The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-08
THE MEGANTlC CLUBS BIG PRESERVE.
The Addition to their Hunting
Grounds In Maine.
A Sportsman's Paradise In the Re-
glon OF Beautiful Lakes,
Made Easy of Access and Provided
with Good Quarters.

BOSTON, April IA meeting Of the dlrec-
tors Of the Megantic Club was held yester-
day afternoon at Young's Hotel. President
Wemyss in the chair. The subject Of ratify-
ing the sale and lease Of a large fishing and
hunting tract In Maine, lately contracted for
by the secretary. comprising the Chain of
Ponds and two Of the Seven Ponds, was dis
cussed and an appropriation made for the
purpose. The appointment Of a resident
superintendent was discussed, and Mr.. Peter
Matheson Of Lake Megantic, p. O., was Of
fered the situation at salary Of $500 per
annum. He will be required to live upon the
preserve and be earetaker in the club house
house during the winter, and will be the club
fish and game overseer and have full charge
OF the camps, trails, boats, ETC., and see that
proper guides are provided for the members.
lie Will live in summer upon farm opposite
the club house lately leased by the club. Mr..
Matheson Is the oldest game warden in the
employ of the club.
The new territory just added ON to the
club's preserve comprises the Chain ofPonds
and tributaries, viz: Horseshoe Otter
Round, Long, Bag, Brewer and Lower ponds
and the upper portion Of the north branch Of
the Dead river, and Big Island and Rock
ponds Of the Seven Ponds group. DIR. Bish-
op. the club secretary, lately went over the
township on snowshoes. and had the sports
men camps and movable property apprais-
ed, and arranged for lease OF the hunting
and fishing rights from the owners Of the
Town. Messrs. Nj; q: Shaw q Sons, the ex-
tensive lumber dealers and operators at
Moosehead lake and Bath, Me-, securing a
~ ~ years lease, with privilege Of extension.
Four OF the lakes are in continuous chain,
and nayigable their entire length by the
steamer, which is owned by Mr.. Shaw and
DafF InR hnr rirrr
camps, built year ago, some eight or ten in
number, are situated upon peninsula at the
narrows OF Long pond, the largest and most
beautiful lake In the chain, and are all To-
Gated in close proximity to central framed
dining room, with kitchen attached, 2Sx32
feet. The camps all contain piazzas, and are
furnished with chairs. tables, stoves, beds
with woven wire springs and balsam boughs
Tor mattresses, and all the comforts that can
be expected in the woods. The situation as
regards scenery Is charming, and the abund-
ance OF trout in the lakes, and moose, carl
bou and deer in the surrounding forests.
makes 1t a perfect paradise for the sports
man. The newly leased territory contains
AZ square miles, or nearly 1000 Square acres,
not including the Kilby valley and Moose
river valley, where the club have also pur-
chased camps with their outfits for still hunt
ing In the fall Of the year.
The camps in the Moose river and Kilby
valleys are situated in the most prolific
moose and CARIBOU country In northern
Maine. The camps in the new territory will
be under the charge of the club steward. but
will probably be run by Mr.. Ed Smith, who
has for the past three years had charge of
the camps at Tim and Seven Ponds, and is
SO favorably known to sportsmen.
While looking over the country DIR. Bishop,
accompanied by Mr.. Shane, the Phillips FISH
and game overseer, and an old guide and
trapper In that section, laid out a road from
the Chain OF Ponds to the club house at
spider lake, distance of eight or ten miles.
ana at the meeting last night it was voted to
put ON crew Of men as soon as practicable
and run the road through. This will open a
route across the preserve via Nathan and
crosby roads, and make 1t possible to go In
OF out via Eustis and the Maine Central (the
Chaln OF Ponds being only II miles distant
lron Eustls over good road, and this will
soon become the popular route for the club,
as it makes the distance over 100 miles short,
er from Boston than by the Canadian Pacific
railroad, and the preserve reached In less
than "a hours. The route will be Maine
Central via Portland and Pennington. then
Sandy River and Franklin and Megantic
railroads. An excursion of members OPEN
Ing this route will take place on July next,
after communication Is opened up across
the preserve, via Chain Ponds, to the club
houSe.
The growth Of the Megantic Club has been
phenomenal. and at the present time it owns
tne most extensive fish and game preserve
on tbs continent, and has the most valuable
Tracts Tor moose, caribou and deer in Maine.
In TACT the very nurseries of large game. and
as regards the moose, the club contains about
the only haunts Of this noble game left