Maine Governor John Baldacci visited Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery early in the 2004 Atlantic salmon spawning season--and had a blast as an impromptu volunteer! The governor toured the facility with Maine Fisheries Program Complex Manager Carl Burger and Hatchery Manager Tom King. The governor also visited the Friends of Craig Brook-sponsored Craig Brook Atlantic Salmon Museum with Friends President Bob Mushrall.

Near the end of his hatchery visit, the governor donned hip boots, rain gear and rubber gloves, and ventured into three feet of water in one of the Penobscot River broodstock holding pools with the spawning crew. With some coaching from biological technician Dan Tozier and fisheries biologists Denise Buckley and Coley Powers, the governor spawned three very large and colorful pairs of Penobscot Atlantic salmon.

Governor Baldacci was totally enthused to help with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission interagency team in spawning at Craig Brook, and described his visit as most educational.