Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-02-13

shadows in the stream where there ia
not depth enough to permit them to
swim. Just at the spawning-5eds, and
over The little branch which carries the
water of the springs to the main stream,
the gentleman above named erected a
Matching house. Ia return for this priv
ilege, they agreed TO place in the waters
each season from so, 900 to 100, 900 young
fry. recompensing themselves for their
trouble. if they could. by taking out
spawn for use in other waters. In the
seasons Of 1873 and 1874, they were aGie
10 deposit in the streams more than the
maximum OF spawn agreed upon. In
1879 and 1876. Mr. Sianley's duties as
fish commissioner prevented his giving
this matter the necessary attention; but
the young fry were so successfully
hstched the first two seasons, that a sud-
den increase OF small trout has been
noted in the stream itself, and as far up
as the Bema Ponds, four mile above the
hatching-houses Some OF the spawn
were successfully transferred to other
a,eIs,-the eggs, had to be carried out
in December, on the backs of men, nine
miles through the woods. and Mr.. B..
B. Porter. the piscicuturst of Crystal
Springs, New Jersey, can now show
Rangeley trout double the siz9 of any
other variety OF trout OF the same age.
The method OF capturing trout for
their spawn WAS either to dip them up
near the springs with an ordinary net,
as they came up to deposit the spawn. or
to take large trout in the lake chiefly
with The fly in advance OF their ripening,
and to lear" them until they were
stripped. when they were restored to the
lake. At one time in the fall of 1874.
Messrs. Stanley and Hsylord, who were
10 charge of the operation, had IN e
large car at the mouth OF Bema Stream
over two hundred Of these famous trout
weighing from one pound to six pounds
each. "A sight which could not be paral-
leled in any other waters in the world.
The camps at Bema look out over the
broad oXpGuse o! the bay which opens
toward the northwest and are very
prettily situated. The very remo,eness
Of the camp secures is freedom from the
visits Of miscellaneous tourists, while
me beauty of its location and the excel
lent fishing TO be found in lis immediate
ueishborhood amply justify the wisdom
shown in lis selection by The men who
control il. They and their immediate
friends here enjoy coveted sec'usion
aud keep clear If ntrujers by q lease OF
three mites Of The shore " hich covers
the entire southern end Of Il ma b :.
Is position, however. exposes tho bay
in is font to the northwest gales which
prevail to greater or less extoat
through the whole season. Those who
are accustomed u wAil for the tradition.
Al Fly bre,Ze" viii receive with incred-
uity the statement that the largest trout
have been taken in these waters when
n north Ses, gtle vas driving the spray
from the white-cappsd waves. and when
the perseverins angler found seat 10
the bottom Of ii, l,a' n ms cnu'0r'-
able position from which to'csst his lly,
if. indeed, the IL cln be said 10 be
"clst" when the winl carries the line so
Straight from ths rol tha. it is difficult TO
keep the ny on the surface of the water.
Yet the keen eyed trout, a. this very
time rushes the most unwarily upon his
imaginary prey. \ sudden splash from
which the spray flies in the face OF the
wiul bsirays the presence OF one OF these
mammoth trout. Ii he misses the fly, q
second cast almost isariably provokes
tue fa.ei .i5l - m)re eager rush. KS
ing Though the topno5t curl OF the
wave, his side, brilliant in purple and
gold, CLEANS in the sunligh. for an in
slant. Bu, this time he is fast, and there
is a thud rs if locomotive, under full
headway, had been hooked. With a
mad rush, he strikes for the depths OF
The lake, but the light rod yields like
thing of life. Whether the trout
weigh one pound or eight, the lance
wood or split bamboo is faithful to the
trust placed in il. With pertinacity
almos, human it clings to the frantic
fish, steadily drawing him to the surface
until after contest which may have
lasted only ten minutes, or which may
have been prolonged through two hours,
the lapding-net OF the skilful guide de-
posts him in the boat.
Apart from the risk OF losing your
trout because OF the difficulty of landing
him while the boat is tossing on the
waves, this hShlng In rough water mas
its perils, which add to its excitement if
they do not increase its pleasures. One
bracing September morning | was indus
triously casting my fly from my boat,
which vas anchored three or four hun
dred yards from the sand-spit at the
mouth OF Bema Stream. The Esprit OF
Mooselucmaguntic" Can efligy which the
ingenuity of some of the campers had