MAINE. 



167 



The Penobscot has it* source in the highlands ; the main river, or Great West Branch, is 

 formed by two streams, which unite after a course of 30 miles, and flow over steep falls and 

 rapids into Chesuncook lake ; from this place the river passes over a succession of falls and 

 rapids, and through several small lakes southeasterly to Nicketou or the Grand Forks, where it 

 unites with the main E. branch. The E. branch rises in the rear of Katahdin, and flows 

 nearly south to the junction ; its current is rapid, but less obstructed by falls than the W. 

 branch. From Nicketou the Penobscot flows S. E. 12 miles, where it receives the Mada- 

 wamkeag, its principal N. E. branch ; thence S. W. 25 miles to the mouth of the Piscataquis ; 

 thence S. 20 miles to Oldtovvn falls, at the ancient Indian village of that name ; in this distance 

 it embraces more than 100 islands. From Oldtown is a succession of fall and rapids 12 miles 

 to the head of navigation at Bangor, whence it is navigable for large vessels to the sea, 50 

 miles. Besides the branches already mentioned, it has many others navigable by rafts, and 

 abounding in mill sites. The central position of the Penobscot, the facihty of communication 

 between it and the waters of the St. .John, the Kennebec, and the St. Croix, and the valuable 

 character of the country on its borders, render it of great importance to the State. 



The St. John gathers up all the waters of the northern part of the State, receiving from the 

 water-shed between Maine and Canada, the St. Francis and the Madawaska, and from the 

 south the Allagash and the Aroostook. The Walloostook is the head stream of the St. John, 

 and flows to the N. E. The St. Croix or Schoodic forms a part of the E. boundary, and is 

 little navigable except by rafts ; most of it consists of a chain of small lakes. From Calais to 

 the sea, 30 miles, its navigation is unobstructed. 



5. Lakes. Jlloosehead lake, the largest in New England, is the source of the E. branch of 

 the Kennebec, and is 50 miles long and 10 or 15 broad. Umbagog lake is partly in N. Hamp- 

 shire, but mostly in this State ; it is 15 miles long, and 10 broad. Chesuncook lake is 20 miles 

 long and 3 broad. Sebago pond, near Portland, is 12 miles in length. The Schoodic and 

 Grand lakes in the east, and the Moosetogmaguntic in the west, are large lakes. There are 

 also a vast number of other small lakes. 



6. Islands. Most of the coast is thickly strewn with islands. The largest is J]Iount Daert^ 

 on the W. side of Frenchman's Bay ; it is 15 miles long and 12 broad. Many line islands he 

 in Penobscot Bay, as Long Island^ on which is the town of Islesborough ; the Fox Islands 

 containing the town of Vinalhaven ; and Deer Isle, on the E. side of the bay, about 8 miles 

 from Castine. 



7. Marine Waters. This State has many spacious bays and fine harbors. Penobscot Bay 

 is the largest of these ; it forms the estuary of the river of that name, and is 30 miles in ex- 

 tent from N. to S. Its width from the Isle of Holt to Owl's Head is 18 miles ; it affords 

 great faciUties for navigation, and presents a variety of beautiful landscapes. Casco Bay., be- 

 tween Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small Point, extends 20 miles, and embosoms more than 300 

 islands, most of which are under cultivation. Portland Harbor is on the W. side of this bay. 

 Passamaquoddy Bay., forming a part of the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, is 

 6 miles in length, and 12 wide ; it contains many islands, and receives the St. Croix river. 

 Small harbors are numerous, and the shores are rocky and bold. 



8. Climate. The winters are severe. In the interior, and even within 10 miles of the sea 

 coast the ground is usually covered with snow three or four months in the year, and in the 

 forests of the central parts nearly 5 months. In the mountainous regions the snow is often 5 

 feet deep. Towards the sea it is frequently broken up by rains and thaws, which render trav- 

 eling very difficult ; but in the forests the steady continuance of the snow enables the woodman 

 to fell and transport to the rivers in sledges, immense quantities of timber. Along the seacoast 

 the winters are irregular, and wherever the country is cleared, a corresponding improvement in 

 the climate is generally observable. The summers are hot, but not sufficiently long to be al- 

 together favorable to the cultivation of maize. In most parts of Maine, however, the vegeta- 

 ble productions of the Northern States thrive, though early frosts sometimes do great damage 

 to the crops. The extreme season of vegetation is comprised between the 21st of April and 

 the 16th of October ; the season of vigorous and uninterrupted vegetation is from June 3d to 

 September 12th. The air is pure and healthy, although during the spring and early part of 

 summer, the thick fogs in the eastern parts are very disagreeable ; the northeasterly winds which 

 are prevalent during this season, constitute one of the worst features of the climate. The 

 spring is commonly rainy, and the winters tempestuous ; but during summer, the air is serene. 

 The coldest wind is that from the N. W., the uncommon keenness of which is indeed well 

 known over all New England 



