The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-08-02

WHICH we also secured. Black DdSS
were reported as being in the lake
but were not able to verify this. 1t
occurs in abundance in some of the
small lakes near. Two species Of
white fish are abundant, the tulliber
and the common lake white fish.
These are best taken by gill nets and
only at certain seasons of the year.
The Indians catch a great many Of
them in this manner late in the fall
and smoke them.
Some places in the lake are deep,
the deepest where we surveyed it be-
ing 145 feet, bet in other parts it is
shallow and wild rice grows luxuri-
antly This is the hunters
paradise in wild duck sea-
son. All the streams which
which flow into the lake are marshy
and are filled with rice. Ducks come
here by the thousands in the fall and
are easily killed, for as yet not many
hunters have gone here. The Indian
does some hunting, but generally his
gun is cheap and inaccurate, and his
craftsmanship is poor. The woods are
threaded with deer trails, and deer is
killed every day by the Indians and
either jerked and dried over the fire
for winter use or sold to white men.
At present the Indians are taking
large quantities of venison to the
grading camps along the railroad, and
are either selling it or trading it for
flour and other provisions. There are
no game wardens in this region, and
no attention is paid to the law. From
our camp we hear moose believing
and wolves bowling at night. The
wildcat is said to be quite common,
bear are occasionally taken, foxes and
porcupines abound, and partridge
hunting is excellent and profitable
sport in September and October.
Very little attempt has been
made at CONNER cial fishing here
as yet. but 1 see no reason why
it would not pay and believe that in
the near future fishing will be an i'm
portant industry of the region. A
few fish were shipped from near Leech
Lake last spring but for some reason
they were seized by the game warden
at St. Paul and this has stopped fish
| ing for the present. Whether the
fish were taken illegally or not can.
not say, but 1 believe that fish
are being taken there by the use of
dynamite occasionally.
L can see no reason why Leech Lake
will not become an important sum.
mer resort for persons who wish to get
away from the hum of civilization fol
time and have a little real live
sport at fishing and hunting. The
Brainerd and Northern r. R.will have
station on the lake by another sea-
son SO that it will be easy to reach
Two small steamboats, have just been
started on the lake and good row
boats will soon be available. New
birch canoes can be purchased Of the
Indians for from So to $40 with which,
after you once learn to manage it,
two persons can take their camping
outfits and 90 by water almost any.
where in northern Minnesota by max.
ing short portages occasionally OF
from one to two miles.
The Indians are of the Chippewa
tribe and are civil and peacable,
They dress altogether in American
clothing, live in tents in summer and
huts in winter and are supported by
what they get from the government
and by building canoes, tanning
skins, making moccasins and Other
articles, and by hunting and fishing
A few of them can speak a little
English but most of them adhere tC
their native language.
The camper who goes to Leech
Lake this season must carry his en-
tire outfit, including a bake oven
with him, but by another season
many of the necessaries of camp life
can be had on shore of the lake. TIC
any wishing little healthful recrea.
tion and excellent hunting l advise a
few weeks camping on Leech Lake
this fall about the middle Of Septem'
Der, at which time the mosquitoes
will have given up their occupation
The water of the lake is clear and
soft, and at many places there are
fine cool springs of excellent water.
ULYSSES o. Cox.
Health Officer Jacoby states that
there are now no cases of contagion in
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