A Doaktown gem
Published Saturday May 23rd, 2009
Travel The Atlantic Salmon Museum on the bank of the Miramichi River has stories to tell and sights to see
Perched on the bank of the Southwest Miramichi River in central New Brunswick, and tucked behind some homes in the heart of the village of Doaktown, is a hidden treasure - the Atlantic Salmon Museum. It's not hard to drive right by.
But together with an adjacent aquarium, the museum features interesting displays, an outstanding collection of artwork and a spectacular view of the river.
On any given day, that view might include salmon jumping a metre or more into the air, fly fishermen casting their lines, and bald eagles soaring overhead or swooping down for a salmon meal.
For the husband and wife team of Bev and Linda Gaston, it's a great place to go to work every day.
Linda is the museum manager, while Bev is a licensed guide on the river and offers an informative tour.
"Our museum not only tells the story of the salmon, but it also tells the story of the heritage of the people," Linda Gaston said.
"When you go through the museum you're going to learn all about the Atlantic salmon, what it looked like many years ago, what it looks like today, the trials and tribulations of the Atlantic salmon - because it's an amazing creature," she said.
The displays include fossils found along the river, an example of a fishing camp, rods and flies, and, of course, salmon swimming in the large tanks of the aquarium.
The walls throughout the museum are covered with photographs and a collection of paintings by artists such as Henry McDaniel and John Swan. There's also a well stocked gift shop.
And if you're a baseball fan, you'll be impressed with the pictures of hall of famer Ted Williams. Known as one of the greatest hitters in the game, Williams was equally comfortable with a fishing rod in his hands.
It's said that Williams made his first trip to New Brunswick following an injury with the Boston Red Sox, and a friend took him salmon fishing to aid in his recuperation. He became an avid promoter of the Miramichi River and one of the first directors of the museum in Doaktown when it opened 25 years ago.
Williams died in 2002, and some of his fishing gear, including his hat, is among the museum's exhibits.
In the mid-1970s, the North American population of Atlantic salmon was about 1.6 million. It's now less than a third of that. Many things have contributed to the decline, such as overfishing, dams, pollution and climate change.
One of the few areas where the population has begun to rebound is the Miramichi River. There are no dams on the river to block the salmon as they return to spawn, and the majority of salmon caught here are carefully released.
As well, the museum and other groups have programs to restock the river and educate the public on the importance of conservation.
"We have what is called the Fish Friends Program, and schools all over the province can participate," Linda Gaston said. "They raise their salmon from eggs, (and) when their eggs become fry they come to the Atlantic Salmon Museum and we release them into the river."
"Of 200 fry that we put into the river, it's lucky if one of them survives, so that's why the program is so important."
A summer day-camp program called Come Play in Our River, for ages six to 13, teaches children about salmon, how to tie flies and how to cast. They are taken on a canoe trip and can go fishing.
And there's a new day program this year that was intended for children but is garnering a lot of interest from adults. It offers a chance to adopt an Atlantic salmon for $15.
"At the end of the summer, the Miramichi Salmon Association will come and tag the fish, and we will release them into the river," Linda Gaston said. "In return you will get a certificate that you are supporting our mission statement."
The work being done at the museum is getting kudos from the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
"They do an excellent job," said Sue Scott, a federation spokesperson.
"They get kids out on the river, out from behind their desks and into nature, learning how to canoe and fly-fish."
There are a number of additions planned for the museum this year to make it more interactive and more attractive to technology-savvy youngsters.
There will be new display screens, and there are plans for an underwater camera in the river to give visitors a live look at the fish.
And if you want to try your hand at salmon fishing, the museum can arrange that too.
A day pass for catch and release is $5, while a three-day pass that will allow you to keep one salmon is about $80.
Non-residents of New Brunswick must hire a guide at a cost of $125 per day plus tip, and if you want to fish in the deep area of the river in front of the museum you'll need to make a $75 donation to the museum. That may seem like a lot, but anyone who has hooked an Atlantic salmon will tell you the experience is priceless.
If you go. . .
Doaktown is 100 kilometres northeast of Fredericton on Highway 8. The museum is open between April 15 and Oct. 15.
Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students, and $12 for a family of two adults and two children.
On the web: www.atlanticsalmonmuseum.com.
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