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CAMP LIFE ALONG WABASH AlltheYearHound Dwellers in Boat Houses on Kiver Fisliliif Tramilng1 Herb Gathering anil General Worlc Yields Gooil The Wabash forms the eastern boundary of Illi ¬ nois from near Danville southward to its junction with the Ohio writes T M Cisel in Sports Afield It is one of the most beautiful rivers in the middle west flowing through one of the best farming sections of Illinois and Indiana Unlike most rivers of its size the valley of the Wabash is not given to swamps While a rich dark soil borders the river extending from onehalf to five miles inland but little swamp laud is found The bordering woodlands and fields are dry throughout spring summer and fall fallFew Few rivers are more abundantly supplied with fish Almost all kinds of fish found in the inland rivers of the United States are found in the Wa ¬ bash making it a favorite resort for campers and house boat homes Winter drives most of the tent livers to more comfortable quarters yet quite a number of commercial fishermen live throughout the year along the river plying their trade with much pleasure and considerable profit Such campers use some nearby highland well above the high water mark as a camn ground The favorite dwell ¬ ing of the river inhabitants is the house boat and they can be found in large numbers at all seasons of the year and ninnys the comfortable homes that float upon the Wabash WabashBOAT BOAT HOUSES AND THEIR INDUSTRY INDUSTRYThe The boat house man is the allyearround 111111 he takes his living from the water and border lands Fall spring and late summer he fishes for the market midsummer lie turns to clam fish ¬ ing and when King Winter closes the river witli ice he gives his time to the trapline which re ¬ turns a good profit as many small furbearers den and dwell along the Wabasli and its tributaries While fishing trapping and clam fishing ar tho three leading occupations of the river tellers there are yet a number of side lines vh provt profitable The gathering of roots hU and herbs in season is followed by many e making of willow chairs and baskets by otiiers while many are expert handle makers and spend the cold win ¬ ter days making ax and hammer handles for which they get fair prices The handle or basket maker usually has two boats in one of which he lives in the other he works and stores his wares waresTho Tho tradesmen mentioned above are real river dwellers and turn their attention to river trades as the farmer depends on his farm for a support We have yet another class who enjoy the pleasures of camp life along the river the people who spend vacations and weekends in camps estab ¬ lished for rest and pleasure This fad is growing in popularity each year as the people laarn more of the pleasures of camp life Many establish summer camps as private preserves while others have neighborhood camps to which a number of friends come to spend idle days and Sundays Such camps are popular and are sometimes bub ¬ bling with life and jollity for weeks at a time as a large number of members go and come as their spare time permits fishing hunting and games while others have their reading and music musicMANY MANY PARTIES AND VISITORS VISITORSIn In such camps the Sunday dinners are of much interest to all Usually a number of visitors are entertained and a good time had by all Tho pleasure campers furnish no small item of profit to the commercial fisherman as he sells them many fish when they fail to catcli the supply needed neededThere There are in fact no dull days along the Wa ¬ bash from May until September In almost every woodland along the river can be found a camp witli now and then a sportsmans club house houseOne One of the favorite camping grounds is at tlr Grand Rapids dam near Mt Carmel 111 Her the government has a great dam across the rive which raises the water twenty feet above the uat ural level forming a fall that churns the lowi river into foam Below this dam when the river is low the fish gather in large numbers trying to reach the upper river and here the fisherman can be found fishing from the dam crown when tin water is low or wading below the falls Many large fish are taken here as well as bass am other small fish A beautiful grove on the IllinoU side forms an ideal camp ground which during warm weather is always occupied by several camp ¬ ing parties
