Article on the return of the alewives to Great Salt Bay in Damariscotta. There

Article on the return of the alewives to Great Salt Bay in Damariscotta. There are only two people with legitimate authority to take alewives: Frank Waltz and his son, Harlowe. They count, net and monitor the tide of alewives throughout the duration of the run. Once the alewives pass the gauntlet of the flying, swimming and netting predators and safely reach Damariscotta Lake to spawn, there is nothing left to live for. When the spawning is done, the adults expire, their spent bodies sinking quietly to the bottom of the lake. In early July, the first young alewives begin making their way back to the sea. Frank Waltz, from his position working at the Damariscotta Hydro Project, controls the opening of the penstocks in summertime so that none of the fry are caught in the turbines