The Portland daily press., 1866-06-23
MT. DESERT. June 2l, 1868.

Mt. DESERT, June 81, 1863.
To the Editor of the Press:
have hardly been in this wild, romantic
place long enough to get the hang Of II; but
have already seen enough to Convince me
that it is remarkably well located for q sum-
mer resort for those who desire to seek health
and pleasure on the sea coast. The rock
bound shore OF Maine has many attractions
for the lovers of nature in her boldest and
most romantic aspects. There is no scenery
between this island and the Forest City"
SO bold and sublime as that seen here. The
grand old mountains loom up in the distance
and lend d charm to this spot which is seldom
surpassed in any place on our whole coast. -
The land hereabouts is rocky, but capable Of
producing much food for man and beast If it
'Were properly cultivated. But the people here
do not pay that attention to agriculture which
their interest demands. Their attention is
turned to the treasures the ocean contains,
and fishing is their principal employment
Porgies anu Holsters seem to be now all the
rage. I saw this morning small boat, rowed
by two men, come in, loaded as deeply as it
could swim with porgies. the result of last
nights catch. Their cargo was worth twenty
five dollars, and the owners felt well satisfied
with their luck. As many of your readers
know, these fishes are boiled and then the oil
pressed from them. / visited this morning a
lobster manu(actory,-if it may be so called
situated near the steamboat wharf, Here are
employed fifty men and girls in boiling lob
sters, taking out the meat from the shells and
sealing it up in cans. About three thousand
cans arc put up each day. They commence
in April and continue the business until late
in the fall. During the season immense guam
titles are prepared for the market at this sin
gle establishment, to say nothing of many
others on the coast of Maine. Here are en-
ployed about twenty-five girls from twelve to
twenty years of age, all healthy and good
looking. In the morning they are seen trudg-
ing along from their homes to this establish
1ment, each with tin pail in her hand. To
see them in the building, surrounded by piles
of Holsters, and all industriously at work, is
guile an interesting spectacle. They earn be-
tween four and five dollars per week, and
seem quite as contented and happy as the girls
of your city who do nothing from morning
until night but sweep the streets with their
skirts and make those groan who are obliged
to pay for such Expensive habits" True.
they now practice sitting" but while that
does not sweep the sidewalks, yet it does not
save much expense.
l came to this place on the steamer City of
Richmond, a splendid, roomy, fast boat, that
plies between Machias and Portland. This
is new line, and trust it will be generously
supported. Portland has deep interest in it
as well as the towns on the coast. 1t is GER
tainly important to the trade in Portland,
and the trip is a most romantic one for those
who travelfo pleasure. The scenery all the way
is grand and beautiful on this island route. 1t
will be noticed in the advertisement in the
Press that passengers by the three o'clock
and evening express trains from Boston on
their arrival at Portland can take this steamer
for the East and lose no time. For a pleasure
trip in this region know of none that excels
it. The coast of Maine will yet become a
place of great resort in the summer season.
There are hundreds of places along this line
where seekers Of watering places can find very
pleasant and healthy quarters during the
warm season, and even the Forest City affords
one of them. 1t always struck me as some
what singular that residents of Portland
should seek the country back as place of re-
sort in hot weather, Why, Portland is much
the coolest place, especially when trip to the
islands can be had at any hour of the day
But fashion is tyrant, and even sensible pso-
pie will bow to its mandates.
have not yet "wet my lines" in the pure
waters of the ponds that shine like mirrors in
mountain frames. There are several withi-
an hours ride of the Island House, kept, anG
well kept, too, by Dea. Clark. shall proba
bly, kill some of these bright speckled, red
meated trout this afternoon. They are sale
to be the best favored trout to be found il
Maine; of that, however,I shall make surf
in few hours. In the course of day o.
two 1 shall know more of this wild, romanti,
spot, and be able to give the readers of thu
Press more interesting account of thes,
headquarters of HOLSTERS and porgies. q.