Letters to the Editor—183
Saving salmon
I enjoyed Ron Joseph’s article on restoring our precious Atlantic salmon. Paul Christman’s work and the egg implanting has shown great success and has people very encouraged about the future of the fish. The issue of the dams is huge, and will continue to hamper the possibility of real success. I can find no place in the world where salmon have successfully survived in any river with four dams. But another positive has been the Atlantic Salmon Federation’s habitat restoration in the headwaters, making a better place for not just Atlantic salmon but many more of our native fish. Evidence of fish restoration is widespread in the Penobscot with both dam removal and habitat work.
A nice follow-up article could be about the success we are witnessing in our downeast rivers. The Downeast Salmon Federation has seen some great success with their work. The Peter Gray Parr Project on the East Machias River is producing “little athletes” that are resulting not just in healthy salmon, but also greater numbers. There are plans to expand on this success in more rivers. All the five rivers downeast are basically free flowing, which eliminates the cement barrier to many of our fish. Work is also planned on the St. Croix. Together this adds up to good prospects for all anadromous fish. Looking at the big picture, this helps all our species. Fishermen from all sorts can cheer this.
Alan “Chubba” Kane
Gouldsboro, ME
Lincolnville sailors
I read Mimi Bigelow Steadman’s article on our town of Lincolnville in the Small Adventures column of March/April 2023. It is always fun to read someone else’s description of the place where we live. It was a brief snapshot of our town and because your magazine has a dedicated following of boaters and boating, I would like to add the Lincolnville Boat Club to your commentary. The LBC, established in 2005, is an organization that has been teaching sailing and seamanship to Lincolnville area youth for more than 17 years (8 weeks of summer day camp for kids and evening adult classes). More information can be found on the LBC website.
If you come to Lincolnville, maybe we will see you on the water.
Elaine Huber-Neville
Lincolnville, ME
Sea rise
I always love seeing the latest Boatyard Dog featured in each issue. Moose, the King Charles Cavalier, featured in your March/April issue is awfully darn handsome. His name is also fitting for his downeast digs.
On a second topic, responding to the March/April issue article “Solving the Puzzle of Maine’s Moving Coastline.” The article mentions the governor of Maine is preparing for “potential” sea level rise of 8.8 feet by year 2100.
The NOAA weather, tide, and sea level monitoring station at Portland, Maine (#8418150), which has kept records since 1912, reports an average sea level rise of about 0.62' (or 7.5") per century. This roughly agrees with sea level measurements in Newport, RI, which has kept records since the 1600s.
The good news is the governor of Maine and the folks in New England will have about 14 centuries to plan for the greatly anticipated 8.8 foot sea level rise!
Keep up the good work.
Kevin Doyle
Newport, RI
Author Nicolas Record replies: “I’ve been getting questions on the 8.8' of sea level rise number that I mentioned in my article—it’s not mentioned directly in the Maine bill, but in the accompanying online literature. You can find it at:
maine.gov/future/sites/maine.gov.future/files/2021-05/GOPIF_SLR_Factsheet_ 2021_05_06.pdf
Love that little dinghy
I immediately recognized Ben Emory’s dinghy as an Eli Laminate (see story in MBHH March/April 2023). Ours has the same resin drippy hull and oarlock repairs and “well worn,” overall appearance. She washed up on our Bartletts Narrows beach some 20+ years ago. No one claimed her so I patched the hull and pressed her into service as our beater.
Shortly thereafter I bought a 34' Pearson and named her Slap Shot. So naturally the Eli became Penalty Box. She rows something like a bar of soap and will carry two if you’re very careful, but gets the job done. Up and down the beach without benefit of rollers or wheels, she has taken more patches than I can remember.
David Short
Montague, MA & Mt. Desert, ME
Sticking with tradition
As a long-time subscriber and lover of the Maine coast, I was disappointed with your recent March/April cover photo. While I wholeheartedly respect the workmanship and talent of Lyman-Morse, I have to say that the Navier 30 shown on the cover is one of the ugliest boats I have ever seen. Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more of these monstrosities each season.
And as far as electric technology goes, I believe it’s way overrated. The mining, manufacture, and disposal of lithium for batteries is one of the greatest contributors to pollution today. And where do people think all that electricity to charge those vehicles comes from? That’s right: carbon fueled power plants.
If the U.S. were to eliminate all its vehicles and close all its power plants it would hardly make a dent in the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere, compared to that produced by the likes of China and India. Even worse, perhaps the greatest polluter of all, is the shipping industry, which burns poorly refined, sulfur-laden “bunker fuel.”
I certainly am an advocate of modern technology, but at the same time I value tradition, so I’m sticking with my good old Ernest K. Libby-designed Downeast Beal Island hull, thank you. Seaworthy, safe, reliable, and comfortable, even at 24 knots.
Joel P. Gleason, Muscobe
Marblehead, MA
Great job
Alec Brainerd of Artisan Boatworks in Rockport, Maine, was kind enough to send me a copy of Art Paine’s article on our “Ha’ Penny 20” which Alec and his crew are building. I must say that Art’s article was the best on one of my designs that I’ve seen in 54 years. It is exactly the sort of article readers so love that they keep a copy by their beds for years to re-read so they can dream themselves to sleep. Thank you for publishing it.
Our current contact information is a bit different than in the past. For your reader’s convenience: Phone 207-249-5313, mailing address is 77 Washington St., Eastport, ME 04631, and the website is www.macnaughtongroup.com.
Tom MacNaughton
MacNaughton Yacht Designs
How to miss the pots
A recent letter writer asked for advice on avoiding lobster buoys. Here are some suggestions:
- Slow down.
- Research how they are built and float, on or below the surface, or just look at a few. You’ll hopefully get it.
- Know and observe the tides; always pass down current from the main buoy.
- For a power boat never pass between the pickup buoy and the toggle.
- Slow down!
Butler Smythe, Via email
Happy reader
I enjoyed the January/February issue of MBH&H. The Wood Island piece and the Schooner Rebuilds article were both intriguing and heart-warming!
Mary Ellen Mackin
Methuen, MA
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