Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-02
Miseellaneons.
A CATsKILL STREAM.

II there ever was a stream Graded in
the rocks. detained lovingly by them, held
and fondled in rocky lap or tossed in
rocky arms. that stream is the Rondout.
Its course for several miles from its head
IS over the stratified rock, and into this it
has worn channel that presents most
striking and peculiar features. Now it
comes silently along on the top of the
rock, spread out and flowing over that
thick, dark-green moss that is found only
IN the coolest streams; then drawn into u
narrow canal four or five feet wide,
through which it shoots black and rigid.
to be presently caught in q basin with
shelving, overhanging rocks. beneath
which the PhRbe-bird builds in security
and upon which the fisherman stands and
casts his twenty or thirty feet OF line with
out fear OF being thwarted by the brush;
then into a black. well-like pool, ten or
hiteen feet deep, with a smooth, circular
wall OF rock on one side worn by the wa
ter through long ages, or else into deep,
obloDg pocket, into which and out of
which the water glides without a ripple
The surface rock is coarse sandstone
superintendent upon light-colored con-
glomerate that looked like Shawangunk
grits, and when this latter is reached by
the water it seems to be rapidly disinter-
grated by it, thus forming the deep exca-
vations alluded to.
My eyes had never before beheld such
beauty in mountain stream. The water
was almost as transparent as the air
was, indeed, like liquid air; and as in these
wells and pits enYeloped in shadow, or lit
up by chance ray OF the vertical sun, il
was perpetual feast TO the eye,-so cool,
so deep, 80 pure every reach and pool like
vast spring. You lay down and drank
or dipped the water up in your cup and
found ii just the right degree OF refreshing
GOODNESS. One is never prepared for the
clearness of the water In these streams 1t
is always surprise. See them every year
for "A dozen Years, and yet. when you first
come upon one, you will utter an exclama-
ton; l saw nothing like il in the Adiron-
dacks, nor have ] in anv other part of the
country | have ever visited. Absolutely
without stain or hint OF impurity, 1t seems
to magnify like lense, SO that the bed OF
the stream and the fish in it appeared de-
ceptively near. 1t is rare to find even 8
trout-stream that is not a little "off color,n
| as they say OF diamonds, but the waters
| in the section OF which | am writing have
| the genuine ray; it is the undimmed and
untarnished diamond.
IT were trout, should ascend every
stream till found the Rondout. 1t is the
ideal brook. What homes these fish have,
what retreats under rocks. what paved or
tagged courts and areas, what crystal
depth where no net or snare can reach
them mo mud, no sediment, but here
and there in the cleits and seams of the
rock patches of white gravel, spawning
beds ready made.
The finishing touch is given by the moss
with which the rock is everywhere carpet.
ed. Even in the narrow grooves or chan
nels where the water runs the swiftest, the
green lining is unbroken. 1t sweeps down
under the stream and up again on the 9TH
er side like some firmly woven texture.
1t softens every outline and cushions every
stone. AT certain depth in the great
basins and wells it ceases, and only the
smooth, swept tagging of the place-rock
is visible.-John BurrougA in ScrtJner
Norember.