The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-11-10
FISHING OFF MOUNT DESERT.
From Shooting and Fishing.


as our schooner sped through the blue
water-wing and wing-before a brisk,
eight knot west wind. Every stitch of
canvas was aloft and we were nimbly
speeding along, taking advantage of a
very favorable combination of circum-
stances.
What can be more exhilarating than to
feel the spring of a smart sailing vessel
beneath you as she heels in response to
fresher gust than usual, throwing the
water aloft by her plunging bow, the sill
yer spray, caught by the breeze, thrown
back over the deck in cool, shining
shower; Just wind enough to afford all the
possible pleasure of sailing, not enough
to produce the many disagreeable features
of heavy weather? / had the pleasure of
being one of a party of four, two gentle
men of my age, the other a young lad OF
twelve, all enthusiastic fishermen and
lovers of nature in her various phases.
We had sailed out from Belfast that
morning in the latter part of June IN the
fore and aft schooner Bonnie, our destina-
ton the Duck islands, off Mount Desert,
where we hoped to find good bottom fish
ing, this place being a famous ground for
cod, haddock, and bake. This June
morning had dawned clear and bright,
Just sucl a morning as we should have
selected had we been consulted in the
matter.
Since o clock we had been busily en-
gagged getting our baggage and provisions
on board had hurried up ice, grocery
and market men, we'll knowing Captain
Tom uneasiness to get under way and be
off. Nine O clock, however, found every
thing on board, only a half hour later
than We had planned TO start.
Captain Tom commanded and owned
the Bonnie, and he is very fond Of his
vessel; she is as the apple of his eye. The
temperament OF his daily life is regulated
solely and entirely by the condition in
which he finds his vessel. On LAY like
this. with all conditions favorable, Cap
tain Tom is smiling and happy. When it
blows and the distance is shut out by fly
ing scud and fog, OF if we are becalmed
and unable to make harbor as night
comes on, then Captain Tom becomes
austere and silent, the responsibility of
passengers aud ship resting heavily upon
him. But to see him in his own true
nature, contented and happy, his features
wreathed in Smiles and again breaking
ont into roars of laughter at some wit
ticism, his fat sides shaking with mirth,
seated in his comfortable armchair on the
quarter, pipe aglow. huge clouds of blue
smoke circling about his head-to see
him, | say, in this enviable condition his
vessel must be in some snug harbor, Sc
curely anchored and perfectly protected
on every side. The one harbor in this
section which presents this condition is
Bass inner harbor, spot doubly land
locked, and this WIS what Captain Tom
hoped to make before dark, hence ms
uneaslness at our snort out unavoidable
delay
AT last everything was on poalu-hnit-
tlesses, bedding, lshlng lines, marine
glasses, charts, on clothlhg, provisions
and our various packages and baskets.
All hands now tell to and assisted IN get
ting The schooner clear OF the wharf, also
in hosting the SAILS. Everything being
made shlpshape, halyards neatly colled
and sheets trimmed down, we went below
to arrange our belongings III convenient
places. TO avoid the closeness OF the
comparatively small cabin we appropriate
ed the hold. which was clean and fresh,
with ~hlieWashed sides and Hood OF
pure fresh sea ar coming down the hatch
way
When we went on 3eek we We're half
way over the pay making Tor Iulue
i1tdN' WHICH Is tl4e u'i lHtiu eAltilil'E VI
lslesboIo. Ih@c are but few extensive
stretches " water III PtnooScot bay; TINS
Is owing to the nun IIeds Of islands with
winch 1t IS hlled. pom entering the bay
from sea, thirty miles cut, tie course IN
Is through passages between them, the
TWO larger beng known as the eastern
and western passages, until Belfast bay is
reached, When 1t broadens out into a
beautiful sheet OF wafer some ten miles III
diameter, often anG nightly called the
Naples OF New England.
10 the east can be seen me Mount
Desert Hills; south and ives the beautiful
blutf, wooded to its summit, stands bold
ly out into the bay then the Belfast shore,
sloplng gently, dotted with nnnmcfable
summer cottages, the city itself nestled
quietly at the head OF Its hne harbor.
To the north, at the head OF lie bay, Fort
Point guards the mouth OF tile Penooscot
river, the big hotel on the point standing
out distinctly against the clear SKY.
Ahead Castlne-hstonc Caatlne-anclent
fentagoet, nome OF an old French lord,
the baron Castine. Here IL olden times
he held hlgh carnival, surrounded by his
Teunue OF soldiers, hunters, and India IS;
has orlde princess tile flower OF the
"ar-llke Penohseots.
AS we i1e" bT the hight on Dlce's Head
we caught glimpse OF the little village,
Inc helghts above ana round 1t bristhng