252 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



the reason. Visions of mill dams, without fish- ways, and 

 tons of sawdust floating in islands, hovered before me, 

 and, probably, whispered a true cause of the destruction 

 of the thousands of fish which doubtlessly swarmed 

 here before genus homo, with his devices and march of 

 improvement, had defiled these formerly pure, pellucid 

 brooks. Bethel, where you leave the train, will be 

 found a model village, which, for cleanliness and neat- 

 ness, it would be impossible to surpass. As you pro- 

 gress along the principal thoroughfare, the pretty 

 dwellings, overshadowed by handsome shade trees, re- 

 mind you of some of Longfellow's beau ideal New 

 England homes. The hotel, also, is very comfortable, 

 and Mr. Lovejoy, the proprietor, can give good in- 

 formation and instruction as to your future proceed- 

 ings. He also will supply you with a conveyance to 

 take you to Upton, distant about twenty-seven miles, 

 over a road far from good ; but if the weather be 

 fine, you will be so delighted with the beautiful 

 panoramas of wild and magnificent scenery that time 

 will slip by rapidly, and ruts and jolts will be totally 

 forgotten. For the first five or six miles of your drive 

 you pass along the margin of the grand Androscogan 

 River, exhibiting a succession of pools and rapids, so 

 eminently suited for retreats for salmon, that you 

 cannot fail to regret that these n.oble fish are debarred 



