HEAD WATERS A.\D LAKES OF THE 
AXDROSCOGGIX. 
BY GEORGE A. FAT. 
[concluded.] 
They shortly, with Johnny’s good management 
(for let what wDl come, he sticks by his boat,) 
brought her to, and again commenced the ascent, this 
time, however, towing her along shore by means of the 
painter, and a long rope; whether these two fellows 
jumped for dear life, or to save the boat from peril, re- 
mains to be written, for whUe they assert the latter, it 
is as firmly believed by the others that the former rea- 
son operated strongly in the dilemma. A short pull 
took us out of the rapids, and we soon found ourselves 
at the foot of the Little IMagalloway, which junctions 
with the Magalloway proper, a short distance below 
Parmachene falls. Up this river, about a mile distant, 
is the Stone Dam, where usually at this season of the 
j-ear is splendid fishing, but the water being high we 
omitted it. 
At this point there formerly was a log camp, but a 
freshet this spring, occasioned bt' the giving away of 
the dam at the outlet of Parmachene lake, carried t oflF 
and so we had no place to find shelter under, we there- 
fore made fast our boat to a fresh muskrat hole, and 
carrying our traps ashore, covered them with our rub- 
ber blankets, and taking sush things a.-: were indispen- 
sable to a couple of day’s sojourn, we started off through 
the woods over a roUe away to Parmachene lake. There 
is usually a good foot path here, but the windfalls of 
spring had visited this region rather roughly and be.set 
the path with divers trees, and our progress with our 
luggage was necessarily slow, and toilsome, and we oc- 
cupied nearly three hours in the passage. However, 
about sundown, we reached Berlin 3Iills Com[:any’s 
Camp, at the outlet of Parmachene lake, somewhat 
fatigued and ready to do justice to a hearty supper 
which soon followed; en route I should mention we pass- 
ed near Sunday Pond, which is about being stocked 
with trout as it is said there were none there now. 
We have now reached the terminus of our journej’, 
and after a day or two’s sojourn shall again speed down 
the river with the current. The camping house here, cf 
logs, was erected for the convenience of the lumber- 
men who come here in winter, logging. It is quite spa- 
cious, in one room some 20x30 feet, and arranged with 
cook stove, camp stools, and a raised bunk for sleeping, 
which we found nicely strewn with dry boughs, upon 
which our tired limbs found sweet repose. It is close 
to the remains of the dam at the outlet of Parmachene. 
The dam will soon be rebuilt. Here endeih the fourth 
day. 
rARM.VCIfENE LAKE. 
!Moxd.xy, .June 7. 
About C A. M., we were up and dressed, but to find a 
cold drizzling rain upon us. We had this comfort, 
however, we were in snug quarters, aud had our rubber 
coats if we chose to go out, so we passed the day in 
doors and out in a pleasant manner; we caught sufficient 
trout to supplj' the larder and kept by a comfortable fire 
the remaining time, and so with little to record we 
ended the 5th day. 
Ti'esd.ay, June 8. 
A little cloudy in the morning, which, soon however, 
broke awa}', and after breakfast we rowed up to tlie 
outlet of the lake about a mile, and with a few strokes 
of an axe Johnny constructed a yery comfortable raft, 
which we anchored just above the outlet and Roberts 
and I got ourselves down to fish, while Parker and 
HcKay went trolling on the lake. Parmachene lake is 
famous when in the right water, for the large and 
abundant trout which she furnishes. The lake itself 
is some three miles in length, irregular in shape, and 
hemmed tn on every side with picturesque mountains. 
The waters are deep and clear, and it is just such a spot 
as one would expect to find fish in abundance. At the 
inlet is Little Boys Falls, where, when the water is right, 
more fish may be caught there, ixirhaps, than any one 
place in this region, but unfortunately at this time tlic 
water was so high Johnnj’ thought it not worth a while 
to visit them. 
After trying in vain, for two or three hours to inter- 
est the beauties in our behalf, and c-atching onl}' a feiv, 
the largest 1 1-2 lbs., wo concluded to make our exit 
aud we returned to camp, packed up, and in le.‘s than 
two hours were back again at the foot of the Little 
Magalloway ; cn roxrtc we stopped at Big Eddy, a short 
distance from the Little Magalloway, where we caught 
a few nice ones, thence to some rapids a quarter of a 
mile below, where in a half hour, we c.tught more than 
we had piatience to count, the laigest of which 
was a little over a pound. IVe hooked one or two very 
large fellows, but we had the misfortune to lose them 
again. Reaching camp about nightfall, we erected a 
shelter tent, which we borrowed from a party of wood 
cutters, we found encamped here cutting out the path 
we had struggled over two days ago» and soon we were 
ready for supper. Our neighbors, generous souls, sent 
us SIX pancakes, and although we were very hungry, we 
could not manage to stow away beneath our blue shins, 
one apiece. They measured about a foot in diameter, 
and nearly two inches thick. Thej' were ver}’ nice and 
light, but they were also very voluminous i For dessert 
we had a jolly smoke, aud wound up the sixth day'. 
DOWX THE Rn'ER. 
Wedxesd.xy, Juse 9. 
Before leaving this region, I will mention that the 
distance from Parmachene Lake to Errol Dam is about 
53 mL’es, 32 of which take you to head of Agriscoos 
Falls, 3 more to Brown’.s Farm, and 13 from thence to 
Errol. The local distances I speak of elsewhere. At 8 
o’clock A. Ji., we bade adieu to the little Magalloway, 
shoved our bonny craft into the stream and merrily sped 
with the current. About noon we r ached the Nar- 
rows, and disembarked for dinner. We again tried 
our flies, but not with that success we met with when 
we went up. The water had fallen some four or five 
inches, and with it the trout had gone too. We how- 
ever caught sufficient for dinner, and about 4 p. m. re- 
sumed our journey'. About 8 P. m. we drew our boat 
upon the landing at the head of Agriscoos Falls, ana in 
50 minutes we were at Carter Bean'.s, two and a half 
miles across the carry, at the U pper ^Magalloway Settle- 
ment. This is a comfortable farm-house where sports- 
menl are always welcome, and charges only one dollar 
per day, but we were anxious to stay at Brown’s farm 
over night, for it is the best place in the wilderness; so 
we hired a farmer to take four of us (leaving Johnny to 
come iu the morning with the boat! to Brown's for $2, 
a distance of about five miles, which we reached about 
10 o’clock, and then how we did pitch into a good 
square meal which our host knew how to get up. 
“Who says pipes” ? At 11.30 we turned in, and thus 
ended the seventh day'. 
MIDDLE DAM C.XMP. 
Rapid River, Thursday, Juxe 10. 
.lohnny came down with his boat on a wagon about 
10 a. m., which he brought right through from Agris 
coos carry. We tarried at the farms till after dinner, 
when the .steamer Diamond landed about one and a half 
miles below, and a team brought a few travelers to din- 
ner. On her return trip we went aboard, towing our 
boat behind. A short ride took us to the outlet of the 
L'mljagog, where “Good-bye, Johnny,” bad to be said, 
and as we grasped his faithful hand we felt an honest 
heart throbbing in its palm. I cannot remember any' 
acquaintance of my lifetime that is so fraught with 
pleasant recollections in so short a period of time, as 
with this faithful guide. He served us faithfully for 
eight days, and never an unpleasant word passed be- 
tween him and any of our party'. He was kind, courte- 
ous, willing, faithful and ever good-natured, andamore 
thorough boatman does not navigate these waters. I 
cannot part with him even in these lines without 
heartily commending him to every one who shall ever 
need a guide in this region, for a better guide I never 
met in the woods. God speed you, Johnny, wherever 
you go, and whatever you undertake! His address is 
John S. Danforth, Errol, Coos County, N. H. 
Having bade Johnny a hearty adieu, he loosened his 
painter aud dropped astern the steamer, and soon our 
paths diverged; but we watched him, nevertheless, till 
he was out of sight, aud exchanged a final adieu with 
our hats. About 4 we reached the outlet of Rapid 
River, which is one of the inlets of Umbagog Lake, 
which the steamer circumscribes in its tri-weekly sail- 
ings. The lake itself is some ten miles long by four 
wide, and furnishes good trout fishing at some seasons 
of the year, wheu the water is right. At the outlet, 
Parker and I bade adieu to our compauions and went 
aboard a small skill’ and were rowed about a mile and a 
half up Rapid river, where we made a landing, and 
h‘aving cur traps to be toted over the carry (which runs 
alongside t'oe river) by a b'jck-board, we started off on 
f .. ' for ’ .e camp, a distance of about five miles. In an 
hour aud half we arrived at the famous Middle Dam 
Camp just in time to find a jolly set of anglers about a 
dozen in number just entering upon their evening meal. 
So having engaged quarters, we sat down too, and did 
our duty with the best. 
31iddle Dam Camp is a rude log allair in three sepa- 
rate buildings of one story' each, connected with each 
other by piazzas. The first, on the east end, is used for 
a cook-room, and the other two for sleeping apart- 
ments, with six or eight rooms in each building; when 
full, they' can accommodate twenty odd persons. La- 
dies sometimes come here with their husbands, but the 
accommodations are hardly suited to such cases. Sur- 
mounting the ridge-pole is a small factory bell which 
summons the angler to his meals. The camp is situated 
at the outlet of Melokennebacook Lake at the head of 
Rapid river, and only some 20 rods above ^Middle Dam. 
The fishing here at this season of the year is usually all an 
angler could wish, but until the lumbermen get through 
raising and lowering their gales to enable them to drive 
their logs, fishing is of the most uncertain kind, for 
with the raising of the gate the trout leave their haunts, 
and return only when the water is quiet again. It was 
our fortune to be here just after the gates were raised, 
and as a consequence, fishing was not the best ; still we 
caught a few, the largest scaling 1 1-2 pounds. Two or 
three days before, two trout were taken, one weighing 
4 1-2 and the other 5 lbs. Middle Dam is a good place 
for one to visit who wants to settle down and take it 
easy. Board at the lodge is only |;2 per day, and less 
by the season, and after a day or two you need no 
guide. AVe remained here till Saturday p. m., when we 
bade adieu to fishing, and re-ciossing the carry took the 
steamer to Upton, a sail of some two hours. At Upton 
we found a comfortable house and good table at the 
Lake House, by Godwin; the Umbagog House is said to 
be a fair house also. 
ScxDAY, Juxe 13. 
AVe made arrangements before coming out for a team 
to take us to Bethel, 27 miles, but it broke down, and 
we had to stay at L'pton over night, and as we were 
anxious to take tho train which leaves Bethel at 5 a. m., 
we were obliged to make our journey to Bethel to-day'. 
So we took two single teams and drove across in about 
four hours and a half. En route we stopped at Poplar 
Hotel, about 10 miles from Bethel, to dinner. The 
route is one of the pleasantest I ever traveled over. 
For a great part of the way it runs alongside river and 
mountain; on the west, a long chain of mountain cov- 
ered with a healthy verdure towers upward several 
hundred feet, while several points rise to the dignity of 
peaks and are named — Speckled, Saddle-back, Puzzle, 
etc. An iuteresting feature also along route is Moose 
Cave and the Jail, which are deep crevices in the adja- 
cent rock on tlie east side of the traveled way, about 
midway of the route. They can be easily visited by' the 
passing traveler. Bat I will not longer tarry. About 
4 p. M. we reached Bethel House, Bethel, Me., where 
we found an “A 1” house with a good table, at the 
moderate charge of $2.50 per day'. This is a favorite 
summer resort, and is the starting point to several places 
of interest in this vicinity. 
Before quitting this region I will speak of the means 
of communication between Bethel and the wilderness, 
and of some of the reliable guides. Stages leave Bethel 
for Upton every night except Saturday, on arrival of 
1.40 P. M. train from Portland, which reaches Bethel 
about 5 P. M; fare, $2.50, returning every morning ex- 
cept Alonday. Stages leave Upton every Tuesday and 
Friday night for Errol, 10 miles distant; fare $1. Of 
the guides who enjoy a good repulatiou in the Magallo- 
way district are first, our faithful John S. Dauforlb, 
Errol, A. H. ; Eliliu Leavitt and Xabum A\’. Bennett, 
AVentworth Location, X. H. Of the Middle Dam and 
Rangeley district are Stephen Morse and Marshall AA'hit- 
ney, and John H. Douglass, and Sargent, Upion, Me., 
and George H. Oaks, Rangeley, Me. For desirable 
flies suited to those waters, address Alarshall AVhitney’, 
Upton, Me., who manufactures a superior article him- 
self. Leaving Bethel at 5 a. m., by the Grand Trunk 
Ihiilway, you reach Portland about 9 and Boston about 
2 p. M. And now, kind reader, I will leave you to look 
about the city for yourself 

By the courtesy of Captain Esdaile we aie in receipt 
of “ The Province of Quebec Rifle Association Sixth 
Ancu..l R Tort.” It is gratify lug to see the progress 
made in public esteem by' this noble exei.i'e. This 
particular focicly comprises men of the ' -t clas.-', 
who fairly i ledge themselves to the cause ! y woid 
and act. 'I he States have fifteen times ti; popula- 
tion than the Dominion, and y'et the latter has more 
rifle clubs, and probably raises as much money. 
