Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-04-02
THE WO0DSMEN.
THOSE WHO LIVE DEEP IN
NAMES WILDERNESS.
OTHERS BESIDE LUMBERMEN-GUM-
PfcKERs, HOOP POLE MEN, SHIP
KNEE MEN AND TRAPPERs.

oaly people who have poked around
ap there more or less, realize how many
PERSONS mske living out Of the Maine
woods. This reference Is not to the lum-
bcrmen aud the pulp stuff choppers.
Their presence In the woods Is matter OF
course. This is a word about the army OF
are the cleaners who follow the red
shifted reapers whose harvest Is the giants
Of the forest.
The "side issues" OF the Maine woods
feed many mouths And speaking OF
mouths, thete are, OF course, the gum
pickers. Some people have an idea that
spruce gum is gathered in the forest by
the Iumbermen at odd jobs. 1t may be
remarked In passing that from 30
o'clock In the morning until dark, the
Maine loggers have something else to do.
They haven't any hankering to climb
trees.
Practically all the spruce gum of com
msfce is CAT hesed by men who make 1t
their business and work at IL as steadily
asa man in factory. You will find the
snowshoe trail of these busy chaps zig
tagging through painless stretches, and
hyou happen 10 be up that way you will
see their esmpnres glowing deep In many
lonely glen. But few people behold
them al their work. The constant supply
Of gam in store windows shows that they
keep busy, however.
There is more or less excitement about
sum.pieking. The standard price for
gum Is q pound, and a fancy article OF
clear nuggets brings 81 so. Some days
when lucky strikes are frequent the gum
picker can clear from IS TO SO. The gum
picker can sell even the scraps aud chip
pings. The patent spruce sum" maker
oolls those down. Several medicine firms
also make spruce gum cough balsam.
Maine gum pickers usually travel In
pairs. Some go on their own hook hers
arc employed by wholesale druggists.
Usually they range over wide territory,
Sleeping here and there In the deserted
loseing camps that sprinkle Northern
Maine. few fresh boughs OF "browse"
10 The hunks and some strips OF bark over
Tue haoitabie corner OF the camp make
'ae place comfortable home.
q city man happens to be ordered
INTO the woods by his physician he would
W well to take up gum picking for his
pAsiime, even II he does not care for the
money. There is just enough activity
aoout II to keep a mans mind clear and
ns muscles healthy. 1t takes him abroad
sa'oogh the crisp winter air, and gives
A''h An excuse for "hucking it."
THE PICKER AT WORK.
a gum-pieker's equipment comprises
A"m clothing. snowshoes, elm bers such
s.e'egraph linemen use, curved chisei
A'ne handle OF which pole may be set
.s0oa iaekkniie and gun. These are ne
Nessities. And aimost a necessity is
80 supply Of plug tobacco, for II you
~ imagine a gum picker sitting down
evening by the camp hre and clean
MS days pick of gum without clouds
~oke about his head, your imsgina-
p'etnres very cheerless scene.
.nsfe Is a special thing about gum
sns-the daily expenses are small.
men cannot register at hotels or
'0"'1e saloons. IL Is either a deserted
OF the lee side OF a tree at night.
they are obliged to "tote" their
'sno'd supplies on a moose sled, they
"sgai In their diet. With plenty Of
A'ew bushels OF beans, -four and mo-
Ls gam-pickes Il fixed nicely for q
.ao cold winter. Tie figures that 1t
nm about fifty cents a week, and If
sandy with his gun, he reduces ex-
'.oses materially.
49, ssa'ae II IL rather iouely sometimes
oeep woods. But there Is a pretty
~ noe 10 he picture the gum picker
- lie rolls on his bunk in the
'as, bis nostriIs fun of the good
n.,,.. ss'or Of the spruce boughs that
49,. beneath his head all night long.
~. bis bacon, warns his beans and
80. - biz steaming tin OF tea. Then be
s.''a'eiy smoke before the sputter-
~, s-ss's Of the IRE, gets his kit on his
49, 1e Ms gum bag under his arm, ties
49, ,e.. q biscuit ana gingerbread in his
esfehief, strains ON MS anowshoes