Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-13
Drifswood From the Coast OF Maine
Correspondence o. The Star.
PFNORSCOT RAW June 1SI5

to say, the columns of the Maine newspapers
TEEN with troutiDg items. When the leaf of
the maple is the size of your thumb-nail it
is time to get out your fishing gear and be-
lake yourself to the nearest trout brook. So
the jolly editor of the Belfast Journal in
forms his readers; and what he does not
know about piscatOrial pursuits is not worth
learning. Indeed, am told that all the
Maine editors WELD the trOut-rOd as skill
fully as they do the zen, and with more i'm
mediate profit. Listen to one of them sing
the praises of his favorite pastime:
Every season has its delights. To the fly
fisher after 81 eckled trout, the spring is most
Joyous. How he dreams of it in winter and
as he thinks OF the green fields, the ripping
brook, the kline at pasture. the fieecy clouds
above, the balmy air Of spring, and the
flowers and merry sOngsters he feels with
the poet who apostrophized the cuckoo,
no winter in its year!' Then,
Hail TO the spring-time and the hills!
Hail 10 the meadows and the fog
Hail TO the gorges and rills
All hail the trout meath yonder log!
Have gOOd care,
That's his lair;
Heigh-ho, hop,
Flip, flap, flop"
Another rural editor records "the first
catch" at Pleasant Ridge-'stwo anglers
catching 233 nice ones in about three hours.
They fished off the shore of the pond, and
ftre,c the trout into ttcO foot snoD drift TO cOO
Does not that sound refreshing?
FOUNDERS, ETC.
have not yet tried my hand at trout fish
ing, but have made two fOrays among the
flounders-an excellent parrish, by the way.
The first day had bad luck. As hauled
my first founder into the boat my line part I'd
Just above the hook and that damage was
no sooner repaired than found myself adrift,
with the wind blowing half gale Off shore.
My cable had parted company with the rock
had used for an anchor: However, found
a small boulder in the boat which had been
used for ballast, and dropping that over was
soon riding securely. My next haul was a
rascally sculpin, which broke my only hook,
and SO had to pull for shore. The next day
/ was better prepared, and in the course of an
hour caught nearly two dozen gOod-siZed
founders. TomcOds should be biting now,
though caught none; but the "cunner," or
sea perch does not abound until later in the
season. Cod and haddOck were once plenti-
full In this bay, but are rarely caught now
near the shore, as formerly. Indeed, the
Belfast fish market is mainly supplied from
Portland. Salmon are occasionally taken in
this vicinity, and further eastward they are
melted In considerable quantities. l dined
on one the other day which had been out OF
water but few hours, aud found it excel
lent, which is rarely the case with any kind
of fish that has been carried long distance,
no matter how packed.
THE WEATHER
never failing theme) Is delightful, though
the farmers are grumbling because we have
had no rain save few passing showers for
three weeks. A drouth at this season. and
in this latitude, is as remarkable in its way
as the exceedingly cold winter, which trans
formed the blue pay before me into one huge
ice field. A good rain now would help veg
citation, though the grass is emerald green,
and studded with yellow dandelions and
white strawberry blossoms, and the apple
trees, in their white and pink blossoms,
look like huge bOulders of Strawberries and
cream" borrow this simile from Blue
nose editor with whom l once upon a time
made a tour OF the Garden of Nova Scotia. ~
The mornings here are quite warm, but In
the afternoon brisk breeZes blow from the
southwark or eastward, and If from the lat
Or how aln1h
distant banks OF fog that have not as vet
come near enough to make their presence
disagreeably felt. The south wind brings
resinous scents from pine and spruce clad
buds and blossoms, and of all kinds of vege-
tatiOn. The seasons are so short here that
things grow rapidly when they do grow, and
just now the landscape is at its greenest. OF
the ever changing water view / dare not
trust myself TO write. Words are inadequate
TO fifty picture it. 1t is never falling feast
sunshine, twilight or moonlight. Two weeks
hence-tO descend from poetry to prose-
bathing will be in order, and a new zest will
then be added to life by the seaside.
CONCERNING CARTER.
am indebted 10 writer in the Republican
for much valuable Information concerning
one Robert Carter, author of Summer
Cruises" but he need not have coupled it with
reflections on my juvenility, what 1 had
already confessed. II is perhaps my misfcr-
tune that was not born a quarter OF a CEN
fury or so earlier, and that l have never
made the acquaintance of Mr.. Carter but
while i can understand the partially of a
friend toward the book in question, see no
reason to change my opinion of it, 1t is a
pleasant volume, but added nothing to nat
uIal science, as its author seemed to think
judging from his preface. He very properly
however, credits Perley for most of his sci
entific information.
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
IF Shaw has not starkedfOr Europe ask him
TO give my regards to the Prince of Wales,
whom met in GO, and to Prince Napoleon
whose acquaintance made in 81. hope he
will also speak good word for "the boys" to
the crowned hec DIS of Europe, and tell him
not TO forget his native language. 1t would
be shocking to have the Nestor on his return
talking about the bong tong and calling the
walters at Welcker's gdrs0rigs. PILsBURY