Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-01-22
Wisconsin, a Wonderland
for the Outer Vacationist

Scenery and recreational advantages
are like prophets in their own coun-
try. The man who has caught trout
in the same stream since he was old
enough to cast a line, finds it no
more of marvel than the corner
grocery. It IS source of food sup
ply He may find thrill in the beauty
of the woods in the fall, but it never
enjoy it with him. 1t is the stranger
coming in who discovers the economic
value of the trout stream and the
painted forest
This is par icularly true when the
und' scovered vacation land lies close
to the big cities and closely populated
communities. Few people expect to
find the bluebird on their own door.
step.
The states most spectacularly adj
vertised by their own people are the
new states where the magnificent
views have not yet palled upon the
Oldest inhabitant His father was a
pioneer and he has no inherited accep
lance of the startling wonders al
around him. To him the outdoor
sports facilities have not yet become
matter-of-fact and taken for granted.
So he shouts about them to the world
A year ago last summer Milo E.
YMoCthrOolxo 1,,orooaT Of fho Our Door
Life Exposition held every spring in
Chicago, was travelling through north
ern Wisconsin in the interest of his
second annual show and his wonder
and amazement grew with every day
and mile he travelled. Here was a
b eau tiful lake-splashed, forest
shaded vacation land at Chicagos
very gates, and the men and women
who lived in the heart of the play
ground did not even believe in fairies
He was talking one day with fish
ing tackle manufacturer who had
lived all his life in Wisconsin and had
been doing business there for a great
many years-the same business all
the time and was therefore man
who~rmight be expected to know about
fish in general and Wisconsin fish in
particular. Mr.. Westbrooke was talk
ing about the consistent, enthusiastic
advertising that Colorado people gave
their state and drawing comparisons
between the scenic and recreational
attractions of Wisconsin and Colorad
Every inhabitant of Colorado, he said
was a salesman for her vacation and
tourist resources. Each and everyone
was such an enthusiastic salesman
that practically everything about Col
orado was tremendously overplayed.
No matter what you may name in
Colorado, Mr.. Westbrooke said, will
point to something in some other
state that will excel it.
All except 5000 miles of trout
streams, the manufacturer of fishing
tackle retorted scornfully
Langlade county, right near by, Mr.
Westbrooke replied, has a trout
stream mileage that is over ten per
cent of that of all Colorado. Total up
for the entire state and see what it
will be.
Then he went home and wrote Mr.
B. o. Webster, State Superintendent
of Fisheries at Madison and received
figures, obtained after four months
survey showing total trout stream
mileage in Wisconsin of 1886. But
the man whose business was fishing
tackle had not known this. Langlade
and Shawano lead the seventy one
counties of the state with seven hun
dred miles of trout streams each
Forest county has five hundred miles;
Lincoln has four hundred and Polk
four hundred and five. Bayfield,, Doug
las, and Dunn each has Between three
and four hundred Only ten counties
in the entire state have no trout fish
ing. All Wisconsin trout streams can
be reached with an automobile. You
won't have to use pack or saddle
horses nor Alpine hooks to reach
them
wisconsin is an old state with a
heritage of blitheness and gaiety that
never has been lost in the years. 1t
was settled in the seventeenth CEN
tury by French. voyageurs, fur-traders
and priests. For many years recrea-
ton has been one of the most profit
table industries of its northern part
The Great North Woods of Wisconsin
have been beloved of fisherman, from
the trout angler Drawing belated
SHOWS and icy waters in early May
TO the man who lands the last bass
before the lakes freeze over. And yet
Wisconsin allowed Colorado to boast
of her champion trout stream mileage
until the manager of the Outdoor
Life Exposition called for authentic
figures and gave Wisconsin her right.
full place at the head of the procession
Not only has Wisconsin more trout
stream mileage than any other state
in the Union, but it is doing more
than any other state to propagate
trout and other game fish-mus-