The Michigan Grayling. 503 



ON THE MANISTEE. 



with fresh fish. One can leave Bay City by railroad in the morn- 

 ing and arrive at Grayling early enough in the afternoon to embark 

 and drop down-stream seven or eight miles the same night. He 

 should, however, engage boats and pushers beforehand. 



There are two large branches, flowing almost as much as the 

 main stream, that enter the Au Sable. The south-west comes in 

 about forty-five miles below Grayling and the north branch sixty 

 miles below. On this last stream there is a sluice dam, and when 

 it is let off to float logs during the summer and autumn, the 

 water is discolored somewhat, and the fish do not rise as well. 

 One can get all the fishing he wants by running as far down as 

 the south-west branch, which, as already stated, is forty-five miles 

 by water, and is only twelve miles back to Grayling by land. 

 He can engage a wagon at Grayling to come with ice on a stated 

 day and haul back his boats, his luggage, and his fish, thus saving 

 the labor of pushing back up-stream, which would occupy two 

 days of incessant toil. 



When I fished the Manistee several years ago, I went from 

 Grayling with Mr. Fitzhtlgh and another friend, accompanied by 

 our pushers, over " the barrens," a distance of eight miles, to a 

 camp established by I. F. Babbit, to fish with hook and line for 



