M. Smith of Richmond, ME Clyde Dyar of Mount Vernon, ME is exactly correct. State and Federal biologists are unable to present any native Maine Atlantic salmon.

Where does the author of this story think the young salmon that now return to our rivers came from in the first place? Let me give you a clue Travis, they are undocumented aliens with green tags.

Poachers continue to be a problem and eliminating the ability to angle for salmon has taken valuable reporting of poaching off the rivers.

Worse than that are the commercial fishing craft which when successful are able to nearly eliminate an entire school returning to their respective rivers. How about a fishing ban for atlantic salmon on US controlled salt water?

I would the Federal Government to spend more time fishing shopping carts out of Bond Brook in Augusta...something that actually improves habitat for our migrant swimmers.report abuse

Chris of Brunswick, ME I congratulate the federal government for including the Androscoggin, where the corrupt Baldacci administration has totally ignored the possibility of restoring salmon. Also why is the state stocking salmon when we have a federal hatchery in Maine?report abuse

Clyde Dyar of Mount Vernon, ME The Atlantic Salmon has been and continues to be harvested in the ocean by fisherman (commercial). I challenge the biologists to present an original Atlantic Salmon strain from these rivers. We have spent millions on restoration and preservation of this species of Atlantic Salmon to feed commercial fishermen, seals and other predators. When do you say enough is enough. Evolution is a part of life and who is to say what impact the net pen Atlantic Salmon will have in the future. To blame dams as a part of the demise is partially correct. The Atlantic Salmon demise has been since the building of dams for sure. However, history shows that there were plenty of these Atlantic Salmon in rivers prior to the restoration/preservation attempts even with the dams in place. Water quality has diminished even though the rivers are cleaner then in the past. Thus, there are many factors to the decline of the Atlantic Salmon. The Atlantic Salmon is a "slow" water fish as opposed to the Landlocked Salmon which thrives in either "fast" or "slow" water. Water temperature is critical for the Atlantic Salmon as well as proper feed for them. We need to be cognizent of the entire endangered species environment and find the real reason for the decline, especially from our stocking program that has not worked, as very few of those fish return to the rivers of Maine.report abuse

Yankee_Biker of Augusta, ME The only correct way to protect the Atlantic Salmon.

Don't overcook it!report abuse