The Coolidge examiner., 1935-07-19
okeanOkee swamp Mystery Land of Georgia.

okefinokee Swamp. M!
Prepared By National Geographic Society.
Washington, u. C.--WNU Service.
OWN in the southeastern cor
ner Of Georgia lies the great
- Okehnokee swamp. a prime
val wilderness rich in treasure for
the modern biologist. Mystery and
enchantment live In its coffee col
ored waters. its moss-hung expresses
and sunlit piney woods.
/ The Okeiinokee owes a great
measure OF its unique charm to its
~prairIes'-wlde, unspoiled expanses
filed in large part with n tropical
abundance of aquatic plants and
hanked with dense "bays" of state
ly cypress. On these one may de-
light his soul amid scenes OF un-
earthly lovellness that have changed
virtually not at all since the Sem
mole warriors pOled their dugouts
over them. The Oketinokee pralrles
are not land. but water!
7 In these morasses are many areas
Of open water, varying from lakes
quarter of a mile in diameter to
alligator holes" a rod In width.
They are also dotted here and there
with wooded Islets-the so-called
prairie "heads"-of cypress, slash
pine. sweetbay. and other trees, the
taller ones hoary with moss.
The snowy blossoms of the white
waterIily gladden. many acres Of the
deeper water. and the golden, glob-
ular flowers OF yellow pond.lilIes. or
"bonnets," glow In setting OF huge
green leaves. In the shadows yell
low-eyed grass, its tall stems sway
Ing. forms sea of pleasant color
The small pitcherplant is hardly
true TO It's name on the Okefnokee
prairies. for It's spotted greenish
tubes reach a yard into the air-a
height unheard of elsewhere; the
parasol-like flowers OF greenlsh
gold. each on a separate scape. stand
little below the summit OF the
leaves.
Resort OF Hunters and Trappers.
For generations swamp hunters
have pushed over these prairie wa
ters. standing up In their slight
boats and bending rhythmically
with graceful thrusts Of their long
poles. The skilled boatman is able
TO make better progress over the
prairies than the bear he chases.
Old hunters knew well how TO drive
deer out of a prairie head In the
direction OF a waiting companion.
In winter the trapper camps for
weeks at time in these heads,
tending his line OF traps and taking
the pelts of raccoon, otter, wildcat
and opossum.
To pass from the sparkling sun
shine OF the prairies into the gloom
of the adjoining cypress bays Is
striking experience. The huge
trees, buttressed by "knees." stand
In close ranks in foot or so Of
water. Their green crowns. so feet
or more overhead, shut out all but
a few stray beams Of sunshine,
causing even at midday sort Of
twilight. Here and there a winding
channel or run" permits the hunter
to push his tiny boat between the
tree trunks: but in the greater part
of the cypress bays there Is tall.
dense underground that makes even
foot travel a slow and arduous un-
dertaking. The bear, having the
double advantage of bulky strength
and a tough hide, is the only large
animal that can readily and rapidly
break through such tangle.
Welcome riffs in the cypress bays
in the heart Of the swamp are
formed by long, narrow lakes, most
important OF which are Billys lake,
Mines lake, and the Big Water.
Though each of these is several
miles in length, their width aver
ages scarcely so yards. They are
merely expansions Of runs" on the
headwaters of the far-famed Suwan-
nee river. On entering one of these
lakes the swamp bOatman lays aside
his push-pole and takes up the pad
die. He is also apt to cast out his
fish line, for the waters shelter
multitudes of warmouths, large
mouthed bass, and other toothsome
6shes.
Good Fishing There.
More than thirty species Of fishes
inhabit the Okefnokee. Persons
who love simple pan-fshing, with
an old-fashioned reed pole, find here
their hearts content. At Suwannee
lake this sort Of angling surpasses