1940s, probably 1947, a water wheel and generator were installed at the outlet of Meddybemps Lake. During the period of its use, through November 16, 1971, the erratic release of impounded waters had a detrimental effect upon the river's fisheries. The complete de-watering of the river compounded the problems of hatching and rearing native Atlantic salmon.

In the fall of 1973, a new water control structure and fishway were constructed at the outlet of Meddybemps Lake following acquisition of the land and water rights by the State of Maine. The purchase and construction were accomplished "for the purpose of regulating the flow of water to the D ennys River for the protection of Atlantic salmon and other species of fish." Atlantic Salmon Commission personnel were given control of the structure in February 1974.

Atlantic salmon spawning in fall 197 4 were the parent stock of the first year class to benefit from the new structure and the water control policy of the Atlantic Salmon Commission; maturing fish from the 1974 brood year are expected to return to the river in 1979.

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TOUGH IT OUTJ

Wildlife Biologist S EVERYONE LIVING IN MAINE knows, our winters are some of the most severe in the country.

Neck-deep snow, frigid temperatures, and violent winds make survival in Maine a full time occupation during most winters. To survive, we have learned to adapt to the weather and prepare for winter long before the first snow falls. We winterize our homes, store food from our gardens, put in our firewood, change our wardrobe, or even flee south to a warmer climate. Likewise, Maine wildlife species employ all of these techniques and more to survive to another Maine spring.

Although hibernation is by far the most often though1 of survival mechanism for the winter, there are man) others that are more common and equally effective.

These changes fall into three basic categories: PHYSICAL , where some change occurs in the physical makeup of the body, such as growing a winter coat or storing body fat; PHYSIOLOGICAL, where the life processes of the animal are altered, such as the body chemistry slowdown in animals that hibernate or winter-sleep; and BEHA VIORAL, where the animal changes its habits to prepare for or to survive the winter, such as deer seeking shelter in deeryards from the winter cold. Let's look at each of these survival mechanisms in more detail and see how wildlife in Maine employ them. hysical Mechanisms. The physical adaptations can be both permanent and seasonal for Maine wildlife.

All mammals wintering in Maine grow a new winter coat for protection from the cold. These winter coats are made up of two basic types of hairs. The stiff, outer hairs of the coat, called "guard hairs," absorb the majority of the

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punishment as the animal comes into contact with its surroundings; the guard hair protects the more fragile inner hair. This inner hair, called the "underfur" or "fur hair, " is very dense and provides warmth and insulation from the elements. Aquatic and upland furbear~rs , including the beaver, otter, fisher , marten, fox, and coyote, among OLhers, grow a warm, dense, winter coat. The weasel and snowshoe hare are distinguished from this group by growing a winter coat that is white rather than dark, as in summer. The weasel, being a predator, uses the winter coat to blend into its surroundings in hunting for such food as small birds and mammals. Also, blending into the background protects the weasel from the great horned owl that would use him for a meal. The snowshoe hare, likewise, makes use of its winter coat to disappear intc the snowy landscape. It's not uncommon for the winter hunter in Maine to walk past a rabbit hiding in the snow without seeing him.

RABBIT The hare has another variation from his southern cousin - his large, fu~red, "snowshoe" feet, for which he is named. These large feet not only allow the hare to travel easily on powder or thinly crusted snow but also give him the ability to browse on increasingly higher vegetation as the winter snows build. Walk through a cedar swamp or other favorite rabbit haunt when the snow is gone and watch for the snipped twigs distinctive to the snowshoe hare. You'll see the height above ground which this animal's large feet allow him to reach. A primary predator of the snowshoe hare in northern . climates, the Canada lynx, has feet that are much larger than its size would indicate, providing support to catch the hares even in the softest snow.

Mammals are not the only wildlife in Maine exhibiting this characteristic. Our native ruffed grouse, for example, also has snowshoes. Each fall, the grouse grows a series of projections along the edges of his toes. Shed

Protective coloration. The snowshoe hare is one species of Maine animal that undergoes changes of color with the seasons. This one is swapping its heavy winter white for the lighter-weight brown coat of summer.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

in the spring, these comblike fringes are an outgrowth of the skin that reach a length of about an eighth of an inch and allow the bird greater mobility to move atop the snow. The grouse is thus able to get a running start for escape and can also reach food on low-hanging branches too delicate to support the bird's weight.

~r.SU:ME: ROFF££) GROUSEThe last physical adaptation we'll examine, and one that is used by most mammals that winter in Maine, is the storage of energy in the form of fat deposits. Fat deposits reach a maximum in the fall, as any hunter or trapper can tell you from skinning out the animals that he has harvested. Every Maine hunter likes to see a good fat deposit under the skin of a deer when the time for eating has arrived. But this isn't the only place deer have fat reserves. Deer also store fat inside the abdomen, around the kidneys and heart, and in the bone marrow.

Thus, as the winter progresses, the animal uses up its fat reserves in the order that they have been mentioned. This is why the wildlife biologist or game warden checks the bone m:-'.rrow of the femur (thighbone) of any deer that has died in the winter or spring to estimate the condition of the animal. If the marrow is white and waxy, the deer had been in good condition; but if the marrow is red and gelatinous, the animal had used essentially all of its winter fat reserves and could not have survived much more severe weather. hysiological Mechanisms. Mechanisms included in this classification are varied and overlap with some of the other groups. They are generally harder to understand, since a visible change doesn't necessarily accompany the adaptive mechanism. Physiological adaptations are those changes which the animal undergoes to alter its life processes, including respiration, heartbeat, hormone levels, etc., enabling it to survive the winter. As already mentioned, hibernation is the best example of this type of change.

during hibernation. Frogs, snakes, and turtles are in a group that is termed "poikilothermal" or cold blooded.

When these animals are exposed to cold, their bodies cool to dormancy because they do not have the ability to keep themselves warm. As they cool, their heartbeat and metabolism or body chemistry decline. In contrast, mammals and birds allow their heart and metabolic rates to decline, and then the body temperature drops. These animals, termed "homeothermal" or warm blooded, are the ones we will look at in Maine. Two of the animals most often thought of as examples of hibernators in Maine are not true hibernators at all. Both the bear and the skunk are better termed "winter sleepers." In both of these animals, neither the body temperature nor the pulse drops to the extent that it does in true hibernators, and these animals will awaken during warm spells to feed and move outside the den. On the other hand, one of our true hibernators, the woodchuck, enters his den at about the time of the first frost and does not reappear until spring. Bats also are true hibernators.

During denning, body temperature drops significantly, as well as heart rate and respiration. To illustrate these changes, the golden-mantled ground squirrel, a species not found in Maine but representative of our hibernators, drops in body temperature from a normal of 99° F. down to as low as 36° F. during deep sleep. The respiration may drop to fewer than one breath per minute, and the heartbeat may be 2 to 3 times per minute. Arousal from this state is very rapid in spring, taking only a few hours.

This same dormancy is used by wildlife to survive periods of drought in other parts of the world and is called "esti vation."

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Hibernation. Many animals survive the long winter months by sleeping it away, denned up in anything from a pile of blowdowns and uproots such as this winter bear's quarters to the even more secure ground bole of the woodchuck, complete with entrance and exit tunnels and storerooms for food.

Hibernation, in its most refined form, is really a period of suspended animation. Animals fall into two groups, depending upon their types of -physiological changes Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

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Non-hibernators in Maine are also capable of physiological changes. There is an air temperature at which the insulation of homeothermal animals, fur and/or fat, can no longer maintain the body temperature with the animal at rest. This temperature, called the "critical temperature," is the point at which the animal must increase his metabolism to produce heat to keep warm. Our native wildlife species- have a higher metabolic rate at this critical temperature than animals from a warmer climate, allowing them to produce more heat. When the air tern perature drops much lower than this critical temperature, an uncontrollable shivering commences, which rapidly produces heat to warm the body. Every winter resident or visitor in Maine has experienced this same shivering when dressed too lightly in cold weather. ehavioral Mechanisms. Modification of behavior is the last and probably the most interesting of those mechanisms that will be mentioned. Behavioral changes can be either learned by the animal or be a part of the genetic makeup at birth. This group of mechanisms is as varied as the species present in Maine.

Both birds and mammals manipulate their bodies to minimize heat loss. Anyone who has a winter bird feeder has observed the black-capped chickadees on a cold winter morning sitting in the feeder looking like round, feathered balls with heads and feet. The chickadee fluffs up his feathers to hold a pocket of warm air many times its normal thickness around his body, thereby multiplying the insulation. On the same cold or stormy day, the fox and the coyote will likewise fluff their fur and when bedding down, will sleep with the fluffy tail over the nose to insulate it from the cold. Deer will bed with legs tucked and body curled to decrease heat loss from its less insulated surfaces.

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the snow melts in the spring, revealing areas of stripped bark from young hardwood trees and shrubs.

Deer will migrate in the fall to an area of dense softwoods, usually sheltered, along a waterway, to spend the winter with others of the species. Concentrating in these areas we call ''deer yards," these animals select a microclimate with denser vegetation, a southerly slope, and lower elevation, where winter is less severe than just a few hundred yards away. Most terrestrial species in Maine will practice this selection of a less severe micro-climate, although not necessarily to the degree that the deer will.

This selection of a more temperate climate can go far beyond the search for a suitable micro-climate, reaching a climax in our mobile bird species such as the woodcock, bald eagle, hawk, and waterfowl , as well as songbirds, which migrate great dista nces to reach a favorable wintering area. Whereas the deer may move several miles, these summer residents move hundreds or thousands of miles to escape the Maine winter.

Finally, we have modifications in behavior to solve the food shortage of winter. Some species in Maine store food in preparation for the long winter months . These food hoarders include the beaver, chipmunk, and gray squirrel, among others. The deer, moose, and partridge modify their diet also; but instead of moving to stored foods, they feed on buds and twigs that have a high energy content and are more readily available than foods used at other times of the year. In addition to changing

Snow roosting. Ruffed grouse use the snow as insulation when they roost. Here the bird walked to the site and burrowed into the snow, although they sometimes dive under the snow from midflight or from a tree. Hole at rear was made when the bird flew from the roost.

The ruffed grouse will also fluff its feathers on cold days, but when it roosts for a period of time with snow on the ground, it will use the snow for insulation instead.

Fluffy snow provides excellent insulation, and the grouse will enter its snow roost either by tunneling or by plunging from midflight or from a tree. This roost will remain at + 25 ° F. or more when the outside temperature reaches -40° F! Although the roost itself is only slightly larger than the bird, the tunnelled entrance may be five feet long. Snowshoers in Maine have often been startled by the partridge exploding at their feet from an unseen roost.

Grouse may roost for up to a few days at a time under the snow, whereas small mammals such as the voles and shrews spend the entire winter under it. Usually a heavy concentration of mice and voles will not be noticed until

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their diet, studies of penned deer in the winter have shown, deer restrict their intake of food even if given an unlimited supply. When weather reaches extreme severity, during a winter storm, deer will bed down and not move to food, relying instead on their fat reserves.

Many wildlife species in Maine are at the northern limits of their range due to the severity of our winter weather. A move of only a few hundred miles north would be beyond the range of the deer, bobcat, gray squirrel, gray fox, cottontail rabbit, and many others.

To survive at the extreme northern limit of their range, these species, as well as other wildlife in Maine, must use â&#x20AC;˘ all the winter survival mechanisms available to them.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

Legislation Summary Second regular session 108th Maine Legislature

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By Bill Mincher

HE SECOND REGULAR SESSION of the 108th Maine Legislature produced only two measures that will have a considerable impact on the operations of the Fish and Wildlife Department - one having to do with the definition of "resident" and the other setting up a new procedure for the process of issuing rules and regulations.

Section 1901, Title 12, has a new subsection 14-A, which will determine residency status for the purpose of buying licenses issued by this Department. It reads as follows:

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14-A. Resident. "Resident" shall mean a citizen of the United States who has been domiciled in this State continuously during the 3 months next prior to the date on which he applies for any license under chaptef'.S 301 to 337, or an alien who has been so domiciled for one year. No person shall be considered a resident if he has not: A. If registered to vote, registered in Maine; B. If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, made application for a Maine motor vehicle operator's license; C. If owning a motor vehicle or vehicles located within the State, registered each such vehicle in Maine; and D. Complied with the state income tax laws.

The first two paragraphs of Section 1901 were repealed; they applied to aliens, nonresidents, and residents but are replaced by the provisions of the new material cited above.

Two other sections on residency requirements were also repealed; they were paragraph 7 of Section 2401 and paragraph 20 of Section 2401-B. (This repealed material appears in some of our regulations publications for years previous to 1978, which may still be in the hands of some of our readers.)

The new procedure for formulating rules and regulations applies to Maine state agencies in general and has special significance for this Department in view of the number of regulations changes we are involved with each year. It is known as the Administrative Procedures Act Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

(A.P.A.) and is now ,in effect. The A.P.A. was actually

passed in 1977, but certain required changes to existing law were made in 197 8 to enable the Act to become operative July 1, 1978.

The basic objectives of the A.P.A. are to allow the public greater opportunity to be heard on proposed regulations that might affect them, and to provide greater awareness of regulations adopted. Our Department, in recent years, has been given increasing responsibility in the field of making regulations. These matters were once handled extensively by the Legislature, and as its members realized how much time was required for making regulations, there began a gradual turning-over of the responsibilities to this Department. With , this change, the Legislature established some quite specific guidelines that would assure public involvement and awareness. Included in the guidelines were the provisions for our legal advertising, public hearings, and procedures for publishing rules and regulations. Not all agencies, however, have had these requirements, and the A. P.A. was designed to provide assurance that a uniform procedure would be followed by all Maine state government agencies, not only in adopting and implementing regulations but also in other administrative actions including advisory rulings, adjudicatory proceedings, and licensing.

The A. P.A. will require some changes in our procedure, but they will be primarily in the way hearings are scheduled, the manner io which petitions are formulated and received, and the technical method of establishing regulations. Public notices will be published on proposals received, public hearings will be scheduled and conducted, and regulations promulgated will be advertised - all pretty much as before. Complete files of our regulations will be available at Department offices and the office of the Secretary of State, for use by the public.

We will be adopting rules of procedure as we become familiar with the A.P.A., and any of these which involve the public will be made known as soon as possible. â&#x20AC;˘ 23

Aerial view in winter shows hardwoods (lighter colored) interspersed in spruces and firs. Mixed hardwoods and softwoods are evident in the lower portion, while the stand at the top is predominantly hardwoods; timber has been recently harvested on the area above and to the right of the snow-covered pond.

N IMPORTANT COMPONENT of northern Maine's forests is the hardwood types. These deciduous stands are usually found on the more fertile, less acid, and better drained soils that occur in the region. They often occupy the sloping sides of ridges. In the north-central Maine area, hardwood stands make up about one-third of the total forest area.

These hardwood types play an important role in the lives of wildlife native to the region. Before considering the more specific relationships, it would be prudent to examine closer the vegetative type involved.

The climax stands (the final, stable stage of vegetative succession) are made up primarily of beech, yellow birch, and maple. But the complexities of associate vegetation create a much more diversified forest, and the activities of man add to this total picture. White ash stands often occur in wet runs, particularly on south facing slopes.

Where fire has created an exposed mineral soil, aspen and white birch become the dominant species, with the longer-lived birch finally occupying some sites almost exclusively.

Lumbering act1v1t1es have changed the makeup of these stands of trees. The requirements for profitable operations have determined which species has been logged to a greater extent than others. A common practice that has occurred for many years is the selection of the most valuable stems for harvesting. Constant combing of these hardwood types over a long period is called high-grading and has resulted in the most inferior trees being left standing. Recent interest in firewood, and the increasing use of hardwood pulp, should offer opportunities to foresters to correct this situation.

One of man's most interesting activities, to me, is the use of hardwood forests to produce maple syrup. In sugar berths a few years ago, selected maples were festooned with a multitude of buckets each spring. Recent innovations cover these areas with a web-Jike network of plastic tubing leading directly from the spiled trees to an evaporator where wood fuel condenses the watery sap to the thickened, sweet syrup that is so tasty and popular.

The production of syrup, taffy, and sugar is a springtime enterprise for many people in northern areas.

Over the years, cutting of other trees for firewood to fuel evaporators has created stands of pure maple that are in marked contrast to the surrounding mixtures.

The interspersion of hardwood types in the northern spruce-fir region is extremely important because a diversity of vegetation and the all-important edge area are created.

Ledge outcrops, hemlock intrusions, and water courses add significantly to the multitude of micro-environmental types that are found in hardwood stands. Many tolerant

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HARDWOOD HABITATS From beech ridges to alder flats, hardwood stands are invaluable to wildlife in northern Maine's spruce-fir forests.

By Harold M. Blanchard Regional Wildlife Biologist 24

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

shrub species are also to be found in these shaded stands, and one of the most common is a viburnum called witch hobble or hobblebush.

Where cutting occurs, nearly all these hardwood trees produce stump sprouting. In ¡addition, beaked hazel and striped red maple often occupy significant areas. Mountain ash and maple associates are present on many sites.

It is common in some hardwood areas where there is enough sunlight on the forest floor, to find dense stands of young beech trees up to four or five feet tall. These are commonly called winter beech because their persistent leaves are carried well into the winter season. Red spruce and other softwoods often cap our hardwood ridges and occur in islands and protrusions of many geometric configurations.

OW, WITH the preceding indication of the vegetative makeup of these hardwood lands, a closer look at some of the wildlife-forest relationships is in order.

In some autumns, beeches bear nuts in amazing quantities, and these fruits become important in the diets of many animals. Bears begin to harvest the crop early in September in those years, and their claw marks are plain to be seen on the smooth, grey-barked trees. The bears climb to the tops of these beech trees, breaking off many limbs, some of which lodge among the other branches, giving a broomy appearance to the treetops. Later as the nuts begin to drop after the first frosts, bears rake leaves into piles as they continue to search the forest floor for these nutritious fruits.

Deer also are partial to beechnuts, moving into beech areas after the nuts begin to open and fall. There is an obvious difference between the signs left by deer and bear as they feed on beechnuts. Bears tend to gather leaves into larger piles and their pawings are larger and more complete; deer, on the other hand, are more dainty in habit, and their pawings are more promiscuous. In any event, the most obvious sign is in droppings left by these animals, and the nut shell fragments are prominent in the bears' stools.

Deer and bear seldom use the same area of a beech ridge at the same time. This is a good example of inter-specific competition. Remember, bear tend to hit the beech just before the nuts begin to fall, climbing trees to get at them.

They also feed on them heavily when they start to fall.

Deer, of course, use them when available as fallen fruit.

The signs of deer and bear eating beechnuts are most obvious, but beechnuts are also utilized by a variety of other wildlife species ranging from ruffed grouse to squirrel and including raccoon, marten, fisher, and fox. The value of this important wildlife food source is impossible to over-emphasize. For many animals in northern climates,

N

their pre-winter condition is all important for survival through harsh winters.

A feature of many of our northern hardwood ridges is the presence of ledge outcrops. These }edgy areas are frequently covered with shallower soils and surface moisture that are favorable to the growth of hemlock and other softwoods. These micro-environments are often heavily used by furbearers and other animals for denning, shelter, and feeding areas. Most commonly found are hedgehog (porcupine), bobcat, fisher, raccoon, and pine marten.

Hardwood areas are, generally speaking, bare of snow before their softwood counterparts, and they offer deer abundant food when these animals break out of their winter yards. In north central Maine, deer are usually confined to winter quarters from mid-December until late March. The animals lose body weight during the period as they use stored body reserves of energy. Their physical condition deteriorates through the winter, so a food source available upon breakout is greatly needed. One of the food plants they feed on heavily at this time is witch hobble. These plants get their name from the unusual characteristic of the root system to grow above ground for some distance and then to become earth-connected again (often entangling the foot of the unwary traveler).

Increasing demand for hardwood forest products makes it more important that the hardwoods' values to wildlife be recognized and safeguarded .

Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Fall 1978

25

northern hardwood stands S are single treesthroughout that play important roles for wildlife.

CA TTERED

These are the snag trees, so-called; they are frequently the largest, oldest trees in a stand, having struggled for survival in many cases for more than a century. Often gnarled, twisted, and partly hollow, they are havens for insects and are used by song birds, woodpeckers, etc., for nesting and feeding. Bats, raccoons, fisher, squirrels, and pine marten use them for denning. Because they stand tall above the surrounding forest, snag trees are often lightning-struck and are sometimes the source of forest fires. Many professional foresters would eliminate these trees from the forest, if they could, because of the fire threat; but if wildlife values are considered, the management of strategically located snag trees is critical to a productive wildlife environment.

In the sub-climax forests after a fire, aspen is a pioneering species, and often pure stands or aspen-birch mixtures occupy these sites. Recent studies in the lake states have shown how valuable aspen trees are in the management of ruffed grouse. The low market value and demand for poplar has precluded intensive management on a commercial basis, but if a landowner is especially interested in increasing the grouse populations on his holdings, he should realize that aspen management is a vital technique. An article on an aspen management demonstration area being developed at our Jonesboro Wildlife Management Area appeared in the Summer 197 8 issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife.

For most wildlife, the diversity of vegetative types, their juxtaposition, and their interspersion are extremely important. The use of mast (beechnuts) by deer, bear, and other wildlife, has been pointed out. Because of visibility factors and other considerations, hardwood areas have long been favorite grounds for deer hunters.

Most use of these stands by deer in the fall involves the mixed-growth edges of the forest. Both still hunting, and quiet stalking of these edges can be very productive for the hunter. Several things should be kept in mind when hunting these places. First is the intrinsic behavior patterns of our whitetails. Deer seldom are to be seen in large open areas; they much prefer to keep escape cover handy. Escape cover on the edges of hardwood stands may be a group of young firs, an intrusion of "black growth," or merely a thicket of winter beech.

Daytime deer-beds in these hardwood areas are also located with escape avenues nearby; on nice fall days in good weather, look for deer to bed high up on the ridges - promontories of land where their visibility is good and escape avenues are nearby. Deer nearly always bed at the base of a large softwood. When storms occur and the weather is bad, more bedding sites are to be found on the low sides of the ridge along the fringes of softwood cover. Again, a slight knoll is often selected, with the actual bed near the base of a large softwood.

26

A

NOTHER HARDWOOD TYPE found in the northcentral Maine area is located along rivers and streams.

The major tree species in this type are brown ash, elm, oak, etc. These lowland hardwood areas that are sometimes seasonally flooded are one of my favorite springtime haunts. I like them for many reasons, not only because they provide excellent habitat for many animals but also because they are where I find my favorite green, fiddleheads. Fiddlehead or ostrich ferns are highly edible when gathered as they reach a height of a few inches. Their dark, brilliant green curls boiled with pork or eaten cold in a salad with a pan of fresh trout or smelts cooked to a crispy, golden brown (and chased with a cup of black tea) seem to purge one's system of the long, hard, winter season and provide a fitting tribute to the advent of spring.

A common associate of these forest types, abundant throughout the region, is speckled alder. Alders grow in wetter sites and frequently are found in flat, less welldrained, heavy soils deposited over the years by silt-laden waters. Where stream velocities slow, alder flats make situations that are favored by beaver. Beavers use the alders for food and in their dam- and lodge-building activities. The flowages created by beavers make ideal habitat for various wildlife species including mink, otter, muskrat, raccoon, moose, and waterfowl.

Alder areas most often contain an understory of grasses and other herbaceous vegetation. These areas are critical in the lives of woodcock. They are heavily used by these birds for brooding young and for feeding because the soils involved contain an abundant and available source of earthworms. Alder flats continue to be used by woodcock up to the time of fall migration as feeding and staging areas.

In the hot, dry spells of mid-summer weather, bears favor these hardwood swales, eat the grasses, and bed in the cool, moist micro-climate found there. Bear trails are frequently found criss-crossing these alder runs.

Deer often use these forest types for lambing; many times, fishermen find newly born fawns while pursuing their sport along streams in late May and early June.

I

N SUMMARY, the diversification of habitat created by hardwood forest types in Maine's spruce-fir forest creates environmental conditions that have far-reaching effects on many of our native forms of wildlife. The complexities of some of these effects are not entirely known.

The results of high-grading hardwood stands has not yet been generally addressed by commercial forest interests, and the growing interest in firewood fuel will probably have far-reaching effects on these vegetative types. Care needs to be taken that the future uses of Maine's hardwood forests take into account and safeguard their present values, including their important role as habitat for native wildlife. â&#x20AC;˘ Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

BAXTER

STATE PARK

TWIN

THE WEST BRANCH By

Paul J. Johnson Fishery Biologist

T

HE WEST BRANCH of the Penobscot River drains approximately 2,000 square miles in Somerset, Piscataquis, and Penobscot counties. From its headwaters near the Canadian border, it flows for more than 200 miles before converging with the East Branch in Medway to form the main stem of the Penobscot River. Lakes such as Seboomook, Chesuncook, and the Pemadumcook lakes are located along its course. Yet, of the many miles of river that comprise the West Branch, perhaps none are as well known and have attracted as much attention as these immediately below Chesuncook Lake. There, such popular areas as the Big Eddy, Nesowadnehunk Deadwater, and Nesowadnehunk Falls are synonymous with the West Branch.

Between Ripogenus dam, at Chesuncook's outlet, and Abol Stream,

Mount Katahd in in Baxter State Park stands sentinel over the wild and beautiful West Branch.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

a dista nce of 11.5 miles, the ri ver itself is a major a ttraction. Ma ny anglers, both resident and nonresident, frequent the area because of its reputable landlocked salmon fishery.

The Great Northern Paper Company's major access road to its forest lands in the drainage closely follows the south bank and provides easy, year-round access to this section of the West Branch. Two campgrounds, several small campsites, and a set of sporting camps provide the opportunity for visitors to remain overnight. Consequently, recreational use along the river is high.

Ripogenus dam is a site of major interest to many West Branch visitors.

Built across Ripogenus gorge around 1920, it is 695 feet long and 73 feet high. The dam was first used to store water in Chesuncook for driving logs down the river to Great N orthern's Millinocket paper mills. Now the water is used primarily to generate electricity for the mills.

Immediately below the dam, the river channel runs through a deep, granite gorge for more than a mile.

In the early 1950s, a tunnel was bored in the rock from the dam to a newly constructed power station in the gorge three-quarters of a mile

downstream. Here, the water from Chesuncook is discharged through penstocks into the natural river channel. Normally, very little water flows in the natural river bed above the power station.

Flows in the West Branch vary only slightly, depending somewhat on the demand for power at the paper mills and the storage available upstream from Ripogenus dam. The flow usually runs between 2,500 and 3,000 cubic feet per second. Thus, unlike many other Maine rivers where flows will vary from spring runoff highs to late summer lows, the West Branch has a relatively constant, year-round flow. When, on several occasions during the year, the power station is shut down for maintenance or repairs, a minimum flow of 200 cubic feet per second or greater is provided for the river through deep gates in R ipogenus dam.

F

ROM RIPOGENUS DAM to Abol Stream, the West Branch

drops 310 feet in elevation. Below Ripogenus gorge, the river is characterized by a variety of habitat types.

Stretches of dangerous rapids are interspersed with deep runs and pools, long deadwater areas, and even falls . .It averages close to 200 feet wide and offers many types of fishing opportunities. Some anglers cast or troll from boats or canoes in the pools, deadwaters, and runs.

A few cast from the large rocks and granite ledges along the shore while others prefer to wade in the pools and shallow areas along the edges of the runs.

Man's activities on and along the river, in the past and at present, preclude the area's qualifications as a wilderness. Nevertheless, it remains relatively undeveloped and exceptionally beautiful. Mount Katahdin and other peaks in Baxter State Park to the north, together with the forested hills and ridges that line the river valley, provide a scenic background to the river environment.

Bald eagles and osprey are common-

The West Branch nips the southwest corner of Baxter State Park at the Nesowadnehunk Deadwater (above).

Shortly downriver from there is Nesowadnehunk Falls (below), a very popular spot with West Branch anglers.

ly observed soaring above the river, and " fishing" in it. Moose, deer, and many other wildlife species roam the shoreline.

T

HE LANDLOCKED SALMON is the most sought game fish in the West Branch, though good brook trout fishing occurs in areas where cool tributaries enter the river. Both the salmon and trout population s are sustained through natural reproduction. The river appears to serve as an important nursery area for young salmon. However, the precise movements of young salmon and the adults in the river are not thoroughly understood. In the spring, there appears to be a major movement of salmon up the river from the Pemadumcook chain of lakes below. In June, the population of fish in the river greatly increases over the number which apparently overwinter there. Salmon can also enter the river from Chesuncook Lake above, but those that survive passage through the power station turbines, and any salmon moving upstream from below, do not have access into Chesuncook Lake as there is no fishway in Ripogenus dam.

A study by the Great Northern Paper Company and the Maine Fish and Wildlife Department is underway to determine the movement patterns of West Branch salmon and the importance of the river as a spawning and nursery area.

Another characteristic of the West Branch, unlike most other Maine landlocked salmon rivers, is the presence of smelts. While rivers are not noted as smelt habitat, smelts are abundant in the river below Ripogenus dam. They are swept through the tunnel from Chesuncook and into the river, where large numbers of dead and injured smelts can occasionally be observed drifting downstream along the shore. U~doubtedly, many smelts survive the trip into the river and are established in the pools and deadwater areas. Since smelt provide the most important source of forage for the growth of Maine

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

salmon, the West Branch salmon have an ideal source of food which they utilize heavily.

O

VER THE PAST 20 years, regulations on fishing in the West Branch have often resulted in a great deal of controversy. Between 1959 and 1973, there were 4 changes in the laws that affect all or portions of the river between Ri pogenus dam and Abol Stream. The 1970s, however, brought changes that have focused new interest in the West Branch and its salmon fishery.

In 1972, fishing opportunities greatly increased with the end of Great Northerns pulpwood drives.

Without logs in the river, anglers can fish longer and more often during the summer. Along with this increase in fishing opportunity, the use of worms and live fish as bait (general law regulations) was again permitted in 1973, after eight years of artificial lures and flies restrictions. These factors prompted concern among many anglers over the future of the wild salmon populations in the West Branch.

In April 1973, the Fish and Wildlife Department began a survey on the West Branch to collect information which could be used to guide management of the river toward ensuring the conservation of the important wild salmon fishery. Censuses in 1973 and 1974 provided valuable statistics on the salmon fishing in the river and on the age and growth characteristics of the salmon population.

Contacts with anglers also revealed

differences in use patterns and preferences among them.

A major issue that became apparent was whether the West Branch should be managed to provide a trophy-type salmon fishery with special requirements on length limit, terminal gear, and bag restrictions, or a fishery offering few restrictions on use opportunity and a higher harvest rate of salmon than would occur if the river were managed for trophy fish.

In 1975 we expanded the census to include the entire fishing season to al low us to make angler counts and salmon harvest estimates. Anglers received questionnaires to determine their preferences and factors related to their use and enjoyment of the West Branch. The interesting results of these studies will be presented in a future issue of Maine Fish and Wildlife.

More recently, the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation has recommended the inclusion of the West Branch in the National System of Wild and

Dangerous rapids are recurrent features of the West Branch below Ripogenus Dam.

Scenic Rivers. Several outfitters have now begun white-water rafting on the river. And because of the status of our national energy situation, the Great Northern Paper Company is evaluating the West Branch for possible future hydroelectric development to complement its existing generating facilities in the drainage.

I

NTEREST IN and concern for the West Branch and its future have perhaps never been as high as they are now. With recreational, commercial, and industrial interests competing for uses of the river, it is certain that all those charged with managing the natural resources of the West Branch will be faced with new challenges.

Undoubtedly, economics will influence future management decisions.

However, the biological characteristics and requirements of the West Branch salmon populations, as well as the opinions and preferences of river recreationists, will also play important roles in determining the future of the West Branch. â&#x20AC;˘

White-water rafting is becoming a popular recreational activity-several outfitters now offer such trips on the West Branch.

29

Name The Fish!

IHTUEWFHS I

I (] I KJ I I I ~MESTL~ ] ( I I IMNLOSA I I I I I (] I SAS ~ I JI ~ GETO~ ] [ I I CERIPELKI [ J I I I I [] TOTUR~ I [ II CHEPRI I I I (] 30

Unscramble these Maine fish names and print them in the spaces provided. Then unscramble the circled letters to discover the surprise message in the spaces below. Good luck!!

' tll]D (D

t XI I IX l'!

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

BEARS

LIKE HONEY!

WHATS THAT I SMELL?

Photos by Tom Carbone

l'M GETTING CLOSER!

AHHH! HERE IT IS!

JUST THE TICKET! Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

31

(continued from inside front cover) Conservation Careers: The Wildlife BiologistRobert W. Boettger . ...... . ..... .. .. ............. .. ..... Wntr. '77-'78 Maine Grown Honkers-Gary G. Donovan . .... . ......... . .. . Smr. '71 Return of the Woody-Paul J. Fournier .. .... . . .. . ... .... Wntr. '72-'73

BOATING

'66 '67 '67 '73 '78 '72

SAFETY "It's No Small Problem"-Lorenzo J. Gaudreau ........ . . ... Smr. '78 Is Your Boat Safe?-Robert H. Johnson .. .... .. ... . . . . . . ... . . . Spr. '63 Ten Easy Ways to Drown-Edward M. Korb .. : . . ...... .. .... . Spr. '64 Safe Boating is FUN-Albert E . MacLennan .... . . . .......... . Spr. '65 Check Your Life Saving Devices-Robert H. Johnson .. . .. ... Spr. '66 Cold Water Survival . . . . .. .. ............. . . . . .. ... . .. . . . ...... Spr.'76 Loading Your Boat . ... ... .. .. ... .. . ............... .. .. . . . ... . Smr. '76 Buoys Make Boating Safer-Thomas J. Chamberlain ...... . . Smr. '73 How' s Your Water Safety IQ? . . ......... .. .. .. ... . . . ... . .. . . . Smr. '77

CONSERVATION EDUCATION Conservation Education-A Ladder of Years . . . ... . . ..... . .. . Spr. '59 Progress in Conservation Education-Franklin A . Downie . . . Fall '61 Conservation Education Summary-Franklin A. Downie . .. . . Spr. '64 Conservation Education, 1965-Donald K . Christie . .. .. . Wntr. '65-'66 The 1966 Conservation School ProgramDonald K. Christie ... . . .. . .. ..... . . . .. . ... ... . ... . .... . .. ... Spr. '66 Conservation Education, 1966-Donald K . Christie ... .. . Wntr. '66-'67 The 1967 Conservation School ProgramDonald K. Christie ... . . . .. .. . .. .... ..... .. ... . .. . ..... . ..... Spr. '67 Conservation Education 1967-Donald K. Christie .. . .... Wntr. '67-'68 1968 Conservation School Program-Donald K. Christie ..... Spr. '68 Conservation Education-Marshall T. Wiebe . . ..... . .. . .... .. Spr. '70 What's in a Name?-Marshall T. Wiebe ... ...... . ....... . Wntr. '70-'71 School in the Woods-Bill Geagan ....... .. .. . . . .. . . . ... . .. . . . Spr. '71

DISEASES, PARASITES, PESTS What To Do About Unwelcome Wildlife Francis J. Gramlich .. . ... . ..... . .. ... . .. . . .... .. ..... . .. . .. Smr. '75 When Wildlife Friends Become Pests - W. Sidney Howe . . . .. Fall '68 Camping Pests: Don't Let 'em Get You Down!- 1 Donald F. Mairs .... ... . .. . .. ....... . . . .... .. . . . .. ... . . .. . ... Spr. '75 Swimmer' s Itch-Robert E . Foye . . . . . . . . . .... .. . ..... ... .. ... Smr. '72 Fish Parasites: Glugea hertwigi-William Woodward . .. . . ... Spr. '73 Fish Parasites: Ligula intestinalis-Steven A. Timpano . . ... Smr. '73 Wildlife Diseases-Dr. Frank Witter .. . .. . . .... ..... ... ... . .. . Fall '65 Fish Diseases: Black Spot-Ronald K. Brokaw . . .. ... . . ...... Fall '72 The Yellow Grub-Roger A . Marin . .. . . . ....... . . .. ..... Wntr. '72- '73 A Sebago Monster?-David 0 . Locke .... . .. . .. ... . ... .. ...... Spr. '74 Parasites of Maine' s Fresh-water FishDr. Marvin C. Meyer . ... .... .... .. .. . . . . ... . ... . . . . . .. ... ... Spr. '72 IPN (and what's being done about it)-David 0. Locke ... . ... Fall '69 Danger at our Doorstep-David 0 . Locke .. . . . . ....... ... Wntr. '68-'69 "Lousy Fish" -David 0 . Locke . ....... . ........... .. .... . ..... Spr. '66 The Bass Tapeworm-Urban D. Pierce, Jr . . . .. . . ... . . ... ..... Smr. '72 Heartworm: Can You Afford to Ignore It?Tom Chamberlain ... . ... . .... . .. . .. . .... .. . .. .. . . . . ... . ... . . Spr. '74

ENVIRONMENT Those Blooming Algae-Jeffrey Dennis ... .. . . . ... . . . . .... . . Smr. '75 What Worth Weeds?-Charles F. Ritzi .... .. . . .. . ... . ... .. . . . Smr. '77 Control of Algae and Aquatic Weeds-Robert E . Foye . ....... Spr. '71 Pollution Sleuthing Herons ... . . . . .... .......... . . .... ...... . . Spr. '76 Pesticides Primer . .. . .... . . . .. . ..... . .. .. .. . . . ..... .. . .... .. . . Spr. '70 Algae: "Grass" of Many Waters-Alton H. Gustafson . . . ... . Smr. '68 Carrying Out is Picking Up-Marshall T. Wiebe . .... . . . . .... . Spr. '76 Acid Rain .. . . . . . . ... ...... .... . .. .. .... ..... .. . ... . . . . .. .. . . . Smr. '76 Soils and Your Shore Lot-Kenneth G. Stratton . . .. .. ... Wntr. '73- '74 Tips for Lakeside Builders-Thompson Lake Association .. .. Spr. '72 Poison-Handle With Carel-Kendall Warner .. . . . ... ...... . .. Spr. '62 Wildlife .. . The Environmental Barometer . .. ...... . .. . . .. . . .. Smr. '71 Your Lakes Are Aging Too Fast-Dr. Millard W. Hall . .... .. . Spr. '71 Pollution, Water and Fish-Raeburn W. Macdonald . . . ....... . Fall '67 Sumithion-a Possible Candidate-Howard E .. Spencer, Jr.... Spr. '68 Sumithion Study-John W. Peterson .... ........ . . ..... . . . ... Smr. '69 Can Man Survive Himself?-Ruth S. Billard .. .. .. ... .. . .. . Wntr. '71

FISH The Cusk: Maine 's Fresh-water Cod-Matthew Scott ... . Wntr. '68-'69 Yellow Salmon?-Peter G. Walker . ... . . . .. . . . .. . .... . . .. Wntr. '73-'74 White Perch versus Yellow Perch versus PickerelSandra Dugans . . . . , .. . . ... . ... . ... ...... .. .. ........... Wntr. '74-'75

32

'76 '60 '78 '70 '77 '63 '63 '67

GAME

If You Own A Boat-Robert H . Johnson . . .. . .. . ... . .. .. .. .. . . Spr. '62 Is Your Boat Numbered Properly?-Robert H . Johnson . . . . .. Spr. '66

A Twin Launching-Eugene P . Hart .. . .. ... .... . . ...... . ... . Smr. CME-It's Yours For The AskingRowland J. Hastings, Jr. . ..... ... .. .. . .. ... . . ..... . ...... . .. Spr. NESBAC Comes to Maine . .... . . . ...... . ..... .. ... . ... . ....... Fall State Launch Sites- Thomas Chamberlain .. . . . ........... . .. Spr. Where To Put In-Marshall T . Wiebe .......... ..... . . . . . ..... . Spr. Boat Camping-Tom Shoener .. . . ........ . . .... .... . ... . ... . .. Spr.

Fishes of Maine-Dr. W. Harry Everhart . .. .. ............... . Smr. Fish Facts-Robert S. Rupp ... . .. . . ... . .... . .. . . . ..... .. . .. . . . Fall Let 'Em Go To Sea-Alfred L. Meister .. . .. ... ... . . .. . .. . . .... Spr. Oxygen and Fish-Donald F . Mairs . . . . . . .. . . . . . ...... . ....... Spr. SPECIAL SECTION: Fish Species Plans . . . .. . ... .... .. .. . . . . Spr. How Old Is It?-Keith A. Havey ... .. . ... . . .. ... . . ... . ........ Spr. How Old Do Fish Get?-Dr. W. Harry Everhart .... ... .. .... .. Fall The Five Senses of Fish-Owen C. Fenderson . . .. . . .. . . ...... Fall

What Kind of Brook Trout is That?-Robert S . Rupp .... . ... Smr. '67 The Brown Trout-Matthew Scott . ... . . . . .. ........ . .. . . . .. . .. Spr. '67 Tiger Trout-Ever Catch One?-Robert E. Foye .. .... .. . . . . .. Spr. '69 The Life of the Sunapee-Frederick W. Kircheis ... ...... . ... Smr. '76 Lake Trout-Stuart E. DeRoche .. .. . .. ........ . . ...... . ...... Smr. '66 Blueback Country-Dr. W. Harry Everhart . .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . . . Fall '66 The Eastern Brook Trout-Keith A . Havey . . . . . .. . . ...... . ... Spr. '62 Brook Trout-Philip S. Andrews ... .......... .. .. .. . . .... . ... . Fall '74 The Atlantic Salmon . .. . ... . . .. .... . . ... . ..... ...... . .. . ... : . . Spr. '59 Atlantic Salmon Facts .of Life-Edward T . Baum ... .. .. . ... .. Spr. '71 The Landlocked Salmon-Carll Fenderson . . . . .. . . . .... ..... . . Spr. '60 The Landlocked Salmon-Kendall Warner .. . .... .. .... .. Wntr. '69-'70 The Chain Pickerel-Louis· M. Barr ....... . . . ... . . .. .. .... . ... Fall '63 The Whitefish-Owen C. Fenderson . . . . ....... . ...... . .. .. . .. . Spr. '61 The Smelt-Kendall Warner . ...... .. .... . ... . . . ... .. ........ . Spr. '73 NON-GAME Three Little Fish-Dr. W. Harry Everhart . ... .. . ... .. . ..... ... Fall '63 Keep the Goldfish at Home!-Keith Havey ... . . . . ..... . ..... . Spr. '60 Maine's Native Sunfish-Malcolm A . Redmond ............... Spr. '67 Zebra of the Lily Pads-Charles F . Ritzi . .. ... .. . ·.. . ... . .... . Smr. '67 The Common Shiner-Steven A. Timpano . ........... .. .. . ... Spr. '71 Black Crappies: The Unwanted ImmigrantsRichard B. Anderson . .. . .. . . .. ... .. . .................. . ..... Fall '68 The Alewife: Master of the Quickwater-Keith A. Havey . ... Smr. '68 The Carp-Robert E . Foye . . . .. . . . .. . ... .... .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. Spr. '65 The American Shad-Alfred L. Meister . .... .... . .. ....... . ... Fall '65 Bullheads Aren't All Bad-Roger A. Marin .. . .... .. ..... Wntr. '69-'70 The Sucker-William H. Meyer .. . ........ . . . . . . .... . .. . . ... . . Spr. '63 Minnows-For Better or for Worse-Philip S. Andrews .. . ... . Spr. '69 Notes on t~e Sea Lamprey-Robe~ M. Davis . . . ... .. . ........ Sr,r. :62 The American Eel-Angelo Incerp1 .... . . .. . .. ... . . . ..... Wntr. 65- 66 RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT (see also LAND MANAGEMENT)

Mortality in Fish Populations-Raymond A . DeSandre . .. ... Smr. '71 Penobscoi Progress-Edward T. Baum . .... . . .. . .. ..... . . .. . .. Spr. '74 Diving for Fish Facts-Fred W . Kircheis . .. ... . . ......... . . .. Spr. '72 It's a Long Way to Pasture-Richard E . Cutting .. .. ......... Smr. '68 Fishermen's Inventory-Stuart E . DeRoche ... ... . .. . ...... .. . Spr. '61 Togue Food Airlift-Stuart E . DeRoche ........... ........ . .. . Spr. '76 Radio Equipped Sunapees-Fred W. Kircheis . . .... ... . .. .. .. . Spr. '76 Love Lake Salmon Project-Keith A. Havey ....... . . . .. . Wntr. '68-'69 The Schoodic Lake Salmon Project-Keith A. Havey .... Wntr. '67-'68 Will That Fish Die?-Kendall Warner . ... .. . .. ...... . .... Wntr. '74-'75 Togue Eggs: Keep Covered-Roger P. AuClair .... . .. .... ... Smr. '74 Fishery Research: The Road to Better FishingKendall Warner . ........ . . . . . .... .. .. ...... ....... . . . .. ..... Fall '72 Tagged.Atlantic ~almon: W)lere Do They Go?, Edward T . Baum . ......... .. . . . . . .. . ... . ..... .. . .. ...... .. . Smr. 74 Fishery Division Activities-Lyndon H. Bond ........ .. ... ... Fall '70 Do We Need a Length Limit on Trout?-Kendall Warner . ... . Fall '70 No Length Limit-How's It Working-Philip S. Andrews ..... Fall '72 The Maine Cooperative Fishery UnitDr. Richard W. Hatch . . . .. .... . ... .. .. . .. . . .. . . . . .. ... ..... . Fall '69 The Cooperative Fishery Unit ... In Hot WaterRichard W. Gregory . . . . ... . . . ....... .. ... . ·.... . .. . ... . . ... . . Fall '69 Sea-Run Brownies-Urban D . Pierce, Jr. ........... . . . ..... .. Smr. '78 Electric Fishing for Better Fishing-Keith A. Havey .... ..... Fall '64 Fish With No Secrets-William C. Mincher . . ..... .. . . . .. .. ... Fall '64 Fish Lore, First Hand-Stuart E. DeRoche . .... . .. . .. .... ... .. Spr. '65 Needles or Spikes?-Robert S. Rupp, Malcolm A. Redmond .. Spr. '65 Restoring Trout Streams-Dr. W. Harry Everhart .. .. . . . .. ... Spr. '65 Stairways for Spawners-Laurence F. Decker . . . . .... .. .. . . . . Spr. '65 Marine Salmon Migrations-Richard E . Cutting . . ..... . . Wntr. '65-'66 Salmon Feeding Behavior-Kenneth Muth . . ... .. . .... .. . Wntr. '65-'66 Is a Fish Screen the Answer?-Lyndon H . Bond .. . .. . ...... .. Spr. '66 Looking for Answers-Alfred L. Meister . .... . .... .. . .. ... . .. . Spr. '66 Water Fertility-Donald F . Mairs ... .. ... ... .. . .. . .... .... . . .. Spr. '66 Needles and Thread-Richard E. Cutting .. . .. ... ..... . ... .. . Smr. '66 Fishing for Answers in Trout Ponds-Robert S. Rupp, Roger P. Auclair, Malcolm A . Redmond . . ... . .... ... . . . . ... Fall '66 Sebago's Bright Future-Richard B . Anderson .. .. . .. .. . .. ... Fall '66 Smolts by the Ton-Alfred L . Meister . . . . . .. . . .. . .. ......... .. Fall '66 Let's Look at Moosehead-Roger P . AuClair . . ..... . . ..... .... Spr. '67 The Case for Atlantic Salmon-Alfred L. Meister . . . . .... . ... Smr. '67 Pond Reclamation-Robert E. Foye .......... . ......... . ..... . Spr. '60 Reclamation Reviewed-Roger A . Marin .... . .... . .......... Smr. '71 Progress on the Penobscot-Wendall Tremblay . .. . ......... . Smr. '67 Penobscot Progress-John L. Ketner, Jr. . . .............. . ... . Smr. '68 Penobscot Restoration Progress-Edward T . Baum ... . . ...... Spr. '70 Crustaceans: Fish Food Extraordinaire-Donald F . Mairs ... Smr. '69 Engineering Sex In Fish-Stan Allen, Jr. . . ....... ..... . . ... . . Spr. '78 Hatchery Trout: How Many Does a Pond Need?Philip S. Andrews .... ....... . ... . . ............ . .... . ... Wntr. '71-'72

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

Rainbows Downeast?-Donald F. Mairs .. . . . ... .. . .. .. . ... .. . Spr. '68 Rainbows and their Place in MaineRaymond A. DeSandre ... .. .. . . . . ... .. . . ....... . ..... ...... Smr. '77 Low-down on the Largemouth-John W. Kelley .. . ..... ..... .. Spr. '61 Wanted, Dead or Alive-Robert S. Rupp . ... ... .. ... . .... .. ... Spr. '61 Trout and Tributaries-Roger P. AuClair . . . . . . .. ... . .. .. . ... . Fall '61 The Landlocked Alewife-Robert T. Lackey .... .. ....... Wntr. '68- '69 The Landlocked Salmon-Kendall Warner . . . .. .... .. . .. . Wntr. '69-'70 What Kind of Brook Trout is That?-Robert S. Rupp ........ Smr. '67 The Sunapee: Maine's Rarest Trout-Keith A . Havey .... .. . . Smr. '69 What Do Smelts Do in their Spare Time?-Robert S . Rupp . . . Spr. '62 Maine's Warm-water Fishery Resources-Robert E. Foye .. .. Spr. '68 Good News from Sebago . ...... . .. .. ......... .. ....... ...... . . Spr. '70 The Rangeley Lakes-Charles F. Ritzi .... . ... . ... ... . ........ Fall '68 Two Years into Moosehead Project-Roger P . AuClair . . . .... Spr. '69 Progress at Moosehead-Roger P. A~Clair . . . .. .. ... . ...... . . SP.r. :72 Moosehead Update-Roger P . AuClair . ... . ............. . Wntr. 75- 76 Baxter State Park-Its Waters and Their ManagementPaul R . Johnson . . .. . .... . .. ..... ....... ... .. .... . ....... .. . . Spr. '75 What's the Latest on Browns?-Urban D. Pierce, Jr. . ........ Smr. '75 The Stream Survey-Charles F . Ritzi .. . . . . .... . ....... ...... Smr. '70 Why Stock Trout Streams?-Stuart E . DeRoche . . . ... . ...... . Spr. '63 Guidelines to Fish Stocking in Maine .... . .. . .. ..... . ....... Smr. '70 Orchids and Trout-Roger P . Au Clair .. ........ . .......... . .. Spr. '62 Food to Grow " Big and Strong" -David E . Dexter ... . . .. . ... Smr. '71 The Fish River Drainage-Kendall Warner ........ .. . ....... Smr. '66 A New Idea in Trout Pond ManagementPaul R . Johnson . . ........ . ... . ... . .... . ... ... .. . .. . . . . . Wntr. '72-'73 Lake Survey-What's It All About?-Peter M. Bourque .. Wntr. '69-'70 Hatchery Fish versus Wild Fish-Owen C. Fenderson ........ Spr. '70 Water Chemistry-Peter G. Walker . ...... . ........ . .. . ... ... . Spr. '77 Salmon That Fight-Owen C. Fenderson . . . ........ . ... . ..... Smr. '70 Let 'Em Go To Sea-Alfred L . Meister ....... .. .. .. . ... . . . . . .. Spr. '78" Conservation Careers: The Fisheries ScientistKendall Warner .. . ...... . .. . .. . .. ... ... .. .. . . . . . . . .......... Spr. '76 Ice Fishi ng Versus Open Water FishingStuart E. DeRoche . ................ . ...... . . . . . .. ... ... Wntr. '72- '73 Crayfish Study-William F . Reid, Jr. . ... .. . ...... . . ..... . . .. Smr. '71

CULTURE Fish Culture in MaineStanley P . Linscott, David 0. Locke .. . ..... . ........ . . .. . . . Smr. '75 A Century of Fish Culture in Maine-David 0 . Locke . .... . .. Spr. '69 A Century of Fish Culture in Maine (Part II)David 0. Locke ... . .. . . . . . ....... . ....... . ...... . .... .. .... . Smr. '69 When It's Springtime in the Hatchery-Dennis King ... . . . . .. Spr. '73 New Diets in the Hatchery-David O. Locke . .. .. .. . .. . . . Wntr. '70- '71 Better Hatches Mean Better Catches-Stanley P . Linscott .... Spr. '74 Guidelines to Fish Stocking in Maine . .. . .. . ... . ....... ..... Smr. '70 A Candid Appraisal of Maine' s Stream Stocking ProgramStuart E . DeRoche ........ .. . . . . . .... .. .. . . . . ... ....... Wntr. '68- '69 Water for Our Hatcheries-John L . Ketner, Jr. .... ... .. .. . ... Smr. '69 Craig Brook National Fish HatcheryMichael J . Marchyshyn . . . . . .. .. . . . .... .. . . . . ... ....... Wntr. '73- '74

FISH AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, GENERAL Where Do You Live?-Ralph C. Will ... . . ... .. . . ....... .. . .. . Smr. '76 In Case You Didn't Know-J. William Peppard ...... .. . . Wntr. '72-'73 The Pittman-Robertson Program in MaineWilliam H . Martin . .... ... . .. . . .. . .. ........ . ........... .. ... Fall '72 Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources PlanningDonald K. Christie .... ....... ... . ... .. ... .. . ... . ......... ... Fall '70 You've Got a Plan-Kenneth H . Anderson ... . . ...... . ..... ... Fall '75 The Early Years (Department History)-Harvey 0. Elliott .' .. Spr. '61 The Recent Years (Department History)-Harvey O. Elliott : . Fall '61 Do It Yourself-Department Style-Clayton G. Grant ....... Smr. '78 Engi neers at Work-John L . Ketner, Jr...... . .... . . . ... . . . ... Smr. '72 The Engineering Division-John L. Ketner, Jr. .. . .. .. .... . . . Smr. '70 The Engineers' Year-John L . Ketner, Jr. . . .... . .. .. . . ....... Smr. '73 The Information and Education Division-Dave Dexter ... .. . Sr,r. :72 The Game Farm . .. ..... .. . . . . .... . ..... . .. ... . .. ... . .. ... Wntr. 65- 66

FISHING Salmon on a Fly-Philip S. Andrews ... ..... . . . .............. Spr. '70 Catch 'Em Bigger Later . ..... . . .. . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. ..... . .. . ... Spr. '78 Atlantic Salmon Fishing in Maine-Richard M. Jordan ..... Smr. '77 Bass Tournaments: Professional Fishing Comes to MainePeter G. Walker . .. ...... . ..... . . .. ...... . ... . ....... .. . . .. . . Fall '77 Weed-water Bonanza-Bill Geagan . . .. . . .. . .... . . . ...... ... .. Spr. '60 Bassing for Beginners-Peter G. Walker . . . . .. .......... . Wntr. '77-'78 Winter Bass, Anyone?-Richard Arsenault . . ..... . ... .. . Wntr. '76-'77 Hooks-Thomas J . Chamberlain ......... . ... .. . .. ... ... . . ... . Spr. '76 Fresh Water Stripers, Anyone?-Richard W. Gregory ........ Spr. '74 How To Ca~ch Pickerel-Ronald K . Brokaw . . .... . ... ..... . . Smr. '78 What About Togue Fishing?-Kendall Warner . . . . .... ... . ... Smr. '69 Discover Maine's Wilderness Trout Ponds-Scott Roy . . . . . . . Smr. '72 Visit a Wil~erness Trout Pond . . . . . . . ..... . .. . ... . . . ... . ..... Smr. '74 Try Cusk-Scott Roy . . . . . . ... .... ... ..... . . . . ..... .. .......... Fall '76 Discover Whitefish-Tom Shoener . . . .. . .. . . .. . ... . ... ... Wntr. '72-'73 White Perch Are for Everyone-Roger P. AuClair ....... . .... Spr. '64 Brook Trout Fishing: What About the Future?Philip S. Andrews .. . ....... .... . .. . . .... . . . ... .. ..... .. Wntr. '70- '71 Back Yard Trout Fishing-Peter M. Bourque .. . .. ....... . .. . Smr. '77 The Landlocked Salmon-Carll Fenderson . . .. ... . .... .... .. .. Spr. '60 Winter Smelting-Peter M . Bourque .. .......... . .... . ........ Fall '77 Grow Your Own Earthworms . . ........ .... . ... _. . .... . . . . . ~ . . , Spr. '71

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

The "Second Season" -Tom Shoener ...... . . . .. .. . . .. .. ... .. Smr. '76 Live Bait Can Boomerang!-Tom Shoener ...... . ........ Wntr. ' 70-'71 Atlantic Salmon Fishing ... A Look Back-Alfred L. Meister . . Spr. '64 The Atlantic Salmon Sport Fishery-Alfred L. Meister . ...... Fall '63 Maine' s Fishery Regions: Sebago-Stuart E. DeRoche . . ... . . Smr. '71 Maine' s Fishery Regions: Moosehea.d-Roger P . Au Clair . . . . . Spr. '71 Maine's Fishery Regions: Grand LakeKeith A. Havey . ... . .... . .. . . ...... . .. . ......... . ...... Wntr. '71 -'72 Maine' s Fishery Regions: F i sh River LakesPeter M . Bourque, Steven A. Timpano . ...... .. ....... . .. .. . Spr. '73 Maine's Fishery Regions: Rangeley LakesWilliam Woodward .. .. ... . .. . ............ . . .. ..... .. .. . .. . . Smr. '73 Maine' s Fishery Regions: Belgrade-Charles F . Ritzi .. . .. . . Smr. '72

"HOW-TO" Make a Plast er Cast-Kenneth W. Hodgdon .............. Wntr. ' 65-'66 Raising Pheasants Successfully-Bill Mincher ... . ........... Fall '61 Make Your Own Inner Tube Snowshoe HarnessJohn M. McPhee . .. ....... .. .. . . ... . . .. .. ..... . ... .. ... . ..... Fall '77 Decoys-Thomas L. Carbone, Thomas J. Chamberlain ... Wntr. '75-'76 Get Yourself in Shape-William L . Herman : . .... . . ....... . . Smr. '76 Grow Your Own Earthworms ..... .. .......... . . . . .. . . ........ Spr. '71 Tan Your Hide-Tom Shoener ........ . ..... .. . ... . . .. . ... . . . . Fall '74 Pickerel Fillets the Easy Way . . ............... .... . . . . ....... . Spr. '70 Fish Smoking Made Easy-John M . McPhee .. .... . .... . . Wntr. ' 76- '77 Sea Ducks: Enjoy 'em Twice ... . ... . .. . ... . .... . ..... . . ..... . . Fall '74 Game Cookery-Maine Style- Kenneth E . Gray .............. . Fall '62 Smoke for Flavor!-Kenneth E . Gray . . . ....... . . ... . .. ..... . . Spr. '63 Fish Cookery ... Maine Style- Kenneth E. Gray ...... . . . .... Spr. '64

HUNTING The Hunters-John B . Madson ......... . . . .. .. .... . ..... . ..... Fall '71 The Maine Deer Hunter-Dr. Fz;ederick F. Gilbert . ... .. . ..... Fall '70 More on the Maine Deer Hunter-Dr. Frederick F . Gilbert . ... Fall '71 An Economic Look At Hunting-W. Thomas Shoener ... Wntr. '65-'66 Hunting and Conservation .... . . ..... .. .. .. . . ...... ...... Wntr. '71 -'72 Hunting' s Third Dimension-John Madson . ... . .... . . .... . . . . Fall '72 My Sons Will Be Hunters-Ben Lewis ... . .. . .... . . ........ ... Fall '74 Should We Hunt?-National Wildlife Federation . ... . . . ...... . Fall '76 Maine' s Biggest Black Bear-Donald Campbell. ... . .. ... Wntr. '66- '67 Hunting by Water-John H. Hunt . . . .......... .. . ... . . ....... . Fall '63 Bears, Hounds, and Hunters- Erwin E. McAllister . ....... .. Smr. '67 Big Buck Odds-Chester F . Banasiak . . .... . . .. . .. . . . ......... Fall '65 Beagles and Bunnies-Ken Gray . . . .... .. .... ....... . . .... . . . . Fall '61 Maine's Record Animals-Howard E . Spencer, Jr.. . ... . . . .. . . Fall '70 15 Years of Big Bucks-Tom Shoener ........ . .. . ..... . . .. .. . . Fall '73 Venison ... Handle With Care-Paul J . Fournier .. .... . ... .. . Fall '73 Field Dressing Your Deer-Paul J. Fournier .. . . . ..... . . . . . .. . Fall '72

SAFETY Preventive Maintenance in the Classroom-John F . Marsh .. . Fall '68 Fluorescent Blaze Orange and the Hunter . ... . .. . . .. ... .... .. Fall '68 Survival ... You Alone in the Maine WoodsThomas J . Chamberlain . . ..... ... .. .... .. .. . ,. . ... . .......... Fall '73 Dealing With Cold Weather-Gareth S . Anderson .... .... Wntr. '77-'78 Hypothermia.: A Subtle Killer-Lorenzo J . Gaudreau ...... . . . Fall '77 Safer Hunting Through NRA . .. . ................ . .. . .. .. . ... . Spr. '59 N .R.A. Hunting Safety Training . . .. . ... . ... . .. . ..... ... . .. .. . Fall '59 Hunting Colors Tested in Massachusetts ... . ....... . . ... . ... . Fall '60 N .R.A. Hunter Safety Training .... .......... .. ..... . .. . .. . . ... Fall '60 Gun Safety Progress Report-Dean S. Jordan ..... .. .. . .. . .. . Fall '62 Hunter Safety Progress Report-Dean S. Jordan ...... . .... .. Fall '63 Scouts Learn Gun Safety-Dean S . Jordan . . ............ ... ... Fall '64 Hunting Safety Report-Dean S . Jordan . . ... . .. . ... . .. . . ..... Fall :65 New Approach to Safety-Mary R. Tyler . . .... . . . . . .. ... . .... Fall 65 Little Indian Name Contest ... . .... ..... ... . ... . ... . ..... Wntr. '65-'66 His Nam~ is KEENEYE . . .... . .. . . ... . . . . ...... . ...... . ... . . .. Fall '66 A Measure for Safety-John F. Marsh .. .. . .... . . . . .. . ..... . .. Fall '67 Keeneye Comes of Age-John F. Marsh . ... . .. . . . .. .... . . .... . Fall '71

INSECTS Caddis Flies-Rl\}'mond A . DeSandre .... . .. .. .... . ... .. . . .. . Smr. '68 Dragons and Damsels of the Waterways-Matthew Scott . .. . Smr. '68 Water Beetles-Malcolm A . Redmond .. . ........ . ........ .. . . Smr. '66 The Stonefly-Peter M . Bourque .... . . . . . .... . ....... ... . Wntr. '66-'67 May is Mayfly Month-Angelo Incerpi ..... . .. .. ..... .. .. . ... Spr. '67 Hellgra.mites and Dobsonflies-Philip S. Andrews . . ... . .... Smr. '67 Two Water Bugs-Richard B. Anderson . .. .. . ... . . . . .. . ..... . Smr. '67

LAND MANAGEMENT ACQUISITION An Important Job Has Been Started .. . And It Must ContinueLee E. Perry, Richard B . Parks .. . . ... . . .... . .. . . . . . ... . .... . Fall Saving Things Worth SavingHarry R .. Tyler, Jr. , Peter A. Cross . .. . . . ., ..... .. . .. .. . ... Smr. LAND ... and the competition for it-Richard B. Parks .... .. Smr. Editorial: The Key to the Program . .... .. . ... .... ... . . .. . .... . Spr.

'73

'77 '68 '74

DEVELOPMENT /USE Game Management Areas-Stephen E . Powell . . . . . ... . . . . . . . Smr. '66 Frye Mountain-Kenneth H . Anderson . . .. . . . . . . .... . . ... . .... Fall· '67 Brownfield Bog-Douglas L . Marston . ... .. .... . . . .... .. . Wntr. '67- '68

33

Game Management Areas: Great WorksJ . Will i am Peppard . . .. . .......... . ......... . ....... . ........ Fall '68

Wildlife Management Areas: Jonesboro-Henry S . Carson .. Smr. '78 Game Management Areas: Long Lake-Henry S. Carson .... Smr. '68 Wildlife Management Areas: "Mendall Marsh" Frederick B . Hurley, Jr. . ... .. . . ......... . .................. . Fall '72 Wildlife Management Areas: Old Pond FarmHarold M. Blanchard .......... . . ..... ...... .. ..... . ....... . . Fall '70 Wildlife Management Areas: ScarboroughLee E . Perry .. .. .. . ............ . .. .. .. . . . ............... Wntr. '71- '72 Game Management Areas: R. Lyle FrostJ . William Peppard .......... ...... .. .......... ... . .. ... Wntr. '63-'64 Wildlife Management Areas: Sandy Point-Eugene Dumont .. Spr. '78 Game Management Areas: Lt. Gordon ManuelFrancis Dunn ... . . . . ... . ... .. ... . .... . .. . . . ... . . . ... . .... . . . Spr. '69 Wildlife Management Areas: WeskeagKenneth H. Anderson ....... .. ..... . ........... . .... .. ...... Fall '71 Wildlife Management Areas: NewfieldPhilip A. Bozenhard . ...... .. ... ... .. . .... . . . . .... . .. .. Wntr. '75-'76 Game Management Areas: Chesterville-Peter A . Cross .... . Fall '69 Wildlife Management Areas: Ruffingham MeadowGary G . Donovan .. . .. . ... . ... .. ....... . . .. .. . .............. Fall '77 Wildlife Management Areas: Steve PowellFrederick B . Hurley, Jr. . . . ..... . ..... . .. . .............. Wntr. '72-'73 Eider Ducks, Islands, and People-Howard L . Mendall ...... . Spr. '76 Maintaining Forest Openings for Deer-Henry S . Carson ... Smr. '70 Wildlife Habitat and How to Improve ItHoward E . Spencer, Jr.. .. . .. .... . ......... . . ... . . .. ... . Wntr. '70-'71 Liabilities to Assets-Robert W. Boettger, Myron Smart .. . .. Smr. '68 Managing Your Land for Upland FurbearersLee E . Perry .. . ....... .. ... . ..... . .. . . . .... . ... . .... . ... Wntr. '72-'73 Improve Your Land for Aquatic FurbearersPeter A . Cross . .. . . ... .. . ............ .. .... .. ... .. .... . ...... Spr. '73 Improve Your Land for Forest Game-John H . Hunt .. .. ... . . Spr. '71 Improve Your Land for Waterfowl-J. William Peppard ... .. . Fall '71 Improve Your Land for Woodcock-J. William Peppard ...... Spr. '72 Making Wildlife and Fish Count-Robert E . Foye .. . .. . ....... Fall '71 Multiple Purpose Use of Public LandsEdward A. Sherman . . .... .. . .. .. ............... . . . .......... Fall '66 Who Owns Maine's Coastal Islands?Hugh MacArthur ........ . ......... . . . .. . . . .... .. ........ . .. Smr. '78

LAW/REGULATION Why the Bounty on Bobcats?-Vernon L . Moulton . . .. ... Wntr. '68-'69 The Bounty-Does It Do The Job?Dr. Sanford D. Schemnitz ..................... .. ... . ....... . Fall '66 Maine's Land Use Regulation CommissionDavid H. Leake . . .... . ..... . ..... . ..... . ...... .. ........ . .. .. Fall '72 Water Bank Program-David E . Dexter .... . ................. Smr. '72 The State Board of Pesticide Control-Donald F. Mairs . ..... Smr. '72 Land Laws-Landguard Trust, Inc. . ............... . .......... Spr. '73 Great Ponds Act-Fred C. Holt . ... .... . . . . .. . . .. . ........ Wntr. '71-'72 Progress in Lake Protection-William R. Adams .... .... Wntr. '73-'74 Your Lake' s Insurance Policy-Stuart E. DeRoche . . ........ Smr. '73 Rx for a Healthy LakeOwen C. Fenderson, Frederick B . Hurley, Jr. . . . . . ... .. . .... Fall '73 Water Levels-Whose Responsibility?-James S. Fletcher ... Spr. '71 Before You Dam a Stream-Roger A . Marin ............. Wntr. '72-'73 Maine' s Waterfowl Laws: The Old, The NewHoward L . Mendall .. .. . . .. . ..... . ..... . . .. ... . .. . . . .. . . . .. . Smr. '69 Remote Ponds: Protecting Special PlacesPaul R . Johnson .. .......................... . ........... . .... Spr. '78 Where Do You Live?-Ralph C. Will . .. ...................... Smr. '76 Public Rights to Maine's Inland Waters-Richard B. Parks . . . Spr. '67 Public and Private Rights to Maine' s Tidal WatersRichard B. Parks .. . . . ... . ..... ... ....... . ... . ..... . .... . ... Smr. '67 Fish, Fishermen, and Fishing RegulationsLyndon H . Bond . . .... . . .. .. .. ..... . . ...... ... ... .. . . . .. .. . . . Fall '68 Today' s Laws for Tomorrow 's Fishing-William H . Meyer ... Spr. '64 ENFORCEMENT

Law Enforcement from Both Sides-Charles S. Allen ... . .... Spr. '75 Closing-in on Game Law Violators-Bryan C. Buchanan ..... Fall '70 To Catch a Poacher-Paul J . Fournier . .... . .. . .. . ....... Wntr. '72-'73 Toll Call-George W. Later ........ . . . ...... . . . ...... . ... . .... Spr. '59 So You'd Like To Be a Warden-Bill Mincher ...... .. .. ... .... Fall '59 Help Wanted-John F . Marsh .. ... . .... .. ... .. ..... . . . ...... .. Fall '71 The Maine Warden School-Springboard for LearningTom Chamberlain, Tom Carbone . .... . ... .. . .... .... .... ... Smr. '77 "The Real Chore is Understanding" -Carole Dyer .. ..... ... .. Spr. '76 History of the Maine Warden Service-Charles S . Allen ... .. . Fall '74 Twenty-five Years of Change-Harry N . Kearney ....... Wntr. '65.-'66 Law Enforcement Through the Years-Harvey 0 . Elliot . . . .. . Fall '60 Wilderness Warden-Harvey 0. Elliot . . . . .. . ... . . . .......... . Spr. '62 Notes From A Warden's Diary-Harry N . Kearney ...... Wntr. '67-'68 Warden Rescue Unit ... . ... . .. . ... . ... . ...... . ..... ... . . .. .. .. Fall '64 Warden Rescue Unit . . . .. . .. . .. .... .. . ......... . ... . .......... Spr. '65 On Call/Often Called-Donald B. Walker ... , ....... . . .. .. .. . Smr. '73 Inside a Search-Lee G . Downs ... . ..... . .... .. ... . ... ... ... . Smr. '72 Search-Thomas J. Chamberlain . . . . . . ... ... .. .. ...... .. ... ... Fall '75 Katahdin Ordeal-Eric T. Wight . . ..... ..... .. .. . . . ........... Spr. '68 Five and One are Six-Andrew B. Stinson . .. . ... . .... .. .... . Smr. '69 Dogs Did This! ..... .. .. ... . . .. . .... . .. . .... . ....... . . . ... Wntr. '70-'71 Lost Mani-Charles E . Tobie ... ... ...... ... ...... . ... . . .... . .. Fall '67 Dogs and Deer-Lee G. Downs ........................ .. . Wntr. '66- '67 The Maine Warden Service Relief AssociationJohn M . McPhee . . _... .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . .... .. .. . .. .. . .. . ...... . Smr. '78

34

MISCELLANEOUS The Day Moosehead Turned Over-Frank W. Anderson ... . . Smr. '74 What's Happening Down Below?-Roger A. Marin . . .. ...... Smr. '69 The Ins and Outs of Ice-outs-Tom Shoener ... .. . ..... . .. . .. . Spr. '69 Maine Streamer Flies, Part 1-Peter G. Walker .. . ............ Spr. '78 Maine Streamer Flies, Part 2-Peter G. Walker . ... . .... . .. .. Smr. '78 You Can Get There From Here-Robert 0 . Elliot .. .. ......... Fall '70 Natural Way to Get the Most Out of Life-Roger Latham . .... Fall '76 A Snow Year and the Community of LifeErnest F . Swift .... . ... .. . . ....... . .. ... . . . .. ........... Wntr. '65- '66 Maine Animal Tracks . . ... .. .. . . . .... .. ....... . ........... . . . . Fall '63 Inbreeding-Dr. Thomas H. Roderick . . . . ...... . .. .. . . ... . .... Fall '65 Going Fishing? Take Some TapeTom Carbone, Tom Shoener . ....................... . ....... Smr. '73 Bird Seed is Big Business-Peter A. Cross . . . . ............... Fall '73 Ice-Clearing Dates for Maine Lakes-Charles B . Fobes . . Wntr. '74-'75 Junior Maine Guides-Tom Chamberlain .......... .. .. . . . ... . Spr. '75 B ird Dog Trials in Maine-Wilmot Robinson . .. . . ............ Fall '72 Maine Guns and Their Makers-Ronald J . Kley . ... . ... . Wntr. '73-'74 Eels for Meals?-Dennis King ... . .. .. .......... ...... . ...... Smr. '73

RIVERS & STREAMS The : ~llagash-Kendall Warner . ... . ... ... . .. . ... . . ..... . .. . . Smr. '67 Maine Rivers: The Androscoggin-Stuart E. DeRoche . .. ... . Smr. '69 Maine Rivers: The Aroostook-Peter M. Bourque . . . . . . .. . ... Smr. '74 Maine Rivers: The Kennebec-Robert E. Foye, Charles F . Ritzi, Roger P . AuClair .... . ... ..... . ... ... . Wntr. '69-'70 Maine Rivers: The Machias-James S. Fletcher . . . ..... . ... .. Spr. '69 Maine Rivers: The N arraguagus-Alfred L . Meister .... .. ... . Spr. '68 Maine Rivers: The Orland-Ron Brokaw .. .... . ............... Fall '77 Maine Rivers: The Penobscot-Richard E. Cutting . . ..... . ... . Spr. '78 Maine Rivers: The Presumpscot-Stuart E . DeRoche ... . ... .. Fall '72 Maine Rivers: The Saco-Stuart E . DeRoche . . . ......... .. ... Smr. '68 The Historical Sheepscot-Robert E. Foye . . .. ........ .. ...... Spr. '67 Maine Rivers: The St. Croix-Keith A . Havey . . . . . .. ... .... . Smr. '70 Maine Rivers: The Tunk-J. Denni s McNeish . . ....... . .. .. .. Smr. '77 Maine Rivers: The Union-J. Dennis McNeish . . .. .. . ........ Smr. '75

SAFETY BOATING

" It's No Small Problem" -Lorenzo J . Gaudreau ....... .... .. Smr. Is Your Boat Safe?-Robert H . Johnson ..... . .... . ..... . .... . . Spr. Ten Easy Ways to Drown-Edward M. Korb ..... .. . . .. .. . . . . . Spr. Safe Boating is FUN-Albert E . MacLennan . . .. .. . .... . ... . .. Spr. Check Your Life Saving Devices-Robert H . Johnson . . ...... Spr. Cold Water Survival . ........... . .................. . ... . ... . .. Spr. Loading Your Boat .. . . .... . .. . . ... ... . ... . .. ...... . .. .. .. . . . . Smr. Buoys Make Boating Safer-Thomas Chamberlain . .... . .. .. Smr. How 's Your Water Safety IQ? . .. .. ...... . . . . ..... .. .......... Smr.

'78 '63 '64 '65 '66 '76 '76 '73 '77

HUNTING

Preventive Maintenance in the Classroom-John F . Marsh .. . Fall '68 F luorescent Blaze Orange and the Hunter . . . . . .... . ... . . . . .. . Fall '68 Survival ... You Alone in the Maine WoodsThomas J . Chamberlain ..... .. . . . . . . ... . . .. . . .. . ....... .. ... Fall '73 Dealing With Cold Weather-Gareth S. Anderson . ....... Wntr. '77-'78 Hypothermia: A Subtle Killer-Lorenzo J . Gaudreau .. .. ..... Fall '77 Safer Hunting Through NRA . . ... .. .. . .. .... . . .. .. .. ..... .. .. Spr. '59 N .R.A. Hunting Safety Training . .. . ... .... . . . . . . .. . .. ... ..... Fall '59 Hunting Colors Tested in Massachusetts .. .. .. . . . .... . . . .... . Fall '60 N.R.A. Hunter Safety Training ........... .. ... . .. . ... . . . . .. . .. Fall '60 Gun Safety Progress Report-Dean S . Jordan ... . ..... . .. . .. . Fall '62 Hunter Safety Progress Report-Dean S. Jordan ... ......... . Fall '63 Scouts Learn Gun Safety-Dean S. Jordan ... . . .. .. .. . . . .. .... Fall '64 Hunting Safety Report-Dean S. Jordan .... .. .. . .. . .. . ..... .. Fall '65 New Approach to Safety-Mary R . Tyler .... . ....... . ..... ... Fall '65 Little Indian Name Contest . ....... . ... .. ... .. . .. .. . ... .. Wntr. '65-'66 His Name is KEENEYE . . .. . . . . . . .. .. .. ........ .. .... . ..... . .. Fall '66 A Measure for Safety-John F . Marsh . . . . . . .. . . . ... . ... . ... . . Fall '67 Keeneye Comes of Age-John F . Marsh . .. .. ..... . .... . ... . .. . Fall '71 SNOWMOBILING

Safety First in Snowmobiling-Lorenzo J. Gaudreau ... . Wntr. '73- '74 Careless Snowmobiling Can Get You In TroubleRaymond H . Dominici, M.D. . ........ . .......... . .......... . Fall '69 Snowsled Safety Tips-Stephen E . Powell .. . .... . ....... Wntr. '66-'67 Snowmobile Accidents-Raymond H. Dominici, M .D. . . . Wntr. '70-'71

SNOWMOBILING Snowmobiling: The Maine Scene-Lorenzo J. Gaudreau . . . . . . Fall Deer and Snowmobiles: Are They Compatible?Gerald R. Lavigne, Voit B. Richens ...... . ...... .. .. .... . . . .. Spr. Snowmobiles and the Law-Dave Dexter ....... .. . . ...... . ... Fall Snow Trompers-Wendell L. Brown . . .......... .. .. . ..... .. . . Fall

'73 '77 '69 '65

SAFETY

Safety First in Snowmobiling-Lorenzo J . Gaudreau .... Wntr. '73-'74 Careless Snowmobiling Can Get You In TroubleRaymond H . Dominici, M.D. . . .. .. ... . ...... . ... . . . .... ..... Fall '69 Snowsled Safety Tips-Stephen E. Powell . . . .. . .. ....... Wntr. '66-'67 Snowmobile Accidents-Raymond H. Dominici, M.D .. . . Wntr. '70-'71

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Fall 1978

SPORTSMANSHIP The Access Problem-Carll N . Fenderson ... . . . .... .. . .... ... Fall The Cheaters-Carll N. Fenderson . . . . .. . .... . . .. .. ... . . ...... Fall You CAN Take It With You-Richard H . Woodbury ......... . . Fall Let' s Get Rid of these Birds!-Kramer A . Adams ............. Spr. Signs of Sportsmen?-W. Thomas Shoener . . ... .. .. ... .. ..... Fall What About This Anti-hunting Thing?-John Madson . .. ..... Fall Why Ruin Hunting for Everyone?-Thomas J. Chamberlain . Fall Should We Hunt?-National Wildlife Federation ....... . ...... Fall

'59 '62 '63 '66 '67 ·75 '73 '76

KID-BITS ANSWERS WHITEFISH

TRAPPING

SMELT

Trapping-A Disappearing Art-Kenneth E . Gray .. . . . . .. .. . Fall '62 Trapping Tips-Myron Smart ............... ... .... . . . . ..... . . Fall '67 Beaver Trapping in Maine-Eric T . Wight ........... ... . Wntr. '69- '70 Maine's Beaver Trapping Regulations - Robert Boettger . .. . Fall '68 Trapping: An Old Sport Gets Some New RulesLee E . Perry .. . ... . . .. . .. . . . . .. . . . .... ... . .... ... . . .. . ....... Fall '76 Traps Without Teeth . ...... . .. ..... ..... . ..... . .. . . . ... . . Wntr. ' 66- '67

SALMON BASS

WETLANDS

TOGUE

Estuaries-Rich Resource or Wasteland?Dr. Richard W. Hatch . . . . .. . ... . ......... . ... . . . . .. . .. .. . . .. Fall '71 Small Marshes for Maine's Wildlife-Dana Holmes ......... Smr. '67 Dry Land and Wet Land for the Future-W.R. DeGarmo .. . ... Spr. '62 Wetlands Are Not Wastelands-Edward A . Sherman .... .. ... Spr. '63 Beaver Become Marsh ManagersHarold M . Blanchard, Myron S . Smart ............ . ..... ... . Spr. '65 Wetlands for Tomorrow-Kennetl1 H. Anderson ........... . . Smr. '66 Toward Saving Maine' s Salt MarshesEdward A . Sherman . . .. .. . .... ... .... . . . ........... . . .. Wntr. '67-'68

PICKEREL TROUT

WILDLIFE

PERCH

(see also ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH, INSECTS) SPECIAL SECTION: Wildlife Species Plans . ..... . ... . ....... Fall '76 Wildlife and Man-Ralph T . King .......... .. ................ . Fall '74 Wildlife .. . The Environmental Barometer . .. .. ..... .. ........ Smr. '71 Wildlife Dynamics-William G . Sheldon .. ... . . .. . ... .... Wntr. '71-'72 Wildlife Management in ActionWildlife Management Institute . .. . ........ . .... . ........ ... Smr. '76 Once Common-Now GoneDonald F. Mairs, Richard B. Parks .. . .. .. . . . . . ... .. .. . . .. . . . Spr. '64 White Wildlife ... and Black-W. Thomas Shoener ... .. .. . .. .. . Fall '75

"LET'S GO FISHIN'!"

cup ralStn uu1u .......... --1 tsp. salt 1/s cup milk

If,

~11.Y a;o'"rlle i.rh · "'Ul:!.'ll. f::.~ces ,._"~d fi o L ltefish ,

::,, TROUT WITH MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS

SALMONSTEAKSATCAMp ,I lb. butter or oleo ~ cup lemn" : ·

"- ··

_.-.-.r!.~NSER

'VE:NJsoN

:_~t vefli.•~-

4 medium trout (cleaned)

JE/l.I(y

-~•t. pep~:t~?our

JUST OFF THE PRESS

THE MAINE WAY a collection of Maine fish and game recipes wooococK OUTooc

ROAST BEAR

Published by the Maine Fish and Wildlife Department , this 100-page cookbook is entirely devoted to those types of game and fresh -water fish that a Maine sportsman might take. The recipes in THE MAINE WAY - collected by two game wardens ' wives - are practical , time-proven , and call for nothing but ingredients, equipment, and know-how native to a Maine kitchen . Covers everything from deer and bear to eels and snapping turtles . Paperback. Convenient loose-leaf binding.

Total mail order price - $3.00.

Make check or money order in U.S. funds payable to " Treasurer, State of Maine. " Send order to COOKBOOK, Maine Fish and Wildlife Department , 284 State St. , Augusta, ME 04333.

iukart;r bir«;ls, splitting bre e or chicken, Fry slow

FOR COOKING ound the h Jsen ed ead and faste n to an, !enl{th ges of cut ski 1. •L of the bodv. ~ ..a.1_1.d Quick) ')Ve the. is runn n both utffing, same as for : ut fill t pieces of foil large !f With uffed, breast side up.

Ind peJ rd. Seal the partridge 1 just enough water in rack an~ touch h:--' tSC

,-- ·

'f of ~EN

•"10 UE~lt

. \ cut ,n G v"' coo · \ c ~LED ~oN J. ' \ tender. pic\l e y\C nd neatt unct~vet, },\a\led ~ I.SP· of . ~1'C' ~ ,

TROUT FILLETS pancake mix Seven-up 8 trout fillets, salted corn oil

g\as5 . s an gue a 1 o rn1 co0\l th~ \c;:;_o iat w~~: pic\l\\ng ~~\~es\oWh' fot and p~ tbsp, of w~,ng boi\ ant and sea\. place . to a tO et rnea ' \\is N< Put fish in boiling hot water ; wait abol bai, br1ni t \iquid 0 " \>~Y t.0 n on tin foil. Stuff with chicken dress1 _, ,.0 ,ce, p0u \>ltt.&

RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Postmaster: If undeliverable, please return entire magazine with form 3579

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

-Anonymous

284 State St.

Augusta, Maine 04333