Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-10
A sPoRrsMArs PARADISE
description Of a Pond in the Northsr,
Woods,
"nere Trout are Plenty and ,vh.r. Ca.
AbOunds

| "s TIC ihhumerable ponds and Iakas
Vi the state which attract the summer ~;
Tor Is lin Pond. sparkling little shoe, oe
"ater' embosomed among the green b;,ls &c
northwestern Maine. Till within fa
THIS pond has known no intrusion from tho
ou'Siue world, excepting the occasional vi.i,
ii'"i 'ne hunter, or the wandering woods.
man. Those who last dwelt upon it. .bore.
ana looked upon its dancing waters ra,o A.
indians' but their vision long ago last rested
upon It's quiet beauty. This sheet of waite,
is not large, nor more beautiful than hmm.
oreds OF others in the land, but the water
ana Its surroundings, taken together m.La
an impression not easily effaced Greo, Hill.
rise from the shores, and lofty mountains
tower IN the distance The dense woods of
spruce which surround it are the same
which have stood there for ages. No clear
| ings have been made: no lumberman has ve,
oegun 10 hew away the forests. All is pri-
meval, and the solitude is intense. At night
the stars shine most brilliantly through the
tree tops, and the only sound to break the
evenings stiffness is tine hooting of the owl
in the distance.
But this quiet spot is not sought for its
scenery, nor visited on account of its soli-
tude. In its clear waters the speckled front
are found In great abundance and these at
tract the fishermen, while within its forests
abound the partridge, the deer, and other
game to satisfy the desires of the sportsman
Long ago the place was celebrated for its ex
ceitpnt in h.
settlers were accustomed to visit it, to OBJ.
tain their years supply of dried fish, A few
years ago several Kennebcc county fishermen
| sought the pond, and in few hours time
TOOK from the waters more than three hun
bred handsome trout. At last the great
abundance of the fish and game, the beauty
of the spot, and the encouragement of friends
led Mr. Kennedy Smith to consider the FEAST
olllty OF opening up the place to visitors, and
the year 1879 saw his plans take shape, in a
blackboard road extended from his farm
through the dense forests " Tim pond. six
miles away, and two buildings erected on a
lovely point of land jutting into the waters
Some visitors came the first year, more the
next. and this year there has been a constant
tide of travel Tim pond,ward
The means of reaching the pond are by the
Eastern or Boston and Maine to Portland
and from there by the Maine Central to
Pennington, or by the Somerset railroad to
North Arson, at which point stage routes
lead to the Smith farm, which is within six
miles OF the pond. These six miles are made
by blackboard ride, or by walking. if pre-
ferred. For Kennebec county travellers the
route is by rail or by private conveyance.
Having reached Pennington, the way leads
through New Vineyard, West New Portland
and Kingfield. For the whole distance the
route is very interesting, but from few miles
beyond Kingfeld, and almost the entire re-
mainder of the way, the ride is novel and ex-
ceedingly grand. The course of the road
lies along the banks of the swift flowing
Carrabasset on the right, while to the left,
rugged heights rise abruptly from the road
or tower gradually upward into mountain
peaks. A thick canopy of branching trees
overspreads the distance, mile after mile
making the drive cool and delightful in the
midst of the warmest day. At one point a
jutting height causes the roadway to encroach
upon the rivers bed, at another, the route
leads you upon broad intervale whose lin
its are bounded on every side BY high noun
tains or hills and as you stand there in the
clear twilight it seems like peaceful world
shut in by itself If the return is by the way
of North Arson, the ride is not so interest
ing; vet for the sake of variety, it is well to
either go or come this way. The roads will
all surprise the traveller by their good con-
dition, and there is one portion of them along
the Dead river which is almost as level as a
floor for long distance, and for twenty miles
here, it is said there is hardly a rock in the
road. From Mr.. Smiths home away up the
hillside, the view of Mt. Bigelow is exceed
ingly grand, rivalling in some respects the
scenery of the White and Green mountains.
The eve can also take in Flagstaff plantation.
so named, it is said. because Gen. Arnold,
while encamped here for several days. when
on his disastrous expedition to Quebec. I'M
furled from high flagstaff the new Cont
mental flag, which had just been adopted by
Congress.
Arrived at the borders of Tim pond you
find that the habitations are veritable log
cabins, some half dozen of them comprising
the settlement. and capable of giving welcome
to fifty persons if necessary. The largest
cabin is where the meals are served, and it
also answers as general social headquarters
for all the visitors. In the centre of the room
is pile of rocks for a fireplace, and an
opening overhead does service as chimney.
The beds are built across the ends or along
the sides of the cabins, and are covered four
or five inches deep with hemlock boughs.
making a mattrass more fragrant and more
comfortable than any you ever enjoyed be-
fore. The air you breath is pure and bracing,
and laden WIFI the Ouor VI tic oai"N tiSSS
covering the hills and dales about you.
Of the taking of trout in Tim pond there
is no end. When the waters are calm and
lie without ripple upon their broad surface
the speckled beauties are seen sporting about
in every direction, and if the day be not I'M
favorable the fisherman will have rare sport
at the casting of his fly. The fish are not
large, hardly averaging half pound, but are
exceedingly gamey, and do not give up their
little lives till after gallant struggle. Quite
frequently pound trout is secured. and the
largest one taken this season weighed two
and one eighth pounds. There are no other
kinds of fish in these waters. at least none
others have vet been discovered. The sweet
ness and delicacy of these trout is noticeable,
and another noticeable fact is that while on
the pond the largest fish is priced the most, at
the table the smallest trout are the frst 10
disappear. Brief mention of few OF the
..catches" made will show the resources OF
the pond. Last year four Biddeford gentle
men in a five hours fishing took three hun
bred and two. In June of this year Lewis,
ton and Boston fisherman caught one hundred
and thirty in two hours, and in the same
''-N- Sc tIa g N and two