The Coolidge examiner., 1935-07-19
Dnwn BY Newman Bumslsad


that in almost any other part OF
the country. When one considers
that the lake Is barely a quarter OF
mile long. with an average width
of perhaps so yards. a years catch
of more than 10000 fish (recorded
in 1920 is astounding.
Farther within the swamp, at BIZ
lys, Mines, and Buzzard Roost
lakes, or on the Big Water or the
Suwannee camel. there is likewise
rare fishing. The bulk of a days
catch with hook and line Is made up
of such basses as the Yarmouth, the
"stump-knocker," and the ''sand-nirt-
err" with a goodly proportion OF
mudfish and catfish. Those who
elect trolling are more apt TO land
jackflsh and large-mouthed bass.
The great state of Texas can
boast OF 80 species of frogs and
toads; the 0kefinokee region, with
one-two-hundredths the area of Tex
as, has 20. With varied habltats
to suit the requirements Of different
species; with unlimited breeding
places in the cypress ponds. cypress
bays, and prairies; with abundant
rains in normal years, and with
warm and humid climate. the Oke-
finokee is a veritable frog paradise.
AlIigators and Birds.
Men still living can speak Of the
times when II appeared as II "A
feller could walk across Billys lake
on gator backs" To this day the
Okehnokee remains perhaps the
best stronghold of our famous cor
rugated saurian. Suwannee lake In
particular, where the alligators are
protected. provides unequaled OPP
portunities for making intimate
studies OF the habits of wild indi-
yiduals.
or the approximately $50 species
OF birds recorded In the Okefinokee
region, scarcely One-half remain
during the summer and breed.
While some of these summer resi-
dents move southwark with the ap-
proach Of cool weather in the au-
tumn, their places are more than
filled by harder species coming
from the northern states and Can
ada to find n congenial winter home
In the swamp.
BY far the largest mammal of the
swamp, and perhaps the most in
teresting. is the Florida bear. From
early times 1t has attracted the
swamp hunters-not so much be-
cause of any particular value OF its
hide and flesh as by reason of the
thrill that comes from matching
wits and strength with so formid-
able an animal An additional rea-
son for the pursuit of the bear is
its numerous depredations on the
hogs that range through the piney
woods and the swamp borders. At
hogs prolonged squealing the
residents become instantly alert.
Guns are hurriedly lifted from
pegs on the cabin walls, the dogs
are called together with the hunting
horn, and the chase is on.
Primitive Life of the People.
For generations the sturdy, self
sufficient, and gifted people of the
Okefinokee have led rather isO-
lated and primitive existence, some
of them on islands within the
swamp and others along its borders.
They represent some Of the purest
Anglo Saxon stock left in our coun-
try, though a few of the families
have a slight mixture Of French
Huguenot and even Seminole Indian
blood.
In ancestry, speech, folksongs,
and general social ways there is
marked affinity between the resi-
dents of the Okefinokee and those of
the Appalachian mountains. In each
case there has been comparative
isolation, tending to preserve the
cultural heritage from Britain of
several centuries ago. The pic
turesque regional vernacular con-
tains various elements representing
suryivals from the Elizabethan age
that have dropped out of general
American usage
The old-fashioned square dance,
or "frolic,' still holds sway here as
a leading form of social recreation.
The fiddle, the handicap, the foot
beat, and the calling Of the set" by
the leader all lend their aid to the
rhythmic performance. The late
fall days-the season Of "hog KILN
an grindin' see these social
at their height.