The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-19
A Three Day Trip With Canoe
and Camera

and Camera
Early one morning last September.
New York physician and the writer
loaded canoe for a three day trip.
The usual amount of dunnage had
been collected the day before, and
the start was made soon after break
fast; the wife and young son of the
doctor were left in Mrs. Maynard s
care.
We padded and poled our canoe up
the rapids two and one-half miles to
Brassua Lake; this shallow body of
water is six miles long and one mile
wide; and Brassua Lake combines the
beauties and grandeur of several of
our best lakes In Maine. Wide sandy
beaches skirt its shores. rocky cliffs
protect safe harbors, where ideal
camping grounds with sparkling
springs nearby, are found.
Bald and Kineo Mountains can be
seen from the outlet, and up from the
shore on the South side, rises Blue
Ridge.
/ The salmon in their leaps from the
water, were the only thing that dis
LuTDeu us Didclu surface.
We padded up the lake to Bear
Logan, where we stopped for lunch
Our eyes were attracted, when hall
through our repast, to reddish
"bush'' on the shore about rs yards
away which later proved to be a
young fawn, watching us with curious
eyes; we snapped a picture of it. but
the distance was great and it did not
show up plainly.
Upon entering Brassua Stream
near the mouth, we were fortunate in
securing several pictures of musk
| rats, both in the water and on land
Further up the stream we soon began
to see beaver cutting. The banks
were lined with their favorite food
the poplar. Their work is almost
human. 1t is wonderful, the large
trees they will gnaw through. cut
them up in lengths and sink to the
bottom of the river. We found one
that measured Is inches across the
! stump. They had been busy pre-
pairing for the long cold winter ahead
of them, and when the ice covers the
streams, Mr.. Beaver enjoys his daily
meal. We saw several beaver, but
did not obtain a picture Of them. as
they work mostly at night and are
hard to approach in the day time.
Camp was made for the night at
Poplar Rips, below the first small
pond. After good nights rest on
beds made of balsam, and breakfast
of coffee, Johnny-cake. eggs and crisp
hon loft oil "
the canoe and a lunch, for the trip
up the stream. The green canoe man
gets lot of experience going up
winding Brassua Stream, with its
sandy shadows, lodges and little falls,
and about the best way to do it, is to
don rubber boots and wade where the
water is low. We had wonderful
day, secured several fine pictures of
deer, scenery, waterfalls and old
lumber camps
The next morning we pulled up
stakes, padded down the stream and
across the head of Brassue Lake to the
mouth of upper Moose River, where
it enters into the Lake. Soon after
entering the river, about 20 ducks
came out of the grass and slid into the
water and started swimming up
stream. We expected them to rise
at any moment, but we soon saw that
they were too young. We at once
gave chase; we padded with all our
strength, the ducks ahead of us churn-
ing up the water in great shape, max
ing noise like a cataract. The
doctor took some pictures of them.
mi
on the water, and then dive and we
would see him no more. This happen
cd until there was not duck in sight.
Four miles up, we came to Little
Brassua, widening of the river of
about one-half mile in length, and full
of small islands. We made camp on
the right hand bank near the rapids.
After camp was made, we went across
to the big spring on the opposite shore
and there surprised blue heron,
which was snapped at short range.
The murmur of quick water and the
boot of the owl lulled us to sleep that
night.
Eight o'clock next morning found
us on the way home, and in two hours
VIC were shooting the rapids of Moose
River: twenty minutes after entering
lower Moose river we were. at the
float at THE FRS, where we were
both welcomed by our wives.
Our trip was In every way a sue
ccssful one; we had good weather and
a good time. Secured some good
pictures, and we both felt that
Our feat was triumph,
How MANY have done the gama2
We did not blast the spark of life
To ashes with powder flame.
All life was as we found 1t,
The muskrat and the bucks;
The blue heron and the beaver,
And the twenty little ducks.
WALTER III. MAYNARD