Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-26

Again Il has been ny god fortune 70 visit
the town Of Weld, iahale The pure mosnlain
air, and angle TOR the speckIsd trout that
abound in the brooks Of pure vsser that
spring froo every hillside, in shss dslighEfal
locality. On glofioas June morning We
left The Capital on the easly morning train,
and an hours ride down The majestic Kenne-
bee brossht u 70 Brunswick. whore the
traveller alvays finds, at the ressnarant Of
Mr.. Woodbury., opportunity TO satisfy
the wants Of the inner man- The
food 10 excellent, The walters ~
tentive, and the proprietor kind and oblig-
ing, Here We changed cMs and, in charge
Of genial Conductor Cobb, were whirled
away toward Crowley's, where the last
change Is made for Pennington. The de-
lightful ride was marred by the crushing
out of . human life, when near Lisbon Falls,
by the engine. drawing oar trsin. Wilton
was reached at last. where we we're met by
our friend. A. u. Russell, Esq., of Weld.
Seated behind his fleet horse, we we're of
over one of the most beautiful drives, toward
our destination. The scenery along the IL
miles that stretch between Wilton and Weld.
is delightful. Mountainous and grand, it
would require the pen of the poet and brush
of the painter to describe it.
We arrived At Weld Village at o'clock
and rested till the next day. The first half
day was spent on one of the many prolific
trout brooks, with Mr.. Russell. and We cap
tured 16 beauties. In the afternoon . drive
about town was enjoyed and very pleasant
call made on Mrs. Geo. Coburn, q wealthy
and refined lady, who kindly permitted m ex-
animation of her stuffed birds, one of the best
collections in the State. 1t consists of speci-
mems of almost every species known in
Maine, from the diminutive humming bird to
the large mountain eagle. 1t is all the work
of her own fair hands and does great
credit to her skill as a naturalist and
taxidermist. The next day an effort
was made to capture some of the large trout
found in Webb pond, but it proved unsucces-
full. They grow to large size and many are
caught that tip the scales at lbs. The next
point of interest visited was the fish pond and
Matching house of our old friend, Mr.. David
Masterman. II was my pleasure to visit him
two years ago, al which time q description of
his pond and trout were given in the Journal.
The stocking of the pond of a few acres was
an experiment, the success of which was
doubted by your correspondent, as it was a
question whether so small an area would
afford food enough for 1900 trout; but all
fears vanished when we dropped the trout a
line, in response to which, we soon had a
string Of the handsomest trout that ever swan
in lake or stream. There are at least 1000
trout in the pond at this time most of them
will weigh pound apiece. There are some
that will weigh 3 pounds. and they are the
pIumpest that ever thrilled the heart of q
disciple of the gentle Isaak Walton. Mr..
Masterman occasionally permits q friend to
capture few of his pets, and it is rare sport.
He is to build other ponds and enlarge his
fishing grounds, increase the number of trout,
and will soon be able to accommodate all who
may visit him. After partaking Of an excel
lent dinner we spent an hour in angling, with
fine success, securing in all % beauties. We
then paid visit to his Matching house. This
last achievement in the fishing line ia his
pride. The house is supplied with water from
a large, cold spring capable of furnishing
water sufficient to hatch one million fry,
during the season. This is his first attempt,
and complete success has crowned his efforts.
He is employed BY the Fish Commissioners
to hatch sea and and.locked salmon for the
State. That he has been eminently successful
the follow ing will prove:
| On the 10Th day of March last he received
of the commissi .ners 200, 900 sea salmon
eggs from the Works at Bucksport, and about
the last of the month, 5000 land locked sal
mon eggs from Grand Lake stream. In four
days the sea salmon began to hatch and by
the last of the month the process was CON-
pleted. The land-locked salmon began to
hatch in 10 davs. The loss was about per
cent. The land-locked salmon are to stock
Webb's pond in Weld, n fine sheet of water.
two miles wide aud seven miles long. The
process of securing, packing. transporting
and Matching the eggs would furnish matter
for an interesting paper, but IL has been de-
scribed by abler writers. Mr.. Masterman
intends to increase facilities for Matching, and
another year will hatch large number of
trout and will be able to supply owners OF
ponds with the fry. He is q square man and
will deal fairly with his patrons; and we
wish him the success he is so deserving of.
| After q week of recreation and rest we re.
turned refreshed and invigorsted, and advise
| all our friends TO 20 and do likewise. c.