St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-03-23
Fishing in Caledonia.
J. z. Harris Writes of Some of the ceunty's
Natural Advantages.-AP Plea for
Preservation of Farms.
Washington, March 18th.

Washington, March 18th.
Dear old CALIFORNIAN
Two or three little items of local
moment in recent issues of yours have
started a mild and modest line of
thought. / note that something in the
nature of a county association has been
or is about to be formed for the protec-
ton and improvement OF local trout
fishing interests and the general develop
ment of the sport. | am not quite clear
in memory as to the matter, and wish
YOU or somebody interested would write
me any details concerning the matter,
addressing me at the senate postoflce.
/ am very much interested in anything
connected with the subject, and in one
way or another may be able to promote
such proposition to a modest extent.
In all Gods great out-of-doors there is
no fairer land than old Vermont in
general and old Caledonia in particular.
He has given us a wonderful and
marvellous heritage of the strength of
the hills and natural beauty unlimited.
Our hills and valleys. our fields and for
ests, our rills and streams and rivers, all
combine in an emulsion which rivals old
Ponce De Icons we'll of we'll being and
fountain of perpetual youth. Happy
the child who can be reared in such
surroundings, yet happier the man or
and temperate life among them and at
the last rest in the shadow of the kindly
hills!
As to the serious and contemplative
sport, there was once an abundance of
good trout fishing anywhere in
Caledonia county. There is no reason
why there should not be again. 1t is
only question Of the intelligent
conservation of our resources and
opportunities in this direction, a little
care and effort and the suppression of the
fish hog on two feet who has been for a
hundred years industriously exterminat-
ing the goose which lays the golden egg.
This may be an Irish metaphor, but it
tells the story. We have the natural
trout country, we have the natural trout
water, we have everything necessary
and incidental to the sport except the
trout We have only to stock the in
Vulnerable streams. not very difficult, and
suppress the fish hog. This latter might
be something of a job. but it might be
done. Certainly in many localities it
might be realized. Here and there it
might be found difficult to impress the
thieving butcher of four-inch trout with
a sense of saving honor and decency, but
it could be done gradually.
Beside the stocking of streams, our
section affords vast opportunities for
trout breeding in artificial ponds near
our homes, where they could be well
looked after and taken care Of 1t is
not expensive or difficult to prepare a
suitable place, perfectly adapted for the
purpose, and IN the raising of fish there
is infinite pleasure and a tremendous
profit. Either one or the other of these
facts should interest nearly everybody.
Fish can be raised and made a profitable
farm product wherever there is a little
stream handy, and from every practical
point of view such chances should not be
neglected. / hope to hear much more
and the most favorable news of this
most worthy movement in our section.
Properly in connection with this
subject note with sorrow and regret
the fact that too many of our farmers
are selling off their farms to parties
whose only object in purchasing is to
cut off the woodland for the timber or
cordwood. Somewhere deep down in
the breasts of all of US is a little spark of
the divine sentiment, some flicker OF
immortal tenderness which, expressed.
redeems life from the mark of the S and
the beast. Wherever that little spark
burns brightly there is a feeling of
repugnance and horror at the thought of
the desecration, devastation and wreck
of the old farm home. The old farm
which was cleared by our long-gone
ancestors Or by the forebears of our life
long neighbors and friends should possess
such an interest to US as would cause us
to reject any proposition that we turn
it over to ruin and solitude. Pitiable is
the mental attitude and condition of the
man who bargains and sells his birth
right for mess of pottage, and places
the seal of the S on the family grave
yard!s
For the reason that the trail of the
dollar is over it all, one of the most
beautiful wooded roads in the county,
for several miles along the banks of a
quiet stream near the home of my boy
hood is about to witness this chaotic
wreck of it's beautiful and serene sur
roundings for many years. Not long
hence saw mill will add it's hum of in
dustry' to the call of this beautiful wild,
forests and quiet hooks and dells and
thickets of variegated forest foliage for
miles overhanging the tinkling brook
soon will be seen nothing but ruin and
blackened desolation! The birthright
is allowed to be ravished and outraged
for a mess of S pottage, the old home Is
slashed and butchered and the sawmil
and reign supreme!
Poor old farms! the cradle and hom:
and faithful servant and friend of genera
tions gone, slaughtered and sacrificed or
the altar of the almighty S! God save
our state and preserve our old home!
]. E. HARRIS