Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-19
For the RECORD UNIoSl
A LEGEND OF EMERALD BAY AND OF
TEE ORIGIN OF TAHOE TROUT.

On visiting the art exhibition of Morton
Bush observed fine painting represent
ing a scene on Emerald Bay, with cascades
and summit peaks in the near background
also the little island SO familiar to all sight
seeing visitors, and which called to mint
an old legend connected with the subject
of the picture, which it is believed hal
never been in type, and which gives ont
version of the origin of Lake Tahoe trout
Who does not love the romance, th'
ideals, the legends of the past? Life is a.
much made up of the ideals as of the re.
alities. The ideals and legends of the past
form the food which nourishes the imag
ination, guides the pencil of the artist an6
the pen of the poet, and upon which Ii
founded our choicest literature and fines
art. "'Tis the very soul and life of poetry
liant, golden thoughts are culled and gar
nered into beautiful truths. They form the
treasure-house of literature, the handmaid
of poetry and art. Without them we
would be like the lonely walls of a ruined
temple bereft of its altars and shorn of its
ivy clingings.
The scene of this painting, so goes the
legend, centuries ago was the summer re-
sort of a people of great culture and re-
finement, much greater than any that has
succeeded. The women were possessed OF
great beauty the men of great passions.
The beautiful valley (now called the Sacra.
mento), with its pure and limpid streams,
was one vast garden spot there were nc
slickens" in those days., and was the
home of beautiful princess, who was q
great lover of all field sports, and daring
huntress-in fact, a regular Diana. As
was her custom, one summer, she betook
herself lin those days ladies did not fear to
travel alone) to the pleasant scenes of the
"Mountain Water" as it was then called,
to revel in her hunting sports. While en-.
gagged in this pursuit near the summit, just
back of that part of the lake now called
Emerald Bay" she was accosted by a
strange being, not of her race, who at once
laid claim to her by right of discovery, and
who attempted to possess himself of her,
without the formality of asking her per.
mission. Being powerless in such de-
termined hands, she sought safety in
flight. Springing from rock to rock, over
crags and cascades they went, she bending
every nerve to escape, and he to capture.
The pursuit brought her at length to the
edge of the lake, and rather than submit
to capture, she invoked the aid Of
her guardian spirit, and plunged into
the water, which at once closed over her.
The spirit appealed to having heard her
PRAYER, preserved her life by Transforming
her into beautiful fish. Her pursuer was
at the same instant metamorphosed into a
monstrous eagle, and from his craggy
hight kept constant watch over the place
where she disappeared. After time she,
desiring a breath of air, sprang out of the
water, as fish often do, when her watcher,
always on tine alert, with a sudden swoop
fastened his talons in her sides. and spread
his wings to bear her away. But before he
arose more than few feet above the sur
face of the water some invisibls power
struck him dead, and he fell with wings
outspread, and was changed into earth and
stone. The beautiful fish swan away, but
carried with her the marks of the eagles
talons in her sides, and from which drops
of blood were shed into the water. These
drops of blood at once assumed the form of
fish, which had marks or spots just the
same as those from which they issued.
These spots ever after remained upon her
finny tribe, and which in our day form
the distinguishing marks for Tahoe trout.
The legend runs on that the island thus
formed (which can be seen to this day, and
stands out in the foreground of the picture
mentioned) rests upon two pillars (the
eagles legs); that beneath the surface of
this island is magnificent palace, studded
with emeralds, and from which the water
receives an emerald hue. Here the hunt.
ress assumes her personality, but secluded
from mortal eyes, when she is not sporting
in the waters in the form of fish.
On any clear bright day near this island
can now be seen deep in the water large
and beautiful trout, and which many sports
men have endeavored to lure to the hook.
But she shows her spotted and silvery
sides, and when too closely pressed darts
under the rocks of the island and disap.
pears. It is said that this is the legendary
huntress and the parent of all trout.
As the legend goes, at intervals of a
great many years this beautiful huntress
for time assumes her maidenly form and
wanders amid the hills and peaks around
the lake, and has within the recollection Of
man been seen to sit, clothed in white,
upon Summit Peak. just before these
events the hills and glens around Emerald
Bay and Idlewild resound with strains of
the sweetest music, softer and more en-
chanting than the Sirenic muse or the
Eolian harp. During these periods the
greatest prosperity and happiness abound
throughout the whole land. They are also
the harbiBgers of great events. This is
only one of the many legends connected
with these mountain lakes.
MAMIE ANDERSON.
Sacramento, November l6, 1851.