The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-19

Nv ping the southland, vaca-
tionists feel the appeal of
northern climes. Each section of
the country has it's cool spot. Many
easterners are lured to Maine,
which is noted not only for its in
vigorating summer climate but also
for it's historic background.
The name of Maine may or may
not be French; it certainly is not
Indian, like Massachusetts, or Con-
necticut. Of the sixteen counties,
five recall the mother country, be-
ing named for English shires; five
others honor American persOnageS
of the colonial or revolutionary pc
riods, and the remaining six retain
the Indian names Of the rivers with
in their borders.
AS for the other names which
have received specific legislative
sanction for something over 400
cities, towns, and townships, the
larger part are simply descriptive,
New England states. Of the rest,
so far as the origin of their names
is known, 66 bear Old world names,
so that in that delightful tale by
Laura E. Richards, "Narcissa, or
the Road to Rome" the roadside
signpost might have pointed to vi
emma, Belgrade, or even China, and
kept within the jurisdiction of the
county of Kennebec.
Proprietors and first settlers are
known to have given their names
to 5S towns; governors, generals,
and Presidents to 16, II, and 6
towns, respectively; while Indian
names, which so plainly tell their
own origin, number only %.
An interesting touch of idealism
was the selection of such distinctive
town names as Harmony, Amity,
and Hope; Freedom, Liberty, and
Unity. these last three being neigh
bOrs in Waldo county.
From the beginning the economic
life Of Maine was founded on fish,
fur, and forest. These three fur
niShed powerful incentives for ex-
plOratiOn and the chief rewards for
settlement.
The fisheries of the Gulf of Maine
were even an issue between king
and parliament early in the Seven
teenth century, when the English
fishermen won their fight for free
fishing along the Maine coast.
Fisheries a Major Industry.
So it came that the earliest sites
of permanent settlements were
chosen not for mildness of climate,
but by reason of proximity to the
cold waters where dwelt the fish
that could be converted into a
profitable export, without license
fee being paid to any patentees Of
the crown.
The fisheries continue a major
industry. The value of the states
fishing products as marketed ap-
proxlmates six million dollars, the
two largest items being the plebe-
ian herring and the aristocratic lob
ster.
Along with the ancient business
of fishing a place must be given to
the popular sport of angling, for
which Maine offers unsurpassed in
ducements, in the lakes and streams
and also off-shore.
The state maintains 36 fish hatch
cries and rearing stations, and from
these last year went 100000
trout, togue, and salmon for stock
ing the brooks, streams, and lakes.
Nearly half of these planted" fish
were above legal size, and 10000
weighed from three to six pounds
each.
The policy of protecting wild life
is enforced by corps of 100 game
wardens, who seek to be big broth
ers to the youth of the state in
training them to be good sports
men. In the severe winter of 1884
ali nCLC uoCu ~ lONolC bCCl
yards and then cedar trees were
cut to feed the starving deer con-
fined there by the deep snow.
Moose are far from being ex-
tinct. They can be shot only with
a camera but deer continue plenti-
full, 1898 having been killed le-
gally in 1888. More bears are killed
in Maine than in any three other
states. Grouse, wOodcOck. and
ducks complete the game offering.
The Early Explorers.
AS early as 1905 Capt. George
Weymouth and his companions on
the Archangel-many of them
world travellers for that day-were
deeply stirred by their first views
of a Maine river which the cap
tain named st. Georges (nOw st.
George.
An exploratory trip inland "to-
ward the great mountains" the
Camden hills, convinced them of
the beauty and goodness" of the
land, as recorded by Roster in his
True Relation of that most pros
porous voyage" And the author