THREE DAYS AT SILVER LAKE, WASHINGTON. 
BY EDGAR F. 
Rumors about the great fishing af- 
forded by this lake had reached us and 
long filled us with a desire to try our 
luck in casting the fly among its game 
denizens, and one morning last June, 
the 27th, two disciples of the ‘‘Im- 
mortal Izaak’’ unanimously resolved, 
‘‘Let’s go.” So packing up our traps 
we made a hurried rush for the train. 
Our exceeding business-like aspect at- 
tracted the attention of a gentleman on 
board whom we found to be a brother 
fisherman, and who further whetted our 
curiosity and desire for the trip by 
picturing in glowing colors the delights 
which he had experienced during the 
preceeding week at Silver Lake, and 
recounted to our delighted ears the 
marvels of sport which it afforded. 
Disembarking at Sumas City we found 
the third member of the party im- 
patiently awaiting ourarrival. Loading 
ourselves with various impediments in 
the shape of blankets, provisions and 
tackle, we took up our line of march 
‘¢on foot-back.”’ Just here let me stop 
to say to any one thinking of visiting 
this lake, don’t start without at least a 
pack-pony for carrying baggage. 
Our way led due east up the big hill 
and by way of the Columbia Valley 
trail, up, up, by a gradual ascent, over 
a fairly good read, past a few scattered 
ranches literally hewn out of the big 
woods, until at a point about nine miles 
east of Sumas we left the wagon road 
which we had been following most of 
the way and took the direct trail for the 
remaining three miles. Now the road 
became rougher, and it was with tired 
CLARK. 
feet and aching shoulders that we finally, 
about 6 p. m., descended the last slope, 
and spread out at our feet lay the shin- 
ing surface of Silver lake. 
Those who are familiar with any of 
the many mountain lakes of the Sound 
country will readily picture to them- 
selves this little sheet of crystal water, 
about amile anda half long shut inamong 
the mountains, wooded to their sum- 
mits, and rising from two to three thous- 
and feet above the level of the lake. 
Embarking in a canoe hollowed out 
of a cedar trunk, we were glad to rest 
ourselves by a paddle across the lake to 
the cabin which was to be our head- 
quarters. We found an empty log hut 
of two rooms, comfortable and dry; one 
provided with a fire-place in which we 
did all our cooking, and the other af- 
fording comfortable sleeping quarters. 
While two of the party arranged mat- 
ters in camp and made a fire for supper, 
the third paddled out and in a few 
minutes returned with twenty fish. 
They were nearly all of the same size, 
about eight and ten inches in length, 
and of a silvery color with but few black 
specks. ‘Their flesh was of a pink color, 
and **the> pink sof perfection)’ “asiito 
flavor. 
Next morning proved dark and 
showery, and after another hearty meal 
of trout and coffee we paddled out to 
explore the lake. We visited the out- 
let which we found to be a small stream 
about six feet wide flowing swiftly to- 
wards the eastward, the waters of which 
are said to reach the north fork of the 
Nooksack. ee 
