Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-15

lFoF tHV EII7WoFth AmerlTNn.T
Ny Last Fishing Cruise in Frenohmans Bay.
BY GEO. GooGlN>, NJ. u.

BY GEO. GooGIS>, NJ. H.
When | was boy spent a considera
bic time in fishing or pretending to fish in
Frenchman'> Bay. | must have been very
| young when | caught my first fish there
and not more than eighteen years of age
when | made my last fishing trip in that
beautiful bay. II was always great ex-
/ element TO me and never enjoyed any
/ part of my life any more than did this
/ period. Living well up the bay at the part
usually called "Skilling's River" we had
/ quite long distance to go 10 and come
| from the fishing grounds, as they were US
ually called al that time; but we boys loved
the sport of fishing so well tha, we didn't
mind getting up in the middle of the night
and starting of, or being out in the rain,
wet aud cold, for we were not clothed then
a. fishermen and in short time when we
We're fishing our clothes would be wet
through. Nor did we mind little rain
If the fish would bite twas all We asked
for.
We generally went out for more than
one days fishing and then we camped at
some Of the Islands, mostly at Bar Harbor,
or rather Bar Island because there we were
more sure Of getting bait. Old Capt Red
doX, as We boys called him then, looked
out well for the fishermen and sold them
all the bait that came in.o his weir for If
ty cents per bushel And then he had
quite good camp built for the accommo-
dation of those who came there TO buv
bait, and when the camp was full, some
would sleep in the ti>h-house, and many a
night have lain in the old barn with the
stanchion sill for pillow, nor thought it
bit hard; and many time since wien w.
ing upon the good. soft, feather bed or
mattress, | have thought of those times
and wished | could then sleep as well as
on that hard floor in that old barn. I had
youth then, youth and health, which Will
make sleep a sweet restorer. however hard
the couch may be. These things did not
seem hard TO US then; We never thought
of them as such, but were satisfied with
them and to have them as they were
And then it was great change to us
| boys to get chance to 90 fishing. In
those times we had but very few HOLIDAYS
and it was always understood that after
our planting. was done, our hoeing and
having finished then came our fishing trips
which we made serve for our holidays. |
| was always crazy over boats and boating
which believe most boys are and learn
| ed while very young to handle all kinds of
small boats. When l was about sixteen
| years old became the owner Of nice.
| pretty little one-sai boat and then |
| thought was indeed rich. had worked
and paid for it myself. 1t was all my own
Her name was Dove" painted on the
stern, and always thought it quite appro-
| PIRATE, as she was so unpretentious, so
! gentle and to me always so safe. So | en-
joyed myself in sailing in her and in fish
ing in Frenchman's Bay, sometimes
alone, sometimes with others. But the
more particular time of which l now wish
to write was of my last fishing trip there
and the last fish ever caught in salt wa
ter. l think the time was in the summer
of forty-four. | had been away at school
for some time and coming home then for
my vacation, felt just like having sail in
my pretty little Dove and trying my luck
among the hsh down in that beautiful bav.
So soon got the boat ready and every
thing in order. road, lines and everything
necessary for fishing, not forgetting gaff
and hake killer. Our ship-stores, or rather
bookstores, consisted of frkin of food
and q jug of water. This Wa in the DAYS
before whiskey was made or boys learned
to drink such stuff. We meant to take
food enough with US for three days' ra-
tions; | say ue-I forgot to mention that
my youngest brother "a boy about twelve
years Old would 60 with me-and he and |
would be all the crew, captain, mate, cook,
&C. Everything being in readiness, at
about two O'Clock P. NJ. on a bright and
pleasant July day, we unmoored our boat
and spreading the sail to light westerly
breeze, were soon sailing along rapidly
toward our destination. Soon we were
leaving .'Narrow's Point" on the left, Par
fridge Cove" on our right, with Hides
Point" and 'Young's Point" on the left,
"Ford's ledge" and ''Bowdens Cove ledge"
on the right and then soon we were out
through "Peck's Narrows" and heading for
Bar Island, were soon sailing over the fish
ing grounds where we expected to try our
luck the next day. No doubt if the fish
could have seen as then they would not
have been much frightened or thought of
much danger from so meagre a crew of
would-be fishermen. Bipeds would have
done so with good deal of reason. But
we made no great speculations. We felt
free and Independent and if the fish we're
fools enough to bite at our hooks We would
do the best we could to capture them.
Wehad fine sail down the bay that day
and landed at Bar Harbor at five O'Clock
where we found quite number of boats
with their crews. Some of them had been