The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-23
IN THE BLIND.

1t seems little strange that in all the
many years that have since elapsed the
fame of the place has not spread more
widely among sportsmen, for there are
few places so easily accessible as this
where such excellent sport may be had
with rod or gun. 1t is true that the trip
hither from any Of the eastern cities is
rather a long one, but it is far from
tedious, and the true sportsman will GER
tainly not regret the outlay of time or
money after he reaches here. A few
I days on one of the lake packets will
bring him to the famous canal, where he
has only to step ashore, hire an Indian
guide and paddle or sail directly into
the wilderness.
For it is true wilderness that he
reaches in another day, though '.The
Soo'' has grown from a small garrison
village to thriving Ncity since the civil
war. He may ride around the city i'll
electric tram cars, but passing the city
limits he will find good use for his
guides wood craft, provided, that is,
that he goes with gun instead Of rod.
E Unquesttonably the fishing is the
sport par excellence. The lower end e
Lake Superior, which drains through
s.The ,Soo," is called Whitefsh bay, as
any one may see by the map, and gets
its name, naturally enough, from the
abundance and excellence of the white
fish there. Numerous as they are, how
ever, the trout-both the lake and the
brook trout-are to the full as plenty.
and, at least to my taste, far preferable
both for catching and eating. They grow
to size that must be seen to be be-
lieved certainly shall not imperil my
reputation, such as it is, by telling how
large fish I have caught with light
tackle.
Winter is already here, though, and
although the fish remain and the fishing
is as good as ever in the lake, the rapids
and the countless streams that flow into
Whitefsh bay from either, shore, the
weather is too cold to admit of enjoyable
angling. The climate is severe enough,
and the summer residents, of whom
there are a goodly number, have mostly
fitted southwark. Only few remain.
I having the luck to be one of them, and
find in the excellent duck shooting
temptation enough to prolong the stay
not that ducks are the only game to be
shot, but that just now we are having
the fall flight, as the bronze beauties are
flying to their winter quarters, and they
are SO abundant as to preclude rEe
thought of seeking other game.
There is a natural reason why this par
ticular locality should be, as it is, oneof
the very best of places in North America
for fall duck shooting. To appreciate
this reason it is necessary to look again
at the map. Whitefish bay, it will be
seen, is an irregular triangle at the lower
end of the great lake, with its lower
angle pointing southerly. Now the duck,
as he flies from the northern winter, will
fly hundreds of miles over land, of course,
but he prefers to keep in sight of water
as much of the time as he can, and in
variably seeks place near the shore to
spend the nights of his pilgrimage, Hug
ging the shore, then, of Lake Superior
brings him to Whitefish bay, where just
now few gunners are lying in wait for
him.
A few sportsmen from Detroit and
other of the lake cities have learned
the attractions of the neighborhood, and