This edition shares an article that appeared in the August 2, 1901, copy of the MAINE WOODS newspaper, printed in Phillips, Maine. It shares how ‘The Fish Screen’ at the outlet of Rangeley Lake came to be and a history-changing decision to propagate and stock salmon in greater numbers took place. Landlocked salmon is Maine’s State Fish and are wonderful gamefish but were not native to this watershed. Salmon were first introduced to the Richardson Lakes by the Oquossoc Angling Association, a private club, in 1877 as no state fish commission existed at the time. These fish eventually proliferated into the entire chain. However, in 1901 Landlocks were still not as common to Rangeley Lake as the native and dominant large brook trout. Below learn more about “the Screens”, a local landmark and how 27 people voted to forever change the ecology of the lake.  

(Contemporary commentary found in italics). 

ANGLERS AND GUIDES  

Meeting Held to Discuss Matters of Interest to Both. Sweeping Changes Asked and Petition in Circulation.  

Special correspondence to the MAINE WOODS  

Rangeley, July 29, 1901.  

The meeting of the Rangeley Angling Association and the Rangeley Guides’ Association, which took place at the appointed place on the 27th, was attended by twenty-eight persons. The meeting was called to order by F. S. Dickson. George M Esty was elected chairman and C. L. Harnden, secretary. Mr. F. S. Dickson, in an opening address, reviewed the work of the past twelve years in trying to get a satisfactory settlement of the question in regard to a screen or fishway at the outlet of Rangeley Lake. It seems that a fishway is objectionable to the Union Water Power Company on account of the cost, and none but an expensive one will be of any service. For various rea sons it appears that the only suitable place to operate a wire screen successfully is a few rods above the bridge or near where the old weir formerly stood. After considerable discussion by several present, the following motion was made and passed: Resolved, that it is the judgment of this meeting that a wire screen should be forthwith erected at the outlet of Rangeley Lake. The second question was: Resolved, that it is the judgment of this meeting that it is in the best interest of the Rangeley Lake region that both trout and salmon be produced at the hatchery. The critic was present with his objections but the affirmative votes easily won. 

 (It is fascinating that only one voice was in opposition to adding non-native Landlocked Salmon to supplement fish stocks! Salmon are wonderful but did put the final “nail in the coffin” for the native Blueback Trout, do compete and over spawn on the same spawning beds AFTER the native brook trout spawn. This did change the ecosystem forever and spelled the end for the 5 t0 10-pound native brook trout fishery). 

The next question was in regard to screening the outlet of both Gull Pond and Haley Pond. A resolution was passed asking the commissioners to authorize a screen to be erected at the outlet of both of these ponds. While this question was being discussed, Mr. J. F. Leach, who with his family are spending the summer at the Rangeley Lake House, in the spring of 1900, from May 1 to July 1, caught 209 record fish (Only fish over 3 pounds). These fish, reckoning the expenses of the fishermen for guide, hotel, etc., for the time required to catch them, netted the town of Rangeley $15 per pound. “Your fish,” he said, “is the most valuable thing you have, more valuable than hay or lumber. They are bringing this town $30,000 per ton. According to these figures and what I have been told, the river drivers took from these lakes last spring $210,000 worth of fish.”  

This point of view is correct only when we reckon that the fish are the only attraction we have and that only those above three pounds are considered. There is, however, enough foundation to this point of view to be actually startling when later on he gave the number of fish recorded for the current year as only 150, a falling off of 59 fish during the same length of time. Mr. D. W. Farquhar aided in ascertaining the facts regarding the condition of the fish and the adaptability of the waters in said ponds for their propagation. A resolution was then passed, without dissension, that the commissioners be asked to restrict the fishing in both the above named ponds to fly fishing. It was then proposed that the commissioners be requested to prohibit the use of all gang hooks in Rangeley Lake and that it be made lawful to fish with only single baited hook and flies. This was received with acclamation and a resolution to that effect was soon passed. The question of prohibiting all bait fishing in Rangeley Lake between July 1 and September 31, was brought up and created some surprise. There were those present who at first considered it equivalent to stopping the only method by which it was possible to take fish during that period. It was shown, however, that fish can be taken on a fly at the right places, even in midsummer, and the period is but short before the regular fly-fishing season begins. The vote on the question was in the affirmative. There were no objections raised when it was proposed to ask the commissioners to prohibit all “plug fishing” in Rangeley Lake, and a resolution to that effect was passed. The following committee of five were chosen to solicit funds to carry above resolutions into execution: F. S. Dickson, C. W. Barrett, F. E. Timberlake, C. L. Harnden, J. F. Leach. E. J. Herrick was appointed collector. While the different resolutions were in debate many incidental questions were brought up for consideration but for lack of representatives were perhaps not clearly understood. Some of them that may properly interest those not present were as follows: Will these measures have a tendency to drive fishermen from Rangeley Lake to the lakes below? Will they cause a division in the Guides’ association? Can a wire screen be kept from damage from ice in winter and log-driving in spring at the foot of the lake? Do salmon drive the big trout away, and if so, where do they go? (This was the “million dollar” question, but as they say, hindsight is twenty twenty). Are Haley Pond and Gull Pond favorable to the growth of fish? Will the people below us understand that while we have improved the fishing in the lower lakes, the Rangeley Lake is not improving, and will not improve unless some way is provided to either establish an easy passage up stream or prevent their going downstream? 

D E. Heywood.  

(The author, Daniel Heywood was John Danforth’s head guide at Camp Caribou on Parmacheenee. He was a nationally published outdoor writer, and the first ever to photograph wildlife at night by mounting his wooden box camera with flash powder pan in the bow of his canoe. He would then use strings and levers to operate it from the stern and would sneak up on watering moose and deer on the shoreline and set off the flash powder to take the “shot.” Heywood died of Tuberculosis in 1911at the age of 42 and rests in Evergreen Cemetery in Rangeley.  

Have a wonderful week everyone and be sure to get outside and make some great Rangeley history of your own)!