Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10

The lake was like large mirror set in O
dark frame of mountains, Rowing to
Aptbopy's nose, we fished OIL the rocks,
dropping our first hook in the waters OF Lake
George.
Strange waters have peculiar interest
to the fisherman. Some new discoveries are
awaiting him. There isa chance for new
game. Here, as in Champlain, the persist
ent little rock bass is ever ready to snap the
hook, omnipresent 1t would seem. Then the
perch, the 'river-partridge" as Thoreau calls
him, quoting an old writer, abounds in these
lakes. Occasionally you see a school of
these fish crcasing and cutting with their
fins the water, as when flaw darts along
the smooth surface. When game is album
dant, sport is SAID to flag There may have
been a time when there was no more sport in
fishing on Lake George than In scal-killing
on st. Paul. but such Is far from the case at
present. The bass, however, took the hook
well that evening. This was the "Oswcgo"
species, dusky .olive fish, with wider mouth
and larger scales than you find in his ally the
black bass, and which is being largely intro
duccd in Eastern New England. To catch
the lake trout it takes considerable apparatus
and no little skill. Formerly they sunk
pieces OF meat around buoy, and they
brought the fish together. The trout lie near
the bottom, in the depths of the lake. and to
reach them long troll isused, weighted with
| heavy snkcr.
| The sign OF our camp was an old poplar
which leaned over the water, good object to
steer for. Hearing Of the "lndian holes" in this
| vicinity, we resolved to visit them, and set
out one morning going mile or so through
the wood. Not very conspicuous objects,
these aboriginal mills, if such they may be
called, a mere cluster of "pot-hoes" dozen
or so in number, in a hard ledge of gneiss
which juts into the lake. The majority
have a circular opening with greatest dame
ter at the middle One is a well two feet
wide and three deep, cut as neatly as If
drilled with great auger. This and several
others are filled with stagnant water which
is frequented with swarms OF mosquitoes in
their several stages of development and other
larval congeners The largest hole was four
feet across and probably Ave or six in depth,
though this could not be readily determined,
as 1t was filled with earth. Evidently the
confguration Of the surface was quite differ
cnt when these curious pits were forming.
Long and persistently must powerful tor
rent have rolled over these lodges to have
kept those stones in motion which slowly
drilled their way into the hard rock and pro-
duced these examples of natures mechanics
which we see to-day. 1t is possible the red
man found them and cxcavated such of the
smaller ones as were suited to his purpose,
removing the grinding stones If they then
remained. Here was mortar and pestle for
him ready made. 1t is not known OF course
if tue Indian actually used these mortars for
domestic purposes, yet it is not unlikely he may
have done 80, for here was favoIite hunt
ing ground, and doubtless the best fishing
certainly the best which the lake now
affords. Passing to and from Champlain,
he could readily turn his canoe in hither and
pulverize u few handfuls of maize. Ming
ling this with the pure waters of the "Hor-
icon" he would soon have bread enough bak-
ing on his fire TO satisfy his appetite for bass
and venison.
Bark, if plenty, makes good camp fire,
the thick, shaggy bark of old pines STEPPED
in pitch and rosln, or the brittle plants of the
hemlock, though it needs frequent renew
ing. There had been good deal of wood
chopping and bark peeling going on there IN
the Spring, so, Notwithstanding the rains, we
had blazing fire before the tent every even
ing.
Rowing down the lake short distance and
rounding point we encounter the first is
lands, and next is Hague harbor with its
shallow, sandy beach with many row boats
drawn along the shores, and back OF it n
small country village.
presented and many good camping ground
invites you 10 tarry for the day. You pass
numerous islands, farms, hotels, private viii
las, built down by the lake shore and under
the mountain slopes, and then narrow
neck OF land running out from the
west catches the eye. This is Sab
bath Day Point" where Lord Howe
with his cumbrous army once reclined and
Toasted while the cautious Frcnchman was
preparing powerful palisades and aJattis for
| their reception at Ticonderoga.
| On the east shore is line of high hills
with scraggly, wooded sides leading up to
Black Mountain, the highest on the lake.
| On an island under its dark side we hastily
cncamp to seek shelter from the rain. Here
is one of the widest parts of the lake, called
the "Narrows," where many islands choke
the channel. Like a great wall rises Black
Mountain, to the east, up whose rugged side
the eye may follow until it rests upon the
bare, rocky summit. The steamers whistle
as they pass to get the echoes. AT midnight
we hear the wild demoniac laugh of the
loon, coming from up the lake, weird, un.
earthly sort of cry, the harbinger OF storm,
as it aftcrward appeared.
Passing thence we thread the maze of is
lands, for which the Lake George is justly
celebrated. Some are large and extensive
e's
shrubbery, others long, narrow and irregular
and many so small as 10 give foothold TO but
a single tree or bush, aud finally mere rock
raising its nose 10 the surface.
At "Flora Island, about midway on the
lake. the waters expand again. To the nortl
arc the "Narrows," the pass between the
mountains, and a shaggy range of hills slope
In an opposite direction, In the foreground
are numerous islands, and points with hotels
lifting their gay colors to the breeze. In the
south, Dome Island" like great bread
loaf raises its wooded back from out the Wa
ter.
Returning to our island under Black
Mountain, we surprise party OF looms dis
porting in an open space of water, two young
and two old birds. All make of to the wes
shore but the male. He stands by to bak u!
and if need be, sacrifice himself for the safety
of his young and mate. We come upon him,
splash at him with the oars, whit
he dives and laughs and thus manGu
vres until the young are well out o.
harms way, wnen with few long pull
under water he again rejoins them, a happ,
family. The young looms disappeared when
they were disturbed, and were not seer
again until well over to the other side.
believe they rode on the back OF mothe
loon, for recently heard of case in LAKE
wiunepiseogee where they were caught il
the very act.
Lake George has a varied vegetation
Many species Of evergreen and deciduou
, trees clothe the mountain sides, in VIII os
shaded recesses and wet rockeries grow
, many ferns and wild flowers. while other
dwell below at the waters edge.
Long ago, Thomas Jefferson, who ad
ded to his craftsmanship a con
siderable taste for science, pa
J paid visit to this beautiful sheet of water
! but then little known, and noted many of 1t
. natural features and productions. Deer an
other game have mostly disappeared, but i
G many places the vegetation and scenery ar
a substantially the same.
aI,a - 10 firu