Yarmouth and Cumberland (Falmouth, Freeport, Gray: hardwood floors, condo, house)

[Maineah]

I’m sorry to say my familiarity with Cumberland is limited to somewhat ancient history.
My Father was a teacher at Greely High School for 24 years. We lived in West Cumberland for several years on Forest Lake when I was quite young. We always make it back to the Cumberland Fair every fall. There’s nothing like taking in the dairy cows, giant pumpkins, or watching the horse pulling on a nippy September evening. We always make a point of buying a piece of goat milk fudge, and purchase a couple chances on the 4-H beef critter they put up for raffle. A freezer full of prime locally raised beef would be pretty nice! There’s also harness racing and usually one or two national music acts during the week. The Cumberland Fair is “Always in September” which is painted on a barn near the main gate just in case you forget when it is!

[MRVphotog]

Cumberland and Yarmouth are both great palces to live but diferent. My place is in Cumberland Center, last child at Greely HS.

Cumberland is more of a bedroom community in that there is very little commercial activity. A bank tried to move in a few years ago but they were denied. Quiet, except when the schools are either letting in or letting out. Really awesome library and the town maintains a nice cross country trail system with snowmaking. The town has recently bought some farms on the southeast part of town(Rt 9/Winn Rd area) to prevent the sprawl trying to creep up from Falmouth.

Cumberland Foreside is right on the ocean along Rt 88, very expensive.

Yarmouth being on the ocean and Rt 1 has alot of commercial developement but the village is really nice and via the backroads is only 10 min away and it's where I go to buy stuff/banking. The pathway along the Royal River is awesome. Both towns have good schools and I think the people are great.

Here's some pics I stitched together where the Royal River spills into the ocean in Yarmouth Village.

[Maineah]

Nice photos. In between the Route 88 and I-95 bridges. This is also a good striped bass fishing spot in summer. Eels are sometimes netted there in the fall. They are kept alive and shipped to aquaculture farms in Japan!

[elston]

Eel is a favorite fish in Japan both salt water and fresh water ones; I wonder which kind they get there where the river meets the ocean.

In Japan eels are called Unagi; they are smoked or steamed and coated with a sweet sauce (like bbq); delicious. I wonder if when in Japan I ate eels from Maine! Nice thought.

[overleaf]

thank you for the info and the picture mrvphotog

[shadowfax1997]

As previously posted - these town have very low speed limits - especially yarmouth. 25 mph in very country areas that are enforced.

I avoid those town if possible simply for that fact.

[Maineah]

The eels they catch there are just about transparent. They're small about two to three inches long. I've heard them called glass eels or glassene eels.. I worked at Yankee Marina and Yarmouth Boat yard right there after the falls in the photo.
In the fall when we hauled out the floats thousands of those little eels would fall off from under the float and fall back in the water. In fact the crane operator used to let the floats set just above the water for a few minutes so the little eels would have a chance to wiggle off the float and plop back into the river before raising them and swinging them up on to the bank.

[elston]

Originally Posted by Maineah

The eels they catch there are just about transparent. They're small about two to three inches long. I've heard them called glass eels or glassene eels.. I worked at Yankee Marina and Yarmouth Boat yard right there after the falls in the photo.
In the fall when we hauled out the floats thousands of those little eels would fall off from under the float and fall back in the water. In fact the crane operator used to let the floats set just above the water for a few minutes so the little eels would have a chance to wiggle off the float and plop back into the river before raising them and swinging them up on to the bank.

I wonder if they grow up to be the big ol' eels UNAGI ? I used to know a place in NH where large eels got caught in the grates of a dam spill way and eagles would come to get the eels that got tossed up on shore when they cleaned the grates.

I have a feeling those little trasparent eels you discribe must be the fry. Sounds like a very productive spawning grounds.

[Maineah]

I heard that once the eels were shipped to Japan it was another five years in the aquaculture tanks before they were big enough to send to market. They must get a lot of money for them after all that babysitting!

[elston]

Food is very expensive in Japan, and the absolute best quality is the expectation! Fish is by far the most prized and appreciated food. But then again a bowl of really good rice with green tea poured over it, is accepted as a nice meal and some Mom and Pop style resturants have it on the menu. We went to one at the end of the day, where rice with green tea and pickles was the only thing on the menu.

I am hoping that Maine's fish markets will have fresh catch of the day--as we have been very discouraged with the fish available in southern california. My DP particularly likes stronger flavored fish like mackerel and blue fish and... maybe they are just sold in Japan--large sardines and flying fish. I remember my Dad used to catch lots of bluefish (in RI) and couldnt give it away! I am hoping that bluefish is available in Maine---is it?