WHERE TO GO. 



JOHN BOYD. 



The Muskoka lake region is an ideal spot 

 for the guncrank, the camera fiend, the an- 

 gler, the canoeist, or the lover of any kind 

 of outdoor life. 



Only one line of railway enters that fa- 

 mous region, namely, the Grand Trunk 

 system, which, with its connection, the 

 Muskoka Navigation Co., touches all im- 

 portant points. 



If you visit Canada for a period not ex- 

 ceeding 4 months, you may bring in guns, 

 fishing tackle, cooking utensils, bicycles, 

 cameras, tents and camp duffle for your 

 own use. You deposit with the customs 

 officer the duty on the appraised value of 

 the goods, and when you shake the dust 

 of Canada from your feet, you go to him 

 again and get back your money in full, 

 providing you again take the same articles 

 out of the country. 



If you have a first class ticket, you will 

 be allowed free 200 pounds of bona fide 

 camping outfit providing they are prop- 

 erly packed. If you are taking home any 

 game or fish which have been killed in sea- 

 son, you may include 50 pounds of it in 

 your allowance. If you have a dog, put a 

 collar and chain on him, pay for 100 

 pounds excess baggage, and all is O. K. 

 Your guns must be in cases, if you want 

 them in the passenger coach with you. 



Fares for this district are low, planned 

 to meet the requirements of tourists and 

 sportsmen, being put into effect on May 1, 

 and usually good until the close of navi- 

 gation, November 30. 



Before going to the lakes one should 

 visit Sparrow lake, known far and wide 

 for its scenery and fishing. To reach it get 

 off at Severn Station, board a small steam- 

 er, and follow the windings of the river of 

 the same name some 4 miles. The lake is 

 quite large, and abounds in muskalonge, 

 black bass and pickerel. On the land, deer 

 moose, bears and grouse are plentiful. Mr. 

 Stanton or his sons will guide you, but In- 

 dians are also procurable. The former 

 furnishes all kinds of boats, boarding you 

 if desired. Address him at Severn, Ont. 

 In the vicinity are many other interesting 

 spots, such as Morrison lake. Lower, Sev- 

 ern river and Gloucester pool, but on those 

 you will have to go prepared to camp out. 

 If you want scenery, and to see nature 

 looking at herself, you will not miss the 

 Kah-she-she-bog-a-mog river, a wonderful 

 piece of water emptying into Sparrow lake, 

 and rivalling the famous Shadow river. 

 There the camera artist will use his dry 

 plates by the dozen. Camping sites on the 



lakes are free, on request, while on the 

 other waters you squat where you like. 



The Muskoka lakes are some 112 miles 

 from Toronto, 810 feet above the Atlantic 

 ocean, and 572 feet higher than Lake On- 

 tario. They are named Muskoka, Rosseau 

 and Joseph, are respectively 21, 12 and 16 

 miles in length, and vary in width from 5, 

 to 6 miles of open water to channels 100 

 yards across, while in making the trip of 

 some 50 miles you will needs find your way 

 through a maze of nearly 400 islands. 



At Gravenhurst, the town name of Mus- 

 koka wharf, there is fair black bass and 

 pickerel fishing, while out in the adjoining 

 township is a paradise for deer, grouse 

 and hares. P. Milne and J. Scott are local 

 guides who have dogs; boats may be had 

 from A. Ditchburn. 



Leaving Gravenhurst and passing the 

 narrows, we get into open water, and 

 skirting the entrance to Mud bay, enter the 

 Muskoka river, soon to reach Bracebridge, 

 a large and prosperous town, with abun- 

 dant accommodation. This is a prominent 

 center for fishing and hunting trips, as well 

 as the starting point for canoe voyages to 

 the country bordering on the Lake of Bays 

 district. In September speckled trout, 

 black bass and pickerel are most plentiful, 

 but salmon, trout and whitefish are also 

 numerous in Wood, Pine, Leonard and 

 Trading lakes, which are distant 5 to 18 

 miles. Deer, bears, grouse, geese and 

 ducks are shot within a few miles of 

 Bracebridge, though most parties make 

 their camp in the vicinity of Baysville, or 

 on the South Muskoka river. On this 

 stream are the Muskoka falls, a grand 

 sight, being about 150 feet high. John 

 Cooper, of Bracebridge. and John Took, of 

 Baysville, are guides whose services are to 

 be had for any of those waters. 



Coming back again to Muskoka lake, the 

 next interesting point is Beaumaris, located 

 on Tondern island. The town is a fashion- 

 able and popular resort, with a good hotel, 

 and small fishing at the door. Game is not 

 abundant in the vicinity. At the West end 

 of the lake are Torrance and Bala, the first 

 a noted deer and bear section, while the 

 latter provides sport of every description, 

 perhaps the greatest variety to be had in 

 the North country. Bala Hotel, T. Cur- 

 rie, proprietor, and Clifton House, with 

 Mrs. Board as hostess, will furnish good 

 accommodation. Boats may be hired from 

 D. Burgess by the hour, day, week or 

 month. Fish may be caught from the 

 banks of the Muskosh river, right in the 



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