298 With Rod and Gun in New England 



the shores of the lakes, and the establishment of numerous steamers upon 

 all the principal waters, are not particularly welcome. These men belong 

 to the " old school " of sportsmen who delight in the vigorous exercise that 

 is obtained with the oars or on long extended and arduous tramps, and 

 enjoy all the hardships and rough experiences that may be had. 



To them the bark camp or tent pitched in the wilderness, the fragrant 

 bed of hemlock and balsam boughs, the camp fire and the primitive modes 

 of cooking are joys of inexpressible sweetness ; pleasures that they fondly 

 anticipate until they are realized, and are remembered with intense delight 

 after they have been tasted. 



But there has sprung up another class who, not having been educated 

 in the rough school, like to take their outings as comfortably as possible. 

 To meet their wants, innumerable camps or sportsmen's hotels have been 

 built in various sections, steam launches traverse the lakes and rivers in 

 all directions, and new railroads and extensions of old ones have been 

 carried into the very heart of the wilderness. 



Some idea of the improved facilities of transportation that are now 

 available upon these waters may be had when it is stated that there are 

 now over one hundred and forty boats upon the inland lakes of the State 

 propelled by steam, and licensed by the steamboat inspectors, and in 

 addition to these are a great many others propelled by oil, naphtha and 

 sails, all of which are run and maintained solely for the accommodation 

 of sportsmen. This large business interest has grown up within the 

 memory of men who are not yet considered old, and it plainly demonstrates 

 the great increase in the interest in field sports of the higher class that is 

 now felt. 



The new railroad, the Franklin & Megantic, which is reached by the 

 Maine Central from Portland to Farmington, at which place it connects 

 with the Sandy River road to Strong, where the F. & M. road begins, has 

 brought into easy access a section of country known as the " Dead river 

 region," which was, before the construction of the road, pretty difficult of 

 approach. This railroad terminates at Carrabasset station, from which a 

 stage conveys the traveler to Eustis, the central point of one of the most 

 interesting sections to sportsmen in Maine. 



While the trout in this region do not attain the enormous size of the 

 fish that are taken in the Rangeley lakes, they are in many localities very 

 numerous, and good-sized ones are often captured. 



For the hunter the various localities that are reached from Eustis are 

 exceedingly valuable, the number of large game annually killed among 

 them being very great. A number of roads and trails from Eustis lead 

 to the various camps or hotels which are each located at some especially 

 desirable point. 



Among these the King and Bartlett lake camps, sixteen miles from 



