Wisdom of stocking fish questioned by letter writers

Midweek Mail: When the verbal casting begins, the barbs are always sharp.

In regard to the stocking of lakes and ponds, Otto Haga of Winter Harbor writes: “…The stocking of lakes should be discontinued and more emphasis put into food for fish and improved and protected spawning areas. We’re trying too hard to outsmart Mother Nature. After all the years of lake stocking, there should be a good number of large salmon and togue.

“Yet, at last winter’s ice-fishing derby at Schoodic Lake in Brownville, the winning salmon was 1 pound, 11 ounces and the winning togue was 5 pounds, 10 ounces. I believe that ice-fishing derbies for game fish should be stopped as they are taking too great a toll on our fish. I have landed, and checked with a number of other fishermen that have landed what I call a good landlocked salmon – from 3 1/2 pounds to 5 1/2 pounds – and invariably found that all the fish were wild salmon.

“My fishing buddy Jimmy Foster and myself landed 40 landlocked salmon in two days of fishing on one of our rivers and only one salmon out of the 40 was a stocked fish.”

Tom Muldoon of Brewer made a cast into the same pool: “…It’s time for a change in the stocking of brook trout and salmon in our lakes and ponds. As a native and bait trapper for over 25 years in the fall and winter months, I have observed that ice fishing as well as openwater fishing has gone to the dogs. It’s often talked about, but never changed.

“…Too many fish in a pond results in a slow growth rate. My suggestion is that fewer but larger fish should be stocked. At least the sportsman would be content with, say, two 16-inch brook trout. One more suggestion, rather than stock trout and salmon, it would be wiser to stock the ponds that have small fish (trout) in them with shiners, smelts, etc. Then, within two years I believe you would find a big difference in the size of the trout and salmon caught.

“The way it’s going now, there’s little or no hope of any good fishing in the future. The key to good fishing in the future is to feed the fish that now are in these ponds. Think about it.”

The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that we’ve seen the best of it. Fishing never will be what it used to be for two reasons: environmental degradation and fishing pressure. As for stocking, a hatchery fish just doesn’t have the credentials to become a wild fish.

In regard to guns and hunting, Adin Green of Guilford takes aim at a new law: “…Probably you know of the new law, which according to a story in the Bangor Daily, states: A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child if that person knowingly sells, furnishes, gives away, or offers to sell, furnish, or give away to a child under 16 years of age, any intoxicating liquor, cigarettes, tobacco, air rifles, firearms, or ammunition, etc.

“I don’t know why the bill didn’t include the little toy guns that shoot cork stoppers! Anyway, according to my hunting and trapping law pamphlet, kids from 10 to 15 years old can still get a junior hunting license which entitles them to hunt in the presence of an approved adult. My question is, what are they going to hunt with? They can’t own a gun and you can’t loan them one because that comes under the definition of `furnishing.’ It seems to me that something has got to give.

“I have always believed in proper and safe care of firearms (my first rifle was a single shot Stevens .22 rimfire given to me on my tenth birthday back in 1918) but I can’t believe this new law is the right way to promote gun safety. I believe education is better than prohibition. What do you think?”

I think Mr. Green is on target. Obviously, the bill is loaded with anti-gun bias. Air rifles, if you please. Makes you wonder how we all managed to survive, doesn’t it?

Barry Brooks of Robbinston is concerned about the bear hunting seasons. I received a copy of the letter and petition he sent to Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Bill Vail. Read on: “…I am writing to you about the bear season. As you can see by the signatures (73) on the petition I have enclosed, I am not the only one that is concerned to have it changed.

“The way the law is written now, I have a bear tag on my license that I cannot use unless I buy a $3 bear-hunting permit. I can only use this until Sept. 15. After this date you must have dogs, which I don’t own, to hunt bear.

“Around this end of the state, this year, the bears hibernated by the first of November. We always did hunt them in October without dogs. People around this area would like it the old way. I am sure the bowhunters also would like it the old way.

“I also have a comment pertaining to the new bag limit on bass. People in this area think it is ridiculous that you can only take one while ice fishing. Bass usually aren’t caught until the middle of March in some lakes.”

Anything on your mind this morning besides open water and a boatful of sunny weather?