476 
THE VACATION SEASON. 
Grugan, Chapman, Leidy, East and West Keating and Beech Creek. These sly, 
predatory animals are especially destructive of the farmers’ poultry as well as of all 
kinds of small game. Foxes rarely molest the young fawns, but wildcats, from 
reports of hunters and woodmen, destroy large numbers of fawns annually. 
Black bass were placed in the West Branch river by the State Fish Commissioners 
about ten years ago. Since then they have become abundant, and afford plenty ot 
sport to the angler. The best places to fish for bass are at Lock Haven, Queen’s 
run, Farrandsville, Glen Union, North Bend, Renovo, Westport, and Keating, on 
the West Branch, and at Round Island, Wistar and Sinnemahoning station, on the 
Sinnemahoning river. All the above points are reached on the Philadelphia and 
Erie railroad. 
Brook trout fishing has been fairly good the past season (1891). The favorite 
streams are Baker’s run (Glen Union station), Youngwoman’s creek (North Bend 
station) and Kettle creek (Westport station). On account of many streams—Hy- 
mer’s run, Burn’s run, Hall’s run and others—being recently stocked by the State 
Fish Commissioners, fishing has been prohibited for a period of three years. 
The Diamond Yallf.y, 
another of Pennsylvania’s natural game preserves, located in the western part of 
Huntingdon county, is about one hundred and fifty miles east from Pittsburgh, and a 
little over two hundred westward from Philadelphia, via the Pennsylvania railroad 
(mainline). For many years past this locality has been famous for game—both 
large and small—and in the summer months it is frequently visited by naturalists 
who camp out when searching for specimens. The region has a rich and varied flora 
and fauna, and some rare “ finds ” are said to have been recently made there by 
zoologists and botanists. 
Diamond Valley is twenty to twenty-five miles long and varies from one to three 
miles in width. From the Juniata river—a stream noted for its fine fishing and 
beautiful scenery—it extends northward to the Great Bear Meadows in Centre, Mif¬ 
flin and Huntingdon counties. Tne Tussey mountains rise to a considerable eleva¬ 
tion on the eastern side of the valley, while to the west are the ranges known as the 
Broad Top mountains, where, according to tradition, cruel, blood-thirsty and heart¬ 
less red men, long years ago, were wont to take their captives and subject them to 
tortures far more horrible than death. On these as well as other neighboring mount¬ 
ain ridges, white pine, hemlock, and yellow pine trees grow in abundance. Oaks 
of different kinds are also common, especially the variety called “rock ” oak. 
The mountains range from about 1,000 to 1,200 fee^ above sea level. Brook trout 
are said to be abundant in Globe run and several other of the smaller creeks of the 
district. Diamond Valley is readily reached from either of the following stations 
on the Pennsylvania railroad : Spruce Creek and Petersburg, where good guides 
and hotel accommodations can be obtained. Barree, one hundred and forty-two 
miles from the Smoky City, is the name of anoth:r station where hunters often stop 
off'. The following table will give a very clear idea of the 
Game in Diamond Valley and Near Vicinity.* 
Name op Animal. 
Virginia deer. 
Black bear. 
Otter, . . 
Wildcat, . 
Fox, red. 
Fox, gray, 
Remarks. 
Fairly common, but becoming less so every year; in the season of 1890 sixty- 
five were killed in Diamond Valley. 
Frequent: five captured fall of 1890 in Diamond Valley. 
Rare. 
Rather numerous on some of the mountain spurs. A great destroyer of 
game—grouse, quail and rabbits. 
Common; both devour much poultry and game. 
* Extracts from notes received by the author through the courtesy of Mr. George H Hnrrhinmn of 
Warrior’s Mark. Penna ' oi 
