The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-05-01
Annals of Belfast tor Half a
Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby.)
CHAPTER v. (1S05-6.)

of forest and stream by those who were
old enough to WELD fowling- piece and
fishing-rod in the years with which we
are now dealing, and the years that fol
lowed them. Ducks, pigeons, partridges,
wild fowl of various species, were abund-
ant on the shores of the river and bay,
and in the forest; the streams every
where were alive with speckled beauties.
The more adventurous hunter brought
down his deer, and now and then Wild
cat, within short distance of the VII
lage; and the trapper found ample use
for his traps in the capture OF otter,
beaver, mink, musquash, rabbits and
woodchuck in whatever direction he
roamed Musquash, cleaned and laid on
a stump for three or tour days in the
blaze of summers sun, although rather
strong for an unsophisticated stomach,
was regarded a delicious tit-bit by the
hereditary trapper.
The writer remembers that as late as
1916 five minutes walk from his
fathers back-door carried him so far
into the forest that a plenty of game
was visible, but not a building in the
village was within sight. So late as
1919 party of anglers could pass very
pleasant day on the margin of Wilson's
stream, filling their baskets with trout,
50 remote from civilization that they
had no apprehension that any one would
interfere to mar the fest ivities of the
occasion"
A row of fifteen minutes from the
mouth of Little River brought the fish
ermen onto good ground for cod and had
dock. Salmon were plenty at SIX cents
per pound, shad six cents each, halibut
at one cent per pound, haddock from
two to five cents each, and alewives W ere
SO abundant and cheap that they were
hardly regarded worth taking into ac-
count HOLSTERS not the miniature
specimens now hawked about our streets
but of heroic dimensions, scrambled
over our shores; and clans - Belfast
-immortalized in the doggerel so
often repeated:
"Northport for beauty,
Camden for pride.
Had it not been for clans
Belfast would have died"
were so large, luscious, juicy, that the
mere mention of them brings sparkle
to the eye and a muscular CULVER to the
lip of the old settler who was then old
enough to dig for himself; the second
quality then were superior to the first
now so famous; in fact, they were ''bet-
ter nor Gilson's." Oysters were plant
ed on the eastern side Of the river, but
the contrast in size and flavor between
them and the clans was SO apparent that
they died of modification. There was
another side, however, to this picture,
so full of beauty to the lover of good
cheer; there were few chickens and tur
keys; there were no smelts; or if there
We're, the angler had not smelt them out.
The following Price Current, compiled
from the day books Of traders in the viii
lage, may not be uninteresting. The
prices, it must be remembered, are those
charged at retail for merchandise de-
livered over the counter. The charges
We're made in pounds, shillings and
pence; reduced to Federal currency they
are as follows: Flour, per bbl., $500;
Rye, per bushel, SLIT; White Beans,
1.34; Salt, 81. so, Corn, S1.08; Coffee per
h., AZ cts; Sugar 20; Tea. Bohea, 50,
Souchong, 80. Hyson, $l.68 to 81. 90;
Cheese, II IL; Lamb and Mutton, IA;
Salt fish, 6; Sal Mackerel, Il; Salt
Pork, 20; Molasses per gall, CT to IS; N.
E. Rum, rs; w |. Rum, SIPS to S1.50;
Brandy, $3.50; Gin, $3.50; Cider, 80;
Tobacco per h., so; Candles, 25; Eggs
per doz., II 1-2; Cordwood delivered at
the wharf brought 81. 90 per cord; it sold
in Boston from $500 to $500 per cord.
Butter, beef, potatoes, meal, seem not
to have been commodities dealt in by the
traders of those days; unless they are
embraced in the charges very frequently
found of glasses, gils, half-pints, &c.
The leading traders in the place were
John Angler. father of Mr.. Cakes
Angler, Edmund Brown and Simon D.
Mcdonald, father Of Mr.. George Melon
aid, James Cassin, Reuben Derby, James
Nesmith, Benjamin Palmer, father of
Charles Palmer, ESQ.,, and Francis An
derson, uncle of Ex-Gov. Anderson;
Brown, Cassin and Derby did not remain
here long; Derby was succeeded by his
brother Andrew, who will be remember
ed by many now living.
The lawyers were Bohan P. Field, who
came in 1901. William Crosby in 1902,
and John Wilson ir 1903. The Physicians
were John S. Osborn, who came prior to
1875, Chauncey G. Chandler and Thad-
deus Hubbard, who came after the be-
ginning of the present century. The
Blacksmiths were Jonathan Quimby,
father of Mr.. VIM. Quimby, Ansel 10th
rop, father of Mr.. Thomas W. Lothrop,
John Moore, and on the eastern side of
the river, Walter Hatch. Housewrights,
John Haraden, father of Mr.. Daniel
aarautan. Thomas Bartlett, Benjamin
Joy, Reuben Klinball and George W.