Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-02-06


has had something to do with this result,
for most of the guides have, at one time
or another acted as river-drivers; ard II
is not SO very many years ago that in the
numbering camps and on the "drive"
sommon proportion OF supplies was
"barrel of rum to barrel of beans. -
The Maine Liquor Law has certainly put
an end to this regime, and with 1t have
disappeared to very great extent, the
drunkenness, profanity and kindred vices
which at one time degraded the brave
men who season after season risked their
lives by exposing themselves to the dan
gers of river driving.
There are some peculiar features in the
arrangement Of The camp buildings which
will be OF interest TO those who ere not
familiar with such institutions. The main
camp is substantial board structure 100
feet long by 30 feet wide. At its extreme
westerly end is well.equipped kitchen.
and adjoining it is dining-room. Then
comes the main apartment, which is oc-
cupied as sleeping and sitting ROOM
This room takes the full width OF the
main building $50 leeD, is about 90 feet
in length, and from the floor to the gable
il 80 ieet in the clear, giving 1t q most
spacious appearance and securing thor
ough ventilation. There are no partitions
in this apartment, but twenty-five or
thirty beds are ranged along its sides,
and st its extreme easterly end is large
open fireplace, around which the weary
anglers gather after their days sport, and
entertain each other with the rehearsal
of their experiences and exploits. As
one huge log after another blazes up
/ for the nights are seldom so warm that
/ fire IS oppressive-story after story pass
es around. /, rarely happens that some
one of the circle has not captured q six
or eight pound trout during the day, aud
the one who has been so fortunate is OF
course the hero of the hour. With what
kind of fly the lish WIS captured, how
long it took 10 land him, the narrow es-
cape which the lncky angler had from
losing his prize Just as the guide was
netting him. are points which must be
rehearsed over and over again. Could
ono-.enth OF the fish stories which have
/ thus been rehearsed around this famous
old fire place in Camp Kennebago be put
on record they would make book which
would throw far into the shade any vol
ume OF piscatorial experience that has
ever yet seen light. Before eleven o'clock
the weary anglers are all in their beds.
and the camp sinks into silence that Is
undisturbed save by some obstreperous
snorer, at least until daylight tho next
morning, when some fisherman who has
had poor luck the previous day, starts out
with desperate determination to retrieve
his fortunes by testing the virtues OF early
fishing.
A tour around the upper end of Lake
Mooselucmaguntic discovers a number OF
snugly constructed buildings, some own
ed by private individuals and others by
members of the Angling Association,
who spend several weeks consecutigely
at the lakes during the fishing seasoD.-
Prominent among the latter are those OF
Hon. w. j. Frye st the narrows, and that
of K. G.. Allertoa at Bugle Cove. Just at
the foot OF Bald Mountain. Allerton lodge
is thoroughly built house, fully equip
ped with all the comforts Of civilization.
II is located upon rocky blull twenty
feet or more above the level OF the lake,
and commands magnificent view
SINCE Bugle Cove is one of the best fish
ing grounds on the lake, its proprietor,
who is one OF the most enthusiastic and
persevering OF anglers, never fails 10
make up such score during his visits in
June as 10 excite The emulation OF all
other visitors during the rest of the sea-
son. Exactly what Mr.. Allerton has
accomplished during his eight successive
annual visits TO The lake may be summa-
rized as follows: 1S69-241 trout, weigh
ing 2S4 -; lS70-124, l72 l-2 lbs. ;lS1 l
-2IS, 1856 Ibs.; lS72-l30. 2S5 3-4 lbs. ;
ls73-1i9, 2O5 1-2lbs. 1S74-l75. 2Sl
lbs. lS75-157, III l-2 lbs; lS76-lSG,
lS2 IA lbs. Total /, 1886 trout weighing
/, 1,629 81 pounds; averaging about lb',
3l-2 o.. each. Among the number were
24O, weighing two pounds and upwards,
whose combined weight was s9l 3-4 lbs.
averaging about lbs. II - OF. each
But il need not be imagined that 1t is
only the practiced anglers who are sue
cesslul in the Rangeley Lakes. There is
in Camp Kennebago record-book in
which each visitor is expected to set down
his score when he finishes his stay. This
} exhibits some catches nearly as remark
able as that which has been set down
above. In 1869, eleven members OF the
association in six days fishing, besides a
large number OF smaller fish, captured
thirty trout weighing as follows: three OF
4 lbs. each; one A lbs; two 4 lbs.
each three 5 lbs. each; one o 10 lbs. !;
four 5 1-2 lbs. each; two 6 lbs. each ;
two IA lbs each; two 3 lbs. each