326 BLOOMING GEOVE PAEK. 



bleau and the Grand Duchy of Baden. Both gentlemen 

 had the necessary knowledge and experience to guide them 

 in their undertaking, Mr. Giles having been a resident of 

 France for six years, and engaged actively in field sports, 

 both in the forests of Fontainebleau and in Germany, while 

 Mr. Scott has always been regarded good authority in 

 matters piscatorial, and is well known as the author of 

 " Fishing in American Waters." 



Great difficulty was experienced in finding a sufficiently 

 large tract of land anywhere near New York that contained 

 the necessary requisites of stream, lake, upland, lowland, and 

 forest ; but at last a spot was found perfectly suited to the 

 purpose in Pike county, in the extreme north-eastern por- 

 tion of the State of Pennsylvania. Here fine streams were 

 found running through pleasant valleys, eight beautiful lakes 

 were wdtliin easy walking distance of each other, and a range 

 of high wooded hills crossed the southern end of the tract. 

 To add to the advantages and attractions of the country, 

 deer were already found in the woods in great numbers, and 

 woodcock, ruflFed-gi'ouse and wild pigeons were met with at 

 every turn. The streams were already stocked with splendid 

 trout, and the tract seemed really a sportsman's paradise. 

 One of its greatest advantages was its proximity to New 

 York, being distant from the city only four and a half hours 

 by the Erie Kailroad ; and the sportsmen who had conceived 

 the idea of establishing an American Fontainebleau, saw at 

 once that they fiad found the proper location for it. About 

 twelve thousand acres of land were purchased, and in such a 

 form as to include all the finest of the lakes, the mountain- 

 ous country, and the best of the streams, the entire property 

 being located in the townships of Blooming Grove, Porter, 

 and Greene. It was at once decided to form a club of 

 gentlemen fond of sporting for the purpose of improving, 

 stocking, and enclosing the tract. The result was the incor- 

 poration, in March, 1871, of the "Blooming Grove Park 

 Association." 



