298 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



a mile in length. The wiud was ahead, the tide was low, 

 water very shallow, and I eould not use I he centreboard -, so 

 1 lowered sail, placed mv fifteenth amendment at tbB oars, 

 steered with my feet, and handled a sixteerL-foot pushing pole 

 with as muel) e'-jse as I would a walking-srick. Mr. Braid 

 did not notice us, and landed on the point referred to, and 

 {gamboled and shook himself like a young puppy. After de- 

 voting a few minutes to gymnastic performances, he took to 

 the water and waded a short distance from shore in the east- 

 ern branch of the lagoon, where he appeared to he searching 

 for shellfish. Just as we were passing out of sight behind 

 the point he noticed us, and I never saw water fly as it; did in 

 that bear's course until he reached the eastern branch of the. 

 lagoon, and as a consequence I missed a shot at the aforesaid 

 bear. I soon passed the track of the animal and found it to 

 oe a bearish highway. The white sand of the bottom of the 

 lagoon was covered with ore. or two inches of dark mud, 

 with a luxuriant growth of aqueous vegetation. The bear 

 track wa3 about three feet wide, wilh a clean, white sand 

 bottom, the mud and vegetation having been removed by the 

 frequent crossing of a bear or bears and the action of the 

 water. Memo. — It might he advisable to spend a few hours 

 hidden in the bushes on the points. ! proceeded another 

 mile or over, and lauded at a large bed (if rushes. I started 

 my man Friday in searh of the canal, and I engaged in 

 spreading out and airing the contents of the boat. X made a 

 reconuoisance some fifty 3 aids from the boat, and found a 

 well beaten deer track through the rushes, at least two feet 

 wide, evidently used daily by the deer to reach the fresh 

 1 'i the lagoon. Pour hours after his departure my col- 

 ored companion returned very much excited." He had failed 

 to discover the canal, but stated that he started several tor. 

 keys ; dfer tracks were everywhere, and '• bear cjlips " could 

 beTound in every direction. I era 



until 1 visited tee locality, 1 have reason to believe that a gun, 

 bad not been filed in this ■ - B ::-- last Indian war. 



i stowed plunder, dropped down the lagoon, killing quan-. 

 turn •«■'/. of fat ducks for supper and breakfast, and came to 

 anchor in the little harbor previously described. To 1 repare 

 [or to-morrow's lubota I retired early, nnd for some time 1 

 was favored with a serenade. The performers were at least 

 half a dozen huge alligators posted within •aie-etgbfh of u 

 mile of my anchorage. For a time these Uneducated musi- 

 cians indulged in their bellowing, and 1 complimented them 

 in language which 1 need riot repeal. Having no alternative 

 but to listen to the melody, I ultimately deposited myself in 

 the arms of Morpheus, and slept as only the mat 

 sleep. At 3 a. m. 1 roused my sleepy companion and in- 

 structed him to proceed to the northward five miles, unless he 

 discovered the canal at a nearer point, and to return at a. m. 

 to breakfast. At G a. m. I had coffee, stewed duck, breakfast 

 bacon and fried potatoes ready for the party, aud my man 

 appeared with the glad tidings that he had fouud the canal. 

 We breakfasted, and lauded on the sandy bank between the 

 bay and the gulf, when I discovered a number of tracks, aud 

 upon examination found that a dter had visited the sand spit 

 during the night and had remained some time to view the un- 

 usual visitor anchored within fifty feet of him. Xear by I 

 noticed a number of bear tracks, and after proceeding a short 

 distance along the beach, I made an investigation of the 

 tracks, and found that an old bear and two cubs had been in- 

 dulging in a nocturnal promenade, aud having noticed the 

 boat, they had stopped aud discussed the queer object. 



Proceeding three miles to the northward, along the beach, 

 my man directed my attention to a stake, and informed me 

 that he had placed it opposite the end of the canal. Taking 

 a near cut I reached the canal a short distance from the beach. 

 When nearing the canal, my attenlicn was directed to a clear 

 spot in the grass where a bear had slept, the night before, and 

 before departing had left a large " chip." The canal extend- 

 ed from east to west, at a right angle with the shore line, for 

 three hundred yards, and then in an E. N. B, direction for 

 the lagoon. The earth from the excavation had been deposited 

 on each side. The bottom of the canal was twelve feet wide 

 and eight feet deep. The height of Ihe banks are four feet 

 above the present surface of the adjoining land, and the 

 present bottom of the eaual is four feet below. Owing to 

 the action of the water and winds, a sand bank of over one 

 hundred feet wide obstructs the gulf end of the 'canal. The 

 present bottom of the canal is but little, if any, above high 

 water mark, and before it was partially filled by the action of 

 wind and rains, it was probably navigable at any stage of tide 

 for canoes. 



The question naturally arises, What for, and by whom was 

 this excavation made? The absence of shell mounds, Ihe un- 

 productive character of the soil on the peninsula and the main 

 land, and the liability to hurricane overflow negatives the 

 opinion that a large or even small population ever lived in this 

 section. Engineering talent was manifested in designing the 

 couisit of the canal in" relation to the gulf, from the fact that 

 the commencement of the canal is at a right angle with the 

 gulf. Owing to the presence of the embankments and the 

 directness of ils course it could not have been the result of 

 of any aqueous action. If dug for defensive purposes the 

 earth would not have been deposited on bath sides, and the 

 party constructing the work could have been attacked in the 

 rear. It seems singular that this excavation should have been 

 made for canal purposes, for a number of passes from the 

 lagoon and inside the passage must have existed when the cut 

 was made. From the character of the timber and the width 

 and depth of the passes, it is probable that these inlets have 

 existed from all lime. It has been suggested that this canal 

 was dug by thu Spaniards. They made no settlements in 

 this portion of the State, aud if they had, there is no evident 

 reason why they should, have excavated a canal from the 

 lagoon to the gull when navigable passes existed to the south. 

 It is hot likely that it was excavated by the Seminoles, for 

 they were too lazy to expend the muscle necessary to com- 

 plete such a work. Thu only conclusion 1 can arrive at is 

 that the excavation was made, by a prebistoric^race. The 

 gigantic shell mounds on 1'ine Usippi and iMai'co Islands and 

 other points in this section, and the immense burial mounds 

 on Fish Eating Creek and near the Big Cypress, indicate that a 

 a large population inhabited this region in days of yore. _ The 

 best "evidence that can be advanced regarding the antiquity of 

 these shell mounds, is the fact lint they are covered with 

 from one to four feet of dark alluvial soi', the sequence of the 

 accumulation of decomposed vegetable matter. One peculi- 

 arity about this canal is the fact that in width and depth it 

 corresponds with those on Fine Island anil the main laud. It 

 is to be regretted that some of our scientific institutions or 

 publishers oE magazines or newspapers do not take steps to 

 have a thorough exploration made of the canals and mounds 

 of the south coast. They should be examined and described 

 before they are taken up by settlers and rendered inaccessible. 

 The shell mounds are high and the soil upon them deep and 

 remarkably productive, and one by one they are being settled 



and cultivated. The ancient mounds are worthy of investiga 

 tion, and if is to be hoped thai some one will accomplish the 

 object before they are planted with bananas, pineapples and 

 other tropical productions. It is to be regretted that the New 

 York Hcrnid does not interest, itself in the examination of the 

 ancient remains of one of our own States, one of ihe first settled, 

 and a large portion of which is unexplored and presenting an 

 held for research, both scientific and ai clucological. 



Having wasted some paper and ink in referring to the 

 ancient canal, I will try my hand at a " fish story." The 

 quantity of fish that exists along the southwest coast of 

 Florida is surprising. Along this portion of the coast a sand 

 bar exists trom tweuty to thirty feet from the beach at low 

 tide. Inside of the bar is a channel with two feet of water at 

 low tide. It was low tide as I returned ; the gulf was with- 

 out swell or a ripple, and 1 followed the beach to the inlet. 

 For the first two miles the channel was literally blocked with 

 large fat mullet swimming rapidly fo the north. For the last 

 mile, before reaching the inlet, the bottom of the channel was 

 actually hidden by Eheepshcad ranging from one to four 

 pounds. It is probable that in no other portion of the globe 

 do fish exist in such immense quantities as on the southwest 

 coast of Florida. 



The peninsula north of Doctor's Pass is the only point be- 

 tween Punta Rassa and Cape Sable where the main-land abuts 

 on the gulf. The peninsula and the main-laud east of the 

 lagoon are thinly covered wilh pine Umber, with occasional 

 patches of cabbage palm and live oak, and from our own ob- 

 servations we conceive this locality to be unequaltd for its 

 sporting attractions. Ducks can be found in the lagoon and 

 snipe and Curlew in quantity on the beach or mud flats and 

 ojstcr liars. If the sportsman has a weakness for 'gator 

 shooting, he will find these customers ingTeat quantity and of 

 large size. The main. laud can be reached, from thi 

 side of the lagoon, and the spoilsman can extend his wander- 

 ings to I he everglades. My friend Mr. Williams, who has 

 been engaged in surveying for over thirty years in various 

 portions el Fonda, and who surveyed this section four years 

 ago, assured me that it contains more deer, beat and turkey 

 tbim any other portion 1 the State, One advantage apper- 

 taining la this oountry is Uie few rattle-snakes lo be found. 

 Mr. Willi a . . ■ . roved the section between Fort Myns, 



tlli Caloo-h ■'.■:, v ih : t.'vp-.vss and the Gulf, informed me 

 that between January aud July he and his staff ran over 1?0()0 

 miles of tines, :nu\ I hey found but sis r.utlers When he was 

 camped 1 hit ly mil s N. E. of Doctor's Pass two Indians 

 camped by him for twelve days. They hunted but a few 

 luurs dai)y T end only killed the Very largest deer. Their rifles 

 were ninety to the pound, and" inter! >r muzzle-loaders. 

 When they broke up camp Mr- Williams counted their hides 

 and found the number to he eighty-seven. Doctor's Pass is 

 but thirty miles from Punta Lassa, where a post office and 

 telegraph station exist, affording the means of hearing from 

 and communicating with home. Arrangements could be 

 made to have telegrams forwarded to camp by sail boat. 



At. Fresco. 



Far Forest and Stream and Jiod and Own . 

 SPORT IN IOWA. 



CHICKEN SHO0T1NQ AT OLBAJi LAKE. 



J MADE a new departure this year. Heretofore I have- 

 gone West alone or with a company of sportsmen. This 

 season my better haLf determined to accompany me. We had 

 old friends iu Clear Lake, Iowa, and we decided to make 

 that point our headquarters. We left home on the 9th or 

 September aud reached Clear Lake the 10th. Mr. F. J. Bush, 

 Esq., an old friend, wa3 not an enthusiastic sportsman years 

 ago when I knew him first, but now, when I saw a knowing 

 old pointer enjoying the freedom of the house, and found that 

 B. owned a good Parker breech-loader and a fine team of 

 horses, my doubts disappeared as to his predilections in these 

 latter days. We talkel over old times throughout the even- 

 ing aud were at it again early next morning. 



All old sportsmen will realize my impatience to be off for a 

 hunt. I was beginning to think that the day would go by 

 without :my sport of my favorite kind. About 10 o'clock B. 

 ltisiirely remarked that" we might as well hitch the team to a 

 platform spring covered Wagon that could be had, and take 

 all the forks out for a html. I assented, but did not antici- 

 pate any shooting. The lateness of the hour, and with a 

 wagon load of ladies, what could we do, I n asoned. We 

 went soon off. The road ran along beside the lake, a beauti- 

 ful sheet of water eight or ten miles long and from two to 

 three miles wide, surrouudtd by wooded hanks. We enjoyed 

 the ride, and the ladies seemed lo relish it so much that I felt 

 compensated for the disappointment of what I considered 

 would prove a fruitless hunt. 



We struck out into the prairies when four or six miles from 

 town, and soon came to some large stubble fields, the old 

 pointer (Don) rauging far and near as we drove along through 

 Ihe unfenced fields. -Mrs. B. exclaimed, in tones that assuied 

 me that she had been there before, "Look at old Don!" 

 Sure enough, there he stood as firm as a rock. We drove up 

 near enough for the ladies to see the shooting, and alighted 

 from the wagon to find a handsome covey of full grown birds. 

 We had delightful sport for a time, and when noon came 

 around we brought out the well tilled lunch baskets by the 

 side of a huge straw stack nnd pariook of substantial*. We 

 afterward continued riding and hunting, the ladies entering 

 with as much enthusiasm into the sport as those who shot the 

 chickens. Mrs. li. had a ,'ew days previous killed a prairie 

 chicken on the wing— the first she had evtrshotat. We 

 turned homeward -after bagging twenty chickens, fully con- 

 vinced that, th- -ru was no pleasanter way of hunting, and that 

 it can hi- made as practicable, invigorating and exhilarating a 

 pastime for ladies as for gentlemen. 



It is the exercise that the ladies of this country most need 

 The great attention now being paid to archery by the fair sex 

 is a step in the righl direction. Go forward, ladies ; there 

 are joys in store for you that you have not jet dreamed of. 

 We reached home in ample lime lor an early supper, and 

 feasted on our young fried chickens. So ended the first day 

 at Clear Lake. 



A few days afterward we bagged thirty-eight chickens. We 

 started earlier, and drove further and had more hunters. We 

 found the fishing iutue lake pretty good, although we caught 

 small fish. There are excellent pleasure boats to be had— two 

 steam yachts besides sail and row boats. There is a delight- 

 ful island across the lake two or three miles from town where- 

 on was once a fine hotel, but n was burned a few years ago 

 Clear Lake is the great resort In that part of the country, and 



-very vear excursion tickets arc sold From the oil ies of Chicago, 

 St. Louis, Milwaukee and many smaller | ' 



book sb 1 1 - rare iii 



We finally arranged, as a grand closing jinale. a trip across 

 the country, 130 miles, to Spirit. Lake. 



Tour readers all know something of the region about tho 

 Okiboji and Spirit Lake, but to fully appreciate it they s 

 start, as we did, a long ways off, and gradually approach 11 

 wirh the anticipations and expectations hunters have when 

 traveling toward a great game resort. Dr. Mills and wife, of 

 Freeport, 111., joined us at Clear Lake, as we had previously 

 arranged. 



We passed through the towns of Garner, Drift, Wesley and 

 Algona, all small places, except, the last named, which is a 

 finely located town of 2,000 inhabitants, and until quite re- 

 cently the terminus of the Iowa division of the Milwaukee 

 and St. Paul It. K. We had a rest and good accommodations 

 at the Bongey Douse. Afler leaving A. we found a very now T 

 and unoccupied country. We were just in the wake of the 

 track-layers, who were putting down two and a half miles of" 

 iron each day to fulfill the terms of a contract. The new 

 road passes through Ihe towns of Ernniettsburg and Spencer j 

 the latter is the nearest railroad point to Spirit Lake, being 

 distant only twenty-two miles. The beautiful scenery and 

 West Okiboji Lake broke upon our vision just as the sun was 

 setting. We crossed between Bast and West Okiboji on a 

 narrow road aud saw hunters and fishers camped near, who 

 reported game and fish plenty. We were yet three miles dis- 

 tant from the village of Spirit Lake, and were beginning to 

 f.-i-l somewhat fatigued after our long carriage ride, and our 

 part of them, acted as if it was the longest run for the 

 r u.1 i Of hunting they had ever expeiieimcd, so that we 

 all fully appreciated the comfortable surroundings of the 

 Minne Waukrm House, which we reached in a short lime. 



After a refreshing supper we sent for a friend and sports- 

 111:111. Rev, Mr Ckrppocfe, Who came and greeted us heartily, 

 and laid plans wilh us for two days' big" duck shooting ten 

 miles from town. He said, though, if we fc 

 anxious to begin business that he would call at. the hotel he- 

 fore daybreak next morning fbl title Shi itil I a duck 

 pass within ten minutes' walk from the house Dr. M. and I 

 included tat would suit as the weath id been 



Cbai ming during our three days' lit!- ■_■.,■■ png the 



night, and We were awakened by the hard rain. We con- 

 gratulated ourselves in being so well housed, end knowing 

 that our horses and dogs wci'3 all comfortable and that ducks 

 would not be scared away by wet weather, we turned over 

 and let it rain. 



We were up betimes for the Domine, who came in the dcrk 

 with his lantern to show us the way. " The wind was blow- 

 ing great guns" from the north, and we amused the ducks, 

 shooting several feet behind Ihem, as they come down like 

 streaks of lightning. We bagged a few, however, and re- 

 turned to the hotel for breakfast — for a warm meal and a con- 

 sultation. It was deemed advisable to give up the proposed 

 trip to the Little Sioux River on account of the wind and 

 muddy roads. We spent a good part of the day indoors, but 

 could not refrain from doing some duck Bhootiug near town. 

 We bagged over twenty during the day, and I had the pleas- 

 ure of killing my first canvas-back. We had a variety of 

 kinds— canvas-backs, mallards, red-heads and teal. The 

 landlord's son had bagged a line wild goose the day of our 

 arrival, and it was served up in elegant style for our dinner. 



We decided that our second day should be spent iu fishing 

 at Spirit Lake. It was two miles 10 the point on the lake we 

 wished to make. The party was divided, two going in a row- 

 boat and two in the carriage. Those in the boat bad some 

 duck shooting on the way up nnd bagged quite a number. 

 We were told by resident fishermen that it was a poor day for 

 fishing. The lake had been churned all day and half ihe 

 night before by the wind, and the little wind then blowing 

 was from the wrong quarter. We tried it, however, nnd it 

 seemed big to us. We caught a nice stiiug of fine fish — 

 mostly pike, none of which weighed less than two and a half 

 pound-;, and several pickerel, two of which weighed eight 

 pounds each. W r o were well satisfied aud are willing to pro- 

 nounce Spirit Lake the best filace for fishing we ever saw. 

 Strange to say, however, there are no black bass caught there. 

 We started for home by a new road next morning, and al- 

 though we took time to bag some prairie chickens by the 

 way, we reached Esthei ville, our first stopping place, at noon. 

 W'e fouud the worst accommodation aud the biggest prices at 

 the Estberville House of any place vm had struck ; and what 

 made it ail the more provoking, w r e lound that we being 

 strangers " were taken in " and made to pay double the regu- 

 lar rates, besides furnishing all the game. 



Our next place was most satisfactory. A farmer— Mr. Gid- 

 dings by name— who keeps travelers, accommodated us, al- 

 though three others had arrived before us. We had good 

 meals, good beds— though on tha floor— and were charged 

 reasonable prices. Dr. BJ. and I arose at daybreak next morn- 

 ing and repaired to a wheat stubble to " lay low for ducks." 

 We had the pleasure of killing a dozen of large, fat mallards, 

 and getting back to the house in time for an early breakfast 

 and an early start. Sportsmen can make a note of this place. 

 Mr aud Mrs. Ciddings are just the people to entertain iu Ihe 

 right way. There is abundance of game near the house, and 

 the rates f ! a day His place is six miles north of Emmetts- 

 burg, near the head of Medium Lake, and only a few miles 

 from Swan arid Mud lakes. We all decided to go there again. 

 We found a great many chickens along the road, but they 

 were in large flocks and wild. We bagged several, however. 

 We came to the Des Moines River, near Algona. The 

 team was driven to town, and we hunted ducks around a big 

 bend. We dropped five teal out of a flock, and while they 

 were being handsomely retrieved by Spy— Dr. Willis' splen- 

 did frish spaniel— two mallards came over, and by a long 

 shot we winged oue that fell on the other side of the river, 

 away off in a swampy place. Spy cast his eye up and saw 

 that'the duck was wounded, so he struck out after him, and 

 after a long and faithful hunt, he came with him in gallant 

 style. VVe soon afterward killed a wood dunk, aid 

 our shooting for the trip. We had as much game as we could 

 possibly use and we had no desire lo waste it.. We reached 

 Clear Lake the next, eve, aud after a night's rest we started 

 for home, feellug that we had enjoyed a pleasant ani 

 ful trip. 



Th; rides through the wide prairies those bright, beautiful 

 days would have repaid us richly for Ihe expense and trouble 

 of getting out there; and the shooting was as g 

 mauy places, although there was a scarcity of young chickens. 



and summer has caused the deficiency, but unti 

 iheie has been a wanton and disgraceful destruction of chick- 

 ens, I was told of burners who had paired ol! 

 against each other on wagers, and killed birds by the hun- 

 dreds that were left lying in the fields. 



