The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-11-11
SPORTING IN THE MAINE WILDER
NESS.
ny NJ. j. HAPGooD.


with mountains, within whose .hollows
are. thousands of lakes and ponds, so
connected as to render canoe navigation
very easy.
Through the admirable working of the
state game laws, this territory is well
stocked with trout, cartridges, deer,
moose and caribou, TO say nothing of
bear, the meat of all of which, except the
moose, have already fed upon. 1t is, in
reality, the sportsman's paradise, as well
as magnificent retreat for him W h o
loves the wilds and solitude of nature,
But few townships have yet any name,
Deer are so plenty that it was an every
day occurrence for me to see them from
the porch of the sportsman's inn, upon
Lily Bay, where made my headquarters.
For the past week have been encamped
upon small lake, seldom visited and six
miles from the nearest neighbors, all
alone, except my guide. 1t is set well up
among the mountains and fringed on all
sides with overhanging bushes with a
thick backing of fur trees. At its head
is high projecting peak. Yesterday
visited its summit Notwithstanding the
journey took two hours, the trip was
delightful. The ground over the entire
route was covered with soft carpet of
moss. When l reached the top and took
in the view from projecting rock felt
like bowling down in alteration to my
Maker. All around, as far as possible
for human eye to reach, was one vast
sweep of wilderness, with range after
range of mountains receding in the
distance. To the west was Moosehead
lake, with its shore line of over five
hundred miles, thickly dotted with islands,
and with the mountain range beyond
mirrored in its waters.
Picking up my rifle fired, to the east,
down into the lake upon which my camp
was pitched After slowly counting ten
saw the ripple made by the bullet and a
few seconds afterwards heard the sound
of the splash, so pure and clear was the
atmosphere. The distance on bee line
must have been near mile. have every
reason to believe that | was the first one
who ever climbed this peak. carved my
name upon the trunk of the tallest tree
and trust that when this country is accu.
rately surveyed and all its peaks and
waters named, my own name will be
honored upon the map.
''But how about those trout?" | hear
some of you inquire. If you think have
not become well acquainted with them
you are greatly mistaken, for have with
me an Orvis rod, and, although it has
been compared with other makes, none
can equal it. / have not unjointed it
since struck this camp, and although l
left behind my landing net and have taken
the past week, without stretching it,
as many speckled beauties as I could
lift, often two at cast, the tip remains as
straight as an arrow. My reel, also is an
Orvis and is especially admired in spite of
the multipliers everyone else possesses.
My first afternoon here, after pitching
camp, we stepped into the canoe and
padded out toward the head of the lake.
On account of the shadow of the high
peak to the west we could begin work
early. Selecting spot free from lily
.pads we throw out anchor and l arrange
my tackle. For a stretcher | put on a
brown Hakele, follow with Montreal,
then Doctor and use for a drop asearlet
Ibis. The first throw there is no rise, it is
too near The next, there is a good jump
but / let it alone, it is too small, not over
half a pound. | let out a good twenty
five feet and cast near a bunch of lily
pads. The flies lie awhile motionless,
then begin to draw them in. When the
Ibis rises three or four inches, the water
two feet to the right parts, an old
"pouuder" darts from the cover of the
pads and shakes himself with rage, a
good eighteen inches in the air, because
he missed the gaudy fly, then drops to the
surface, four feet from where he left
the water. Two or three more casts and
again he makes the attempt, yet none but
the scarlet Ibis will suit him, and that
too after it has left the water. The fish
are so gamey they must take their food
in the air. This time his aim is sure.
All but his tail is visible as his huge jaws
close on the dainty feather. strike even
before he covers himself in the waters
is still, then there is a spectacle worth a
two days journey. Every nerve of his
body is joined to every nerve Of mine
That eight ounce rod bends like slender
reed in whirlwind.
Before l have time to reel in six feet
of line, out again it must go as he starts
for the lily pads. Mad is no name for it
as he finds his course stopped. Now he
is going to see from whence comes all
this. Wheeling about he darts towards
me as though he would spit in my face.
can touch the tip with my hand as he
passes under me, then circles around,
shakes his head on the surface, so that
the water foams like suds and only
acknowledges himself beaten until he is
so weak that he lies flatwise beside the
canoe.
+ And thus the fight goes on until dozen
lie side by side upon the bottom, none
admitted less than three quarters though
none but the larger lakes contain the three
Founders. More would have followed to
be thrown back as useless had there not
been an interruption. "Look over there
says the guide. Out upon the point, so
far out that his whole body is reflected
in the water, stands buck, an interested
spectator of all these proceedings. We
conclude to interview him. 1t is as still
now as Natures hand can make it, not a
breath of air and the water as smooth as
glass, with the sunset fading on the
mountains. So softly that my own ear
cannot catch the sound of the paddle we
steal up. The wind is in our favor. Now