NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

FISH AND FISHING

Spawning Time

During late September and throughout the month of October trout come up the streams to spawn, and a visit to one's favorite trout stream at this time of year will more than repay the observer. He who measures up to the qualifications of a real sportsman will derive as much pleasure and enjoyment from an hour or more spent in watching the fish as he did during the open fishing season.

During the spawning season one sees both large and small fish ascend waterfalls and, when the water is low, go from one pool to another in water so shallow that one cannot help but marvel at the spectacle. Being much less shy than at other times of the year, the fish allow close approach. Theirs is the urge to go upstream and spawn - not much else seems to matter. In Acadia National Park, the stream which flows from Bubble Pond to Eagle Lake is an exceptionally good place where one may observe this interesting performance.

- Louis Fowler
Temporary Ranger

Mackerel

During the latter part of August and into September, mackerel, one of New England's favorite salt-water fish, have been schooling in the waters of Frenchman's Bay and local fisherman have reported exceptionally large catches. So hungry are these schools that a pearl button or a piece of white cloth is seized as quickly as is a piece of fresh clam. A small party of fisherman may catch hundreds of these fine fish in a few hours' time when the "run" is on. These fish are of a very uniform size and average about a pound apiece in weight.

After the catch the mackerel are dressed and packed in jars - a teaspoonful of salt being added to each quart of the fish.

- Charles T. Gay
Temporary Ranger

Deep Sea Fishing

If we are to judge by the results of our ranger-guided deep-sea fishing trips, Cod is the most abundant of those marine fish which inhabit the deeper waters just east of Mount Desert Island. Haddock proved to be the second most abundant fish with Hake and Pollock relegated to third and fourth place respectively. Other finny prey landed included Dogfish, Catfish, Silver Hake, Cunner, Flounder, Skulpin, Skate, Mackerel, and Lamprey Eel.

- Ranger-Naturalist