DANBY, Jan. 16.—Silas L. Griffith of this place has purchased the land surrounding Lake Griffith, lying in the mountains east of this village, and has made arrangements to erect a large, handsome clubhouse on its shores.
For some time past Mr. Griffith has been contemplating the move, but it is only recently that he has been able to finish his plans.
The pond covers 20 square acres of land, and is one of the most celebrated trout fishing resorts in the state. Its waters come from clear, cold springs, either directly from its bed or trickle from the adjacent forests and find egress in a small tributary to Otter creek. Its waters fairly teem with trout, which will, with careful and discreet fishing, become still more numerous. The fish are of a peculiar species, differing from the brook trout in dimensions and color. They are something between the brook and lake variety, and are especially gamy.
Not only does Mr. Griffith own the pond and the land in the immediate vicinity, but he has 16,000 acres of timber land filled with game, extending from the pond back into the mountains on all sides.
Mr. Griffith intends posting the pond and protecting the fish, reserving the waters for his own use and that of his friends.
The house, upon which work will be begun in a few days, will be a frame structure, 80 by 60 feet, and will be of the most improved style, finished in a modern way and furnished with the latest improvements. A barn, 30 by 60 feet, will be built in the rear of the house.
Another private pond, which has up to this season been public water, and has always been noted as a great trouting rendezvous, is lake Griffith, in the mountains of Mt. Tabour, 2000 feet above the sea level. It has lately become the property of Silas L. Griffith, a wealthy citizen of the state and a resident of Danby. The pond in question was fairly alive with trout until last summer, when parties took advantage of the secluded position of the pond and put in dynamite cartridges, which destroyed nearly half the fish. This fact was brought to the attention of Mr. Griffith, who owned the land about the pond, and he immediately took steps to preserve what trout remained by first posting the pond. Then early In the spring he built a handsome clubhouse, ran a road to his nearest mills, which connects with his estate in Danby, had the pond watched night and day, and May 4 completed a telephone line from the mills to the pond, so that he is now in direct communication with both mills and pond. Mr. Griffith will soon begin the work of stocking the somewhat depleted waters, and when the trout grow to a reasonable size will allow a certain amount of fishing.
The stream leading from the pond to the headwaters of Otter creek is exceptionally good fishing, as well as the creek itself. The latter is especially favored at this time of the year, as its course lies through meadow land, where the heat of the sun finds easy access, and subsequently warms the waters.
While fishing in this stream on the afternoon of May 4 The Herald correspondent and another fisherman saw a huge black bear come into the roadway and then climb up the mountain side, and disappear in a ledge of rocks.
Several other ponds in this section furnish excellent sport during the spring and summer months, and but for the reason that they cover more than 20 acres in extent, would long since have been bought up and posted. These include Shrewsbury pond, a dozen miles from Rutland, which annually yields quantities of large trout.
Lake Dunmore, a few miles from Brandon, stands pre-eminent in this…