The Portland daily press., 1877-07-06
The Cranberry Isles,
CRANBERRY ISLES, Me.
July 2, 1877,

Oui1 = 1915 }
To the Editor Of the Press:
There are two Cranberry Islands. the Big
and the Little, which, lying to the north and
east of Mount Desert, form the town of Gran
berry Isles. A fortnight ago left the Port
land steamer at Southwest Harbor and row
boat took me over to Big Cranberry Island,
three miles distant. 1 was disembarked on
the wide pebbly beach of little semi-circular
cove, into which projects wharf backed by a
store house, fish house, smoke house, and
flakes on which sailed fish were drying, the
whole being the establishment of Squire Preble,
the great man Of the island. There is long
rise Of land behind the cove, and browning it
the high rooted mansion of the Squire, spa.
cious house, comfortable in its appointments
and neat in appearance; guests are here enter
tanned and it is inscribed the Preble House in
the State Register
Fishing is the principal occupation of the
inhabitants of the Cranberry Islands. The
young men are absent most off the time on cod
fishing vessels and mackerelmen, while their
seniors, whose family cares have increased
stay at home and alternate fishing with farm
Ing. going out in their boats for the day when
the weather is favorable, and hoeing their
gardens and mending fishing gear at times
when it is unsafe to venture forth. The soil
seems fertile, and the growing crops are most
fourishing but to the true islander the most
successful work on shore is irksome, and, while
be submits to it as necessity. the only thing
that to him really seems worth doing is to
start out in his boat in the early morning, race
witt a IF faIIou1 Gah <o h.,
which lie well into the open sea. fish till after
noon, and then return to dress his fish and pre
pare for the next days fishing. Goldfish, had
dock, pollock, and, later in the season, mack
erel are caught; halibut were once plentiful.
but now are rarely got off these grounds Cod
have grown scarce in late years and paddock
are now the main dependence of the fishermen
Across the channel called the Western Way
rise the hills of Mount Desert the
whole range which extends far to the north
ward, being visible from the Gran berry Isles
By day, they show bare and white, darkening
into tints and shadows at sunset, until in the
night they stand black and ominous against
the sky. the steamers bearing tourists to
Southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor pillow along
in full view, but it is seldom that passenger is
found adventurous enough to cross the channel
and explore the Cranberry Islands. Yachting
parties are occasional visitors and it sometimes
happens that an undergraduate, for his sins
endures here the bleak and tempestuous winter
In the capacity Of pedagogue. The inhabitants
seem generally simple and kindly hearted
folk, living in comfortable fashion, and we'll
disposed toward strangers. They are brave
and expert wreckers and venture fearlessly in
the rescue of life and property from vessels
shattered on the outlying rocks.
Squire Preble with whom am domicled is
q fine specimen of kindly, upright, courageous
manhood. In the affairs of long and busy
life he has repeatedly met and repaired by
patient industry, cruel and unforeseeable
reverses of fortune. Now, well along in years
and lin possession competency, he abates
none of his activity. For many years, he has
managed the town affairs, and between his
public and private business manages to labor
on an average sixteen hours daily. He is an
expert fisherman. and in his company 1 have
had some exciting and successful sport
On the little island is the fishing establish
ment of the Hadlock Brothers, who continue,
in an enlarged form, the business bequeathed
by their grandfather Twelve fishing vessel.
all from their wharves, of which five arc
wholly or in part owned by the firm. At this
time the vessels are just arriving from the
Banks, or the Bay of Funday, and discharging
their fares of Goldfish, after which they refit to
go mackereling The Goldfish they discharge
is sailed, but not dried, and the latter process
is attained by spreading them in "1akes''
with which the establishment is well furnished,
The common method of taking mackereI ia
with seine, and several of the large boats
used in the fishing lie about on the beach.
some OF them thirty-fve feet long by nine in
width. In room used for the storage of fish
ing gear are seine nets of the value of $4,000.
Besides fitting out fishing vessels and re =
ceiving and disposing of their products the
Hadlocks carry on other branches of business.
The lobster fishing is a profitable one part of
those being sent to the canning factory at
Southwest Harbor, and the rest shipped alive
to the various seaboard cities. Farming is car
rted on to some extent, and the products are
profitably disposed of in the furnishing of fish.
ermen with fresh supplies.
One OF the two brothers who compose the firm
Col. W. E. Hadlock, gentleman whose face is
familiar in both branches of the legislature, has
recently undertaken speculation on his own
account, the starting of sheep ranch in
Mount Desert. BE has bought large tract of
land, including in its limits a mountain and
pond, and is preparing to stock it with sheep;
he estimates that the land will afford pastur-
age for thousand sheep and proposes to ulti-
mately maintain that number upon it,
The mail service of the Cranberry Islands is
regular (all things considered) but lacks fire..
quency. There is a post-ofice on the Big
Island and boat goes twice week over to
Southwest Harbor to carry and receive the
mail This seems rather slow to new conner
to whom daily paper has become an indispen-
sable habit of life, but one soon adapts ones.
self to the existing state of things, and is sat.
isfied to peruse in the weekly naners tbot