The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-07
TROUTiNG Nv ARIZONA.
An Unfnding Memory OF Deicctahic Days
In the shadow Of Mount Da1dy.

To THE EriroR OF THE SuN--Sir. To
those stll possessing the heritable trait
Of answering at each recurring spring
season the "caii Of the stream the fol-
lowing might be OF interest.
After u sojourn OF two years ut tho
isolated. dry and barren military post
Fort WinEate. New Mexico. where the
native Zuni. unlike his kin Of other tribes,
knows nothing Of natures Oldest and
most enchanting sport, fresh water ang-
ling. we were headed for the great White
Mountain. Arizona, trout streams. the
sources OF which are away above the
timber line OF famed Mount Badly.
Our course was through n desolate
region of sandhills and Intervening great
stretches OF dreary levels which were
SCARED with deep gulies and washes,
the beds OF intermittent streams. Tho
only water procurable at the time was
from small springs located 4 full days
Journey apart. The early inhabitants
were surely alive to the situation when
they called this "Arizonac'' (Arlzona), a
Spanish Indian name meaning few
springs"
Near the close OF the fourth day out,
and while In the act of refining our
mounts toward n small grassy spot, one
OF the few welcome GASES. a most un-
usual and grewsome sight was witnessed:
innumerable snakes en- masse were wig
Cling all about US. We had only time to
notice their resemblance to the garter
snakes OF these parts when. az II by
magic, they disappeared into tho soft
earth. 1t might here be mentioned that
there was no canteen at the post from
which We started. and that Springerville.
the only place We touched along the
route. was a prohibition town.
And now, more surprising still our
attention was next attracted by the
marked agitation OF the water Of a small
and muddy pond. fed by one neighbonng
tiny spring. We soon learned 1t was due
TO the presence OF an immense number
OF fishes the pond WAS actually so over
crowded that many of them were neces-
sarily partially forced over the surface
OF the water. II would be interesting to
learn how this far inland and insignif-
cant little pool ever happened to be 20
stocked. At supper time that evening
We learned why the more expert fisher
men who occasionally plodded by the
place left them unframed they were
mud carp.
our final camp was in country Of
strange and unsurpassed beauty. We
were nestled in a depression surrounded
by lofty, rolling grassy hills on which
herds of half wild cattle leisurely fed,
At the foot OF the hill next below, the
streams before referred to were stealing
sparklingly away through grass TO join
neightpring and larger one that babbled
along among the white birch and alders
In the valley further down. These waters
were all tceming with speckled beauties
After big catch. and while lounging In
one OF the shady hooks of the bank along
which these brooks meandered | thong mt
1t appropriate and impressive 10 hear
my companion read from his little note
book II clipping which he said was from
THE Sun and which was as follows:
Trout fishing - not a recreation. nor a
sport, In the sense that other things are.
II Is something ia the nature Of a hypnotic
trance, transformation, "A dream. when
the brook Is reached time Is at an end The
world with It's cares and worries recedes
and fades away. II Is tale that Is told.
Time ends and eternity begins.
J. H. II.
Fort HAMILTON, February g.