June 1, 1895.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
445 
THE MEGANTIC CLUB. 
We have received from the Megantie Fish and Game 
Corporation the report for the last fiscal year, which con- 
tains so much of general interest that a generous share of 
it is given here. 
The Megantie is the largest and best known of such as- 
sociations in the Eastern States. It had its origin with 
Dr. Heher Bishop, of Boston, whose personal exploration 
of the territory showed him the peculiar advantages it 
offered for club preserve purposes. The membership has 
grown constantly, new territory has been added from 
time to time, until the area now controlled comprises 250 
square miles of land and water. 
The affairs of the club are reported upon in the club 
book: 
The Megantie Fish and Game Corporation was organ- 
ized in Boston in January, 1887, being incorporated under 
the laws of the State of Maine Feb. 15, 1887, and obtain- 
ing a charter from the Province of Quebec on March 26, 
1887. 
The club owns and leases a territory comprising 250 
square miles, and containing three lakes, twenty ponds, 
six rivers, eight streams and brooks, and eight bogs. 
Besides its club house it has twenty-nine camps and a 
fish hatchery. 
The territory controlled is an unbroken wilderness, 
3,000 feet above the sea, lying'i i* 1 northwestern cor- 
ner of the State of Maine and extending over the border 
into Canada. In this domain are found moose, caribou, 
deer, bears., and all kinds of smaller game. Partridge 
are very plenty, and all kinds of water fowl infest the 
lakes and ponds. 
The waters abound in trout and bass, and landlocked 
salmon have been successfully introduced for several 
years, and the members will soon have this added variety 
of sports. 
The club employs a Main Game "Warden who is also 
General Superintendent of the Preserve, and a Canadian 
Warden who also looks after the club's interest over the 
border. 
Caretakers are employed during the winter to assist 
the wardens, and also prepare wood and ice for the slim- 
mer, and repair camps, boats, etc. 
Membership in the club costs $50 for a share of stock 
and the annual dues (not to exceed $20), which are fixed 
by the Directors. 
Macannamac Lodge. 
Situated on the southern shore of the beautiful Spider 
or Macannamac Lake, in the midst of a tract of land 
three miles long owned by the club, is the Megantie Club 
House, called Macannamac Lodge. Inside we find a cosy 
parlor with beautiful fire-place, piano, etc., a roomy hall 
with another large and artistic fire-place, a bright, tasty 
dining-room, and on the other floors are the bedrooms, 
furnished with hardwood chamber sets, and offering ac- 
commodations few expect to find so far back into the 
woods. The house is also supplied with hot and cold 
water, baths, etc., and suffice it to say that a more charm- 
ing spot for comfort, enjoyment and good table cannot be 
found, and it is little wonder that many members are con- 
tented to spend their entire vacation here. The fishing 
in the lake is very good, especially bass fishing; and the 
Spider River, near at hand, offers every inducement to 
those who wish for an abundance of trout. Deer and 
wildfowl are abundant on this stream and a canoe trip up 
its waters is a delightful recreation. The club has a com- 
modious camp situated on the stream, and variety can 
easily be obtained by taking the trip up the stream to this 
camp and roughing it for a few days. 
Crosby Pond. 
After a few days' rest at the club house the average 
sportsman is anxious to start back on the preserve, and 
with his guide takes the trail (7 miles long) to the nearest 
camp, situated on the shores of Crosby Pond; or, if the 
shorter tramp is desirable, he takes the launch to Three 
Lakes, and then the steamer on Lake Megantic-to Woburn, 
and thence, by buck-board, rides to Cameron's. 
A walk of 1 mile brings one to Arnold Pond, crossing 
which, another tramp of li miles is necessary to reach 
Crosby Camp. The latter route is very easy and usually 
the chosen one for ladies. 
Crosby Pond is about li miles long and 1 mile wide, 
round in shape, with a small island in the center. It is 
an ideal place to camp, and as the club's accommodations 
are excellent it is a popular resort. The fishing is ex- 
tremely good, and trout weighing as high as 51bs. are 
taken. It is also a favorite retreat for deer, which may 
be seen at almost any time around the shore. 
From Crosby trips can easily be made to Upper Hathan 
Bog, i mile distant, Lower Hatban Bog, 1 mile distant, 
and Cranberry Bog. Good fishing is to be had in all of 
these waters and deer are very plenty. 
Arnold Pond. 
One and a half miles from Crosby and within a mile of 
Cameron's is Arnold Pond, lying at the base of Black 
Mountain. It is a very romantic spot, with fish and game 
in abundance, and excellent accommodations at the club 
camp situated on a charming point. 
From Arnold Pond visits can easily be made to Mud 
Pond, a quarter of a mile distant, where trout abound. 
A quarter of a mile further east is Horseshoe Pond, also 
well supplied with trout. One and a quarter miles from 
Horseshoe is Otter Pond. 
After enjoying the pleasures of Crosby and Arnold, an 
easy tramp of two and one-half miles brings one to one of 
the most charming camps on the preserve — Massachusetts 
Bog Camp. Built in the midst of the forest on the banks 
of a noisy brook, it makes one appreciate more than ever 
the vastness of the preserve and the distance from civili- 
zation. A short walk and we are on the shores of Massa- 
chusetts Bog, a long (two miles) and narrow strip of water 
lying at the base of the Boundary Mountains. The fishing 
here cannot be surpassed anywhere, and the low marshy 
shores make an excellent feeding ground for an abundance 
of game. 
Big Northwest Pond. 
Three and a half miles from Massachusetts Bog is a 
beautiful sheet of water called Northwest Pond. The 
club has three camps and a spacious dining-room here, 
all in charge of a steward, and as the fishing is simply 
wonderful, one lingers long at this delightful spot. Mr. 
A. W. Gleason, of New York, has a private camp here. 
Little Northwest Pond, a quarter of a mile, and South 
Boundary Pond, a quarter of a mile distant, are easily 
reached, while Grant Pond, a half a mile distant, is noted 
for its large, gamy trout. 
Bifir Island Pond. 
From Grant Pond it is only one mile to Big Island Pond, 
which is the largest and most beautiful of the Seven 
Ponds, and derives its name from the large island in its 
center. From the club camps, situated at the southeast- 
ern corner, is one of the most beautiful views to be had on 
the preserve. Stretching out before you a distance of 
three miles are its blue ruffled waters, here and there 
broken by some huge ledge, while the forest closely lines 
its rough and rocky shores. In the distance are the Boun- 
dary Mountains, and towering above the camps is Snow 
Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Maine. The club 
has nine camps here, and Dr. Geo. McAleer and J. W. 
Mason have private camps. A man and woman employed 
by the club attend to the welfare of members, and a bet- 
ter place to pass a few weeks cannot be found. The trout 
are plenty, large and gamy, and as the club have planted 
a large number of landlocked salmon, good fishing of this 
kind is expected shortly. 
The club's hatchery is located here, and is extremely 
interesting to those who have never visited one. To those 
fond of mountain climbing, a trip up Snow Mountain is 
well worth while, as the panorama from the top amply 
repays for the fatigue. 
At Big Island Pond the club has recently purchased a 
tract of land one and a quarter miles square, bordering 
on the northern end of the pond, comprising a territory 
of 1,000 acres, and including the whole of Rock Pond, 
and at an early date it is proposed to erect camps here. 
One-third of a mile from Big Island Pond is L Pond, a 
favorite fishing resort, where one is always sure to fill his 
creel. 
From L Pond one can visit Beaver Pond, one and a half 
miles distant, and from Beaver Pond go to Long Pond, a 
quarter of a mile distant, and Little Island Pond, a half a 
mile distant. 
From Big Island Pond to the camps on Long Pond of 
the Chain of Ponds is seven and a half miles by easy trail. 
Chain of Ponds. 
Long Pond at Chain of Ponds is a beautiful sheet of 
water, 3,000 feet above the sea, with the most charming 
mountain scenery. The club camps, seven in number, 
are situated on a small peninsula recently purchased by 
the club, about midway of the pond, and a man and 
woman are employed to attend to the wants of visitors. 
Dr. Heber Bishop, Mr. Geo. A. Gibson, Mr. D. C. Pierce, 
and Mr. A. W. Robinson have private camps here. The 
fishing is excellent, especially early in June, when very 
large trout are taken. 
The Chain of Ponds consists of Round, Long, Upper 
Bag and Lower Pocket ponds, offering a variety of water 
for the fisherman to try, and, as at other places, the game 
is abundant. 
From Chain of Ponds to the club house by trail is ten 
and one-half miles, if one wishes to return that way. 
From Chain of Ponds to Eustis is twelve miles by buck- 
board, but, if one prefers, the trip can be made down the 
Dead River in a canoe, and the latter way is certainly the 
most desirable. To lazily drift down this beautiful stream, 
breathing the perfumed air and feasting the eyes on the 
romantic scenery, and as night draws near to finally reach 
again the borders of civilization, and sleep once more in 
a hotel, is certainly the pleasantest way imaginable to 
end one's sojourn in the woods; and the memories of 
those last glimpses of deer frightened by the canoe's ap- 
proach, or a trout darting to a shady nook or leaping from 
the water, or the wild ducks' rapid flight as you round a 
bend in the tortuous stream, will long remain, and ere 
they are quite forgotten you are again anticipating and 
preparing for another outing in this paradise of sports- 
men. 
As a matter of curiosity, and also to answer a statement 
made at Augusta last spring, that it was wrong in princi- 
ple to charter such organizations as the Megantie Club, 
which was named particularly, pains have been taken to 
find out what the club has done for the section it used as a 
preserve, with this result: Our cash book shows about 
$9,000 paid by the club itself for supplies, wages and labor, 
and our records show over 250 people visited the preserve 
(326 names appearing on our register at the club house), 
more or less of whom paid directly, to men acting as their 
guides, the gross amount of $4,000, showing over $13,000 
spent by the club and its individual members during the 
past season. In the Maine Fish Commissioners' report for 
1894 the estimate of average amount paid by visiting 
sportsmen is $75 each, showing at 300 visitors an amount 
of $23,500. 
The hatchery bids fair to prove a success, and of great 
benefit to us in restocking the waters. While we did not 
obtain as many eggs as we expected, on account of our ig- 
norance of the spawning beds, we did get 30,000, as fol- 
lows: From L Pond 6,000 and from Northwest Pond 
24,000. The eggs have been this winter in the care of 
Isaac Tibbetts, of Rangeley, Me. , who came to us highly 
recommended, and his reports during the season so far 
have been most gratifying, comparatively few of the eggs 
in his charge having died, and they have passed safely 
through the severe cold of the first part of February. 
Through the courtesy of Hon. H. O. Stanley, Fish Com- 
missioner of Maine, we received 1,000 landlocked salmon 
which had attained a growth of 21- to 4in. These were 
liberated in the brooks flowing into Big Island Pond, and 
we hope they will do as well as the lot placed there in 
1893. 
Of this lot there were caught during the season of 1894 
about twenty, by parties fishing, 5 or 6in. in size, showing 
that they have obtained a start, and we confidently expect 
an increase. 
We followed out the policy outlined in the last annual 
report, and placed in Big Island waters about 3,000,000 
fresh-water smelt eggs to hatch and propagate for food 
for the salmon, and this method we think should be 
continued. 
We now, at the time of writing this report, have the 
promise of 10,000 salmon eggs and 20,000 trout eggs, which 
we propose to finish hatching in our buddings. These we 
propose shall be cared for during the summer and liber- 
ated in the fall, when they will be of a size to protect 
and feed themselves. 
BOSTON AND MAINE. 
Boston, May 23. — Reports from the Maine waters 
are encouraging as to the fishing. The weather has been 
very cold indeed, but is warmer again. Mr. C. Z. Bas- 
sett, of Appleton & Bassett, who is at Billy Soule's 
Pleasant Island camps, at Cupsuptic Lake, writes Mr. 
Appleton that the weather is very cold, so much so that 
his winter overcoat has been none to warm. The fishing 
is beginning in good earnest there, with some catches 
already. Mr. G. N. Smalley is with Mr. Bassett. Mr. 
and^rs. N. N. Thayer, of Boston, are also there/: 
A private letter from Haines' Landing, Mooselucma- 
guntic, just received, says that the fishing there continues 
the best for years. There are about twenty-five guests at 
the Mooselucmaguntic House, and nearly all are having 
good luck. Mr. George Churchill, of Brockton, Mass., 
has taken a 51b. trout within a few rods of the house. 
Mr. Perry, of New York, has taken a 71b. trout; Mr. 
Hooper, of Philadelphia, has taken one of 4llbs. Miss 
Grace Hobart's largest trout weighs 61bs., but she has 
taken a number of lesser size. Mr. Walter Farmer, of 
Arlington, Mass., has taken ninety-four trout in one 
week's Ashing, the united weight of his string being about 
2001bs. Mr. A. C. Lomberd and Wm. S. Patten, of 
Lowell, Mass. , have taken in one day twelve trout, the 
creel weighing 24lbs.; the largest weighed 4£lbs. There 
was also a landlocked salmon in the lot that weighed 
3|lbs. Several salmon are mentioned as being taken 
from Rangeley Lake, but none yet of large size. 
Among the shoe and leather trade people who have 
gone afishing may be mentioned Mr. Shaw, of Gregory, 
Shaw & Co. , with Mr. Johnson. They have gone down 
to Winn, Me,, and from thence to some good fishing 
grounds not far away. Mr. Pickard, the veteran fisher- 
man, is at the Oquossoc Angling Association's club houses. 
None are more delighted with the waters and the air of 
upper Mooselucmaguntic than he. Mr. R. A. Tuttle, of Bos- 
ton, with his friend Mr. Gilman, is at Lake Point Cottage, 
where he and Gen. Harmon have spent many happy fish- 
ing seasons. Mr. C. F. Hutchins, of Boston, with Lieut. 
H. G. O. Colby, of the U. S. Navy, will join the Lake 
Point party on Saturday. Mr. Hutchins and Mr. Colby 
will be accompanied by their wives and children; all the 
elders of the party thoroughly enjoying the fishing. They 
will fish for eight or ten days. Mr. Tuttle writes them 
that a 41b. trout is the largest one taken yet in that 
vicinity. 
Senator John Simpkins, of the Cape, started to-day for 
B. Pond, for a few weeks' fishing. It will be remembered 
that this is the pond on which Ex-Gov. Russell, with hi 
friends John E. and Bayard Thayer, with Mr. Simpkin 
and others, succeeded in getting a special act of the Maine 
Legislature last winter, closing it perpetually to all fish- 
ing except with the artificial fly. 
M. Joseph B. Thomas, of New York, and of the Ameri- 
can Sugar Refining Co., with Mrs. Tnomas, passed 
through Boston this morning en route for Moosehead. 
Later Mr. Thomas is to be followed by a party of friends. 
They go for fly fishing only, and it is believed that the 
water and the weather are both too cold yet. 
The Allerton Lodge party comes pretty near to being 
deprived of one of its most distinguished guests. The 
party started this morning via Boston & Maine Railroad , 
but Mayor Edwin M. Curtis is at present kept in Boston 
by important city business. He will doubtless join the 
party a few days later. In the party are Col. Horace 
Rockwell, Col. E. B. Haskell and C. H. Andrews, of the 
Boston Herald; Mr. George A. Priest, Mr. George Young 
and Dr. Heath. Allerton Lodge is on the east side of 
Lake Mooselucmaguntic, and is the property of Me^js. 
Haskell and Andrews. The extremely cold weather being 
over, the party expects good fishing. 
Mr. E. A. Dow, with his friend Mr. Place, returned 
from Camp Stewart yesterday. They found extremely 
cold weather, but the fishing was entirely satisfactory to 
them. They caught all the trout they wanted, with fish- 
ing only a small part of the time. Mr. Dow's catch in- 
cludes a 61bs. trout, one of 441bs., and a good many of 
31bs. and upward. Mr. Place caught a 41bs. trout. 
May 24. — The Produce party to Moosehead Lake is 
home again. The weather was terribly cold, and almost 
every man of the party declares that he will never start 
on a State of Maine fishing trip so early again. There 
was even more trouble from the terrible winds on the 
lake than from the cold. It was next to impossible to 
stay out in a boat after the wind came up in the forenoon. 
There were only six in the party from Boston after all. 
They were Mr. Smith, Dr. Foss, Mr. J. H. Davis, Mr. L. 
G. A. Fauteaux, Mr. L. E. Pierce and Mr. Geo. A. Fales. 
All are in the produce trade, except Dr. Foss, a dentist, 
and J. H. Davis, of the firm of Curtis, Davis & Co. Mr. 
S. R. Ellis was hindered from going, as well as Mr. Wal- 
lace F. Robinson, President of the Boston Chamber of 
Commerce. At Boston this party was joined by the Fales 
party 'of Pawtucket, R. I., twenty fishermen in all. The 
Fales party owns a camp at Moosehead. A good many 
trout were taken ; generally all that the law will allow 
sportsmen to bring out. Members of this party say that 
the fish and game wardens are keeping very close watch 
at Bangor and other points, to see that the 25-pound 
law limit of trout is not exceeded. Several seizures have 
been, made there. The trout this party found to be larger 
this year than usual. Several up to three and even 
three and a half pounds were taken. Generally the fish 
taken were "square-tailed" or brook trout, the usual 
volume of lakers not being taken. Considerable fly-fish- 
ing was noted — something very unusual for so early in 
these waters. 
The Inglewood Club early party will be a good deal 
broken up this year. Several of the members are hin- 
dered by business. They say that trade has been dull so 
long, now that a start has come, they do not feel like 
going afishing. Business must be before pleasure, espe- 
cially when business has been so long deferred. Mr. 
Harry B. Moore and George C. Moore sail for Europe to- 
morrow and cannot be with the Inglewood party this 
spring. 
The Camp Stewart party to Richardson Lake starts this 
evening. This party is also broken up more than one- 
half. It is composed of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Freeman 
and Dr. Wood, of Arlington, with Mr. and Mrs. W. K. 
Moody, of Boston. Mr. H. S. Kempton, of the Boston 
Herald staff, is prevented from taking his usual spring 
fishing trip with this party. Mr. W. T. Farley, with Mrs. 
Farley, who have fished with this party a number of 
seasons, have gone on a bicycling tour instead. Mr. C. A* 
