Evening star., 1903-07-02
NAMES OF MAINE ISLANDS.
Many of Them Come From Physical
characteristics.

Bangor Correspondence New York Tribune.
Summer visitors to Maine often marvel at
the peculiar names Of the islands that are
scattered along the coast, and are curious
as to the origin and meaning Of many OF
the appelations. While seemingly strange,
these names are in nearly every instance
altogether appropriate and often graphical
ly descriptive.
Rutherfords Island was named for the
first minister who established parish IN
Bristol, and to whom the town gave the is
land in payment Of arrears in salary.
Heron Island was, until recent years, the
home of vast numbers of these BIRDS which
came annually and made their nests in the
tall pines and spruces along the shores.
Ram Island was once the home of fight
ing buck, which disputed the right Of any
one to land there. Fish Hawk Island was
once the favorite resting place of those
keen-eyed foragers of the sea.
Devils Limb, Devils Rock and Devils
Elbow are SO named because of evil char
acteristtcs or suggestive formations. Hog
Island was once inhabited by many swine,
which ran wild and lived on mice ana
snakes which were then plentiful there.
Mouse Island was infested by countless
numbers Of these little rodents-a wood
species. origin unknown, found on Islands
lying far off the coast. This species OF
III.
Squirrel Island was once the summer home
of large colony of gray squirrels which
annually, in June, came down from the In
land woods to the seacoast, just as human
beings now do. Red squirrels are found on
most Of the islands, and are a great bother
to visitors, as they prefer to build their
nests in cottages rather than in trees.
Haddock Island was SO named because of
great catches of haddock in the surround
ing waters The Old Man and The Old
Woman were named by fishermen who fan
cied that in these two rocky islets they
saw a resemblance to an aged couple in
loving companionship Harpoon Island is
80 called from the fact that an ancient
harpoon was once unearthed on its shore.
k1lllckstone Island gets its name from the
fact that its beach is strewn with stones
of the right weight and shape for fisher
mems anchors. Hungry Island is a very
barren place, and Gull Island was the nest
ing place of great focks of beautiful sea-
gulls. The gulls were killed in thousands,
and their eggs gathered for food until the
United States government put stop to 1t.
High Island is very lofty: Cow Island was
formerly used as a pasturing place, the
land in scows; Thief Island is SO called be-
cause a famous robber was captured there
Various derivations are given for the
name of Monhegan, but the coast people
are satisfied that it comes from the OBJ
servatton of an Indian chief who, upon
finding that some early voyagers who had
landed upon the island had left exclaimed
'Man-he-gone!' The Bush Island got its
name from two bushes that for many years
were distinctly visible from the sea: Old
Hump from its resemblance to a hump
back whale; The Hypocrites from their de-
ceiving lodges: Hatchet Island from a stone
ak found there; Fort Island from a re-
doubt that was built there by white set
Island from a rocky formation upon its
shore resembling the gangway Of ship