GAME AND FISH RESORTS. 33 



Madison County— 



Madison. Bear, deer, wild turkeys ; trout, perch ; with other varieties of 

 game and fish. Reached via the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad. 

 Board I2.50 ; guides 75 cents to $1 ; teams $2 to I4 ; boats free. Country rolling 

 and prairie. 



EllavilU. Bear, deer, wild turkey, quail. Reached via the Jacksonville, 

 Pensacola and Mobile Railroad. Board $t.5o to $2.50 jjer day ; teams %-i 



Marion County — 



The Ocklaivahci River. The game once very abundant has been much 

 depleted by wanton destruction. There are still found in fair numbers limpkins, 

 water-turkeys, herons, painted gallenells, coots, eagles. The black bass fishing 

 is good, and alligators numerous. The river is reached by regular steamer. 



Monroe County— 



Between the Caloosatchie River and the Big Cypress Swamp and the Ever- 

 glades, is a country unsurpassed for game. Deer, wild turkeys, ducks and quail 

 are very abundant. In the waters, good cavalli and other fishing. This country 

 is reached via rail to Cedar Keys, thence boat to the Caloosatchie River. For 

 the best sport, provide tent, boat, and camping equipments. A light wagon with 

 mules is also desirable and can be i)rocured at Manatee. The country is open 

 and the land firm. A horse at full speed can be ridden almost anywhere without 

 roads or paths. 



Ifasaau County— 



Ferttandina. Deer, duck, rail and snipe. Reached via steamer from New 

 York, Charleston, and Savannah, and by rail from Jacksonville, and Key West. 

 The Mansion House affords good accommodations. M. W. Downie, proprietor. 



Manatee County — 



Charlotte Harbnr—Bird Key, one mile west of Useppi, is a small island con- 

 sisting of about forty acres and covered with large mangrove trees. It is the 

 roosting place for the multitudes of birds that frequent Charlotte Harbor. On 

 the island will be found pelicans, ganet, cormorants, water turkeys, cranes and 

 herons of all kinds, sizes and descriptions. A person desirous of collecting 

 ornithological specimens would find this a desirable locality. 



Gasparilla Island. The Inlet, at the northern end of this island, teems with 

 red fish ranging from five to twenty pounds, cavalli, weak fish, bone fish, grunts, 

 or red and black grouper of large size. Inside the inner point sheepsheading is 

 excellent, the fish ranging from one to five pounds. With a stout nine foot rod 

 and three hooks baited with fiddlers, from one to three sheepshead can be cap- 

 tured at almost every cast. The water is very clear, and the bottom a white shell 

 bank, and the fish are visible in dozens slowly swimming along in search of food. 

 Fiddlers of large size can be secured in quantity for bait on most of the sandy 

 keys. If placed in an ordinary wooden pail they will live for many days. Red 

 and other fish will readily take cut fish bait, but seem to prefer minnows. 



All the larger islands in the vicinity are stocked with deer, and on most of them 

 dogs are unnecessary ; still-hunting is preferable. Coons in immense numbers 

 exist on these islands and their tracks are visible everywhere near the bay 

 beaches. On the mud flats thousands of snipe and curlews can be seen at any 

 time, apparently waiting to be destroyed. In the centre of the island the sports- 

 man will find a large fresh water lagoon where excellent water can be obtained. 

 The invalid who is piscatorially inclined, and who desires an excellent climate, 

 should spend a few weeks or months on the northern end of Little Gasparilla. 

 The air is pure, water excellent, frost absent, sea-bathing unequalled, fishing 

 beyond description, deer plentiful on the island and on the main land. 



Peace Creek is navigable for eighty miles, and on its banks is fine deer and 

 turkey hunting. Myakka River is full of alligators. 



Egittont. Eugene Coons, son of the light-house keeper, is a good pilot and 

 guide for the game localities of any part oY the Western and Southern coast of 

 Florida. His schooner can be chartered for an excursion, and under his pilotage 

 the trip is pleasant for ladies as well as gentlemen. 



The South-eastern Hunting District. Southwest of Lake Okechobee, nearly 

 to the shore of Charlotte Harbor, and from the Caloosahatchie River to Peace 

 Creek, a distance of sixty miles, the sportsman will find a beautiful prairie, 



