The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-03-29
Southern Travels.

Which IS IN litigation at present. The
choice land on this island, as we'll q.
that on the west shore of Indian Riv.
er even down below the foot of the
leland, is all in the hands of land
agents, but most of it can be bought
at very reasonable figures, and good
titles given.
The water on the east side of Mer-
ritt's Island, is called Banana River,
but we see no excuse for this, as it is
simply the Indian River, divided by
the Island. Up the Banana the duck
shooting is said to be splendid, and
sportsmen spend many pleasant hours
and much ammunition there. The
ocean beach at this point, is not more
than half mile distant, and we we're
informed by those who had been there,
that this was the "boss" place TO gath
er sea-shells of ali descriptions.
| Just south, on the west bank of In.
dian River, is Eau Gallie, which con-
sists of house with a post. office in
it. Three or four plantations are sit.
uated along the river within a couple
of miles of this place. Here also, the
State has erected large building for
an agricultural college Most of the
work was done by convicts, who
watched their chance and skipped"
They could stand solitary confinement
irst-rate, but when it came to making
them earn their hominy by the sweat
Of their Brows, especially on such a |
useless institution as an agricultural
college, their gorge "riz," and they
struck out.
About this time we saw our first
flock of pelicans. They are big, |
clumsy graycolored bird, with hav-
ersack under their bill. They are |
hard to shoot, except when and where
they are nesting. As well as the ducks,
OF which we saw thousands every day,
they seemed to make it point not to
let the boat get closer than about two
hundred yards to them.
About o'clock p. m. we passed St.
Sebastian river, a stream of fresh wa.
ter about the size of Tionesta creek.
which comes in on the west side of
Indian River some twenty. five or thir.
ty miles below Eau Gallie. The shores
along on both sides of this river, for
upward of mile, are bold, and beau
tiful. On the south side of the mouth
is bluff nearly forty feet high. On
this we looked lougingly, as it was the
irst elevation of any importance that
had met our eyes since we landed in
.he State. We didn't stop here, but
understood from Others who did, that {
t was about the best place for fish oil
he river. Using mullels for bait, with
'espectable tackle person can soon
weary himself hauling in sheep head,
PASS, blue cat, and other varieties too !
numerous to mention. The mullet
esembles somewhat in appearance,
he sucker of the Allegheny, except
he mouth, which is the shape of an \
inverted V, and they are not bony as
he sucker is. They are as palata Bile \
$ any fish caught. They run in schools +
nd are taken by the bushel with r
mall seines. They do not bite
ook. T
But alas this isherman's paradise T
as its drawbacks as well as all other B
laces on this mundane sphere. When ID
he wind is not blowing the sand flies
nd mosquitoes are absolutely uubear. ~ =,
Bile. Meny northern sportman has ii
ld to walk the shores all night, using al
9TH hands to BRUSH these pests away, m
I'd then come out in the morning 'e
oklng as if he had the measles. The ~
nd'hy is some what like the "punky" pr
this section, except that it is harder fu
see, being small and transparent.
pure cussedness, however, the sand. OF
could donblediscount the "punky,"
ing better supplied with the imple-
ents of war, and fitted with a light Fl
ot, so that you are not aware of his
esence until his bill is rioting in -,
ur gore; then you slap the spot, and,
you have not been carefully trained,
u make remarks that in good socie. ms