The New York herald., 1874-08-14
THE ROD AND FLY.

znous the Mountains OF Sullivan ana
Ulster Counties-A Days Troutins ON
tAs Beaverkfn-Grest Capture OF the
specklsd Observation-Disclosures WIN
Mink. ~vx
Shin GREEK, Sullivan county, =: i.,}
August H. 1874.
Only 100 miles from New YORK, ana you are III
another olimate-fresh, cool and oracing-"nere
tho tosrid heats OF your great city are meho"eo
BY the mild summer atmosphere OF this p'csur-
esque region. And yet hundreds-yes' tnousanas-
OF pleaaure seekers Will be satlsned Win notning
less than trip White Mountains OF 10 the WILL
aerresses Of Maine or Canada Here we are at the
summif OF mountain, from which we have wide,
extended view OF valley alter valley, each with its
lovely little stream or rivulet. on which the gaz
of the angler rests with pleasure only known to
the Knights OF the rod and line-streams In whose
placid pools under whose protecting boulders
or along whose well shaded marge lie the speckled
beauties OF the waters, awaiting in ambush
their winged prey. Here, at an elevation OF 100 or
500 feet aoove the level OF the brook. which from
this beight looks like . silver thread winding Its
way through the dark green OF the forest trees we
hook down upon scene OF rare beauty. It is early
morning; the mists are slowly rising over the hills,
and as they catch the rays Of the sun are trans
sormed into gold and purple gossamer. Right be-
low us Ia q level plain, covering extent OF 100
8CTcs Ot MORO 1u0 III tue mlOdL OF ILLS plain y
picturesque mansion. with peaked gables and well
shaded porttco. 1t has treut pond few fees
nom its doors. and In the midst thereof Is an In
exhausribie fountain, whose source is In the
bosom OF the noun tain. The farmer and his men
are at work naymak1ng and we fancy thaS even at
thn height we can perceive tho delicious
odor exhaled from the fresh-mown meadow. There
on the slope OF yonder hill which forms part OF tho
boundary OF the lovely little valley that lies with
ITS wealth Of summer verdure 700 feet below us.
are other FARMS with their rustic dwellings, In the
MIDST Of shading trees, the surrounding fields
white with the towering buckwheat, which Is in
pleasing contrast with the deep green Of the In
dian and the golden hue OF the ripening oats.
AXE Tennyson's brook,
Winds about and in and out.
with here : blossom sailing;
%nS sfss here sna and dnans there usrs srsyiins
An hut the grayling, which. as truth must have,
II II not to pe found in these waters. but In its
place the unwslcome, persistent and Iertinacious
chuh, and the stin more unwelcome sucker. Its
waters are now probably at their lowest ebb, and
their depth at this place, and in fact for miles
alongits course varies rom few inches to three
sr four feet But thus is the month Of August and
sne brooks and rs and springs have like the great
metropolis in panic reached their lowest point
Of liquidation. 1t has shrunk between its banks
IN some places 70 the width OF ten fifteen feet,
ana 1T this season of the year pours . compare
lively small volume OF water into the Delaware.
In the spring, however when the SHOWS melt
ing on the hull sdes the now placid Beaverkill be-
comes fierce, foaming, irresistible torrent, which
rising high above its banks sometimes deiuges the
adjoining fields, carrying destruction in It's impe-
tuOus course.
SOME TWELVE YEARS
An unusually heavy fresher occurred, during
Which the waters Of rhe river rose In some places
more than twenty feet above their banks, sweep
ing away fra structures OF all kinds and invading
even the little city Of the dead, few miles from
snin Greek. Here il made Wild work, overthrow
ing tOmbstones and monumental and washing ont
the graves, swept OF IN its whelming waters the
bodies and bones OF the dead. II was . disastrous
hood, and will be long remembered for the de-
strucnon II wrought along the valley OF the
Beaverklil. Winter aud early spring IN this
mountain region are almost arctic in their
severity, and II IS late in the latter season before
the WORK Of cultivation Is commenced For this
reason the crops from tour to five weeks be-
hind those Of other paJs OF the State. But Tor all
these drawbacks. IL has its compensation IN
the peculiar mndness OF the summer and the In
vigoratlng character OF its climate. The people
are healthy and live 20 q good ripe age. Old men
and x0 men who have outived the Scrip tural
limitation are not only 70 be met here more fire.
quently than In towns and cities, but they are
active and Industrious and give daily proofs that
their day Of usefulness has not gone by. Drrtng
visit 70 the Shin Greek Post once your corre-
spondent had pretty fair opportunity Of seeing
something OF that part Of the population VINO do
the voting and is OF the opinion that in stature
~ least they will bear comparison with those OF
any other part OF the State, II was mail day. and
Of the dozen men who came on wagons or aoot to
get their letters and papefs not one appeared 70
be under six feet Tall muscular, strspping fe-
lows, they sustained the reputation which nearly
AL mountain regions possess, Of raising men many
inches above the average height.
PISCATORiAL EXCURSION.
In my former letter alluded generally TO the
trout fishing In this section OF the country but as
HERALD enjoy a day e piscatoriai recreation few
particulars as to the sport to be had with rod and
hne along the Beaver Knl win be interesting 10
Them especially. We mad made ample provision
tOr this excursion among the bouders and rims
and pools OF the Beaver Kill the evening before.
thoroughly tested, bait boxes replenished, mask
OF something good to strengthen the navor OF the
mae aeu n y y, ous onr ssnd
Murdoch's and basket TO be strapped over the
shoulder of each 'piscator'-these formed the
essentials Tor our trip. Bright and early
the morning party OF Jour STARTED Tor the
fsvorite haunu OF our nnny prey and in such
style OF dress as would have startled Broacway
out OF It's propriety had they in tnat costume
mace their appearance thereon In TACT it Is
point with fishermen 10 eschew everything that
ioo&s ike respectabiIlty in dress at least. They
take q pride IN the very opposite and old dila-
2idated pants and vests and coats and boots, are
resurrected from closets and holes and corners
for tue occasion. There are. It Is true, some who
Affect sort OF style IN fishing costume, and go
clad IN fashionable pscatoria MAKE up, .ndIa
Der waterproof pants that while they keep out
the water keep In the persplration, and Overcoats
Oi the same material. For those who prefer sucn
protection against the cool waters trout streams
they are welcome TO all the advantages they
possess, but your correspondent has tried
them and he prefers an Old pair OF good
strong winter trousers, coute OF pairs
OF wooifen stockings that come above the knees
and sufficiently wide to inclose the legs OF the
pants, then strong pair OF coarse, thick soed
brogans that can be brought in the Bowery for a
couple of dollars. These broRans should be paved
with hobnats, as a preventive against the many
slips that are ~ be found awaiting the unwary
fisherman amid the rocks and boulders Oi the
Beaverkill. Such Is the best PRACTICAL Out1t or
the experienced fisherman, and IN ths rig he IL
prepared for all emergencies. TINS, with slight
dIvidual variations, was the style In winch