204 
THE SPORTSMAN’S AND TOURIS1’S GUIDE. 
stream connecting it with ‘Torch Lake is 
very short. 
Elk Rapinds enjoys good facilities of 
transportation, being reached during the 
season by boat service twice daily, and 
connecting with the outgoing trains from 
Traverse City, eighteen miles distant. 
The fishing privileges in this neighbor- 
hood are exceptionably fine, brook trout 
of large size and in considerable num- 
bers having been taken from the waters 
of the lake from off the dock in the vil- 
lage. Bass Lake (distant one mile) is 
full of bass and pickerel, and a fisherman 
need never return empty handed thence. 
Yuba Creek (emptying into the bay six 
iniles toward Traverse City) is a very 
fiae trout stream. A party of five IIli- 
»Oisans who fished this creek two days 
in 1879 caught nearly six hundred brook 
tvout. Within a distance of seven miles 
ivom Elk Rapids down Elk Lake, three 
streams of water strike the lake from 
which are taken large numbers of spec- 
kled trout, Follett?’s—the middle one — 
being the best fishing ground. Rapid 
KKiver (emptying into Torch River near 
the foot of Torch Lake) and Spencer 
Creek (flowing into Torch Lake) are un- 
exeelled in quantity of trout contained; 
and Clam, Grass, and Intermediate lakes 
contain in infinite number the gamey 
bass, pickerel, &c., while trout and gray- 
fing are taken from the Cedar Creek 
(which flows into Grass River) in fair 
quantities. The elegant and commodi- 
ous steamer Queen of the Lakes leaves 
this place on its daily trip through the 
chain of lakes for Torch Lake, whence 
it returns in time to make connections at 
Elk Rapids with the steam yacht Jennie 
A. Sutton for Traverse City and inter- 
mediate points. From Elk Rapids to 
Traverse City the interest of the journey 
is well sustained. A glance at a map 
will show that Grand ‘Traverse Bay is . 
bisected by a narrow peninsula or cape 
which the steamer has to double. Elk 
Rapids is on the eastern arm of the bay 
and Northport on the extreme north, 
and ‘Traverse City at the foot of the 
western arm. ‘The steamer first crosses 
the east arm from Elk Rapids to Mission 
Point, an old French missionary station, 
and then runs due north until it reaches 
Northport. This town is delightfully 
situated on ground rising gently from the 
water’s edge, and commands a fine view 
of the bay. It is one of the healthiest 
towns in the Traverse Region. Its en- 
tire freedom from mosquitoes and gnats, 
its cool, bracing Jake breeze, abundance 
of the finest fish, pure and clear water, 
and its fine fruit, make it one of the most 
desirable places to rest during the hot 
Summer months that can be found. A 
pleasant drive of twomiles brings one to 
the shore of Lake Michigan, whence of- 
ten may be seen as many as fifty sail and 
steam vessels bound up or down, for at 
‘this point the commerce of the great 
lakes is concentrated within, a highway 
of a few miles. Magnificent views are 
obtainable over old Father Michigan’s 
waters—in the distance the Empire and 
Sleeping Bear bluffs, and the Manitous, 
Fox, and Beaver islands being clearly in 
sight, and drawing steady gaze upon 
their outlines. Good accommodations 
may be had at Northport Ly those wish- 
ful to enjoy the pleasures of that place; 
the hotel is good, and several private 
families will provide for a limited num- 
ber of guests. 
Leaving this town by the bay steamer 
you strike a southerly course, and after 
a pleasant ride of a few hours reach 
Traverse City in good season for sup- 
per. 
There are many who are wedded to 
