The New York herald., 1874-08-11
CASTING THE FLY"

/ A Trip Among the Mountains in Search
OF Trout-Shin Creek and It's PiscatO-
rial Pleasures-How the Specified
| Beauties are Lured and Caught.
! SHIN CREEK, Sullivan County, N. Y.,(
August s, 1874.
Long Branch may boast of its races, its fashion
able visitors its division Of the Presidential honors
with the federal capital and its huge overcrOwded
hotels; but what are they all compared with Shin
Creek, IT'S picturesque beauties and piscatoral
attractions 2 From time immemOrial this section
of country has been celebrated az the sp0rtsmans
paradise, q land not only moving with milk and
honey, but possessing streams and springs and
brooks and rls unsurpassed for the crystal purity
OF their waters and the delicious navor Of their
trout Here, al an elevation Of 1,SO0 feet above
the level OF New York. the thermometer
hardly ever indicates more than eighty degrees
in the shade, while blankets are not only comfort
able, but Indispensable at night In these cool and
shady retreats among the mountains, life in the
summer season becomes luxury instead Of bur.
den, as It is amid the sweltertng and oppressive
heat OF the great metropolis. Taking the average
temperature Of the day and night, OF the whole
twentyo -four hours, there is difference of at least
fifteen degrees between New York and this section
of the country. The evenings are sometimes 80
cool at this season OF the year as to render over
coats and shawls almost absolutely necessary, and
as low as forty-nve degrees more than once in the
early morning. Cool and refreshing breezes tenn
per the midday heat and render outdoor exercise
not only pleasant and healthfu but Tree from the
dangers that attend 1t elsewhere. Let Long
Branch and Newport and Saratoga enjoy their
ssek Ds oos d' Besysr sIHas
KIN, outshines them al. know shin
tractive name, an il-s0undtng one II you please,
but 1t has the advantage Of originality and that is
something IN its iavor Il yoo look in the general
once, which distributes It's mails twice . week,
that its population all told does not exceed nifty
individuals and 6y examining the map OF 3e the
OF Sullivan county.
THE ATTRACTIONS OF SHIN CREEK.
The creek itself IL beau tiful stream, whose
limpid and almost ice-cold waters now through
one Of the most lovely valleys TO be found In the
ssream ps si and like .ne Bsaveik OF when It is one
OF the numerous tributaries, 1t Is iull OF rms ano
bS sSe pee Of the bsooE
| All over this particular section OF the country
trout must at one time nave swArmcd IN the
ton are to be fOund-thousands OF springs moving
from inexnaustible sources IN the mountains
bottoms, fitting nurseries for the tender trout
lngs; ana placid miniature ponds In which they
and % voracious mempers oftnesr ss own family We're
IL not for these peculiarly favorable conditions
ns and %
tributaries have been nshed to excess. For the
reasons stated, however, 1t appears next TO i'm
possible TO exhaust the yearly supply; but while
IL seems impossible TO diminish the number, the
size OF the nsh is greatly reduced. It Ii rarely that
| trout OF one or two pounds Ia captured although
instances OF huge fellows Weighing nve, six
and even seven pounds have occurred. In
! fact monster OF SIX pounds which was exhibited
some years ago In an aquarium IT q popular mu-
scum In New York, and OF which more anon, wac
caught In the Immediate vicinity Of Shin Creek.
Give these streams respite OF three years, bansn
! from their waters rods and lines and nets aud
lures or all kinds for that length OF time, and the
| nshing here will be unsurpassed.
| THE BBST FISHING
| In the immediate locality Is TO be found at and
| near Murdock's whose hospttable hostess has the
| rare talent Of cooking trout to periecuon. Here,
| in one OF the 0vellest OF valleys, with lawns as
level a. prairie land and seemingly shut In BY hills
rising to the height OF 700 or 500 feet the disciple
OF the renowned Izaak may enjoy his summer re-
creation with the zest which only the true Usher
man can rightly appreciate. 1t is true ne Will not
fnd In these brooks any OF the ne8vy work In the
piscatorial line that Is to be had In the waters OF
| Name or Canada, but he viii occaMonally be
called on to tackle nsh that will test his skill as
| an angler and az to the edible qualities OF tne
nsn gf your correspondence experiences OF years are
In this particular entities him TO judge) ne VIII
not md their superior anywhere.
During . rsther brief stay Of iortnim IN % tnis
delightful summer resort nave had some pleas
ant hours on the banks OF the Besverkill nave
wsded for miles among it, ripping currents, es-
| eADed nos Q few inv0lunfarr baths from u Slid