Florida Travel

THE St. Johns river is the great attraction for all
tourists; but those who wish to examine a wild and weird
stream, should take one of Colonel Hart's steamers from
Pilatka and ascend the Ochlawha; and en route visit that
great natural curiosity, Silver Spring. Owing to the
character of the navigation, the boats present an
unpretending exterior; but the accommodations and table can
be recommended, more especially when we take into
consideration the low price of passage.
A large number of steamboats ply on the St. Johns river,
and the tourist will find comfortable state-rooms and well
supplied tables. But visitors to Florida must remember that
the stewards of the boats cannot visit Fulton Market and
buy in a stock of luxuries.  When we take everything into
consideration, we must congratulate the owners of
steamboats in the State for the manner in which they cater
for their passengers.
     
Jacksonville, the great objective point, is well supplied
with hotels, and innumerable private boarding houses. At
Magnolia, Hibernia, Green Cove Spring, Pilatka,
Mellonville, and Enterprise, excellent hotels will be
found. For the information of intending tourists and
sportsmen we will furnish rates to all important landings
on the St. Johns river.

Fare to all landings between Jacksonville and 
     Green Cove Spring................................ $1 00

Fare to all landings above Green Cove Spring to Pilatka 2 00
     Meals Extra.

Jacksonville to San Mateo.............................. 4 00
     "          Welaka................................. 5 00
     "          Lake George Landing.................... 6 00
     "          Volusea................................ 7 00
     "          Blue Spring............................ 8 00
     "          Enterprise and Mellonville............. 9 00
     "          Lake Harris............................12 00
     "          Salt Lake..............................14 00
State-room and meals included in fare to all 
     points beyond Pilatka.

Charge for row boats to Enterprise.................. $3 to 6
     "      "          Salt Lake.......................... 8

From Salt Lake, passengers can secure transportation to
Indian river for about $5. Freight one-half cent per pound.
A small steamer has been placed on Indian river, but as yet
nothing definite has been determined regarding fare or time
of departure. So much has already been written about Indian
river as an attractive point for sportsmen that I shall
refrain from adding my mite.

New Smyrna, on the Halifax river, can be reached from
Enterprise, but as Colonel Alden has so thoroughly written
up the locality in the columns of the public press, we
shall refrain from commenting upon its climate, bathing,
and piscatorial attractions. But we
are compelled to state that sportsmen will find the Colonel
approachable, and ever ready to furnish information
regarding his section.
St. Augustine can be reached from Tocoi by railroad.  The
road is fourteen miles in length and the charge for passage
$2.50. The price may seem exorbitant, but travellers must
remember that travel is limited, and that the road must
earn sufficient in three months to run it for twelve.
Excellent hotel accommodations will be found in St.
Augustine, and in addition, the tourist can choose between
a number of private boarding houses.
If any adventurous sporting reader wishes to indulge in an
agreeable and romantic trip, we would advise him to obtain
a light flat-bottomed boat, eighteen to twenty feet long,
five feet beam, with centre-board and sprit sail.  Forward
it to Jacksonville by sailing vessel or steamer; from
Jacksonville to Mellonville by steamboat. Transport boat
from Mellonville to Lake Hoptaliga by wagon, a distance of
about thirty-five miles, at an expense of $25.  From the
lake descend the Kissimmee river to Lake Okeechobee, a
distance of about one hundred and sixty miles. The river is
bounded by extensive prairies, and the hunter can indulge
in deer shooting to his satisfaction.  Ducks and 'gators
exist in immense quantities, and bass (trout) fishing will
be found to be excellent.  Owing to the prevalence of
easterly winds, the open nature of the country and the
rapid current, Okeechobee can be reached in three days from
Hoptaliga.
From the mouth of the Kissimmee to the mouth of Fish Eating
creek is a distance of about thirty miles.  But to find the
entrance to the latter stream is the rub.  Three parties
have descended the Kissimmee, and searched for the mouth of
the creek, but failed to find it. I propose entering it
before next spring, from the lake, and if I succeed, I will
erect a pole at its mouth, surmounted with a tin can. The
best directions I can furnish to parties desirous of
entering the creek are as follows:
From the mouth of the Kissimmee river to Fish Eating creek
the course of the lake shore is south-west by west, about
thirty miles; and from the mouth of the creek the trend of
the shore is south-south-east. The bearings of the lake
shore will guide the wanderer in finding the entrance of
the creek. North of the creek less than one mile, a very
large cypress will be noticed in the lake, about six
hundred feet from the shore. Owing to the prevalence of
easterly winds, the mouth of the creek will probably be
found obstructed by floating lettuce, but the channel can
be discovered by keeping near the shore and sounding with a
pole. To escape the difficulties attending the navigation
of the creek (for two and a half miles, beginning at the
lake), in consequence of the presence of lettuce, we would
advise parties to take to the marsh opposite the large
cypress, and pursue southwest by west course, which will
land them in the creek above the obstruction; in an
ordinary state of water a boat can be pushed through the
saw-grass and lily-pads.
Proceeding up the creek about five miles, an immense mound
will be noticed on the left bank. This has not been opened
to any extent, and if archeologically inclined the tourist
may amuse himself. Six miles above the mound a ford will be
discovered, and this point is named New Fort Centre. By
proceeding a few miles above the crossing, the sportsman
could camp on the banks of the creek under the protecting
branches of some huge liveoak, and indulge in the best deer
and turkey shooting in the United States. The creek is
noted for its numbers , of large trout (bass).

The question of how to reach the Caloosahatchie will be
asked. The pedestrian of the party must provide himself
with a bottle of water, and some provisions, and take the
old military road at the ford and follow it for twelve
miles in a south-west direction, when Mr. Carlton's
residence will be discovered. I arranged with Mr. Carlton
to transport boat and traps for any party from the creek to
Fort Thompson, at the head of navigation, on the
Caloosahatchie. The price agreed upon with Mr. Carlton, for
self, wagon, and team, was $3 per day.  Going to and
returning from the creek would require two days, and entail
an expense of $6.  I engaged Mr. Carlton to carry me to
Fish Eating creek, and formed a very favorable opinion of
him.
At the rapids, large trout, and cavalli, weighing three to
four pounds, can be captured.  As a general rule, a number
of Indians will be found in camp at the fort, and superior
buckskins can be purchased from them for $1 per skin.   The
descent of the Caloosahatchie a distance of about 110
miles will be found to be an enjoyable trip.  When Punta
Rassa is reached, the wanderer may do up Charlotte Harbor,
or take the steamer Valley City on Tuesday and reach Cedar
Keys on Thursday.

The trip from Jacksonville, and return via Punta Rassa and
Cedar Keys, a distance of about 1,000 miles could be made
in a limited period and at a trifling expense.  We are
under the impression that we could do it up in the time
indicated below: 2 days to Mellonville; 2 days to
Hoptaliga; 4 days to Okeechobee; 2 days to Fish Eating
creek; 1 day to Fort Centre; 3 days to be occupied in
transporting boat to Fort Thompson; 4 days from Fort T. to
Punta Rassa; 2 days from Punta Rass: to Cedar Keys; 1 day
from Cedar Keys to Jacksonville; or twenty-one days for the
round trip.

I may remark that boats can be purchased in Jacksonville;
but, as they are generally built of yellow pine, they are
heavy and apt to leak. Before leaving Jacksonville, or
Mellonville, a party should provide themselves with a
pushing pole sixteen feet long.

It seems strange that Florida is almost the oldest settled
portion of the United States, and up to the present time no
person has left the Atlantic coast and reached the Gulf
through the medium of a boat, via St. Johns, Kissimmee,
Okeechobee, and Caloosahatchie, and for the obvious reason
that no one has been able to find the mouth of Fish Eating
creek. If I can find the right kind of a companion, I will
make the attempt in December or January. I have recently
received one of Bond's sectional boats, sixteen feet long,
and propose testing its applicability for the trip. South-
west Florida is a sportsman's paradise, and truly worth
visiting.  Frosts are unknown, rain seldom falls during the
winter months, the days are not uncomfortably warm, and the
health is unexceptionable.
" AL FRESCO."