The Michigan Grayling. 



505 



SWEEPERS IN THE MANISTEE. 



more than half a century old. Soon the stream increased so much 

 in volume, and was so wide, that a tree falling across could not 

 obstruct the passage of our boats ; and finally we came to open 

 water again. And so we ran the stream down to Walton Junction, 

 a hundred and fifty miles by water, while it was scarce fifty on a 

 bee-line. 



The boat used on my first trip is worth description. It was built 

 of white pine; bottom, 1 inch thick; sides, f ; 16 feet long; 2 . 10 

 wide on top, 2 . 4 at bottom, and with a sheer of three inches on each 

 side. The bottom was nearly level for eight feet in the center, with 

 a sheer of five inches to the bow and seven inches to stern. The 

 live-box was six feet from bow, extending back two feet. The sides 

 were nailed to the bottom. Its weight was eighty pounds, and it 

 carried two men — the angler and the pusher — with 200 pounds of 

 luggage. With two coats of paint, it cost about fifteen dollars. The 

 angler sits on the movable cover of the live-box, which is water-tight 

 from other portions of the boat, and has holes bored in sides and 

 bottom to admit of the circulation of the water to keep the fish alive, 

 and as he captures his fish he slips them into holes on the right and 

 left sides. An axe was always taken along to clear the river of fallen 

 logs and sweepers. 



