The Portland daily press., 1894-12-12
UNCLE TIM DYER GONE.
An Old Fisherman Who Followed HIS
Occupation at 80 Years.

Every Maine fisherman has heafo VI
"Uncle'' Tim Dyer, and will regret to learn
that The ancient fisherman is dead. he was
for many years a notable figure in his way
and gained wide reputation as hsher-
man.
He was 92 at the time of his DEATH put
was able n woIt, at almost TO the last, and
thought nothing, long after ne was ninety,
of taking long walk of many miles, Vi VI
going outside and working Tor an ehdre
day. 1t was after he was ninetS-ohe tha'
he captured, alone. monster nahou'
Weighing 1872 pounds. Uncle i I'm anu MS
big fish photographed together maze unique
picture, and the old man sold hrst ana las'
a good many of them. tie was very PROUD
of his capture of that fish. Whleh ne modest
" said was 'fglory enough for any man,
and treasured the numerous newspaper
notices he received at the time.
His success as a hand line fisherman was
something remarkable, and at times other
fishermen tried to follow him to the spot
where he found his fish. They believed that
he knew of some place where the fish could
always be found. but if SO he kept his secret
wall. and no one ever ttrailed'' him. When
he had reason to think he was being
watched, the ancient, but cunning fisher
man rowed around, but did not throw in a
line. On such occasions he made sort OF
holiday of it, and when he rowed in, would
sometimes hint that he was too old fish to
be caught.
But when he was rot watched, or when
he stole off alone, then Uncle Tim returned
with full catch, and demonstrated anew
that he was in the secret of the gathering
Mace of the largest and best fish taken on
the coast.
Timothy Dyer WAS an uncommon man in
many respects. To the last he was tall and
straight, his thick hair, sharp bright eyes,
and general brisknessrof appearance, lead
ing people to doubt if he could have seen
ninety-two years. 1t was only at the last
that he showed signs of failing, and then
he was clearly breaking up of old age. lie
had no organic trouble, and his mind was
bright to the last.
He was a lover of home, and never went
as far away even as this city. To the last
he was independent, and lived through the
winter of 1884 with his aged wife in their
little house near Vinalhaven. 1t was on
point of land, wind swept, but giving, as
Uncle Tim said; good view of the sea.
There he lived, content to LABOR without
change, and there, and on one of the other
islands, even more remote from others, and
still more dreary in the winter, he lived out
his life.
Uncle Tim was no farmer. 1t was said of
him last year that it was doubtful it he ever
planted garden in his life. He was a
great authority ON the subject of fish, fish
ing schooners, and fishermen, and When
Uncle Tim told what he knew about dis
puted point, it was regarded as settled. He
was regarded as being very honest man,
and to the fullest degree had the confidence
of the people of his island home. He was
able to follow his life long business of
taking fish, even during last summer, the
signs that his work was done coming with
the fall. Uncle Tim had looked forward TO
one more winter, and to the best of his
ability had prepared for it. He was, 1t is
believed, the oldest fisherman of Maine.