The Republican journal., 1903-05-21
KETTLE BOTTOM FISHING GROUNDS.
Peculiar tcgnomen> of Places on the Maine
Coast.

Peculiar tcsnomen> of Places on the Maine
Coast.
In one of the local papers last week
there appeared clipping from the
Damariscotta Herald giving tile names
of many of the islands along the coast
of Maine and the peculiar manner IN
which the names were bestowed upon
them. These names cover almost every
article of household furniture, AS We'll
as gear pertaining to small vessels; ana
the animal kingdom, too, figures con-
SpicuouSly among the list or names.
Thus our beautiful Diamond islands
were not so long ago called Hog islands
because they were once inhabited by
thrifty herd of these animals which ran
wild and lived upon the snakes, rats
and mice which We're years ago plentl-
full upon these islands. Mouse island
was once infected by these rodents,
while Squirrel island WAS at one time
the home of d large colony of gray
squirrels Monhegan, it is said, was
named from the exclamation of the lp-
dian chief who, on landing there and
finding the place deserted by the whites
said, MAN he gone" Haddock island,
Harpoon island Hungry island, Hen
cackle, the WashbowI, Iurnip island,
Needles Eye, Thrum Cap, Thread of
Life, Bull Dog, Niger, Skunk's Mis-
cry, Fisherman's island, the Hypocrltes,
Hatchet island, Indian island and many
Others have peculiar stories associated
with them which are humorous and in
teresting. However, of all the quaint
and curious stories there are none for
which we have more actual proof than
the naming of Kettle Bottom, the fish
ing grounds SO well known to every
freQuenter Of the water front, as we'll
as to the fishermen of Maine.
There are still many of our citizens
who remember the arrival OF the hist
English steamer, the Sarah Sands, and
of other important events along the
water 'front.' before the war OF the
Rebellion, and there still live in Port
land many men of advanced years who
recall the famous cruise of the fishing
schooner "Sand Ely
vt that time the fitting out OF fishing
vessels was by no means so elaborate
an affair as today, for canned goods
were high and scarce and were seldom
taken on cruise. The following story
told by Mr. Charles a. Dyer OF this
city who has an experience OF many
wears around the wharves and who, al
enough 1ol oeNCIdl years III oi'o "No''
where he has large mining interests,
never outgrew his love of the City by
the Sea" or the faculty of telling the
funny stories of the days before the
war.
The Sand Fly fitted out for short
trip off Portland, the captain sending
the cook up to order the stores for the
voyage, giving him S. with which to
purchase food for the party. When
the cook returned with twenty-five
cents worth of hard bread and 81. IS
worth of New Medford rum there was
no fault with the stores. the captain
merely asking the cook what under
t&!e light of the canopy he was going
TO do Wyith so much hard bread?'
As all. fishermen well know hake will
always take the hook at night better
than in the Giaytime, so at a late hour
the sand Fly sailed for the fishing
ground. In those clays hand lines We're
used. the men fishing from the deck OF
the vessel. The crew of the Sand Fly
consisted of four, the captain, cook and
TWO fishermen and by the time they
arrived at the fishing grounds the llq%ld
stores which the cook had provided
We're about half gone.
Having after many struggles gotten
the anchor down they proceeded to cast
their lines over The captain occupied
the point of vantage, the stern OF the
vessel and having seated himself III the
most comfortable of positions he balted
his hook, got his line down and after a
few minutes, during which he devoted
himself to the liquid refreshments. he
gradually dosed off into Il land of rest
where neither the biting of the fish or
tie iOllity OF his comrades worried him.
For some reason the fish did not take
the hook and after fishing for nearly an
hour without success the cook thought
he would try to change his luck.
He went to the cabin. took the tea
kettle from the stove, hauled up the
captains line. tied the teakettle on the
hook and let it go to the bottom. Now
the captain was stammerer and when
few moments later lie was aroused
by a strong jerk on the line, the ex-
element and the refreshments com
bined to make his language decidedly
peculiar and raised a roar of laughter
as III his unsteady, Stammerlng voice,
he sung out: ''Hic-hic-k er-krr-k er kums
heavy. Gr-gr-gr guess | got hallbut.
tfr-grgr get a gr-gr-gr gait ready to ha-
ha-ha haul him in
Imagine his surprise on getting III his
line to find thereon the teakettle fill
ed with water SO great was his dis
appointment that more refreshments
We're necessary to drown his sorrow.
However, the kettle changed their luck,
and they arrived in Portland the next
day, out of stores, but with a good
haul" of haddock and hake, which,
We're quickly disposed of. and to this
day these grounds have been noted for
the number of fish obtained there and
have ever since been called ''kettle
Bottom Fishing Grounds. Portland
Sunday Telegram.