The law on smelts goes in effect today. Fishermen and dealers will do well to take notice because the wardens have decided to keep a sharp lookout for illegal fishing. The law provides that no smelts shall be taken or fished for in tidal waters, except by hook and line between the first days of April and October. However, it is provided by the law that dipnets may be used to catch smelts between April 1 and May 1 and all such fish so taken may be offered for sale. The law does not apply to smelts taken in Casco Bay between Sept. ember 15 and Oct. 1.

50 years ago, 1957

• A filmed show featuring disciplined fabrics produced by the Bates Manufacturing Co. is scheduled for worldwide distribution this summer. The filming was done by Twentieth-Century Fox, and the movie of Maine-made fabrics is slated for distribution around the world, beginning in July.

• A & P big May food event. Pork loins, 25 cents/lb.; porterhouse or sirloin steaks, 85 cents/lb.; fresh pollock fillets, 17 cents/lb.; corned beef brisket, 59 cents/lb.; All Good fancy sliced bacon, 59 cents/lb.; ripe bananas, 2 lbs./29 cents; fresh corn, 4 ears/29 cents; strawberries, 29 cents/pint box.

25 years ago, 1982

WASHINGTON – Students attending most private colleges can qualify for full government-guaranteed loans this fall if their families earn less than $40,000 a year, according to new education department regulations released Sunday.

• The black sign with white letters at the visitors entrance reads, “Welcome to Bates Fabrics – The Largest Textile Company in the U.S.A. Wholly Owned by Its Employees.”

“It may even be the only company in the country entirely owned by its employees. I don’t know,” remarked President “Bill” Gleason.

Regardless of the distinction, an innovative venture begun five years ago that gave Bates Fabrics employees total ownership of the company appears to have paid off.