nS ee ae 
HUNTING AND FISHING GROUNDS AND PLEASURE RESORTS. 
203 
The water in ios upper seed oi Torch. 
River, above the entrance of Rapid Riv- 
er, is ablonielitd ply clear, and in this re- 
spect it is doubted if it is exceeded any- 
where in the world. It is fully as clear 
as that of Lake George, and some say 
that nothing but actual demonstration 
can make them believe that Lake 'Tahoe 
excels it. A silver five-cent piece, it is 
said, has been seen on the bottom at a 
depth of thirty feet, and the captain of 
the boat will corroborate the statement, 
and will also tell you that he has seen the 
bottom of a broken tea-cup at a depth 
of sixty feet. It is marvelously trans- 
parent. The average depth of the lake 
is two hundred feet. It is eighteen miles 
long and two to three wide. Its banks 
are similar to those of Elk Lake, the 
hills toward to the northern end being 
considerable higher, with headlands jut- 
ting out in a manner reminding one of 
the Upper Hudson. Abont a third of 
the way up this lovely sheet of water is 
the outlet to Clam Lake, and of a sub- 
sidisry chain of lakes which branch out 
of the eastern side of the Torch, like the 
lobster’s claw. The whitefish of Torch 
Lake are said to be finer and larger than 
those of the great lakes, and are consi- 
derad the best in the world’ About 
three miles from the northern end of the 
lake stands the Lewis House, on a strip 
of high land, half a mile wide, separat- 
ing the waters of the lake from those of 
Lake Michigan. This establishment ac- 
commodates over a hundred guests, is 
delightfully situated, and well kept, fresh- 
ly-oaught being one of the items of the 
bill of fare. 
Resuming the trip, a few miles south, 
and across to the east shore, is what is 
What is designated out of courtesy “ Rus. 
ssell’s Landing,” minus any dock, and 
embellished with a single log house, at 
a i Wet and wagon can be hired to con- 
_ vey you to Cenral Lake, about four miles 
distant, through thickly wooded hills. 
Central Lake is one of the members of 
the “ Intermediate” chain, and about in 
the middle of it. Intermediate Leke is 
weil stock with muskalonge, weighing 
{from cight to ten pounds, aud also with 
pickerel aud black bass. At the foot of 
Intermediate Lake, about six miles from 
Kkik Rapide is an island adapted for 
camping. But the most enjoyable fea- 
ture of a trip through the Intermediate 
| chain of lakes, is the passage through 
the Intcrmediate River, which is no less 
than three miles of rapids, not danger- 
ous, for the water is not deep enough 
to drown, but enough so to be pleasur- 
ably exciting. With forests on both 
sides, the stream rons over a stony and 
pebbly bed with a velocity that will re- 
quire all the boatman’s experience and 
skill to pilot you safely along. Occa- 
sioually the boat will grind on the bot- 
tom; sometimes one end will catch and 
s ud you waltzing down the current; at 
other times the guides will jump out and 
pull you over the shallower places. It 
is a joyous, rollicking race; all Nature 
laughing, evcn to the woods that shuts 
you in. LUalf way through, Cedar River 
comes dancing in with its clear, ice-cold 
water from the hills; and the two streams 
joined together roll ou to Grass Lake? 
Grass Lake is a sheet of water not far 
from three miles either in length or 
width, and is the best locality for fishing 
in the whole chain. Grass River is a 
winding canal, four miles long, flowing 
into Clam Lake; is lined with reeds, and 
has a deep, silent current. Clam Lake 
is about five miles long, with an average 
width of half a mile; it is hemmed in by 
the same wooded hills as the other lakes, 
with, perhaps, a few more clearings. The 
