Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-14
EMERALD LAKES.

EMERALD LAKES,
| Tho writer visited Emerald Lakes q
wook ago for the first Time. although
threatening to do so for many years.
It Is certainly a fine trip. but hard
one, unless one has plenty of time.
1t means driving to the VallIceto and
thence by saddle animal to the lakes
about - miles The trail Is a very
good one, however, and the last hve
miles Is through Il timbered section
that Is great for beauty. And the
lakes No wonder w. T. Kirkpatrick
Is proud of them. and In future years
| they viii become more popular. Up
to the present year no one has been
permitted TO catch more trout than
| could be eaten at the lakes, but owing
| to the surplus this rule has been re-
Gently changed, and all who have vis-
| lted the lakes this summer have come
| away with good mcsses genuine
| sport cannot help but consider 1t y
sin to angle for trout In the lakes
| thcy Diio and surrender so easily.
While there are some OF good size, 1t
| Is safe to say that out OF n couple OF
dozon trout none will weigh less than
| one pound. and all under one and
half pounds. And the trout are OF ex-
ccptionally good flavor This size is
much better than the larger ones
And the spawning Well, there Is
| hardly limit so far this season be-
tween six and seven million spawn
has been taken at the lakes. supply
Ing the local and outside hatcheries to
their limit. More spawn has been
taken at Emerald Lakes this season
than in the entire state couple OF
years ago. and the state authorities
should be greatly pleased over the use
of same. G.. w. Smart has been In
charge at the lakes under Warden
Woodard and Wash Patrick, and has
accomplished excellent work.
preserves"
At the present time there about ten
miles of "preseryes' along Pine river
from where the Vallceto merges. and
there are several miles OF preserves"
along the Valliceto-the Boyle Mel
vile holdings. w. r. Kirkpatrick
comes first with something like Ave
miles. owning all the contiguous land.
Then comes j. A. Porter with five
miles. commencing where Kinks land
ends and extending to half mile
above the forks of the streams. No
one is permitted to lsh or hunt In this
territory. Occasionally we hear peo-
pie complain of this usurpation. as
they claim. Bnt when people stop to
think what these gentlemen have ac-
complished for the piscatorial inclin-
ed. 1t places the matter altogether in
different light. We all know that
few years ago Pine river was fshed
dry" This season there has been
more fish caught and better sport than
for years. Why is this? In the first
place It is owing to the stocking OF
the stream by both Kirkpatrick and
Porter The stocking of Emerald
Lakes has its influence. Many OF the
larger and lots of the small fry go
down Lake Fork. Then MIR. Porter
operates n hatchery on his place at
his own expense. Three years ago he
obtained 100000 spawn from the
lakes. which were Matched on his
place and put In the stream. Last year
he placed something like three-quar-
ters of a million young trout In the
river, and this year Will place nearly
million more. II means that from this
ON Pine river viii abound with trout.
While the stream protected by the
preserves" VIII prove The best fish
ing. at the same time the stream. both
below and above Will be alive. And
mind you the stream Is being stocked
each year by the above gentlemen
without expense to the state or other
individuals.
And the lake or reservoir construct
ed by o. F. Boyle will soon be teem-
ing with fish and the yalliceto stock
ed and protected,
Mr. Porter is making many improve
ments in building trails fencing. etc.
The location OF his building Is hard to
beat. and his summer quarters are
very inviting No wonder he likes to
spend SO mnch of his time.
The Kirkpatrick quarters present
the appearance Of a small settlement
"A landed estate with large castle
and those who are invited to spend
a season with him are to be envied.