HUNTING GROUNDS OF FLORIDA. IO7 



the town of that name. The country in the vicinity of Lake 

 Okeechobee was at that time filled with game. 



Deer, turkeys, cranes, and alligators were very numerous. Quail 

 and snipe were to be had in numbers, although they were as not 

 plenty as they are sometimes farther north, in the country about 

 Lake Kissimmee. Ducks were not numerous and were confined to 

 two or three species. 



Southeast from Fort Myers about seventy-tive miles, lies the Big 

 Cypress Swamp, which is the hunting ground of the Seminole 

 Indians. This is to-day one of the best localities in Florida for all 

 kinds of large game. The advent of the white man is not looked 

 upon with favor by the Indians, and they do not encourage his 

 presence in what they believe to be their country. The best way to 

 get to the Big Cypress hunting grounds is by wagon from Fort 

 Myers ; but I am informed it may also be reached by going up the 

 Chockeloskee River as far as it is navigable by boat and then mak- 

 ing a " carry " of about three miles. I have never made this trip 

 and cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information. 



After the middle of April the mosquitoes become very troublesome 

 on the Keys ; but the weather is most delightful, and the fishing im- 

 proves with the warm weather. Northwestern Florida is rarely 

 visited by the sportsman, but those who have hunted in that portion 

 of the State claim that game is abundant. Ducks and beach birds 

 are at times plenty in the vicinity of St. Joseph's Bay and also about 

 Santa Rosa Island and Pensacola Bay. Turkeys and deer are 

 claimed to be very abundant in some of the counties to the north of 

 Cedar Keys, but they are rarely visited and there is little accommo- 

 dation for the traveler. At present such fine shooting may be had 

 in places easy of access that there is little to tempt one to explore 

 these out-of-the-way localities ; but a day will come when North- 

 western Florida will have to be sought by the hunter who desires 

 good sport. 



In the vicinity of Tallahassee the country and climate is delight- 

 ful, and fair quail shooting is to be had within driving distance of 

 the city. Farther to the west, however, deer and turkeys are 



