RECREATION. 



Volume II. 



FEBRUARY, 1895. 



Number 2. 



G. O. SHIELDS (COQUINA), Editor and Manager. 



TROUTING IN ALASKA. 



Major John Brooke, U. S. A. 



IT was early in the afternoon of a 

 day in June, more than twenty 

 years ago, and away up in that far-off 

 country where rain-clouds hang low 

 and dark over the deep ravines ; where 

 the mountain tops are always white 

 with snow and ice ; where the summer 

 is almost one continuous day, and where 

 stars may be seen in the sky on a 

 winter's noon, that a boat put off from 

 the wharf at Sitka, and sailed for 

 Silver Bay. In the boat were four 

 anglers. One was captain of the cutter 

 which lay at anchor near by ; two were 

 captains of artillery, while the other 

 was known in the vernacular as the 

 medicine man. Each had with him his 

 fishing tackle with the various appur- 

 tenances pertaining thereto. There was 



also an abundant supply of bait in 

 the shape of salmon-roe which a Slavic 

 youth had properly prepared in such a 

 way that it would tickle the palate of 

 the salmon trout, for that was the fish 

 which they intended to allure. 



The boat rounded the rocky little hill 

 where Indians stood off fierce old Baran- 

 off so long, seventy years before, and 

 where now stood the governor's house — 

 a commodious building whose walls were 

 of huge, squared logs. In the corner 

 of the rooms were big, Russian stoves, 

 and there were quaint, old pieces of 

 mahogany furniture, and some choice 

 engravings on the walls, all left by the 

 Russians at the time of the transfer as 

 being a part of " the territory, domin- 

 ion, property, dependencies and appur- 



Photo. by Partridge, Boston. 



SITKA AND MOUNT VOSTOVIA. 



