April S, 1893] 
THE FISHING GAZETTE 
253 
ZIG-ZAG ROUTES TO CHICAGO 
FOR ANGLERS. 
{Continued from 'page 227.) 
By Rux. 
Leaving Troy we bid the steamboat adieu, and, 
boarding the train, proceed on our rambles by 
the Ranselaer and Saratogo Railway. The line 
passes through Green Island in midstream of 
the Hudson, directly opposite being the mouth 
of the Mohawk river, whence, leading us by 
one' or two unimportant villages and the once 
popular Ralston Spa, we finally reach the most 
fashionable summer resort under the sway of the 
stars and stripes—Saratoga Springs. 
Taking np our residence at the United States 
Hotel, allowed to be one of the best organised 
establishments in America, we, for a day or so, 
amuse ourselves sampling Saratoga mineral 
waters. If taken in judicious quantities, tem¬ 
pered with a modicum of special Scotch or 
Robinson County Bourbon, the draugh! will, I 
understand, have a very beneficial effect on 
sportsmen who are in any way nervous in casting 
the fly or drawing trigger. 
The height of the season is in July and August, 
when several regattas are held on the lake four 
miles distant from the village. This sheet of 
water holds both bass and perch, the latter under 
favourable circumstances, affording pretty fair 
sport, but— 
“ Oft have I seen a skilful angler try. 
The various colours of the treacherous fly. 
When he with fruitless pain hath skimmed the brook. 
And the coy fish rejects the skipping hook.” 
Saratoga is an excellent point from which to 
take excursions to the Adirondacks, but I 
purpose making the round trip, accompanied by 
the reader, to the head of Lake Champlain by boat, 
and then return overland through the mountains 
to the Springs. Leaving Saratoga, we take the 
train, and passing through Port Edward proceed 
to Caldwell, situated at the foot of Lake George, 
a noble sheet of water thirty-six miles long and 
from one to four miles broad. Its now peaceful 
shores were at one time the scene of many hard 
fought engagements between the British forces 
and those of the French settlers. Steamers ply 
between Caldwell and Baldwin, situated at the 
head of the lake, three times every day. Depart¬ 
ing from the pier, the boat stops en route to pick up 
passengers who are sojourning at the Lake House 
or Fort George Hotel, when, continuing her cruise, 
she quickly reaches Diamond Island, the scene 
of a terrible battle between the Revolutionists 
and the English forces in 1777. Farther on are 
a couple of islets, called the Two Sisters, where 
the best fishing in Lake George can be had. 
Here the boat stops, and embarks the guests 
who have been staying at the well-known hotel, 
the Trout Pavilion. Again under weigh, our 
craft crosses the lake, and during the passage 
Dome and Recluse Islands—the latter a lovety 
retreat—may be seen to the no'-th, whilst to the 
east a glimpse is caught of the Port Ann Moun¬ 
tains. The next landing place is Bolton, a 
picturesque village, in rear of which is Prospect 
Mountain, commanding delightful lake and valley 
scei.ery. Calling at the Sagamore Hotel, a com¬ 
fortable house built within the last few years, 
the boat soon passes the Shelving Rock, and then 
touches at Green Island, where there is auAngler’s 
Rest, much frequented by the Waltonian Brother¬ 
hood. Gliding onward »e soon enter the Narrows, 
where the lake becomes more like a river. The 
shores converge, and cautiously our skipper 
guides his vessel as she winds her way through 
a perfect labyrinth of islands, which are said to 
equal in number the days of the year (leap year 
not included). The mountain to the east is 
Black Mountain, the highest peak in the vicinity. 
Beyond this is Sugar Loaf, and to the west is 
Deer s Leap Mountain. As we pass through I he 
Narrows the boat stops at Hague, which is 
considered a good angling quarter. Leaving here, 
the lake narrows still more, and the steamer 
passes under the Nose of our old friend Anthony 
on the east, and Roger’s Slide on the west. This 
latter place takes its name from a gallant officer 
called Rogers, who, being chased by redskins, 
suddenly found himself at the edge of the cliff. 
He was at the same time running on snow shoes, 
which he quickly reversed, and retired down a 
ravine, where he hid.. When the savages arrived 
on the scene, they, finding all the footprints in 
the snow leading to the edge of the bluff, came 
to the conclusion that the Major had tumbled 
over the precipice. Thus owing to presence of 
mind, he affected an absence of body which saved 
his scalp. 
Skirting along the shore of Prisoners Island, 
where in days gpne by the French kept their 
captives, the boat soon reaches Baldwin, where 
the passengers disembark and take the train to 
Ticonderoga, five miles distant. This is the out¬ 
let of Lake George, which here falls thirty odd 
feet as its waters pass into Lake Champlain. 
Lake Champlain lies between tbe State of 
Vermont on the east and New York to the west. 
It is 12tj miles long, and varies in width from 
one-quarter of a mile to fourteen miles. The 
steamer starts from Ticonderoga at 1.30 p.m., 
and, passing by an old fort which recalls many a 
thrilling incident of the war in 1775, stops at 
Crown Point landing. Leaving here, the boat 
slowly rounds the promontory, on which may be 
seen the ruins of several old military defences, 
originally erected by the French settlers. The 
channel now becomes very narrow, but on 
approaching I’ort Henery it widens out into the 
broad Balwagga Bay. The next village of 
importance we touch at is Westport, and ten 
miles beyond is the Split Rock, where a portion 
of the mountain is separated from the mainland 
by a remarkable cleft in the rocks, and, passing 
this curious freak of nature. Grand Lake is entered 
with the beautiful green mountains on our right. 
From here a short trip brings us to Burlington, 
near to which is the wonderful cafion at High 
Bridge, where the rapid Winooski River has 
carved its course through the solid rock. From 
Burlington the steamer crosses the lake to Port 
Kent, and as we travel north the scenery increases 
in beauty, and the boat soon enters the narrow 
passage that lies between Vulcan Island and 
the shore. We are now at the last stage of the 
beautiful lake cruise, for the next landing place is 
Plattsburg, the terminus of the steamer route. 
Before bidding farewell to Lake Champlain, it is 
well to state that this magnificent expanse of 
water is well adapted for yachting, its depth in 
many places being over 300 feet, and along its 
shores are several harbours, well protected and 
having good anchorage. Its clear, cold waters 
are well stocked with various kinds of fish, which 
afford ample sport to the angler. In the early 
spring and autumn thousands of wild fowl on 
passage make this lake their feeding ground, and 
a few miles from its western shore both large 
and small game are still to be found. From 
Plattsburg the traveller can, if he so desires, 
proceed to Rouses Point, whence taking the tram 
to Ogdensburg, on Lake Ontario, he can from there 
{via Toronto) continue his western journey to 
Chicago, or from the same place (Rouse's Point) 
proceed to Montreal, and then by the same route, 
described in a former article, reach the scene of 
the World’s Fair. Our cruise on Lakes George 
and Champlain having come, I trust, to a pleasant 
termination, we will now set off to explore the 
Adirondacks. To give a very full and detailed 
description of this beautiful region would require 
the entire letterpre.ss of the F. G. for several 
is'ues. This, even if permitted by the angling 
editor, would be highly detriment,al to the 
interests of the Spey, the Dee, the Spree, the 
Ballinamuck, the Mullagatawny, and other- 
foreign streams, so I shall, as they say in America, 
“cheese it,” or, in other words, put as much 
matter as possible in the minimum of space. 
This remarkable district is about one hundred 
miles in diameter, and is divided into several 
sections, such as the Saranac, the Chateaugay, 
&c. The whole of this vast wilderness is inter¬ 
sected by a network of lakes and streams, which 
not only give the scenery a very picturesque 
appearance, but afford a convenient means of 
transit, not only for the sportsman but also for 
those in search of the many beauties of nature. 
Some of the streams are navigable for canoes 
and small boats, whilst owing to rapids and 
cascades in others, it is frequently necessary to 
obtain the assistance of Indian packers. The 
sport to be had with rod and gun in these 
favourite happy hunting grounds was at one 
time second to none in the Eastern states, but 
railways and the advance of civilization have 
helped in a great degree to thin out the monarchs 
of the forest and the denizens of the deep. 
Despite, however, the increase of visitors that 
annually flock to the forests and streams of this 
locality of big game, deer and bear are still to 
the fore, and although the angler must take his 
fish cum grano saKs, ho can certainly rely on 
having fair sport. The best fishing months in 
the Adirondacks are May and June, whilst 
October is considered the most favourable time 
for shooting. 
Leaving Plattsburg, the railway carries us to 
Ausable, on the Ausable River. From here the 
tourist can take the train to Birmingham Falls, 
and visit this splendid cataract and the Ausable 
Chasm. Taking up our quarters at the Lake 
View Hotel, we proceed to explore this interest- 
ing locality. In rear of the hotel are some 
steps which the tourist will descend to the road 
below, leading to the Chasm. This remarkable 
gorge is formed by tbe Ausable River, which, 
owing to its terrific force, has cut its way through 
solid rock. On reaching the bridge, which is 
just beneath the hotel, we cross to view the 
Birmingham Falls, which descend with terrific 
noise over a precipice of seventy feet in height, 
the water then passing into the dark abyss be¬ 
low. Re crossing, we then descend another flight 
of steps that will lead us to the bottom of the 
chasm, and thence continuing our wanderings we 
visit successively the Horse Shoe Falls, Pulpit 
Rock, Devil’s Slide, His Satanic Majesty’s 
Punch Bowl, and Jacob’s Well, till finally, having 
dropped our cards in what is known as the Post 
O ffice, we re-cross the stream and land on Table 
Rock. Here we take a boat, and, descending the 
foaming torrent at lightning speed, soon reach 
tranquil waters, and, alighting on terra finna, 
regain our hotel. Returning by train to 
Ausable village, we hire a buggy and take the 
road which leads through tie famous Wilming¬ 
ton Pass. To the left is the towering White Face 
Mountain, the ascent of which can be made from 
Wilmington by a good road, guides and hOrses 
being easily procured at the village. Soon after 
leaving the hamlet, the “ Pass ” is entered, it 
being a very narrow gorge about two miles in 
length. The road over which we travel skirts 
the Ausable River, which presents many attrac¬ 
tions in the way of cascades and rapids. Two 
miles from the exit of the ravine is Lake Placid, 
beautifully situated at the foot of White Pace 
Mountain. Tlie lakelet i-i five miles long; on 
the water surface are two lovely islands, and 
along its shores are several aood hotels, at one of 
which we take up our quarters for a day or so, 
and, as the scenery is delightful and the fishing 
tolerably fair, “ a good time of it ” may be 
hoped for. During our stsy we will visit 
I’aradox Pond, which, irrespective of the fish it 
holds, is a natural curiosity worth seeing. The 
waters of this pond shape their course so as to 
continually flow circuitously in and out of Lake 
Placid. 
Continuing our journey, we pass North Elba 
where the road turns west and, crossing a wide 
prairie, descends into the Saranac Valley. It is 
then but a short distance to Martin’s Hotel, 
which is picturesquely situated on the shore of 
the Lower Saranac Lake. This sheet of water is 
seven miles long, two mile.s broad, and sur¬ 
rounded by very charmirig scenery. I’hree miles 
from Lower Saranac Lake and connected by the 
Saranac River, is R lund Lake, two miles in 
length. Plowing out of this lakelet, the river 
runs into Upper Saranac L-ake, and close to the 
entrance of the stream is Bartlet’s Hotel. At 
the head of the lake is the Prospect House, and 
a small rivulet keeps up the communication 
between the two establi.shments. From here, by 
a series of postages. Lake St. Regis can be 
reached, close to which stands Paul Smith’s, the 
best hotel in the mountain district, and a very 
popular rendezvous for anglers and the followers 
of the chase. Returning to Bartlet’s, we then 
continue our rambles over the trail known as the 
Sweeney Carry, at the end of which we strike 
the Raquette River, whence a small steamer will 
convey us to Tupper Lake. At the foot of this 
charming sheet of water flows the Bog River, 
a very romantic stream holding plenty of trout. 
Journeying south from here, a tramp of about 
ten miles carries us by Round Pond to the Little 
Tupjjer Lake, which, being somewhat out of the 
way is not so frequently visited, and consequently 
affords better sport than the majority of the 
