The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-13

over the lake. Some Of these islands
are of several acres in area. and they
rise and fall with the waves mace
by our launch as we steam by. |
On some Of the floating islands are
birds. and on one l saw an iguana'
the giant lizard Of this part or the
world. which is as big as a cat q
whose meat tastes like young chicken.
some of the islands have bamboos
upon them, and upon some are peas
of paprrus. similar to thu famous
bulrushes of Egypt. in which the
cradle of the baby Moses was laid:
During our journey we attempted
to go down to Bohlo. to the spot
where the French built their locks,
but a floating island had closed up
the entrance and we had TO turn
back.
Among the queer features OF Lake
Gatun are the dead forests that are
to be seen wherever n waters nave
risen and covered the land. Many
varieties of tropical trees will not
stand firm embedded in water, and
such have died as the lax has risen.
There are some valleys covered with
dead thickets, and in places there are
SO many dead trees that it makes one
think Of the Dismal Swamp. some
OF these trees are as white as the
bones Of a skeleton, n are naked
Of bark. Others are already loaded
with orchids of many varieties. Some
| have only their tops out of the water,
| and we now and then see q green
palm, the trunk Of which is in the bed
| Of the Ike and only the leaves show
ing out. The palms seem to last long
est, and there are many buried 70
the roots Of their branches, h latter
looking like punches of gigantic
ferns on the bed Of the lake.
We often bump against logs as we
move through the canal channel. The
trees rot quickly and a great part OF
the AXE is now covered with floating
timber. This will be gathered to-
gether and RATED to the spilway. be
fore the canal is in active operation
It will there be rolled over the dam
and go down to the ocean.
Another striking feature Of Gatun
lake is the floating plants which cover
it's waters. There are great beds OF
water lettuce and masses OF water
hyacinths floating about as we'll as
spots where a green plant like g
scum covers the surface. The water
lettuce has very short roots, and i
will not impede navigation. The
hyacinths are different. Some o.
their roots are ten and twelve feet il
| lc1lStu anu l11Sy WILL hdRe ~ NC oC
stroyed before the canal Is in use.
There are many a1igators in par
Of Lake Gatun. although most o
! them are small. Still they are 81
l dangerous that the natives will no
go swimming in the lake, and the
are very careful to keep out OF thei
way while fishing along the shores
There are some tapirs on the bank
y | Of tho lake and If NAV he that q foy
may be found upon the islands. w
8 see many wild birds and among 9th
ers the white heron from which tn
aigrettes for our ladies' hats come
There are also wild ducks, and sew
f eral pelicans fly up as we ride abou
e rising of one Of these huge, heavy
a throated fowl, one Of our part
e quotes the slang and rather coars
limerick concerning it:
II A wise old bird is the pelican.
His pouch holds as much as hi
i belly can.
t, He can stow in his beak enough foo
for a week.
l don't see how in the h-ll he ca
- Just now however, the pelica
!. which have been getting their foe
"a from Gatun lake are in a bad wa
~ Inc vegetation Is creatiT
gases In the water which are d,
stroying the fish, and this, added
It. the paint which is washing off OF IL
" lock gates, has sent hundreds OF de
hsh and reptiles over the spillwa
Ia OF late the fish mortality has be.
Nv decreasing. and when the water
he cleared OF dead trees. as it will
e. within a short time after the ial
ut assumes its normal level. the nur
" Der Of fish will rapidly increase.
SO =
The big steamers will be sever
hours in crossing Lake Eatum. and
It. predict that the beauties OF the va
he age Will be such that It will make Il
IN. place one OF h scenic .maryels Of t
ial world. The tropical islands. Wi
by their palms and bamboos, their gre
,ss fern trees and their magnificent fe
lis est giants, bound together with