Our Maine Heritage: Alewives on the Souadabscook, 1988

Earlier today, we posted a story about the tremendous success story taking place on some tributaries of the Penobscot River: Alewives are streaming by the thousands into Blackman Stream in Bradley after restoration and stocking efforts that began five years ago.

Fishing agent Jim Bennett boxes up the frisky alewives dipped from the Souadabscook Stream in Hampden.  BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BOB DELONG

Fishing agent Jim Bennett boxes up the frisky alewives dipped from the Souadabscook Stream in Hampden.  BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BOB DELONG

This “Our Maine Heritage” photo shows that in some tributaries in the lower river, folks were paying close attention to alewives nearly 30 years ago.

In the photo, a “fishing agent” boxes up alewives as part of a commercial harvest. The fish are still used as lobster bait, and in a few years, a commercial fishery will likely exist in Bradley, thanks to the restoration effort.

So why are we making such a big deal about fish in Bradley if they were already in Hampden 30 years ago? The answer seems simple: There were no dams on the river below Souadabscook Stream, and alewives (along with other sea-run fish) were allowed to swim freely to their natal ponds.

Just like the fish in Bradley can do now.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t call attention to the photo credit: This shot was taken by Bob DeLong, a photographer who worked here at the BDN for 34 years.

DeLong retired in 2002, and died after a short illness in 2008. In 2010, he was elected to the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame.

He was also one of the nicest, most helpful men I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with at this paper … and I’ll bet that any of my colleagues who were lucky enough to work with him would echo my sentiments.

 

John Holyoke

About John Holyoke

John Holyoke has been enjoying himself in Maine's great outdoors since he was a kid. Today, he's the Outdoors editor for the BDN, a job that allows him to meet up with Maine outdoors enthusiasts in their natural habitat. The stories he gathers provide fodder for his columns, and this blog.