NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

FISHING IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Maine has long been synonymous with fishing. For years the state has been looked upon as one of the finest of fishing areas in the eastern states. And justly has this been so since the waters of the inland regions have been and still are natural breeding grounds for fish.

Of late, with the common use of the automobile and the ever-increasing emphasis given to out-of-doors recreation, the state has been the object of extra fishing activity. Recognizing this, the state government has built up a system of fish hatcheries whose annual production augments very considerably the natural fish reproduction, and without which the game fish supply would by now have become exhausted.

Acadia boasts of several fine fishing lakes. The deep cold waters of Eagle Lake, Jordon Pond, Bubble Pond, the two Hadlock Ponds, Echo Lake, and Long Pond are natural fishing grounds. Since 1920 an annual stocking program has been in operation, the results of which are now becoming apparent. All ponds except Long Pond receive only the Eastern Brook Trout. Long Pond receives, in addition, the well known Land-locked Salmon.

The park receives its stock from nearby fish hatcheries and from the Federal Hatchery at Orland, Maine. Until 1928, it was customary to plant fry in the spring and larger fish in the fall. Now, however, only fish of fingerling size or larger are planted, and the results are much better.

But Acadia has yet another kind of fishing which is even more popular than the salmon or trout fishing. The sea which this park contacts offers a great sport to the fishing enthusiast and a catch much more certain than is the case with freshwater fishing. The rocky shore of the ocean-fronting parkland is a favorite resort of salt-water fishermen. Here they gather daily for such prey as rock cod, cunners, and flounders, not to mention the tomcod, sculpins, crabs and starfishes. In the open ocean haddock, hake, sea pollock and others are usually added to the catch.

- B. L. Hadley
Chief Ranger