New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-25
FROM MOUNT DESERT ISL AND.
Correspondence Of The NJ Y. Tribune.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR, ,
MOUNT DESERT, July l3, 1857. ,

MOUNT DESERT, July ID, 1857.
A few days SINCE arrived here in a schooner
in which, for variety's cake, had taken passage
from Portland. The shorter way would be to
take the steamer from Portland to Rockland, and
thence the steamer Of the Machias line which
touches at Southwest Harbor; but wishing to see
some of the Islands along the coast and the fishing
on the banks, prompted me to go per schooner.
The coast of Maine, with it's thousands of prom
ontories, iuets, islands, shoals, suRken rocks and
sand.baDks, is rendered less dangerous by COM
plete net of lighthouses. These are for the greater
part situated on small islands or insulated rocks.
Many Of them visited and found them in excellent
order. The keepers lives are most lonely and
mOnOtOnOus, especially in such places as Matinicus
and Mount Desert rocks and Saddle Island all of
which are naked rocks, but two or three acres IN
extent, without any vegetation whatever; without
any place Of shelter except the lighthouse, and hf-
teen OF twenty miles from the next land. The
keepers fare of course is of the salt and dry kind
with the addition of fresh fish, for in many OF these
places it is impossible to raise vegetables or poultry
and rain water is the only fresh water to be found
The pay, according to the size and situation OF the
lighthouse, and the number of lamps, is from S3O0
to $500 for keeper; from $500 to $500 for an as
sistan t keeper. But this seems to offer sufiicent
inducement, for there is never lack OF applicants
for vacant situations. Those who have undertaken
this Office seem to look on matters in thoroughly
phosophic manner. How do you like the place,
Madam !" said to the keepers wife at Saddle Isl.
and-a rock Of about two acres at the outside OF
Penobscot Bay, ten miles from the nearest land.
" It's well enough Sir" was the reply ii one only
gets well acquainted, with the neghbors.
Fishing begins to be pretty brisk. The banks
were covered with small craft fishing for mackere,
csd, bake and herring.
Mackerel are Just arriving in these waters; and,
although they have till now been taken only IN small
quantities. the prevailing prices promise lucrative
season.
Cod. according to size and quality, brings from
So to S. 'quintal; hake 80; and smoked her
rings. in boxes Of fifty, from 3t cents to 30
cents box.
Mount Desert is, according to circumstances,
sometimes an island and sometimes peninsula; for
over the narrow channel separating 1t from t1e
mainland, there is at Eden a bridge, the draw OF
which is sometimes open and sometimes shut. A
long, narrow sound (Solmses Sound) divides the
island into halves the eastern of which is the larger
Either part contains mountains about 2,OOO fee.
high and reveals lakes or ponds Astounding 10
salmon trout. A few deer and some partrldges
are said to be in the mountains; and in Winter a
bear row and then ventures over the ice and takes
up Summer residence on the island. -Four
small islands render Solnses Sound completely
land-locked; and around several good anchorages a!
South East and Southwest Harbor, and at Gran
berry Island and Barr Harbor ION the western
side small villages have sprung up. Other settle.
mehts are scattered over the island.
Flaming is not practiced on very extensive
scale; indeed apparently scarcely enough for home
consumption. People say fishing is easier and pays
better--a poor comment on the land, when the hard
life on board little fishing smack on Newiowdant
banks is found preferable.
The atmosphere is delightfully."- cool throughout
the whole Summer, and not unfrequently families
from New York and Boston extend their excursion
to this place, which can be reached per steamboat
ana railroad in two days from New.York. Th
place is quite resort for artists. Last Summer
there were rot less than six on the island. Th
year, probably on account of the la!eness OF thu
season, no visitors have yet arrived.
Since Yesterday we have dense fog, which shut
every object more than fifteen yards distant CON
pletey from sight. A thunder. storm however ha
arisen this morning thit will probably disperse tb'
fec and leave us fair weather. WI.