Merrymeeting Bay has played a role in industrial history for many years. Take a look at some of the industries.

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Merrymeeting Bay's Industrial History

Industries

• Fishing - Early 19th century - Bass alone $5000-$25,000 /season (1 lb fish=1.5 pt rum) 1856 Smelts 25 barrels a day from B'ham to NYC at 15¢ a pound (netted) (B'ham Adv 3/94)
  1885 Shad drift nets on Abagadassett 2-3000 fish / day shipped from B'ham Station@10¢ each (B'ham Adv 7/77)
  1920's -1970's striped bass disappeared shad, smelt fisheries lost to pollution
  1982-1991 MMBay system stocked with 260,000 baby striped bass from Hudson River Today - eel
• Ship Building
• Ice Cutting
• Milling (Lumber, Grist) (B'ham 1750- Tide Wheel on the Cathance)(B'ham Adv 7/77) 1880 B'ham 3 saw mills, a grist mill, a plaster mill (8 tons per day) B'ham Adv. Vol I. #1
• Lumbering - (Log Drives)
• Market Gunners - late 1800's
• Sportsman's Paradise - 1930's ("Duckin' at Darton's")
• Recreation - 1970-80 - Town landings developed for easy boat access to rivers and Bay