Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-03-10

DIR. GREEN WRITES OF THE
SPRINGS, LAKES AND
RIVERS
And of the Fishing Industry, Which
is a Prominent One i'm the Pen
insular State.


900 gallons daily. Others almost
equally famous are the Blue
Springs, Welkiva and the Wakulla.
Among the lakes which are very
numerous through the center of the
state, north and south, the most
noted is Okeechobee, the largest
body of fresh water in Florida it's
area is 1880 square miles, but it
is quite shallow, not over IL to Is
most of the lakes of the peninsula,
they are nearly all comparatively
shallow.
There are three large river sys-
tens, two of which, like the tourist
in the spring. make for the north,
the other run south. Those running
south have their sources in the state
lying to the north and are all nav
igable streams. OF those finding an
outlet in the Atlantic ocean, the ST.
Johns is by for the most important,
it has it's origin in Lake Washington
about two thirds of the way down
the state near the Atlantic coast
and empties into the Atlantic ocean
at Mayport, northeast of Jackson
vile. The st. Johns is practically
chain of lakes from it's source to
it's mouth. There are some people
who go so far as to say that it has
no current whatever, but that can
hardly be true, still the current is
so slight that it is quite unobserv-
able. The river is affected very ma
as far as Palatka rises to about two
terially however by the tide which
feet This it must be remembered,
is nearly if not fully 100 miles from
it's mouth. It's depth at this point
is 20 feet which is maintained al
most as far south as Sanford, which
is between 80 and 100 miles from
here. Large sized steam boats use
this magnificent waterway, plying
between Jacksonville and Sanford,
carrying passengers and freight in
regular daily trips summer and win
ter; while ocean going schooners
make their way to this port, towed
up the river by tugs constructed for
the purpose.
The other day noticed two three
masted schooners and one four
masted vessel lying out in the river
taking on cargos of lumber and
shingles for Baltimore, Philadelphia
and New York. Upon invitation of
the captain, / boarded the four
master and really felt quite at home
looking her over. l was told that a
man could take passage on one of
those schooners for New York and
| it would cost him only IS. That
was in money; nothing was said of
what it might cost him in other ways
especially when the ship is tossed in
| fly" The river at Palatka is lit
tie over a mile wide but it's average
width for $50 miles from its mouth
| is probably about three-fourths of
mile. All sorts of crafts are plying
in its waters and they certainly pres
ent lively, interesting scene when
ever the weather permits, which is
about all the time.
Another thing, the St. Johns is a
| paradise for the fisher folk; it
abounds with an excellent quail
| ity of the finny tribe, which as Lent
is upon us is happy thought, for
if you are so disposed, you may in
dulge your taste for fish and at the
same time do no violence to your
religious convictions. To my no
| ton the shad is the best of all.
| When the weather is warmest in
winter, it comes our way from the
salt sea in shoals, utterly incapable
of knowing the dangers which lie
in wait for it both day and night.
1t is caught with a net by men, some
of whom make a business of fishing
and by some who do not. / have
eaten of about all kinds of fish
found in our northern streams and
lakes, but nothing equal to this shad
when it comes fresh from the river.
1t has them all beat to a fragile. !"
Oh, We fisherman of DEBORAH, in the
name of old Isaac Walton, come
down here and cast down your net
ION the right side of the ship" and
will assure you great haul of
the best you ever put salt and pep
per on. Black Bass such as are
found in all streams north and
south, are plentiful here and many
are caught; also other varieties
which l need not name as they are
common TO all our streams. But
the Brim, species akin to our
northern Sunfish, is most abundant
and is the peculiar property of the
negro; at any rate the white man
has M usa for IL If there Is any