History of Tremont, Maine
From
A Gazetteer of the
State of Maine
By Geo. J. Varney
Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill,
Boston 1886
** Maine historical sketches **
Tremont, in Hancock County, embraces the south-western portion of Mount Desert Island. Tinker’s, Moose, Hardwood, Grott’s and Longley’s Islands are also within its limits. The feature from which the town takes its name is the three contiguous peaks of Beech Mountain, and east and west peaks of the Western Mountains. Dog Mountain has been carefully prospected with spade and pick, for money hidden by Captain Kidd. The peak known as the “Lover’s Scalp” has, on its eastern side, an almost perpendicular descent of 900 feet to the waters of Soines’ Sound. The other mountains of Tremont are Dog, Flying, Bald, Burnt and Mount Gilboa. Dog Mountain is 670 feet in height; Flying Mountain, 300; Bald Mountain, 250; Burnt Mountain, 175; and Mount Gilboa, 160. South West and Bass are the chief harbors, and the villages on these are the principal centres of business in the town. On Heat’s Stream is a saw-mill, and upon the outlet of Seal Cove Pond is a grist-mill. Both streams empty into Seal Cove, which is a safe and convenient harbor. The production of the saw-mill is about 250,000 M. of lumber, and several hundred thousand staves annually. There is also a shingle-mill on Bass Harbor Stream. Some ship-building is done at both Bass and South West harbors. At the latter place is a factory for canning fish, and at West Tremont is a fish-curing establishment; also the large brick-yard of the Tremont Brick Co., and a boat-builder’s shop. The “staff of life” to the people of the town is found chiefly in the sea.
Fernald’s Point on Somes’ Sound near the northern border of the town is thought by many to be the site of the ancient “St. Sauveur,” the settlement of the colony sent out by Madame de Guercheville in 1613. “About half across the isthmus and a little up the hill (Flying Mountain), so as to command the water on either side without losing its shelter, are two holes in the ground which are shown as the ruins of the Frenchmen’s cellars. They are a few rods apart, running north and south, 10 to 12 feet long at present, from 2 to 3 feet deep, and of varying width. They seem to have been gradually filled in from the hill above, and overgrown with grass. On the very day of our visit (1866) a spruce, some eight inches in diameter had been cut down in one of them. The old man who was our guide said the cellars were there in the time of his grandfather, who was the first settler, and he always said that they were the remains of the French colony.” Stories of the discovery of gold buried by the French are rife, like those of pirates’ treasures further south. A bank of shells near North East Harbor, on the opposite side of the Sound, probably marks the neighborhood of an Indian village; and Indian relics of various sorts are not uncommon. Tremont was set off from Mount Desert and incorporated in 1848, under the name of Mansel, from Mount Mansel, the name given to the island by Winthrop’s company of emigrants to Massachusetts Bay in 1630; it having been the first land discovered by them. See Eden.
Tremont has two churches, a Congregationalist and a Methodist. Thirteen public schoolhouses, and school property to the value of $13,500, furnish the means of youthful education. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $262,353. In 1880 it was $361,419. The population in 1870 was 1,822. In the census of 1880 it was 2,011.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Hartmann Model Railroad Museum
Visiting the Hartmann Model Railroad Museum with kids is a mixed bag. On one hand there are all kinds of exciting things to look at but on the other there is a lot of expensive things around and the staff is rather up tight about kids. Its kind of a shame because the hobby of model railroading needs to constantly feed itself with new hobbists and where are they going to come from if not from todays kids?
"On a trip to North America in 1991, Swiss natives and model train enthusiasts Roger and Nelly Hartmann fell in love with New Hampshires Mount Washington Valley. Three years later, they moved their extensive train collection and hobby shop into two new 8,000-square-foot buildings" -- The Boston Globe
The Hartmann complex includes the museum, a cafe (I didn't see where this was), a crafts store, a hobby shop and an outdoor ride-on train.
We started at the museum which costs $6 for adults and $4 for kids. Which I guess is ok, with kids you might spend 45 minutes to an hour looking at the collections of model trains and collectible cars and airplanes. Right up front the staff sets the tone for the museum giving instructions on how the 10 or so layouts operate by pushing a button and then the trains run for three minutes and don't push the button multiple times and so on. In other words, don't break our stuff they seem to be saying. My son was interested in watching things move and not so much in looking at all of the display cases so if you went without kids you might spend a lot more time looking around then week did. Although the amount of stuff on display is kind of mind numbing. There is just so much to take in all at once. The museum might have been set up with some dividing walls to provide white space and give ones eyes a place to rest but then the staff couldn't keep such a watchful eye on everyone I suppose.
Of course after doing the museum kids naturally want to ride on the outside train. Unfortunely this is not included with the admission price and you can't directly purchase a ticket for the train. Instead they make you go into the hobby shop and buy some overprices item from a specific table (like a $7.50 bookmark). Then one adult and one kid can ride. Once in the hobby shop they cruelly make it clear to the parents of the kids that the store contains many "dangerous" and "expensive" items an kids need to be kept on a short leash. I guess by dangerous they mean to the parent's wallet.
This policy sets up needless problems between parent and child. 1. The child really just wants to ride on the train and just wants to get out of the store as soon as possible or 2. they want to buy a $600 train set that they see on the shelf.
Most of the stuff in the hobby store is extremely high end (i.e. expensive) European train equipment in the hundreds of dollars range. Since my son is getting older I was very interested in looking around the shop and thinking about bringing my trains out of the attic, unfortunately the shop did not have any kid friendly area to entertain my son so that I could take in all of the stuff in the shop.
My suggestion to the owners of the shop would be to carry kid friendly wooden train stuff like Thomas the Train. And provide an area where kids could play with the wooden train layouts. No doubt they would sell tons of this stuff and keep the kids in a safe area away from all of the "dangerous" and "expensive" adult toys.
If you don't encourage kids to get into model railroading then where are you going to get your future customers???
Over all the place is great especially if you are into model railroading but as the parent of a small child I felt uneasy being their because the staff seemed to be so uneasy with kids visiting the place.
"On a trip to North America in 1991, Swiss natives and model train enthusiasts Roger and Nelly Hartmann fell in love with New Hampshires Mount Washington Valley. Three years later, they moved their extensive train collection and hobby shop into two new 8,000-square-foot buildings" -- The Boston Globe
The Hartmann complex includes the museum, a cafe (I didn't see where this was), a crafts store, a hobby shop and an outdoor ride-on train.
We started at the museum which costs $6 for adults and $4 for kids. Which I guess is ok, with kids you might spend 45 minutes to an hour looking at the collections of model trains and collectible cars and airplanes. Right up front the staff sets the tone for the museum giving instructions on how the 10 or so layouts operate by pushing a button and then the trains run for three minutes and don't push the button multiple times and so on. In other words, don't break our stuff they seem to be saying. My son was interested in watching things move and not so much in looking at all of the display cases so if you went without kids you might spend a lot more time looking around then week did. Although the amount of stuff on display is kind of mind numbing. There is just so much to take in all at once. The museum might have been set up with some dividing walls to provide white space and give ones eyes a place to rest but then the staff couldn't keep such a watchful eye on everyone I suppose.
Of course after doing the museum kids naturally want to ride on the outside train. Unfortunely this is not included with the admission price and you can't directly purchase a ticket for the train. Instead they make you go into the hobby shop and buy some overprices item from a specific table (like a $7.50 bookmark). Then one adult and one kid can ride. Once in the hobby shop they cruelly make it clear to the parents of the kids that the store contains many "dangerous" and "expensive" items an kids need to be kept on a short leash. I guess by dangerous they mean to the parent's wallet.
This policy sets up needless problems between parent and child. 1. The child really just wants to ride on the train and just wants to get out of the store as soon as possible or 2. they want to buy a $600 train set that they see on the shelf.
Most of the stuff in the hobby store is extremely high end (i.e. expensive) European train equipment in the hundreds of dollars range. Since my son is getting older I was very interested in looking around the shop and thinking about bringing my trains out of the attic, unfortunately the shop did not have any kid friendly area to entertain my son so that I could take in all of the stuff in the shop.
My suggestion to the owners of the shop would be to carry kid friendly wooden train stuff like Thomas the Train. And provide an area where kids could play with the wooden train layouts. No doubt they would sell tons of this stuff and keep the kids in a safe area away from all of the "dangerous" and "expensive" adult toys.
If you don't encourage kids to get into model railroading then where are you going to get your future customers???
Over all the place is great especially if you are into model railroading but as the parent of a small child I felt uneasy being their because the staff seemed to be so uneasy with kids visiting the place.
Santa's Village in Jefferson, NH
Last weekend we took a mini vacation one of our favorite places - the White Mountain National Forest region of New Hampshire. We check out a few attractions that we hadn't visited before - Santa's Village in Jefferson and The Hartmann Train Museum in North Conway.
Santa's village was surprisingly good. Its close to being on par with the excellent Story Land in Jackson which is an all time favorite theme park in my family but Santa's Village comes very close. Like Story Land, Santa's Village is very clean and very well landscaped. In fact on a very hot day Santa's Village is even better than Storyland because it is heavily treed so there is lots of shade. The only bad things about Santa's Village is the theme with which may not appeal to older kids or non-Christians since its all about Santa and Christmas. For the adults who get annoyed by Christmas songs in Decemeber it is very strange hearing them on a hot summer day in August. But there are a full day's worth of rides (we didn't check out any of the shows which if you go by Story Land standards - can be rather lame in these small time amusement parks) but their were a nice variety of rides - nothing too scary for little kids except for the Humbug ride which my seven year old refused to go on and from all reports was indeed rather scary. Stand out rides were the Santa's Sleigh mono rail that gives a birds eye view of the park, the excellent antique cars and the adults favorite the bumper cars. There is enough variety here and the lines are shorter then at Story Land at least on the Sunday we went. If you like Story Land give Santa's Village a try, just don't wait too long or the kids might not be into the Santa theme.
Santa's village was surprisingly good. Its close to being on par with the excellent Story Land in Jackson which is an all time favorite theme park in my family but Santa's Village comes very close. Like Story Land, Santa's Village is very clean and very well landscaped. In fact on a very hot day Santa's Village is even better than Storyland because it is heavily treed so there is lots of shade. The only bad things about Santa's Village is the theme with which may not appeal to older kids or non-Christians since its all about Santa and Christmas. For the adults who get annoyed by Christmas songs in Decemeber it is very strange hearing them on a hot summer day in August. But there are a full day's worth of rides (we didn't check out any of the shows which if you go by Story Land standards - can be rather lame in these small time amusement parks) but their were a nice variety of rides - nothing too scary for little kids except for the Humbug ride which my seven year old refused to go on and from all reports was indeed rather scary. Stand out rides were the Santa's Sleigh mono rail that gives a birds eye view of the park, the excellent antique cars and the adults favorite the bumper cars. There is enough variety here and the lines are shorter then at Story Land at least on the Sunday we went. If you like Story Land give Santa's Village a try, just don't wait too long or the kids might not be into the Santa theme.
Bar Island Sand Bar
This time of year it seems that weekly the Bar Harbor police have to deal with some touron who doesn't understand the concept of tides and gets their car stuck on the sandbar over to Bar Island. Usually its someone trying to be oh so macho with their new SUV.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Sea Coast Fun Park
Update: Sept. 2006 Friend of mine recently visited the park and report that significant changes have been made to the running of the water slides. Radios between the top and bottom attendents are in use and the timing of the sliders has improved greatly.
----------
As you recall our experience earlier in the summmer....
I had a rather disturbing visit to the Sea Coast Fun Park water slide park today. My six year old was getting clobbered at the end of the slide by larger kids being let down the slide after him too soon.
The problem is that kids of different sizes travel at different speeds down the slides. Also kids on mats move faster than kids without mats.
After the second time my son was pushed under water by the wake of the large kid coming behind him, I spoke to the lifeguard on duty about the timing on the water slide. That should have fixed the problem but... later when it happened a second time I spoke to the lifeguard again and he said basically "What do you want me to do about it I don't have a radio."
A lifeguard at a waterslide/pool with no contact with the person at the top of the slide or anyone else in the park?
The third time it happened I took matters in my own hands and walked up to the top of the slide and explained to the attendent what was going on. I did not feel that the attendent had the mental capability to understand what I was saying so I sought help from the manager.
I spoke to the "manager", a kid named Alan (who someone said is the son of the owner) and explained the serious safety issue and suggested that as in other water parks I have visited the slide be clear before the next person was sent down. He said that it didn't need to be clear and wanted to know what I wanted him to do about it. Did I want attendent fired on the spot?
All I wanted was the safety issue to be looked at, fixed and for someone in this park to actually care if someone got hurt or not.
Alan treated me as an annoyance so I asked for his supervisor's name and number.
I called "June" who appears to be at the park in Windham.
She basically said "I'm three hours away what do you want me to do about it."
Her attitude came across the same as Alan's "hey things happen, don't get so upset" rather than focusing on the serious safety issue that will lead to someone getting seriously hurt.
Another parent in our group also spoke to June in an attempt to explain how concerned we were about the situation and the lack of interest from the park employees to actually fix the problem.
A water park focused on safety would have clear communications from the top and bottom of the water slide and managers who are concerned about their customers safety.
SeaCoast Fun Park has neither.
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About the Sea Coast Fun Park:
This fun park features mini-golf, go cart racing, a climbing wall, paint ball and the water slides. The water slides cost $15 for an all day pass. The two slides empty out into a small pool which also has open swimming in the other half. We've tried the mini golf on a previous outing and it's expensive and not recommended. The greens are not very level and each hole ends up taking six to eight shots to complete.
----------
As you recall our experience earlier in the summmer....
I had a rather disturbing visit to the Sea Coast Fun Park water slide park today. My six year old was getting clobbered at the end of the slide by larger kids being let down the slide after him too soon.
The problem is that kids of different sizes travel at different speeds down the slides. Also kids on mats move faster than kids without mats.
After the second time my son was pushed under water by the wake of the large kid coming behind him, I spoke to the lifeguard on duty about the timing on the water slide. That should have fixed the problem but... later when it happened a second time I spoke to the lifeguard again and he said basically "What do you want me to do about it I don't have a radio."
A lifeguard at a waterslide/pool with no contact with the person at the top of the slide or anyone else in the park?
The third time it happened I took matters in my own hands and walked up to the top of the slide and explained to the attendent what was going on. I did not feel that the attendent had the mental capability to understand what I was saying so I sought help from the manager.
I spoke to the "manager", a kid named Alan (who someone said is the son of the owner) and explained the serious safety issue and suggested that as in other water parks I have visited the slide be clear before the next person was sent down. He said that it didn't need to be clear and wanted to know what I wanted him to do about it. Did I want attendent fired on the spot?
All I wanted was the safety issue to be looked at, fixed and for someone in this park to actually care if someone got hurt or not.
Alan treated me as an annoyance so I asked for his supervisor's name and number.
I called "June" who appears to be at the park in Windham.
She basically said "I'm three hours away what do you want me to do about it."
Her attitude came across the same as Alan's "hey things happen, don't get so upset" rather than focusing on the serious safety issue that will lead to someone getting seriously hurt.
Another parent in our group also spoke to June in an attempt to explain how concerned we were about the situation and the lack of interest from the park employees to actually fix the problem.
A water park focused on safety would have clear communications from the top and bottom of the water slide and managers who are concerned about their customers safety.
SeaCoast Fun Park has neither.
-----------------------------------------------------------
About the Sea Coast Fun Park:
This fun park features mini-golf, go cart racing, a climbing wall, paint ball and the water slides. The water slides cost $15 for an all day pass. The two slides empty out into a small pool which also has open swimming in the other half. We've tried the mini golf on a previous outing and it's expensive and not recommended. The greens are not very level and each hole ends up taking six to eight shots to complete.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Martha Stewart's Picnic Boat
Sailing around Seal Harbor this past weekend we also got a gander at Martha's "Skylands II" picnic boat. Unlike every other Hinckley picnic boat I've seen her's stands out because its painted a creamy color instead of the traditional dark blue.
http://www.hinckleyyachts.com/
Here is what she says about the boat:
"When I finally did buy my house, which looks over the sea and the many, many islands that beckon one to venture forth and visit, it came with two deepwater moorings in a small, secluded harbor. (Seal Harbor - Ed) I set out on my search for the perfect boat for the first-time boat owner, fully aware of all the complexities and wary of the fact that a novice had a lot to learn about the region's convoluted coastlines, lobster traps, invisible rocky outcroppings and ledges and very unpredictable weather patterns.
I was fortunate that friends did not steer me wrong or even slightly astray, and that there are extraordinary boat makers and shipbuilders in Maine. I was invited on many day trips aboard all sorts of vessels: sailboats, dinghies and yachts. One in particular tickled my fancy, a craft known as a picnic boat – a traditional, sleek, fast, roomy boat at 36 feet long. Because of something called a jet drive, it can glide safely through the coastal waters of Maine – it has no propellers to tangle in lobster-pot lines Former President Bush just cuts right through them with his obnoxious cigarette boat and then pays off the lobstermen for the damage. -- Ed or seaweed beds.
I tried this type of boat, and ordered one for delivery the following year. I was so happy, choosing the color of the hull and the upholstery for the cushions, outfitting the modest but very workable galley and ordering the most important parts of the boat – the navigational tools and electronics.
We christened the boat Skylands II and in the ensuing years have used it well and often. We've gone whale watching, antiquing in Blue Hill and picnicking on the neighboring islands off the coast of Mount Desert Island. It takes just a few minutes to get to the boat and load on the hampers and coolers, and off we go."
From a CNN show on Martha:
STEVE KAISER, HINCKLEY'S BOAT COMPANY: She basically said if the dogs liked the trip, she was going to buy a boat.
COLLINS: The Hinckley Boat Company has felt the queen's touch. A year ago, Stewart and her beloved chow dogs showed up and took a fancy boat out for a spin.
KAISER: She basically said if the dogs liked the trip, she was going to buy a boat and sooner or later, she did.
COLLINS: Steve Kaiser ended up selling Martha a 36-foot Hinckley picnic boat, but being Martha, it wasn't a simple sale.
KAISER: And I got a call from a producer and they said they would like to film the boat being built and being the conservative down east boat builder, my immediate reaction was how do we get out of this? I think somebody finally shook me a little bit and said, you know, this could be a good thing, to have a film of the boat being built.
COLLINS: Not surprisingly, Martha got her way and millions of her viewers saw her one of a kind egg-colored boat being built.
KAISER: Please do the honors.
COLLINS: When it came time to christen the boat, Martha gave it a good whack.
(APPLAUSE)
COLLINS: For the Hinckley Boat Company, it was a noise heard around the world.
KAISER: Absolutely, the phone just rang continuously, but that was a nice problem to have.
COLLINS: Stewart uses her boat while at Skylands, her summer retreat on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Skylands is a 61-acre estate. Made of paint granite, it sits high atop a hill far above the common man. To visit, one must drive up a narrow, winding, pine-laced road. It is very, very private.
The moss near her estate made it into a magazine article and Skylands; a new paint line was developed. This pale yellow, Cadillac Sunrise, was named for a nearby mountain where Martha has greeted the dawn.
During the day, Stewart can walk century old carriage roads designed and built by John D. Rockefeller, an earlier island resident. Stewart has found the road to fortune wherever she has traveled.
Martha Stewart's "Skylands" Edsel Station Wagon
This weekend we spotted Martha Stewart's classic Edsel Ford Station Wagon downtown in Northeast Harbor. It's not hard to miss its a beauty! Big, brightly painted -- certainly makes a scene in this small little village. It even says "Skylands" on the side just to make sure you know to whom it belongs. I'm not sure of the story on the car but I think I read that it came with the house when she bought the old Edsel Ford estate in Seal Harbor and she had it restored. It really is a knockout!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
It's Raining Fish
Thiruvananthapuram, India - Fish rained down on the Indian village of Manna last week, startling locals who hailed the phenomenon as a miracle.
In an echo of the Bible's manna from heaven, fish up to 55mm in length plummeted to the ground for 15 minutes in the remote village in the southern state of Kerala.
"I saw fish falling from the sky. At first, we could not believe our eyes," said shopkeeper V.K. Satheeshan.
Residents quickly collected the fish, with some gathering them in jars.
"When I rushed to the spot, I found lots of small fish on the road. Some of the shopkeepers collected fishes in jars," said M. Rajeevan, a local journalist from Manna.
The pencil-thin fish were likely lifted into the sky from rivers by a waterspout, or mini-tornado, according to professor Godfrey Louis of Mahatma Gandhi University in the Kerala city of Kottayam.
In an echo of the Bible's manna from heaven, fish up to 55mm in length plummeted to the ground for 15 minutes in the remote village in the southern state of Kerala.
"I saw fish falling from the sky. At first, we could not believe our eyes," said shopkeeper V.K. Satheeshan.
Residents quickly collected the fish, with some gathering them in jars.
"When I rushed to the spot, I found lots of small fish on the road. Some of the shopkeepers collected fishes in jars," said M. Rajeevan, a local journalist from Manna.
The pencil-thin fish were likely lifted into the sky from rivers by a waterspout, or mini-tornado, according to professor Godfrey Louis of Mahatma Gandhi University in the Kerala city of Kottayam.
Monday, July 24, 2006
This just in...Pet Fish Seizures In Maine
I know the local Pirate's Cove mini-golf had to get rid of their carp. Don't know what the story here is yet...Koi Krack Down it appears. -- Ed
FREEPORT, Maine - Armed game wardens seized 10 exotic fish from the tank of a popular Chinese restaurant, leaving its owner shaken and outraged.
“They treated me like a criminal,” said Cuong Ly, who escaped from Vietnam 25 years ago. “I lived under communism and I felt like I’m back there again.”
Ly, 45, said his pet koi were like family members and their confiscation in what he described as a heavy-handed raid made him “want to explode inside.”
FREEPORT, Maine - Armed game wardens seized 10 exotic fish from the tank of a popular Chinese restaurant, leaving its owner shaken and outraged.
“They treated me like a criminal,” said Cuong Ly, who escaped from Vietnam 25 years ago. “I lived under communism and I felt like I’m back there again.”
Ly, 45, said his pet koi were like family members and their confiscation in what he described as a heavy-handed raid made him “want to explode inside.”
Dead Fish In Wake of Fishing Tournament
Major difference between catch and release for the good of the sport and catch, clip, hold and dump for prize money. -- Ed
Dead Fish
La Crosse
Jul 24, 2006
Just days after a major fishing tournament in La Crosse, hundreds of dead fish are turning up in the water. Nearly 600 dead bass have been collected. The Department of Natural Resources says almost all of them had a clipped tail fin which is evidence they were caught and released during the tournament. This is the second year there's been a major fish die-off after a tournament. Last year, most of the dead fish tested positive for largemouth bass virus. This virus can cause death when the fish is stressed. The DNR says the stress of being caught, held in a livewell, and released might be a factor in the deaths of the bass. Some anglers say they're concerned by the fish deaths, but they're not convinced the tournaments are the cause.
Dead Fish
La Crosse
Jul 24, 2006
Just days after a major fishing tournament in La Crosse, hundreds of dead fish are turning up in the water. Nearly 600 dead bass have been collected. The Department of Natural Resources says almost all of them had a clipped tail fin which is evidence they were caught and released during the tournament. This is the second year there's been a major fish die-off after a tournament. Last year, most of the dead fish tested positive for largemouth bass virus. This virus can cause death when the fish is stressed. The DNR says the stress of being caught, held in a livewell, and released might be a factor in the deaths of the bass. Some anglers say they're concerned by the fish deaths, but they're not convinced the tournaments are the cause.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Angler catches the same fish twice in a week ..in the SEA
I GOT THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
By Richard Smith
STUNNED angler Bob Watton turned the tables on the one that got away - when he caught the same fish twice within days.
Bob, 36, first hooked the 11lb sea bass while fishing from his boat two miles out to sea.
When his line snagged on a rock and broke the lucky fish escaped.
But three days later, after taking his boat to a similar spot off Bournemouth, he got another bite and reeled in a 2ft bass.
Bob, a father of two, was amazed to discover the distinctive hook and severed line from his previous effort was attached to it.
He said last night: "It was only when I got it in the net that I spotted the black line and hook with a yellow bead on.
"It was the same fish, there's no doubt. What are the odds of that? Of all the fish in that bit of sea this one ends up on my hook twice. Some trawlermen catch 90 tonnes of bass a day in this area, so it goes to show how many there are. The first time I hooked him I knew he was a hefty fish. He put up a bit of a fight.
"When the fish got away I thought that was the end of it. It's very satisfying to catch the one that got away - because in this case it didn't."
"It's an unbelievable bit of luck. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket this week, because you never know."
There are estimated to be around 10,000 bass in 100 square miles of sea off the Bournemouth coast.
And bookmakers Corals said the odds of catching the same fish twice in those circumstances were about a million to one. A spokesman said: "It's like lightning striking twice in the same place."
A spokesman for Sea Angling Magazine said: "This is very unusual. I have heard of catching the same sea fish in the same session but never three days apart."
By Richard Smith
STUNNED angler Bob Watton turned the tables on the one that got away - when he caught the same fish twice within days.
Bob, 36, first hooked the 11lb sea bass while fishing from his boat two miles out to sea.
When his line snagged on a rock and broke the lucky fish escaped.
But three days later, after taking his boat to a similar spot off Bournemouth, he got another bite and reeled in a 2ft bass.
Bob, a father of two, was amazed to discover the distinctive hook and severed line from his previous effort was attached to it.
He said last night: "It was only when I got it in the net that I spotted the black line and hook with a yellow bead on.
"It was the same fish, there's no doubt. What are the odds of that? Of all the fish in that bit of sea this one ends up on my hook twice. Some trawlermen catch 90 tonnes of bass a day in this area, so it goes to show how many there are. The first time I hooked him I knew he was a hefty fish. He put up a bit of a fight.
"When the fish got away I thought that was the end of it. It's very satisfying to catch the one that got away - because in this case it didn't."
"It's an unbelievable bit of luck. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket this week, because you never know."
There are estimated to be around 10,000 bass in 100 square miles of sea off the Bournemouth coast.
And bookmakers Corals said the odds of catching the same fish twice in those circumstances were about a million to one. A spokesman said: "It's like lightning striking twice in the same place."
A spokesman for Sea Angling Magazine said: "This is very unusual. I have heard of catching the same sea fish in the same session but never three days apart."
Teens rescue cousin with fishing line
"Fourteen-year-old Kong Vang saw his cousin flailing in the water, fighting to stay afloat in the Little Canada pond where six cousins had been fishing," the Star Tribune story begins. "With chaos and panic setting in on shore, Kong cast his fishing line out into the water, hoping to snag Tou Ger Yang...."
A Minnesota county sheriff calls it "one of the most amazing rescue stories I have ever heard," KARE reports, with teens using an 8-pound test line and CPR to save their drowning cousin, also 14. The Twin Cities TV station has video of the relatives and the story that began with a mysterious note left on a windshield.
WCCO adds more in a video and text report. "It was actually a bobber," says Kong Vang about his line casting, "a fake worm with two hooks on it." After three attempts, the 105-pound Tou Ger caught on, WCCO reports. "I was just flapping my hands, and all of the sudden it just wrapped around my hands and the hook got on me too," Tou Ger recalls.
And the Pioneer Press puts some follow-up in its story. "Tou Ger Yang spent four days in the hospital," the paper reports. "He still has water in his lungs, making breathing difficult. But he has recovered enough to go fishing again."
A Minnesota county sheriff calls it "one of the most amazing rescue stories I have ever heard," KARE reports, with teens using an 8-pound test line and CPR to save their drowning cousin, also 14. The Twin Cities TV station has video of the relatives and the story that began with a mysterious note left on a windshield.
WCCO adds more in a video and text report. "It was actually a bobber," says Kong Vang about his line casting, "a fake worm with two hooks on it." After three attempts, the 105-pound Tou Ger caught on, WCCO reports. "I was just flapping my hands, and all of the sudden it just wrapped around my hands and the hook got on me too," Tou Ger recalls.
And the Pioneer Press puts some follow-up in its story. "Tou Ger Yang spent four days in the hospital," the paper reports. "He still has water in his lungs, making breathing difficult. But he has recovered enough to go fishing again."
Jerks Topple Cool Giant Fish Display
COUNCIL workmen were repairing the damage to a giant fish on Monday, July 10, after a floral display in the town was vandalised.
A decorative fish in the Triangle was overturned, damaging one of the jewels in the crown of the town's South West in Bloom entry this year.
Joy Seward, vice chairman of Sidmouth in Bloom, said: "We are working hours and hours and hours at the moment, getting everything right to present to the judges on Tuesday morning.
"It's hard because, as fast as you clear up one thing, someone seems to do something silly to another.
"Last year, on the day before judging, one of the fish was turned over.
"Nick Beavis, who made them, came out early in the morning before the judges arrived to repair it.
"It's a shame these people can't put their energy to better use - perhaps they could do some weeding for us instead!"
A police spokesman said they had received no report of the incident.
A decorative fish in the Triangle was overturned, damaging one of the jewels in the crown of the town's South West in Bloom entry this year.
Joy Seward, vice chairman of Sidmouth in Bloom, said: "We are working hours and hours and hours at the moment, getting everything right to present to the judges on Tuesday morning.
"It's hard because, as fast as you clear up one thing, someone seems to do something silly to another.
"Last year, on the day before judging, one of the fish was turned over.
"Nick Beavis, who made them, came out early in the morning before the judges arrived to repair it.
"It's a shame these people can't put their energy to better use - perhaps they could do some weeding for us instead!"
A police spokesman said they had received no report of the incident.
Brits Choose Fishing Over Sex
"New Fishing Grounds - for divorce that is!" -- Ed
Three-quarters of British sport fishermen would rather go fishing than go to bed with their partners, a survey showed on Thursday.
More than half of the 1 000 anglers surveyed by bookmaker Totesport also said they would rather catch a record-breaking trout or salmon than spend a night with a supermodel.
Fishermen who took part in the poll spent, on average, eight times as much money on fishing equipment than on gifts for their partners.
"It is odds on that there are fishing widows the length and breadth of the country that can relate to these results," said Paul Petrie, a spokesperson for Totesport.
Forty-six percent of respondents also said they lied about the real size of their catch to impress their peers. -- AFP
Three-quarters of British sport fishermen would rather go fishing than go to bed with their partners, a survey showed on Thursday.
More than half of the 1 000 anglers surveyed by bookmaker Totesport also said they would rather catch a record-breaking trout or salmon than spend a night with a supermodel.
Fishermen who took part in the poll spent, on average, eight times as much money on fishing equipment than on gifts for their partners.
"It is odds on that there are fishing widows the length and breadth of the country that can relate to these results," said Paul Petrie, a spokesperson for Totesport.
Forty-six percent of respondents also said they lied about the real size of their catch to impress their peers. -- AFP
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Fish With Human Teeth?
A fish caught in Lubbock, Texas, with teeth that look like they belong to a human has baffled wildlife officials in the area, according to a report.
Fisherman Scott Curry reeled in the 20-pound fish on Buffalo Springs Lake and immediately noticed the catch had human-like teeth.
A game warden photographed the fish and is attempting to identify it.
General Manager of Buffalo Springs Lake Greg Thornton told KLBK13-TV in Texas that he has never seen anything like the fish in the 36 years he has lived near the lake.
A search for what the fish may be suggested that it may be a pacu, which is found in South America.
Curry said he believes he saw another similar fish while on the lake.
A Texas television station reported that lake officials will give $100 to anyone catching a similar fish.
Fisherman Scott Curry reeled in the 20-pound fish on Buffalo Springs Lake and immediately noticed the catch had human-like teeth.
A game warden photographed the fish and is attempting to identify it.
General Manager of Buffalo Springs Lake Greg Thornton told KLBK13-TV in Texas that he has never seen anything like the fish in the 36 years he has lived near the lake.
A search for what the fish may be suggested that it may be a pacu, which is found in South America.
Curry said he believes he saw another similar fish while on the lake.
A Texas television station reported that lake officials will give $100 to anyone catching a similar fish.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Exotic Fish Found In Utah
If you had a pet tiger and got tired of it, would you release it in Central Park. You've got to wonder these people! -- Ed
Man catches piranha-like fish in Utah Lake
By Jessie Elder
It started out as a typical fishing day on Utah Lake for Provo native Jack Clements and his two buddies.
"All the sudden this thing caught hold of my line and took off," Clements said.
Exactly what Clements reeled in differs - depending on who is asked.
While Clements is positive the 13-inch fish is a piranha, authorities at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources disagree.
According to the DWR, the fish is not a carnivorous piranha, but its quasi-vegetarian cousin the red pacu.
"Not as dangerous at all," said DWR outreach manager Scott Root. "[But it] still has some scary teeth."
It's the mouthful of teeth that lead Clements and his fishing cohorts to believe he had caught a piranha. Three BYU biology students who were nearby conducting a survey of the fish in Utah Lake when Clements caught the beast were inclined to agree.
The pound-and-a-half fish, measuring 13 inches long, 8 inches tall and 2 inches wide, was turned into the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
The dimensions are rather large for a piranha, which typically range from 6 to 10 inches, a fact Clements attributes to the fish not having stiff competition for food in Utah Lake.
The red pacu, like the piranha, is a freshwater fish native to South America - not Utah.
While the piranha averages between 6 and 10 inches long, the red pacu can grow to up to 30 inches.
What happens, Root said, is people purchase the red pacu from a pet store, and as soon as it gets too big, it is discarded in the nearest body of water. In this case, Utah Lake.
A definitive statement can't be made, but Root said it's safe to assume this was the only fish of its kind at large in Utah Lake.
As for 62-year-old Clements, he said he has never seen anything like this in the 54 years he's been fishing in Utah Lake.
"That pretty well takes the cake, I've never caught anything like that before," he said.
Man catches piranha-like fish in Utah Lake
By Jessie Elder
It started out as a typical fishing day on Utah Lake for Provo native Jack Clements and his two buddies.
"All the sudden this thing caught hold of my line and took off," Clements said.
Exactly what Clements reeled in differs - depending on who is asked.
While Clements is positive the 13-inch fish is a piranha, authorities at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources disagree.
According to the DWR, the fish is not a carnivorous piranha, but its quasi-vegetarian cousin the red pacu.
"Not as dangerous at all," said DWR outreach manager Scott Root. "[But it] still has some scary teeth."
It's the mouthful of teeth that lead Clements and his fishing cohorts to believe he had caught a piranha. Three BYU biology students who were nearby conducting a survey of the fish in Utah Lake when Clements caught the beast were inclined to agree.
The pound-and-a-half fish, measuring 13 inches long, 8 inches tall and 2 inches wide, was turned into the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
The dimensions are rather large for a piranha, which typically range from 6 to 10 inches, a fact Clements attributes to the fish not having stiff competition for food in Utah Lake.
The red pacu, like the piranha, is a freshwater fish native to South America - not Utah.
While the piranha averages between 6 and 10 inches long, the red pacu can grow to up to 30 inches.
What happens, Root said, is people purchase the red pacu from a pet store, and as soon as it gets too big, it is discarded in the nearest body of water. In this case, Utah Lake.
A definitive statement can't be made, but Root said it's safe to assume this was the only fish of its kind at large in Utah Lake.
As for 62-year-old Clements, he said he has never seen anything like this in the 54 years he's been fishing in Utah Lake.
"That pretty well takes the cake, I've never caught anything like that before," he said.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Giant Catfish Protected
Fishers in northern Thailand netted this huge catfish in the Mekong River on May 1, 2005. Nearly 9 feet (2.7 meters) long, the fish tipped the scales at 646 pounds (293 kilograms).
Last month more than 60 fishers in northern Thailand promised to stop catching the critically endangered giant fish, in honor of the King of Thailand's 60th year on the throne.
Photograph by Suthep Knitsanavanin
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Pam's Crowd Pleaser Garlic and Anchovy Dressing
Our good summer neighbors Rick and Pam recently had the extended us over for dinner and Pam made this most excellent dressing that was served over tuna fish, grilled chicken, new potatos, ripe tomatos and lettuce. It was delish and really pulls together a casual summer dining experience. Here is the recipe:
3-4 Anchovy Fillets
1-2 Garlic Cloves
1 Egg Yolk
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper
1 cup olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Chop anchovies and mince garlic. Wisk in mustard, egg yolk, vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Dribble in the oil.
Its good on just about anything!
3-4 Anchovy Fillets
1-2 Garlic Cloves
1 Egg Yolk
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper
1 cup olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Chop anchovies and mince garlic. Wisk in mustard, egg yolk, vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Dribble in the oil.
Its good on just about anything!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Spying on Fish
By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent
OSLO, June 26 (Reuters) - Thousands of marine animals could be tracked under a $150 million project to understand threats to life in the oceans with technology perfected for supermarket checkouts, scientists said on Monday.
Under the scheme, scientists would implant electronic tags into creatures such as salmon, tuna, sharks, sturgeon, penguins or polar bears to register their movements via acoustic receivers on the floors of the oceans or via satellite.
"Today we know less about our marine life -- how these animals live, where they go -- than we know about the back side of the moon," said Ron O'Dor, head of the Ocean Tracking Network to be set up at Dalhousie University in Canada.
Tagging of marine life is now limited to regional projects. The scheme could give insights into wider ocean migrations and the impacts of overfishing or climate change, helping governments manage dwindling stocks.
Some 35 scientists from around the world will meet in Halifax, Canada, from June 27-30 to launch the network, which is seeking funds to set up listening station arrays in the Arctic, the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and the Mediterranean sea.
The scientists are applying for $32 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation to gain tracking technology. That funding is a condition to unlock a total $150 million for the six-year project from other donors around the world.
The implants vary from the size of an almond to an AA battery. When fish pass an array, the implants set off a signal similar to a bar code scanner in a supermarket. Bigger implants can transmit via satellite from creatures that often surface.
OSLO, June 26 (Reuters) - Thousands of marine animals could be tracked under a $150 million project to understand threats to life in the oceans with technology perfected for supermarket checkouts, scientists said on Monday.
Under the scheme, scientists would implant electronic tags into creatures such as salmon, tuna, sharks, sturgeon, penguins or polar bears to register their movements via acoustic receivers on the floors of the oceans or via satellite.
"Today we know less about our marine life -- how these animals live, where they go -- than we know about the back side of the moon," said Ron O'Dor, head of the Ocean Tracking Network to be set up at Dalhousie University in Canada.
Tagging of marine life is now limited to regional projects. The scheme could give insights into wider ocean migrations and the impacts of overfishing or climate change, helping governments manage dwindling stocks.
Some 35 scientists from around the world will meet in Halifax, Canada, from June 27-30 to launch the network, which is seeking funds to set up listening station arrays in the Arctic, the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and the Mediterranean sea.
The scientists are applying for $32 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation to gain tracking technology. That funding is a condition to unlock a total $150 million for the six-year project from other donors around the world.
The implants vary from the size of an almond to an AA battery. When fish pass an array, the implants set off a signal similar to a bar code scanner in a supermarket. Bigger implants can transmit via satellite from creatures that often surface.
Low Fat Fish Ice Cream Anyone?
A deep sea fish is being used to create ice-cream low in fat and calories.
A protein from the blood of the pout fish can lower the temperature at which ice-crystals form, meaning less cream or fat is needed in the final product.
Unilever, the company behind Wall's, Magnum and Carte Dor, has submitted an application to produce the protein using GM technology.
The Food Standards Agency is consulting on whether to allow the technology, which is already approved in the US.
The eel-like pout fish lives at the bottom of the North Atlantic and is able to survive extremely low temperatures, due to a naturally occurring protein in its blood called an ice-structuring protein.
These proteins which can be found in fish, plants and insects protect organisms from tissue damage in very cold conditions by lowering the temperature at which ice crystals grow and by changing the size and shape of the ice crystals.
But rather than extracting the protein from the fish - which Unilever said would be "not sustainable or economically feasible" - the company has developed a way of making the protein in the factory.
The process uses genetically modified yeast to make the protein in large sealed vats.
The genetically modifed yeast is already used in the production of some other foods including cheese.
No genetically modified material would be present in the final product, Unilever stresses in its application to the FSA and the level of the ice-structuring protein in the ice-cream will not account for more than 0.01% of the weight.
Approval
The manufacturing process has already been approved in some other countries including the US where it has been used to make ice-cream which has half the fat and 30% fewer calories than normal.
Low-fat ice-cream could be made using GM technology
An application to use the new technology has been lodged with the Food Standards Agency which is inviting comment.
Unilever said the process had already been approved in the US and other parts of the world.
The FSA said the consultation period was open until 10 July.
"Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market, it must be rigorously assessed for safety.
"In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)."
A protein from the blood of the pout fish can lower the temperature at which ice-crystals form, meaning less cream or fat is needed in the final product.
Unilever, the company behind Wall's, Magnum and Carte Dor, has submitted an application to produce the protein using GM technology.
The Food Standards Agency is consulting on whether to allow the technology, which is already approved in the US.
The eel-like pout fish lives at the bottom of the North Atlantic and is able to survive extremely low temperatures, due to a naturally occurring protein in its blood called an ice-structuring protein.
These proteins which can be found in fish, plants and insects protect organisms from tissue damage in very cold conditions by lowering the temperature at which ice crystals grow and by changing the size and shape of the ice crystals.
But rather than extracting the protein from the fish - which Unilever said would be "not sustainable or economically feasible" - the company has developed a way of making the protein in the factory.
The process uses genetically modified yeast to make the protein in large sealed vats.
The genetically modifed yeast is already used in the production of some other foods including cheese.
No genetically modified material would be present in the final product, Unilever stresses in its application to the FSA and the level of the ice-structuring protein in the ice-cream will not account for more than 0.01% of the weight.
Approval
The manufacturing process has already been approved in some other countries including the US where it has been used to make ice-cream which has half the fat and 30% fewer calories than normal.
Low-fat ice-cream could be made using GM technology
An application to use the new technology has been lodged with the Food Standards Agency which is inviting comment.
Unilever said the process had already been approved in the US and other parts of the world.
The FSA said the consultation period was open until 10 July.
"Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market, it must be rigorously assessed for safety.
"In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)."
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