HUNTING AND FISHING GROUNDS AND PLEASURE RESORTS. 61 
dance of oysters, fish, turtle, and sponges. 
Her forests abound in a great variety of 
game. 
vegetables, and have the most beautiful 
flowers in bloom all the year. Her 
orchards bear the most delicious fruits 
and berries, and her vineyards the finest 
grapes that make the best of wine. _Mid- 
dle Florida is bounded on the north, by 
Georgia, on the east by the Suwannee 
River, on the south by the Gulf of Mex- 
ico, and on the west by the Apalachicola 
River. It is from one hundred and 
twenty to one hundred and forty miles in 
length, and from seventy to eighty miles 
in width. A peculiar feature in Middle 
Florida is the number of lakelets of clear 
pure water scattered all over the country, 
varying in size from half an acre to an 
acre or more in extent. They, as a gen- 
eral thing, are very deep, have no outlet, 
and contain an abundance of excellent 
fish. They seem to have been placed 
there for a wise purpose—to supply the 
wants of every family at their own doors, 
without hire or reward, with a splendid 
article of food. In all the countries along 
the Gulf of Mexico, and in nearly all the 
heavily timbered lands in the others, are 
to be found all kinds of game, such as 
bear, deer, wild turkeys, panthers, cata- 
mounts, wild cats, &c. Deer and turkey 
are plentiful. In all the lakes, rivers, 
and creeks are an abundance of the finest 
fish, such as trout, perch, jack or hake, 
catfish, blackfish, bream, &c. On the 
coast there is the finest of oysters, clams, 
turtle, and every variety of salt water 
fish. During the Winter, all the lakes, 
ponds, bays, inlets, rivers, &c., have an 
abundance of every variety of water 
fowl. Sportsmen should visit Middle 
Florida by all means and take a hunt 
and a fish down on the coast. ‘Troy, 
the county seat of Lafayette county, is 
Her gardens vield the finest | 
on the Suwannee River, and is at present 
the head of steamboat navigation. It 
contains about fifty inhabitants. It is 
near one of the best regions for hunting 
in all Florida. New Port, on the St. 
Mark’s River, six miles from the Gulf of 
Mexico, was once an important commer- 
cial place. Above the town is one of 
the finest sulphur springs in the State, 
whose waters contain great curative 
powers, aud have performed almost mir- 
aculous cures. Before the war, invalids 
from nearly all parts of the Union re- 
sorted there to drink of and bathe in the 
health-giving waters of the springs. 
Across the St. Mark’s River, opposite, 
are hunting grounds not excelled in the 
South in all probability. Bear, deer, 
turkeys, &c., are in the greatest abund- 
ance. It is the paradise for sportsmen. 
ROUTES OF FLORIDA TRAVEL. 
The southwest coast of Florida pre- 
sents an attractive field for sportsmen. 
Steamships leave Boston and Baltimore 
regularly for Savannah. Florida can 
also be reached by any of the various 
rail routes, and fares can be ascertained 
by inquiring at any of the principal offi- 
ces. Steamships leave New York for 
Charleston three times weekly, and from 
Philadelphia every Saturday, connecting 
with railroad, and with the staunch, sea- 
worthy, comfortable, and ably officered 
sea-going steamers. Steamships leave 
New York for Savannah three times 
weekly, connecting with the steamers at 
Savannah. If travelers prefer it, they 
can reach Jacksonville from Savannah 
by the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad. Cou- 
pons of excursion tickets will be received 
by the company. ‘Travelers will find this 
road supplied with excellent Pullman 
ears. Gelpcke’s line from New York to 
Fernandina consists of first-class, sea- 
