The Nome daily nugget., 1936-02-07
okefinokee Swamp, Mystery Land of Georgia.

Okefinokee Swamp, M, Prepared by the National Geographic Society
 Washington. D. C.-WNU Service OWN in the southeastern cor ner of Georgia lies the great D Okefnokee swamp, a primeyal
 wilderness rich in treasure for the modern biologist. Mystery and en- chantment live in its coffee-colored wa ters, its moss-hung expresses and sun lit piney woods.
 The Okefinokee owes a great meas ure of its unique charm to its "prai- ries''-wide, unspoiled expanses filled in large part with Il tropical abund- ance of aquatic plants and flankcd with dense bays" of stately cypress On these one may delight his soul amid scenes of unearth!y lovelinesS that have changed virtually not at all since the Seminole warriors poled their dug. outs over them. The Okefnokee prai- ries are not land but water!
 In these morasses are many areas of open water, varying from lakes T quarter of mile in diameter to "alll gator hOleS'' rod in WldtN.
 The snowy blossoms of the white waterlily gladden. many acres of the deeper water, and the golden. globular flowers of yellow pond-lilies. or "bon. nets," glow in setting of huge green leaves. In the shallows yellow-eyed grass, its tall stems swaying. forms a sea of pleasant color.
 Resort of Hunters and Trappers.
 For generations swamp hunters have pushed over these prairie waters, standing up in their slight boats and bending rhythmically with graceful thrusts of their long poles The skilled boatman is able to make better prog ress over the prairies than the beal he chases. Old hunters knew well how to drive Geer out of prairie hea in the direction of a waiting conl- panion. In winter the trapper camps for weeks at time in these heads. tending his line of traps and taking the belts Of raccOon, otter, wildcat and opossum.
 To pass from the sparkling sunshiLe of the prairies into the gloom of the adjoining cypress bays is a striking experience. The huge trees. but. tressed by "knees," stand in close ranks in a foot or so of water. Their green crowns, SU feet or more over head, shut out all but few stray beams of sunshine, causing even at midday sort of twilight. Here and there a winding channel or run" per mits the hunter to push his tiny boat between the tree trunks; but in the greater part of the cypress bays there is tall. dense undergrowth that makes even foot travel slow and arduous undertaking. The bear, having the double advantage of bulky strength and tough hide, is the only large ani- maj that can readily and rapidly break through such a tangle.
 Good Fishing There.
 More than thirty species Of fishes in- habit the Okefin0kee. Persons whn love simple pan-ishing, with an old. fashioned reed poe. find here their hearts content. At Suwannee lake this SOFl ol HiS.ilHS ouI''aSSSS III ui- most 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 30 yards, years catch of more than 4O.nO0 fish (recorded in 1925) is astounding. Farther within the swamp, at Billys, Mines, and Blzzard ROost lakes or on the Big Water or the Suwannee canal there is likewise rare fishing. The bulk of days catch with hook and line is made up of such basses as the warmouth, the stump knocker." and the "sand-llirter," with goodly pro portion of mud!ish and catfish. Those who elect trolling are more apt 10 land jackfish and large.mouthed bass.
 The great state of Texas can boast of 30 species of frogs and toads; the Okefinokee region. with one-tw"- hun