For more than two decades, the Penobscot River drainage system has been taken over by the Atlantic Salmon Commission. During this time, more than 500,000 salmon smolt have been stocked on a yearly basis, much to the happiness of commerical fisherman out in the Atlantic and commorants up and down the river. Returns of salmon to the river have been less than one-tenth of 1 percent.

During this same period of time, the only brook trout or landlocked salmon stocked in rivers or streams entering the Penobscot River has been 500 brook trout a year in Sebois Stream, far removed from the Penobscot and, last year for the first time, approximately 3,000 brook trout in the Piscataquis River at Guilford.

Fishing on all the other rivers, streams and brooks entering the Penobscot has been on a steady decline to non-existent for catching fish.

One pond, Center Pond in Sangerville, has been stocked with brown trout in all of Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. Had the same number of brown trout been stocked in those two decades, thousands of happy fishermen would be catching fish up to eight or 10 pounds in the Penobscot drainage system. Those fish not being caught would not be going out of the river system to be prayed on by commercial fishermen’s nets, seals or whatever.

Give the Penobscot back to the fish and wildlife service and then let the Atlantic Salmon Commission have the river up to the end of tide water.

Arthur S. Heath Brewer