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WEBSTI<-R, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
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Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques
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]':i)\VARJ) A. SAMi:i:i.S
I'RKSIDENT (IF I'lll, M \>S M.'lIfSKri s l-ISII ANP (,\MF. I'Kd I KCTlVi: A-^Si Kl \ IK iS .
\l lildK III '■ llli: iiKM rilii|.(ii,\- AM) iiril.uCN- 111 \| \\ ISi.l.wn \M,
\IiJ\i|;M M\I1v \\|p M;n\ IMI ^," •• \\|,,M, Mil KiKlis," \ss,,.
' I \ 1 1 I I'l li'R III- "Mil ll\ INi; Wiikl.li," Kll ., Ill .
sikA Ti'i) Willi om; inMiKKi) .\\i> 1 II- i\ i'i.\ii;s,
FROM I'lloldCKAl'llS \\V ■|lli: AI'llloK.
>:F,\V YORK
FORF.S'I- AM) Sj'KKAM ITI'.I.ISH I\(- CO.
1 890
Cdi'VRir.ii r. iR()o.
FoKKsr AMI SnU'.AM I'l KMsiiiNi; Cd.
Respectfully ncdicatal
to flic
Massacluisctts I'isli and L'idiiic Protective . Issocicitiou.
X^O\ti
PREFACE.
TX Til I'", pa'panition of this I„,nk I have mad.- ik. i'(.
fori to \\rit<' a Icchniial work, \n\i lia\c aimed rather
'" l"-<»<liic<' .1 \olimie which ■AcMiKl, hy the . lesiripi ions
,i;iven of ill,, haunts and hahils of a few of our -anie
''•'^'^- '"!'' "I" tli<' iiH-idents and nieihods of their captiin-,
nol only enlerlain and please my l.rother an-h.-s, hut;
instil in the minds of those who have not yet acpn'red
"lh<' -entle art," a desire to tast.^ the pure and healthful
pleasures which it affords.
I know ol no other ]).ist!me or field sport, a love
(jf which once ac([iiired. that -ives such lastin- and per-
fect enjoyment as lly-hshin--. and I earnestly hope that
a perusal of these pa-;es will do something;- toward -uid-
iii.l;- the attention of our youn-- men and women in its
direction.
In connection with the pleasiu'e to he derixcd from
the tly-rod. the an-ler now has an accessor)- in his out-
ings which will add vastl\- to his cn\ )yment. both in the
present and years to come. 1 refer to the cam(;ra.
Mil
PrcJ.
iUV
V
or iii.iiu \c.irs
I 1
ia\(' wo
•kcd wiih the \\v\ ulaic
inclhiid, hill thai, dt loursc. is iinuicMx. ciunhfoih
ami
n'(|iiii*cs such an ouUil ih.il h)r thsiaiil held work il is
well niijli iinpraiiicanU;
Hill wilhin a h'W scars the (h'_\' |)lal(' process has
hern jJcrhTlcd lo such a inar\ch»iis (h'i^rcc that one can
now lake his camera an(
I .h-
\ pkil
es, or sells
li/ed
)ai)er
or cehiiloid rolls, and i-aii saxc for hilure enjo\inenl a
picture of e\cr) ih'h^htfiil thin^ that meets his xisioii.
I ha\c for several yeai's carried my I'amera with me o\cr
wiKI and ruL^i^cd moimlains, through maii\ mih-s of ahiiosl
unhroken wiKlerness, down liie rapids ol rushiiiL; streams
:ind across widi; stretches of kikes in m\ I rail canoe, and
ha\i: a lreasur\ ol pictures that will herealler pro\e of
the greatest deli_Lihl and comfort to me. And it is m)-
L^n'cat rei_;ret that I did not possess such a pholoi^raphic
oulhL thirl) \ears w^o as 1 at presiMU ha\c. II 1 couUl
ha\e sa\('d pholoi^raphs of ail the wonderful scenes and
incidents ihrouj^h which 1 iia\ e j)assed, and many of
which are now lost e\cn to the \ ision of memor)', tiie
collection wouKI ha\c \ivv\\ priceless. The an;.;ier and
lourisl. youiiL; and old, il he lakes my most earnest
a(.l\ ice, will procure a photographic oiillit, antl preserxi.-
for his comfort in old a_L;x: the; j)ictured rt:c:ord ol his
delightlul outings I))' " ilood and lield,"
Pir/iu\
i\
l.\
•^'^ an r\;mi|)lc <,f u|, ,, ,„ ,. i , ...
"'^'^^"••'l'<">s ,n tins vol,,,,,,-. uhiVI, h.v,. I
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mad.' Iiy iins.:ir. ,„v .n-,t<-li,l ,a i ,
to I,, s i'm- a,k„„„|,.,|„„.,„s a,v .luc
I'a- ]),. M \ X, ■ '"'"-^'"'O "' l'l,il;„l,.|,,|,ia,
f, \ ■ '"^ '■' '■'"'•'"■^'•■»''- ^■•■-■. an,l ,ul..^^^
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tli'^ai Imii htti,. aiirani,,,, "
,.,„ ;;■;;;":'■ ^'"^'T' "'"" ^■- ■•--' ->■ > ^
•) ^' ^^'" 'car uii 1 in<. ;f
, """ "'< >f .n>- accimis „f t|,„ pleasures
X
Preface.
others could have given them ; remember that the book
IS not a pretentious one, but is rather an unassuming
and humble companion to others that have better shown
in sweeter and more symmetrical lines the delights and
charms of the angler's life, which. " Exempt from public
haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running l)rooks.
sermons in stones, and good in everxthinu."
Edward A. Samlkls.
i
CONTENTS.
ClIAI'Ti; R I., -
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'■'' ^'""^'"^"1 l"l< r,<,M T VM, S,M.M,,,S. . T,,,. I,,,,,,,,,,. ,,,
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""■• '''^" '"^""'^- • 'I'"'- MlKAMMII, VM, u. Tk,,;, ,,„„,,
N,M,.. KISUKKV S, MNIMs, . ( ins,,,,. ,, ,„, I ,,, ,„. ,,,,, ^^/
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Im.I.I .^ AKI. I Ml , ,.(iK I--,
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21
ClIAI'Ti; K II.
An !;.\ki V ( AS I
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^ '■'"■ ^''^ I'l^'" !■ ■ l.iM-.i.v TiMi:.. . II, ,u I,,
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" '■''' l''i-"^" IN 111 mam,. . |!,„\. k I-,,,,,
A k.M ,,,, l-A,., KIlN, I. . |.| ^vi^,, ^
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'>" III; < IIAK \( I I k. \\ ,,,, ( ;,
A M \s wih, W \s,,-,, ,,,,.; |.;\K|,|, . ,1 ^1,,,^^
^' '" '"' '"^'""^ 'l''^"' ' '"MI'AKM.. • K.MIN,, ^ T,„,, ,. ,,s ,,„
'■"■• • ^'" "■ '•■>>iiiN'^ IN <Mi, Tim,.. . |.|, I, ,,,,,,„ ,, ^,. ^
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:'"■'■• ■ -^ '■'^'■'■^ l''^"- ■ II-'KIN,; \ |..UK ,„.. |.,s,,.|,„,,,
I kn,||N,, ,.,,K Sa|.M,,n. . |>„ ,,,. ,;,.-, |.-,s|,,x„.
A IS.XkK (AMk. ■ •• |m>|| Ki,. I. ,.;,(.. '
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t iki. \i Si ki ,,,ii.i .
Mil. I'll III I', „,|.
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Si
XI 1
C on tents.
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"('(iM<MMi nil. I>i<ii I \\<Hiii'" • I'lin (isni'iii;K>. ■ l\ii.i,is(. iiii,
l''iNii Nur Ai.i. iiiiKi'. IS ii|.- l'i>iiiN(;. • KiN(;ii>in;ks ami Siii.i.-
|iK\Kl,S AS I'l.SIS (IN \S\I.MiiN i 1 1; TkiiI I Kl\IU. • I I 's A \\'iiMi|;K
\\l, HANI. ANN SM.M'iN 1.1. 11. • A S\l.\IilN III.M MAS l.iiNc; KI-.j.-.N
IN INI'. KiNiK 1^ Sin 111 1111. V\.\. ■ Tin: I'iianium .Minnhw I'si.ii
IN 'I'kiil.l INC iiiu Sm.Miin. • A SikANi.i. I. Ill 111' I'isii. • Ai:i;i;.\-
\.\IIN(; S.M.MiiN. • I'AillINi; riMl:>. • WiiKM^ A-^ l!.\lr liiN
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IN Sllll \\.\ll.K. • .\n I'.XilllNi; SlKi I.I.I.I.. • \iriiik\. • l'i>ii
IN Ai!i Nii.\Nii'. • < H K 1'i.km.\ni:n I Cwir. • Si i ii l.rik \s an
AM.\ I 1.1 K SiiMI' riMI.^ I l.N^. ■ SAI.MhN IIIVI I'l.ANIli Ml. • I'l^lll.U-
.MAN'> 1,1 IK.
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111, 'rmr 111 Mil. M.\Kii.\Ki:i:. • Ijhi.xm.h Tkiiii. .siici-.^s
IN I'SINI; .\ " < ,K.\\ Mill --1." • .NilK I III .\-- I M\ki.\KII. • .\l;l Nll-
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|iiN\i;ll. SaII. • .\i;i Nli.VNi I. .\N1) \.\KII',I\ 111 I'llNIi 1,111. (iN (.\li'',
I'lKI liiN.
ClI.M'lT. K \'
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(liiui) IN .\ SiiiKM. • .\ (il;i\l (Sllll. • Tkiii 1, IhiK.s \nii
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SiiMK TkIii. • llniiKI 11 .\Nli SaVKD. • I'NIKI'. (il.lS .\ Nl i| 1 1 1.K 1'' ISI I.
llnW I III'. C'lUNIKN' liil\' .XnCI.I-.S IDK \ SM.MiiN. • .\ Si.HlKKI.I.
Skin I i v. • .\ (iKi,.\i (,'ahii. • 'riii Imi.uii Kui.k in \ia\
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4;vS
ILLUSTRATIONS.
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ON tin: Ji \\\nr Ruik Nim; |,u<|; i:i,\v\l;|,,
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CIIAPri'R [.
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Si'KAKIM. \S|J ( ,11 I -\| I I ISC hlxl^^ll) \si) (nSIMMSIh. ( \|| I'lKIMi.N
Salmon Sitakisi;. • ||\mi |,r,K. . ■im. |;,,s r,,i.i. \ .sii;\h,iii mmkn.
hi >ii;ri iidS ( \i>iii v.\ Si ISIS. i. • ,\ Sivuriis.; Sit\mi is iiii I'mmi..
I'lA -I'IS|||N(, \:\ MmmSLKJI I lipn TkiiI r ASI) Sm.MiiS. • |||| |)||,|(,|||, ,,|-
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I'l^ii''^' ■ CiiAMiKs IN nil. 1,111, ,,|. iiiK S.M.Mos. • |)iii \,,i |.;vi.:u Ski,
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IIai-.ii^ .m nil, S\i\i.is. • Kki.is .\kk Uni n kjr Immm..
A XOrill'Jv )-<'ar had |).issc(l aua\, ar-l a-ain \\v
^ were cMlcamix'd hy llu: side of one of ilu; most
l)icturcs(iuc rivers in Canada. Our iciu was pitched near
the "tiiird pool," and was pleasanll)- located in a -^rove
of firs, hemlocks and maples, on a littK; knoll a few
feet from the eastern shore of the ri\-er, ami hut two
or thrc:e i ods from the rapids which form the hea.d of
the pool.
It was the evening of our first day on the river,
and a hearty supper, such as on!}- a lishernian knows how
22
//'//// /'7v-/\(h/ and Ld/iicni.
to cnjoN. had l)ccii (lispitscd of, and we were iiidul'dii'j:
in ili.il Mi|ir(nic cnio) iiiciil which a ^odd ci^ar, a [icrfcct
digestion .md such surroiiiuhiii^s (oidd .L;i\<'.
\\ r had had .i hard d i\ s worL in .isccnihiiL; the
ri\cr, and liad found l-ul small sport with the ll), for
ihcri' arc hut lew L;ood pools Ixlou the third, two of
them onl) hein;^ considered ol enouL;h import. nice to he
named. We had lound the w.iler low ,nid clear, .md
the tl.iN uas hri^^ht ; hut in s[)ite ol these dr.iwh.icks wc;
had made .i score of liltt'cn or Iweiit) nice sea trout
.and a j^rilse.
I'i'ere, m\ I'omrade on this occasion, w.is .i sports-
m.m in the hest sense ol the word, a student ,uul lo\cr
of na'nre also, and .i scholarK m.m hesides.
1 je had been with me helore on more th.ui one
outing, .md was .i most ai^reeahle <md .dto_L;ether enjoy-
al)le t:omi)anion. We had louml iIk ri\cr so low, that
in many places our canoe could not possihiy he poled
up the rapids, loaileel as she was so hea\ il) with us, our
stores, and our two canoemeii or L^uides, antl we hael
waded a i^ood p.u't of the da\'. "•'
()f course wailin:^ is e.\[)ecteel l)\' t;\er)- lisherman,
and in fact it would he a tame thi)' iiulccd, if a ^ood
pari of the time were not spent in two feet, more or
less, of water.
■^
f*
X
^4
I y it It Fly- Rod and Caincni.
But \\{\.vx th(j tlay's work is done, and the wet clothes
ire dolled, .ind warm, dr) ones put on lor the \\\
r<
dit.
w
hat a leclinL:' of intense; satisfaction and rest anti utter
conilort oiu; enicns, as lie stretches himself out on his
thick heil ol hemlock l)ouL;hs, as we did after enjo)'i
n<2
our c;\x;nmii meal
It is ni)- in\ariable rule on ni)- fishini^- tri[)s to have
a warm, tlr)- cliann'e of clothes, in whicli to pass the
nii^ht. No matter how much wadini;' one does in the
cold, almost ic)' cold water of the mountain stream, if
the change ;)f clothes is at luind, no discomfort follows
the e.\p(3sure.
/\nd after the dr)' woolens are tlonned, how one's
skin jj^lows, and what a sense of satisfaction is felt as
tlu; comrades reiiose before the camp fire, and while
watching' the blaze curl about the snaippin^' loi;'^, discuss
the events of the da)-, and fio-ht their battles o'er a_L;"ain.
It was under such conditions as I have described
that we cMijoycd irur nrst night's outing'.
Before us, across the ri\er, looming up against the
heavens, was a high, stet'p, rugged cliff; behind and
aroimd us on all othc;r sides was tlu; lorest, which ex-
tended almost unbroken lor hundreds of miles.
In Ircjnt ol the camp was the lire, and arountl it in
careless attitudes \\v reclined, together with our two ca-
lyith I^ly-Rod anJ Camera.
25
:ht,
Ills
nocmen. I-or a while neither of us spoke, but i^ave our-
selves entirel) to our thoughts and to the goddess
Nicotine.
"It's a ^reat pity I h)st tiiat sahnon in the second
pool," at length exclaimed iny friend, who jiad heen
busily engaged in drying- his wading stockiiiLis. ••|le
must have been lightly hooked, for I handled him as
carefull) as 1 c(nild."
"N'cs." 1 replied, "the hook came back with a jerk.
I should think perhaps it struck the bone of the jaw,
and not fintling enough to hold it, caim; awa\- at the
first turn of the tish."
Iwas a right neat cast )()u made that time," said
liiram, the elder of the guides, joining in the coincr-
sation. " 1 think it was about ninet\- feet ; I saw the
lish just foment the lly. a cast or two before; he rose.
lie made an offer at it. but not in real earnest. "Fwas
when the lly went beyant and passed fairl\- over him
that he took it."
"I didn't see him until he rose." replied m\ friend,
"or I should have fished differentU."
"NOii wouldn't have done any better, likel)- as not,
if }-ou had seen him," said William, the other guide,
"!t Vv-as a fresh-run lish, and look when a gcjod chance
came."
26
IVitli Fly- Rod and Caiucm.
\
on .s;i\' N'ou saw
iin
hef
oxv. \\v. rose
11
irain,
I
cxclaimctl, "do \()u mean that \()u saw the fish away
clown in the jjooI. at that distance?"
Indeed he did,
sau
1 W
liani,
and so did 1 ; the
hsh was Kiiil;' up ai^anist a
1)1
ue rod
HI tlie ec
ld>-
11
e\-
11
irani
Such keenness of sii^ht scanned almost incredible,
but 1 had witnessed numerous instances of it before,
and 1 saw no reason to doubt their statemc;nt in the
present instance. The traininj^ of tlu; \ision of the
ij^uides and rixcr men is somethini; absolutel)" wontlerful.
Man)- and many a time ha\c; 1 stootl beside a salmon
l)ool, and had m\' i-uicU; count the fish \s\w\y in the
water, sometimes a do/en at ;i time, when 1 positi\el\-
could not s(,;e a Im. It is onl\- in late }-eai's that I
ha\(^ U.'arned how to look for a saJmon beneath the
surface of tin; water.
It is an accomplishment difficult to ac(|uire. and
hard to tlescribe. In llie first j)lace, the unetlucated
()bser\(..'r looks for somethiiiL; whitish in the water, in
searchiiiL,^ for a salmon, wlierc-as he siiould look, for a
fish 54"ra\isii in color and with a bluish-i^reen back; for
the salmon in its native elem^mt almost always shows
that color, unless it has been lont; in tile river, and
even then it does not lose its bluish back entirely,
i
M
■f.
28
intli Fly- Rod and Camera.
iilth()UL;li it l)cc<)nK's imich darker. A^ain he looks for
a lafi^x.' tish, when it he scarclu'd lor sonulhinL;' near
what lu; woiiKl (.■xpccl to he tlir ch'nu'iisions ol a j^ood-
sized trout, he would conit: nearer the mark.
1 can recall a number ol instances ol seeini^" what I
supposed to he either a lar^e trout or a grilse, j,ut
which, on Ijeinj^- killed, pro\cd to he a L;()oil-si/ed sal-
mon.
It is to he rt:meml)ered that the: salmon in tlu^ pool
is co\ereil gciierall) with more water than the obsei-\er
dreams of; and 1 iia\-e often found a depth of fifteen
feet in a pool where 1 hardly e.\[)ected three. Such a
dej)th tlwarfs the si/e of the lish to the ej'e, antl it is
onl\' h}' nuich practice that one learns lo look through
the water for the tish for which he is searchiuL;'.
"Oh, yes, 1 saw tlie salmon a i^ood hit of time
before he took the ll\'," said Hiram, cutting' up a fresh
fillinL;' of tobacco for his pipe, and rubbing- it fine be-
tween his hands, "and three; more."
"Is tliat so?" i exclaimed, "W'h)- didn't nou sp(,;.d<
at the time?"
"The)' were awa)- down the pool heyaiK the lly,"
said William, "and two ol them were scarred on the
back. lle\-. Hiram?"
His brother was busil)' eniL!a!j,'ed in li^hlin^- liis pipe
-I
■1
U'it/i I'ly-Rod and L'oiiici
V.
29
witli an cml).')- at that moment, and onl) '^'runted an
assent to William's (jiier\-; hut at length he answered,
"Yes, hiast the spearers, they're at it ai^ain."
"I noticed some hunit remnants of hirch hark on
the rocks," ([uietl_\ remarked h'rere. who was still en-
i^^-ai^X-d witli his wet stockings, "and supposed that the
spearers w(.;re at their old iricks."
" \ es, the)'re always at it e\-ery rii^ht ni^ht," saiil
William, as he threw a fresh lo^- on the tire, aiul ar-
ranged the others so as to hurn to belter ach' intake,
"anil the\- can't he stopped neither, unless th(;re s a man
always hand) to watch tlu; bi^- pools."
' It's a pit\- they can't be stopped in their work in
the lower pools," said 1. ''W lhe\ could be headed off
there, the\- would harchy trouble the tish in the uj)per
pools, they are so ilithc ilt of access."
"Sure enough," replied William, ";uid the two lower
pools. W lei alone, wouUl be the best salmon pools on
the ri\-er, but the poachers can reach them in three or
four hours (rom the mouth of the river, and they not
only spear in them, but they oftcm set ^ill-nets, ami
e\-en sweep the pools with semes."
"Too bail, loo bad, alto^'ether !" exclaimed Hiram,
"they'll spile the river entirel)."
In order that their words ma\- be better undor-
'Ifi
30
/A'//// I'lv-Rod ami C '(iiiicni.
itood, I wil
mak^' a brief explanation. Salmon spear-
iny^ and netting' arc; the two i^i'eat t-auses ol cle[)letion
of CaiKulian streams; (.lippiiiiL;-, that is catchinL;- tht; hsl:
with
a. larn'e scoo[)-net
lie runs, n
ow heinii' hut litth
practiced. I have visited a
ml
lisheti (|uite a nuinher ol
the stre;
tms,
and found that one;, if not holii tl
lese pro-
scribetl methods of capturin:^' the tisli, was practiced on
almost e\er\' one. It is doiu; sub rosa ol coui'se, but to
the educatetl observer certain "sis^ns" of the marauders
are always apparent.
Salmon s|)(.;arinL;' is practic(Hl in the followinLr man-
ner: The s|)ear is usually a steel lanc:e, sharply pointed,
and fixeil in the end of a strong' pole;. At both sides
of this lance are pliable wooden springs. When the
rtsh is struck, the steel pierces its back, and at the same
time the sprini^j^s tly open and clasp the lish au'l hold it
firml)-. A dark, cloudy ni^ht is chosen, and at a time
when the moon is not abo\'(; the hori/on.
The s]jear(;r, usualK' in a dui^out or a canoe, but
sometimes on a rudeK' constructed catamaran or raft, is
paddled or poled silenth' b\' a confederate; over the pool.
In the bow of the boat, affixed to a stall, or lyinj;'
in a pan, is a roll of bkuin^' birch bark, anil its flame
li^ihts up the water brilliantly, wherever the rays ol th(;
lij^ht penetrate. The; lish pa_\ • attention lo the blaz(%
lK?ar-
^tion
hs!;
little
r (,[
pro-
on
t to
(.Icrs
lan-
ited,
des
the
me
it
me
Jilt
is
ol.
>l^-
lie
'■(\
32
ll^itJi I'lv-Rod and Camera.
or if they do they arc attracted by it, for the)' seem
to swim in the circle; of li,L;lu, hut not hcNond it.
Tile s|)('ar('r, standiiiL;' crouclu-d hchind ilic hurnini;
hark, holds his weapon in readiiK'ss for a (juick thrust,
antl 1 am told hy those who haxc seen it done, that
tlu; blow is i^iven hy a practicetl hand with liie rapid-
ity of li^'htnini^.
The tish is struck, and lifted or llum^- into the hoat
with one (juick t^ftort, in fact, to use the words of a
i^-entleman who used occasional!)- to l^o with the Indians
salmon spearing, "The fish was liouncinLi' ami llappin^'
in the canoe, even without m\- stx'inL;- tlit; Intlians make
the blow, so quickl)' was it struck."
All tlK! fish in ,1 pool may thus be killed by an
expert in a short time, and if an\' 1)\- chance t;scape, as
they sometimes do, the\' are often so cut and flashed by
the sharp steel as eventuall)' to die fnjiii the injur! :;s
receixed.
After his work is done, the spearer oftt;n carelessly
throws the scorclK;d remnants of l)irch bark upon the
shcjre, or casts them into the river, but the\- are soon
landed on a jutting" bc^ach, and the)- appear as a certain
exidence of the presence of the despoiler.
"Yes, spearini^ makes bad work in the river," said
William, musingl)-. "I've often seen fish that had betm
// '//// Fly- Rod and Canicni.
y:>
cut with the spc.'ir but not killed, and it spiles them for
breeders. " *
"Not only that," add(;d my friend, who was now rc-
clininn' at his ease beside me, "but the fish that esca|K!
are alwa\ s shy and iUl the rest of the season, and the)
will ])a\' no attention to the fly whate\-er."
" N'es, it is Lirt;atl)' to be desired that s|jearin!L;' should
be stcjpped," said 1, "*but thi; problem is how it can be
done; no law can be strictl)' enforced unless public sen-
timcMit is with it. ( )n all the rixcrs upon which 1 know
that sjjearinn' is practiced, the majority of the n-sitleiits
in th(; different localities do not disappro\-e of it, and
very often many otherwise respectable men take their
turns at it. Let me i^ive you a single instance:
" 1 was fishin*;- the Maro^aree, that noble salmon river
in Cape l^reton. 1 was up the river some twc-nt\- or
thirty miles from its mouth, and was castini^ in one of
the finest pools 1 ever saw. At every cast 1 expected
a rise, for the water was rii^^ht. and the pool lookc'd as
if it ouj^ht to ha\-e at least a dozen fish in it. I
worked with the ii^reatest can; and patience, and co\ered
the pool in all directions with every variety of tl\- that
1 thoui^ht out^ht to movt; th(^ capricious beauties, but not
f,.
* 'I'lu' clialojjues. if iinl iiinvi-ntidiial, mm irirrf<i. liaviii^ htHMi jntied down
Z'clialim. — E. A. S.
34
//'//// /•7v-/\(>(/ (!i/i/ ('tinirrd.
a ris<- (lid I ^<t, txccpl Iroiii a feu iiisiinnilicaiU trout.
1 coiiKl not (|uiic iimlcrsiand il at first, lor I knew that
the salmon were asccmlinL;' the river, as the) hail hccn
taken in a nunihcr ol the pools below. At lenL^'th.
however, when I went to the foot of the pool and
crossed over to the rocks on the other yi'le, I loiuul a
miniher of the tell-tale remnants of burned rolls of birch
bark. I returned to ni) first position at the rapitls, at
the head, a!id bci^'an castirin' a^^ain, but 1 had no faith
in mv work, lor I knew that the poacher hail fore-
stalled me. Prc?scntl\- 1 was joined b\- a man who had
been at work in the adjacent ha) lield, and we soon
entered into conversation.
"'("littin^' an\ tish?' he asked.
"'No, nothing' but a few sea trout,' 1 replied, 'it's
strano'e I don't move a salmon : there ou^ht to be some;
hen*, but 1 haven't stirred a tm \et.'
" ' N'l's, it's about time for um to be running' up,'
he answered, naiveK, 'and, in fact, n\\ l)())s seen some
here a dav or two back.'
"'At ;dl events,' I replied, 'theri-'s none here now,
and 1 ma\' as well i^'o to the pools lurther up.'
" ' Perhaps nou don't tlsh riuht, mister,' he answered,
'or ma\' be )our tiles ain't just rii^ht ; vou ou_nht to _L;et
a salmon in this water, sure.' All this ([uite innocently.
^
.36
lyitli I'ly-Rod ami Caiurni,
"'Well, I rannot sa\' about tlic way I fisli, wliothor
it is rii^lu ni- noi.' I said, 'Im the llics arc all riiL;lu,
and I ha\f tried every kind I ha\c. Il seems to \\\v.
iliere imisi \\\\\v Keen spearing J^oi'i.u' "n here lalel),' I
added, lookin-' him in the e\c, and at the sanic tinu;
handinij' him a c:i«'ar. 'tlu-re arc; ci;rtainl\ (iiiile a niimhiri*
(»l hirch hark embers Ixin^' on ihe rocks Nonder.'
"•Spearing! ( )h, no, mister; there ain't no spi-arino'
ilone around here.' he exchiimed in a tone that ouL;hl to
ha\c eonsinced me. 'Why. look, up xoucler li\cs one ol
the rixcr wardens.' and he |)ointed to a cottai^c an eighth
of a mile Ironi the pool. '()h. no. we don't hasc no
spearing' in this pool, not much. Well, I must be n'C't-
tiuL;" to work a^ain," he said, alter watchini.;' me a short
time in \\\\ etiorts to rise a fish. 'Cast awa)' into th<;
■tUl\, the other siile of the rapids, mister, anil ma\' Ik;
vou'll rise a salmon \-et ; Nou're lishinu- all ri-'ht. and tlu;
llies are i^ood ones; fish caretul I ( )h, no. we don't have
no spearint;' in this pool.' he ejaculated, as he tlisappeared
in the busiies behind nu-.
" \ow. for real genuine Jiiicssc )()ur countr)'man is
not to be outdone b\' a cit\' dwell(;r, and m\ man in
this instance acteil his part i)erf('ctl\' ; but he was l\inLC
to nu: all throui^h. as 1 proNinl inside of ten minutes.
"] was casting" in the c{\i\\ In-low the ra|)ids, and
1?'
//'//// I'lx-Roii (Uhi ( anici'ii.
3;
no
had hooked a \v\-\ fine sea trout. htiniLi alone, \^\\
frit-nds hasin^; I«lt lor the pools al)o\c, I had consider-
able (htVuidtN' in kilhiv' nn lish. Imt was linall\- assisted
}))■ a \()iin|nsler ten or twcKf scars ol a^e, who oppor-
tunel)' arri\((I on the roiks. and takin;^ m\ net, lantled
my fish (|uite skill(nll\-.
"■That's a nice trout, niisler.' he exclainted. as lie
laid the hsh upon the heach. hou much will he wcij^^h.
s'pose.'''
" I took out \\\\ poiket scales, and found that the
trout a little overr.an three ;ind a half pounds.
"'lie isn't (|uite as hii^^ as the one I ^ot xcsterda)'.
thoiinh.' said the lad. ' I ^ot him ri-^hl there in \\\v.
\'>vw(\, 'side of that rock.' And he pointed into the pool
as he spoke.
"'Mow did you ^ct him. my l)o\?' I asked, (piilt;
inncJCL-ntl)-. 'I should thiid< a lart^c- tish would he too
much for nou." XxmX I hei^an casting;- attain, awaitinj;-
his re|)l\-.
" ' ( )h, I ^ol him just the wa\ I t^et a i^ood man\-
more. I snared him !'
"'Snared him!" 1 exclaimed, 'how under the sun
could )()u snare a trout?'
"'Ho! easy enou_L,di, he answercnl. 'all nou'xc l;()1
to do is to uret some wire, and make a slii)-n()ost: on it.
■mn
38
IVitli I'/y-R()(/ and Caiiicm,
and drop it down in Ironl ol ihc iroul, and then slip it
oNcr his licad, and pull like nii^hu, and he's cauLihl ; no
_Lj^L't a\va\ ti-oni that, sure'
"'And so \()U noosed him, hc\-.-'' 1 i-cplicd.
" ' \o, 1 snarccl him,' the l)o\' insisted, 'and just at
dark, \csierdaN' alliTnoon, 1 schmi a salmeai l\'in^ there,'
poinliiiL;' into the |>ool near where I stood, 'and I struck
him with m\ spear, hut lie i^ol awa\.'
" ' ( )h, so \()U ha\c a salmon spear, ha\c \(ui?' I
replied. cari'lessK , still l)us\ laslin^. ' I shoukl think \()U
were noi hi^' 'MDu^ii to handle one.'
"'()h, mine's a trout spear,' he i-ejoined, 'mine isn't
as l)ii^- as father's, mine's only lor trout,'
" '.Xnd so \()u spear the trout, do nou, in acUlition
to siiariuL;' them,' said I. '\\h), )()u are (piite ,i smart
t'lsherman ; it is not e\-er\ l)o\' o( xour a^'e who ean catch
hsh the ua\s \ou can.'
" ' I L;uess,' he answered, nai\cl\'.
" '.\nd what kind of a spear has your lather ,L;ot?'
"'()h, his is a rei^'lar salmon spear, an<l he knows
how to use it, too. I can tell x'ou : wh\- the lolks around
Iktc say he is the hoss spearei','
"'Is that \()ur lather at work there in the meadow
\-onder?' I asked, ]);)intinL:' to the man who had latel\-
\isiled me at the j)ool.
n slip it
U!""!!! ; no
1 1
list at
there'
]
siriuk
\ ()
11 ?■ I
lin
k you
ilK
• isn't
;u
(lition
,1
smart
ill!
catch
■r L;()t V
knows
around
nica(,low
latcl\-
I
3£
O
a.
r.
•^
O
40
ll'itli Fly- Rod and Camera.
\'('s, that's my father,' said the hul, 'he's haying.'
And you sa\' he's thi; champion spearer. is he?' I
continued in the same careless tone. ' I low man)' sal
mon
lo
you suppos(; lu; can spe
spear in a niiriit if he lias 'jfood
luck? 1 once knew an Indian that killed fixe in one
niglu.'
"'()h. my pa sometimes gets ten in a night, he's
boss.' This with a proud tone.
"'And what do you do with so man}'? 1 should
think \-ou would get tired of so much salmon all the
time.'
"'()h, ma corns | salts | them for winter. Last week.
])a, he speared a big one, the biggest 1 e\er seen in all
my life.'
" AVhere did he get him?' 1 asked.
"'Oh. in the ])ool up there,' aiul he pointeil to a
pool up the rix'er, in i)lain view from the warden's house.
"'What, in that pool I 1 shouUl think the spearers
would be afraid of the wanlen.'
"'Hoi they ain't afraid of him much.'
"'.Sol' 1 exclaimed, carelessly, 'what would they do
if he came to the pool when they were at work spear-
ing ?'
"'They'd take rocks and stone him out o' that I
lied be 'dad to let them alone.'
//'//// Fly- Rod and Camera.
4'
Ufood
one
he's
"'Ah. (litl he e\er t;c:t stoned away?' 1 asked.
"'He did tliat,' was the replw 'Oil. lie won't
trouble any one.'
"'So your father killed the hi^;' salmon ^'^ I continued.
"'Yes, he was a buster.' replied the boy. '\'o\\ see
he laid in this pool two or three da\s. and all the iiei<":h-
bors tried to t^et him. but he was too bi^;- for any spear
the)' had. He was struck hard more than once, and he
had a bit^ j^asli on his back when father t^ot him. The)'
drove him out of this jjool, chasiiiLj^ him so much.'
"'What do )"ou mean b\' saxiuL,'' hi; was too bii^- for
any of the spears?' I asked.
"'Oh. his back was so thick that the tines wouldn't
spread enouy;h. Pa got a spear made all iron, and that
fetched him pretty quick. He was a bi^- one I'
"'How much did he weii^h?' I asked, reeling' in m\'
line, and preparini^ to leave.
" ' Thirty-eii,dit pounds, and over.' was the boy's repi\-.
"'He was a i^^-ood one,' I exclaimed. 'Well, 1 think
I'll be goini^ now,' I saitl, gathering up the few trou I
had taken.
"'There isn't much fun fishing the wa)- you do.
mister,' said the youngster, 'It must be as hard w(jrk
as chopping wood. A drag-net is the thing to catch a
lot of trout with!'
42
ll/ltli Fly- Rod and Caincnx,
iioL so L;r(jiit man)" to-cUi}', mister,' aiiswcrcd
ic folks o\c'r in lliat house.' [jointini^" Vo a
"'\'l's,' ! rt'plicd, (iiiilc uncinbarrasscd. 'What a lot
of 1)!^- tish 1 (.-oulcl sweep out ol the pool with a i^'ood-
si/t.'d net I "
•• • W'el
the lad.
farm house across the ri\er, ' ha\e i^'ot a lari^'e net, l)ij4"
enough to stretch awa)" o\'er the pool, and the;}' catch
lots ol trout.'
"'Ah,' said i, carelessl), 'when did the)" sweep the
pool last, \w\ hoyi^
"'Last niL;iu, mister, anil the)' L;()t a pile of bi^' ones I
Mister, sa\ , <>'imme a tl\-hook.' 1 handed the \-outh trih-
WW. in the shape ol a _L;ra)' hackle, and went on m)" wa\'
in a meditatixe mood.
".\s I passed the meadow, I saw the farmer who was
still at his work in the ha)- field, and I almost seenu;d to
hear him nuitterin_L;" to himself, " Spearing' I Oh, no, mister,
there ain't no spearing done round here, not much!'"
" 1 la, ha, the kul _L;a\-e it all awa)," exclaimed 1 liram,
when 1 had Imished ni)' stor\'.
" N'es, )-ou iL;'()t it all. straight," aihled William.
P'rcM'e induli^'ed in an amused chuckle at ni)' casting
so faithfulU in the' i)ool that hatl been nettetl the ni</ht
before, sa)in,L;, " 1 wonder how man)' times )'ou changed
)'our llies oxer that pool?"
With I'ly-Rod ai/d Camera.
43
the
"TiiiK's withoul luiinl)...'!-," I plied, "the; water looked
so _L;()od. 1 fell sure ihere wen: salmon hiii.L;' Llu;re."
"Well, now, alter all's said about spe^arin^," exclaimed
William, alter a pause, "it destroys no more salmon than
sweepin_L;' with the seine."
"\'es," assentetl lliram. "one's had a^. 'tother, and it's
miL^luy hai'd choosing-."
"Seining' the pools is not practiced as much as spear-
ini^-, howexcr," said h'rere. "In tlu; hrst place, tlu; st'ine
is much -nore e.\pensi\'e than the spear, ami is not as
casiK' oijtained. As^ain, there is i^realer chance for dis-
co\er)'. \(). 1 don't think as much mischiel is done
with the seine as with ihe spear, hut hoth im])lements
are bad thin_i;s on the: ri\'er."
"There's little choii .■," I replied, "stMnin^;' i"an he doni'
on almost an\- niL-ht. in fact in tin; da\" time, while spear-
WY^ can he c:arrietl on onl)' in tlark niL^hts."
"Alter all," I continued, alter another pause, " wt: can-
not sa)' that the action ol the spt.'arers and netters is en-
tirel\- unreasonable, looking' at it from their standpoint."
"Ile\l" exclaimed h'rere. "I did not expect that
from )()u. Doctor." hrere al\\a\s insisted on calliuL; me
Doctor, and the title fmally became fastt'ned to iiic amon_L;-
ni)' guides and boatmen.
'A\ ell, now, look at it," I continued. "in the first
■il
mm
44
//'//// /'7v-/\0(/ (II id Cm ra.
i)hicc, lor how niaiu inoiuhs ol the open season may
o'ill-ncttcrs kcc]) their nets set in tiihil waters?"
" 1' roni .Ma\' first to Aiit^ust first in the Proxince of
Ouehec, ami from March tirst to Au^^ust fifteenth in X()\a
Scotia and New llrunswick," repHc^tl I'rere.
"We'll," 1 continued, "there; are three months at least,
duriiiL;- which, under certain small restrictions, people lixini^
on the shore may net all the salmon the\' desire, t)r can
catch, and taking;' this into consideration, is it to he won-
dered at that some of those, who lixim^' on the rixer, )et,
unfortunatel) lor tlu-m, above tide-water, should think it
no more than fair that the\- shon! iL;"et a lew of the fish
that escape tlu'ir more lortunate tide-water nei_!L;'hbors who
ma\- net them leijalK?
" Man\' of these so-called p>)achers are hard-workiiiL;'
farmers, and mii;iu\- hard scratching the\- hax'e for a li\"ii\L;-,
I can attest, who do not taste any Iresh meat sometimes
for a week or more at a stretch. Now, I can under-
stand iust how the\- feel, for I haxc talked with man\-
of tiiem, and I tell \mu, krere, a i^ood manx' otluirs would
spear and net if they we-re situated as the\- are.
" Here is a river running" throuL^h their farms, we'll
sa)', ami salmon passim^ up ni^iuK'. Ww. people about
the mouth ol the ri\er on the bax' shore have a le^al
ri''ht to lake the fish xviih the net, i)ut the moment the
2S
I '1
In Tamiv
46
//'//// /'7y-/\(>(/ (i//(/ Ciiiiicnu
salmon reach the water uhiih passes ihrouL;!! ihe laml of
tht.'se people, ihe law |)rohil)ils the selllers Irom doiiiL;' al
aii\' lime just whal their neiL;hl)ors iiia\' do almost with-
out restraint, lor threi- months ami oxer. Now, ol course,
1 am not excnsin:^' spearing' ami seining; not lor an in-
st-':'t am 1, lor I know that il it were permitted in the
streams, the salmon would he exterminatt'd. No, 1 am
of the opinion that L^ill-nettiiiL;' on the shores shouKl he
CLn'taiietl \-er\ !_;reatl\ , e\cn il it is allowed at all.
" 1 am, for one, sellish enoui^h to w ish that surface
llN-tlshinL;- alone mi^ht hv. the leL;al method for taking
salmon, but so lon,L;' as L;ill-netters and tiele-water st-iners
and weirsmen are allowed to kill without limit, as the\
are now l«\' law in the open season, the peopl- who live
on the ri\c'rs are hound to ha\t; a share, too."
"The tide-water netters ha\i; too L'.reat j)ri\ ilexes,"
saitl hrere, who hail heen (juietlx listenim^' to the con-
x'crsation.
"That is just it," I replied, "cut down the time the)'
ma\' set their nets full\- one-hall. Prohibit the settin<>' of
an\' salmon net or weir on the; shore, within one miK- of
the mouth of an) ri\cr Ireipu-nted b)' these; lish- the k:^al
distance now is two humlred ) ards — throw open the rucrs
free to all who lish with tlu- 11), thus doin^' awa\ with
the s)stem of leasing-, which 1 (.lo not belicwi: in, aiul ni)-
//'//// J'ly-Rod mid i'anicra.
4;
woi'el lor il, l)Ul lew ) (;ars will elapse helore the men
who now kill with the spear and net will lake to the
It) -rock ancl there will l.hen he a chance for the rivers;
the salmon will multipl)' and all tly-lishermen will ha\c
sport worth striving- for. Make lly-fishim;- possible for all,
ami spe'arini:^' will soon heeome odions to all.''"'
At that moment we heard a tremendous pllm^'(; anil
splash in the pool l)(;fore lis.
"Ah. ha, m\' lad I" (;\claimeil William, " X'ou're a Vv^
one!"
At his words \\v. heard two more phin^cs like the
tn-st one, l)ut in different parts of the pool.
••'rhi;y'rc running;- up," (;\claimeil lliram, "sure we'll
ha\-e s[)ort to-morrow altogether." f
l^rere and 1 arose to our feet, antl walking- down to
the ed^e of the pool, watched and listenc;d. The ru.-^tle
()[ the ftiliane of the trees, and the rattling- .nur^k; of tlu;
water in the rapids at the- head of the pool , the occa-
sional hooting- of the ^reat horned owl, the harsh yet not
''In Ilu- it'poit (if the Maine (.'nininis-innrrs of l-isherics and 'lame for iSS(),
I liiul ihe Icilldwini^- para.^iapli : "the teslinKiny cif many men ean he ailduceil in
r.an'iii and ( alais, who never dreamed of the pos-ilijlitv of takiii;^' a sahnon with
what was termed a ' li>h-|)ole ' who are now convert'- to the rod and llv, and lieree
i'PjMHents to any otiier methods aiiove tide-water. Stieh is tlieir enthusiasm for the
newlv experienced delii^ht of Ivilhn- a salmon in a fair trial of sl<ill.'
i lliram and William, allhoii-h of f.nolish descent, had many miaccounlahie
Irish idioms in their speech, as will lie noticed throughout.
r
*i«jar^jr-
48
ll'itli /'ly-Kod and i'iinicm.
unpleasant stridiilatit^n of an occasional locust, the clronini;
lliiL;lu 111 some i^^'cat liccllc. were all the sounds that broke
tlu; stillness of the \ ast lorcist around.
lieforc us. towering' up hiiL,di in the darkness, was the
cliff on the further side ol the ri\-er. In tlur hcaxcns aboxc
tlu; stars were shiniuL"- with the greatest hrilliancy, and as
we stood upon the shore, tlu- moon, like an ininiens(,' siK'(;r
sphere, suildenly app(.'ared above the edt^^e of tlu; forest in
the east ; larger it t^rew until it appeared in tlu; full i^lory
of the planet, and nc\cr bctorc had I seen it when it
seemed of such enornu)us tlimensions. ihis was tloubtless
owiuL;' to the clearness ol the nu)untain atmosphere, but
it seemed as if it covered ;i third ol the; eiuire openini^
in the forest, made; by the channel of tlu; river. ( )n tlu^
W'ater it made a broad pathwa\- of li.L;'ht. anil the dew-
covered foliage; )f the trees glistened ami glimmered as if
made; ot polished siKer.
It was a mas^nihcent scene, weird, \et very beautiful.
As I <,jazed almost entranced, I was startled by a sudden
mighty splash close to tlu; short; where; I was standing",
and in an instant a sahuon, leaping- at least fi\e feet in
tlu; air. fell back into tlu; pool, throwing the water up all
aroimd xwc. and v\v\\ into my face. Instinctively I stepped
back for a moment, for although I knew what had hap-
pened, aiul had e\en been i;\pecting it, the close prox-
1
^
-«*)
-•m
'n th('
dt'W-
us if
1 'i
5<^
//■//// ll\'-l\od tii/t/ ((iN/cni.
iiiiity <•! ihi' ti-'li liad siarilcil nn'. just as cncu tlic oldest
ami luo^l (•\|)(ri(nc((l sportsman will for an instant recoil,
if a ;4roiis{' jiini|»s up with a thundering; whiir Ironi a Itush
hesiile him, and llies a\\a\ into tin; covert.
" il\- Jox'e, [•'rerel" 1 exclaimed, "thai li^h made me
jinn|), I was taken 1)\' surprise-. "
"\'es. it was enoUL^h to startle an) one," he replied,
"to he splashed that way."
As he spoke, anotluM' lish in llu; mitldle of llu- pool
leaped into the aii', ^listenim;' in the moonlight hke silver.
Anotlu'i- and another IIuiil; itself from the water, and then
all was still ai^ain.
" 1' rei'e, wc are .i^oin^ to ha\'e sport to-morrow, ' 1 I'x-
claimed, ••the pool is lull of lluMU."
"\\'h\- not to-ni:^ht?" he askeil in a (pu"et tone, at
the same lime ^oin^' to the tent lor his rod.
•' ro-ni^hl ? ' 1 exclaimed. "What, with the ll\ ?"
" \'es. of course," he replied, renioxiuL;' the ll)' that
was on his line, "it will not he- the hrst tinu' 1 have
fished in the ni^lu. ( )\-erhaul Nour llies, please, and see
if N'ou ha\<' not a nice white moth."
i took out m\' hook, and proceeding" in the hrii^lu
mooiilii^ht to examine m\' stock ol llies, soon lound some
whittt ()ni;s or "millc;rs" which I'"rer(^ pronoimcetl "■.:apilal."
Idle winL^s and hody wt;rc; entirel)' white.
//'//// l'l\-l\oii <ii/(/ Ldii/rni.
5»
oiliest
1 cx-
1 i^a\r him oiii', ami ait.uhinv; aiiolii'T in m\ ouii
casting; lini', oi- icadcr, \M' l»cu;an in casl, lu • t ihc loot
of ihc |)ool, ami I iii'ar ihc rapids at ll m ad, I had
madr harill)' a hall do/i-ii lasis when 1 l;oI a rise, and
hooked a hca\ \ lish, and, "^lam-inL;- al liTrc, 1 saw that
he was ('(iiialK siicccsstul. Shonliii!^ lo our sjccpim^ L;uidfs
who had not \)r{'\\ awakcmd !>)• our sifcamiuL; reds, uc
were soon joined 1)\' them.
"What ha\i' )<)U i^ol on?" incjuiri'd William, who with
'••alt in hand came hurricdK' lo m\- side.
"1 don'l know," I replied, slowl), reeling in ihe line
which had heen run out across ihe pool. " I thought
when ihe tish i-ose ihal il was a salmon, l)Ul il ai'ls like
a lap;e iroui,"
in a short time I was cominced that it was as I had
suspected, a hea\'\ . strong' s'^a trout. Il made lurious runs,
and was \-er_\- [)owerlul, Iml il diil not show tlu' full \ i^-or
of the salmon, and did not jump like that lish.
1 ha\(' killed .■>almon which did not jump more than
once or twice Irom the time tlu')' were hooked until lhe\'
came to L;atl ; and haxc also taken lari^-e sea trout that
jumi)ed a numher of times clear of tlu; water like a L;-rilse ;
hut the "lei'l" of this lish was of a lar^c trout, and yield-
ing- to m\- hea\y rod, ami comiuL^' to the landiiii^ net, it
proved to he what 1 luul sus|)cctL'd.
52
//'//// hi V- Rod and Camera.
ll was a \v\-\ haiulsonic llsh ot ncai'l)' lour pounds
\\('i_Lilu. Itcih' soo,. landed Ids, whii'li proxcd to Ix; an-
otlicr of al)oul the same size as ininc, and allcr thai \\c
L^ot no 11 -I'c rises, althou^li we t'asl dili^cntl) lor upward
of liall an hour. Tl'.e fact is. one may lake Iwo or three
of tin se lari^c tish out of a jjooI at id^ht, and then ht^
nuist stop, {i.y the lish will not rise; wild and shy as they
are in the day time, -W nii^lu they are douhl)' suspicious,
and tlu least unusual sound will al.u'm them. This tact
has been noticinl 1)_\- more than one ohserxcr, 1 ha\c;
olten asked local tishermen. men who woi'k through the
da_\ on their larms, hut who at nii^ht take their "saplinf^-
poles" and try loi' a few iish loi" breakfast, "what success"
the)' ha\'e had on such occasions.
rhe repK' has been almost iin.u'iahK', "We ^ot two
or three nice ones out ot the pool, .uul that's all ; wr.
tlon't catcli many at ni^iit." The singular thin^;" about
their lishiuL;' is, that instead ol usini^' bait oi" the artilicial
ll\', they almost in\ariabl\- tish with a bit ol white cotton
or linen rai:;' tied to their hook, this in their experience
bein^;' more killim^- than an_\' othei- lure.
I ha\c repeatcnlb, lished pools on the edn'e ol the
e\c:ninLi' with llies, usini,;- in many cases the "white: miller,"
and ha\-e taken but a few small trout, and ha\e been fol-
lowed an hour or two latei' b\ one of these "white rai;""
// 7//' /'/r- AV^/ (iiid ( '(vucra.
53
the
nillcr,"
1 fol-
lislu'rincii, who wouUl ^I'lU'ralK pirk out Iwo or llirin,-
li(.'a\"\' tlsh. Ihcrc is no afcoiintinL;' loi" ii, in fad Uutc
is no accounting' for most ol the caprices ol the sahiion
fainil).
'•''"It's not often that we do much at saunion | sahnon |
lishinu; in the ni^lu," saiil llirani, as lie slootl hesitle us
on the hi'acli. "l)ut I lia\'e st-en it (h)ne. I was once
tisliiuL^ this I'ixtT witli a L;('ntKMiian. \\ e camped on a
j)0()l ap.d caught a h)t ot tun- trout, out liad i^'ot no sau-
mon (hu'ini^' the chi\'. After (hu'k the i^cntU'man and I
hi'i^an lishin^' with a h^ht tlw and \\c were catchiuL;' a Ime
h)t of trout, when all ol a sutlden the i^cntleman hooked
a saumon, and I had to leather hrush wood and hurn it
on the beach, to see how to i^alt the tish. in a half hour
the L^cntleman hooked another, and I gaffed that also; hut
it's rare that we excr take them at ni^ht. though wt: ha\c
often two hours of trout tishin^;' with white llies."
" I ha\-e heard ol taking- the salmon with the ll\- at
nii^ht," siiid I. when the ^uide had fmished. "hut nc\cr
ha\'e seen it done.
"Well, I'rere, haven't )()u had enough of it?"
"\'es," he replied, and. satisfied that the lish were
done, we repaired to our camp, and soon we were ai^ain
stretched upon oui" fra:.^rant hed of hemlock hou^'hs.
* l.itoaliv I'lDin inv imii's (in the river. — V,. A, S,
I
1
)4
With I'lv-Rod Clint Camera.
Tile cam]) lire with riiddx" Maze threw a ciri-h' of hi^lit
iijx)!! the trees around, and our tent was inuniine<l hri^lilly.
The llaps were thrown open suftieientK' to '^wv. us a ^ood
\'iew of the hre, through the snioke of which the nios-
cjuitoes (\\(\ not pass to molest us.
" 1 don't teel sleep)-, notwithstanding" the loni^-, hard
pull we'\-e had all da\," said I. "My lirst nii^ht in the
woods is alwa\s a wakeful one."
"\('S," replit'cl J-'reiX', " th.e noxclt)' of the thiuL;' di'ixes
off sleep, hut what a deli<'ht it is to L!"et awa\' into the
wilderness a^ain, and Iree from the eonNentionaiities of
ci\'ili/ation. 1 wonder it it is the old sa\aL;x; in;.tinct in
otu" nature assertim^" itsell, that ^ixcs us such enjo\nient."
" i\jssil)l_\-," 1 replied, "though I ha\e noticed th;it the
most |)()etic natures, those of the hij^hest a'sthetic culture,
cnjo)- such a life, or rather change of life as this, as fully
as the le.ast culti\;ited. It is difficult to sa\' wherein the
charm lii-s. .So far as 1 am concerned, 1 enjo)' m)' out-
inL;s in the wilderness hecause they minister to all there
is of poetr\- in my natui'e. .Xn^lint;'. m\- chief, in fact \y\\
almost only recreation, is an ai't that 1 lo\c most le!'\idly.
It carries me out as now into th<' arms of dear Mother
Nature. It takes me to the L;rand old (orest primexal,
where 1 ma\ behold the glimmer of the peacelid, beauti-
ful mountain lake.
C
y.
56
lyitli I'l\-l\od ami Canicni,
"It carries me wlicrc I nia\ inhale the tk-licious odor
of tile l)als,im and the iienilocks; where I ma)' hear tlic
rustle and i)url ol ihe loliat^c-hidden hrook. it carries me
amidst the hoil and I'oar ol rapids in the miL;ht\" river.
It brings to me the son^' ol lorest hirds. the whispeTed
fair)" stories ol shimnieriiiL;' lea\cs. ^ Cs, it L;i\ :'s me all
these sweet, these pure enjoyments, and it is i^.-cause il
!4i\'es me them that 1 Ionc it. M\ ^^reat regret is that
more of oui- N-oun^;' men and nouiil;' women, too, for that
mattei", do not take to it. ^ Cs, our younu;- women. Win-
not? in addition to the pleasure that is derixcd from the
use of the lly-rod, it furnishes the best ^Nninasiiun, the
hest doctor, the best cure lor narrow chests, palliil faces,
weak nerxcs and poor di^'estions to he foimd ; and if oiu"
women wish the enjoxnient ol perlect health, they should
L^ixc their attention to an^lin^' with the 11)-. I ha\t; met
(|uite a numhei' ol ladies, ladies of the hij^hest res[)ect-
a1)ilit\, who (~ould cast the ll\' Liracefullw heautifulK' ; the\"
were adepts at the ai't, and I would challen^t; the \eriest
stoic to L^aze upon them unmoxcd. I he\- were [)ictiu'es of
heaut). i^race and \ i^or, and seeini^' them, 1 alwa)s wished
that tln' art mii;ht he more poi)ulari/ed, e\en to the height
of hein^' i'eco!.;-ni/ed as an accomplishment. If it were,
what woiulers would it hrin^ about in buiUling u[) con
stitutions which would be a ,L;lor)' to luture n'enerations."
r -m-ti
5«
intli J'/x-l\od and Camera.
" I ia, ha, I )()cl()r," cxclainicd In re. indiili^int;' in a
(|iiict lauL;li al ni_\- fcrxoi-, ■ ii is (jiiccr hov; (lillcMTiUl)'
tliinL;s appear to ditlcrnit people. I know </! nion whose
onl\- thouijlu from Uu; time the\- hc'in lluir li^hiii''- tiaps
to tli(; end is of thi; ^rc'atest possible nuniher ol hsh they
ma)' capture. The beauties of nature, tluj opening;' buds,
the lo\-el\' llowers, tlu! ij'raceful foliar:!' of ti"e('s, the sonsj-s
of birds, all arc; unnotict:d b\' theni. I'heir outinsjs are
oul\' for hsh."
"^es," I replied, "bul lhe\' are not. in in\' opinion,
true anglers, for I beliexc that \()ur li^li killer par cxicl-
Icucc is nothing' but a poacher, and thinU' disguised at that ;
he will not stop at methods to make a bi^' score, and if
he cannot kill with the lly and I ha'.'' noticed he is not
particularl)' entluisiastic in its use he will employ almost
any instrument that will add to his striuL;."
" NOu're ri^ht. there," exclaimed llira:''i, who, with
his brother, was l>"in,L.;' near tht; fire at the opening' of the
tent. "I was out with oiu' of tlu; ' li^h killers' last year,
and when the saimion in the pool wouUlnt rise, he was
wishiiiL;' for a ji^" or a net, and excn saitl he'd i^'ix'e li\'e
dollai's for powder or cKiiamite to blow 'hem up with."
"Ik; did that," assented William, "and he ,i;()t so bad
in th(,' v\-\A, that we told him he must I'md other unities,
foi' we must lea\c' him lor our ha\in''.'
IV'itli I'ly-Rod and Canicni.
59
"()n what ri\cr was tiati'" asked I'titl'.
"()h, ii was oil one ol the rixcrs over the haw" rc-
\)\\v(\ Ilirain. "I wouUhi't like to say just whicli, h)i'
pcM'hajJS you would know the man, and we don't ■> aiU to
'L;i\c liini a\va\',' hut it is time. ;uid lie was not niucli
worse than others we ha\'e h;'en out with."
" Ki^ht you are. Ilirani," said \\ iUiain, "and uc L;uith,'s
ha\'e Iiad some (|uart' |(|ueer| men on the rixcrs, and man\'
is the time we ha\e heen asked il wc- eouUhi't fuul a
sweei)-net."
"It's aL;_L;ra\atin^' aho^c-ther." i-ei)iied llir.un. "to see
lift\' or si.\t\- hii^- lish in a pooh see them swimminLi' ahouL
as unconcerned as sticks, taking" no notice ol \our Hies,
but lla])])inL;' anil jumping' ahout under your nose, and
sometimes \'\(\ agreed with the hshermen that it's mad-
dening;" enouLili for most an^thiuL;-. hut it's not olten tlu'y
will not come to theii' senses in ^ood time."
"it's luck\- th;it all who come on the ri\'ei-s ai'e not
so ciM/y for lish," said William. "(;r we guides would _l(()
wild. S();iietimes we L;(t out with men who will care hut
little for the fishing', hut spentl almost all their time lumt-
iuL;- wild (lowers and plants, and some ai-e alter stran^'e
rocks and stoiies, .and now and then one is lumlinL^ birds'
nests and birds. S;)metimes we have been out with lish-
crmen who cartHJ lor nothing- but a ' la\' oil,' ami the)'
6o
//'/'/// J'7y-/\()(/ and Camera.
drank imuh longer ih.iii \.\\v\ tishcd v\c\-\ dax. ( )li. \\c'\c
Ikh'11 oiil with all kinds, on dittcrriu rivers."
" NOn don'i u;rl nuuh \ari('l\- on lids sircani al all
t;\'iMUs,' said krcrc, "for all our lessees are much like
the Moctor and nnsell. eniluisiasiic tishernien, hut not
cra/y tish killers."
" No, this ri\cr is luek\, l)ui some of the streams
need a i^ood man)' wartU-ns," replied William.
" \ Cs." replied I'rere, " x'ou are ri^lu, ami some of
the most impoi'tanl ones al that. Take the Miramichi
waters, the) arc- all tint; salmon streams, hiii there is a
vast deal of poaehinL;- and untair fishinL;- done on them,
and the lunnher of wardens or owrseers should he tre-hletl
at least."
"I ha\'e nexcr fished on the Miramit'lii trihularies,"
saiti I, "e.\i"e|)t duriiiL;' the outing" we spent together on
them. I hear the) are all Inie streams."
" 1 he\ are," said l"rere,"and the .Southwest, North-
wt'st. Little- .Southwest and .Se\()L;U; are famous. The)'
are earU , loo, the tish he^innin^- to enter ihem ahout
Ma\' 24, and conlinuinL; tc pass up until ahout the last
of .SepU'mher, '•' thou!_;h \vx\ few are loimd running' in
-\u,niisl. The) do not a\era_L;(' as lari,''e ;'.s the Kesti-
L^ouche tish, some are' taken of twent\-fi\e pounds weight,
•;:• l-",-(.Tc ior ihc itinaiiuit'r nl llii> chaplo' i^ I'hilii) (iix, i;s(|.. i>| NcWLa^tli.'. X. \\.
UJ
//'//// /'(\'-/\()(/ (Hid Ciuucni,
l)Ul ihc a\cr;im' is piii ,il ten pouncU; tin ai"c, liowcx'cr,
\('ry iL;ani\, ami altor^l llic an^lci* cxccllciu sport.
ai|)|)(isc iluri' arc a l;('<'(1 mail)' lakcii,
saul
irani,
ihrow inL"' a trcsh hc' on llic life, aiul ii-'htiivj his niix
anew.
cs, fcniicd
IHTc
ilu' ( i(i\ {Tnnic'.U sLalislics arc:
\v\-\ till
and
l)clic\(' accurate
.asl \car, which was
l)ul an averai^c one, iS,7()o lish were exported iVoni these
rivers, which, a\(i'ai;in^ t( n pounds, would ,L;i\c a total
ol 1X7,(^00 pounds. In addition to these, lariL^^'e (|uantities
h)uiul ct loial sale, man)' others wvxv taken 1)\' anglers.
and a i^rcat nian\- more hy ])oache,-s, so that the annual
catch inusi he o\cr 20, 000 IkIi,"
Ahout what tin
le iloes
l\-nsnuv.
iicLiin .
isked
Willi
:u'a.
"As soon as the spring treshet subsides, and the
water Li'ets tdear, whicdi is about the tenth or twellth of
une
he lu-st lish are taken \w
W'vji I lole on the Xorth-
west, twentx' miles al)o\'e Newcastle, ami ei^ht al)o\'e the
heail of the titU
Tl
lis is one of thc' Imest in Canad
anti
IS tri'c to al
N"
ou rememher
Doct
or, we lishecl
tlu're a few xcars a^'o. All the salmon fre(|ueniinL;" the
m:dn ri\cr and the Se\()L;ie pass through this ^■re;it basin,
ami seem to take the ll\' well alter leaxin''' the hi'ackish
waters.
//'//// F/y-/\(>(/ (tin/ ('(f'lh'ni.
sui)i)o.sr
Ih
crc arc a ''oou nian\'
i"()()(i
iivj-liiii
i)()()ls on lliosc nvcrs, saul
U lU'll
WW. nau imisiicci
"Oh, )('s, on the Little. Soiitlnvest th(;re arc IMack
niorc's I<.ai)icls, lUiic Stone, Xorih Ilraiuh, and Main''
.f
ctl'^es, ni all ot wnicii more oi' less salmon are
killed
each )ear. Wv^ Hole, I )ennis's I'ool, Call's I'ool, Camp
Pool, Ruddick's Pool and kails l*ool. with man\' others,
occur on tlu; mam
Xortl
luest, hut with the exception of
tl
le
first two, all these lishiuL;' i)ri\'ileL;es are owned hy
propru'tors ol ih
(■ soil
The chiel pool on the Sexo^ie is the Scpiare korks,
well worth a journe\- to
a most renKU'kahle iookniL;' ])lace
S(
'('. The Renous, I )un'i'amon and Southwest haxc also
II
main'
me i)()ols.
■e all the pools easil\- reached
^k
\n\ are, others with more or less ditticult\
l)Ut
ill
arc; acccssihle to the aiiLik
i)\' nu-ans ol
canoe or
portage; Avaij^on.
I la\'e \()ii had much n\-rishin'>' oti th
ose strc;ams
asked Iliram, ([uite inter(.;sted in k'rere's account of waters
that were comparati\el\' stran^'e to him and his l)roth';r.
" \ es," replied k rere, "especialU' on tlu; Northwest
and Little; Southwest, and soi
me of m)' most enjoyahle
_ t there. 1 shall ne\cr forget my lirst
trii) to the North P)ranch Pool. It was some wars a"(),
outmsjs wert' spen
~^'~'-— ■■■
(H
With I'l\'-l\(Hi (I mi i nntem.
in (onipan) with my friend llai'krr, and li\ canoe. I'lie
river is \cry hea\ ) , r()Uu;h. lull ot rapids, uiih an occa-
sional (all. and is seldom aMcnded li\ an\ l)iit Indians.
We were Nonn:^, lio\ve\-er, stroiii;. and full of spirit, ea^ci
lor the sporl, and conlideiu we could pii-form an_\' feat
an Indian could. We had no sooner entered th( ri\cr
at \Kv\\ IJank than a hea\ \- rain set in, and continued
with sHi^du intermissions for live or six da)'s, swelling'
the stream, making" e\-er)- rapid a wild torrent, and i'ver\
lall a Niagara. Luckil)- we took alon^; .i coil of small
rope, which we attacheel to the how har ol our hark canoe,
and one L;'oin,i.;' aheatl, the other ^uidinu; the canoe from
the shore with a |)ol(! which was pro\ideil wiih a hook
at the (Mul, we watleil and dra^;:^cd, and tumMed, foot-
sore and wet to the skin, lor seven d.iss hetore we reached
the pool.
"Mow (h'lii^lued we Were lo see this ma^'nificent l)asin I
We camped 1)\' its shore, and lor ten days hatl most ex-
cellent s[){)rt ; and alterward an exciiiuL;' experience shoot-
iiiL;" th(! rapitls ani.1 falls on our wa\' down. We killed
man)- salmon and _L;rilse on that trip."
"What do )()u consider to hi; the ai^i; of the i^rilse ?
1 asked. " I haxc had many discus.sions with fishermen in
relation to this point."
"I caii onl)' e-ucss as to that," replied l'"rere, "they
I
Isn't Shi: .\ lii ai i v
66
///'/// l'l\'-i\od and C<r)i/('ni.
aiT yoiin:,;' salmon, hiil jiisl how old, 1 am in doubt.
l'rol)al)ly a loiir-pound grilse is three years ol aL;c. but
autliorities dilier on this point; some sa\' two \'ears, some
three, and others e\-en lour, but I doubt the latter. The
smolt descends to the sea, probabU' when it is about
eighteen months to two years old." but nothing;' further
(,l its moNcments seems to be known, f until its return
to the ri\'er as a ^rilst;.
■■■■ \\ . II. llii'lurl --a)- "Snicilts, a> it now ap])L'ar--, in llu-ir sccnnil vi-ar, nf
six (ir •-(■veil iiiilK"- Kn^lh, and aluHil :■- n:aii\- uunri's wii^h:. itimn pral i iv L;i'iKi',
xaryin;; lidni Iwci in v\'^\\[ piiiiml--. ■■ •■ ■■ I'lial llu- i.Uiilical ^nicill nl si\ di-
si.'\i.n iiuiurs ilii n'.un!, altrr twc. nf ihur iiiiintli--' ali'-iini- in I'lc <i'a. a^ v^iiUe ol'
;j> mam piuniil-. \\iiL;lu. i-^ jiidM-il Ix-Vdinl all ili--i)inr. -ninlis iniiiininalik- iiavin;.;
Ikc'Ii laki-ii, niavknl willi nunilicriij liikrls "I /inc allai luii lu l!u- ra\ '^ ul lluir
i|ni-.;il r.ns. -,,1 ,il 111h-;1\. and ircapUiird l^iII^i', vaixinu; Irmn Iwn In ^'ii;!'.! pninids,
in tin- anlunni '<{ llu- same ycai'. I'lu' s.inu- rsprrinunl willi llu- lain'U unri'MH iM'd,
■-liiiws ih;it ilu' --.niu- l;!'!!--!' dfsri-ndini^ llir -.tirani n| uninc rca^rd ina^ninidi.- ni \\\v
spring; I'f 1"^ lliird year, rrlnins in ihal third aiilnnin a li^li ol sixircn and upvvard
Ui t\M'nt\-li\f pcjiniiN ui-ii^ht."
I (i. llrnun (iiMiik- sax'^ (in the ki'pnrt ni ilic I'. S. fish ( iiinniissidn, l"^~4).
"In iwii innnllis ihr I'rv lias j^iuwii td an iiuh and .i h.iH', and l)r;.^ins icj a^siniic
du- xcrniiii.in spots and t ,ans\ tT--i- hats nv Irin'^i- marks which cntitU' it tn ln' r.dlL-d
a 'parr,' and uliirh it rrt.dns while i\-niainin;4 in I'lcsh uatrf, scimctimrs until it is
sewn (If rii^ht in( lirs \>A\'^. It ODntinncs a pari' until tin.' scnind oi- third spring;,
whiu, in preparation lor, or jurhaps in i on'-Kjiuncr ol, a di'sccnt toward the si'a,
a iinilOrin bright sil\ii\ eoal is as-nmeil, and the parr lieiomes a 'smoll.' Alter
remainin,;; from foiii- to twenty -eiL^lil months in ihe salt water, it a;,;.ain seeks its
nali\e ri\er, h.i\in|4 lieeome either .i ' L;rilsi ' or a '-.dnion.' the ,i;filse is the
adolescent vainion. It \\xi,u;hs Irom two to six poinnN, and i-- more sii'iider and
;4racelnl than the tnatiire lish. with --mailer head, thinner sc.de-., more lorked tail,
and ^pots lounder, more nnnierons and lilidsh rather than ii;t\ liiaik. the two
ma\ e.isiU he disl in;.^llished , e\en tiolli.;h lioth slionld lie ol the vame -.\/v, :is not
iidreijiu nll\ happen--. the male grilse is seMially m.itiire, hut not the Kinale in
.Xil.eiii.i. in I'.inope the s.mie Is claimed lor the m.dc piirr .ind the lim.de LMilse."
■I
A I )AKIs-( Ml (lUI II Si' A-l'Kilt I .
68
ll'itJi I'ly-Rod and Cam cm.
"Thc)- tlo not pass the intcrxal in the estuaries and
bays, for I ha\e made special inciuir)-, aiul coiikl nexcr
learn of oni; having- been taken in an\- of the nuniennis
smelt nets during- the winter; nor have 1 ever heard of
one bein^- pick('d up dead aion-- tin; seashore. They s( em
to retire; to de<'p water, probabj)- hs from ihe coast.
When the\- are about three ;ind a half pounds in wei^-ht
they rc;turn to the rivers, and thev are then universallv
known as orilse. As xou know, they are lonn'. slender
fellows, as bright as siK'er ami \-er\- active-."
"Did )()u e\-er see a female grilse, sir?" asketl Hiram.
" \o," replied l'"rere. "the most curious thin^ is they
are all male hsh. Thousands ha\c been taken in our
rivers, but there is no record of a female;."
'■■'^o I ha\-e heanl," said 1. "It is \-ery sin<^'-ular.
How do you account for it?"
"I cannot," replied b'rere. "the males probabl\- mature
<:arlier than the females, for the\ all contain sp-erm, and
so do the smolt lor that matter."
" l)Ut where are the h'males of the same a^c?"
"Ah, now )-ou ha\-e me, 1 don't know; but little; is
underste)oel of their habits. They are |)robal)l)- in ihe
.se'a, but why herring-, bass and mackerel nets fail to take
one; ne)w and tluMi, passe-s my eonijjrehension, considerim^
the size-, depth anel abuiulance of these seines."
IFifli I'lx-Roii and Camera
69
"Grilse i^ixc; capital s[)()rt."
" Vcs, the liulc fellows take the ll\- readily, and for
eii^ht or ten minutes are \c:r)- livel), lea[)in_L;" clear of the
water sexeral times in rapid succession, and makim;- lon^j^,
stron!^" runs.
"When, in Nour experience, do the salmon take the
lly ht.'st, Irere?' asked I. " \'ou ha\e had ^ood chances
for observation, for )ou have; lished in most of the ri\'ers
in this Pi-()\inre."
" Cienerall)' when the\- first enter the ri\-er, or reach
the pools; after remainin^^ a few wi'eks in fresh water,
they i^et. as nou know. sIu_L,^_L;ish ami shy. The)' are, how-
e\ei, \'er)' capricious, and it is ditiicult to la\" down any
•general rule."
" I ha\'e iishetl with a ^ood man)' anglers," said 1,
"and hax'c; noticed that there is a i^cxhI deal of differ-
ence in the \va)' the\- drai^" the ll)". Ha\e )()u e\'er st^en
them skip the lure: li^iuK' on the surface, as if lishin;^
for trout? I ha\"e seen it done in some of the; Xox'a
Scotia rix'ers, anel successfully.
"Some fish thus, ami on a few streams I understand
it is the most killiuLj;- way; hut the majorit)- allow their
llies to sink a little, and draw them 1)\" a serii's of short,
shar]) pulls. The longer tlu; lish are in the fresh ^v'ater
the more timid lh.e\' become, and \ou wilt olien see them
■()
// 'UJi I'lx-Roii ami ( amcra.
following; \()iir ll\ froiM mere curiosit)-. In such cases, if
tile lure is drawn rapidly, as if it were acting of its own
\'oliti<)n ill iMideaNoriag- to escape from the fish, the sal-
mon will fre(iuentl)' make a dash at it and hook itself."
" M\er)' ans^ler has liis favorite lli's." saiil 1. after a
short pause, "which do you prefer?"
"A L^ood deal, as you know, de|)ends on the ri\er
and season, and ihe i-ondition of the water." replied h'reri'.
I depend a ^ootl deal on the stiuulards, such as the
hutcher, I)urhaiii ranker, Xickerson, |ock Scott, fair\, t'tc,
hut the\ should, late in tile season, he of smaller sizes
than in the earl\ lishim,;. I ha\'e known of exccdlent
sport IxiuL^ had with a liii\- |ock .Scott, when a larj^c
ll\ lailed to m't .1 ri^e. 1 was oiu'e on the lacipiet
l\i\er I \. !'). I with m)- Irieiid h. M. McLc'otk We were
lishinL; !• ranker's |hrancois| Pool ahout the hrst of Au^'-
ust. We had killetl some line lish in the e\-enin_<;-, hut
on the ii xt mornim;- not the h'ast attention was paid to
our llies, thoui.;h lish were risiniL; all o\er the pool, ap-
pareiuK' after small insects which we ohseixcd lloatinL;' on
the surlace ol the water.
"Somewhat dismasted, I hetook m\self to tly-tyin_L;
after lireakfast, while Mae-, who is a most persistent an_L;'-
k'r. continued to whi]) away. In .aliout an hour he came
to the tent and said, 'Cox, it heats all I They are risiiiLT
;|
72
ll'it/i J'ly-Rod aiiu Canicn
'a.
'^" ■"••nni.l nu-, llirtin- their tails, aiui sh„uin- tlui
t(M.ij)i for m\- crforts!'
1' con-
Arc llu; litllc 111
cs slill
on the water?'
asked
Oh,
\ cs,
tlu')- are,' lu: replicj. 'don't \<)u think
you could make a lly resenil,lin-- il
lem
it would \)v. too small, I t
car, to
if a lish should t;
Ike It
Init 1(
•ok licrc
kill \\\
Mac,'
th.
e\-cn
said
1,
opcninij- the ll\-bool
k ni which were some tin\- iin-lish
niKl-ic's,
are tlK-\- li
\c an\- o
f th
ese-
ere it ^
rcijlicd
M,
IC, S(;k-ctin;
as larij-e as a hou
a specimen not
se
la
Kc do
with this,' and awaN' h
c went, while 1
II
\Mi their impudence
resumed m\- work.
n a few minut
es
heard him shout, aiul hastil\-
riHi-
iin- to the j)()ol, I sa
w a salmon sjjrin^;- into tl
u; air
and heartl Mac shout, ' I'v
'ot him
With what Ih, M
ic
With th
^ niidijf.' h
e answered
\Vh
at m\- lirst cast.
ii--i--r, went the reel, as the 11^,1) da.shed
toward
the head of the pool. Mow could tl
such a strain.^ L'p went the sal
his hriL-ht si
lat tm\- hook stand
men aL,Min into the ai
-nt sides -listenin- like silver in th
e iiK^rnin;
I low delighted was M
sun.
ic upon rcelin-- in to find hini still
fast. Could he land that li>h with such del
>1 perft)rm a feat unparalleleil \\\ th
icate tackle.
he won
<-■ annals of
anijiiivj.
ll'itli I-lx-Rod and Caiiicra.
73
" W'hir-r-r, wcnl llic red ;iL;ain, as ilic lisli l^rokc across
the; cuii'c'iU li)i- ihc rocks on the ollu.T side, j)Uttin_L; a
hca\y sLraiii on llu; line, and just as it was tlu: greatest,
tlu' salmon lluni^- himself out of the water. A^ain Mac
rei;led in, hut, alas! the fine hook L;ut luid parteil."
"Salmon soon i^ct ai"<|uainte(l with common dies.'
said 1, "ami when the |)ool is whipped otten, will iail
to respond."
" \'es," replietl hrere, "it is tlu: experience of all fish-
ermen. Let me L;i\'e )ou an instance. 1 was almost out
of patience one morniiii^ at Blue .Stcjiie. I had het'ii
casting- for over aa hour, without ^'cttiiiL;' a risi', thouL^h
there were mail)' lish in the ])()()1. I)i^- Peter, ni)' Mic-
mac L;uide, saitl that if he hatl a crow win;,;- lie could
make a ll\' the\'il take. '.See,' he exclaimed, with much
emphasis, 'all whiti' men usum llies all same, salmon
knowum Xew kind he no semim 'fore, him conu' look-
um o\-er.'
"I was read\- for aiu' change, and as I in\-ariabi\-
carry m\- lly-makin^' materials alon^;', and had a few black
feathers, 1 was soon shapiiiL; an unsi^hth' monster. .\t
the eiul ol half an hour he w;)s reatlw and no sooner
did I cast my nii^^cr adrilt lli;ai there was a ^in-at (K-
.sire manilested 1)_\ the hitherto i-areless tish lo inspect
the odd stranger at ciosi' <[uarters; linalK, e,ne, making
%
gifts^S
'^^<^
74
//■//// /■/]•- A\\'/ and Caiiicia,
•I 'it-tlc i"() Ircc, \v;is scixcd hy the; simple tooth of the
'chirk), and tlu; L^rip \vas mamtaiiUHl uiilil the tish was
hr()ii<;lu to ^alT. I'ivc succx^ssivt; sahnon were hofjkccl
and hnidcd l.y that lly hcforc 1 stopped, and tht; invah
iiablu him I hatl rccciNcd from a \)(nn Indian has pro\cd
of .L^rc^at sLT\-ic(: to n.;' on many occasions sinci; I rc-
ccixcd it."
"lla, ha I cxcla. iicd ''-am, who liad hccn Iistrnin_L,^
attentivcl)-, " xou Iicat thr sahnon that time."
"Ilavi; \()u cNLT noticed an)' pc;ctdiaritics of habit in
sahi-"»n selcctin-;- positions in a pool?" I asked, "the)' seem
to lie guided \)\ certain preferences, and in certain sta_^;e.s
of the water lie almost alwa)-s in particuiar spots."
"I can't sa\- I have," replied I'Vere, "other than that
)-oii sp'-ak of. The)- are \-er)- capricious, hut .dwa)-s so-
ciable; where; one settles all settle. .\s a ^-eneral thini;
they jjrefer the strong- water near the head of the pool,
especiall)' if there are bottom rocks, foi-niiuL:- I'^^stiuL;' edch'(;s.
If these rocks are absent, the tish are often fouml near
the tail of the basin, hardl)- e\-er in tlu: \er)' middle of
the current, but almost always a little to one; .side or the
-)ther.
"Oiu; curious freak of this lish I've ol)ser\c;d on man\-
occasions which is worth speaking- of, for anglers are not
;4enerall) aware of it. When salmon meet with a little
■1
<
76
ll'ith /■/]'- /\(>(/ ami Caincf
•a.
fall. lhc\ will lr((iiiciul
|(ir lOllU:
tl
im: in tiic hasin
Ixlorc attcmptiiii^- lo scale it. If ihc n'wr is small, thcN
aiT almost cc-riain to rdusc tlu; ll\,
Afi
cr scaliiiL:'
lIU'
lu'ii^lu, ihr lish foi- some imcNplaiiu.'d reason limber in the
the li|), and often lia\c 1 raisi'd and liookeil
swift water on
them on tlie ni-^hinL;- iiulin'', so close, intleed, to the fall,
that it seemed a nustery how lhe\ mainlained their posi-
tion. I lere aj^ain tile social instinct ma\' he the cause,
one or more hn^crinj;- imtil joined 1)\- othei's."
"It is (|uite L;eneiMll)- l)e!ie\'ed that salmon ne\-er eat
anythinL;' in fresh water; what is Noiir opinion?"
"I ha\c ne\cr lound an\ tood in salmon taken with
the IIn," replied h'rere.
" W'h)-. then, do die\ rise for it?"
"I cannot tell. The idea of many is that the)- are
affected in some strange wa)' hy colors, just as we know-
certain birds and (|iiadrii|)e(|s are."
"My idi'a is that they chase the ll)- mostly in sport."
said 1. "I don't heliexc that ijcneralh' the\' seize it for
food, although 1 heliexc that in the lower pools of rivers,
the lish just Irom the salt water in whiih the\' [vxX caL^crK
upon shrimp and other crustaceans, will leed upon min-
nows; and in fact I ha\'e lu;ard <>( cases ol the lish haNim;
l)een taken with shrimp, e\-en in pools well up the ri\er,
and a ll\ tied to i-eseml)le a shrimp is \v\-\ killiiiL:.
.
•k......
VW^
7«.
//7/// /7v-AW and Camera.
" lllack salmon or kdts, those lish that alter spawn-
iii!^' remain all winter in the riser insteail ot returning
to the sea, will lake ail)- b.iit in the spring," saiil l-'rerc
••rile)- are !''an and lank, and llu^ llesh is (piite unlit
lor looil, as it is solt, hriille, enlirel\' devoid of the [link-
ish color, and when cooked the siiu-ll is often repulsive.
I'hesc fish an; as huiiL^rx' as spring;' hi'ars. and voracitnis
as vulturi's; the}- sna|) eagerly at anything-, from a trout
ll\- to a pork rind, and U't'^l freely on thi' sprini;- sm(dt
which are ascending; th(; ri\ers to spawn, hut 1 do not
l)elie\<' that salmon ordinarily, those which ha\e left the
>ea, and asci-nded to the ri\ei' to sp.iwn, le<-d whih; in
the fresji water."
•' I've been told I)\' fishermen on thi; coast that tho
saiimon eat small fish \\hen in tlu; salt water," said lliram.
" 1 ha\'e no doubt the\' tlo," re[)lied brere. " Messrs.
llouan and \\'\'se, Dominion bishc-rx' ()\'(;rscers on tin-
Miramichi. ha\e informed me of capclin and sometimes
smelt bein^;' found in their stomachs \\lu;n llrst entering'
the ba). 1 think tlu.'X' must be voracious fc;cd(M's whik;
in tht; si;a, antl until the instinct seizes them to asceml
tlu; rivers to spawn; after that, like b(;ars in hil)ernation,
they subsist upon their own fat,"
'•Ves," I replied, "they must be threat feeders, for
tlu:y increase in si/e and weight wunclerfiilly in a very
'I'llr, l)inil;lN< I I'l.lWMS A l"l-l.>ll Kl N SAI M"N AM' A ■>
I INK " I'l; ' Kl 1 i."
8o
ll'itli I'/y-Rod ami (
itinera.
short ijcriod, for instance- \ l-,.h ,.- • i •
'"^Lcinc( . A Kelt wciL^inn-- ten pounds
^•^^^ niarkcd. and n-tnrncd to the riven", in tlie lower part
"f ^^•l^ich it was a^ain cau^lu after a hipse of five- weeks
^^ncl two days, and it was found to wei^di ov,^ uventy
pounds. I]ut. Frere. ifs .rowing late, and I propose th.u
the tent he smud.cred out. and that we turn in."
"Ao-reed/' replied my friend, a^d in a ^er^■ short
tnn. ^ve were lost in slumhc-r. which eon.es so easily and
so sweetly to the tired lishc^nnan.
CUAiniiR 11.
An 1^.\K1.^' lA>i. MlAii; liiii |iii;^. ■ (iivi.k mil \\\iii: 'I'lh iui ii (.|!I.\ . • A
I'.ii; Si:a Tknii. • I.iviin Timi-. . Ilow lo ('....k \ 'ruiiri-, • As
AiJ.Miu \i;i i; Cv^r. • An'MIiii; Smmus lldnKiii ,\mi Ih-i. ■ " I'l s I''imis"
IN ll|M\Sh. • III \i K llll-- (i\ llll. M \i. \l l.iiW \, . • A Kill '.11 1-'..\IIKI-
i.M : . • ri.\\iNi. \ |ii;iir 'I'ki.i, Till'. • 'I'wd |•|■^^ II'.i.kiI' ami \'."\\[
Samh. • A (iuiM SiKM.i.ii. • 'I'll! (-'rr'HiAi (iiiii;-. • \\ i A-im.
TO llll. I''ll'lll I'mhI.. • <ni:lk (IIAKAI IIK^ will' (ill A-l l-IIIM,. \ M w
Willi \\ Willi nil I'.XKIll. • JlAlm^N. • I AM. .\Mi Sl'Mllli i.R |;i;i.i.K
'I'Kiiir I iiMi'.xKi ii. • Kii.i.iNi; .\ llll, II-; hn iiii, lis. • Si m n ii iir Ii-iiim;
IN (Mil Timi ^. • I'li ii ki.sim i: Si \ C<>\>\ ni' .\l \ini . • I . \m i-l i u k i h
SAI.MiiN. IMiKs in .\lil Nil \Ni I . ■ A I 1\ I I N I'l-ll. • llniiklNi, \ I'\1U
111' l..\Nli-l 111 K'^. • IkiiMINi; |ii|; SaIAIiiN. I'll KI KI I I l-'lllNi,. • ll.iU
111 .\1 \Ki \ r.\Kk Cwir. '■ I'l^ii Kiiii.Uv'" • Iniii\n I k \IiI i n iN-. • A
I'l.l-.N I \ I !!■ I ..\Nli.l.iil K^ 1,111 .
I " H 1 { mellow, tlutc-likc son^" of liic hcrmii ihnish
-■- awoke me hdorc sunrisi- on ihc following; nioni-
iiiL;". Niuli^inn in\- Iriciul lo arouse him, i sicpjxd out-
side the lent. rh(t camp lire had huriicd out, uoihino-
of it i-cmaiuin!^ l)Ut a f(A\' black emhers. 'I lie two guides
were sound asleep under their blankets, the hea\y co\ci"-
inj; l.Hin_L; pulled up o\er their heads conipleleh'.
82
Willi /■7v-/\(>i/ (i/ii/ iiiiiicni.
'lakinu;' our rods, I'rcrc aiul I stcppcil |)ast tlu; slcc|)-
ini;' men on our \\a\' lo the pool; thc\' awoke iuslantlw
howcxcr, for xour hu-^h sleeper is easil)' awakened. Willi
a l)iL; >awn the)' arose and he^^an lo mo\c aliout their
eanip duties, ihe hrsi ot whieh heiu:^- imarial)!)- Iillin^;- ami
liLjiuin^ theii- |)ipe^.
" W lial soil ot da\ is ii lo l)c?" j asked of Iliram,
as I pi'epared in_\' tackle lor a cast at the loot ol ihe
pool, krere lia\m^' ^one to the head.
Iliram ,L;a\e a look at the mist which compleiel\- en-
veloped the forest ahout IIS, and tllell at the dreni'hei!
leaxcs which treinkled sli;_;htl\ in the f.iint kree/e.
"()h, it'll he kriL^ht •■nou:^h k\" and 1)_\," he replied,
"ik.e wind i-^ sou'wesl, and the Weks are plentN." As he
spoke he |)omted to the L;<issanier weks which liad keen
s])un on the hushes and krakes .uid weeds akout us.
It IS an almost in\ariakie si;^n, that il L^cssanu r weks
are akundant in the morniiiL;, tlie day will ke lair.
■"Well, Iliram," said I, "he'-e's for luck," and I ke^an
casting ako\-e the IMpitls at tln' fool ol the pool.
"Luik to \. .il" he replied, .uid returned to tlu' tamp,
where his a\i- was sooi^. heard kus\ in preparing; wootl lor
the kreaklast lire,
khe morniuL;- was dark, and the mist hmiL;' so hea\\'
ako\e the pool, that I could klit IlldistinclK see Irere,
ll'it/i I'ly-Rod and Cumcni.
^r.
who was cii work ai ihr upprr ciul. I'Or m\ own ll\' I
had my lavorilr. a siKci- doctor. li is a tl\ with which
I can do Ix'llcr work liiaii with any oliv-r, in all waters
and willi all lish.
Now siKci' doctors arc to !)<• met with in most \aricil
forms. .\t one lime I had upward of lour do/t'ii ol them
in m\ hooks, that i had gathered here and there, and
hcU'dl) two ot theiii were alike. ll till- l)od\- is siK cr
tinsel, it mailers Imi little, in the opinion ol man\ l\crs,
how the rest ol the tly is m.ide. and lh<' resuli is that
when one speaks ol this ll)' he conxcys hut a xaL^iie
meanin;^'. I h.ee siKcr doctors with whole wiu^s and
with made wini^s; with all kinds ol hackles and with
none al all. and with tails and wiihoiii.
M\- laNorite st\ le is made with pure siKcr tinsel l)od\
no other is woiih usim^. l he tail consists ol two
or three wel)s ol a widi^con's or teal's mottled Ic-ather,
together with the same mimher ot wchs ol' llie riilT of
the i;<>k. n pheasaiU. I like a small ha(d<le on a siKcr
doctor, dUi\ if I were to haxc a do/en tied, should ha\f
three each with ,!^ra_\-, hrown, )cllow and Mack haikles.
Not hea\ \-, but nice neat hackles.
1 )onl)tless -,ome nni' will saw "Ah. hut that's not nu
idea of a siKcr doctor at all." "All ri^ht," I repK , "it's
mine; 1 want a small hackle on il,"
84
// 'ith h'ly-Rud aiui Caiiicm.
\i)\v for wino-s. I tlon'i like wholi' win^s, that is,
wiii_L;-s made ol whole leathers, hul prefer made ones,
those uhiih are made of \aried fihers selected from main'
leathers, amoiiL; them always a lew shreds ol tJie mottled
leather ol the widgeon or teal, two ^ood leathers from
the rutt ol the i^oldeii pheasant, and over all. two or three
i^ood spra\ s trom the (a'esi ol the same hird.
.\l)o\c all, I want the lly lied so hard and In'ml)'
that I camioi moxc it at all on the hook. II it is loosei\'
tied, it soon hecomes worthless, in lact it is unsafe, loi'
the hook is likely to ])nll out with the lirst fish. 1 al-
wa\s re)eft a ll\ that is not still, or which is at all mo\-
al)le on the hook. It is an expensive ll\, such as i \\\\\v
dest'rilied, hut it is the most killing in existence. The
siKcr doi'tor commonK sold is a cheaj) affair t-ompar<(!
with this, hut deliver me Irom such and all other cheap
dies. I always preler to ha\c miiu "lied to patteiai,"
and do I'.ol accept an) whi'h will r.-d 'and a i-ii^itl scrn-
tin\.
1 lieu;an castini,^' with a short line. m\' inxariahle hahit,
and worked luriher ;md iurlher out into the pool with
e\tr\ tew casts. I l)elie\e in covcrinL; ihorouL^hK e\('i"\'
tool ol wal"r as I l^o. \ our salmon does not alwa\s
lie awaN off in the pool, anil it is much hotter to strike
\ mr !ish on a short line than a lon^' one, i)articularl\- if
y<
(■(
'?^rmi
//-V;'// l-l\~Rod and Canic/'i.
^5
you arc lifting" lor a hack cast. A siiiL^l'j instance will
illustrate tliis. I had \)vv\\ tishinn- the u()[)er end ot a
pool, and had wcjrked ilowii to nearl\- the h)ot; 1 had
a lon^- line omI, so as to reach the luriher shore, and
had careK'ssly allowHxl it for a uioineiU to swin^ in the
v\V\\. .\s 1 liited h)r another cast, 1 noticed that my
lly was hardly ten feet from me. W'b.en 1 ,L;a\ e the lift
the ll)" swunL;- in. ami at that instant a salmon, that had
Ijcen l)'in^- heside .i boulder almost .ii my feet, I'ose ,md
took the hu'e.
( )f course the ti|) of m\' rod went to '• siuilhereens *
on the instant, and ihe salmon "hooked oil." N'es, 1
alwa\s co\er the water thorou:_^hl\' as I ^o, and do not
lengthen m\- \\\\( until I ha\e hail m) ll) <dl ()\cr the
surface in my I'each.
hrere was l)iis\" at his end of the pool, hut sa\ii. '■
a f(;w trout which he shook oil his ti\ without distur! - :i;
tlu; water, he hail ^ot no rises.
1 also :_;()t a lew troul up, hut did not hook thi-m,
for we were alter salmon, and the llounciuL;" of a few-
trout on the surlace ot the wate'- is suHicieiu, i^cneralK ,
to kcc'j) salmon trom rising;.
It is (juite a "knack," that the sahiK.-u tishermau ac-
([uires, to shake oil a trout that has seized his lly, without
"stirriiiL'' ui> the water." as the e.\i)ression ''oes, hut it is
'*^
86
// //// I'ly-Roii ami Cainci'a.
;i necessary accoinplishnieiit. ( )ccasionall\ one u ill li()i)k
ihe li-()iil so tinnly llial it imi^l he laiulecl, and then ihe
l)eiier way is lo waste no time hut to <lraL; it as expe-
ditiously as possihle hodiK through the w;iter. and up on
the heach. The pool is thus d:sturh(.-il hut little, for the
tish is laiuled Ix lore it has a chance to llouncc ahout.
1 had heen casting; h)r full)' ten minutes, diu'iuL; which
I had successfully shaken oil two or three small sea trout,
and was just on the point of casting' o\'er to an eiUly
across the pool, Ixjow ,i hu^e liouhler tli.U rose Irom
the dei)ths, when a lar«:;i; sea trout took ni)- ll\. and with
a splash and a pluii^c, down he went to tlie hotlom. and
into the v(V\\ that I had l»een essaxiuL;' to reach.
.\wa\' Sjiun the line, m)' reel shrieking; to nie (hscord-
antl\' jusi then, my rod IxMidinL;' in a circle with m\' ef-
forts to keep the troui from disturhiniL,^ the salmon
Ihit in \ain I A ku'^c sea trout is a \cry stron^r
fish and acli\c wiilial, and I could not clKck miu'' e\cn
with, the full strain ol m\' rod. .SuddenK, from the de|)liis
of the |)ool where the trout was dartin;^' ahout, out sprang-
a salmon, a ■^oodl'.' Iisli, leajjii'Si.'; se\"eral ieet into the air,
and falliii;,;" eack w'lii a tremendous splash.
Another .tear l'\ .dso sprang out. .md the L^uides who
had joint i nu , ■■\\^'\ niio supi>osed that the leapim.;' fish
was fast to m\ hock, exclaimed:
'■^•^ :,.
y
88
//'//// /'7y-/\(h/ ami Canicni.
"lie's ;i ii\('l\- tish, sun;! Miiul, 1 )()cl()r, or nou'II
lose him."
Itltc. who also came to my sick', said, " \()u arc
<nviii''' him too much strain. "
'■(ii\in^ the Old llarr\- too much strain," 1 i:.\claitncjd,
"I've onl)' L;i)t a i)(;sk\' trout on."
' ( )h I that's no trout," said Hiram llourishim^ the
L^aff, "sun- \sv saw him twislc | twice |, 'twas a saumon
and a L;()od one, too.'
"\'<s, init he is not hooked, confovmd him," 1 re-
plietl. reelini; in the trout that was now about tireil out.
"There he i^'oes a^ainl" shouted William, hut this
time they plainK' saw that the salmon was K^apinL,^ in
fri_L;ht, and not with m\ lly in his mouth.
The truth was that the trout in swimming' ahout,
had run the castiiiL; line ai^ainst two or three of the
salmon, whicli. doubtless fearim^- a net, or some other of
man's snar<;s, leaped to axoid them. .\ salmon is as sus-
picious and as shy as a crow, \\\\(\ the least tlisturhance
or noise or molestation will put It on the (jni vivc.
It is not at all uncommon lor the casting- line to strike
a tish in the pool, when it is fast to another, and 1 have
more- than once had m\' hooked salmon scMid several into
the air hy rubbing' the line a,L;"ainst them.
We landed the trout, and killed it. It was only of
col
//'//// /'7v-/\\)(/ ami Canicm,
Hy
'
al)t)ul lliiTc pouiul:-. wcii^lu, l)Ui it wiis vctn .slroiiL; lor ils
size.
Of c()iirs(.' afu-r such a disliirhancc we concliKlcd thai
we hati hclU-r rest the pool a while, ami as hrcaklasl was
soon to l)c rrad), we l.iul aside our rods, .uid, alU'i' a
wash, repaircil lo liic cam]), al which ihe L;uides weri'
l)us\- preparing our morniuL;' meal. .\ml such a royal
hreaklast as it was I and such appetites as we had when
we sal ilown to ill l)oiled si'a trout, Iried i^rilse, hoiled
])()tatoes, pilot bread .uid hutler; listen. Iried onions, and
c(jlTe(,' with condeiisi'd milk.
Boiled sea trout is. i^astronomically, in \\\\ estimation,
the most delicate ol all lish. Xothin^;' can compare with
its delicacy. \vX richness, ol llaxor. It should he c-ookt-d
and eaten as soon as possible alter it is killed, lor it soon
deteriorates and becomes insipid.
\o oilier wa\ of c-ookini^' than boiling briiiL^s the sea
trout to the epicure in all its excellence, and in lacl this
is true ol most llsh.
.A fi ied sea iroui is noi ne.u'ly as acce|)tal)le, and T
do not fancN' one l.roilcnl. although broiling" is better than
frying'. Xext in my opinion to the: sea trout comes the
i^rilse, and that is also better boiled than Iried.
\'e\'er shall 1 lor^et llu; excpnsite cMijoxiuent with
which one of these lish was eaten on a certain occasion.
L)0 //'//// /■/v-/\()(/ iuid Ciducni.
\\ V h.id Ixcn 111 the canoe four oi ti\c hours In a
rhilly dri/zlc ol a rain. thi'ouL;li which we -^aw the sun
onl\' lor .1 lew niiiuiic^ during the cnlirc (l.i\.
W'c were iK'Ni-rndinu; one o( ihc C anachan rixcrs, our
|iarl\ consisting' ol one ol \\\\ Iricnds. nnscll, and our
two guides or canovnu'H, a\\ in one lari^c canoe.
Tired \\»- were .iiid hiinL;i'_\. lor we had heeii niiinini^
rapiils .nid li--hin^ the L;lorioiis pools ih.it l.i\ lietwceii
ll-.. in all the lime, .md sm h worl ,u;<"ls ii|i .i woiiderkil
appetite. .\t last the " a ncl-ltt" was spoken, .md we
came to .1 landing place. llaulinL; the ( .moe upon ihe
pel)l)ly shore, our men soon had a lire st.irted ,uul the
tea kettle steaminL^-.
T.ikinL; trom the canoe a L;rilse wci^hiiiL; aliout^ tour
pounds, and cutting; up the i-ich Mood-reil meal, the\'
cooked it in the trying pan, usin^ hul \ery lillle lal,
thai coiuained in the tissues ol the lish Kein^ sullicienl.
rh( lresh-cauL;ht lish thus cooked was ol delii'ious
sweetness, and the meal was lirm. nult\. and with just
the riL;hl decree of richness. N'es, th.ii was a lish excr
lo he i-cmeml)ered ; it was eaten with exactly the ri.u;ht
sauce, and under ihe riL;iu circumsiaiices. Many a lime
h,a\(' 1 ealen m\ tresh -cauL^hl salmon or trout l)\ ihe
camp lire in the woods, hul ii seems lo ww thai none
other ever lasted like that particular grilse.
//'//// /''/v-/\(h/ and Cdi/icni.
9'
lliraiii, as an aic"iii|t.iniiiii nl to iii) lish. ^.i\c nu-
I\v<t hoilcd |Miial()cs, and such polalocs I I'.arK Kosc ilii'\
were, which had hccn i^rown mm newly cicarcfl hind, c.iHcd
■|)nrncd l.uid," hccausc ii had httn hiicl) hiirncd oscr.
I'nlc'ss one has t-alcn such jtoialors, he knows nolliin;^ of
what consiituli's a i^ootl one. Meal) il is lo the extent
of almost lallin^ apart in a powder when its " jai ket " is
removed, and so sweet .hid delic.ilel No other poLilo
can comp.ire with the "liurmd land" potato.
.\lter disposing ol our suhst.mtial and .ihund.mt hreak-
fast, a smoke was ol course the tu'st thin^i to he .ittemleil
to. .\h ' what a comh»rt one takes with his pip<' oi- ci^ar
after .1 heart\ meal in the woods! COuld ,ui\t',un^ he
accepted as a suhsiiiute lor it? I Ould ,m_\lhini; replace
it? I douhl it.
\'er\' soon hrere was l)us)inL; hunsell in o\ erhaulin^'
his ll\-l)ook, and arrani^in^' his Hies, taking such comfort
out ol the operation as onl\' \()ur enthusiastic angler i an
tind. .\l leiiMth he arose Irom his recumheut position,
exclaimini^, "Well. I )octor. this is not husiness," and tak-
ini^' his rod he proceetled to the pool, where I soon jonied
him.
The mists that had lumL;' low ahoxc the ri\-er had
heen dispelled, and the suii was shilling' brightly through
the patches of I)lue which showed now and then throu^^h
^J
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#
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#
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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£ MS II 2.0
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
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w
92
IFitJi riv-Roii and iAxnicm.
tile golden and ruscatc cloiuU wliich were driftinsj: awav
to the cast.
A li^lil hrci'/c was iiioNiiiL;-, just strong enough to
ripple the surlact; of the jjooI to that degree wliich one
so nuicli desires, and l\\v. iiuhcations wer(' good for a sat-
isfactory (hi\'s s[)ort.
l'"i-er(t ijegan tasting about niidwa}' from the: head of
the |)oo!, and getting out a long Wnv. was soon reaching
well o\-ei' to th.e furtlier shore.
I took a seat upon an old U)g on the crc;st of the
beacli and watched \w\ friend at liis work ; for next to
casting tiie tl\- myself. I loNc; to see another engaged in
tlic; fascinating recreation.
I low gracetullx , and with what a true; and even sweep
the line rolled along on the surface,' of the water, uncoiling
itself, as it were, with an uiiiform motion, the castiiiL;- line
or leader taking \\y the same swt'ep, until the ll\- dropped
uj)on the water as lightK' as would the li\ing inscxt.
It is a great ac(|u.irement to cast the lly as h'rere
ditl, and I ha\-e set:n luit lew who attained to e(|ual pro-
ticienc)'. 1 h.a\'e fished with scorc;s of (hfferent anglers
in m\- tin)t\ and after watching their work, \-aried as it
has been, I ha\'e come to the conclusion that ;idepts at
flN'-casting with the twodiandetl roil are "few and far be-
tween."
'M
94
U'lth /■'/\'-/\()(/ <{//(/ ('(iji/vni.
Wwxv is an iiulc'scril)al)lc motion of ihc roil, which
is made in ihi- forward stroke or dchxcrN', tliat acts upon
the hnc in such a \\a\' that it sccnis to lie luit a con-
tinuation ot the rod itself, aiid the same hends and cur\'c
of the rod are loUowed 1)\' tin; whole length ol the line,
which, as it falls upon the wati;r. se(;nis to unroll itself
its uhole length, perniittin^- the ll)- to drop softl)' and
noiselessK'.
in a number of casts I can i^ct this motion a few
times, hut I am not always certain ol it, and m\' ex-
perience extends o\er thirty )'ears.
I can L;('t out and IkuhIU; as i^ood a U^n^th ol line
as the a\'era^'e, ami can drop a fairly neat lly, l.ul des-
pair of l)eini4' 'i'"' ^■>;p<'''t in making" what 1 call a roliin;^"
cast.''" A \-er\ L;reat deal depenils upon the exact balance
of the rod and hne.
ill e\'er\' book on lishinL;' that I ]ia\'e read, and I
ha\-c; (|uitv: a number of them i:i m_\- librarx', ai^e L;i\-en
instructions, more or h'ss elaborate, in casting-; but I have
ne\-er reail an\- )-et that supplietl information whii-h would
enabh' a no\ice to l)ecome e\en a passabU; lisherman.
I'ractic-e, much ])ractice, is a reipiisite, l)ut no practice;
in m\' o])ini()n can compare \\ith that which one has on
the ])ool where he knows the lish are h'ing
* 'the ' >i)i'\ ' nf writLT^
ll'itli I'ly-Rod ami Canicni.
93
Some writers rccomiiiciHl practiciiiL;' on the lawn, hiii
this is of \cr\- link: xuliu; cxcepL in lamiliarizin^' one uilh
the action of his rod.
To hi)' out a line ncatl}' and smoothly on the water
and recoxcr it in i^ood st\le is one tiling'; it is (pn'te
another to th) it on a L;rass phit.
hrere continued at his work, coxHM'ini,'; ,dl the water
as lie niox'ed towartl the foot of tlie |)ool.
(irachially he; drc;w nearer and nearer to tlu' eddy on
the; other side; that from which the salmon had leaped
when ni)' s(;a trout created such a comp^otion.
At length his IIn' tlroppi'd in a curl ol llu; Avater near
a rock that showed fainth' heneath the surface; motion-
less it remainetl an instant, then sinkiiiL;' an inch or two
was just on the point of recei\in^' the tirst motion or drai;'
from the rod, when a swirl, a taint splash, aiul then the
scream oi the reel announced that a salmon hatl \k'v\\
hooked.
Scarcely had the tish felt the barb when, with the
speed almost of liL;htnin^-. he darted to tlu; head of tlu:
p(u)l, and then back in an instant to the deep water in
the mieldle, thus sc^curin^' a dangerous bis^lu in the line,
which (Mil\' the ijreatt'st acti\it\' at the reel coidd o\er-
come; in tinu'. and hrere but just succeeded in _L;('ttinL;'
his line strai_i;luened, Ijelorc; the sahuon re[jeated his per-
96
//'//// l'lv-J\oii 11 mi i'iimcra.
formancc, this lime his run hcinij' hrokcii h\- three leaps
111 (|UK:k succession, all ol tliem ijein^' at least three feet
fc
111 the air,
lie then return(;tl to his fo
nil
er position, and Itctc
)esj"an
'ivm;
him th<' strain of th(; rod, for the ri
ms in
(juick succession and the leaps had soberetl the lish, and
if the hi;ht were now forced, it was evident it would he
a short one. IIk' tactics which th(; .salmon now adopted
were such as every one who has heen "fast" to one. of
these noble fish is accpiaintetl with.
Now he was appar(;ntl\' standiiiL;- on his head in the
water, c;vick;ntly rubbino- his nose; on tiic; rocks on the
bottom of the pool, to free: hims(.'lf from the barbed steel,
b'indin^" this unavailing', he would shake his head savaL^ely
like a terrier worr)-inL;- a rat. This also prox'inL,'' ineffectual,
he would c;ndea\'or to wind tlu; casting' line about one of
the rocks in the water, 1)\- which a purchase; could be ob-
tained, so that the hook could be; twisted from its hold.
All in vain, however, l'rc;re kept his stead\- strain on the
roil, keenly watching' c;vc;ry m<)\-emc;nt of the fish, and
meeting;', with a sportsman's skill, all its ruses ww^X at-
tempts to escape.
At lenL;-th the tension of the lim: proved too o-reat
for the fish, and it began to show unmistakable sii^ms of
fatigue.
I il
9«
//'//// /•'/)'- /\\)(/ (U/(/ Cdiiicra.
l\Tc:ci\ini; this, I'rcrc coinniciu'ctl rcdini; in the line,
all the lime keeping;- the -itrain upon ii.
SiKltlciil)', withoiil an) uarniiiL;', ll"- salmon ^axc a
iiiaLrniticcni leap, and then plunj^in^ t<> ilif Uolloni, dartctl
Lo ihc shoal ualci' down to ihc tool ol the pool.
"()h, L;i\c hini ihc hull, L;i\c him lh(' hull I" uc all
shoutctl to I'rci'c, l)ul loo laic, I'rcrc was doiiiL; all thai
the rod could siand, hul, passing- like a tlash 'low n inlo
the stream, running;- oui the line in a wa\ i!i:ii made the
reel wildl)' whistle, the tish l;'. h'd heiween two rocks in
the hed of the sti'eam, lurnetl aiToss the s'.oals, and then
sped back up the swill water and around another rock,
thus securing' lexerai^'e, <ind he was ''-ee.
"Too bail, too l)ad I" 1 ( xclaimed. hrere made no
reply but bes^an reelini; in his line which the tish hail
carried out lo the extent ol at least one hundred yards.
"Confountl it all," < xclaimed lliram. "lie -..as a
wide-awake di\-i! sure!"
" Yc:s, a fresh-run tish." added William, "and full of
life."
"Life! an)- amount, sure," replied lliram, who, now
that the f'lL^ht was (>ver, was cpn'etly fillinL;" his jjipe and
preparincr for a smoke.
I)id you ever notice that your Li'uide, il a smoker,
and he almost alwa\s is one, invariabl\- lij^hts his pipe
//'//// l-lv-Rod iiini Camera,
99
wlicn a l)i,Lj; tisl^. is laivlcd or lost? 1 1 noi, watch him
when yciii arc next out. 1 nc\(]' knew it lail to ha|)])cn.
Wlicn I'rcrc had reeled \\\ his Inie so that the lead 'r
coidd !)(• fached, I took it in ni\ hand and examined it.
It had paited at one ol ihc knots, and e\identl\ had
heeii carelessly laslencd.
"The knot was a poor one," said i'rcrc, examinine'
tile L^Ut, '"but il It iiad heen |)erle(l it Would not ha\(!
held thai lish."
"Xo, no Liut was e\-er made that woiild hoid him,"
said lliram. "Nor line neither," assented William, "un-
less il was a i~o(l line."
I'rere (luictly remoNcd the portion ol the i^ut that
was left, and placing;' it in his lU-hook. selected another
new leader, and putting it in the water and anchoring
it with a pel)l)le, lelt it to soak and hccoinc pliahle.
He l)ore his disappointment and loss iihilosophii-allw ami
L;'a\'e IK* si^ti that 1k' lelt it cs'cn as much as we did.
The sun was now shining' brightly, the llccc)- clouds
ha\inL; been entircK' dispelled. 'I"he hree/e hail also sub-
sided, anil the surface ol the p(/ol was as smooth as
<.(lass, sa\e where the ripples \\^(\ eddies showed the mo\-
iiiL^" current, and tlecks oi' bunches ol foam trom the rap-
ids lloated down on the water, swam about for awhile,
and then passed down the ri\er out ol ^iL;lu.
lOU
//'//// /7\'-A\)(/ aiiii Camera.
I'ishiiin' for llif present was useless, even if ihe pool
Ii.k' not heeii ilisUirl xhI, aiid ihrowiii!^ oiirseK'es amon^
brakes ami wild L^rass in ihe shade ol ihe irees, we
i^ave ourseKcs and the pool a sjiort rest.
The [jlack llies and nioscpiitoes were now putting' in
their best work, ami we were ohlij^cd to anoint our ex-
posed skin with our " ll\- [)'ison," as William tcniicid it.
I ha\c seen \arious [jreparations for ke(;pin_L,'' off the
insect pests of the northern woikIs, but of all that 1 hax'i:
tried 1 have lound none more; efficacious than a liberal
proportion of pure Sto;kiiolm tar dissuKcd in sw(;et oil,
one part ol tar to two parts of sweet oil, and the flavor
lun|:^htened with a little oil of pt:nn\r{)\ al or p(;|tj)eriiiint.
\'aseline, ihorou^hl)- inc(jrporated with this, ^ixos it a con-
sistency and "wear," ami is therefore a \aluable addition.
Idle solution of tar cannot Ik; too strom^-, but too much
p(;nnyro}'al will cause irritation to the skin ami (,:\-es.
Ah! what a [)aradise would be the nortlu^rn wilder-
ness in summer if it were not lor the \oracious insects
which abound iri m\-riads and anno)' us at every turn,
in some localities the\' render life almost a burden to
man and beast, and a huored sjjot it is, indec;d, that is
free from them. 1 lia\(; sec:n the black flies in tlu: \alle)'
of the MaijallowaN' Ri\er mi Maine, in such numbers that
the farmers c( uld not work in the flelils in the heat of
i
III
iU2
ll'itli h'l\'-J\od (II ui ( (inwrn.
the (l.i\ unless thc\ had a "siiukI;^*'" hui-iiiiij^ lu-ar lluiin
all ihc lime. KcpcaUHJJy h.i\c 1 seen catllc lomc t(jarin;^
(li)\\ii the hills as i( tlicy were mad, .iiid ihnisl ihcii- heads
iiiio the smoke (»l the "simulL^c pol" ihai was \<c\)\. always
hiiniiiiL; al cMT) door lo (Wwc. awa) iheir toniieiUoi's. I
ha\(' seen the window panes of a school house in a hack
setllemenl so co\ ci'ed \\ ilh these insects that they ap-
peared almost solid hlack.
\e\-er sh.dl 1 loi-^ct an experience: that I had in the;
summei' ol iSoo on the upper watt'rs ol the Mai^allowa}'.
It was a uiKl lountrs then, and oni' would not meet a
hunter or tishei'man lor weeks at a stix'lch. Now it is
(|uite dilTereiit, and tishermen are nunu'rous, and on an
island in Lake I'ariiKU'lu-iu; there is .i i-ondortahle house
for their accommotlation kept In- the popular L;uide [ohn
l)anh)i'th. ( )n the occasion I refer to, I IkhI with me
as canoeman, a son ol dear old Captain Wilson, one of
the whitest men that (iod e\'cr created. We were coming"
down the ri\-er on our return from a trip to its head
waters, and had just r^'achetl "the Meadows," so-called,
when \ ouul;' Wilson was taken ill. 1 le seemed in L;rt;at
pain, almost as it d\in_L;', and was of course qtiite helj)-
less. W hat his sickness was I could not understand, l)iit
I did the best I could for him. I laid him in the hot-
tom of the boat on the blankets, an.d i>a\e him a dose
//'//// h'ly-Rini diui ( '(tu,, /ii.
103
of Jamaica ^iiii^rr, which I happened i.> ha\e aiiion^; my
stori'S. I leil sure it louid iiol hurt him anyway, and
it thd in a short time L;i\e him n-hel, h)r he soon h'll
asleep. Hut the hhuk thes I Like a dense cloud they
settled upon us, and 1 was lilerall)' streamini^ with Mood,
Wilson 1 had covered with the blanket, and his lace was
prolecleil hy his h.it. with a handkerchiel ihroun o\cr it.
llut 1, while I was lendiuL; him. was conipletel) at the
mercN' of the little pests, and no mei^)' did the)' show.
Not a breath was stirring, and the weather was \cr\
warm; the perspiration streamed at e\cr\' poi'e, and con-
se(|uentl\' tar ointment would not ailhei'e to ni) skin. it
would ha\'e been useless, anywa\, against such hordes as
pounceil upon me.
It took but a short lime to coin'ince me that unless
I had a snuuluc in the canoe the situation would i)e crit-
ical, for 1 had heard of cases of teri'ible poisoning' Irom
black dies, which were lollowt'tl b\' insanitx' and helpless-
ness. .Seiziii!^ the fr)im^' pan and iron ])ot, I started a
fire in each, and whin it was fairl) burning. 1 co\cr d
it with damp moss. lea\i's and turf. I placed one in the
bow close to Wilson, and the oth(.;r at m\- feet, and bei^an
ni\- \o\\\i paddle of, I think, oxer lhirt\ miles ilown to
Aziscohos balls.
The rix'er was low, and once or twice I w,is obli<>i'd
f
(^ IVith /■ly-Rod ami Caiiici
'a.
lo .ijvi out of ihc l,o;iL and h;uil it ()\ci- l.ars and windfalls,
at wliicji times I was at the nicrc) of m\ tonncntors.
I he load was also hcav>- for a sin-ic paddle, and
tired enou-h I was at ni-lufall when 1 landed at an old
l(),L;-iii-- c-anip or, the river side, and -ot m_\- patient out
'" ^l^*' '"'■■il -ind into tile <:ainp. However, I st.irted \\y
a hi-- snuid-e, h.r akhou-h the Hies hail Imished their
work (or the day, the nioscpn'toes he-an to show up in
clouds.
I llu'n hinlt a lire and -ot supper, I I'onlented niy-
sell with hard lack, fried hacon and tea. h'or Wilson I
ina.de a ilish of llour porrid^-e : and throu-h the excnin-'
I laid cloths sleejx'd in hoi water across his ahdonien,
chan-in-- tin n as fast as ihey cooled off to the temper-
ature o( the l)od\-.
I his treatment seemed to do him -ood, and -lad and
thanklul enou-h I was to see the poor chai) comin- around,
f*»i' It was a |)retty serious matter for me to ha\c a sick
man on m) hand.-, alone in the w ildenies.s, particnilarl\- as
I did not know what ailed hnn, and what the hest treat-
ment would he.
At len-th I snuid-ed out the camj) and turned m.
lea\in-- a hi- smoke -oin-" outsiile.
On the lollowin-- mornm- Wikon was so far recox-
cred that he could mo\e ahout without \\\\ assistance, and
f.
'^ A
■ti
io6
lyitli I'ly-Roii ami (anicra.
w'c Li'ot an carh' start on tin; ri\t:r, lie, ho\vc'\-ci', still too
weak to patlcllc. Tlic llics, ho\vc;\cr, soon put in an ap-
pearance, and I was oblig'ecl to kintlle ni)' snuid^'es again.
1 sped tlie boat as rapitlh' as I could, but it was noon
when I heartl the oh, how welcome roar of the falls, and
knew that the end o( my journey on the river was at
hand.
Wilson, though still leebli', was now able to walk the
carr)' (porta^'e) around the falls with nie, althou_L;h wc: hatl
to tra\'el slowK" ; and it was ' ite in the night Avhen we
reached his home at Wilson's Mills, and I was relie\ed
of ni)' resi)onsibility and an.\iet\'.
Wc; were both so batlK' poisonetl b\' th(j \irus fi^oni
the insects that we were in high fex'er for a da\' or two,
but good nursing brought us out all right.
My h.ands were in a terrible state, for, in addition to
tlu; soreness from the bites ol the Ihes, they were badly
blistered b\- the hard bout I had had with the paddle.
^'es, that was an ex[)erience with black Hies newr to
be forgotten. The; region about the Magallowa)' is one
of the faxoi'ite haunts of this pc:stiferous insect, and I do
not remember ewer seeing it in an\- other section in an\-
thing like tlu; abundance in which it e.xists tlu^re. In old
times we usetl to think that the iSchoodic Lake country,
|;)articulai'l\- .iboul (irand Lake: Stream, was bad on account
ot
OI
I
lyitk Fly- Rod and Cauicm.
lO'
of ihcsc clialjoliccil insects and 1 luuc; seen them so thick
on the Miramichi that tlie air was bhick with them — but
I liaxc never am'where seen .unthin''' hke the prochnal
plenty in which they arc- found on \\\v, MagaHowa) .
" Pass me tin; p'ison, pk'ase," e.\ckiinu;d W'ilham, after
I'rere and I liad cUiointed ourse^Kes, "the ihes are \er}"
cross''' to-(.hi\."
I lianded the: tar to liim, and lie with Ids i)rother
rubbed in a <'()()d coatinsj'; l)otii of them liad been well
punctured, the insects ha\in^' i-rawleil into tiieir hair and
beards and left their sc;irs freel}".
Anointing; bein^" oxer \\v. stltled down for comfort.
" 'Tis a prett)' pool, entirely," said Iliram, who was
carelessly tyim^ \-arious knots on a |)iece of string;.
"It IS that." assented William.
"I wish I luul a dollar for e\er\ tish that was ever
taken from it."
"You'd need a team to carry them if they were our
American siKer tlollars," I added.
" ^'es, and a tlouble team at that," said krere.
"Yes, 'tis a great ])Ool, altogether," answeretl Iliram,
unconsciously repeating" his first statement.
"And one ol th(! best to kill a tlsh in oii the ri\-er."f
t These ilialiji^ui'S :iii- likTiilU- .i-- inlli.il dnwn li\ inr "n \,iriiiii^ "rcasitjiis.—
i:. A. s.
io8
IVitli I'ly-Rod and i' a in cm.
"True," replied T'Vere, huii^hinni)'. "if )ou can keep
liiiii aw.'i)- from ilie rocks."
"()li, there's no trouble'^' at all." replied William, dep-
recatin-'K', "n'ou'II ne\'er ha\"e one run down there aeain.
Ihis was the lu'st time 1 e\-er s;i.\v one, and man\'s tht;
(ish I'x'e seen killed here."
" \o, they ne\'ei" run tlu're like that," said lliram,
"hut you want to mind the head of the pool too, there's
an old drift tree there," pointing' to a spot just below
the upper rapids, "and if )<)u ;^et 'hum.;' up there,' t^oocl-
hy Mr. Salmon."
"Is there really any drift stuff there:?" I asked, "if
so now is tlu' time to i^et it out. I don't want to lose
any tish on it."
".\11 rin'lu," rejjlied the ^uide. "Come, William, with
the L^aff, and we'll clear it out."
The two brothers proceeded to the beach, abow the
rapids where: tlu; canoe was hauled up, and sho\in_n it
out into the stream and emljarkinLT, the\" moxed slowh'
duwn to the place that had been desiL;nated.
William held the canoe steadil\- in place whiU: lliram
bcL^an reachiuL:' with the <'aff down into the water lor the
drift wood
"By |ovi'," I exclaimed, "there's more water there
* Dilluultv.
'A
x;
■2
I IC)
//'//// /'/v-/\()t/ (iiiii ('(inh'ni.
than I clrcanicil of; scic ! I'.c lias ihc whole h'n^tli of the
L;all uiuKt wattT, and his arms up to ihc dhows."
"\'cs," r("|)li<;(l I'rcrc, " tlicrc is ;• shiu-p pitch tlu'Hi,
and (juite a ck'cp hoU."
In a short time lliram shouted to WiU'ini, lo " i)ush
in," anil th(; canoe, imptdlcd 1)\' the setting" poh', soon
touched the l)each, iliram ch'a^'ginL;' with the ^alf A\hat
pro\-etl to i)c; a lar^t; liml) of a tree with the hranchcs
and tw'^s on, just as it had lloated d(n\n the strc.'ani
and sunk months l)efore.
"That's a dangerous sna!_;' out ol tin: waw at all
events," said I'rere. 'What ha\e )()U found, lliram?"
he exclaimed, as tin; ^uide, after hauling" the: limh up on
the l)each, proceedeil to detach soniethin^' that was e\i-
dently fastened to ii.
" 'Tis a hit of net that ;>'ot torn on ii," ans\verc;d
the Liuide, "that snai^" has cUone one ^ood joh an\"way."
" HaHo, here is thi; rest of your cast, sir," c;xclaimed
William, unwinding- somelliinL;" that was also entan^Unl in
the twills.
"What?" c;jaculated h'rert , "my casting;- lim? im-
possible."
"It is, sure t'noui;-h, and the ll\', too, all hut the
l;arlj of the h(K)k, that's L^cne."
It proved to l)e as the\' had stateil ; ilu' salmon.
m
?
f
1
w
'^■i^'^I^^^H
) .
"'" ^^ifiJI^B
1
M
«J'^-
''^^^H
fl
«
x.
■ 8
t 1'
1 12
With J'7\'-J\i)i/ (ij/i/ Cam era.
after parting' llu' castini^ line, h;ul [)iirposel\' entangled it
aftcrwTirtl in the ilrift stuff and, l)r(.;akinn the hook, had
freed itself of its unwelcome incunihrance.
" "I'uas a craft)' lad, altogether," said Hiram, hand
iiii^ the line to I'rcre, "how well he knew the wa)' to
_L;et rid ol it I"
" \'es," repjcd l'Vt:rc, "1 knew he would not carr)'
it around lon^-."
" it was a poor ItMiL^i'th of .^ut," I exclaimed., as I
examineil it. "See, here is at least six indues of -t thin
and llat."
"\'(.'s," replied I'rere, "I see it was weak there, al-
thouL;h it wovdd have made no difference if it had been
perfect ; it is almost impossible to obtain ^ood casting;
lines nowadaxs except at. fabulous price;;, and e\'en then
the\ are likeh' to have weak places."
"That is true," said 1, as w. resunutd our seats
amonj^ the brakes, "th(;re is sure to be a weak spot
somewhere, and 1 ha\e f^r )-ears tied m\- own, ami 1
use no^-hin^" but the best round out of e\{;n and ui'iiform
thickness."
"I believe 1 will ixy it myself," replied b'rere, "there,
is no L^reat labor rc;([uired in it, and it is worth some-
thinsj' to ha\'e a cast on that one ma\- t(;el absolute con-
lidence in."
y.
y
m
114
// '//// J'/y-Koi/ ami Canicni.
"Vcs," saiti Hiram, "the best cast is none too i^ood.
I was once t>iit with a man from Montreal. He liatl a
biiL^ lot <>l ;m'w castini^ h'nes, and the)- lookcil all rii^hl,
l)ul the) went lo |)i('C('s on e\'c;r) lish. He lost a Ml; lot
ol saumon that trip, somethinL^ like a dozen or lifteen, 1
am sure."
"He did so," added William, "he had hard luck, not
a cast in the lot wuth tuppence."
"Do you mind, 1 )octor, how we lost the saumon last
)-ear in the White Rapiils Pool on the Jac([uet?" ask(;d
Hiram, addrcssiniL^ nu.-, "Sure; he was the uiUI tli\il, loo."
" \'es, 1 shall not forL;('t him for a while," 1 replied,
"such a danc(; as lie led us."
"How was it?" iiKpiired I'rere.
"Oh, it was onl)- one of the cases of 'lost fish' that
i'\('r\' one knows all about," 1 rc;plied. "1 was runnin*^
(.lown the rixcr with Hiram in the canoe, hshiiiL; tlu; pools
on the wa\- down. When we reriched the White Rapids
Hiram landed me on the shore aboxc the pool, antl 1
walketl down alon^' the river, castins^" as I went. Whe-n
1 reached the boil immediatel)' below tlu; rapids I ^ot a
rise, and casting- ai^'ain, was fast to a tme fish. He took
down into the pool, and, from the way he cavorted around
there, one would think he had an electric battery in his
tail. Zip! he'd dart up and down the jjool like an arrow,
//'//// J'lx-Rod itiui Caiifci'if.
I I
and 'crci!-('-('' tbf oUl red sunj.; <>iii in response to his
inoveilieiUs."
" N'es. the lad was in ihe air more of the lime than
ill the water," exclaimed lliram, "it was jnm|), jump, jump
all oxer the pool; sure he was a wild di\il, alloocther. '
" \'es," I replied, "he was ;i lively cusloiner, 1 ne\'er
had a fish ([uit(! so full of energy. Al length he ran
(.lown to the foot ol tin; jjool, and criss-crossed over amon^
some hiL;- boulders there and ^^ot the line wound around
them. 1 yelled at thi; top of m\ luniks to lliram to wade
out with the j^'aff and cast off the line, or the tish would
part it."
".Sure, 1 thought he was Ljone," said the L;uide. "I
saw the line in th • rocks anil made sure it was broken."
"No," I continuecl, "he was still on when lliram
went out to him and cast ofY the line, and whir-r-r, how
he made th<- water ll\' as he darteil to the head of the
[jool a_L;ain. I'p and down did he continue to race, some-
times in the water, as often in the air, and apparent!)'
as fresh a.s at the start."
" No ilouht a fr(,'sh-rini fish," remarked b'rere.
"Ah ! yes, he was a brit^ht one," said Hiram.
"At length he, L;a\i' a bii;; leap and then ran to the
boil a^ain, where- he settled to th(; bottom, and stir him
1 could not. I'Or at least l"iftc;en minutes 1 tried e\er)
II'') //■//// h'lv-RoJ itiui Laiiicm.
means that I knew df (or startiiiL^- a sulking salmon, hnt
In' would not IiU(Ilm'. l'inall\ I u'/'t ihipaticni ami told
lliram to take tin' lamn- and stir him ii|) with the set
tini; pole.
"'Arc you sure he's still on!-*' lliram i ailed out.
■''()n, of course he is,' I replied, •s(c the line vilirate
as the rascal shakes hi:-, heatk'
" ' \'es, he's lr\inL;' to shake out the hook,' answcrc il
the L^uide, anil lu' innnediately started h>r the cano<'.
"1 had a 'stead)- strain on the lish all the time, for
all the rod was worth, and 1 kei)t it up \ hile lliram
was hriiiLdiiL; down the canoe. .\ow and a^ain 1 felt a
spitelul jerk, as it the lish were sh.ikine the lim; jjack
and lorth. .\non would come ,i strong' stead\ tu"' as il
he were aliout to start out aL;ain on his wild racings, ami
then the (V'\\(\ hard resistance would follow.
"Ilii'am soon had the canoe in the ])ool, and s^oine
up to the he;:d poked down with the setting pole where
the salmon was l_\ in.i;', l)Ut the lish did not siii-. l''inall\-
the <_;uide took hold o( the line autl he^an lifting' it care-
tiilly with one hand, undenamnin^- it with the ^alf.
"'.Sure, the fish is i^onel' at last he shouteil.
"'Xol' I exclaimeck ' impossible I'
"'lie is !4()ne, altO|L,''ether,' r(;[>lied lliram, 'and )()U
arc; last to a tree at the. bottom of the pool.'
-wjT rr-r
n
A Snat Sikh ai Mk-.Mao (Iiibi.)
i'8
IVitli Fly-Rod ami Camera.
"As he said this he piil tlu- L^aiT down into the. water,
and iiookinj^r jt into a l)ranch of sunken (h'ift wood Hkc
that just taken out of this jjool. he came ashore at my
side.
"I la, ha," exclaimed Frere, "that's a pretty good joke;
the itlea oi jjlayinL;' a piece of drift stuff so long- is rich."
" \ es. it was pretty rough on me, I admit," said I,
hut I'll he blessetl if any one could have known it was
not^ a salmon. '\\\c scamp no doubt freed himself as soon
as he struck the tlrift stuff, and the line, fastened to the
swaying limb, vibrated and pulled according to the strength
of tile water moxing it back and forth. It felt all the time
like a large strong t'lsh."
"Tricky dix'ils are salmon," sententiously observtnl W'il-
liam. " 1 never feel sure of one; until he is high and dr\-
on the; shore."
" W's, the salmon is a good fighter," said I'^rere, " ar.d
the uncertaint)' of bringing him to grass constitu'^es nine-
tenths of the fascination there is in fishing for him."
" ( )ne cannot risk a single diance on him." I replied,
"anil It IS oftt-n a littli' thing that brings the fisherman
to grief e\en with the best of care."
"Sure enough," said Hiram. " Man)''s the good tish
Wv, seen U)st b)- the best fishermen, and sometimes tlie
oldest hands ha\e the hardest luck. But come, I'entle-
It/'itli I'ly-Rod and Camera.
'"'%mmr^
men, the pool is well rested now, -AmX then; is ;i heauti-
ful ripj)le on the water, and set; tlu; drift of clouds that
is coming- o\er."
Rising; from our recumbent positions in the shade; al
his W(jrds, we found that a hr^e/e had sprung" up, and
taking our rods we preparc:d for another trial i.i llu; pool.
The wind was rippling' the surface of the water beauti-
fully, and the chances seemed good lor a speed)' rise.
I'rere now took a position in the rapitls at tlu; head ol
the j)ool, wading out to a depth of iwo or three ft;et,
while I began casting aljove the edd\', across the pool.
This was a fair "turn and turn about" for us. it
was much easier to cast down the pool from the lu'atl,
but the chance for a salmon was best in tlu; deep water
near the foot. brere had had his op[)orti'.nity, aiul it was
my turn now. Lengthening my line at every cast, 1 soon
reached the coveted s[K)t, aiul j)utting' m)' ll\' in the curl
of the water, I rose aiul hooked a grilst-.
"Cre-e-e!" how the reel sang, as the tish darted up
and down the pool, leaping high in the air. sometiiues
three or four times in succession.
William seized the landing net, the giiff not being
needed for a grilse, and .stood read\' to land m\ tish.
A shout from b'rere. who was staiuling in ihr rapitls,
attracted our attention, aiul his bent rod indicated that
4
I20 U'itli I'ly-Rod unci Can/era.
he, 1(1(1, had hooked .1 larj^c ti^h, which a k:a[i at thai
iiistaiil showed lo \)v. a sahiion.
" 1 )()n't L^ixc the grilse aii} more lime, 1 )oclor, ' e'.\-
elaimed W'ilham. " W C musL _:4(.'l him in l)eh)re thai sal-
mon rims down here .md crosses \ou!' hue.
1 did not need his counsel to see the uri^ciU need
of such action, and in <i \vx\ short time llie l.iiuhn^- net
passed under the grilse, and he was in the liands of the
L;uide,
I'rei'e was hist to a noi)h' lish, rUid his hea\\' rod,
Ix'iit into an .irch, showed ihat lie was e,ndca\"orinL;- to
\<vv\) him ii|) in the j)ooK awa\- trom the danj^crous rocks
\vliere he hail h)st the hrsi tish.
It was a i^rand tit^hl ! hrert;, immedialel)' on sirik-
iiiLj^ the lish, letl liis position in the, riishiiiL;" water, and
took his stand upon iht; i)oint ol the ])i'ach luiar I)y, thus
ohtainin^;" a perlect command ol the entire length of the
pool.
I he sahiion in the lirst rush took out at li'asc sixty
\ards of line witliout sto'ppiiiL;; tlu'ii, with a mi_L;-ht)' h'ap,
spraiii^' into the air, his red eyi:s L^h^aminL;' like rubies in
tlieir sil\H'r casiiiL;. Ld<c; a rock he struck the water,
throwim^' it up with .1 hea\-\- sphish m all directions. As
tlu; hsli h'll, I'l'ere I'el iiK |uished Ilis hea\ A' strain upon the
rod, droppiiiL^ the lip ,1 U)ot oi' two, in order thai the
122
ll'itli I'ly-Roii and Camera.
salmon mi^lu not free himscll li\ tailiiiL; upon a taut
casting' line
It was onl\- tor a.n instant, h()\\(!\ ht, that the line
was slackened, and the tish had harcil)- rettUMied to his
nati\-e element when the (Iiml; ol the rod was a^ain j)Ut
Upon him. Ai^ain and aL;ain tin: salmon lea[jed hi^^h in
ail four times in rapid succession ; l)Ut I'rere met his
e\'ery effort with the c-onsummate skill ot tlie ])CTfect
ai\L;ler.
kor at least a cpiarter ol an hour did the salmon
course up and down the ])o()l, now keeping" it in a IxmI
with his L;yi'ations, now suimmin;^ deep, and apparent])"
tr)ini4 to ihafe the lint: a^^ainst the rocks at the Ijottom ;
then dartiuL;" with the speed of ii^htnin^- to another i)art
of the l)asin. when.; lu; repeated his mant'uxcrs.
k\)rttmatt'l\- he did not endea\'or to reach the rapids
lielow as the other tish had tlone, l)Ut contented himself
with the deep water in the middk; ol the jjooI.
At length it was exident that the steady strain of
the rod was telliiiL; upon the tish. His leaps L;'rc'w less
fre(|U('nt, and his rushes less spitelul. kle began swim-
ming in circU.'s, and once or twice almost turnetl on his
side.
"lie's done lor," sliouteil William, who, gatf in hand,
was followimj the tish hack and lorth aloiiL!" the beach.
lyitli I'lv-Rod .'lid Camera.
I 2^
"Don't he too sure, sir," said lliram, who had hccn
watchiiiL^' tlic coiitc^st with tiic, kci-ncst interest. " Maii)''s
the salmon lost wlien he keels oxer on his side."
And ilirani was rii^ht ; it is often one of the most
critical moments when the salmon turns on his side. The
hsherman, jjcrhaps in tlu; certaint\- of his prize, uncon-
sciousl)' relaxes his lift iqnjn the rod; or the hsh secures
an unexpected l)uoyancy. and thus attains an unlooked
for le\'era_L;'e ; or the hook, in his new |)Osition, twists out
of its fastening, which had keen worn •> ider and wider
h\ the stru^'^les of the lish ; eitlu^r or all of these com-
bined ha\e time and ai;ain in m\- ol)ser\ation turni;d tlu:
exultation of the fisherman to hitter disappointment antl
chagrin, as the salmon, with no apparent effort, sank back
into the water, and tin: tly "came home."
In k'rere, how'e\c;r, the salmon found Ids concjueror.
With superb skill he met e\ery effort of the fish to es-
cape; relaxing not a moment his command of the rod.
he kept the same steady strain upon the line; reeling
in W'hen the i'lsh yielded a foot, and hoKlir.g all he gained
throuiifhout the struggle.
The salmon, in turnmg the third time upon his side,
gave brere the opportunity he IkuI desired; without at-
tempting to use the reel, he ste[)ped back ([uickl\- away
from the pool, the "lift" of the rod tlragging the fish
•.\
124
U'itli Fly- Rod ami Camera.
at t.lic same lime toward the shore. In a llash tlic L;alT
was ill the L;hurriiiL;- prize, and the lish was Ijorne up
lii''h on llic heacli, awa\- Ironi the (hmijerous uroximitN'
of the \\att:r.
"Indeed, hut he was \vi;ll liook(Ml." e.\chiiini:d Ilirani,
as he openrtl the mouth of the sahnon to remo\-e the lly.
"■Sure lie was so," assented W'iHiam, as lie endeav-
ored to lake out: the lly. "The hook is clean throui^h
tlu: rool ol his mouth."
So secureh' was the hook fastened that it w.is found
iu,'cessar\' to cut it out. the toui^h skin ol the palate hold-
iiiL; it ^\•ith the L;'rc:atest tcniacity.
".Sjiake, old cliap," I said, L^raspiuL;' I'rere's hand, as
I con<.>ratulale(l him on his hrst salmon of the season.
Next to killing' a i^ood lisli myself, I lo\-e to see a
friend take one, and I can honestl)" assi'\'erale that I hax'e,
time ;md .i^ain, ha.d more pleasure in helpuiL;" a comrade
to a. royal lish. tli.ui 1 should haxc had if it had fallen
to m\ own rod. It is on!)' .i "lish ho^" who wants it
all himself.
It was now hiL;h noon, and the guides he^an prepar-
.uioiis for dinner, and lielore lon^' an ahundant meal ^\■as
spread out upon our rustic- table. \vA such a[)[)etites as
We had, as we helped (i, seKcs liberally to the delicious
\iands! The acti\e life, th.e liraciuL;' mountain air, the
^'
x.
126
//'//// FIx-Roli (!//(/ Camera.
cxcitcnicnl .iltd^cllicr, had stirred our blood in such a
\va\' that wc were ahsokiU'l} hun^;)'), a (.oiuhlion ihal the
cit) dweller knows l)ul lillle ol. W'e had a liule more
\ariet) than al hreakfast, the eanned soup, elc, UmuIIiil;"
assistance, but I contented nnself with a third helping-
ol i)oiled sea trout and pot.iloes. I hese are always j^ood
(Miou^h lor me in the wootls, if they are llanked with
L;()od bread and buller and a i^ood dipper ol tea.
Win is it thiit lea has such a relish on such oc-
casions? I 'snail)' I ;im \cry abstemious of it, in fact
hardl\- e\cr usini^' it, but in \\\\ outings it is (piite dif-
ferent, and coflee. which at home constitutes ni)' re^-ular
beverai^-e, loses its relish. .\nd 1 lui\e noticed time and
a|L,^ain that i^uides and canoemen also prefer tea to coffee,
and it is astonishing' how much they are ilepeiident on
the cup that "cheers but not inebriat(;s." Indians and
white L^uides are the same in this respect, and man\' a
time has m\' canoeman, without a word from me, L^lanced
up to the noonday sun, pulled silently ashore, and li^iited
tlu; lu'e for "b'ilin^- the tea kittle." .\ pint dipper of
strong- tea with a biscuit or two has, in a hurried jounu^y,
proxcd sufficient, if followetl by the inexitable pipe; and
the [)addle or setting" pole was r^ unit'd with renewed
\iL;(>r.
" W'l-ll, I'^rere," said I, as \vt; arose- from our bounti-
M
y.
128 //■//// I'ly-Roii ami Cam cm.
111! repast, "whal shall it he, sta\- here to-ni-lu or move
• 111 ii|) ihc ri\cr.'"
"1^ i^ li;n-(l lo .Iccidc," he rcplicil. " \\\- know ilu'i-(
arc lish here, aiul don'i know ihcrc an; aii\ al)(i\c."
"Oh, plcni) al)(i\c. no irouhK'." cxckiimcd ihc -nicies
wilh one \()ice, e\i(ltinly aiixions to he ino\in'^; h'ke all
.!^-niiles I ha\c eNcr niei, ihey were not satisiieil to n-niain
lont; in one place.
"We rni-hi. if that is the case." replied l''rere, '--o
on as lar as the lilth pool, stop tiiere to-ni^ht, and then
mo\c on to the npper pooN to-niorrow. Wdi.n clo \(iii
say.''" he askeik turning to nie.
"All ri.^lu," 1 replied, "we ai-.' sm-e to lind sport in
some ol the pools, antl e\cn if \\c don'l uc ha\e an
ainnulance ol food."
• Indeeil ye have, ami more," exclaimed iliram, "hut
1 thought it we i^ot u]) the stream lo the farms In the
upper settlement, We could send out to the hotel a lot
ol hsh h)r \(nw folks to eat."
"Well, hoys, break camp," saul 1, "and we will pack
and start."
in a short time all our lielon^-inus were packed in
the canoe, ami we were read}' to start.
I'or (|uile a distance u]) the ri\er the water was so
shoal that all of us hatl to wade, the canoe; barel\ clear-
lik(
//'//// /■'/v-A'fhf (!//(/ i juicm.
29
iiiL;' the rock)' hottor , with ik* otlicr load ih.iii our caiiii>
('([iiipainc ami stores, Attci' that there wci'e at iiiter\als
strt;tches of a third to a iiall mile where there was uati'i"
siifticient to tloat us. in tact in nian\' places it was too
tlec^p to he wailed.
We fished the best pools on the way u]), hut suc-
ceeded in L^cttin;; only a few sea trout. althouL;h w<' saw
main' salmon. The sun was too bright and the water
too clear foi us to e\j)ect oKl Sa/ar to come to the lly
at that time of da)-.
iM-ere ami 1 took our stands upon the rocks hy the
side of the pool, and cast for at least an hour, but we
ros(; onl)- a few trout, ami we ri;s|)()nded williuL^l)' to tlu:
announccMiient from William that, "Supper's read\, gentle-
men."
With roiisimq; appotites we disposetl of the feast
spread out before us, and then, once more stretched out
before the camp fire, we burnetl our incense in comfort
and contentment with all the world.
"After all. Doctor," said b'rere. "there is no [)leav,ure
like that the sportsman enjo)s."
" RiL;ht you are," 1 re|)lied, "and no other sportsman
Ljcts the solid satisfaction that the fisherman does."
"I b(;lii've you are ri^-ht," he rei^lied, "there is noth-
ing I enjoy so much as anglin<4'."
L^^
//'//// /'/v-k'od (f//(/ ('(in/cnt.
" X(i, I've tried ahnost cv(;rythin,Li', have slioi almost
all kinds ol L^amc, and ha\c had in\ share of \'achtiiim
and luiiuiiii4, 1)111 1 tind nolhiiiL; lliaL Ijci^iiis uj olter a
coiiiparisoii with salmon lishiiiL^."
"No," said Iliram, "il'^ a kind's own sport, alto-
gether."
"It is so," said William, who had heen lius\- at dish
washing, hut who had now joined our ,L;i'<»up at the \\vv,
"and it's the tiling' that proNcs the n.atnre of a m.in hotter
than anythini^ else 1 know ol."
" N'ou're riL^ht, William," said I. "I want onl\- a few
honrs on the stream with a man to liiiil out exactK what
he is. if he is a gentleman, bretl in the Ijone, \\v. will
not fail to show it."
"Ami if he is the other thinu;', he cannot hide it,
neither," replied W'illi.im,
" Manx 's the ipiare (.li\il wr'w. be(;n out with, and
main's the Iiol; we found out amonj^' them, he)-, lliranK""
I lis brother grunted an assent, hut made no other
re pi)'.
" N'es, there's nothing' like a flshiuL;- trip with a man
to show his true character," said I.
"I riMiiember an incipient that will illustrate this. 1
was once hshiuL,'' a river in Nova Scotia with a man whom
i hatl always considered a perfect t\'pe of a gentleman, but
'/.
y.
y
a
^32
//'//// /•'/]'- A\'</ (iiui Caiuvni.
iiisitlc of three thus he e.\hil)ile(l traits tliat I would woV
ha\(; sii[)[)()se(l h(; possessech
"\\'(; were stojipinL;" at the saim- Itotel, ami had the
river aU to ourst:l\-es. At the heginning" we agreed to
draw lots for pools, ami it being in\' first choice, 1 took
the first pool froiVi the salt watei-, he the second, I the
thirtl, and so on through the whole li\e niiU-s ol lishing
that we hail,
" i noticed uiat his countenance; see,inc;d to show dis-
satishiction when the choices wei^e made, but as nothing
could i)ossil)l_\- he fairer than our arrang(Miient, 1 took no
notice ol his discomloit. lie liad fulK' as good jjools as
1 had, and I could think ot no nioi'e e(|uitable wa)' of
di\mling th.eni.
'"Well, our hrst tlay on the ri\-ei" was one to l)e re-
nieiiibered. \\\' lelt the hotel togethei- and walketl to
the river, a mile or so, chatting pleasanth' and enjoving
the delightlul morning luigeU'. Ihit when we reached the
ri\'er, and 1 began rigging loi' m\- hrst cast in \\\\ pool,
insteail ol going along lo his own, he sat down on a log
and began grumbling like a bear with a soi-e head,
""it's just m\' inlernal luck,' he saitl, 'to ha\'e you
get this pool. 1 ahva\'s liked it, and in lact it's a la\'orit<-
with me.' "
" That was a ''"ood starter," eiainilatetl lliram.
iii
134 JFith I'lv~Rod and Camera.
" \ cs, " I replied.
"'Well,' I said lo him, 'I don'l mind, you take my
l)()oIs and ril lake N'ours to-daw and lo-morrow \vc will
cham^c'
•• • Xo,' replied my Iriend, ' that will ^ixc nou the
fouilh pool lo-day. and as that is th(; Ijest jxx)! on the
n\r\\ and il has not been fished latcK', 1 am sure of a
salmon in it.'
" ' \ er\- ^ood,' 1 answereil, 'we'll stick to the original
programme.'
" I)}- this time I was ri^^i^ed and ready to hei^in cast-
in!4-. My friend still sal on his lo^-, although I sui^^^estt-d
he had heller lake adxanta^c of the earl\- lishin^-.
•■ I lie^-an castinL;-, and rose a heautiful fish at the
third east. I missed him, and ilu-n such a j^rowl as my
companion uttered would ha\c tried the patience of jol).
•'•just my infernal luck. ( )h ! what a heautiful lish.
If 1 h.'id had this pool. Cuss the luck." etc., etc.
•' I wailed a few minutes and lheii he^an casting-
ai^ain, and soon rose ami hooked m\- salmon. It was a
l)riL;ht siKcry lish just from the sea.
••Such a look o( ahsoluleK ''reen )ealous\- and v.nvv
as I (-au^hi on the hice of m\- friend, 1 had nex'er seen
before, and il destroyed all the pleasure I was expectiiiL;-.
IIowe\ci-. I |)la>cd the fish as well as 1 coidd. hut I felt
intli I'l\-Roii (i//i/ i'aiiicrn.
Z^b
ncr\-()iis, t()i- i li;ul nc\cr hctorc had siuh an cxiJiTicncc.
Alas, )ny raslin^' line parlcil in the middle: of one of iho
furious runs ot the salmon, and he was free.
"'Too had, loo l)ad,' cxLlainicd m\- fi'iend, l)ut his
counlonance h^dicd his words, for il i'\-cr I saw a (ace
liL,dU('d u]) with satisfaction his was.
"lie took his rod and ^aiidc and started olf for the
second pool.
"After ri'pairini^- damages — the taull was in the cast-
ing- line, a tlat place only an inch in length in the l^iiI
having" broken, all the rest of the leader heini;- perlect—
I cast in the same pool a^ain for a while, Iiut without
any succc:ss.
"At length 1 reeled up, and with m\- i^uide moN'ed
aloUL;' up to the third jjooI, wiiicli was ni)' next one. As
we passed the set-ond my friend was l)us_\' castiiiL^. hut
lu- had had no rises, as his ^uide inlormed us.
"At the third pool at my second cast I hooked and
killed a i^rilse, and soon alter '-ose a line salmon, hooked
and played him, and my L;uide was just on tlv point ol
i^at'fmij,' the t'lsh when m_\- Irieiul joined us.
"lie came down the path with a hound, and as we
killed tlu' salmon he hurst out with a loud ' 1 congrat-
ulate \()u ; I cou'^ratulati' nouI' hut he looki'd read)' to
cry.
'I
1^6
U'ith l'Iv-l\od mu^ Canicni.
"All this m;ulc nic so uiu'oinlortahlc that I said T
would ,ni\(' liiin the halancc of thr rixcr for liu' da\', for
I liad had all the lishini;- I \\aiUcd, and with \\\\ ^iiidc
(:arr\in^- my saliiioii and ^rilsr, I returned to tln^ holcl."
"I la, lial" shouted Hiram, "that man wanted the
t;arth."
"Well,"' I continued, "the- nt:.\t day it was the same
slor)', and the next. Xotliinii;' would satisf\" liim, and on
the excniuL;- of the third da)', I told him that on the
next mornini;- 1 was .^'oin^- to another ri\cr a few miles
aw<i)\ and he would ha\'e this stream all to himsc:lf. and
e\en that tlid not satisfy him, for his last words when I
left him on the followini;' da\' were:
" ' I )on't kill all the salmon in the ri\er, fo*" I ex-
pect to lish it in a few days." "
"He was a ho^' clean throuL';h.' exclainu'd Ilirani.
"He. was," ass(;nted William,
" ^'es, there is nothin;^" like .L^oini^' hshin^- with a man
to ,L;i\i' one a true insight into his character, ' said I'rere.
".Sure," responded Hiram, "and it don't take a i^aiide
Ioul;' to fmd him out."
" RiL^ht you are. Hiram," saitl William.
And the brothers were riL;ht; no one can si/e up a
lislierman as corr{;ctl) and (|uickl\" as an old s^uidc, and
I conft'ss I alwaxs make ni)- first casts with th;;t tre[)i-
i I
'38
int/i Fly- Rod a I Id Camera.
datioii when I am out with a new man. knowiiiL];', as I cl(\
that m\- v\v\-\ moNciiU'iit is scanned with the keenest scru-
tiny, and m\ t;ver)' word \veiL;h<d in a l)alance that is
iinerrinLi'.
"What other ti^h (h) nou lind in tlie \()\a Scotia
Witters in adthtion to tlie sea trout and salmon?" asked
Frere, after a short pause.
".\Ijout tile same \-ariety that we Imd in tlie Xew
Brunswick hikes and streams,"' I rephetl, "there are ahnost
innumerable kik(;s in tlie interior widcit ar^' full of tln'
s|)otted trout and other ti'h. There is capital lan<l-
locked salmon tishini;" in scjme of the lakes, notahly I'Olly
Lake, thirtx' miles or so from Halifax, although the peoi)l(;
there; call it .^raxliuL;' fishin;^-; the ^raslini;', however, is
(|uite another lish. In man)- of the ri\-ers there mav he
taken sea trout and the spottetl trout, side; \t\ side, and
even with the same cast. I am told that there are luiu'e
kike trout in some oi the lari^er bodies of water, but I
cannot sa\' with ccrtaintx' as Vo the truth of this, as I
have never taken an)."
"What tlo )'ou UK .'m b\- lake trout ;■"" in(|uired lliram,
adiustin"' the losjs on the fire, "are the\' an\thini>' but
o\'erL!;rown spotted trout.''"
"()h, \"es." I answered, "the)' are quite; a different
lish, although we occasionally take sjjotted or brook trou;.
I nth riv-Rod (iiid Caincm.
139
in some ol mir Maine lakes ihal \vci;^h troni ten to iweKi:
|)()inKls. "
This slatcuicnl was rci-cixcd 1)\' a look i)t incrcdulitx-
1)\- ihc Liuiclcs.
"\'(;s. I \\A\v. licard of the Ijiu" iroui of ilic Ranvc-
!(')■ Lakes." said krerc, and 1 luive lonL;' wisiu'd for an
opporLunil) lo ha\e ;i cast at them. "
"Do \()u mean that the) are the ij^enuine spotti'd
trout?" asked William, still apparentl)' incredtduus.
" Certainh," re[jlied krere, "at least all the scientific
men pronounce them to be the .Simon-pure hrook trout."
"Well, all 1 can sa)' is," e.\claimed lliram, "I would
like to see such a truut ; \\(i L^et them as hii^h as \\\v
pounds, or perhaps a little more in some o( our hack
lakes, hut ten or twehe pounds, ne\"er."
" I low do they tlifler from some of the 'lakers' that
wi; L;'et i.i the hii;' lakes in the ih'oxince of (juebec, tho^e
that we call the lunt^e or tuladi.-'" asked William.
"Oh, the\- are ([uite different," 1 answeretl, "althous^h
in sonu' seasons and conditions of the wat('r the two \a-
rieties mii^ht he confounded 1)\' an ordinary ohserxcr. !
have noticed lake trout almost as hiL^hl)' colored as the
others, and specimens of both that could hardly be sep-
arated. Coloration is no i^uide, no sure yuide to iden-
tification, bt'cause it is m.'X'cr constant."
140
ll/'ith I'ly-Kod and Camera.
"The spotU'd iroiit, fontinalis, is al\va\s sciu.iru-tailcd,
Doctor," said Itctl'.
"I'suall), l)ul Pol alua\s," I replied. "I liaxc sc(M1
s|)i:ciiiU'iis wilh dislincll)' forked laiis, in localities where
ihe 'lakers' are unknown, and ha\i: called ihe attention
of lishernuMi lo the fact, wlun i ha\e taken such."
" J^iit )'oii ha\-e ne\H:r seen a 'laker' with a forked
tail," added h'rere.
"No," I answt;red, "I cannot s,i\- I h.u'e, and that
characteristic lurnishes a constant means ol identilication
of that lish."
"I ha\-e heard that tlu: 'lakers' ne\'er come to the
l1y." said hrcrc, "is that true?"
"\'es," I said, " L;-c;i.eralh- speakiuL;', hut they some-
times do take the ih , as I haw; seen on several occa-
sions, and 1 ha\'e nnself twice cau_i.iht tluMii in this way.
Both these tish .L;a\e \er)' i^ood sport indeed, and one of
them j^axc nu' all 1 wanted to attend to for over half
an hour. This was in 1 <S()o, on (irand Lake Stream. I
was tishinL; lor landdocked salmon, and at that time there,
was hshiii<4' there that loas lishinL;. I had cast out acrosr,
the pool just helow the old dam, and the eddy or back
water seized m\ line, and drt'w the lly in a sweep ris^ht
acrf)ss the water l)t;low the sluice. 1 saw a fish rise,
and, striking, I found I had somethiiiL;- out of the usual
i
A K.\Ni;i',i,i;v TKor i . Noi' ilANDsuMK, hit n W'i-.iciikh i|i.; i.iis.
142
mil Fly-kod (iiu/ Canicnu
run. The fish started al once for the dccpftst part of
the pool, ami then; \\v. huii_n". Mv liulian i^uiilc, laiciiiK;
L(\vc)s. alter a few ininiiics, hcL^an lo i^ct cxc-jled.
"'W'lial kind salmon )()ii hiuhcd to?' saiel he 'lli;
no jump, no run, hut just la\' still.'
"1 waiK'd out into the pool up lo m\' waist, liut
could iiol mo\c the fish. lucry now and then 1 could
h-el his head shake, and the line L;a\e that spasniotlic
(|ui\cr which one al\\a\s leels when a hit; lish is hookt;il ;
hut I i:ould not mo\'e him. I i^aNc cNcry ounce of strain
that the tackle wouKl stand, and li'ied all the expedients
coiiimonl) prai'ticed hy lisheniii'n.
" I'intlini^ that 1 couKl not mo\-e the fish, I told the
Huitle to L^ct into the canoe and stir up the rascal with
his setting- pole. When the canoe approached the fish 1
could feel that he was ^rowiiiL;' ner\()us, and when the
Indian thrust tlown the pole near where he was t\inL;',
with one dart he lelt the pool and made for the ra[)ids.
"II e\-er a fish pulletl. that one; did, and il c;\'er one
worked hard to stop him. 1 tlid. The reel spun out the
line, and like an arrow the tish a|)proached tlu; ([uick
water; once in that ami no tackle would saxc hmi. Sud-
denly he turned, ami making- a sweep arouml the lurtluT
side of tlu; [jool, returned to his original position.
"i\ll this time neither myself nor the Indian had seen
IVith I'lv-Roif and i'ltincra.
143
the fish, and \\c had 110 idea as to what he was. Kccl-
iiiLj- in lh(; \\w ai^ain, I ,L;a\(' him all the strain I coidd,
hut he was too strong' lor nie. I told I.cwt:)'s to stir
him up ai^ain, and the sanui perform;, me was rcpcatc(l
as at tirst. l'-\idcntl)' the ti'>.h was disinclined lo i^o down
the rapids, and that heiiiLi' the case, if we kept him mov-
ing' in tlu; [jool wc knew uc could in lime exhaust him.
M\ wrist and arm beu^an lo lire, and the Indian wanted
to take the rod, l)Ui 1 had no notion to let him land
my hsh.
"I'o mike a short stor\ of it, for a hall houi" we
kept that lish on the mo\c. .Sometimes he darted for
the sluice, and I e\cn almost e\|)ecLed he wouKl ascend
to the lake ahoxc; then he headed for the ra[jids, hut
alwa)'s lackeil the couim^^c or inclination to i^o into the
white AvatcM'. At length he hei^an lo swim in narrower
circles, antl we then knew that the strain ol tlu; rod had
concpiered him. .\s we had ahsolutely no idea as to what
tlu; I'lsh was, we were, well, somewhat e\cit(;d. Sahuon
he Avas not, \v(; kiu'w \v\-\ well, for iu'\-er did salnujn
beha\(; as did this lish.
"At ]en_L;th \\v. succeeded in landiiiL;- him, and then
I.e\ve\s exclainu'd ' lOijuel' The wei'iht ot the hsh was
about lifteen pounds.
"There are a >>'ood man\ other instances on record
'44 //■//// I'ly-Roii mid i'lUiwra.
ol ihc hike Iroiil taking' ihc tl)," 1 conlimicil, '•alihoiii^li
as a rule he can Ik; taken onl)- wiih llu- hail, in slill-
tishiiiL:;, or I)\' trollini;' with the spinniiiL^ minnow, in (lcc|j
water." "'
* The v;i);arii-- and rapricis of llir S,i/iiii>ni,i„ in arii'plin^'' and viMiTtiiit; tin-
alliliiial ll\' art' iidl niily wi'll Ivimwii tn li~luaimii, Iml llicy arc aikm lu li-(lL;t.'(l as
liciiij;' 11(1 -•ale lliiiii; In rccknii n\\, Tlial i~ In --aN , no uiu' lali iliilari' iiosilis uly
thai a |)al 111 iilai' \al'icl\ will laki' -iicli and -nrli a ll\ alway-, and aiicitluT larii-l)
will iu-\<r lake am kind (il' a lU , >i i llial ulu-ii «(■ --ff llic ^lalinu'iit niadi.' in
ti--liiir/ li'Hiks llial lake liiMil always I'cfnsr llic ll\', \M- uill ii'ifiM' il willi niaiiv
'lain-- lit" saline a
11<
>r \i-ar- I liavr luld llu' luliif llial llu- t.
it (plain
Lake and sdiiie nl llu- nilur Maim- lakr>, and llic Inni^c ul' llu- ( '(iiiiu-ilii ill Kiver
lakes, anil tlinse
alone in my op
('aiiada, are idenliralh llie same lisli, ami I liiid that
am iiol
\1
arinaii, in hi^ iiiUrestin;^ paper on "Salmon and Troiil," piililished in ihc
lor I ^^4, ^roiips ihe lake iroiil round in
issae'hiiselts lisli I omniissioiuis Ueooil
llie '.'leal lakes, ami llieir Iriluilaries. easiuard lo ihe All.inlie ami iiorlhw .iid ti
liiilson's l!a_\," into one spieie-
II
e exeepls nn
K' llu- S.i/ii
.'</, loiiiul ill
as S. iiaiiiiiv-
l.akc Superior, and iiu hides all the other spei ies di-sirilied li\- .inllior'
(//'//, iiiiiiiliwiliinti, li'iihi, 'ri////i/< ami ^ymni, tyi,a. eallin;; llu-iii all .S'. iiaiii,ivcil!.h.
1 do iioi know llial I am piep.iri-d to lollop him liilU, .dthoui^li llu- series of spe-
eiiiieiis to ulii( h lie has access enlilles him to consideration. If v\ e ha\e 1ml luo
spi-cies of lake trout in this eoiinlv)-, il is very ini])orlanl ih.il lishernu-ii should know
it. I If course, color .'ind markini^s c.-nmol Ik- dependeil on in esiablisliiiio- species,
f(jr these \ar\ greatly. Mr. (iarm.in sa\s. in descriliiii^- .-ill the lish .i.;i-oiipe(l as S.
)Utiiid\\iiJi, that the color is ",;,;ra\ish hroun. \ery li.t^lu lo \ery dark, uilli pale
spots on
the sides and dark niarlilini^s ..n liie cliei
lull e\tr\- lishe
rman knows
llial the i-olor will \.irv i;\en more than Iron
1 " \i-rv Imhl lo \i-r\- darl
The followiii;.i descript
ion anil ac(-oUii
I of the hahits of the 1'
little is from a liro-
chure on this fish, piililished li\ A. ('. Ilamlin, \l.l)., and reprinted in the second
aiiiiiial rt-port upon
llu- " Nalliial ilistorv and (IcoIomv ol tin- Malt- of \1
line. isn2.
I present it lu-re, liecaiise, so far as my own olis(-r\ alion ;.;oi-s, i| will applv lo most
of the so-(-alu-d "lake troiil " ol llu- Norlli and I'lasl. I oniil ihe piii-el\' Ie<hnical
pinions (if the description.
" 'llic to;.;uc, Saliiio tonui, Hamlin. This trout, known .immi^ ihe alioiioincs
1 's A ( lodi) ( )M .
146 //''//// /'7v-/\(>(/ and Caincm.
"What sort of ;i fish is the land-locked salmon, thai
\()ii sjK)ki: wl ?" askixl llirani; "1 don'i think I c\-cr saw
one, alto^C'tlu'i".'
"Well, Ilii-ani," I i-fplictl. "as near as 1 can dcscribt-
a? ihe tnyur, tulaili. lU., li.is W^w rLi-.-.i.-il liy ■~ciiiK- i ili^L-i-\-crs as identical willi
ih'.' Sahii.t iiii, ho (if llu' haiiulir anil nl' llu- lakis i.l" nnitliL-rn I'.iiropr; lii;l in
tiicsf r',.".sirKatiiins jJiTiiliaiilii-^ nl' anati miiral vlrikliui' lia\c la-L-n ()\(.-:iiiulu-(l. ainl tin-
llabils 111 llir Iw.i hsIiL-^ lia\i- al-u lni-n nuUd a> similar, wluii-as in rralil\ tluA
pruscnt .L;ri.aL lunlia-l , fur llu- om-. a.i^ili- ami aliil, st-tks llic swift anil fuamin;^
c-unvius iif the iKari'sl slreinis, ami llu- uilur. sly anil slni^i^ish, hannts alwav^ tin-
• Ulirt ualcrs (if llu- ik-(.-|)i.-sl la'- -s. li is miiitiniuil li\- Mr. ( a -mr in liis Vi-'porl
Ujjon W-w IliHinsw ii k, and idcnlirn.-d with thr Xi/fio Iiitii.<lii< of i.aki- (aiu\a; a
propc-r L-xann'naliun of tlu- tun ri--lus, hiiur\cr, will <ati^f\- thr naturalist that few
pusitixc analuyius can hu drawn; and a-ain it i-^ idi-iil iTud wiih llu- Siii'://,' /ivi-a nf
J.iu'll Arve, ill Scothliul, in llu- dr>.rripl:\(.' cataluL^ilr nl lishc^ of \\-w l;rini>-w irk,
b_\- Mr. I'crlcy, wlio id(jntirK-s frnin iIil- chaiai'li-rs drawn l>\' sir \\ laidir.r and Mr,
\ arrcll, ^onic of which v.diiUl (•(.■riainh k-ad llu- (ilisi.-r\c-r, iiidos mimiu-, intn tin-
buniL- crrur, for it canndl l)(j dniii-d that ,^ival similaril ii-s a.re id lie iili>ei-\id, lail
there are also as in.cny with llu- .V, , ;\/'n//tis (if Silni-j-i.
I'here i^ none aninm,; .ill the S,i////,>i/i</ie wjiich resembles it m -re in furm. eulnr,
lineal- maikim.is, ele., ih.m ih<.- .s'. jv.wvr.v/ deseribed by .M. .\;.,;assi/, and until that
cmiiK-nl nalliralisl in ;i miinu-nlar\ exaniin.ilinn nbscrved (.lilTeiellces, it was regarded
as identieai with ihat speries.
'In shajie it is nut so ele,;.;.int as that nf some other speci-es of the Sdlnionidu:,
bill its whole form indiiates .L;"re.il stien;.^lh and swiftness, ,-ilthoii-h it has the repu-
tation ol beini;- --low' and sluu;i^i--h. 'llu- fem.ile is more peifeil in it-^ proportions
ill. in llu- in. ill-, not ha\in,L;' ihat i^ibbou-- .ippi-araiue al llu- ii.ipe, where tlie outlines
ol the lu-.id p. IS-, into those of the bai k, and besides its general eontour is more
ilelieale, A liih, pearly lustre eii\ers the \entral re;;ions, i!ee|)eililiy into nissct to-
ward llu- l.iler.ii line. alio\e whieh the eol ir appi-.irs of a deep inottled .i.;i'a\', still
deepeniiv,; into blue as it ai)proai-hes the dorsal summit. The same pearU- hues,
blended and inu-rminyled with j;ia_\-, ;ire obser\e(l npnii the c.peicula. Spots ;inil
maikinL;s nf a li^lit sienna color appear on the sides; these spots are i-ircul.ir, with-
out lieiiiL; oeelkite, .mil appear indistiml and ^ra\ish upon the dorsal and lipnii llie
commeiuemenl ol ihe caudal. All these i oioi's \.ir\ .icc()rdiii:4 to the season-, and
ll'lfli /■7v-/\()(f (!//(/ Cdiiicra.
'4;
it, it looks \cr)- much like a Li'rilsc. kiit lias a wider tail
and hi^licr dorsal or liai'k tin."
"Tlu')' arc \v\-\ i^aniy, 1 am loltl," remarked ircre;
"Iriends ot mine who ha\c taken them in tlie Scliooihcs
describe; the landdo(d<s as kciiiL;' iiill of Htc ami ^reat
hohters."
"Yes," I answered, "tliey i'eseml)ie a grilse in that
respect, they jumi) \\vj\\ and otien, and are \-er_\' stront;'
for th(.:ir si/c;. If we liad not liad so mucli tisli talk to-
■.] /
local iillliu-nco--, lu-iii;.;' Inii^htrr at tin- spaunin:^ priioil lliaii a' utlui- linu'>. i'his
Innil iniiabiN niaii\' nf tlu' ^^ri-al lakr^ and lirrp im iiiiilaiii lani^ dI' \laiiir am! New
llnm<\\ ilk, 1)111 il i> brlicxcil imt Im r\i--; in llinsr nf i-avurn \r\v I'.nnisu ick, wliiili
singular liialii'^ in its ili^liiluiliim pirliap-- niav Ik- cxplainnl li\ llic aliM-nrc of drtp
wali-r-- ill lliat riiuiitr\'. It liaiinl-- tin- cK-iprst wain-.. \\ lu'ic liu- inM. ip|- tile irpusc
111 whiili it li-ad-, l.iviUs thai ilc-\ rii ipnu-nt ami ci pi,-vri\ aliuii (>!' fat uliiili i> iiuKcil
a ihaiai't. ri-tif, and it ^tcak furili in i|iiifl at lln' appniaili nl' Iwili^ht or al carh
HKini III llu- >liiial> and the slmics in (|Urs! nf ii-, pri\ , wliicli I'mi-i^ls, for iIk- iihi-,!
pan, (if tlir I. ••Ill and Cvf'?iiii,i,i- ; but it-- b.dlKd \iiiarily ullm roiilrnts il^ill' with
substanrc-^ cntircK' fiirri;;n, as i',-; sldiiiach picvi-nt- -.. mict imr- .i luii n i^i-nci m- ni,,-s
(if biinrs, Kmsc'-, twi.^s and fr,i;4iiKnts nl dnavud \\ I. It-, li.ibit- '..ir\ in ^miu-
liiialilir-; in crrtain l.ikc-^ llu-y arc Imld. ;ind, lait^ini,; ncaf llic surf, ice, ,it liiiu--
nia\ lie taken bv Irnlliir,;, bill iic\cr ri^iii',^- to the ll\. \\hiU' in oilu-r lake-- lhc\ arc
timid and seek ih.c oliscnrc-l icee~<es tint-, lor instance, then' cxisieiiie in the I'link
l.ikcs w.is unknown for more tli.iu half a ceiUurv to the inhabitants lixiiv^ near their
sill lies.
"its nnsteriiuis nature has furnished the all-cibsei'\ iiic;- Indian with some pioper
idionis, and il appe.u's :c^.iin in the \a;.;ue ni) tliiiloL;y and wilil le;^eiids oj ih,ii alniosi
c.sliiH't race. Its names .are v.arious anion'.; the diffeieni tribes, and if ihe ])reseiit
arc not of the li, ill-breed eaii.idi.m dale the) .ire peril, ips of reccnl oii^^in, since llie
few icm.iiiiinL; di.ilccts li.i\e chaiii^eil i;rc.itl\ within ,i century past ( 'oiisidcriiiL;, then,
ihc unccrlaiiil}' ol lis .uicieiil name and the ili\crsily ol iis s\non\iii, I piopose iii\
friend 'Ionia of the i lpeu,iii.L;iis."
I4H
intli I'ly-Rod (iiiif Camera.
ni^ht, I would L;i\'<' \<>n nn uccoiiiu ol one ot my trips
lo ihc Schooclii's in old limes; hul it is ^cttiiiLi' ''^'■'' '^'^'-^
1 think uc ;irc all tirctl (.Miou^h to ^o to hctl."
"()h. it's not late \ct," exclaimed l'"rere, looking- at
his watch, "it's only half-past eiL;ht. I'ire awa)', ami let's
hear about the laml-locks. "
" \'es," saiel tlu' guides, "we can't ^ct too many lish
stories."
"Well. ti\ the lin-, hoys," saiil 1, "ainl 1 will do as
)(ni sa\. "
liiram arose, and drawing' the half-burn(;d lo^s lo-
i^-ethe!' in the middle of the lire, he added two or thnie
lari^c ones to ser\c as sitle sticks ami tore sticks.
The llames and sparks shot up and illuminated th(i
forest about us in a wa\' that the camper-out delights ui.
W hat is there more cheerful and inspiriiiL;' than such a
• ire as that, and on such an occasion ?
" It was awa\' back in the sixties that we used to
i^-et our best tishiuL^ in the Schoodics," 1 be^an, "and it
was royal sport iutleetl. There are now hu^'c tauneri(;s
ami mills on the stream where we had tlu- best success,
and, of course, they ha\'e injured the tishinn' there, al-
though there are plenty of land-U^cks Ic'ft.
"1 \isiteil the siream last Noxcmber on a tour I
made: of the ililterent fish hatcheries, antl saw six or seven
^'J
5^^ lllt/i riy-Rod and Camera.
I ^o
liiiii.li-cd l.caulilul lish swiiiiniin- .-ihoiil in ihc corrals. lUit
''^ ''^'"^'' 'l*')-^ ili''l I -^I'-'-il^ of ili-'iv was nni a Ik.u.c ,„i
''^'' '^^'■•'^iii; in lad ii was a wilderness, as ..ne nii-hi sa\ .
"We u-.e,l K, start Inr the lak.'s al.out tlie lie-innin--
"I Se],le;iil„.r, and we put in a.l.ont two weeks there. We
thns not only a\..ide.l the hlaJ: Hies which al.ounded theri;
in the sprin-- and snnuniM- months, l.ui we -ot also, in
•'-'I'lilion to the lishin- M.ine ver_\ Inie shootm- there
'•^■''1.- '^'1 alnmdance of leatherc'd -aine all around tiiose
lakes.
■•On the occasion that 1 am about to descrihe, we
''■'^ I'"^l"n in one ,,r the luie steamers of the Interna-
lional Sieanashi|, e-ompany. I ha.l two friends alon- as
^''"^M»;^nions, l.nth of them visiiin- the Schoodics on this
ir'l' f'M- the In-st time. h is a most drlioluful trip from
I'x'ston to I-..asip,.rt on on.- ,,f these- steamers, and well
worth takin- e\cn for the trip alone.
"On ihrs occasion we had a line rim to Portland.
''^ '''^''■'' '''^y ^\'- arriNed at al.out l.,ur o'clock m the af-
"■'■'i'""i- and as we had a l;n-e aniomu of fivi^ht to un-
'"'^'' ■"^^' ■'iiother lot to take on, we did not leave until
about suiiciown.
" ' '^'''■*' ^^■■•^ ■' I'lano on the hoat, and on..: nuisicall)-
"^'-''"^'■'' >'""\^ nian thrummed some popular au's on it,
■' l""'^'""' "I ilu' audience joinm- m the choruses. Their
!■■ \i.i.^ ON \ Tkii;! 1 vkv Ml rill t ■ \-. vrini \ ^KiN i u. 1', \K
^^'^'- ' ■- ■
52
intli riv-Rod (Hid Cnn/cm.
voiC(.;s were not ;il\v;i\s 'tuned to one liannonious key,
and till' piano was not of tlv hcst, still it was nuisic, and
nuisic on the watijr is always acx'L'ptahlc, as I have proxc.-d
oil nian\" occasions. <)ncc, while inakinL^' a Western trip,
I foinul ni\st;lf an a ri\c;r steamer which was Mcsseil, or,
if )'()ii ])i"t;fer. tlu; contrar)', with a callio])e. No oiu: on
board seemed l(. know how to play it, hut when tlu' cap-
tain learneil that I coidd i)lay the piano, he insisted that
I slioultl try the calliope. I went and trit'd I .\n(\ such
an experience as 1 h.ad I There was a ke\ hoard corres-
ponding; to that on a jjiano, each ke\ heini^' connccteti
with a \al\e, \\hich when opened hy j)ressure on tlu; ke)-,
emitted a screech, appro.ximatinL;' to some- tone, lla.rmony
on the instruiiKMit was had, for the tones and interwils
were far from perfect, hut the air phu'eil sounded sonu--
thin_L;' like what it slunild be.
"Well, 1 went at the calliope, and alter a few pre-
liminar\- tlourishes to ^'et the hauL;' of tlu-. thin^;, I bi'^.in
the 'llrinilisi' in 'II 'Iroxatore.' .Soon I had an audience
of about htt\' Buckeyes, iloosiers, etc., with their wi\'i's
anil sweethearts, antl they were not satisfied until I liad
exhausted m\ repertoire. W lu'U I state that e\-ery note:
went through my head like a clap of thunder, and that
the \al\es leaked tlu' steam so badly that 1 was c;n\'el-
oped in a cloiul worse than a l\ussian bath, anil intensely
'54
//'//// I'lv-Rod (i/n/ i'linicra.
u.u'in, you will lionc^lly .uknow K'iIl^i' iluil 1 cinu'd ilic
a|>|)l;iiis'' I (il)l;i!iic(l,"
"Ma. ha I" laui;hccl i't'crc, "xou woi-kcd xour |>.issaL;c. '
"I did," I replied. "Dili to resilllie IIU ^loi'N.
".Xhcr wc had two hoiii's ol :-: 11,14 iui;' ^'^ 'l^'' t'-il'in, wr
soiiLdil our ^ta.lerooins and sk'pl souiulK iiiiiil davhreak.
( )n L;oiii_:_; on deck \\h' louud that the da\' pi'omised to
he fair. l)Ut a i^ood sea wa.s on. A nuniker of hard\'
souls wei'e 'loi-rard' enjovin^- the niai^iiiticenl suniase: \vc
joined ihem, and until we n\ithe<l the wliai'l at I'.aslporl,
we had a most enjoxaMe sail.
"The short's ot northeastern Maine .ire reinarkahU'
l)ictures(|ue ; sometimes immense ledges hi'eak akruptK'
from the ocean and towci' alolt hundi-eds of leei ; their
surfaces are d"eply fissured and Itroken, and the heaiini^
waxes ascending;', enter numerous ca\cs and inlets, then
descendinL;' a^^ain, the wa.ler pushes Irom the fissures and
caxcM'iis in a series of most keautilul casca.des. .\non,
ricliK' wooded hills appeal", then pastures, larms and \il-
la^es. .Sometimes the shoi'es are so .ihrupt. that the
steamer passes almo'.t within .1 fiscuit ■ toss of them, and
the thunder of the threat paddle wheels, the hissiuL;- of
the water helore the cutting' |)ro\\, the \oices of the peo-
ple on the deck, all an' e(~hoed hack with wonderful dis-
tinctness.
■56
IJ^itli f'lv-Roii ami i'dnicra.
"SoiTK-'tinics a lin'-i/'ousc is seen perched on a l(j(l,i(c'
ahead. As we approach the L^ray old \\a\(-hc'ati:n scmv
tinel, the hi^ht keeper, wlio has been watchinL; our coni-
Ipl;', salutes us !))• rin^inL,'- liis ponch'rous fo^;' Ix'll. 'Ww
rich, sad tones steal o\cr the waters and are lost in the
immense space hcNond. We acknowledL^'c the; salute 1))'
l)lowinL; the steamer's whistle, and then pass on.
"At ten o'clock in the ion-noon we reached the wharf
at ['"astport, and were transferred to the ri\-er steanuT
which plies hetwi'en I'^astport and Calais. Aftt;r a half
hour's dela\- we start('d. Passing- through St. Croix Ha)'
we commenced the ascent of the St. Croix kixcr, and
at about four o'clock reaclu'd Calais, our destination.
"Here we secured rooms for the ni^ht at one; of the
liotels. and set ai)out procuriniu,^ and i)ackin^" our stores
for our outiuL;'. ( )n the followin;^^ morning' wc took the
train for the lakes. The road is. or was, opc;rated by
the lumber compani(-;s alon^- tlu; rixcr, and the trains were
run almost entirel\- in their inter(;st.
"()ur train on this occ;ision was a lon.L,^ one. a num-
ber of open cars with lon^^^ benches beiuL;- attached to the
re<xiilar train for the accommodation of a picnic [jarty on
an c;.xcursion to a i^roxe somewhere on the line. What
a chattering!;, happy, rosy, careless crowd it was I .Sires
and dames with huL^c' baskets of proxcndi'r, caretul swains,
Il'it/i I'ly-Roii (im/ ( amcra.
T)i
and hcaiililiil red-lipped temptinn- lasses, xoiiths in spon-
cei's and newl) donned hreeches, and lillle maidens re-
joieinL;' in shining' laces, curl)' iresses and clean pinafores.
Mow lhe_\' luinMi'd inio the cars, and wilhonl loss ol lime
scramhleil into the lu'si con\cnienl seats. Here a huxom
dame with half a do/en little ones in her lap or swarm-
iiiL'; ,d)out her seat , there a patient old lad\', with neat
cap hidden heneath a lillle sun honnet, trxini^' to (piict
a \-ounL;'ster who was almost irrepressihle. \'onder, thret,
or lour prett) ,L;irls of tifteen or sixteen cast lurtixc ii^lanccs
at us, and then, when detected, joined in oiie harmonious
LliiTLih'. IJehind us a tender swain, e\identl\' past askiiuj'
the anxious (piestion, was seated with his inamorata in
his lap, antl folded in his would-he tender arms.
"If that party tlid not hax'e a joll)' time, a roaring'
jolly time, when it i^ot into the i^'roxc and indulged in
all the phases of a rustic picnic, 1 am ^reath' mistaken.
It hail all the essentials; the da}' was pleasant; hi^" bas-
kets in n'rcat numbers \Vere to be seen on all sides; the
sexes were just fairly i)roportioned, with the female ek;-
ment in the proper majority of course. Hlack llies and
m()S(]uitoes were noii cs/, and what was there to prexcnt
(Mijoyment? 1 am ^rcalK' in error il, before ni^'htfall, not
more than one tender stor\- was told beneath the shad\'
pines and luMnlocks, il there was not more than one soft
15^ //'//// /7v-/\/>i/ (f//(/ ('(umrn.
promise, one ircniiilDiis \\ hisixTcd assciii, one I(iiiL;-(lr;a\ii
siL;li v\ lender j».is->i()n."
" \'es, \-es. ihal's firsl-rale, ami '.iii''lu\ inieresliivj."
ilUel'I'tipled I'"rel'e, "1)111 \\ hefc do \()tir laild-locked saluior,
come in?"
" \\ e'll ronie lo lh(in sllorlK," i replied.
" W lien we reached llle slalioll al Le\\(\s Island, ihe
lerniinns ol the i-ailroail, and ihe poini ol deparlure lor
the Schoodlrs, we tonnd the iniscellaneous crowd thai al-
\\a\s asseniMes at snch ont-ol-ihe-wa\ places lor the ai'rixal
ol the ti'aln.
"Anion^ the laces I reco^ni/ed \\\\ old Indian L;uiil<"s
J'ltienne Lewc\s, Sol Sepsis, I'ete, his hrotllel', .nul others,
who greeted us heartils. In a shoin time oin* hi^L;'UL;'e
was remo\cd Irom the cars to the canoes which we were
lo ha\'e, and as soon as we had changed our clothes al
ihe Itolel lor olhei's heller adajjled lo hu^h lile, \\c joined
om' _iL,''iii(.les al the shore, and, emharkini^- in the hii'ches,
were soon upon th.e watel's ol W'v^ L;ike, the lower ol
the (hain.
"Our guides were old Pete .Sepsis, one of the mosl
reliahle Indians on ihe lake, and Miu-liell Lewcys, llu?
oldest son ol lliien.ne, a L;'ood canoem;m and a hrsl-raU;
all-round man lor a lishini;- or hunliuL;' trip in ihal section.
M\- (-ompanioiis, who were a little ol the • lii'ht- wei-'ht '
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lll H IIIW W W m WIWII HI iPWIWffllM
i6o
ll'ith ri\-Rod (iiid Ciiiiicra,
order, occupied Sej)sis's canoe, wliile 1, together with a
*^reater portion i)t the inL;!L;a,L;'e, made a i^^ood loatl for
l.ewe\s's l)irch.
"Tile I'assama(iu()tld\- hirch L;lides o\-er the water hke
an ('Li'L^shell, and with a sturd\ hand at tiie padille it L^'oes
willi surprising' swittness. In less than three-ijuarters ol
an houi' we had reached Imhan I'oint, a setth'ment oi
Inchans \\\c miles al)o\e the island, and this too with the
canoes loaded well down with ourseKcs cuul 1 )aL;'L;aL;e.
"This settlement comprised some h)ur hundretl souls.
It was in a llourishin^' condition, had a school house, a
priest house, or chui'ch, and there were ahout two lum-
ch'ed acres of land under (nilti\ation, ^rowiuL; Imlian (orn,
potcitoes, heans, wheat, oats and xc^ctahles, in lact nearl)
e\cr}lhin!.;' L;'rown on northei"n farms except Iruit, the sea-
sons heiiiL.', too shoin for its successful culture.
"After landing- at the sc>ttlemeiU, ;uid inspectiuL;- th(;
\arious improxcments, spending; a short half hour, we re-
turnetl to the canoes.
"The passage up the lake was charmiii^. The wintl
was hlowinu;' fresh and a considerable sea was runniuij;' — in
fact I almost expecteil oiice or twice to he swamix'ci, hut
tile frail hirch swam huoyantly oxer the waxes, imi)eiled
at a rapitl rate hy the i)owerful strokes ol tln' Indian's
paildK:.
Willi l-lv-l\()(l (11/(1 CdJi/rra.
i6i
" The iniiiicnsc slrcich ol" uutci* l;idcti away in the
dis-tant hori/on, wilh hut a thin strip of hills h(;)()ncl.
The shores of the lake iire L;ent;rall)' rather low, not hi.i;h
nor mountainous, and the surrounding;' countr\- is much
more le\'el than the lake countr) in ih.e western part ol
Maine near the Ran^cle} Lakes.
"We reached the outlet of the Grand Lake Stream
late in the afternoon, and landiiiL; our ha^gam;, m)- com-
panions husied themselves in pitchiuL;' the- tcMit, makiuL;
b(;ds, and putting;' on the camp k(;ttle and [)Otato pot o\er
tlu; rousing- tire, which was soon kindled by old S(;psis.
Lewe)s and I re-entered our canoe as soon as I had !^;ot
my tackle read), and he poled the birch out into the ra-
[jids in order that we mij^ht tr)- the land-locks. W'lu-n
we were in a i^ood position, I bei;"an casting-, ami in a
\-ery shoi't time I L;'ot a ristt, rmd rise it was indecid, for
a hand.iome lish. an exact counterpart of a (grilse, but not
so lari^-e, leaped tiear ol the- water, ami sei;ceil m\' tly as
1 was lilliiiL' it. l'"ortun;ite!\' m\' line was strai''lu, or m\'
tip would ha\<' L^one.
"In an instant he was dartini;- down the stream, spin-
riuL; iU) line from tin- reel with a speed that made m\-
nerx'es tin;^le. What frantic clforts he made to free him-
sell ; but in vain ; the hook was securely fastened, ami no
leapin'j, or runniiiL:- or iumi)in'' would a\ail him. After
■^ I
wi
1 62 ////// Ily-Koii ami Caiiwra.
plaxin-- iiii'ii a shoii nine, \\\v laiulmi;' ma was ])assr(.l
iiiulci' him, ami he u.is liticd iiiio ibr caiioc. Ii was
111)' lii'sL IinIi ".it llu; season, ami A\hal a l)caiil\ he was
--a miiiiaUii'i' salmon in .-I'-iiost cx'lt)' ])arlicailai'.
"In a shoi-L linu: 1 sccurcil inollici", ami with ihcsc
we rclnrncu to i:ani|). < )li.l .^rpsis glanced at ihcm ap-
j)ro\inL;l\. .•.ml said, ' dootl hu k ; lish niii^hly skacc li'dlc
loo car')' tor urn.'
"The !isli w(.T(." soon fried, and sujjpcr was rcad\ ;
ami such ;i :ncal as we ale! Tiio potatoes and lish dls-
ap|)earv:^d as II li\ niaL^ii', and ihr otiier eomestililes sul-
ItM'ed in pi'oportion.
"Alter the me.d was tlis|josed ol, 1 climbed the hill
al)o\-e the camp to take a view of th(; scene. h".\cry stone,
<\cr\' tuft of L;rass, '.■wxx clump ot hushes and .i^i'oup ol
trees looked as hmiiliar ami unaltei^ed as if I had left
them luit the da\- hcrloro. It almost seemed as il e\<'ry
whisjua' in the lea\"es ol the tret'S was a widcome to iiie,
as il the\ were saving;. 'W'r're ^lad to see you onc-e more
up hfre in the wiKK:i'ness.' Ilowi'vcr. whether they were
iL^lad to see me oi* not, I was happ\ to he once more
anions; them and enjov then' j)leasant company.
" W'e awoke next morniuL; at daxhrcak, and alter a
turn at the In-c. lor the morniuL^s were alread) (|uite cool,
we enieri'd till- cmoc^ lor ,i \'a\^\ amon^' the ducks, which
6-+
ll'itli I'ly-Rthf (ii/(/ Camcni.
at that season ol the \v.\\x wv.w \cr\ al)iiiulaiu anion^' the
rccils and swales on \.\\v. shoi'i-s, and at the- oullcls ol the
small ri\crs and streams whieh empl)' into the lakes. M)
two friends slarteil in old Sepsis's eanoe, while 1 IkkI the
yonm^cr Imliai'i to nnst'lf.
"The ducks most abundant weiH: the ilusk)- or Mack
thick (.h.'as obscitra), the summer duck, the L;'()ldcn-eyed
duck, sometimes called the whistler, antl the liooded nu'r-
i^anser. They wer(; fully featheretl, and allhoiiL^h not ex-
tremetv wihl, still wert^ hard to kill, iKiuL:' last aiul stron'-',
and !^x;ttinL;' up at prctt}- Ioul;- ran^-e.
"I directetl my canoeman to steer at once lor the
strc;am called LittUi SiK'er \)\ sportsmen, antl lK:h)re \\v.
reached its waters we heartl the ([uackin^- of th(; black
ducks and pratim^' or prattling' of the summer thicks, in-
dicatini;' that the reports of my frientls' pieces who were
busy anions" tin; reetls at the outlet, hatl wanietl the j^anit;
that the enenu' was moxiiiL;.
"in a few minutes we were silent!)' L;lidinL;" amon^"
the lil\' patls and reetls in the river, antl belore we had
traversetl twent\' rotls of its leiieth tht; low 'hist' of the
liuliaii, antl his whispereil warniiii^' that tlu-re was 'much
duck ahead' showeil mt' that the moment lor action had
arri\'ed, CockinL"' both h.unmers ol m\- ''un. I s.ink vlown
Ol
into the canoe .anc scan'i'
the w.itcr ai'ound. hut not a
// '//// /•7\'-/\()(/ ami Camera.
i6s
(luck was \isil)lc'; I looked, .uid strained iii\ e)es, l)Ut
wilhoiiL success.
"TluTe was my L^uide, anxious and deinonstratixc at
the near presei^^ct; of a 'heap of duik,' while I was as
()l)li\i()us ol their jjosiiion as a blind man. ' NOu no see
him duck.' Much duck! There, nou no see him -one.
two, three. man\ .•'' was his ea^cr whispered iiKpiir)-. hut
the birds were still in\isil)le.
"."snortU', as \\v silently ino\cd close alon^ the hank
of the sti'eiuu. I saw a (juick mox'emeiu in the L;rass a
lon.i;' gunshot olf, and then delected the crouchini^' h)rms
of a number of wood ducks.
"The hulian, when he foimd that 1 h.id sihmi tin-
birds, relapst'd into his usual (piiet. ,\wC{ ^ave his whole
attention to their movements and to obtaining a nearer
approach to them. Silently his ])addle mo\-ed not a rip-
pU\ not a bubble showed that we were drawing' near; but
plainer i^rew the (uitlines of the birds aiuon^' the L;r;iss,
plainer tlu' exciuisite beautx' ol theii- plumai^e, tlu'ir eU'-
L;ance of form. A movement amon^ them the\' huddleil
close down and were for a moment almost inxisible. ?\ow
w.is the moment to poiu" in the leaden hail amon^- their
iHuulicrs, but in an instant it passed, and the ducks with
outcries of alai'iu arose in one Iuil'," tlock, ,md with swilt
wiiiL;' sped across tlu' I'o^s.
-i
i66
//'//// /'7v-/\()(/ ami Camera.
" l»uL all of llu'in were n<»L successful in ihcir llight,
for wilh one. harrci I cuL down a line drake, whifh fell
into the river, and with llu; other I dropj)ed two more,
wliich fell anior.g' the swale and niud ol the hoj^s.
" Recharging \\\\ gun, 1 picketl up in\- game with m\
lancUng net, antl we continued up the ri\er. At ev(,'ry
few rods we Hushed small llocks of ducks, hut the\' had
heen alarmed at the tiring and arose always l)e}ond gun-
shot. At length, as we were drawing near to the <,'iul of
naxigahle water, the: trees and underbrush growing up
amoiv the swale, the Indian paused and motioned to a
clump of lily pads aiul grass hut a tew rotls from the
canoe. 1 carefull)' scanned the spot, Init, saving a slight
ripi)le, could detect nothing. Keeping perfectl)- motion-
less and closely watching, at length we caught a glimpse
of a duck, as it appeared, and in an instant it was gone
henealh the surface.
" LeweNs could not understand it. 'Where he gone.-''
he whis[)ere(l ; 'he here a minute, den gone.' What the
l)ird was that dived so (piickly from sight I knew at once,
the habits of the grebe being familiar to me, but 'Little
Indian.' as we called Leweys ( to distinguish him from
.Sepsis, whom w(' calleil 'Big Indian'), was not satisfied,
and would not beliexe that it was not a duck adopting
this, to him, noNcl mode of esca[)c-, and 1 was obliged to
'~J
iSb^.
VKmAdi
rh^^i
168
//y/// I'lv-Roii and Camcni.
sliooi ihc l)ii(l to show ihai I was x'v^w. in iny declaration
of its iilciuii).
"Al tile rcpori ol 111) ^uii it scciiU'd as if the whole
nicatlow was ihaii^cd to a swarm of ducks in all direc-
tions the) arose in cloiuls, ami the; hcaliiiL; of their winij^s
and '.iM'ir loud cries lor an instant deprived me of the
' vr ol action; hut (juickly ! seU-cted a thiik hunch and
S' \ i.ii.tn'^ it the contents of m\' second harrt-l. '1 hree
fi'll, a hiack tluck and two whistlers; one of the latter
winL;cd and c()nse([uentl\ ahle to escape, which he ulti-
mateU' tlid, taking' co\ ert in the suale. This was not the
oidy hii'd that we lost on the 1>o_l;s during our trip, hut
owiiiL;' to the treacherous character ol the mud we c(juld
not walk uj)on it; the; whole surlace undidatiid at exery
step, and if we for an instant paused wc; felt ourselves
sinking. If one hreaks lliroui^h the upper surlace, down
he L^oes, out of si^ht in an instant.
"I hi; formation ol these 1)ol;s is well known. The
streams and rixx.'rs hrin^' down duriuL; their spring- rise or
freshet \ast (piantities of alhi\ial matter. While the\" are
runniiiL;' a deposit is prex'ented from forming, hut as soon
as ihe\- reach the still waters of the lake; their motion
is arrested, the alhuium sinks to the holtoni, increases
and extends, and gradually hecomes lirmer and lirmer.
At len''th it rises out of the water, and at once hecomes
//'//// I'ly-Rod ainf Caiiicm.
169
tin- r(jc('|)l;iclc for the myriads of seeds ol grasses and
other phiiUs which are carried fi-oiii phic* to plaic on the
wind.
'• 1 have in niy mind one ol tiiesi' I)o,l;s. situated .U
the mouth of a hu'L;'e ri\er which empties into .1 hike,
which extends on hoth sides ol the ri\'er Ic' a width ol
at least hah a mile to a distance ol two miles Irom the
outlet. ll will he seen that the ri\er must ha\c heen lor
ai^c's making' so \a . deposit.
"We pickeil I, • oil" birds as soon as I recharL^cd my
L;un, and starteiJ on our return to camp. We i^ol no more
shots on our passai^c hack, although w<.: saw an .ihundance
of 14am e ; 't was thorouL;hK' alarmeil and kepi at .1 safe
distance.
"Our companions, who had had lair success, were in
camp ht'fore us, and hreaklast was already far in course
of preparation .Soon the delicious \iands were served,
and with appetit(.;s sharpened hy our early hunt, we fell
to, and although an al)undance was provided, wc- lelt noth-
iiiL; hut the hones of ducks and tish when we arose from
the table.
".\i ahout nine o'clock wc hroke camp, and packing
our lu^j^ai^'e. started o\er the three-mile iarr\- lor the dam
at the outlet of drand Lake, at whic:h place wc arrived
with all our trajjs, and a line hunch of rulled ^^roiisc in
I70
//'//// I'ly-Rihi (I lid ('(iiiicra.
our si'inic ItiiLis, wliiih uc sliol while makiiiL: llic iJortaLic.'.
I he dam was a slrucLun,' t>l lu.'.u) liinher, ercclcil I))'
the hiiiihcr i:()iii|)aiiifs across the outlet ot (Irand l.ake
lor the purpose ol raisiii!^ the water in llie hike in the
spring, anil li\ its ai lunuilation expedite the 'tlriving' ol
the 1o_l;s to the mills lar Ixlow. ()l lourse the immense
\olume ol water which rushed throuL;h the stream wore
out a roiii^h and rocky channel, and the boulders and deep
(.'tlilies hi'hind them were numerous.
•'At this localit) ^real numherN ol l.uul-locked salmon
were tound, ami the hest lishiiiL; was there counted on
while tlu' season lasieil. It is all chan^i'il now, .uid where
we then |)ilched our tent with no otlur human habitation
near, st.uuls, as 1 saiil helore. an immense lamiei'\, and a
xilhii^e has sprung; up on ■ach side ol the rixcr.
"It took liui lilth time to put our new camj) in
ortler, and a> threateniiiL; tlouiU he!.;an to arise, wi: hast-
ened to proxide ajj^ainst the rigors ol a possihl) Ioul^
storm. The Indians he^an to ^et together a oood (|iian-
tit\ ol hrewood, and I ami m\- two friends took oiu' rods
and started lor the stream to secure a gootl sup[)l)' ol
lish.
" I riL;L;cd a strong' leader with two Hies and made a
cast oxer a deep hole just helow the d.mi. In an in-
stant 1 was last to a splendid salmon. llu' tremor of
//■//// /7v-/\(>(/ (///(/ Cniiicm.
171
cxcilciiicm whiili iilway. sci/cs ihc lishcnnaii \\li«ii he
liiuls luinsclf opposed lo a strong; li-^li raiiic lo inc, l)iit
it passed in a inoineni. lor I fell lliaL I siioidd ha\f all
I could attend to in that powerlul stream. With a wild
dart the salmon struck lor the rapids; my lackli' was not
he.i\ \ enouL^h to restrain him, lor 1 was iisini^ a li,L;lu
sin'de-haniled rod .uul an ordinar\ trout lim ol .ihoul
lift) yards in length.
" 1 )o\\ n the stream m\ lish started, and I lollowed
I,, the hesi of my ahilil}. I'eelini^ m> \\.i> cautiously
()\cr the slipper} stones, I was soon in .ilmut three led
of water and .^oinL; .it my hesi pace. 1 hose who ha\c
never had the experience ha\e no idea ol the lorce of
the water in sucli a ri\i'r. As one wades amon^- rocks
and stones, throui^h pools and .uro > deceitliil eddies, ihc
water sometimes rises o\cr the waist, cold, pressin:^' against
one with almost resistless power. The initiated know ot
all the strength, all the courai4<', all the caution, that must
1)(; called upon. Such a situation is in itsell exhilar.itiiiL,^
and excitim;, hut add to it the thrilliuL;' rush of a lari^c
lish, the feints, the leaps, the dexterous power \\iih which
he avails himself at (ner) turn, and the skill and judi;-
meiit that mu't he exercised iri oi'der to suhjui^ate him,
and one has an experience such as nolhiuL; else can oiler.
"'lhi-ouL;h the rapids I lollowi'il m\ salmon, stead) -
Ml!i
//'//// /'7v~/\()i/ tiiiii {'(inicra.
\\v^ ni)si.;ir uiih 111)- left hand as Iji.sL I could with llu-
liandlc ol in\- laiidiiiL; net, and holding- ni)- rod well up
in 111)- ri-lil, M)- line was ncarl)' (■xliaiislcd when tin:
lish rcaclicd the pool, but 1 slill had cnoui^h left for ;ui
iMncrj^cnc)-. The fish as soon as \\v. arri\-t'd at llu: (piit-t
waters sank to ilic bottom. I approached him rapidly,
and rcfliiiL; in ni)- line with the utmost expedition, soon
had hut ten or fifteen Nards out. CiivinLr a lift with the
rod I essayed to ino\-e him, hut for a few seconds he
would not stir. At length he ruslud to the surf.iee ami
jumped clear of tlu; water si.'veral feel, repeating" his leap
three times in a twinkliiiL;. lie then showed si^-ns of
fatii^ue, and in .i \-(.:r)- short tiiiu; he- turned on his side
and 1 had him in iin- landing;- net. It was a \(:r\- haiul-
some hsh ami the hu'gest 1 had )-et taken of that species,
its weight hein^; about four pounds.
"AdjustiUi^ 111) Uukle, i relunied lo the upper |io()|,
and in a \<m-)- short lime was pl;i)in.L', aiiolher lar^e lisji.
In .1 few minules he seemed exhausted, and i reeled him
in 111 wilhiii loui- h'ci ol m\- nei, when wiiji a sudden
and most uiuxpeeled rush he broke ihe leader ncu" the
|>oinl al which il was allached lo the Hue a\\<\ daried
across ihe |)ool. a Il\- in his nioulh and .uioili<-r iraih'ii"-
on tiehind him. .\lmost imme(halel\ another fish seized
ihe h'ee ll\, and ihe commoiion ihe\ raised imisi
ia\-(;
'74
//'//// /'/v-k'od (ii//</ CniiKni.
l)ccn siarllin^ to their \w\\\\ hroilu'i's aroiiiul ihcin. I )ai'l-
ini^- al)()iil in the waUr, and iunipiiiL; sometimes scvcmmI
leel clear troni it, they li'ieil to rid ilieir mouths ol the;
hook-^, l)iit the\ lound ii impossible, and soon they dis-
appeared down the stream, jumping and s[)lashinL;' in a
most e\traordinar\ mannei'.
" 1 soon n^'L^cd a new cast, hut confined nnsell then
and there. liter to a sin;^le ll\. I had ;^i'eat sport, lor in
less than an liour 1 had six heaulilul lish. ' 1'". nou^h is
as i^ood as a least.' I leathered \\\i m\ trophies and re-
turned to camp. .\l\ Iriends had met with ^ratilxin^ suc-
cess, and we IkuI an ample provision lor stornu weather
if it shouM chance to come. Xotw itlistandini;' the ihreal-
eniuL^ si^ns the storm did not come, .uid tlie next d\\'
dawned hri^hl and laii'.
'•.\tter lireakl.isi we |).icked up and started lor lh<'
upjxM" lakes. i'or a ;_;reate)" part ol its area (o'and Lake
is \cr\ deep, sometimes as much as one or two hundred
leet. In the solitude ol these de|)ths, liehind \\\VJi^v rocks
in sunshinx da\s, w.iitiuL; l<>i' the shadows ol evening; to
tempi them Irom their i'elreats, !a_\ the huL^c spotted lake
trout, tailed 1»\ the lishermen and Indians •lo'^ue." 1 he\'
ai'e ol an average weiL^ht ol ten poiuuU, hut olten run
up to t\\cnt\- or twenl\-h\c. ( 'lenei'all) lhe\ will not take
the ll\. l)ut will sometimes bite al a s[)oon or spinner
/A
//'//// /■7v-/\<>i/ (i/i(/ ('(iii/rnt. I
/.-»
such as ihc pickerel tishernien in Massaeluiselt^ generally
use. W Inn we had lairix' l^hi dut in the lake. I.ewcys
adxised nie lo throw oiii a spoon tastciicd to a Iohl; line.
I look ni\' hass line, ol stout luMided silk, and making
last a spoon let it trail out h)ri\' \ ards hcliind the c.inoe.
Soon 1 tell a hea\ \ Iiil;, and hanlin^ in hand o\er h.nuk
as we do in hhielishini^ oil Nanlue'set. I ni a short linK,-
had m\ lish aloni^side the canoe. It was a Schoodic sal-
n.ion, not a loi^iie. and the Indian expressed his surprise;
al L;'eltin^' him with the spoon, it heiiiL;' the lirsL occur-
rence ol the kind in his (•\p(rienc<'.
" I laulin^' him in, I liirew m\ line o\ei- ai^ain, and ii
trailed aloni^ hehind the I'anoe. I.ewc\s paddling; al ahouL
hall speed. .Soon I hooked another and another; and as
the lake seemed alive with this tish and the tOL;'Ue would
not \n\.v. 1 ^axc it up and hauled in m\ line.
"Makiiii^ nnsell as comloi'tahle as possihle, wilh the
holtoni ol the canoe lor a scat ,uid th<' 'hai'd-lack' hox
lor a supjiort lor m\ hack, I soon s.mk into that dream\'
hin^uor that one always expei'iences when mo\ inu; oxer
ihe water, the ripples jini^hnL;' soltly alonu;' tiie sides e't
the hinh, and the nv'.siu'ed stroke ol the paddle markiiiLi'
with monotonous precision the ^pecd and pro!_;ress that
one is making;. And what can he more delicious? I he
hlue sk\, relk:cted l)\ the surl.ice ol the lake, thai mirrors
M /I
I'jC^ //'//// /'Vv-/\\)t/ (///(/ Camera.
wiih the precision of ^lass the llcc(-\- clouds passim^- al)()\c
it, somciiiiics ol a milky uhilrncss, tlini hulT, cr-'ani color
or purple, as ihe ra\s of the sun fall u|)()n their ^reati'r
or less (leiisily: the siiioolhly iiio\ in^' i:aiioe ; the ^ciuic;
breeze, laden with the aronia of the woods, and '^^ixin'.i a
health and vi^or that i^ wonderful; and to these add ihe
wild hnntinL; stories ol an Indian L;"uide. the narration of
wonderful encounters with the wild deni/ens of the for<'st,
or accoinits ol successlul trapping' excursions aua\' on the;
Aroostook and St. Johns |\i\cr countrw alternating- with
scraps ol Nont; or melody hummed to the accompaniment
ot the paddle's strok<'."
I hat s pretty ^ood," said h'rere, hut a little more
tish and less I'hapsody would he just as .icceptahle."
I'rere was ;i. \cr\- practical fellow.
The ^uiiles l.iUL;heil.
•'.Ml riidu," I replied. "I thou-hl \<ui wanted a Ioiil;
stor\-."
"As loti^- .a-, you like." saiil i'rere, "l>ui please leave
out most ol the poetry: we want hard facts up here in
the woods."
"Will," s.aid I, resumini;- my story, "our passai^c up
the lake was without further incident, and we arrived at
the mouth ol a heaaitilul river called |unior .Stream about
noon. Alter we had h.ul our dinner we left our lu"L'aL'e
//'//// /•'/]'- /\(>(/ (l//(i/ ('(I INC I'd.
I I
on
th
(■ siiorc
iiul i-c-cinl)arkc(l tor a short \isii lo a snial
|)oiicl called ' Liulc Lake' " Muddy Lake' clc., in which
Ih
pickerel ol lar^'e size were al)i!iulaiu. I Ins pond is mUi-
aled al the head ol (iraiul Lake, and is reached throu''h
a small stream that empties into the latter,
he wate
n this |)oii<l is \\arm, th
'Id
e hottom hell
imicl and sand
ie pickerel do not pass into (irand Lake in ,in\' luim
hers, its water heini,; cold .and ikie hottom heidL; rock\'
and the shores Iree Irom reeds and other acpialic herha^c
that this lish lo\cs to inhal-i
I do not wish to I
»e un-
derstood tliat I lishcd lor the pitkerel hecause 1 wanted
them lor lood, tor to my taste pickerel are amon^:' the
most insinid ot lish.
)iit the sport that one can 'jet m
[ood pickerel lishiiiL;' is not despii:al)le, and I hold that
I is doinu; the lish posterity a henetii to destroy as many
ol these ' tresh-wat(r sh.irks' as possible
Alt
er a s
hort
halt hour's paddle up the lake and stream, during- which
1 shot a pair ol
)li;c - \\in''cd leal and a pair ot
ilucks, we entered tile waters ot the poiv.
At
i)iac
ancc
one could tell that pickerel were there, loi" tile shores
were low and marsln, .uul almost the whole surlace ot
the water was coxcred with lil\ pads and reeds.
" I akiiiL; a siiort. stroiiL: tip tor m\ rod, .md a stout
line, to which was lasteiucl a spinner, I threw out, and
in an instant was last to a lish that made the water Ik
178
///'/// l'l\'-l\oa mm CiUhcrn.
like a ri\cr liorsc wlicn lie striu:';. (ii\-in^' 'liin a sharp
|)ull I started him, ami Icttint.'; hini laiii a short (Hstaiicc
cNlx'ctcd he would |)la\', l)iit there is as imicli ol hie in
a 1(»l;" as there is in a pickc rel until \()u L;ct him in the
hoat ; \\v, reserves all his enen-ies until it is tc^o late to
exercise them, when the iuss he kleks u]) is terrible. So
with this fish —he kept cpilet in the water. Alter waitiiii^-
a reasonable time 1 commeiu'ed reeliiiL;- him in. I ^ot
him close to the canoe, and ' can coni[)ar(; the wretch
to nothiiiL;' hut a lon^;' l)lack Iol;' or sn;i,;". As soon as
he L;(>t nt'ar the canoe he percei\-ed his danger and tr!;'d
to hack out, and reailil)- towed us a few yards through
the lily pads and i-eeds helore I L;()t Ivsn in. lie was
a spU'iulid lish and wouKl weii^h at least ten pounds.
'■ Lewe)s took him li'om the hook, and in so doin^-
opened his j.iws, and lhe\ were cax'erno'.is. ' Jehoshaphat I '
said the indi.ni, .i favorite expression el his to sii;nif\'
wonder or astoni-h '-it, 'what a mouth I These dexils
kill more \oun!4" d^i-'. ■; than a lew in a summer. I low
Ml;' would a N'oun^;' din-k look in that?' said he. stretch-
iuL;' his mouth li'om lar to ear. 'Ah : you \illian,' said
he. ta[)i)ini^' the tish oxer the head, 'you wouKl eat one
ol yoiu" youui^- ones as (piick as an\'thine- else.'
" When 1 assured him that in the .States and else-
where j)ickerel were considered a nice fish on the tahk;,
//'/"/// I-r^-Rod a ltd Ci'u'.r"a.
^79
\\(i turned u]) his nose in dis^usl, said tlv y \\v\-\\ not Ik
for food, for, 'they <-'at cxcrylhinL;' — srutkcs. inici', fish,
ev(;r)' tiling;- and anylhini^-; nou wouldn't caic!! an Indian
catino' one.'
" ThrowinL;' over my line a^^ain 1 was soon fast to
anoth(-'r monster, and, hauliuL:,- him in, caui;lu anotlier antl
another, until 1 u;<'t tired of the sport, for jjickerel tish-
iiiL,^ soon palls on one. 1 hen I |)ulled in m\ line, reeletl
up, and \\(\ lelt lor Junior Stream.
"(iraeious, how the wind Mew when we l;(»1 out into
the lake I lu'er\ |)ulf sein the waxes (hiNhin^ o\<'r our
canoct's prow, and Lewe\s lileralK' had his hands lull to
keep his course. M \- Iriends in old .Sepsis's canoe Ufi'e
hu}4'_i;'in_Li' the shore, while uc kepi out iri 'die lake. Poor
'Little Indian,' as we called Mitchell, '^iraiiv t! e\cr) nerxc,
but could h.u'dl)' .i_;ain .v loot lor a |)addl<: strok'\ .\t
last, to help him, in lieu o| ,i p,i dU', ! seized a tryiuLf
pan with a lon^ handle, and di ■ la^' \i into the water,
' ho\"e to' wuh a will. W In tlui- I i ■Ipcii oi- not is douht-
lul, l:ut 1 kept our cM'alt in decent sl'^ra^'e was, and it
seemed to me that wc; worked alou^;' ,i little lastc r. Al
leiiL^th we reached the point of land aL;ain at the mou!/.
of (unior Stream, and, pitchim^ our tent, wc soor. had
(werxthin^- comlorlahle for a nii;ht'-> sleep,
" l)\ the time camj) was ready, supper was in a lair
I
i8o
//'//// /7v-/\(}(/ (///(/ Cunirra.
\\<\\ of cooking, aiul the spuUcr ol li"\in;^ jiork and lish,
aiul iiH-ri')' sii\L;inL;' ot llu' lea kclik'. and huMtliiiL; <»! koil-
inL; rice, U-ni their charms to the li\cl\ scene. In acKhlioii
lo ihesc'. helore the hre was hakin^' a hu^c |()linn\cak(.',
antl 1 niusl say that in the preparation ol tliis echhle the
liulian e-xcels. I lie meal is made into a thick hatter with
colli walei' and a little salt if mixed with warm water it
is called Charlexcake moulded a^^ainsi a smooth hoard
anil exposed to the heat of the hre.
"As I watched old .Sepsis pi'epare this simple hread,
1 could not hut admire the cai'e and patience with which
he cooked it hetore a lu'e hot enough to I'oast an o.\.
If the heat was loo strong' the position ol the hread was
shifted; il ashes accumulated under the hoard it was raised
on a lew pieces ol hark nr chips. II the smoke hlew to-
ward it, its position was changed ; and when the upper
surface had attained the riih yellow-hrow n that all i^ood
lohrmNcake shouKl ha\'e, carefully the old iellow thrust
his sharp huntim^' knite heneath it and liiied it Imm its
simple o\c-n, and turiied it. in order that the under sur-
face niiL;ht recei\'e its proper deL;i'<'<' <'l heat. \ erily, the
Indian is the child ol expedients, and with the lewest ma-
tcriais can arrive at the greatest possihle i"esults. All I
can sa\- of that |ohnn\cake is that it, and many oiiiers,
art' amonj^' the pleasant rememhrances ol our trip.
^^
182
IVitli I'lv-l\(hi and Can I era.
"Sii|}j)cr over, and after an hour spent around the
canii) lu'e willi stories and Killickinnick, we turned in for
> i^ood niLjIu's rest.
"I'he next ni()rninL';'s sunrist: surprised lis beneath our
bhmkets. Amazed at our indolence we sprang to our feet,
and in a few moments the camij fire was roarinsi; ri«'ht
merrily.
"After breakfast we (piickly struck the tent, packed
everything snugly in the canoe and commenced the ascent
of Junior Stream for Junior Lake at its heatl. Our pas-
sage up the stream was without inciik;nt of note. The
river is a beautiful one, one of the most romantic streams
that I ever saw. The shores are mostly co\ered with
alders and maples, which as we passed them were just
putting on their brilliant autumn colors, lending a warmth
and beaul\' to the scene that was indescribal)l\' ma'-nili-
cent. The clear, cokl water passed over a bottom of sand
aiul pebbles; m)riads of fish were darting about, plainly
visible through the limpid stream ; chubs, dace and small
salmon were the only varieties, and we looked in \;\in
for the spotted trout which we had come here [jurposely
to catch, this being a celebrated locality for that variety.
"It was near sundown when we reached the ra[)ids
where the trout usually are taken in the greatest abund-
ance; here we repeatedly cast every variety of lly, but
/^//// J'/y-/\'<ii/ ami Caiiicm.
'83
not ;i rise did \vc«L,a't. After many persistent efforts we
were at last ()bli«,anl to desist, the trout beins^; evidently
•off-hsh;
"We went ashore ahtne the rapitls, where we found
an old hark camp;''' here \\v. concluded to pass the nii^ht,
and soon we had made everything comfortable. it was
fortunate that we took uj) our (piarters in this camp, for
the heavy rain storm which came up in lli.; ni_L;ht would
have most ihoroui^hly drenched us if we had depended
on our tent.
" W'c hatl noticed on the walls of our bark camj) the
marks of porcupine teeth, and as we lay on our beds of
fragrant hemlock boughs, listening to the pattering of the
■■' A ilcsLiiplioii of a bark camp ami the mcthorl of its construction will, per-
haps, not 1)0 unintcrcstin;,;- here. June is the best month for iniiiilini; such a camp,
anil Iiiilian hunters and tishermen who desijjn passing; a part of the season on the
lakes contrive to peel their bark and build their camp in this month. In peeling
a large tree the operator stands on a Ion- op other object suHiciently hi^di to raise
him from the j^nound a foot or two, ami uith a sharp a.\e cuts tlie bark through
to the wooil, as hij;h as he can reach: lie then makes a similar incision around the
tree near the ground, and then cuts or splits the bark ilown from one girdle to the
other. i'ushing in the blai'.- 'jf the .-ivc dou!! i:--side the perpendicular cut, lie piu-
ceeds lo prv up the bark for its whole length. In a sliorl time it is separated
from the tree for half of its whole circumference, when, if the tnmk is la.ge, it
is cut olT, and the other half is peeled away in another piece. These strips are
laiil on the ground, if a level rock is not near, and presseil out llat — the pieces
being laid across eac!i other in alternate h.wrs. In a few days they are dry enough
to retain their ll.it form, when they are ready to be used in the construction of
the camp.
This is begun by driving into the earth, .it i tlislance of about eight feet apart,
1 84 //'/■/// /•/}'- Rod and Caincm.
ram mi \\v I'ool, \\c (liscusscil ihr h.i'i)ils of ihc Irctfiil
Ixasi. I lold Sc|)^is ihal in liooks we oltcii sec stalc-
nitiils inailc ih.il the pore iipiiic has ihc h,il)it i»( dctach-
iiiL; its (|iiills and I'xcn ihrouinL; ihmi at its .uK'Tsarics
when allarkcd. Sol laii^lud (|ui(il)', said llial 'Ixxil. ctcn
wrillcn l)\' people don'l know wh.ii so.' Anions ni,in\ in-
lerestinL; acconnts ol ihe hahils of ilie porcupine whiih
he '^A\v Us was this:
■■ 'A pari) ol Us, nun .md scpiaws, had been on the
nioinilain yonder a \\(ck or two sUL^.irini,;. We h.id prell\-
L^ood huk, I l;oL se\en hundred pounik ni\ sh.u'e. W ell,
So], my iii'other, liad ordc for a hari'el o( s\rup, which
he had ^ot all read\' lo lake ddwn to l.e\\c\s Isl.md ;
liui one niL;lu a porc'pine l;(>1 .u the harrel, <;na\\cd hole
Inlir -.|(,|ii ..takr-, liiikid .il tliiir viiiK lil ■.■ii.ili liro .ire imt Iminil ,L;ri'uiii;; -iit-
li<itnll\ iH.ir lii;,;cilu r !.■ .ui^wit Inr <iiiiiir |iiisui. r«ii nl llu'sc l.itli-r .ire .iliniit
h\f Icii ill liii'^^lil. llic ipllnr> .ilidiil ~r\iii, wliicli '^^Ims ihr |)rii|)ir mclin.il inn nr
pilili I" tin ri"'!'. < 111 llu' |ci|is III ilic-i- |iiisls :iri' Liiil -liuil |)iili'v. wliii li ,iir kipl
III |il,iic li\ uillu>, .mil. with \\\y .i.|i|f mil nf tun nr ilnir pnsi-, (lri\cii iiilu llic
;,;hiiiiii| lu-luiiii llic iiiiiur niii'-., liii- |i iiiir i> ic.iil\ Inr llir li.iik. rilr -trips ,irc
lif'-I Ni:il "11 l!ir li.i k ami fAn --iilr-. nl llu •.haiiU, ami .in- kept -iiimilli .iml in
pinpir pii~iliiill |i\ pii|t> I, till .Hln-N tluill .111.1 \\itlu-(l illUMl In tile riMlllf. Ilu' Irnlll.
fai-in;; tin' -nii;lu.i~l, i- aliiinst .iK\.i\s li It npni, ami it il i-. r\cr cnMriii it i- miK
tcmpni.iii!)-, ulicii ,|ri\iM^ stmni- lu-.il iiitn tin- c.iiiip .iml iii.iki- il iiiin I'lifnrtalilr.
I lu' piiir- III li.iik arc laiij nii tin- rnnl' -liiiij^lr-w i-c, l.ippiii;..^' mii cull nthiT. tlu'
rnii-h -all- n:it : llir-i arc kept in place liv wiilicil pnic-, .iml the camp i- linishcd.
!■'"■ •' liK' place .1 \y\\ thin, ll.it -Iniie-. Iiiiilt In i\. shape, make :i c.ipital nvcn,
anil with a inii-in- Ini linrniiiL; aluue it ,i capital rn.isi m.i\ he maile. ( )i(linavily
hnwevcr. ill cnnkiii;^. .i lar-e lire i- iii.uie, ami when ,i heap nf yh'willii coal:. 1^
fnrmcl the liMin; pan nr skillet is cilleil intn rciiiiisitinn.
//'//// /,'v-/\\>(/ (!//(/ {'iiiucra. 1H5
ihrotiL^h ii. ami all him ^xi'np nin oiii and \v;isic lilm 011
i^roiiiui. I .L^li ■ wasn't Sol ni.ul ncM inorniiiL; when he
jninui out I Vxv\ soon he Jc.iNc oil swcarin:^ am' ^d hini
i^nn, A little snow, just enouLih to track hy, was on the
L^round, ami Sol started <iut lor him poi'c 'j»i'ie. Ii was
|ust siMidown when he came li.uk with him 1 uss on hun
shoulder. lie s.i\' iiot'iuL;. hui t.dxc a.\e and cui |ior("
pine into hits and throw on hre. I'hei, he ^^ot to work
at sap trou:.;h 's il not'in^; happen; hul .''vays now h.ite
por( pine.'
"'Mow do \ ou know hut one will ^ct .it our (.uioer*'
I asked. 'It would he a nice joke lor \\: to h.i\c our
hirch spoiled aw.i\ up lure'
" ■ \o fi'aid,' he answered; "I tiu'ned il lioiidm up
upon an old slump. No porc'pine will l;(1 at it, unless
lie.u" knock it down.'
" ".Xre there main heai's here.'' we ini[uired, iusiincL-
i\ el) leelin^ lor our L^uns .
"'Heap,' he .mswered, 'NOu no soo old lo^ front ol
c.mi|)/ N Oil no notice il h.id heen loi'u to pieces lalel).''
Well, th.U donir to-thi)" sui'e 1))' hear alter pismires,'
"There was just t'uoui^h excilemenl in the thouL^ht
that p(. silil\ we mii^hl ha\'e a hear li^hl heloi-e moi'ninii;'
to keep us aw.d^e atlei" we i"olled oui'sel\<'s in our hlau-
kets. Hut wc heard nolhin'' hut the rushiuL; <>t the wa-
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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1.0
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1.25
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) S72-4S03
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"%^
i86
IV it 1 I Flv-Rod and Cauiem,
tc>r o\v\- the rai)icls, the pcUtcrinL;- of the rain on llu; roof,
aiul tlu; sou^hiii!^" of llic Aviiul Uirou^'h the Irccs, and at
last tired nature yielded antl we slept.
"It was not without disai)[)ointment that \\v. awoke
on the \\v\V niorniuL,^ to find that tlu; niyht had i)assed
without incident or adxx'nture. The sun was just _L;ildin^'
the lops of the distant nH)untains and i^lininierini^' amid
the foliage of the tall hemlocks when we arose and heL^an
preparations for bi-eaktast,
"Sunrise in the woods! ilow much is ex[)ressed to
the frefpienter ol our forests in those lew words — how
littU; to the habitual city dweller. The words bring" to
mind a remembrance of delicious brecv.es, laden with the
aroma of tlu; ])ine and hemlock; of m\riads of birds twit-
teriuL;' and llu'terin^' amon^' the foliage; of woodpeckers
tap|)in!4' with echoiuL;' strokes the deail branches and trunk
of some old m(ji;arch of the forest ; of nuthatches callin*;'
to each other in ilvir soft, melanchoK' notes; ol loon.s
away out on the lake answering" these sounds and their
own cries with wild, weird screams t)f laughter. Oh! it
is glorious!
"At an earl)- hour we pre]jared for the day's eniplo)'-
mcMit. Lewej's and I were to ])ass the portage and \isit
the uppcn* lake to inspect its shoi^es lor fowl, and try the
streams em[)tying into it for s|jotted trout, while the rest
li
I
1 88
// 'itii I'ly-Kod ami C 'cuucra.
of tlu: parly wvxv. to take llu' opposite direction, luiiitiiiL;
the stream and its shores for hsh and _L;am('.
"AeeordinL^d)' the yotin;^- Indian shoiddered his birch,
and I with- L;nn in hand prcxcded him in a sHghtl)' beaten
patli which I'an parallel with the stream. Of partrid^'es,
or more properl)' rulled grouse, I met with f^reat num-
bers, but the\' were so tame that it was impossible to
llush them, as the\' ^\()uld walk off into the undcr<rrowth
as leisureK' as so many domestic fowls. I onl\' killed four,
which 1 i^ot in two double shots. The birds were.' of the
season's hatch, but lull)' thrown, and j)lumi) to the tra-
ditional dei^ree. 1 saw one or two tracks of moose and
a number of imi)ressions of deer's feet, but the foliage
was still too thick to (Ufer an\- chance of success in stalk-
im^. Hear tracks and signs were also numerous, and I
was conslanth' on the qui vivc to meet one. In one in-
stance a I)ear had e\identl\- just pulled down a bush of
the chokc;berry and eaten the fruit, for the dew had cer-
tain!) within a lew minutes l)een shaken from the leaves;
but he either heard my aj)proach or had taken fright at
some other noisi'. for I did not sec: him. In file., the:
black b(.:ar is L:c:nerall\' les.i willinsj' to meet man face to
face than is tlu^ man to meet him. If a slu: bear has
cubs she will defend them most braxch', but generally the
brutes are 'dad to "''et oil.
//'//// /•'/]'- /\(>(i/ iiiul i'cinicra.
iS()
"Arrixin^- al the hc;ul ol tlu- carry, Lc\\r)s in a short
lime joini'J nic, ami era bark iiii^' in his caiic^c we wva'v soon
padcHinn' out into the hike. A hrautilul sheet ol watei'
is |iinioi- Lake, with i)ictures(|iie surroundings of tlie hii^h-
est decree.
"(iettiuL;' ni\' taekh' read)' ) stootl up in the canoe
antl ht'L;'an casting' in c\er) promisiuL^- |)iac:e that I saw,
Le\ve\-s padtUin^' sh)\vly so that I couhl co\er the; wat(M".
"Soon 1 L;'ot a rise, ami in a few minutes a splendid
fish was llounderinL;' in the: birch; soon another and then
another was landeil and 1 reeled in \\\\ line; tor I hoKl
it a sin to kill more than can be ust'd in keepiuL;- the
camp sup[died with food. Lt'weys told me ol a part\' ol
fishermen (one ol thicm a clerL^xnian ) who lished lor se\'-
eral da)'s at (iraml Lake Stream, antl, altei' catchine- hun-
dreds ol them, simpb' wei^heil ;uul thrt'W them away."'
"What v\rc:tches! who toi' the sake of \ain boasts of
killing" so many pountls ol lish in so man_\' da\s' I'shin^',
wouKl saci'ilicc; Si ch a ^reat number of \aluable lives, for,
althoui^h the tish were abundant, how lon^- could an\'
waters stand such ex ra\aL;;'.nce ?
" 1 lu' loreiioon passetl ([uickly. We coasted aloni;
•■ In iciir(il)c)raiiiiii <if lii-^ ^UUliik'iU I liiul in :i npurl (if ihc Maino ('oiiinii^-
sioluiN III !■ i'-luiiv> llic lollowiiiv; , 'A |).iil\' nf tliii.r wliii v\Lri. jiisl ,i.-.i\in;.; |Oi.iinl
I .aki. SlK'.illi, III llii- iKl^liljiirliiiinl (it i1k' 'am] liaii Ihiii lIuMr two wrrk^, ami liu'ir
lulal cuuh wari hi.\ huiKlicd aiiJ UvluI) -uiic salmon i.i;^luijcu Uigiic .uicl lIcwii truut."
iA
If
I9(:
//'//// /■'/]'- /\()(/ (11/'./ Camera
the shore of the lake ami ins|)ect''d the \arious inlets
ami sircains. hiil did nol iiicci with any diu-ks hiii shel-
drakes.
"As we \vere crossint;' Ironi one point to another in
the lak(.; we noticed a nunihc'r ot oKl and \<>unL;' loons,
or Q-reat northern di\crs. as they are called. Such a
huinhim'' as the\' coninicnccd, and such dixine' and splash-
ing wvxv. n'.'\'er bctore witnessed.
"The Indian askrd for niy white [)ocket handkerchief.
^\•hich he began wa\ing o\'er h.is head, and imitating at
the same time the cries of tlu; loons. One ol the xoung
birds left the group and began to swim toward us. !.ew-
e\-s tin-iU'd the prow of the canoe toward tht m ; tlic bh'd
had actually got almost within shot ol us, when its mother,
perceiving its danger, swam hastily alter it antl Intruded
her own bod\' between us ar.d her young one. anil droxc
it back to the group ol othe]' loons. Such an ir.htance
of parental allection wa.s not lost up'on us. ;ind as tlu'
loons swam oil laughing antl scri'amlng, we ii,o\'ed on in
our coiu'se, regarding thi:m with admirati(!n and respect.
"As we were mo\ ing along slowl), the Indian's (piick
e)e descried a small object swimming r;ipidl\- towartl the
sliore. Calling- my attention to it he began paddiing with
great energ\\ declaring that the moxing object was a m\\\\<.
that hatl Ijeen out lishini''. On reachiu''' ''imshot 1 hred
//'//// hl\'-l\oil and Canicni.
9
and killed the aniin;il. W'c found on lakintj^ him into the
canoe ihat he had a small siilnion in his mouth, which he
had di\c(,l lor and caut^ht in the dccj) lake.
" Le\ve\'s asked it 1 wantetl the skin. 1 nplietl in
the nei^ativH', wlu:n he said he would keep it lor a coat
collar. 1 sus|)ect that he intendeil to put it into his lot
destined lor market, lor miid< skins were then w(>:ili Irom
li\'e to sex'en dollars each ; and as this was a i^ood one,
ha\inL;' hut one small shot hoU in the heatl, it t;ould easiK'
he worked in.
" 1 lu; afternoon passed without any other incident (jf
importance, but most ([uickh,-, and the shatles of approach-
in.i;' nightfall warned us that it was time for (^wr ri-tui'u
to camp. .\ half hour's lust)' paddlini^- brouL;'ht us to the
carr)-, antl soon we were in si^ht of the smoking" camp
hre. Our companions IkuI passed as oiorious a da\' as
we, and the pile of oame and tlsh whii'h we had in the
a^'i;' rebate was far from despicable.
"As we had decided to moxc on the next morning-
to another localit\ named Compass Lake, another tribu-
tar\' of the (irand Lake, we turned in at an earl\' hour,
and soon the tlrowsy god had assumed couiplete control
of our senses.
"The next morning's suniisc; witnessed oui" vleparture.
^\^; mo\ed raiiidly with the current down junior Stream
92
///■/// /■/v-/\()(/ (li/i/ i'linicni.
.'ind L^litlccl (lilt inio llu' waiciN df (ir;iii(i Lake. W'c kept
a sirai^liL course for our dcsliuation, and lictoi-c noon wt
reached our landiiiL;' phice, ])ilched our teiii, autl weri' at
once at home in this oui- peruianeiu caniii.
"M) siory would do iniusiice lo all the pleasures we
c.\|)erienced at this j)lace, if I alleuipled to descrihe them.
The weather was deiiLditlul, th(; winds alua)s lav'orablc,
and L^ame and lish were ahundaiU. W C named the camp
'Camp ni^;' Injun,' in honor of old Sepsis, and the com-
pliment pleasetl Iiim \'er\ nuuh, as was e\iiuH'tl l)\' tlu;
ellorts he iiLuh' Id make it the pleasantest ol (uir camp-
in^" places. All our enjo\-ment was not coniined to the
cku s adxcntures, hut at m^ht, as we grouped iiround the:
c. lip lire or lounged comlortahl)' on the hemlock i)ouL;hs,
iaaiu' liappy hours were passed in listeniuL;' to tlu; nar-
ration ol thriUini,;" hunting' and tishin;^- adxcntures ot our
L^T'des, ()'• simihu' ones l)y the other memhei's of our partw
"()ur outing;' ;it last approachetl its limit, ami the time
for our return lionu; was lixed. I'he morniniL;' when we
were; to start nad ;n'ri\a;d, and sorrow! ull_\' ',\c hroke e-amp,
packeel our hii;ca;4(; and embarked. \\'(; all felt that rc;-
L;rot which alwa\s arises at i)artin^' Irom ])leasant sct;nes,
and tliis camp was by lar tlie i)leasantest tli;it we liad
liad on the lakes.
" It was ')laced on a bluif ol perha|)s twenty leet in
U it/i hl\'-l\Oii aiui Liiiiicra.
I 'A^
hciglu ;il)()V(; ili(' hiki' ; hchiml ii was a thick growth of
tirs aiul licinlocks; arouiul il was a lari^c patch of lihic-
hciT)- and whorllchcrrs' hushes, tlic t'ruit dI" wliich was then
in sc^ason, aiu' at the foot of the hhiff liic lapph's aiul
waxes ucro w hisprrin^' and siiii^iiiL;' anioiiL;' lli<' p<l)lih's
in their own sweet tones ail throng;]! the cla\' and nii^iu.
Can ) oil wonder tliat we left it unwiHinL;!)' ?
" ( )n our passage ilown the lake my trieiids went with
Leweys, uhilt: 1 for a chani^x; had old Sepsis. It was
onl)- then that 1 ')c-;^an to Ihul out all the oKl lellow's
L;'()od (jualities, and I must sa\- that of all m_\- ixperience
with unities, that ol old Pete- .Se|)sis is oiu; ol tlu; most
pleasant to remember. Patient, carelul for our comfort,
earnest in his eUorts to pleasi; us, always husy for our
well-l)eini^', Sej)sis was a ,L;em. I )urinL; our passa^'e 1 had
main' talks with him.
rom one suniect to another we
toucliecl on rc;ui>ion ami the oriLJin ol tlie liuhan race
Of the latt
er he repeated to me the lollowing' intert'st
in''' traditio!
M
\w\ ^■ears ajj'o st'X'en nieii and se\-en sciuaws were
madt', A\hii-h were scattt;red o\-er the world. ( )iu' ol ihest-
men was a '-reat hunter; he killed much ;>ame, and was
d^
ways roamiiii^' alxuit, and was newer (|uiet at one place-
When he nu,-t the otlv
r mefi aiu
I tl
uar sciuaws lie liacl
no
thin«'' to do with them, for he cared for nothin''- but
194
///'/// /•'/\'-/\(>(/ (iiiti ('(infcnr.
luintiiiL;" .iMtl lisliiiiL;, ami, you know, L^iunc is iioi pli-nty
whci'c imu'h iiKii Ix' loL^clhti'. N on hear lillK' \\b,ilc man.-''
said he. illiisiraliiii.;i_\', rclcn-inL;' to one ol our pari) who
was thus (IcsiLinalcil 1)\- the liuhaiis. .uid who was lalkiinj'
with his conipanioiis in the other canoe, a i^ood haH mih'
off, \ct whose \()ict: was plainl) auihhlc ' \\'( 11, he much
talk, alwa) s talk, and ^-.mic no like much l;ilk ; uc no
_L;{'t much (hick if we talk like little while man. .So the
hunter ioii;4' ai^o no Ikixc ansthin'^ to (io with the other
man, hul wandered awa)' h)r man\' miles throui^li m.my
countries, until ;it last he came lo the hi^- water. Then
he went to work and huih him a canoe | |)iv)nounced 1)\-
all linlians c'noe |. and he and his s(iuaw went out on the
wat;
which Iv fouiul nuic
:h 1
iL!L!i'r than an\' lhe\- had
e\'er seen, .md there were a neap ol ducKs am! porjioise
and seals.'
"'Well, the)- had a hii;' hunt and killed iinich t^-amc;
and cau^"ht much fish. Manv da_\s they did this, until
bimeby a bi^;" storm came up, ami ii bl(-wed so that the
caiioc' was dri\'en oil out ot si'^ht ol
ami
"'Well, the\- L;a\c: up tr\in^- to L;et back to land,
and lloatcd before the \\ind man\- (la\s, lixin^- on raw fish
ami a little g'ame that the\- luul in the canoe. Xo other
boat could ha\t; passed through such a storm, but the
c;uio(; hardl)' i^'ot wet, and tliat same pattern of bo;it has
//'//// /■7\'-/\(>t/ <ii/t/ i'liiiicrd.
95
Ix'cn made v\v\- since !))■ ail ih<' Iniliaii'-.. ami iin oiIut
|)C()|>lc can make a canoe.
"'So, aliei' niaii\- (la_\s the canoe came in sii^hl of a
new hnul, and in a lillle while il ran inio a smoolh (()\e,
llie man and his s(|naw landed, and Irom them came the
Indians of this counlr)'.'
"With such chals as llu-se our lime passed, and \V(;
reached ihe dam hefore I was aw ai'e that hall the distance
had heen IfaxcTsed.
" PitchinL;' onr lent, we soon had e\-er\lhini_;' lixed com-
forlal)l\, and in .i little wluie were hnsy amon^- ih.e sal-
mon and what u;Iorious s])oil we had I It seemed as if
the tish were ruiiiiini^' in 1)\ thousaiuls, and we had, in a
hrief space, moi'e than we could jjossihly transjjort. I hey
were not w.isted, howe\(;r, lor the Iiuli;ms always salt and
harrc'l foi- winter use the sahnon taken in tiie autumn fish-
iiiL;.
" \\\; remainetl at the place during- the next day, ;uid
on the; followiuL;- we started down th(; porta^^e tor home."
When m)' stoi'N' was ended I found tliat it was past
ten o'clock, a \(W\ dissipated hour for the hackwoods.
"Come, k'rcre," I exckiimed, "we had better turn in
or we shall Ix; late risers to-morrow," and 1 entered the
tent and pre[)ared ni)' bed for the ni^ht.
" \'c's," responded, b'rere, ")our land-locks ha\e proxeil
^
\()6 //'//// /'/v-A'i'i/ (///(/ Ciiiih'ra.
such an iiilcrcstln;^ topic llial llu- tunc has ^onc hy \v\-\
rapiill). W'c iiuisi ,L;i\i' lin'iu .i iri.il some da)," he aiKhd,
as he ciilfi-i il ihf iciiL ami (h'cw his MaiikiL (>\>t him ;
" ihcrc imi'it !)(• some K-ll \<'t."
"()h, yes," I answered, "there are a ^ood m.iii) lelt
al tile Schoodics, ami th<'y ar(; aliundaiil now in many ol
the other Maine laki's. In the kam^cleNs ^reat numhers
an- loiiml, and the\- are taken there ol \er\ ^ood size."
(11 Ani'.k III
A r.KICIll M'M;\im,. \.i||i.\, \i;.i|| ||||., \ \i|-\Si| .i| >|\ l'|;Mir.
AmMIM,; ^MMiiN llciiikM,. • S|||\|,||, |'|\^. • |l;.\|\s. • ■•(iiMiilM.
nil |I|;MI \\ '■ I'llll ii^Mlill K>. KlIIIS., Mil ||>M M.| \ 1 Ul
I' "I ll^lllNi.. • Is INc.l l^lll l;-' \Nh Mllll>;\Ms \^ I'l^l^ ipN \ -^MMi.N III;
I Kill I l\l\ I l:. • I I '^ \ \\ ii\hl l; \\\ II \\ I \\N >\l \|iiN I I I I , • \ s U -
Mn\ IIIVI II \-> l.iiM, I;M N l\ llll K I \ M: 1^ Sin ii| |||; ||\, • ||||
I'llWliiM \|l\\M\\ l-lli IN rUiilllM. liiK >\l\|iiN. • \ MI;\M.| 1 |
l''i>ii. Ai.i.i; \\ M IM, >\iMii\. r\iiii\i, TiMi ^. • \\ii:;\i^ \-, r.vii
I'll; >\l\hi\, \ S||;ii\,, I'isii. \M, \ (iiNll^i |i.\,, in HI kl Ml \l|;| Kl |i.
A II \|i \| : >-, ■ l< II KIM I h IN. • kl-INi. Ill llll I I N IN Mill W \ I M;.
An r. \i I I iNi, > I Ki i.i.i I . \'ii 1 1 lUN . I i>ii IN Ai;i Nil \Ni I , ( H i; I'l i;-
MWi'.NI Cwil'. Si I II I I ( Is \^ \N AmsIMK >iiMII1MI- I I \ •. • '^MMiiN
I ll.\ i I'l. \\ I li Ml. • l'l--lll U\I,\n'-- i.l iK.
^
I ^111'. mornint;- of the lollowin^- da}- was hrii^lu .iiid
^ almosi cloudless, a lew |)alch<s onl)' of ,L;('Id and
\cniiilion llcckiiiL;' the sk_\-, as llu'\- s]o\vl\- tlrificd hrfort;
the halnu' soulhwc'sl hrcczc.
Thi.' sun, altlunimii ahow the castci'ii liori/on, as in-
tlicalcd hy tlu; o'oUlcn pi'iuilini^s on the hilltops around
us. \\;is not \cl \isiblc to us as wc stepped out from the
shelter of our tent.
198
With I'lx-RocI ami {'aiiicra.
AroLisinL; llic i^uiclcs who \\c;rc slill .soiiiul asiccp, wc
took our rods .ind prepared (or a contest with Uu; lordU"
fish that we knew iiuisi he lyiiii^' \\\ the ri\i:r heU)re us.
The pool was one to ckdiglu the lieart of an)- fi-^Iiernian.
A K'd^c and sexcral ' 'r^'e rocks .it the head and on the
western shore; alh)rtk;d aihnirahk; casting" slaiuls, antl llie
beacli on the easteiMi sIior(; also L;a\e abundance of room
for one; to L;et out a loni^' line ovc ■ the hest water in
the pool.
I'l'ert; chose ilie led'^c on the w(;st< rn shore, near the
head, while 1 look the; he'ach on tin; other side. Mis ll\-
was a handsome jock Scott, and mine a " iOmah joe,"
that tl\' with white koely, yellow hackle, and win^s made
of the harred black and white; featlu;rs of the; wooel or
summer eluck, that is so killiuL;" with the lanel-locks, anel
I will s:i\- tlu' common salmon also, h)r I ha\e' hrst anel
last killeel in elihe're-iit uate^rs (juite; a number with it, al-
though in e\-ery case' 1 was told b\' n''y t^uiek' that it was
"no L^ooel tor salmon." I remember ol an instance' e'\'e'n
o[ a LHiiele oilei'iui; to . -.•'^cr his da_\'"s pa_\' that "that tl)'"
uoulel not rise; ;i s;dmon ainwlu're, \e'i insiek' ol ten min-
utes I h;'Lel one' hool^ed and saxcd with it.
Mine \v;;s a much li^hte'r lly iIkui k"rere;"s, but I chose
it be'cause; my eT.stim;' would be e'lUirel)' in the shaelc of
the te)re'st on tlu' east siek; ol the ri\e'i", while; his would
200
//'//// /-'/V'Rod am/ Canicm.
l)c on ilu' nuich liy;htcr west sitlc, l>eyoiul llu; shadows
of the ircfs.
In a ht'iul of the pool, ami near the foot, thouL^'h
bcNond in\' reach, was a mass ol old lo^^s and broken
trees which had tlrifti;d in there and had anchored to the
side and bottom of the pool. I had noticed it on the
precedint^ e\"ennLj' and nK.'ant to ha\'e made an elfori to
clear it awa\', for it would be a nast\' place for a salmon
to run into; but 1 hjrj^ot to attc;nd to it, and nexer
thoujj^ht of the mass aL,^ain until I l)eL;an castim^'. The
attemi)t, howexer, would have been futile, as wc; after-
ward found, for the tam^led stull. tree limits, old slumps
and roots anchoret! in te'ii fec;t of water, would ha\"e been
be\()nd our combined strenLj;-th ; an ox team with hcav}-
chains would have been needed to remo\-e it.
b'rcrc be^an casting' in the; foam ami boil below the
rapitis, and, cox'erinsj;' the water thoroughly in his usual
sportsmanlike manner, had his 11)- in a short time; in the
choicest part of the middle water. My casting' was done;
n(;ar the foot of the pool wh(;re the sea trout in numbers
sprung- for ni)- lly at e\(.'r)' cast, and insisted upon hook-
inij^ themsel\'(;s, notwithstcUidiuL;' m\- effe^rts to shake them
off; this stirred the water fearfully, and soon rendered
ni)- chance for a salmon e.\tremc;ly |)roblematical. I gave
it up after taking- olf my sixth trout, and, standiuL,^ ni)'
IVith Fly- Rod and Camera.
201
rod ai'^ainst an old stuh. I li,i,ditcd a ci^ar as a sliicld
a'-'aiiisl tilt.' Ilit:s, and walchctl m\ friend as b.c uui his
ll\- out here; and there in the neatest possible manner.
At leiiL^th, as his "winded lure dropped like a thistle-
down al)o\c the sunken boulders in mid- stri-ani, and Ix;-
L;an to moxc tremulously with a scries of short jerks
across the water, a swirl was seen, a faint splash, and
then the scream of the rc;el gax'e tokcMi that a salmon
was hooked.
Ah! what a s[)lenditl tish he was, as his sil\-ery form,
drippiuLi^ with the cr\stal lluid, lea[)ed into ihe air, and
then, with a mi^'ht)" splash, fell back into the rixcr a^ain.
A dart across the pool and then another wild leap, and
\('t another, and then the tish sank to the bottom as
motitMiless as a stone.
l^Vere reeled in all the line he could, and then, put-
tino- on such a strain as caused his heaxv rod to bend
in a half circle, he essa^'ed to mo\-e the fish Irom its
rt^stmn' place.
ur
'Uidc^s, who liad been l)us\- at their
camp in preparing;" breakfast, now apjx'ared on the I'ocks.
Hiram, w
I-
ho had the L^att, stepped up to the side of
rc:re, wiu:re, aitnou
lth(
cotdd not hear his voice aboxc
the roar of the; water in the; falls, I could j)lainl\' see b\'
h.is L;-estures that he was advising" ni)- friend as to the best
w
a\- to handl(j the lish.
202
Jl^itii l-lx-Rod and (.'a menu
l'i\'rc, notwithslandinL^' lie made nunicrous cltorts to
in()\"(,' the saliiion, was al lasi oMi^cil to await his pleas-
ure. ( )ccasi()nall)' a li'enioi- ol the line ahoxc llie water
indicated tliat the lish was endeaxoriiiL;' to sprini^' ont the
hook, l)Ut he I'eniained in one position still, and it was
onl\- wiien I sei/ecl a small stone and threw it into the
water that he stii'red Ironi his lurking;' place.
As the stone sj)lashed al)o\c him he L;"a\c; a herce
run down the pool, taking' oat the line in the wildest
manner, then up a^'ain into the rapids Ik; darted before
I'rere could emplo)- tin; reel in taking up the slack; then
with three wild leaps in (juic!-; succession \\v, returned to
the ctMiter ot the pool and re^-ained hi, lirst restini.';' place.
.Ml this was dont; with th(; I'apiditx' of thouL;'ht. and
it recpiii'ed the utmost exertions ol kreri; to pack the line;
on the re(d ai^ain so as to he prei)aretl for tlu' next mo\-e
of the hsh, which was sure.; to conn; soon.
llardl\- IkuI the strain of the rod been put upon the
salmon ai;"ain, when with, a llerce rush he threw himself
in the; air, then with the speed of an arrow as soon as
he struck the water he darted down tlu; stream into the
rapid.s, ])aused there ;i secoml and then dashed back into
the pool a^ain, circled twice, and then, to our uttc;r dis-
ijjust and disma)-, Ik; buried himself in the mass of drift
stult in the beiKl ol the pool.
// '//// /'7\'-/\()(/ a I id C amcm.
203
"Confound the luck.' shouted llirani, his \^^\vv sound-
ing" his^li ;il)o\(' the roar ot \\\v. water.
"Is he; olt, sure.''" I asked as I a[)|)roached I'rere
and stood at his side on the rock. " ^ ou are fast to
sonicthini;- still," 1 ackled, lor his rod was cur\t:(.l still
with the strain.
"1 cannot feel hiin." I'l'ere replied, "and I think he
has entangled the line in the roots ami escaped."
His conjecture; prox'ed to he correct, loi' the guides
on i;'oin,n' down o\-er it in the lanoe, found that the cast-
in!4' line was l)atll\' wound up in the tlrilt wooik and the
l1^■ and lish both ijone.
"It's pro\'okin_L;', I-'rere," I exciainied. "We are ha\-
in^' hard luck; confound that old pile of roots I"
" \ es, it is rather disappointiuL;." replied \w\ Iriend,
i*eelin_t;' in his line th;it now had keen released 1)\' the
L^'uides. "to lose a hsh alter pkiNin;.;' him so lons^' as I did
that one, hut there'll he one more lelt loi' a breeder. "
"Yes, old chap," 1 answered, "there is nothiiiL;' like
lookini^' at these thint^'s |)hil()sophii-ally. 1 used to 140
shootini;' a ^'ood deal with a Iriend who alwaxs said at
the close ol a day's sport, no matter whether he had
oood or [)oor success, 'Well, we IkuI the air and exercise
and that is somethiiiL; to congratulate oui'seKcs u[)on.' "
"lie was riL;ht," responded k'rere, "killing the fish is
■' ii
^^^^■PWIKP
204 With FIx-R'hi and Cafiicm.
noi all ihci-c IS ot tishiiiiL;, and il 1 lo-^i luncU'cii out oi
Lwciil)' I should still ciiji)) till' (lining. "
"Same here," 1 rcplicil, "hiil w*- ur,\\ as well cat
oiii' hrcaklast, and rest the pool !or a while"
" Tnic," said I't'crc; "thai was a li\''ly fish, and he
stirred things up prcit\' well."
" N cs," 1 responded, " nou had \<iur hands full. I'm
sorr\' he's lost, for he was a nice one, hut \ ')ii know
'there arc as nice lish in tin; sea as was e\'er taken,'
hey?"
"\'es," he: rt:plicd, lollowin^- me to the tent, "and
' thci'c's no use crying' o\ci' sjiilt milk.' 1 here, I'v-c nu'tch-
v<.\ \()ur ada^'c, and 1 will Imish l)y sa\"in!4' we'll pick our
llints and trN' a^ain. "
" W'c will so," 1 saitl. "and now, lliram, hriuL; on
youi' breakfast, I'm as raxcnous as a woll."
A hoimtifu.l meal it was th;it the guides spread out
hefoi'c us, and full justice was done to it 1)\' all of its.
Ih'eakfast was lollowed hy the ine\ital)le smoke, of
coiu'sc;, and loi- an houi" we lett the pool "to its own
rellections, " as I told krerc. ( )ur tent was pitched in
the mittdlc ol a little clearing' about three; roels Irom the
shore; liere many a fishen-man, Iiunter and ri\-erman had
camped before us, and numerous tokens of them were
scattci-cd about in the shape of cans. i)ottles, boxes, etc.
//'//// I'lv-Rod ami Cumcra.
2<^5
A luiiiihcr of wiKi raspljciTN' hushes thill h;ul L^rowii
up were IjcncUni^' uiih their I'udd) h);uls of ripeued Iruii.
A cock partridge was drunimiuL; <)U a loi;' in the woods
near 1)\ ; ihiltiTiiiL;' in the trees and shiaibs ahout us wen-
numbers of llycatchers ami warblers, and in the thiikel
behind the tcMit a thrush was pouring out his beauliUd
Hute-like son^-.
A nuinoer of retl scjuirrels, those chalterini^', lively
deni/ens of the northern woods, dartc:d about us, coming
almost to our feet to |)ick up th(j rrun^ibs ol biscuit that
we tossetl to them. Wdiat t^^i-aceful little animals they
are ; and how '[uiekl)' they learn who is their baentl and
who their fot'. The; rattle; of the kingfisher ever and
anon came to us from the riwr. as the bird sped up
and down ()\'ei' the water in search ol his hnn\' pre\'.
" j-'rert'," 1 exclaimeil, as ^■llcyoii's harsh tones came
echoing' back to us, "(.lid you e\'er realize what a de-
structi\e [K'st on a salmon stream that biixl is?"
'A\'hat bird'^" asked w\\ friend, who had becMi h-ins--
on his back and ^'a/in^" up into the blue hea\ens above.
"That cha[) out there rattlin;^' to us," rci)licd W'il-
litUU.
"N'es," saitl I'rere, "I have fully reall/.etl it, ami I
wish that excry one (dse would, too."
"The)' must," 1 exclaimed, "and measures must be
:
2o6
ll'ltli l'lv-J\od (I //if Ca///c/'a.
taken to rccliHc ihcir numhcrs \c\-\ considerably, or the
streams will he ruinexl. !l seems lo me there' are a
dozen now where there used lo he hut one, and ihey
destro\- in the aL;i-;'reL;a'ie a \ast nunihei' o| yoiin^' sahv.on
and iroul."
"\()u're ri^hl, 1 )oclor." said lliram, "and the shel-
drakes arc; worse excn than the kingfishers"
"^'es," I answered, "a llock of sheKlrakes on a ri\'er
will in a season destro)' almost all the tr\ ; more, \astly
more, lish are kilU'd 1)\- these pc'sts than all the tislu-r-
men, netters and poachers take out, and it seems to be
almost loll)' h)r the ( "lo.'ernment authorities, here and in
the .States, to put into the ri\"ers millions of fr\' of trout,
salmon, etc., when these birds an- |)ermitted lo prey upon
them. The time must come when a hea\-\- l)ount\- will
be offered for ihe destruction of kinfj^rishers, sheldrakes
and othtM" tishiuL;' ducks on the ri\'ers and other fresh
waters."
"\'es," exclaimed William, "the sheldrakes are the
worst enemies the youn^;- salmon ha\'e, and 1 kill them
e\-er\' chance 1 l;('1. 1 once opened a half-i;"rown shel-
drake and lound se\"enteen salmon lr_\' in its stomach."
"dracious," exclaimed Frere, "if there was a llock
of them the)- must ha\"e made sad haxoc."
"Tliere wer<; ten, countiuL;' the; old ones," said Hiram.
//'//// /■/\'-/\()i/ (ii/i/ Ca:iicrn.
20"
"Ten," saiil I-'rcrc ; "iii ihal case, if ll.,'\- wen- all as
full as ilu' one I'xaiuinril, ihcrc \\v\\- one luiiulrcil aiul
sc\cnl_\' \()uiiL'' salmon calcii at one ,^'ull).
" \'cs," I cxclaiincil, "ami ilicy v\\n average six meals
a iia\' at Ica-^l ; six limes one huiulred and se\enl\ is
o\-er one thousand \v\ a da\' 1)\ a siiiLilc llock; and this
is ke|)l u|) all summer lon;^. It is lolly to attempt to
stock ri\"ers while these destroxcrs are around, and a
waste ol labor anil monew I ha\c advised ami do atl-
\!se e\c'r\' one who is int"i'estcd in lishim; to do all the)'
can in the way o| remoxiiiL; these pests !)y L;i\inL;' re-
wartls and hounties for their lu.'ads. SomethiiiL;' must be
done \-er\' soon, e\'en it we h.axc to inxoke legislative ac-
tion.
"It's sometinn's a uondei- to me, altoij'ether," said
II
n'am.
how it is that an\- salmon are left; the\' ha\T
th
an eneni)' atter them all the time Irom the clay the\-
<u'e hatched until the\' L;row up."
'■ \'es." I replied, "and e\en b'. lore they are hatched,
see how many pests are alter the spawn; eels, suckers,
tro^s, lish ol various kincls, insects, all will eat the spawn.
I h,i\e been told by guides ami others who ha\e seen
the act rept,'ateill\-, that trout will tlart in and seize the
cL;'Li' ii"^ it- comes from the temale, and e\en tear it out
ol the orilice."
2<»H //■//// /-/v-isoi/ (til J ('aiiicni.
'■\'cs, it's a wonder \\r ha\c an\ sal Idl al .ill,
al all. " said I I iram.
"It's well lor the loiiliiuiaiuc of ilu' spcc'irs that
lhc\ (lon'i all come to the lly," saiil I'rere, after a jiause;
"il lhe\ did lll( \' Wtildd soon l»e e\lenilinale(l."
" N (s, Mr. I'rere," exilaiinetl William, "thai is iriu;,
for tl\-tisliermen are liu'reasinj.' faster than the tish."
"it al\va\s seemed strange to me," said I, "that
while the Iresh-riin fish will laki' the il\ sometimes al
the tirsi cast that comes to him, the tish that has heen
ill the ri\cr a while will j)ay no more attention to it than
lo a slick. 1 ha\c nolii-ed it in main ditlereni rivers."
" \ Cs. it's hard lo rise a tish ihal has heeii in ihe
rixcr lon^.' said hrere.
"Inless jusi alter a storm and a rise in the water,"
added I 1 iram.
"\'es," said 1, "th"\' will sometimes 'lift' in snch a
case, hnt the) are hard to mo\c. Many and main is
the honr Vw cast over do/ens ol salmon in the pools,
and had to leaxc them ImalK in disgust. It seems to
wv that it is because ihey ha\(' hecome ac(|iiainletl with
the tealhereil lures, lor olten an entirel}' new ll\- as )()U
said, I'rere, when we were discussim^' the Na^aries of
these fish -will rairacl their attention: hut the\' will
sometimes come tc^ the bait."
' f
^■;
i ■••*
2IO //■//// I'lv-Roii (iini (ti/iicni.
" I he hail f" i'.\cl;ui;n'(l !• rciT.
"N'cs." I i*c|)llc(l, "I lia\c lic.iril III sc\(im1 insiancis
of tlicii' takin!^ the |iliantiiiu minnow on this side of the
ocean, antl il is coinnion |ira(tiic to troll loi" tlicin in
Scotland with that hn"c.''
" \ cs," said I'rcrc, ' W . II. UKu k in his u;rcai novel
"White Heather,' L;i\'es .1 ninnlxr ol excitinL;' descri|itions
of such t'lshin^-."
"I reineinl )er,' I replied, ".md \oii will Inid in .Sir
I'lMncis I'rancis's hook on lishinL; and in other l'ai!4'lish
works, lre(|ninl mention ol irollim^ lor the salmon. I
ha\'e lieard of an instance ot one takin^^- the spoon."
" I mpossihie I " exclaimed Irere.
" \ol so," I re]ilied , "oiK' ol m\ Iriends, whose \er-
acit)' I can ahsolntel) rel_\ on, tells me that while fishing-
in the Mar^.n'ee Kivcr, in C ape Ilreton, he tried (la\ after
da\' to rise one ol the salmon whuh were l\'iriL;' in ,1 pool,
hut the) paid no attention whate\cr to the |]\. lin.ill),
as an experiment, he cast a trolling;' spoon anions; them,
and it was seized in an instant."
"Strange!" exclaimed i'rere.
"^'es,■" 1 replied, "hut stranL^cr still is the fact that
salmon will take a halt c()m[)osed ol a hunch ol worms."
"WOrins!" exclaimetl ni)- listeners.
"Vcs, worms," 1 answcM'ed ; "the Xo\a SccHkv sjiddcs
//'//// /•7v-/\(>(/ if)/(/ ('(tincra.
I I
icll mi' ilial Miili is the lad; 1 li.i\c tricil almt^i t\ci"y-
ihiii;^, h()\\<'\(r, lull ha\i' in\tr m(i\til a salmon ixccpi
with a ll>;"'''
"All, |)(»(iiir," (xclaimcil Irtri, " il is a dama'^in^
admission tor \oii in make thai \oii Jiaxf iriid cxcry-
ihiiiL; on salmon."
" N'cs," I answci'i'il. "l)iil il is true, ami 1 will \v\\
\-oii all alioiii it. I was (isliiiiL; the Indian l\i\iT, that
hcanliliil slrcam which coiUains mor<' lirsi-ilass |»ools to
the mile than an\ other rivfr that 1 am aitjii. tinted wilh,
1)111 which is now ahoiit ruined as a salmon stream 1»)
ihe enormous saw mill at its mouth.
"I had llshed e\-er\ pool lor se\cral da\s with ihe
utniosi i-are and industr\, hni ii<»i a salmon could I rise.
.\i leii-ih i uaN'' h nil.
In I "iKiinlii'i --'s l'.ii(\ I lup.nlia Uu' I'nllduiir^ apiuar-- : " I'lic aira)' nf tiL'lh ill
(licatis vuraiiu, ami ill
I! >-alniMn tciii--
iM |)ri-\ Vra(lii\ mi aliU'i-l
aiw aniiii.il uhiih
It IS capa
ik' if i-apl
iirmij', lliMiiLili II i-^ a mhiu-w
hat sin'^iil.ir laO llial \\w sluiiiai li
wluii cipiiuil is ran l\ I'miiikI Id I'diilaiii tlu' riiuains nf IimhI of aii\' kind; tun i>r ihri'c
lu'iriir^s (if lull si/r ha\i', huu i\ii', IhtH fiiiiinl in its >.l..nia<h, tlii' s.iinl lauiuc and
iitluT small IIsIr'-, M\ni to cdnstiiutL' |).iil nf its loi.d, .nul w In n in fn^li uaUr, tlir
/;.'/// fry, <ir lllr I'rv <>/' i/.i
>riil.\. llu--~, I'll',
Ik- .■in''lrl' -'.ilc 111'-
tlio salniiiii willi llir artilinai ll\-, or with thr iiiiiiiii>\' ,'/■ ///,■ rfv'rw |llahis niiiU'. — v .
A. S, ], and nn hait is iikut di-adly llian tin- ht nf thr salmon itsrll."
In addition tn the ;ili()\i' I will (|ii(itc hum lln' "Cnuipiiat Air^Ki" tlu- lullnwiiii; :
" 'rhf \i>nii;,r i>f Imlh ;.^ra> liii.u; and tmul sulU-r ;.;iT.itly I'riPin the prc--rncr of sainujii in
llu- triliut.uivs (if oiii' rnci-., tin.' foinur paituiil.uly aix' son;;ht .■ilt( r and takt-n liy tluin."
In an (.■xaininatioii of a iarj^'o iiumlni' (jf salmon cauLjhl in the t'cnoliscol Uiwr
Weil'-, ami oiic'IkmI in the I'mstoii markets, I found the bodies ol smelt, saiul eels ami
caprlin, 1 '.it no otIuT food. I'.. A. S.
IJ.JIIUI1 ■■MUM
212 //■//// I'lv-Kod (I /a/ Camera.
'■'Well, 'loin,' said I lo my miidc, stiir(l\- old Tom
Mason, 'this is |)rcity diil! mnsic ; wlu'rc arc all llu! fish?'
"'I L^i\c; il up,' he answered, 'the) \\v\\\ rnnnini^' in
plenty after the rain, hnt lor the life of me 1 can't tell
what tin; trouble is, iniless the\- ha\c i^oue up to the
headwaters of the rixcr.'
' 'Headwaters,' s.iid I, 'and hov far ma\- lhe\- he?'
"'()h, the \aVv. at the head of llu- ri\-er is as far
up as the\- can i^ct,' he replied, 'and 1 Avc^uldn't wonder
it they are all up there.'
An idea sei/ed me.
"' lorn,' I exclaimedl, 'can we ^ct up to that lake,
handily ?'
"'Well,' \\v. replied, 'it's a matter of Ihc miles or so
through the woods; it's a ^ood tramp, hut not a hard
one, 1)\' an\' means.'
"''I\)m, is there a boat on the lake?' I asked.
" ' Xo, sur, not now,' lu: answereil, ' \ve used to ha\e
a canoe on it, hut the ri\-er men smashed it.'
"'Sui)post' we tr_\- a rafl on it,' 1 continued.
"'We mioht do that, he said, 'or l)etter still, <>-et
one ol the men ahoiii hen; to haul a skiff u[) throu-di
the woods.'
"'it that can he done,' I answered, 'rush It, Tom,
and wc will tr\- the lake.'
//"//// /''/v-/\Oi/ aiiii Caiiwra.
2 I
o
"Tom (lid ' rusli ii.' ami hctOrc ihc lollowiui^' (la\" IkuI
passed he had succeeded in iL^ctlinii; a skitl farlcd through
the woods to llu; ilcsired place. ( )n the da) alter \vt;
inadt' an earl\' start for a da\'s cxploiMtion ol the lake.
"It was a prettN L^ood lrain|i wy throni^h the woods,
althon^h a portion ol the wa\' was ()\v\- a Inniher I'oad,
lint we reached the lake, which is ahont a mile in diam-
eter, at an earl)' honr, and, lannchiiiL;' the skill, we hei^an
onr imc-sti^ation, Tom slowK' I'owin^ and 1 easting' o\cn"
the snrlace as lar as 1 could reach in all dii'ections as
we mo\'ed alonL;-.
" I he snrlace ol the water was co\ert:d, here and
there, with the U'axcs ol the water lilw and the water
was dark and warm ; a lew s| lotted or krciok trout rose
to the d)', luit nothin!.;' came up worth iiientioninL;'.
'*\Ve mo\-ed about here and thei-e, t'aslin^' ami exam-
inini^' the water, Imt not a salmon did we si'e until we
had coxcretl ■ more than half of the whole area, and 1
was on the point ol exclaiminL;', 'I'om, ihei'e's no salmon
in this jiondl' when a lish darted from the wati.'r into
the air and lell hack with a mi^ht)' splash closet to the
bow ol tlu; boat; so close, in fact, that the watei' llew
in a shower o\-er the oarsman. 'Tom jumped as if he
had been shot, and turned in his seat in time to catch
a ''limuse of the fish.
2 14
// 7/// /''/v-Roii and Camera.
"'W'liat arc xoii doiiiL;', 'I'oin?' 1 cxclainu'cl, lauj^diing
at his aslonishiiK'iU.
"'I'm all I'iglu,' lu- rc'ijliud, 'onl)' ihu salmon ^^•as
trcatiiiL;" inc to a shower hath, that's all.'
"The l(,.'a[) of the tn-st t'lsh sccniccl to be a sij^nal for
the fun to Ix'n'in, ami newr in all m\' tishin^" experience
had 1 seen aiu'thin''' likt; it —
SaliiiDii III ri^lii (if us,
SaliiKiii to Ic't'l (if us,
and salmon all around us, leapin^' into the air in every
direction. \\\' were' now \cry near the inlet of the ri\er
at the head ol llu; lake, antl just 1)\- a gravelly point
that made out into llu; water; and here the hsh had
c(^n!4reL;ated, there heino' a dee|) hole off the; point into
which llu- cold water trom the stream al)o\e settled.
" S(>nu;times a grilse: or salmon would leap so near
tin; boat as to make us think that it was coming aboard,
and I actually caught myself striking- at one with ni)' rod
while ii was in the; air near me, and e\'en steady, sedate
old lOm made a pass at another with the !L;"alf, so near
us ditl the hsh leap. Well, of course, it was prett)' ex-
citing watching the salmon jumping all around iis. Some
were fresh-run ami bright; others had grown dark-colored,
showing that the)' had been in the fresh water some time.
Indian River is one of the earliest in the Provinces, the
2l6
// 'itii I'lx-Rod ami C dz/wnr.
salmon ascending the stream and lakini:;' the fly as early
as the latter part ol I'Chruarx ; some of the old brown
fellows that we saw were: undouhtedK' amonu" the earliest
ones to run in.
"Alter a whili; the V:a[)inL;- and splasliin^;' ceased, and
then I began casting again, and I kept it up off and on,
here and there, all da\' ; hut, dthoiigh 1 tried e\-er\- \a-
riet\' ot flies, and fished almost as man}' wa)s, not a rise
did 1 L!-et.
"'Tom,' saitl 1, as wi; ate our dinner in the shade
of a grt)\i; of maples near tlu; rapids above the inlet,
'what shall we do; 1 dislike; \-er\' much to gi\'e up try-
ing to rise one of those tisii, but the\' arc; d(;cidedl)' con-
trar\-.'
"'Con-tra-ry the\' be, and aggrawatin, too,' said Tom
in repK", 'but if we had a phantom minnow, ami of the
soft, lioht, elastic ones, we mi<dit make them sinu" a dif-
ferent song.'
"'What!' 1 exclaimed, 'will the)' take a phantom
minnow? 1 know that it is used on the other side of
the wate' . but 1 nexcr lieard of a salmon taking one in
America.'
"'Oh, )-es,' answered Tom, who had fmislu'd his din-
ner, and was filling and lighting his pipe, ' 1 hax'e heard
of the like, but not often. It we had one we'd tr)- it.'
I'Vitli IHy-Roii aiic/ Camera.
2 I
.'1
"'W'c would,' I replied; 'it's not in \w\ opinion (;\-
acth' sportsniaidike, but 1 would out of curiosity like to
offer one to them. 1 ha\e a couple down at the house,
and wc; will tr\- them to-morrow.'
"'Very o'ood,' said rom, 'and m;i)- he Axe'll L;ct one.
1 have heard of more than one heiuL;' taken with the
phantom, and it is just as sportsmanlike to cast it, and
fully as hard as it is the ll\.'
"As he spoke he ros(; and l)(;^an turniuL;' o\'er pieces
of turf, stones and old 1ol;s. I asked him what he was
about, and his W'\)\\ was: 'We'll tr\- a bunch of worms
on the bc-j4;i.^'ars, that is if )-ou ha\"e a bait hook.'
"'Worms! Tom,' 1 exclaimeil, 'who excr heard of
takiuL;' a salmon with auL^lc worms?'
"'I ha\'e, more than once,' he answered, 'and we'll
i^ivc' these a tr\'.'
"I searched through my book, but could not tmd a
bare hook.
"'[ l"!a\(; none, I'om,' s.iid 1, 'but II \<)u can tind
the worms 1 will cut the feathers oil one of m\ larj^e
Hies.'
"Tom succeeded in tuidin^' a dozen or more ant^le
worms, and after he had impaled them on my hook I
waded out into the rapids, and dropping' tlv bait, let it
lloat down and sink into the deep pool Ix'low. 1 had
2l8
With l'l\-/\od and i'unicni.
iu)l the slightest failh lliai a salmon would touch il, bul
1 wanuii lo ti'}' tin; cxpt.'riincin.
" SiuUk'iilw when the; bait liad sunk lour or li\(; feet
in the cU'cp. dark water, I fek a mighty jiull, and, strik-
iuLT- 1 found 1 was fast to a lari^'e hsh. llc;i\'ensl liow
that hc'ijar i)ull''d; the reel saiiL! out piteousK- w- the kne
spun out, l»ut the iish hun^;' to the kottoin and would not
junip.
" ' lOni,' 1 t'xclainied, 'he's a hea\y tish ai^.d a sironi;'
onc' ; he hand's to tlie l)ottoni Hkt; all possessed.'
" ' N'es, sur,' replied Tom, sucking" a\\a\' at his |)ipe,
' \-ou\'e i^ot all )()u can handk', sure.'
" I'Or o\-er a (piartcr of an hour did that fish waltz
around the pool, circlini;' sometimes slowlw sometimes with
L;reat speed, hut ne\'er at the surface where he could he
seen. M\ wrists were i^rowinL;" tired, tor 1 had kept a
strain on the lish for all ni)' casting- line was worth, and
I l)e_L;ai\ lo tmd I was _L;x;ttinj4' too much ot a i^ood thin^."
"Ves," interrupted k'rere, "it must lie dull music to
pla)- a salmon that nc;\er jumps."
"Indeed it is," remarked William, v.dio was an eager
listener to m\- stoi'v ; "and it was a pity to put such a
licav)' strain so lon^" on )()ur nici' rod."
" ^ es," I replic'd, "lait I was kist to a big lish and
Avanted to sax^e him if I could. l'"inall\- I told 'I'om to
>^ ,1
1
A l.dNi; Casi . (Iii>i.)
220
l^yUh J-^lv-kod and Camcm.
stand by Avitli tlie L^aff and T would t'ithcr forc(> up the
salmon so In- could ^alT il, or part ni\' casiiiiL; liiu:. 1 oni
came out to nic with L^a't in hand, and I lifted so that
lU)' I'od was licnt almost ijouhlo. The lish hc^an to yi(-'ld,
and drawiuL;' ncar'^r and nearer to Tom, tmally came t()
the sur(ac:e. Tom, who was re.uK' to use the ,L;all, when
he saw the hsh comiuL;' toward him, shouted. ' I he devil!'
and steppt'd back.
"'What's u|), Tom?' 1 asked, 'why tlon't you L^aff the
salmon, 1 can t hold him this way Ion:.;.'
" ".Salmon 1' shouted i"om, wh.o had now seiztnl the
landiuL;- net, 'it's no salmon at all it's a blasted big eel I'
"'I'^ell' I exclaimed, 'it must be a whalel'
" I L;'a\'<-' the beast the butt, and Tom soon had the
eel in the landing net. It was almost as thick as m)-
leg, and must ha\-e weighed at least ten poimds. What
a mess he made! M\' elegant casting line, one that I
had made of th(^ choicest gut, was twistc^d absoluteh' into
a million knots, and of course was ruined.
"He kilknl tlu; 'varmint' and cut the line free; it
was useless.
om.
said I, as wt: L:()t into tlu; skill, 'it ser\'es
me right.
" V
es, si
he
We had not!
•epiiecl cooll\'
-tl
urth(;r to sa\
ru'ued on an-
//'//// I'ly-Roii (tiid Ciuiicm. 221
'*J
^'1/
ollur leader ami ll\, and we li'ied ilie salmon aL;ain,
leL;'itiinatei) , Init we could noi siir ilieni, ,ind we j^a\'t:
up the t'i,L;'lu carl)- enouL;h lo |)ennil u-. lo l;cI out oi
the woods and reacii ihe house lore dark.
" Ihe next k\a\ we tried them a^ain, and the next. I
expL-rimeiUed with llies, phantom minnows and e\cn with
' ]"i()|)pers,' hut although llie salmon maniti'sted a desire to
jump all arouiul us, the\' showetl no inclination lor nearer
accpiaintance, and we tma!l\' left them to their own com-
panionship.
" 'Ai;;-;rawatin (aissesi' exclaimed Tom, as we lelt ihem
on the alternoon ol the; third tla\', and started on our lon^'
walk ilown the mountain I'oad." "'
"I la,, ha," laughed hrere. "it must ha\-e heen Inn."
" l""un lor the saiimon," adiled William.
" \('s," 1 replied, "hut not loi' us. jhit c-ome, hrere,
■•■■ I'IkiI Milniiin will ri-~t' to tin.- t1\ in laki."^ and pcmiU i^ slinun li\ the t'lllow-
in;^ fnmi an articU' mi " ( ulliiiin;.,; Salni 'ii Spawn in M.iinf," puhli^iuii in //i!r/'..'s
Moiilhly M,i^.i:iih\ June, \'^~\. In lix-alin^;- dl' \\\v salnicin wliii'li wriu liriiv^r l<i.pt
for l)rcr(li-r>- in a \av\.'\- Jiond. llu' uriu-r '-ax'^: "lUifinL; luiir and [ul\ liic -.alinon
in tlic pnnd a \' ciin-t.intlv iuripin^', and tluir a^ililv is nniarlsai)lc. ( >n Iwn oc-
t'asiiins tlu'V lia\c lit-i-n sirn in junip cK-ar uwr a linluc li\i' and imodialf Irrt \w^\\
alHi\c the wa'.i r. It is nut siijipuvrd thr\' did this with the do^ii^n nl p:>sinir the
lied;_;e, luit aecidenlalU , it lieint,^ (|iiile eiir.rnun t(> see tlieni junip to ;in ecjual liei;.;lit
in the middle of their iiulii-,ure, as tli(iu.i.;h the !ea[) were entirelv aimless. I tiii'iiiv;
the e ii'h da\ s cif ihiir eniirnienieiit tlu\' are frei|iieiii l\ seen sw iiniiiin;^- in m'eal schodis
aliniit the' slmres (jf the p.md. A-^ the siiiiiiiier ad\:inees tlu)- beedine mure euiet.
retre.ilin;; tii the dtep waler, not \ei\ ileep, li(i\ve\ei', iCr in tlu- dn)iiu;hl nf August
and Septemlier tlie ;.^reatest di-pth in the pMud is tweUe l\-et, and in the iiielM-ure
wlicre the s.dnKni weie kept the pa^t se.ismi uidv nine feet. In slieli a shalluu poiul,
222
H'itli /7r-/\Vv/ aiu^ Camera.
let's L;i\(' a lew more casts in \.\\v. pool and then nio\c
ii|) stream to the I'pper Twin I'ool, where we will make
our permanent camp."
"All riL;ht." rephed m\- friend, "and hoys, while we
ai"e fishing' you ma_\' as well hrcik camp and pack, we
will mo\(' u[) stream soon."
Takinii;' our rods we made oui' w.iy to the stands on
the jxxil, I octnipN inj:;' I'rere's old position on tlu: rocks,
and he taking ni\' former one ow the heiich.
The sun had now ajjpeared al)o\e the trees on the
eastern siile ol the ri\-er and the water sparkleil like silver.
in the shadows, howexcr, it was dark, and the re-
llections ol the lolia^t- wt're in the cpiiet nooks as per-
fect as if the\- were cast upon a mirror.
A southwesterl) hree/e was Mowini; down the stream,
anil the surlace ol he pool was coxcrcd with dancing'
wilh siuh (larl< walrr ami Imllum, 111.' siin\ lax-^ ixcrl a piiwnl'ul iiilhu'iicr in miil-
sunimrr. Al mir tinu- llu' (cmin ran re I'l llu- watri .it llu' ImiIIihii iracluil 72 !•'.
\\ I ibis r\re'->i\c Ileal has iki pri'i cpt ll'lr t'lTcct mi lllr lu'allli <i| ihr salilnai. I Hii'-
iliL; all ibis liiin' ibr sabiinn cal iiotbinv;. In laii lIuTi' is lilllc ronni Inr doulil
that lluir slax in liu' vi\rrs is ,inr V^w^ I asl , lasliii;.; iVcuii six to iwcUr nic.ntbs.
'I'luA' llu sri/r llu- spurlsnian's ll\ . but it is )iriiliabU nut b ir llu- puipi.sc df lninl,
1)111 rallu-r akin In llu- artimi ul a luiki'X' ur .1 bull nisbinL; alur a nil ra;.;. it is
a i-iinininn :piniiin aiiinnn sjinrtsnu-ii that saliiimi \\ill imr risi tu a ll\ in siiij wali-r,
but lliis has ln-iii plainU (lispru\ril al nuikspnrt. (In s(.'\ir.il in'iasidns in May,
Si-litniilu-r anil ( IrtnlK-r llu- trial was niailr fur llu- piirp-isr nf tt-stiiiL; llu- iiialti-r,
anil till.- salnmii in llu- pmul wrri' Imiiul tu taki- llu- lU uith as niiuli (.-ai^i-nu ss as
in tlu' I'aMirilL' puuls ul' the Canailiaii salmon -ivi-rs. I'lu'sc witi-. so far as known.
Uk- lirsl instaiu-es of salmon bcin;..; faiii;ht with tlu- ll)' in llu- i'lmobsi-ol Ui\L-r."
//■//// /7\'-/\(>(/ (n/(/ i\viiii'(\
2 2 J?
%
ripplt's. M\ ll\. a haiidsoinc I )iirh,iin iMnj^cr, al,,;litfil
licrc and ilin'f on llif iiool soliK aiul si luU, and ni\
n^radually lcni_;th(iiinL;- line soon pcniiittcd inr to coxcr all
the l)csi walcr ot ihr u|)|)i'f halt ol the pool. Ai length I
iiiadf a cast onci' the sunken lionldcr in \\\v vk\k\\ . wIi-tc
the salmon al\\a\s lie, when a Irdi arose and took ni\
lure. .\s soon as he lell the hai'!) he ,L;a\f a laish and
plunL^c which made m\ reel sin^;' out a me!T\ tune.
"Ah, ha," exclaimed William, who h.id stood heside
me loi' the pi'eeedinL; li\<' minutes, "voii'Nc a tme lish,
Doctor."
"1 think it is a salmon,' I i^eplied, lilting the rod,
"l)ul he keeps down like a Ml.;" trout."
"()h, he'll jump cpiick enoui^h, no trouble," said W d-
liam. and e\-en as he spoke, with a wild dart the tish
tore (low II the pool, jumpm^' mlo the an' se\-eral tmi
es
ni rapid succession and trying' to smash m\- castiiiL;' Imc
PS he f(dl hack into the water witli a hea\\' si)|;ish.
W
lien I saw the salmon aimm^- h)r the lowei- part
o
I" the 1
)OOl
rememhered with consternation tlie nKb
of ch'ift stuff in which I'h-ere had lost his lish ; for I
knew
that once in that mass of tangled roots and sticks, my
leader would jjarl likt' a thread. Ihit llii'am had pre-
]Kired for the possihilitN' ol su(~h an excnt, lor as soon
as he saw that I was fast to a salmon he pushetl out
224 //'//// I'lV'Roif ami Cuiicra.
Ill the laiKH 1(1 a |i()ini jiisi al)(»\f the drill wood, aiul
Ix'i^an l<i s|)la-Ji liic water with .i |ta<ldlt', so .is to turn
the s.iliiKin awa_\, and the plan siu-cccdcd, the tish swcia-
\n'^ suddciil) asi<lc and darting- across the |)o(tl aua\' ti'oni
the disturliaiu (■ that the L^ni'l*' w.is niakiiiL; in ihc water,
and hnalU retiming; lo his first position.
Keeling in iiili the utinosi rapidit)', 1 soon had a
taut hiif on him aL;ain, and thin lilting' on the ro<l 1 tried
to raise' him, \i)\' I hke to keep a sahiion mo\inL;. ll is
all wry Ime to stand, accordiiit^' to the ideas ol some,
with a cloid)led up rod, lor hall <ui hour, wailini.; tor ihe
lish to stii'; hut ii is had polic\. Tin; salmon tires hut
\vv\ little indeech so lon^' as he IS still, no matler how
stroUL^' a lilt )()u put on him, and such .i lon^' continuctl
strain loosens the hoM (I the hook sometimes to a lata!
extent.
I tound that my salmon was as immoxahle as if he
weri' anchored; and it was necessar\ lor me to ti"\ other
expcHlienls. .Sometimes a tew turns ol the reel, il it has
a strong click, will cause the lish to mo\i', and a coupk;
of smart hiows on the hiitt ol the rod with a stone or
liuntmL;" knile telegraphs dow •■ the lin<' that he is waiUec!
"out ol that."
1 tried lioth, l)ut melYectually, the tlsh I'xidentK- l)e-
iiig cither in a sulk\ mood, or else busily eiii^ai^eel in ti'}-
r-K <•,
' •« ^yfi.
■♦»,/•
226 /AV/// /''/v-/\(>(/ <f//(/ Caiii'i
v.
Ini^' Lo mil (lui i! .■ hook ai^'ainst a sioiic on the hottoni.
W'c tin.ilU' si;'j't((l him h\ throwing a toiiplc of pchhics
in llic water o\ii- liim, when with a iiu:_;hl\ leap aiul run
lie iiKvlc lor the rapids al ihic foot ot ihc pool. As \\v.
(hirtctl through the water tht- caslin:^' line stiaick against
two othei- salmon, and at one time three hsh wer(> in tin.-
air simultani (uisly. It \\;is a si^ht that would rouse an
anchorite, and \\\\ ner\cs tairl\- tingled.
M \' lish. L;i'c.itl\' to ni\' satishu'tion. a\'oided the drill
tangle, and L;i\inL;' Idni the Imtt I i'estr;iine(l him so that
he tUl'Iled hat'k into ihe deep water ol the pool and l)C-
;;ap. firelin^' ahout as if done tor.
"Ah, ha," exclaimed William, "he's llr.i^hed."
1)U' theri' was still a ^ood deal ol li^ht lelt in him,
as three Ol" joui' leaps plainh' testified. ilow heautitul
he was a^ he llashed in the aii', throwing the watei' li'om
him in ^loheAs of siKei' as the\' s|);n'kled in the sun!
W hat other senr-,ation is there to the sportsman ecpial to
the feel of a salmon on the j)owerful \'el pliant i'o(.l '
None; there is positi\el\ none to coinjj.j.-e with it. I
luue tiaed almost e\cr\ thm^' with I'od and ^un, hut with
nothiuL;' else ha\c I e\cr felt that thrill of intense ,md en-
j()\al)lc excitement that I feel in fiL^hiiuL;' the ro\al salar.
"Weil, 1 )ocior," saiil krere, who had crossed the i-i\-er
and now ^-tood heside me, "that's a prett\ li\cl\' fish."
228
It'lfli riv-l\(Hf (!//(/ (^uiirnr.
" ^ cs, 1 replied, "he ccrtainlx' keeps liis sli'en^ili up;
I caiinol iiiulerstand \\h\ il is that he holils out so well,
h.e seems as sH'ohl; as e\cr."
"v)h, lie's liooked in th(; t()Ui;h gristle of the lip,"
replied I'l'cre, "and xonr line does not. di'own him ai. all,
lor his mouth is closed all the time."
"Ai'e N'ou sure?"
" Certainl)-," he answered; he jumped iust ahreast of
me once, and 1 saw the lly plainl\' outside his mouth."
"Well, okl tellow," 1 said, apostrophi/iuL;' the salmon
that still displa\ed a desire to in\c-;tiL;ate tiie stratum ol
air al)o\c the surface ol the pool, "it xou are hooked
loul We'll see what the old rod sa\s akout it ; ' anil at
the uoi'd I kci^an liltiuL^- for all the casting' line would
stanil.
I he tish tlid not take kindl) to this treatment and he-
L^'an a series of caxortin^s all over the pool that showed
he was still ANorth a j^ood man\' dead ones. 1 lere one
moment, thert- the next; sometimes skimming the sui'face,
attain hu^L^inL;' the kottom, and leapini_; as well as exci, he
kejtt up the tiiL.;'ht loi' a L;ood half houi', and m\- wrists
fairly ached. luit at length the jiki) L^rcw less ('ner^ctic,
as the tish slowly became e.\hau^ted, and tinaiis he laid
on his side and allowed the L;aff to land him hi^h and
dr\ upon the shore.
230
iVitli l'l\-l\od ami dviicra.
A t^ood L'i_t;htc'L'n-|)()un(l(,T I " exclaimed lliram, hold-
ine^ up the prize
ami a fresh-run t'lsh at that.
Sec.
sau
I 1-
re re;
It
iust as I saitl, the hook i^
tirndy ind)edded in the lip.
\'
es,
It IS so,
answered, wipui^' ott the perspira-
tion from \w\ forehead and face; "he Avas well hooked,
hut it was in a wa\- that <^ave him all his streUL^th to
fiil^ht with."
"Well, L^-entlenien," said William, "I suppose that ther(^
is no fishing- here for a while a^ain, and we ma\- as well
pack and start."
" \ es," I replietl, "|)ick some L^reeii houghs and hrakes
and co\'er u]) the tish in the how of the cancx- awa\' from
the sun, load u|) and come on. Mr. I'rere and I will
start ahead."
In a few minutes my frientl and I shouldered our
rods, and with i^^aff and landiuL;' net we started up the
stream, movim^' pretty rapidl)", hut castini;- a tl)- here and
there, when a hunch of sea trout matle the waters ^listen,
pickini;; out a few for our dinner, hut not makiuL;' any
(^reat effort. In fact the sun was too hri^ht for ^ood
fishing, if we had worked e\tr so well. .So, enli\(,'ninn'
our tra.mj) with slori(_'s of llood and held, discussions in
natiu"al histor\-, and occasional pauses when some rare hird
or llower oi" wild phmt met our L;a/e, we kept ahead of
// 'itii I'lv-Roii aiici ( aiiicra.
231
f
the canoe tor a loiv^' stretch. ()ur L,ai!(U's found the water
very shaHow, and during' a ^ood sh;ire of the tinu; the\'
were ohh<4'ed to uatU', haidin_u;' \.\\v. canoe ()\c'r tht: shoals
and up the' rapiils.
( )ccasion;ill\' we found a ^'ood stretch of dccj) water,
where" we couhl all take to tiie hoat, Imt for the i^reater
portion of the distance; W(; did net de|)end upon it at all.
It was ai)out one o'clock when we readied the ra|)ids at
the 1)1:.;" Rock Pool; hew \\t; found that the water was
too deep for wadiuL^, and we clinihed al)oai'd the canoe
ritj^ht ^ladlw
In this pool, as wc; passed o\ci' it, we coiuUed o\'er
ihirtx' salmon, and the pii .nise seemed ^ood tor i^reat
sport ahead; this pool beino' next below, and oid)' about
twentN' or thirt)' rods tlistant from that at w'lich we pro-
posed to make our permanent cairip, the two pools beini;'
i^^cnerally di'si^'nated as the Twin Pools, and indi\'iduall\'
as the: I'pper and the Lower. We lantled on the beach
betweeii tlie two pools, and walked up to a erox . at a
point near the: rapids, which wc selected foi- our tentiuL;-
place, and here the; euides se)e)n joine'd us with the eane)c.
He-re: was te) be our home camp tor a numbe'r e)f
ela\'s, its positie)n, Kin^'' as it eliel with se'xo'al of the be'st
pools on the: ri\e'r both al)o\ e: anet below it, beiiiL;- most
fa\e)rable. Dinne'r was, of course', the fn-st ihinL; to etc-
232
IVitli Fly- Rod and (\vucra.
inand our altciuion, ami a royal one it was. W c met
it with appetites sucli as no one hut a sportsiiKin knows
an\tliinL:" ahout, and 1 xcnturi; to sa\' that th(! !'ran(U:st
ban(|uct vwv strxcd could not iia\c hccn more cnjoxablc
tlian tliat dinner.
After tile meal had been attended lo, Iliram look all
our best lish to a st;ttler's house about a mile from the
ri\-er, where lu: A\as to take a team and earr)' the lish
to our triends ,it the liotel at the- shore. Two handsome
salmon, and about thirt}' very nice trout, matle a prett)'
L^ood load, and we knew tiie\' would be full)- appreciated.
He had ahead of him a h)nL;' ride t)f t\vent\' miles, and
would not rejoin us that nis^ht, l)ut lie (expected to be
al)l(; to be with us au^ain before sunrisi: tlu; next morning;'.
.After a short rest krerc; and I be^an to cut hem-
lock boughs for our Ix'd, while William cleared a tentiiiL;'
j)lace, made tlu: camp and collectetl a liberal sui)ply of
fire wood We worked steadil)', but tlie sun was well
o\er the western forest b(.;f(>re e\'er)thiny was ri'ad)- for
the ni_i;ht. A comf(M"tal)le camp it was, and situated in
a most delightful location. The tent was pitched on a
slight accli\ity, a couple; ot roils from the river. Across
the wide pool \\as the base of a his^h, steep liill, and
directU' opposite the camp a lar^e brook em[Jtied its cool
sparklmj; water into the river. At the hc^ad of the pool
i'-
234
//'//// I'l\-I\oii and ('(inicm.
;i scries of rapids tlowcd with iinccasinL;' son^', coxH.'riiiL;'
llu.' sLirfacc; of the pool wiih tl iks of snow-white loam ;
at the foot another series of rapids added its chorus to
the music ol th(t faUs al)o\c. Around in all directions
la)' an almost unhroktn loi'esi.
After our work was Imished I'fere and I took our
rods and hei^aii casting' at the head ol lh(; pool, hut not
a salmon ileis^neil to notice our llies, although wc; pick(,;d
out a few trout for supper. We had no better luck in
the po;)l below us, although we knew that thert; were a
i^rreat man)' salmon within its hoiulers. We tlid not re-
lin(|uish our ellorts, howe\er, and it was onl\' when twi-
liiL;ht came on and the ^uich; announced ihdt supper was
read\, that we oa\c up in disgust, and returned to camp.
( )ur poor success did not pre\ent us from doinu;' full jus-
tice to our e\-eninL;' meal, and the frai^mient society would
have had \cry unsatisfactor\' pickinL;s with the remnants
we left.
" l-'rere," saitl 1, as I lighted m)' pipe and seated
myself on an old root that thrust itself out in the most
accommodatini; manner for m\- support, "there are salmon
in j)lent\', but 1 am alraid we shall haxc a prett\' slim
showing- unless there is rain tmough to raise the; ri\er
and color it."
"1 aj^ree with \ou, full)," he replied. " th(; water !.':
// 'itii hlv-Roii and ( aincni.
235
so bright up here that it is ahnost impossil)!)- lo keep
out of sight o( the tisii ;i!i(! cast into the pools."
"()li. \c ina\ get an odd one now and then," said
William, who was l)us\- an-anging thi; camp lire for the
night, "hut the \\atcr is too clear altogether for hig lish-
in<''. 1^0 N"U remember. 1 )octor, the luck \'e had with
)()ur lioston frientl alter the big rain last \(.'ar?"
''^'es," 1 r»'plied, "that was a da)' l"iig to be re-
membered, lor rarel) iloes an amateur have such luck as
that."'
"What ^\as it?" asked brere, who was reclining near
the lire, "ti'll me about it."
"()h. there is nothing to tell of an\- c()ns(,"C|uence," 1
answert'd, "beyond what has fallen to the; e.\[)erience of
c\'er\' lisherman ; ni)' friend expressed the desire to come
up the rixcr with me, and see me kill a salmon. '.See
me kill one,' 1 said to him, 'wh\' not kill one xourself?'
"'()h, it's out of the cpiestion,' he answered, '1 have
had hardl)- an\- experience in casting, and shouldn't know
what to do with a salmon e\'en it 1 hooked one, suppos-
ing my tackle should hold him, which I \-er\' much doubt
it woultl.'
" ' \\\;'ll see about all that,' 1 answered, 'we'll have
the canoe hauled up to the settk-ment near the ri\-er to-
night, and we'll take an earl)- start to-morrow morning
236
//'//// I'ly-Kod and Lanicm,
and drive up in the uppci' pool ; ilicrc we'll lake the
canoe and run down ilu; ri\t'r. tishin^ all the pools, of
coursi', on the wa\ ilown. The rains have hi'oiii^lu up
llu: ri\er in ^ood shape, ami \\v. oul^Iu lo L,et some lish.'
"'I'd like nolhiiiL; IxUer,' he replied, 'hul I think
that seeing _\<)u lish will he enough. 1 think 1 will not
earr\ in\ rod.'
" ' XonsiMise,' I said, 'you are ^oIul;' to kill a salmon
to-morrow, so you ma\ .is well li\ your tackle lo-da\'.'
"Although m\' Irieml (.lid not se-em \ery hopeful .is
lo his ability to Ii,l;Iu a sahiK-n, he was Imally prexaileel
upon to take his tackle alom;, and we siarti'tl at day-
hreak on our Ioul; drive. W'e reaclu'd the ri\er at this
point, .ind it did not lake us lon^;' to ^ct started down
sli'eam, one o( tlu; guides in ihe how of the canoe, the
othei- in the stei-n, and m\- friend and m_\self in the miil-
dlc, 1 here was enoiiL;h water to carr)' us comloriahK',
.md we slid down the i-apids lo the Loiil;' Pool in ^ood
st\l(,'. llere we found our tirst salmon. W'c h;ul put
m\' friend through his lessons so wt-ll in the upper pool
thai he was now casting- cpiite a decent Il_\.
" ' Xow,' said 1, as we stepped ashore at llu; head
of the pool, 'Noii are \w\ L;uesl to-day, and 1 want \'ou
lo i^el a fish ; l)c;;^in lu:re at ihe head ami cast carefull)',
anil \"ou will rise one, sure."
//'//// I'lv-Roii (ii/(f CmiicriL
23'
"lie (lid not seem (»\iT-saiiL;uinc, l>iil licL^iiii (.'astiiv^',
wc. of course, loolsiiiin' on, and li\- itu- I'.pir, he did rise
a nicf salmon, akhoii^h he ilid not hook him. Wdl, he
was just the wildest man I e\-ei* saw; tiie perspii-ation
started on him and he was all of a tremor."
" lUiek U'\'ei', he\'?" ([ueried i'rere.
" \(), salmon fe\c-," I replied.
" M\' lri(,'nd insisted upon it that 1 shoidd try lor
the t'lsh, tleclariiiL;' that it would he folly for him to at-
temi)t killing;; it, etc. To all of which 1 answered: 'No,
sir! !))• all the rules ol anglers, as _\ou rose that salmon
he is yours. W'l' will wait a lew minutes, and then you
must ti"\ him aijain.'
"lie llnall)' consented, and in ;i short time he^an
casting' ai^ain, and at the third cast he hooked the tish.
ll(,'a\'ens, what a )-ell he let out as the salmon siartetl
on the run. M)' friend had a poor altaii' tor ;i reel, and
it woukl not reiuk'r half deceiulw so that it kept all
hands prett)' husy in shoutin^; to him how to manai^c.
When the lish leapetl wi? shouted to him to drop the
point of his rod, ami when the line; was taut a^ain we
told him how to handle ii:. The water in the rapids
was making;' a eood dc;al of noise that da), 1 reiuemher,
so that we luul to use our vocal organs to the best of
our abilit\', aiul ;ilto<jetli"r it was a prett\' li\-el\' time.
1
23H //'//// I'ly-Roii (UiJ (dincm.
Well, .IS iLiOod luck would have il, after (|uite a fis^dit he
savt'tl the; fish, and I iu:\er saw a man more; dcliL^hted
in m\' life than l,c was when ilir ^alt hrouglu the sil-
ver)' |);'i/.e ii|) on the hcaih.
"'('lood enough,' 1 exclaimed lo him, 'how do you
like il as far as you'\(; .^oi.''
"'Like; it I' he repeated excitedl)-, 'I ne\-er knew what
sport was helore, I am |)erte(tl\ delij^'hted, for it's some-
thing; 1 ha\c always loni^inl lor, luil ne\er expecte-el to
attain.'
" ' \'(;s,' I I'eplied, "there is nothing like il, and I ex-
pect )()U will now want a salmon ri\c'i- all to yourself;
hill, come on, w<''ll i^et into ihe canoe ami try h)r an-
olluM' lish in the next pool; we haxcn't ^ot throuL;h \et
1)\' an\' means.'
"'I'm satistiet!,' he exclaiim'd, iiettim^' into the hirch ;
•\'ou must take; Nour turn now, and 1 will he a looker-on
the rest of the da_\.'
"'Not much,' 1 replietl ; )()u are compain to-day, as
1 l)eh)r(; stated, and you shall have the hrst chance at
tin; hest pools.'
"\\\;11, to make a short storN" of it, \\c fished all the
pools down, and when wx; reachetl tlu; mouth of the river
we had n\e salmon and aliout fort\' pounds ol splendid
sea trout. My friend, Avho had had the post of honor
Id
v.
at
X.
■Ji.
<
■r.
240
// 'itii J'/v-/\Oi/ and Cauicm.
aloni;' down, killctl thrct* of the salmon, wliilc I conlcntcd
niNsclf \s\\\\ the otluT two."
" N'cs, it was a tmc da) 's sport," said William, wh.rn
I had finished, "and the hcst ot il was, not a lish was
lost."
"No, not one," 1 ac'deJ. ; "it was a line run of luck
to sa\'e e\ery hsh ; far iliffe'-cnt from that which 1 had
on the da\' followinLi', duriiis'' which 1 was last to si.v sal-
mon ami did not kill one."
"\'es, that was hard luck, altOL(etht;r," saitl William.
" Well, we ha\(; to take it as ii comes," saiil krere,
])hilos()|)hicall\', "if is the uncertaiiU)' which attends sal-
nion tishim;' that ^ixcs it a j^reat part of its fascination ;
if we were al\va\s sure ol our lish, the sport would soon
become cloying."
"^'es," I acUled, "it i^• not onl)- the uncertaint)' of
killiuL,^ the fish after he is hooked that makes the sport
so attractix'e, but the uncertaint)' of hooking- him at all
has its weight."
"True; enough," re])lied JM-ere, "a salmon is attrac-
tixt; larL;'el)- throu_L;h its caprices. liow man\-, man) da\s
have; I jKissed working" ox'er pools that 1 knew contained
the fish, without i^'ettini;' a rise."
" \'es, and isn't it aL;<^ra\'atinL;," asked William, "to
know thi\' are tlu:re, bi.t tlon't cai'e a pin for \()ur llies?"
//'//// riv-Rod and Caiiirm.
241
" \\(\ nolifcd iliat when salmon arc jiiinpinL;' imicli
the)' iK-vcr lak(^ the ll_\' in any watiT," said hrcrt.', alter
a short pause.
" \ ('s, it's the case," remarked W'ilham, "llie\- iisu-
ah)- won't 'take' \\v\\ wiu-n the\'i-c IcapiiiL^."
" I think that e\'er\- tisherman has noticed it," I re-
phecL " I once cast for se\-eral hours on two or three
pools on the; Ini^ram Ri\-er, in Xo\a Scotia, ox'er and
fairl)' amid jumping- sahnon, lish that were leaping- and
splashing- all the time, hut tlu-\- would not touch the llies,
althouL^h I trieil e\er\" \ari"t)' on them."
" 1 )id \ou ever ha\e the salmon 'le()' at the ll)- in
sport like; a ti'out, without taking- it?" asked William.
'■ \ es," I answered, "and I know of nothiuL;" more ex-
citiitL;- and exasperalin!,;-. I rememher a particular!)' mail-
deniniL;' instance on the M.ir^aree in Cajx' ISreton. I was
fishino- that splendid pool called the Ih'ook Pool ahout
two miles below the settlement at Xorthea.st Mar<'aree.
it is lonn", deep and wide, and famous for sea trout and
salmon. At its head the ri\-er llows o\(r steep rapids,
and imnu'diatel)' ])elow them a lar<;'e hrook joins it, pour-
iiii^' in a ^eiierous suppl)' ot t-ool, cleai* water; at the;
junction of tin; hrook and ri\'er tht; pool is \er\' deep,
aittl there; is a hi^;' v(V\\ two L;ood casts in width which
w'hii'ls and swii'ls ahout in a li\-el\- manner. In ih.is edtU',
242
With riv-Rod nini ('(inwnr.
aiui on cacli side aiv.l hclow it, ihc sahnon love to lie,
aiul mail}- an cxcitilinL.'; li^lu ha\(; its short's Axitncsscd.
" I ^^■as iishin^' the pool early in the morning- on the
occasion that I refer to, and e\"er\thinL;' seemed rii^ht for
a L^ood da\ s sport; there had Ix-en a smart r.iin on the
preceding" da\', and the water was well colored and run-
nwv^ stronL^'. 1 had maiU. hut a few casts when a lari^'e
sea trout took m\' [\\\ and it splashed around consiiier-
al)l\' before i could land it. It sj)oiled m\' ll\, and I
was obliijc'd to change it."
" Nothins^' wuss nor sea trout to spile llies," said Wil-
liam, sententiousK', as I paused lor a moment to appl\"
some "intnient" to m\ neck, face and hands, tlie mid<_;-es
ha\inL;' become sa\;i^'e.
"\'es," added I'rei'e," "theil' sharp, needle-like teeth
ruin a L^ootl ll\, and, it I can lu'l|) it, 1 nexcr hook one
with a salmon Il\, it costs too nnuh."
"While 1 was chan^iiiL^' m\- tlie^;," 1 continued, "1
stepped back npon tlu; beaih, and allei- a n<'W lly was
on I stopped to lis^ht my pipe, wiih v\\ back to tin-
pool, when suddeidy 1 heard a loud splash. I urnin^; on
the instant 1 saw th<' cii'cles on tlu; water where a hea\ )■
fish hati exidentl)- just sunk in the middle ol the edd\-.
" '.\h I m\' beaut\,' I exclaimed, "i thought \i'ii were-
there, let's try for a better actpiaintance.'
/•-
244
//'//// /'ly-l\od and Caiucni.
" 1 waded oiii asjain aiul l)t"'an castin;/, and was soon
lasl to a lar^c fish, which [)r()\i'tl to In; a lour-pound rcd-
s|)()Llcd hrook trout. 'IMic current was so strong;' antl the
fish so hea\\' that 1 could not |)re\cnl it I'roni rushini;'
into the hest part ot the pool, when in a twinklini^ lour
salnioii juniixHl into the air almost sinuiltaneouslw proh-
al)l\' haxini^ been siirnd up l)\' the casting' line striking
them as the ti'out dashed in their mitlst.
"W'lu-u, what a "kiik up" the)' nuule. One was a
suiall lish onl\' ot ahout eight pounds we'ight ; two weie,
1 should judge, iiiiout t\\\ l\'e pounds each, and the; other
was an olil patriai'ch ot al)out thirt\ pouuils. Now, tlu're
is not another pool in tlu' Dominion that is hotter than
that oiH; to kill a salmon in, and 1 was just wild to tr)-
conclusions wuh the big one. I landetl that trout in the
shortest possible time, antl putting on a large bright tl\'
on account of the dt'pth and color ot tlu' water, I b(,'gan
casting again. I worki'tl, 1 should think, a good (juarter
ol an hour, but not a rise; rewardi'd \w\ ettorls. I then
changed tor a big show\' siKer doctor that 1 bought ol
Scribner, ol St. |ohn.
"I'hat stcU'ted the salmon, antl such fun as the\- had
with me! .Sometimes one would come up, anil often two
at a time; tlu\ leaped all a.rounel tlu' ll\ and over it,
and the big one ;ictuall\ jumped into the air after It;
•^-1
y
y.
246
//'//// I'l\'-Rod ami C anicm.
\\\v\ cju ortcd around there for a loiii^- tiinc plaj-inn- with
the lly, hut (h(l not oti'rr to take it. This was (|uit(; a
n(;w cxpc^rieiicc with iiic \w sahiion ("ishiiiL;, aithouL;h 1 had
st'cn trout plax' the same ca[)crs.
"Well. I held that pool the cntiR; dav, chansj-insj- Hies
and casting', and rcstini;- it, in the \ain expectation of t^c't-
tini;- one of the fish. .Se\eral times durini^ the chi)- did
they repeat Hieir niorninL;'s [)erforinance, and tlu; hi^- one-
was just as phi\hil as the others; hut greatly to my dis-
iL^ust 1 ImaUy had to abandon tlie pool and its ca[)ricious
inhabitants, and l^o hoiiK', 'a sadder yt't wiser man.'"
"Alter all. Doctor," exclaimed hVcre, lacij^'hin^-, ''\"ou
had 'the air and exercise,' as your friend used to sa\-."
"lie had that, indeed," added William, chuckling", "a
whole day at it witliout hookini;- a sahnon, it ouoht to
cure dyspepsia; but what sort of a ri\-(M- is the Mar^-aree
that you hax'e spoken about so man\- times? I should
think it must be fine."
"It i:-^ a tme river." I replied, "one of tlie best in
the Dominion, if the spear('rs and netters would let it
alone."
"'I'hat would be a p:ood thinL;' for excry river." said
iM'ere, "if it could be l)roui^ht about; but I fear that is
not to l)e hope'd for."
"It is so," said William, "there's no real wav to
* i
248
ll'it/i /'7v-/\()i/ and Civiicra.
(Tuard a river c,'\cc[)t 1)\ canipiiii^- on ihr pools, .uid I
ha\X' even luvird ot iicllcrs s\vc!ej)inL;- llicm, with a part)-
tcinin_L; on ihcir hanks. lUii U'll us ahoul Cape: Breton.
I've heard there's line farms tlierc."
" I here are," I rephecK "and if Mi\ I""rere is not too
sh'cpN, I will use up an hour on that islantl before we
retire,"
"()n the contrary," said I'rere, "I'm not at all sleepy,
and 1 would \-er\- much like to hear about our eastern
' l)lue Xose' islantl,''
William ti\c;d the lire, and then refilled and li^dited
his pipe. 1 took a Iresh ci*^ar, settled m)sell comfort-
abl), and began.
^
Hi
M
CI I APT HR IV.
V <
A I iii'ici: III R(ii ii,-> 111 (.M'l, I'lKKiiiN. I'liRi Mii.i.Kwi, anh mi, di i ■■i'
(A.SM), • M. I'l.lKK's CANAL. Till lil.AI I II I I IlKA- h'Ol;. All.
.\l,iil 1 >\liM\ .\.Mi I'li.VI.. lill M'll l-..^> Ml nil. hNliSI.V 1 IMI ll.Mill-
iin. ■ M Ai i>i u > "I' (.'.vri. l!Ki:inN Sal.mo.n 1!ki:i:iiim;. I'mhk (nn Imi-
|;iil Ki.. l'.\|ili|iK. ■ A Dl.l.H.ll 1 1 M lull' I" 111! .M .\l;i . \ K I I . I 1 .1 -
(Allli ll;iill. M 1 1 l.^> I.N L'--INi. .\ "(.UA\ .\liit>l." • NiKIIIIA-l
M \ui. \i;i,K. .\i;rNii\Nii m Sk \ rKmi. I'm Imsiiin.. Si.mihn i|
I III Mil WW. WmRK hi IIIK l-'iSi; (■m\IMI>-'1iiN1 Ks \l NiiN illlW-l M \K-
CAUl.l. I'nKINi. \N|i II\N|i||N.; SMNMN I'.i.l.-. I'H l l IUsi.iIK SlINIKS
UN Mil. \| \i;i;\i;i I . l,\ki \in>iii.. .\ ('iiii;k\iiii I'mu. <>m-
WIIIINi, i:iui Mill I'lsll. W IIVKiiKiiM \i.ll. \ M"^l l^N |mS Al'.l.l S.\ll,.
.\i;i nuani i; .\nii \.\kiii\ hI lliuh l.iii. i'N C \v\ I'.kmun.
Ol" COrRSr:, for you Canadian.s ihrrc is hiil onv.
route''' thai \()u would care to travel to the dut
of Canso. where )()u take the P)ras I)'()i- .Ueainer, l)ut to
us from the States there are several, and all are i)0])U-
1.U-. The tourist, as well as hshernian, will tlnd much to
interest and deli^lit him in a visit to Cixpc l)reton. 't
nbounds in picturesque scenery, and some of the views
that one ma>- have mere are really magnificent. The
* \"v.\ tlio Tntcrciiliini.'il K:iihvav.
IT
i
u-
|o
y.
252
//'//// /'V\'-/\t)(/ (iihf Camera.
pt:()[jU: ai'c jjcculiar in in.in\ \\a)s, ami ([iiaiiU and iiUi-r-
cstiiii^" l)C'}'()ii(l (li'scription.
"Ill l<a\iii!^- r>()sl(>n till' tourist lias a cliojcc lictwciiti
three stcaimi* roiitrs ami two \^\ rail. < >iic stcaiiUT leaves
on Saliir(.la)s, anil touches at Halifax ami < llur points on
the Xo\a Seotia coast, ami lands you al I'ort 1 l.iw kshur)',
Another runs to Annapolis. Ironi which point there is a
railro.ul to I'ort Mul^ra\c. The thii-d steamer bi'lonj^ini^
to the International Steamship Company will carr_\' \ou
direit to St. |ohn, N. I)., when; \()U lan take cars to
I'ort Mulu;ra\e. llic all-rail route Irom Uoston to I'orl
.Mul!_;ra\(; is also popui.u" with mail)".
■ M\' fax'orite route is to take the International morn-
ing;' boat lo Tortlaml. Me. 'riu: sail is one of the most
enjosablc on the eastern coast; the steamers of this liiu;
are lari^c and elei^ant, and the whole xoyai^'e Is an e\'cr-
chan^'inL;' delii^htful succession of most beautiful sc^aboarcl
views of Massachusetts, New I lanipshire, and a [)ortion
of Maine. Arri\inj4' rit I'orthmd in the: afternoon, I sp(.'nd
a few hours in that city, and in the e\'enin_!j;' take the
(.'xpress train on the Maine Central Kailroail. The boat
leaves Portland later in the afternoon, and arrix'es at St.
John a little after two o'clock on tlK.' afternoon (jf the
next day. The Maine Central and New lirunswick rail-
roads, over which we pass between Portland and St. John,
254
I nth I'ly-Roii and ( \iinem.
I! 1
! (
;ir(^ both well managctl aiul ('(julppt'd lines, and it is a
pleasure to traxcl over them.
".\rri\InL;" at St. John, the tourist ina\" spentl a day
\cr}' enjo\alily in that ([ueer old citw hut it is necessary
lor hiui to lea\(; oil the lo i'. \i. train from St. lohn in
order that lie ma\- connect with the steanu'r at Port Mul-
L;ra\e, on the allernt)on of the next da_\ . The Intcrcol-
oPiial l\ailwa\' runs through interesting' portions of New
l)runswick and Xo\a Scotia, and some of the views to
he had from tlie train in the last named ih-oxince arc;
amoHL;' the linest in eastern America. Lea\in|^' the cars
at Port MulL;ra\e and emharkin^" on tlu; steamer, we tind
ourseU'es on a neat, comlortahlr hoat, the 'Marion,' with
Capt. (ieo. I ,. Ihu'cheil as commander. lie is a gentle-
man w!io has tra\'i'led widely, is \-ery intelliL^ent, and the
lra\-elei- will hnd his accpiainlance well worth culti\atin!4'.
"li'om I'oia MulL;ra\e a ^oed \iew is obtained of
the celehratecl Strait of Canso. which is the i;reat hii^h-
vva_\- throu!_;h which the iishiii!^- \-essels, steamers and other
cratt pass to tlu: (lull of St. Lawrence. It is. I heliex'e,
h'om a mile to a mile and a hall in width, .md o\cm' a
do/en in leni^th. I,ca\in^- Port Mul^raxc on the steamer
a \ iew ol a portion ol the town presents itsell, but it is
not a satisfactor\' one.
"Alter crossniL'' the strait and touchiiv'' at Port Hawks-
" "'^^^
if
*..
"W—
— ^^~T~'
^
256
//'//// I'/\'-I\od ami ('(in/cni.
bun', the Rtramor passes alonp;- tlio shore of Capo Breton
lor several hours, .niN'ini;- the; tourist a most l)eautilul pan-
oramic \iew of lo\el\' l)a\s, hcadhuuls, forests antl smihiiLi
larms. Soon alter lea\ iny I la\vksbur\' tlu: cHnncr bel! is
riniL;-, and we arc startlcil to llnd a fn-st-chiss ih'nncr cooked
and ser\eil in tirst-chis^ style by th.it accomplished steward,
Thomas Mitchell.
"At UMiL;th the tu'st lock of St. Peter's Canal is en-
tered. This canal, which runs from the .Strait of Canso
to the Bras l)'()r l.ake, is a Inie snecinum of en<'incxM'-
ini^' enter[)rise, aiut the passaj^'e through its locks up into
the l)i-as 1 )'( )r Lake is an experience no\el and interest-
iuL;-. Passing into the lake, the .sail is one; of the most
delightful to l)e conceived of. '•'
" OiKi may spend a month most delightfull}- about the
shores of this beautiful inland sea, in visiting the towns,
the mines and the \-arious t)ther points of interest. The
■•*■ A wriii'i- well s.nys: "Who can ilcscribc ihf ln'.uitiL's of \K\< slraiii;i' otx'an
laku, liii> iuiprisuiicd sea which di\ii.ii.s .111 i--laud in iw.un? lur aljoul lilly iiiilc-^
ils \\.iUr> arc bhcllcrcd fi'uui llic cceaii of which it fornix a pari, and in this lcn.nth
it cxiJands inlo ha)?, inlets and roniaiuic ha\cns, with islan(N, [)cninsLdas and broken
liucM of coa.st — .dl conil)inin.L,' to form a scene .if r.ire beaLiI\. surpassing; the power
of pen to de^cribe. At e\er\- turn new fealln■e■^ i lahn our won.lcr and admiration.
Here a iluster ol faii\ i-~les. here sume mcandeliui^ stream, and hcri' some narrow
strait le.uhn.n into ,1 broad and peacelul b.i_\ . lll,L;h abo\e tower tlu' mountains,
with their ancient forests, while at times bold cliffs, crowned with verdure, rise ma-
jeslic.dh tcjward the iloLliK. NoiIhul; i-- connn^h, nolliin;.;' t.inie ; all iv hlted lo |dl
the mind willi enioli.in-- ol keene^l ])le,i-ine."
Uff:iiirrw~u.itm»mrwif.'
I
Si
1 1
258
With I'7y-/\i)i/ (Hid Camera.
most important town on the island is Sydney, and it is
well worth a visit. It is (juaint and interesting in the
extreme, antl its near proximit)- to the celebrated S^elne-)'
coal mines renders it a busv, thrivinijf place;. It is said
that the ([uantity of Sydney coal availabh; is estimated
at over a thousand million tons. Some of tin; mines ha\e
been extended out under the ocean, our stc;amer passing
over some of the submarine; mines and miners as it spetl
along nearK' two mik-s from the short;, as wc; wc;re in-
formed b\- CajJtain Burchell, who pointed out to us the
hoisting apparatus and cars on the shore at the mouth
of the mines. At .Sydney hu^^e ocean steamc;rs ma\ be
constant!)' seen at its wharves loading with tlu; black dia-
monds. One of these piers is oxer ele\en hundred feet
in k;n<'th. and shins of the largest si/t; ma be seen 1\-
ing bcsiile il.
"The lish hatclicry at S\-dney is well worth a \isit,
for it is one of tht; best managc.'d in Canada, and tlu;
superintendent. Mr. C. A l'"ar(|uharson, lakes great pride
in the gootl record it has made."''
* Mr. !■ arquliarsor, lias kindl)' •-i-iit niu tlic fullowinir nionioramliiiii nf the oper-
ations at tliis hatchery in the year iSSS: "This is tlie ^i\th year sinee liie halcii-
ei\ coinnienced operation-. I',\ery year lias niari<ecl a pioj^ress m tlie (|iiaiitit\ of
ova obtained ami tiic number of frv deposited in thi \arioiH -Ireams, In no sea-
son since the hatchery was opened has so yreat success attende<l onr efforts a- the
season just closet! except one. Last fall parent lish were seemed ahumlanlK, e.uh
bUcam fished xieldiiij^ more than on any previous )eai', and as a natural coiisei|iieiice
'I ,
26o IFitli J'lv-Rod tiiid Camera.
••There-" is one poiiU of iiiUTcsl InaL cNcr)- tourist
should visit and that is the site of Louishour^'. lornn'rK
the (jii.mtity of spauii (plilaiiu'il w.is nuuli lar-iT -tlicii' Wwv^ :i toial el lmkh i.ooo,
yielding- I,.(|-..ii(h) fiv. 'I1k-sl' liavr luin t.iri-fullv ami in i\c. IK'iit (■iinrlili"n lUpii''-
ili'd as fiilliius, \i/.:
S\.linv Ki\fi-, ( apo llirlMii ( uiinl) 'j^i],!..!.!
Hall's Caik loo.ont,
I'roiit I'.rcMik l75,i"iM
l!lae-k iirnck 7?.'
(iranci i.akr so.ooo
rwL'lvi'-.Milo linmk 5.i,(«M)
I'.skasimia Ui\L', jh.ckki
SaliiMiil kiviT Kio.MiHi
(k-oi-i-'s ki\i-r ?(i,(H»i
Mi'la-an's lln.iik jd.ooo
.\lai-t;ati.'C Kivi.|-, I ii\rrin.-.s (iiin; i^o.ooo
MiddK- Rivii', \i\ti.iia ('(Uinl\ loo.diin
HadiU'ik kiM-T ini.,(X](i
(Irand ki\i.T, kiiiiniiunl rmmly jd.ikki
kivur Tear ^n.oud
I latilury krcM.k 15,(1011
'rolal 1,415,001)
" I'lii; liilal miailuT of fiy Uinicil out finm this li.ililKiy since I.sS-j, when the
lirst ilisiriliution was m.ule, is 5,ll>,Joo, and \M;e tli-^triluiteil as follows, \i/.
I ^Sj 33 ' .<Jix'
I ss ; 5(i9,()()o
I > ,S4 . . , . .s 5 5 , ( H K I
isrij 772,200
iSSf) I . r 7S,(H)()
I ■> » - 1 , 4 1 5 , 000
'I'olal 5,1 IS. 200
"(tr (■our^<-, it is pri'niatine to look for the result thai will he naluially e\-
iHCted from the deposiiin;;' of so much xoun;^' fiy in onr stream-, \et the indiea-
lions so f.ir are licj;Kfnl and eneonr.i;,;in,:;-. In e.ieh of these streams siipijlied I rom
the h.alehery yonn;;' s.dmon are iinpreeeilentedl)' mniierous, together with this dmiiiL;
the iire-ent season an mui-n.dly l.ir^e imminr of small-si/eil s.ilnioii (7II1S.) ha\e
lieell cani^lit al the entr.inee of onr rivers so replenished. 'Ilii-, with the ineHM-ed
vi',;ilance with whieh onr rivers aie prot, ,ted from the sl.in,i;hlri- of s.dmon liy poach-
ers ihirinLT --pawnin'.;' -ea-ons, ani;nrs hiipefully for the incre.ise of salmon in onr livers."
l .1-
.111
illl
262
//'//// /'Vv-/\()(/ iiiid Canicm.
calUnl I'ori I\()\iil aiul SaiiU Aiiiic. It is rcachcil h)' ihc
narro\v-L;auL,^(' railwa\- from Sytlnc), aiu! tlu; run of thirty-
one miles is throui^h an intcrcstiiij^" countr).
" I'oor old 1 .ouishour'i, oiuc («ne ot the stroni^est for-
titled citit.'s in the world, is now a t-rass-Lirown ruin where
hardh' a stone is left upon anoJier; in fact tlu; onl)- trace
of the fortitications now '1 it " ; an old l)()nib-[)r()of, (|uite
dilapidated and fallinL;" a])arL, a pi i d, woe-he^one memen-
to of ancient grandeur."
"Near Sydne)' are one or two line rivcM's, the Mj'ra,
twel\H' miles from the town, l)einL!' an earh' salmon stream
* Mr. \\ . K. ktyiioKls wrilis of I (HiislMiuri^r ^is folhiw-,: " ( )ik'c il w.is :i city
witli walls (pf stiinc, whiih made a liriuit nf two anil mu-half niili's, \mtc thirty-six
firt liii;li, ami of the tliickiu'ss <if forty fiet at the base. I'or Iweiit) -I'lvc years
the I'remh had labored Upon il, and had expended upward of tliirlv millions of lixre--
in eoni[)li'tin;; its defenses. It was ealled the I>unUirk of Ainerie.i. ('■arrisoned liy the
velerans of I'rance, and with ])o\\i'rful batteries eoniinandinj;; e\eiv point, it bristled
with the nio.-t potent priile of war. To-dax- it is ililVieiilt to trace its site ;unon';
the turf which marks the ruins. .Seldom has demolition been more complete. It
seemed imilt for .-dl time; it has vanished from the face of the earth.
" I".\cry New I"nj;laiulei' should \ isit I .ouisbonr^;". Its capture by tlu' inulisci-
jilined New I'.n^dand f.irmers, (nmmanded by \\ illiani re[i])erel, :• merch.mt i^nor.int
of the art of war, is one of the most extraordinary e\ents in the annals of history.
'I'he /e. dolls crus.iders set forth upon a task, of the (lilFiciilties of which they li.id
no coiu'eption, .-md they i,Mined .a triumph which should m.ike tlieir names as im-
mortal as those of the 'noble six hundred.' It was a ft.'. it without a parallel — a mar-
vel amoULJ the mo-,t m.ir\eloUS deeds which man has dared to do.
"Restored to trance b)' the ])eace of Ai\ la Chapelle, I.ouisbourj; was .'ij^ain
the stroni;hold of I'r.mce on the Atlantic coast, anil French velerans lleld C'.ipc I'lie-
ton, the key to the (iulf of St. Lawrence. The brief truce was soon broken, and
tlu'n came the armies of l!n;^land, and Wolfe sought and won his Inst h'lirels in
the new worhl. 1 .oiiisliour.;.,^ fell once more, .and the knell of its fjlory was runj.;;.
h
Linl
ri
.1 1
264
With /'7v-/\(>(/ tu/i/ ('(in/cni.
of foiisiilc-rahlc iiiijiuiiaiuH', as is also ilu: S\tln(;)' Ri\cr.
At llacUlcrk tlu: lisluM'iiiaii who is cUsiiiU'd lor the Mar-
_iL;ar(,'(: l\i\(T loaves the su-anicr and scc-iircs a team for
his loii;^- ilri\( inland.
" 1 ho lilllo hook, ' iJaiklc'ck and lli.ii Sort of i'liiiig,"
hy Charles I )udl(')- Warner, has done more to make this
place famous ihan all ihe inhahitanls. I'",\-er\- one who
has not read il will enjo)' it, for it is written in his host
\cin.
" Uaddeck is ,1 (|uiet, iiiotlensixc soil ol place, and
most ol its inhahilanls seem 'constitiitionail)' lired,' but
I lie i'(ini|in.sl 111 Oanaila athicvfd, the iilio wl'iU furlii llial I .iiui^liiuiij^ slumld be
ik'Slroyuil. 'i'lic unik d tlrini)li;i(in u.is runiimiKi'il. I he sell. I huiliiiiv^v, lnimcil
nf stiini; l)i'()ti^lil fr'Mii I lamc, \\r;r tnin in pui . .; i!h' walls uaro pulkd douii ami
lln' liatu-lics niiiU'ii'd ii--rU--s Idr all linu'. Il Inok lun Mars Id cnmpkU' Ihe wmk
nf (U'-truelicin, and lluii llie diuc pnnul iil\' was a sliapiK ss ruin. \i.',ii> p.issed
|i\ , IIh' slimes were earried awa)' liy llie dwellers alnn,:; llie en.isl; and llic hand
<if lime was lell In enmplete tlie unrk nf nlili'a alinii. Time has Imn more merei-
ful tl;..n man; it has en\ered ihe ^jlmim)' ruins wilh ,i manlle of ^reen, and has
healed tlu' ;;apni;;- wnunds wliiili nnie rendered i;ha--ll)- ihe land whieh nature made
SI) fair. Ihe sui';;es of the .Xtlan'.ie smind mnurnfidle upnn llie slmre the re(itlieni
of I .nui~linui-|^, the eit)- m.ule de^nl.ile.
".\nnllier i .iiuisbnui;;- exists tii-da\ , .leross llie iiaihor frniii the site of the former
city. Il has a pnpulalmri of almut one llioiisand, and is reached h\ the Sydney \
I.nuisbnar;.;' Railway, a narriiw-i;au,:.;e line, lhi;ty-nne mi!^■^ in leiv^lh. 'ihe f.ire from
Sy^huy is only se\enty-live einls, and tmirisis ^hnuld make the nip. Snme line seenery
is found on t!ie road at Cal.dnne Lake and .Mire. 'Ihe I .ouisl)oiir;.r {.and Tn.'s Hotel
•alTords •;()nd ;nenmmodalion ; and ap.ul from its lii>tnrie inliTest the place is worthv
ol a \i''il. Ihe sile of old I .ouisbniirL; ni,i\' be visitetl and the lines of some of
the forlilicatinns tracnl, and nne who has a lli>lory which ,t;ives a ;;iind .ncnliiit of
the sie,;;es ina\ be interested .md instructed in Inllowin;.; out the plans of the attack-
i'liT iLirtic^."
1
3
:2
t 1
266
With I'lv-Rod (iiiti {'aiiwni.
il is \cr\ |)U:asaiul\- situalcd on ilic shores of the llras
J )'( )r, and its facilities for hoaliii:^. halliin.-;- and [deasurc
dri\iii_i^- oxer exc-Ileni roails are ,^rand. Its main struct
is nuich like; tin; main street of many New I'.n-land \ il-
hvL,^es, l)ul il possesses one edilicc; of fame, its jail, which
Mr. Warner treats of in a mosi ( nterlainin^- \va\-.
"A team chartered and the 1 >a_L;j^a_ne packed, we start
for the villa_L;(" of Northeast Mar^aree. our stopping- place
while we fish the Mar-aree Kiver. I'he ilrive from Bad-
deck is about twent)-ti\c: miles in length, and once t.d^cn
is something- that will e\-er after ha\-e a place; amon;^- the
|)leasaiU memories of the tourist. The road winds amoiv
and oNcr the mountains, affording- su|)erl) \ iews of the
countr\- for miles on either side. {'"orests in lon<^- stretches
and well culti\aled farms altt;rnate, and \ istas of exceed-
iuL;' l)caut\- open up on e\-ery hand.
"As llu; carriage reaches the summit of sonu; lower-
in_L; hill, the almost boundless stretcli of forest softeiiinn'
awa)- in the hori/on into a faint blue, broken here and
there b\- the ruL;\L;e<^l sides of .i towerinu;' mount. lin. makes
a scene of beaut)' and L^randeur (|uite bevond the power
of tlescription.
"About h.df wa\- l^etween Ikiddeck and the .MarL,^a-
rec is the Middle Ri\er, a famous stream for lar^e sea
trout, and salmon are also often taken in its waters.
PRil
268
// 7/// I'ly-Rod and C 'nmcra.
w i
'■ we I'cachcd this \'\\v\- at ahoul ini\l(l.;\', and as the
(IrixtT iiiii.'rnu'd us thai ii was the proprr ihiiiL; i( slop
here, cat. liiiuh. l)ail the horses and c-ast h)r trouL. we
fohow't'd his ad\ ire, riiL^L;cd oui' tackle and were soon hiisy
castiiiL; in the pool helow the hi^;' rapids near the road.
We soon h)nnd th.il the jjooI contained a l.n'L^e ninnhcr
ol 'educated irout ' ol i^cnerous si/e.
"We last (or at least halt an hour, and iiol a rise-
did we L^ei, ahhouL;h we could see many l.u^m' lish nio\--
iu" aliout in the cr\sial depths. Surlace lishinL:' wus e\-i-
(lentK soiiU'thini; that they knew all .ii)out. ()ur llirs
were \er\ attractixc and all that, hut the\ were old ac-
(|u.iinlances, and the trout lie^L;t'd to he excused. The
si_nht ol so many heaulies, howe\cr, put nie on ni\ mettle.
"The ri\er swept down o\er several iioulders and .1
led^e ol slate stone, and ])ilched down sh.irpl) into the
pool which was helow the rapids lilti'cn oi- iwent\' leei
in ilep'lh. There was a strong current where the main
hody of the rixcr swept across the pool, and I thouL;hl
1 saw a chance lor oiitwillinL;' the ditlidenl (>nes. I'ut-
tip.L; on m\- leadei^ a ipiite lar^e ,L;'ra_\' h.u'kle. calleil 1)\
most anglers the 'i;ra\' mouse,' I dro])peil it into the wa-
ter, cunl letting' it sink, permitli'il the current to carry it
awa\ down almost to the loot of the pool. When tin;
line taute!ied, at a leneth ol ahoul twent\-li\<' \ards, I
I
270
inth I'lv-Rod (i/n/ i'liiucra.
!4a\'c it a few «;t;iuK- Iwilchcs ami Ijci^an to draw il to-
wanl iiK; throuj^h the; nisliin*; waters.
"In ;i inoiiUMil's tinic the reel was sin^in^' mcrril)' as
a thrce-poLiiuU-r sci/ed the tly, ami such spoil as lu; i^axf
WW on \w\ eit^lu-oiinci; rod h)i' a i^ootl h\c minutes helon-
lie came to tlie landing' net ! The gra\' mouse was a
rewlation to those sea trout, and I picked out enoUL;h
nice ones h)r supper in a \er)' short time. When our
dri\{'r ^a/ed upon ihem his face wore a lhouj4"htlul i-x-
pression. but he made no comment.
"Alter we and our horses had lunched, we starteil
attain on our |ounie\', and at about li\-e o'cloc-k our desti-
nation, the xillai^'e ol Xortlu.'ast Nhu'^ari'e, came in sin'lit.
And what a lo\'el\ \ iew it was as we. stopped on the
brow of the hill. The <|uiet little \ illaijc with its trim
farm houses and its littK' church situatctl in the lovely
ri\cr intervale, in the midst of well-tilled f.u'ms, and the
whole sm"rounded b\ mountains which stretched awa\ in
raiiL^es as far as the eye could I'each.
"()m- stoppiuL^' ])lace was to be the hou^e of a Mr.
fames ). Ross."" I am particidar to i^'ixc his lull nanu',
lor of the thirt\-eii.;ht or thirt\-nine lamilies in this sec-
tion li\in^ up and down the ri\t r, thirty-threi' ol them
are named Ross, and as he kt'ej)^ one ol the h.-w houses
* I'osi dH'ui. :incl U'li.-^r,ii)li .iil(lii--->, NdiiIh-.sI M:ii>;aiC(,-, i ';i|n; llnton.
fi*
272
// 'itli /■/)'- J\0(/ and Canicya.
th;r ;'j-c lit to stoj) at, or in which tourists ami fishcM'-
\wv\\ aic taken, li is inijiortant that those who contcin-
platt; xisitin^- thai rcL;ion shall know whom to addrc;ss in
ortlcr lo secure iioai'd and nxmis. if he cannot take in
the new comer tlure are other houses near 1)\' that wdl,
hesl amoii^- which is ijiat kept \>\ the \"illa_L;e jiostmis-
tress; hut as Ross owns the teams and knows all the
best pools in the counirx', and is at all tiiivs axailable
as drixcr, j^uide .uul general utilit^' man, his house is
much the best to stop at.
"It was a small, unpretentious structure situated in
the mitlst ol luxuriant hu'iiis. I low he anil his \er)' i^ood
other hall managed to pack awa\ in it all the boartUn's
that they had. has alwa\ s bet'ii a myster\ to me. I le
has now, however, an adtlition built to his old house that
is capable of holding; c:omtortably all the quests that are
likel\- lo olle)-.
" 1 lere ihe angler has all llie ri\'er .l lu i)rook iish-
in_L;- the mosi enthusiastic could desu'e. Imiuediatel)' back
of Ross's house is a brook ot considerable sixe, lar^e
(;nouL;h in man\ places h)r ^ood Il\'-castins4'.
■■The pools in this brook contain threat numbers of
Ime sea troul and lar^e spoiled or brook trout, calletl by
the settlers 'ri\er trout.' These latter tish ne\er d(-scend
to the ' a, and are as hi'ih colored as an\' irout I e\'t;r
r
>
y.
*i -
274 //>'/// /■7y-/\0(i (iiid Camera.
saw. 1 iloulil. il ihc) were laid ^ide liy sitlc with choice
kani^rlcy specimens, tlial an\- one could di-.LiiiL;"iiish iheni
a|i.iia. I ha\c seen in llle lieaulilnl pool called Solomon's
(. ellar. man\ do/ens al a lime ilial would wci^ii trom
llllee lo six pounds each. 1 llese li'oul, li'om lon^ la-
nnliaril) villi llie usual run ol llies, are also 'educaleil,'
and iliey will only rise al earl) morn autl deu\ exc.
'■r>e_\ond ihe lirook is llle lieaulitul Maru;aree I\i\('i',
llii' I'l.isler Pool iiein^ oni\- alioul hall .i mile Irom the
house I his i-i\er is uni(|ue in ilie I'l-ov incc'^, lor il llows
lor upward ol ihiriy miles ihrouL^h nu-adows and culli-
\aled l.u'ms, and e\cr\' pool in this Ioul; sii-eich nia\ he
reached easily and aluiosi di'\-si;od.
" r>elo\\ and ;'!)o\c ihe selllenienl iher" are some ol
ihe luiesi salmon nooi , ima'jinalile, al leasi a do/en lieimj
williin six miK:s. In all ol iIksc nui-niliceiil pools sea
iroul of L^'reat si/e and L.';amin' -.s ai'e ahund.mt, and m
llle I'l^ht season salmon ;dso ; Inn ii is almost useless lo
lish llle ri\cr lor salmon il the water is low and clear,
lor the n''t and sjiear (|uickl_\ take out all the lisli ihal
lia\c run m, and ihe ll\ -fisherman has his lahor lor his
pains. II there i •. a L^'iod lall ol rain so ;is to raise and
color ihi' water of lIi ■ re er, thercl,\ reiiderin!^ spearing;
impraclicaMe, the Iresh rim ol ^almcpii lills the pools auil
ihe rishiii'j is ma'jniliceni.
\y
in
al
/.
276 //■//// l'l\'-l\(hi (!//(/ ('(iiif('r(i.
I
"A l;<><'(1 plan is id uriic lo Mr. Koss r((|U(:siini^ him
lo l('l( ,4ra|)h _\(iii in |iil}' or Aiil;"iisI when llicrc is a lica\-y
rainfall, and ^tart at 'Mice as sonn as his (lispahh is rc-
ccivctl.
"I know (if no oilier ri\cr ihal ran he lishcil htr such
a (lislaiui.; wiih as lillK: ctlorl Ironi tin; an_:_;lfr, and llu:
hcaulN' of it all is ihcrc arc hai'dK' an\ Mack llics or nios-
(|iiit.ocs to aniio\' one. < )l t'oiirsc, wy ihc rixcr, anion^
llic harrcns and in iIk- mountains, i\\cnl\- miles or so.
there will he llic^, and ha\au;(: ones, loo, hut in the open
country below throUL^h which the ri\cr lakes iiS course,
no annoxance from the usual pests is experienced.
"<)ne can pass two or three weeks \cr\ pleas. mtl\'
and p'l-otilaM)' at Xortheast Maru^aree. The scener\ is
charmiiiL; in man) places i)ictures(pie ,ind it is often
L;rand. I'Oi-est-topped and L^i'cen mountains enxiron the;
settlement compl(!el\. l.o\cly \istas ol meadows and elm-
studded \alleys stretch a\\a_\' in all dii'ections. lieauliful
ilri\es on L;()od roads are a\;\ilaliie, and with sui'h lish-
iiiL;- as ma\ he h.id there the time passes deli^htfull\-.
"Idle stiMU^c, almost uni(|ue hrenth t.sliin^' st.ition
of Cdiettic-amp on the dull shore twentN-lixc miles awa\-,
is one of the points to which an excursion should he
taken, and the toiu'ist will Imd it a no\(lty iiit<'restin^
in the extreme. I he \ illa|;( consists of a Ioiil; sti'eet of
n-
27^ //■//// lly-R,ni ami (
(iiiicra.
rishcniun's tahiiis, aii'l llu iiuUi'-.lrx ol rml lisliin:^ .nul
ciirini^ li\ till' ItciuIi iiopulalion is carried <m) wiih a
lrul\ N'ankic \i_t;{)r. The oiil) laiuliiiL; pKuc on this |»arl
of the ("iiilf shore is in a liltl'' coxc that, pierces the roir-h
and ro(k\ eoasl. I he lishnv' l)o.iK when the win
<l V
la\«iralih' (•nter ihe eoxc and pa^-. np an Inclined |ilan<-
of lo'-s o\ci" \\hi( h lhe\ slide nntil lhe\ are sale iVmn
the \va\es. whicli are liere ollen ol 'jreat si/e
\
ear
l\oss's houM- is a \v\-\ \\W'^v cold sprin^^, in which ilx
Xo\a Scotia I'ish C
oinmiNSioners kee|) the salmon ali\e
liial ai'e cani^hl for hrt-c-dinL; pnrposes until the spawn is
r(
ad\' for stripp
nii
Sonu: idea "I the \alue ol the Marijaree as a s.d-
nion river ina\' he had when I slate th.il in addition to
the xast nuniher ol lish thai are spt ared, netted a\\^\ kill-
ed in other ways, in a lew pools in the nei^hhorhood ol
this sprini^- alone, tliere ai'e caught and conlnied in it Ironi
three to ti\c hundred ku"L;(' salnion e\<i'y lall. 1 hese lish
are netted in the ri\c;r near hy. the ( loxcrnmiiu i>ayin_L;
one dollar lor each \\\v lish to the captors.
"About the loth of XoNcniher the work of takiiiij
and fertilizinij- the e'''''S is heijun. I he e'''L:'s and milt
are
taken from the lish and stiri'ed tom:ther in a pan. Tiic:
fertile eij'js hccome reddish and
almost as hard as peas,
w
liile the infertile; are white or ol .i pale llesh colo
nil
tis,
^;
^>
^^>
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
| £0 ™^^
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2.2
2.0
1.8
1.25 1.4
1.6
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►
P^
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A
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
M'^
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
fn?
I
280
IFifli I'lv-Rini and Camera.
"For removal to the ("i()\(,'nimciu hatcht-ry ;it Syd-
nc)' the et;"j4"s are packed in wootlen boxes about fifteen
inches s([uai'e. in moss and cotton wool. There is first
deposited at the bottom of the box a layer of wet moss;
upon this is laiil a stratum ol cotton wool, amoni;- which
the ei;L;'s are packed. I'pon this is |)laced another hu'er
of damp, almost wet moss, and another of the cotton with
its (]uota of es^iL^'s, and upon this another la}'er of each.
Upon this third la\"er is i)laced a partition of wire net-
tini;', or other porous material, the objc;ct bein^' to secure
the cg<4's from too j^reat pressure, and upon this partition
are [)laced another three lasers of moss, cotton and ego-s.
The fry hatch about the last of April or first of May,
and all the time between the period of their extrusion
from the parent .,sh until the)- are hatched, the cljj'j^s re-
(juire constant and most intelligent attention. When the
fry are about ti\-e weeks old they are distributed amonjr
the various ri\ers in ihe Province and left to shift for
themscK'es.
"The percenta_L,re of fr)- that is hatched artificially is
\astl\- hiL,dier than it is 1)\- natural methods. Probably
not live [)er cent, of the Ci^.Lj^s by the latter method ever
result in fry, while of those artificially propagated not
more than five per cent, are ordinarily lost.
"While at Northeast Margaree a pedestrian trip away
IS
hly
■vcr
not
way
V.
0\
11
282
With Fly- Rod and Canicm.
f : ):i.^
up tile river will be somcthiiiL;' that the ant^'ler and tourist
will enjoy. He will \\(i(i([ to take an outfit for cam|)inL;-,
as he will Ix; L^one several cla)'s. A most deli|j;'htful \\vw
of the settleiuent and valley of the river for a niiniher
of miles down toward the sea may be had from the top
of the hill called the Boar's Ikick. I'he painter could
here find a subject worthy of his L;rcatest skill. A few
miles up the ri\er, at what is called the Middle? Section,
is one of the most magnificent jjooIs in the i'roxinces.
" ContinuiuL;' on up the ri\'er. tlu; road soon becomes
a mere path, and liefore many more miles are passed, the
shores of the ri\-er become the onh' thoroughfare to be
depended upon. At the 'I'hree bOrks one pauses for the
first campins^" |)lace, and he ma)' here take all the sea
trout, aiul L;ood ones, too, that he can dispose of. In
fact the pools are now all filled with these delicious I'lsh,
with now and then a specimen of the; higher colored but
k;ss i^amy spotted trout. At e\ery cast in the larger
])o()ls one is likely to rise a salmon, so that it is better
to carry strong' tackle along', and not depenti on a light
single-handed trout rod.
■ " Near this point are the celebrated falls, two huii-
dred feet in height, and beyond these the salmon do not
pass. The ascent of the river may be continued for a
numljer of miles further, but when you have reached a
/
284
//'//// Flv-Rod and Camera.
V
point where climbiiiL;" is ;iii c^llorl of tlu: most artluous
kiiul and the ri\er Ijut a nois)- rushing' mountain stream,
)()ii will los(; )-our (Mithusiasm. At Cajje Clear, as it is
called, you perforce: come to a stop, and \our ambition
will lead )ou soon to turn about and return to the \il-
lai^e.
"If )()u e\x;r visit the island, and I ho[)e )ou will,
when you leave Northeast MarL;ar(;e on your retiu'ii home,
1 advise, b)' all means, instead of returning' to Haddeck
by the road o\'er which you came, to drive to Lake i\ins-
lee and thence; to \Vh)'kokomagh on the Little Bras D'Or,
and thence b)- steamer to Baddeck. The scener\- through-
out most of this thirtv odd miles to \\'h\kokoma''h is
superb.
" I'or the first fix-e or six miles tlu; road follows the
windint^s of the river, and I do not remember of an)-
thiuLi" elsewhere that can compare with the beaut)' of the
views to be had all alon^',
"The riv(;r inter\'ale stretches away for miles in all
directions. (i roups of s^raci'lul elms and ma[)les dot it
here and there most picturesquely, and the river in the;
sun's ra)s L!,listens like a stieam of silver as it courses
through the meadows. iU'Nond the \alle\-, and stretching"
awa)' in the elistance until lost to si_i;ht in the blue hori-
zon, green-top[)ed mountains are seen on e\er)' side.
IC
■/■.
o
^
2
y.
286
With i'lv-Rod and (\uucra.
It I
"The road is lionlcrcd hy cliiis. maples and ihc \ai'i-
oiis cxcr^rccn trees, and as ii winds around ihr hases of
the Iiills or ascends lo their tops, it allords the tra\ch'r
most e.\(|uisite \ iews of the L^rand panorama ai'oimd him.
The ri\cr, as we (h'aw n(;arei' its mouth, ^i-ows wider and
moi'c state])', and heiomes a stream ol eonsiih'rahh' si/e.
•'Near the torks ol thi Mar^aree the road to L;ike
Ainsle(; hranches oil Irom the main road and leads in a;i
easterly direction. ]t lollows the southeast branch ol the
ri\c:r, and the \aried panoramic surprises which coiuinu-
all\ meet tlu: e\c arouse to entluisiasni the most imlil-
ferent.
\l)(Mit twentN' miles from the Ross settlement the
rc;u
)ass(;s
tl
le outlet ot
ake
Ainsl
ee, whicli lorms tlu;
head of the southeast hranch. II
er( are numerous ee
weirs. In »h(;s(; are captui'eil man\' barrels ol the lish
lor which the,')' arc; set, and it occurretl to me that the)'
mi''ht.
r
occasion re(|uire(|, he usee
tl
1 for sal
iimon also
issiu!'' the outlet the road now tra\'erses the shore
o
f the lake throuu'h a far
mm;
countrx' almost dex'oid of
scenic in teres
t. O
n one sitlc the lake stretches awa\' as
fi
u" as the e\'e can reach, the hlue mountains in
the I
lor-
izon
formini^; the; houndar)'. ( )n the other side pastures,
ficKls and hills icceed eat-h (Uher monotonousK'
!•
or about li\'e miles this tairie and unattractixc rule
y.
1 '-
"UlC
288
U'itli h'l\'-l\>hl (Hid (<ii//rni.
coniiniic
aiii!
It coiilrasts sliar|ii\ with llic ucali
h ..f
IilC-
Hircs(|iic l»caiil\ that had nrcccilcd it.
Xcai' ihc htad of the lakr is a slrcaiii which iin|)-
1,
tics into It. >i|)anninL;' this is a hnd'^c which was, when
\\r crossed it, so (h'la| lichited as to \n: al)S()hitel\' iiiisafe
h»i" loaded can"iaL;'es, .i!id we were ohh^^c'l to alight and
cross it ah>ot. lielow this hrid^c Is a hiri^f dee]) pool,
worth a lon^;' joiirnc}' to see. The water is as clear as
crystal, from \\\r to twent)- feet in dej)th, and thromdi-
out tlu; suninier is ahsoluleh. p.icked with sea trout.
"As 1 crossed the hridi^n; I looked down into the
water helow. aaid such a si^^ht 1 nexcr before witnessed.
The trout were in tliousaiuU, and lar^'e oiies most ol
them were, too. Ihis pool is celebrated throughout this
portion ol the island, and many hue catches ha\e l)c;en
taken irom it. in \eai-s past it has been poached hadly,
and is e\cn now somewhat, but not to the <le!.;ree that
it was a lew years a^o. a wanlen now almost constantU'
super\asinL;' it. I am told that in 1SS4 or iSX^ a man
'ji^'o'ed' out ol this pool in one d.iy thrc'e barrels ol those
splenditl lish I
" Wv. stopped for the niL^ht at a farm housi; hotel
near tlu; brid^'e. kept by a Mr. McLean. Soon alter our
arrival, haunted by the \ision ol the host of trout 1 h.ad
seen, 1 look m\ rod and sauntered down to the bridn'c
;
y.
y.
2L)0
//'//// /'/v-A'ci/ luui (antcra.
lo ascertain whether or not they were interested in en-
toinoloL;) .
" 1 tried them with \arious hackles and other flies that
I thoiiL;lu woiiUl [jUiasc: tiiem, but tiie)- hail been 'edu-
cated.' 'rhe\' iiail stM.-n similar oH\;rin>'s before, and for
two hours I succ(jcd(.'tl in lamling only three; or four small
tish, (;\idcntly unsoi)histicated ne-w-comers.
"()ii(; or two of the neii;hborinL;' farmers stood on
the l)ridL;c talking;- to each other ami to \wv. in, 1 ha\'e
no doubt, pure (iaelic, thi; lanLi'uaiL^e ol most of the Cajx;
Ih-fton habitans, and (nidentl)- enjoyini,;" 'larks' at ni)' ex-
pense in casting o\'er the lish so industriousl)'. W'hat-
e\-er the)' said, I could not understanti a word, the (lat-'lic
tongue n((t hax'iiiL;" been mast(_;red by me, so I paid no
attention to them. i\fter a while with a parting 'snicker'
the\- left the bridge for their homes, and I was alone.
"The sun now hung aboxc the western horizon, a
huge; red splu.'re. The skies AV(;re covered with the most
gc^rgeous clouds of goldt'ii and purph^ hu(;s, and a soft
balmy breeze sprung up. I ceased casting, and, taking
a seat on owv. of the cross beams of the Ijridge, lighted
a cigar and gave myself up to the enjoyment of the mag-
nificent scene before m(;. The bridge was onl\' a half
dozen rods from the lake shore, and an imobstructed view
could be liad for the entire distance! to the furtlier shore.
•n-
al
lii-
lor
ill
on
a\i'.
ape
cx-
hal-
iic
no
:cv
lost
so
ft
ikin
ir
rhtcd
11 ag-
half
view
hore.
B'nokih Kok I5kkaki\si, Anyway. (Inst.)
29^
// '///'' /'7y-Ko'/ mid C 'miicni.
Across tile l)<)S()m of tlu; lake tlv ra\s of the setting' sun
suc|)l in
a i)i'oa(i
ath\\a\' ot crimson ant
'OKI
Tl
ic
azure of the sk\, the ''ors'cous col
orniL!' ol
ll
\v. t'louds, the
_!4r('cn lorcsts and ficlils of the shore, all were mirrored
on ihe i)lacid water with tlu most heaulitui elh'ct. It
If I
was a scene to he rememhere
enlrancinL;', enrai)turine
1
A\as en|o)
it with all the artistic s(msc; ol tlu
f th
beautiful in nature that 1 possessed Avheii 1 was awak-
ened from my re\-erie hy a lu'a\\ splash made by a lar^c
iish in tlu; water below luc, 1 looked down, and at that
instant another lish cauie to the surface and with a s[jlash
seized a L;nat that h.ul droppetl upon the \\ater.
"'Oh, ho, ni)- beautiesi' 1 e.\i:laimed. it is a small lly
you want, is it? 1 will tr\" to accomnu)dati; )"()U.'
"S(.;archin;;" aiuon;^' m\' feathered treasures, 1 found a
small black Liiiat, to' small, 1 feared, to be stroni^' enouo'h
to bear the strain of a hea\)- fish. 1 [owe\'er, 1 put it on
m\' castiiiL;' iiiU' and tlropped it down up(*n the water, ^ix'-
nu'- it a litile llutler at the sanu; tmu'
I
n an instant m
>■
re(,'l was sinL:in<' mei
■ril\- as 1 struck the rise; which canu;
ms
tantb
aiu
1 1
was
fast to a
a)od two-pound lish.
I was alone and was oljliu'etl to land tlu; trout u
n-
assisted. It was a difficult operation, for the lish A\as
lively and strons^', and 1 fearetl for ni)- small hook. 1
[)assed the ViA from hand to hand (Uitside t'u' beams of
lul a
U)Vl_!4"h
It on
• "iv-
It my
came
,h.
lit tm-
^ was
k. 1
ms ol
i
294
ll/ltli Fly- Rod and Caiiicni,
the bridL,r(' as 1 moved aloni^- to the beach where I had
left my hmding- net. After I reached it I had to phiy
the fish until it was completel)' concjuered, for I had a
small lii^dit rotl, and this took considerable time. How-
ever, after creelin<'- the trout 1 had a liood hour of twi-
lij^dit left, which I improxed by taking three more very
nice hsh, and some smaller ones.
"When I showed my catch at the hotel it was pro-
nounced '\('r\- handsome,* but I doubt if an\- of those
who saw it believed I took it with anything- but the in
that section |)opular jig. In fact I noticed one or two
persons examining the bodies of the fish for 'hook marks.'
All the tish that I took, although they had doubtless been
in the [jool for a long time, were as silvery bright as if
fresh, run. I w^as told that about the end of August the
salmon come into this stream in considerable nunibers.
"A comfortable night is passed at McLean's, and after
breakfast is disjiosed of the route is resumed. The drive
around the ui)[)er end of the lake is picturesque, and the
t\\elve miles to the Little Bras D'Or are soon passed, an
occasional team now and then with its, to us, odd char-
acteristics, giving a spice to the trip.
"Arriving at Whykokomagh, pronounced by the na-
tives 'Hogomagh,' the hospitable shelter of the Bay View
Hotel is a welcome boon to the v/eary traveler, and the
I
I
Iter
•JVC
the
an
1 a I'-
ll a-
iew
the
290
IVitli I'ly-Rod and Caiucm.
dinner that the hostess, i^ood Mrs. Mitchell, serves, seems
a royal feast after the plain fare that has hecMi had on
the island ; slu; knows what a _L;()od dinner is, how it
sliould he cooketl, and also how it should he scn'ved.
«
"The steamer Ma)- Oueen lea\es W'h^kokoma^h for
Haddeck at about two in the; afternoon. I'rom the steam-
boat wharl \()U _L;et a i^'ood \iew of the town, which is
neither neat nor attractive. Up the Little Uras D'Or the;
])assaL;e is one oi the most delightful. The scenery alon:;'
the shore is x'arietl, and this, toi^ethei wilh the; balm)'.
h(;a
1th-
'•ivni!.
air, the placid water of the beatititul lake.
the exhnaratnis
motion o
f tl
u; l)oal, all make the sail eii-
th
jo)-al)le h>r e\'er)- iiKjment 01 thcj time
f th
Tl
le steamer ar-
rives at IJaddeck at al)out se\en in tlie evemiiLr, am
th
.-i'
land-
ni;
wxv.
the tourist finds himself auain on the main route
of tra\el.
" Come, William, wake up," I exclaimed to the guide,
who had been noddim-- for the last ten minutes, and who
was now on the |)oint 01 g'oin
f
to si
eep
wake u]
and
f
ather touether our scattered thinL-s and put them under
cover, It will rain
bef
ore mornim
sure.
Well, hrere," I continued, tur
nin
.■5
to 111)- friend who
was SI
lentl
\- recliniiT,
b)- the fire, "1 hope )()U are not
aslee[), too.
Not I." 1
le rei)
li(;d,
on
tl
w. contrar
am W'lae
and
dcr
;ho
not
vide
298
With I'l\-I\0(i and Caincm.
;nv
:ake, hut I was iliinkiiiL;' <il)()iit Cape Breton, aiv.l \()ur
Inscription o
f its 1
)fautics, and arranijin'-' in \\\\ ninid a
I'
I: I
\isit to the isl.md at ;i not disiant da}'.
"Make it, make it," I answered, leading the way to
the tent, "nou will eiijox- it thorou<'hl\' anl ne\"er rei^rct
It.
til
It
is worth a \ is
t fi
oni \()u
if f
or notiim
th
more
lan to see the wealth of bird life that exists there.
Warblers in myriads breed there; sparrows and fmches
of almost every kind haunt the lields .uid bushes in
thousands. I counted four male rcjse-breasletl _L;rosbeaks
in one little swamp a cpiarter of a milt; in lentil., and
th
:ful littU
f;
the
dozens ol those L;racetul little syl\-an tanaes, the redstarts,
I never saw anjlhiuL;- like tlu- ornithological exuberance
ther^: is on that little island. The whole feathered wealth
of a Xew ]'jiL;land summer wotdd not ec|ual it, it seems
to me. W'hw I llushed an l'^n''"lish snipe at almost e\"c;r\-
ten rods, e\"er}' time I walked through a meadow, and
f)reedin'j- season, too, and saw (uiite a \\\
tl
lis in
th
ty
of othe'" shore birds that I always supposetl bred nowhere
sotith of l.abrador. Yes, I'rere," I added, as \ve settled
rselves for a night's sleep, "you must go to Cape Bre-
ou
ton to see
bird life, if for noth
in<
else
I think I sh;
Ul L''0,
an.sweret! m\'
fri
eiKl
uul not
lone
i<'" sa
U) see the birds either, I h()j)e to see some u^ the
Imon of the Mars/aree, also."
lo
Tet
lorc
crc.
:hcs
in
eaks
aiul
arts,
ancc
aUh
cms
c;rv
and
icty
icre
Lied
Bre-
not
the
l''.\I.I.!< (IN I'lIK MakcAKKK HkI o\V CaI'I; Cl.LlAK
CIIAI'THR V.
\ lli:\\\ l;\is. • ^Mi \ii. III nil: Xicin. • 1''i,v-I'wiiin'; Smximimis Ckmui
IN A MiiUM. • A C.lilM l'\lill. • 'I Kill I, DlikS \Mi (il;l,l;l> llXII.KMI-
NMlli \:y r'KKI.KII. • (l/.i'M. • .\Mi||;II; S\1\Iii\ IIiimIsIH. • I|ii|'l>
\Mi |i\i;s, • ! )i>\i'i iiiM Ml N I . • llii;\M \- \ ri\-( \^iiK. • Mm;!-:
,\i;iii r I'WiiKiii; I'lii^. • A I ! wnsi imi; iKm. • llniiKin ami Sa\ in.
1- Kl Kl. ( ;i I -, An'I III l; ll-ll. • ll'iW 1 II'-. ( 111 \ I KN^ I'.iiS A. 1. 11.^ lOK \ S\i.-
MiiN. • A S','1 iKKi 1. Skis I i n . • A iIki.m i \imi. • Tin, | xii.u i, r Rni.K
1\ N I W r.KlN-WHK. • I'iVKM-AN's Ilnll.l, AM> 1111. I '■ I Mil ii\ Mil. I'lMl: IH.:^
ClIAII I !;.-,. • (iiiMli MiiUr IN I'Ki iSri-,. ■ I . • A SlMNH'N.S IKuNI IllKWI. • l'.,\-
iiiiMiNi. • A l.iiNi; SrKri.i;i,i:. • Ci ini;k \ 1 1 i.a in in.s. • .\ I'kiiis Siuini;
,i|. M \ 'ri;.ii I. • 1m;| i;r, \I.--m II.S.S (IimUi Si i(r>'-. • SlNlUNi; mi ll->Il
III iKiiNh . • 'ruiii i' I'l-iiiNii .\r 'I in; U.\ni:i i.i.v.s. • (iui,\r SrnKi wiiii
l.ii.iii 'l'.\i km:. • H\iihiM; S.M.MiiN ,\k 1 11 H I \i.i \' \ (■.i;i:\r Si (.( i:ss. • I'lii-.
( In K.M |iiN> \r DllllKIM I I \ H IlKKIK^. • WllR OWN KS ( i K l' I 1 1 1', C'KI'.WI.
< )i K Ani.iik- nil. I'lK.^i III Ui;i:i: tiik Akiiihim. Shhkini; m ki\i:Ks anh
I, VMS. • Sr.\ll>MiS III S.MMiiN Fis1II:KII>. • I'liSnilKS (iKnWINi; ,\|ii1;K,
Ki.cKii ss. • SiKi'Mi. Im>iiini; C.vnnot 1',\ iKKMiN.\n-, TiiK I'lsii. • ll\i;irs
ii|- iiii: S.M.M'iN. • ( iiNji.i 11 Ki:s CoM'iKNiNi; nii: IniNiin- m' riii: Si- \
■|l;,il I. ■ .\l.l. .\i;iil I 1,\I<IS l'.|i\V,\Kl) ANIi Si. jiillN. • 'rili: lliiMK 111
IIII. WiNMM-ii. • <'ii;i VI KiviKs IN iiii: Nukiii. • I- iiii Wlnnini^ii .\
L.\.NU-LuCKI,n S.\l..\liiN? • Dl.ML.N.SlUNS .\Nli \\ Ulill nl' ScilniJDU; S.M.MW.N.
1WAS iiwakciictl in llu: nii^ht by tlu; niin pelting- down
upon llu: trnt ill tuTcc. lu'a\ \ sliowcrs. ( )ur co\cr-
in^- was, as William c.xijrcsscd it, "as (lr\- as a house,"
so that ^vc c.\|)cricncc:(l no discomfort from the storm;
hut llic uproar of rain heatini;- down upon the canvas,
/
,1111
'111.
■AM.
AMI
|m1;K.
\\.\ 1>
Si' \
I ir
>11 A
luN.
vcr-
ISC',
irm ;
vas,
(jAri. Ci.i.ak" iiN M \Ki;AkKK Kim.k, Cai'I'. I'.ki.ki.n.
302
//'//// /•7v-/\()(/ iiiui C(iiii('r\
and ii])()ii the Idlia^f of llic trees al)()iit ii^, and tlu; sur-
face >)f the water near liy, kept nic awake for a loiit;-
linu'. 1 liL;lU((l a li^ar. and strt'tchecl upon our soft
bed, Mstenetl to the sounds ol the stormy ni^ht.
Occasionall) an old tree, decaNcd at ils l)asi', fell in
tlu; forest with a thumlei-in^- crash. The wind, souL;hin_L;'
throueh the trees, at inter\-als hetween the din of the
showers brought to the; ear the musical tones of the rush-
inn' ^vater in the nel^hborin;,;- I'apids. A restless owl hov-
ered near by, ils luL;ub.*ious cry echoim^ back h'oni the
hillside; across the ri\(M'.
To all these sotuids 1 listened until my ci^ar was fin-
islietl. when, turnini;- u|)on my side and covering- my head
with my felt cami)iniL;" hat, I fell asleep ai^'ain, ami did
not wake until the sound ol the guide's axe; aroused us
in the mornini^.
Emer^inn- from the tent we found that lliram had
arrived and with William was l)usy at the lire preparing
breakfast. It is almost incredil)le how quickly the woods-
man can start a lire, no matter how hea\-\' the rain may
be or how wvl the fuel. 'J'he tirst thing is to fuul an
old pine; or c( tlar stump, and the rt;sin()us wood hewn
therefrom will start a rousing hre in the worst of w(.;ather.
The rail"! had ceased, but a lu'avy fog hung o\-er the
river and -mi the sides of the hills about us.
tit
n
o
304 111 til I'lx-Roii ami Camera.
"What's ihf (l;i\' to 111, I Ilrani i-*" 1 fxclaimcd, as 1
stood Iiy lilt- chfcrtiil t'li'i' uliicli was now ( rackliiiL;' ainoiiL;
ihc |)ln(; ami cclar loi^s, ol \\hii:h the ^iililcs had [)r<)-
(■ur<'d a HlitTal siiii|»l\.
"I think il will lir a wet day, sir," he answcrrd,
"showery like; noi a heavy rain."
" \'('s," added William, who was husy sliciiiL;' l)ac()n
ami washiiii;' potatoes for hreaklasl, "il will he shower\
and dark; not the hesi day e\cr was lor lishiiiL', allhoui^h
)•(: can try these two pools, il ye like"
" \'(;s, we will do so all<'r breakfast," said hrere, who
was also enjo\im;' the i_;ratelul warmth ol the lire, "al-
ihoiii^h it's not the best da\-, as _\du sa_\-."
"Il mij^hl he worse though,' lliram exclaimed, as \\v.
^^'A\'(\ the fire a fresh adjuslmenl and hmiL;' the lea-ketth-
to hoil, siispendinu;' il from a slake ol ^reeii wood. " I
don'l like to lly-tish in a storm, for I i^incrall)- find that
th(; fisli won't rise."
"Yes," 1 replii'd. " il is true as a I'ule, hut someiimits
lh(i hesl fishinL;- is had when the rain drops come iiattcr-
inL,^ upon ihe surface ol the water. ( )ne of ihe hi.^j^'esl
catches 1 (wer made! was on a perf-'clK' haielul da\'. Il
was llu; I 7lh of June in 1S5C) or 'Oo that this happened.
It was on the Ma^allowax' l^ix'er in Maine, at the pool
just below A/iscohos I'alls. I stood on on(; rock all th(;
h;il
J
5
3o6
U'^itJi Flv-Rod (iL'(/ Can/cm.
time, and landed m\ own fish, Ix'in!-- wilhoui a 'jiiidi
I)
iirnTj
tl
lioK; da\" there; was a succession of snow
le \vnoi(! (ia\
s(pialls, liail slornis and rain ; certainly a ^\()rse da)' for
fisliin^" could not 1)(; iniaL^ineil, )'et 1 took oxer a Imshel
of spotted trout from the jjool, usinL;- l)ro\vn or red hackles.
I
ne\-er
aw
lish so eaLi'er. At e\c''\' cast a half ilo/(;ii
or more would dart for the Il_\-, ami 1 was husy all th(
time."
"Small trout. 1 suppose," aid hrere : "they are often
crazy like that."
"Not so small, either," I answered; "man\' of them
would A\ciL;h two pountls apiece anil o\'er. The)' wer<; a
maLTnit'icent lot, and the\' furnisheil a dinner for hall the
people in the settlement helow at Wilson's Mills."
"'I'hat was i^ootl tishim^-," exclaimed lliram, "although
W(; ha\-e heateii it hadl)' amoui^' sea t'%)Mi, hey, William?"
"We hax'e. indeed," assenteil the other L!uide.
"That nia\ he," said 1, "hut not in a had storm,
)ovs, not m a hea\ \' storm.
X
o, sn', \()U re ri<'ht ihei'e
I'eUlied
11
irani.
1 L was
[•■ooc
1 fisl
liiiL!' for brook trout, altoi^'ether ; il must ha\i
heen a ime i)ool
that.
\
es.
It was a spi(Midid one
answered
the
falh
were steep and hii^h, so hi^h in fact that the trout coukl
not asceml them, and they gathered in the pool ]j« low in
TW^^t"^!^
• ■ , . 1.', < ^, '■■ w.
y.
\o8
H'itli riv-Roii ami Camera.
Tcal iunnl)ci-s. Thai was loiv'' \vm\ however; i tloubt
if a troul coukl be found th
"\\'h\- so.^" askeil l'"rere.
ere; now,
It scicnis incredible that
a larije ri\t-r could bt; absoluteK' exhausted.
riu; troul ha\c been cxt
c;rninia
ted below the fal
not by tislu;rnu;n, but by thos(; fresh-water sharks, tin;
pickerel, which ha\'e asccMKled tlie ri\-er from Lake I'm-
bagog below. "
" The trout stands no i:hanee ai^ainsl pickei'el, I am
told," said krere.
" Xo, no chance Avhatcwer," I answered, "the \'oracity
of the i)ickerel is sonnlhini^" astonishing. In the Schoo-
tlic I^akc's these; abominable; Aermin not onl)' d(;\'our the
N'oung land-locks, but the\' are; absoluteK' dri\ing awa\' the
wild elucks that used to breeel the're; in inime'nse num-
be-rs. '•' Idle; pickeM'el she)uld be outlawe'el."
" It must be; a gre'at pe'sl,' saiel krere'.
"Well, gcntlemien, your bre^akfast is re'ael\'," saiel Wal-
lian:, pointing to the' abunelant \ianels that we're; se;r\'e;d
upe)n e)ur rude; table.
All ricdit," I
mswe're'el, "we will surrounel ii at once'
A. lloardmrin of ('
M
c, wnti"-
Diuk
tl ''filiu-^ tlial usi'il 111
liriTcl Ml almndantly nn niir n\c.r, in c<)nM;(|iuin o nf i!ii- pic l<i'irl f.i'.iiii;' up lliuir
Vdiiii'i; h
;iM' luarlv ilcscrti-il r. as ;i liiTrdiiiL
11
uy al--i) cat llu- \ipiin;;' of
lonU'Slic (liU'l<s, ami lia\c proved ^o dL-slruclivo lo llicni llial piupjr up llir ri\ri' haV(
iliaud"iK-il ti\ini^ to lairM.- lla-ui."
falls.
s, llu;
Uni-
I ;iin
once.
il ll^nl to
up ihi-'ir
\iil||V^- (it
:i\iT luive
y.
310
With Fly-Rod and Camera.
li I
A good half hour was devoted to the meal, and we
enjoyed it thoroughly.
"What is it, I'Vere, that gives us such ferocious ap-
petites?" I asked, as I helpetl nijself to a third trout.
"Ozone," he exclaimed, impaling another fish to keep
even with mt;.
"Ozone," said William, "what's that? I thought it
was our fresh air and the exercise that made the hunger."
"All the same, William," I said, "all the same thing;
another dipper of tea, please."
After breakfast was disposed of we started for the
head of the lower pool, about twent)' rods down the beach
from the camp. b'rere gave me the first chance at the
pool, saying he would try his luck later in the pool be-
low us.
I began casting, but, althou<.''h I i/ot out considerable
line and fished carefull}', I did not succeed in 'lifting' a
fish, and after a ten minutes' exercise with the rod we
crossed at the head of the pool for the beach on the
other side.
Here I began casting again, moving down the stream
a foot or two with every cast, covering all the water as
1 progressed. I dropped my lly at length behind a jut-
ting rock on the other side, and with a big swirl a sal-
mon took the lure and settled in the pool.
IVith Fly-Rod and Caineni.
3"
What a moment it is after a salmon is hooked in
which we wait for his first rush! The nerves tin^de, the
heart almost ceases to heat ; we brace e\ ery muscle and
prepare for the battle thit we know is ine\itable. The
pressure is j)ut u[)on the rod, the line: begins to move
slowly at hrst, as if the fish disdains to notice the frail
fibre which liolds him ; then, with a mi^ht}- dash, with
the s[)eed of thought, he spins out the line, making the
reel fairl)- scream at the rapidity of the motion.
I'he salmon to which I was fast was a stronu", ac-
tive fish, and his hrst run t{K)k out at least sex'cnt}' }'ards
of line.
"Bring" the canoe, cpiick, William I" I shouted, "we
may ha\e to follow him down the raj)ids."
Almost as soon as I had finished my sentence the
canoe was at my sitle, and, hurrying into it, we prepared
to follow the fish if it went out of the jjool. It was <i
beautiful pool to kill a salmon in, having an abundant
depth of water all over it ; it was about two hundred
)'ards in length, and at the lower end shoaled consider-
abl)' before reaching the rapids, but it was deep enough
even there to lloat a heavily-loaded canoe.
The distance to the next, pool below was onl)' about
one hundred rods. Tearing down into the shoal water
the salmon seemed on the point of making for the rapids,
312
lyiJi riy-Rod nilii L'aincni,
\\ ^
Mi
Shoutiii!^- to the i^iiidc to follow liiiii 1 held ihc tish with
as (inn a liami ;is I could, w.itchiiiL;' with apprrlicnsion
iii\' liiU' rapidi)' di-iappcafint;' from my rrci. ( )n(' hundrctl
\'ards had spun out, and twcnt\ moi-c ht'lorc the sahiion
conchuk'tl to turn hack. ' )ur canoe had started to follow
the lish, aivl this ^ax-e the line a fe.irful hi^hl oi" slack
wi'icn tlu; salmon darted hack into the pool, and ne\-er
before haxc I made my hii^' reel tl)- as I did in wintl-
in_L;' up that slack. 1 succeeded in ^ettin^' it packeil on
the spool aL;ain solitllx and in e\cn la\crs.
l'n(|uestional)l\ , theri' ai"e more: salmon lo^t 1)\- foul-
ine- an unexcnl)', slo\-enl\- reeled hue than fi'om an\- other
cause. In\;u"ial)l\ , ii a lin<' is loose anywhert: on the reel,
the fish A\ill cause it to o\-ei-run, and then throw a sort
of lialf hitch on the vvvl, and this done tlu; casting" line
parts as if it were a cotton thread. I h;i\e seen so mauN"
fish lost hy this carelessness, and also l)\- the line fouling'
ill that infernal implement, the wheel turned 1)\- a ci'ank
instead of 1)}' a handle in the reNoKinj^- |)late, that I am
cautious in aNoidim^' hoth Iruitlul sources ol expletixcs and
despair.
\\'indinL;' in the line care(ull\, )-et with the greatest
jK)ssil)le speed, 1 \'er\' soon had it tautened a^ain on the
tish, which was now in the pool not ten yards from the
canoe. I'Celin''' th(; lift ol tlu; rod, the salmon darted
llcsL
tlic
the
rtcd
y.
y.
y.
3'4
//'//// I'lv-Rod (!//(/ CdHlO'll.
away a,L;ain, this tiim- \\y the pool, IcajMnj^ tlircc tinics
in (juick succession, and throwing" the Avater awa)' ii[) on
tin: rocks on the sitie ol thi; pool ; followinL;' this he s[)un
hack and forth in short nervous runs, and then sc;ttU;d in
tlu; (U'ep hole at the loot of the u[)per rapids. 1 1 ere I
followed 1))' walking- hesidt; him on the heach, and n'ave
him the l)utt for all I dared to, in\"itin_L;- hini at the same
time to "come in out of the wet." In response he darted
into the air, shaking;' his lu;ad like a hkick bass, and so
c-lose to me that 1 could ha\e struck him with the lip
of nn' rod when I lowered it as he fell hack into the
[)()ol.
" \\' ma\- L;i\e him the; hutt a^ain, sir," saitl William,
" 'tis onh' a small t'lsh, not o\er ten pounds, thou^jh lie's
miyhl)' li\ely; he'll soon tire now."
I followed this achice and ke[)t the lish moxini.;', and
soon in acknowledLnnent ol defeat he turnt'd on his side
on the water.
"Good enough, he's done!" exclaimeil lliram, who
stood with gaff iri hand on the beach nt;ar me; "bring
him in this wa\', and I'll reach him."
Giving a slant to the rod and lifting at the same
time, I sheered the fish over towartl the point on the
beach where the guide stood. Nearer and nearer to the
shore it came, until it was within six feet of the cnul of
inus
oil
l)iin
111
'>avc
anic
rli;d
so
Up
tl
IC
cllll,
he s
and
siclc
lo
ine
anu;
th
c
ot
3i6
//'//// /7\'-/\(>(/ aiui ( aiiicm.
llu: ,L;alT, when tin; salnioii, perhaps catching;' a i^liinpsc of
his h)c, or possibly touching" a stone on the l)()tton, of
thi: [jooi, _L;a\(.; a sudden twist and jerk, and ialHnL;' hack
into the water, (hsappcared a free; fish.
I'Or <ui instant we stood a_L;liast, and then I'rere cx-
clainieti, " I low in tlie nanu; of ^oochiess (W\ that fish
j4et a\\a\' ? 1 thoii-ht he was safe, absohitel)."
"lie was till the hook broke," said William.
" 1 (.lon't think it brokt'," 1 exclaimed, as I reeled in
nu' line, " I think it tore out of the lish."
" Xo, the cast broke close to the lly," said Iliram,
who had me'anwhile seized the line and was examininj^' it;
"no, thuiulerl the loop pulled out of tlu: ll\I"
It Avas e\en so; there was the casting' line in per-
fect condition, and •'. its cwA was the loo[) which had
been faste'.iecl to the ll_\'.
"C(^nfountl it all," 1 exclaimed, "why ditln't i test
it ;is 1 should ha\'e doiU', before hshin<4"."'
"Yes," \(>u should ha\'e," said brere, "I hnd that
there is almost as much danger of a looj) [)ullin<^' out, un-
less 1 tie it m\s(,'lf, as there is of a castini^- line parting'."
"\\\:11," said I, "it's a wonder 1 held tile salmon as
lonu' as I did ; but 1 should hardl\' Ikuc tliought such
an accident could ha\'e happened, tor it was a genuine
l-"orrest tl\'."
//■//// /•'/]'- /\(h/ (///(/ Caiifcnt.
317
"I lia\'c known siicli a tiling- to (» fiir Ih'Ioi-i-," !)<• re-
plied, "and uc can draw a moral ironi the accident, and
that is to n(\cr use 'store llics' it uc can hclj) it."
"\\'(dl, Mr. I'rcrc," said llirani, "tiu- lish is lost, and
we ina)' as well ti-\- for anoiiu'r, and that prctt)- soon, for
there'll he more rain h) and hy."
" \'er\' n'oo(h" replied h rere, "\vr will i^o down to
two or thri'e of the [jools helou, and sec; what onr lor-
tnnes will ht: there."
" \'on take the canoe down, hrere, with William,"
said 1, "and 1 will pnl in an houi' or two with the
tront."
"All ri^ht," he replied, and steppiivj; into the canoe
with the L;nide, soon disappeared from our \ iew down the
ri\-er.
"Hir;im," said I, as we took our stand upon the
beacli close to the [)l;ice where I had hooked the sal-
mon, ' )()U takt; the rod and I'ish awhile, and 1 will ha\e
a smoke."
"All right," he replied, as I handed him my tackle,
"perhaps I will hook a 5-:;ilinon, there's plentx' in it."
1 took a seat upon a r(jck on the beach and watched
the guide. I have met fishermen who would ne\er per-
mit their guides to haiidle thc'ir rods tor a cast; ami
. ha\'e also seen others who made their ''uides do all the
3>8
//'//// l'l\'-l\od (ii/(f (dn/cra.
casting". coiuciuinL; tlu'inscKcs with pLiNiiii^ tin- lish 'h;il
tlicir men hail liookcil lor ihcm. Ncilhcr of llu-sc classes
hav(; till! i'iL;ht spirit ul thr tnir sportsin.iii.
It is |)ri'tl)- ihill music for the iiUrlligi'iit giiiilr to
watch thr angler all ila_\' long, ami ila\ after day at that,
cast ami hook ami pla)' the salmon, uitlvait heing allowed
to e\-en partiiij); tc in the spoin further than to galf the
fish, ami I holil it is selfish In the emploNcr to hegruclge
the man a rhaiuc now ami then to do a little of the
fishing; that is, il the guide is an e.Nperi, which most
guiiles are. Ihe sportsman wlio m.ikes the guitle do
all the casting and hooking the hsh foi" the ( inplo\cr to
jday is a l.i/\- man, and a poor angler. It is something
to rise a salmon and hook him neatl)' and artisticall)',
something that e\-er)' one cannot do, and il is asking and
expecting a good deal from human nature to reipiire the
guide to relinquish the rod to another man to pla\- the
fish which he had not the patience or skill to hook.
Hiram \\as an expert with the rod, and it affon'.etl
me great pleasure to see, him co\cr the pool, placing his
tly as lightl)' as the fall of a feather wherever he wished.
.•\fter a short time \\v. ceast;d casting and saiil, as he n;-
mo\-eil thi; ll\- from m\' leader, and haiuled it to me,
"The water is growing darker e\er\- minute from thii
heavy rain there has been up the ri\'er, and in a deep
Aw.
.Ik;
y.
y.
y.
u
i;;n-s>ir'
320
IVitJi I'lv-Rod miii ( Unicni.
\\ I
pool like this, -.hen the water is colored, a larger aiul
briij^hler tl\- is tiu; thiiiL;'."
I L:a\i' liim his t-hoic(; Iroin ni\" hook, aiul selectintj^
an eie'i^anl Pophain he attaclu'd it to the casting" line.
Ri^ht liere I want to s;;)' to e\H'r\- salnioii hshernian,
thai in e\cr\- tweKc thes al\va\s ha\(; one I'opham, antl
if N'on follow \w\ acK'icc^ nou will \ar)' the other elexcn
about as h)lloA"s: Three ol the siKcr doctors (two sizes).
two of tin; J(^Lk Scott, one hutcner, one I )urhain ran^'er,
oni; roN'al coachman, two of lIk; fair\- (two colors), one
black dose. This \ariet\' will meet the i'('(|uircnicnts of
all conditions of lis^ht and water, and ihes' are amonjj^ the
most killin<4' thes to be had. Of course, a seK;ction ol
hackles anil oth<'r trout thes is essential. ;\ siii^ie dozen
will hist onl)' a short tinu:. but the dozens taken on an
ouliuL;' should, in m\' opinion, contain about the \ariet\-
I hax'e nametl.
lliram Avcnt to the lu;ail of the p(jol and be^an cast-
iny", aiul keepin;,;' back from the water, with a lon^' line,
worked down the; stream, coxerini;' thoroui^hh' ever\' toot
ol the water with his tly. Ilow neatly he (lrop[)ed the
tly here and there upon the surtaci; of the pool ; it was
a pk;asnr(! to see the performance, excn if it did not rise
a th.li. At length tlu; ll)- ft;ll u[)()n the identical spot
where 1 hooked my fish a halt houi- Ijelore. when like
11
ll'^ith h'/y-Roii and Camera.
321
cast-
line,
' toot
1 the
t was
it rise
spot
1 like
a phantom T saw a -rayish forni arise to the surface, and
In an instant a salmon was hooked.
"I thouo-ht one would com-; up there." said Hiram.
n-elin- in th(; line and preparin- for the; contest, "it's the
spot where the\- all lie."
The fish went to the bottom for a moment, evidently
not feelinn- any inconvenience or pain from the hook, but
th<; instant that the strain of the rod was put ui,on the
line, th(; reel -ave a shriek and the fish dart<-d down the
pool, showinu- itself in the air two or three times in cjuick
succession.
"Here, sir. take; the rod." exclaimed th,- nuide. as he
ste|:)ped to my side and offered me the tackle, '"tlK; fish
is small, but \-ery lively."
"Keep the rod, Hiram," I said, "and I will watch
you kill this fish."
I confess that my fin-ers fairly ached to take the rod
from the ,L;uide and kill the salmon myself, but I con-
quered the desire, although I am free to sa>' that I have
not alwa)-s refused such an unselfish offer.
The salmon was a short, thick, broad fish, and from
the shape evidently a female, and of about ten pounds'
wei.crht. d^u-ninu- back into tlu; dcn-p wat<"r, after takino-
out fifty or sixty )-ards of line she settled to the bottom,
and ben-an ii--erin,o- ri-ht earnestly to release herself from
322
With I'lx-Rod am/ Camera.
the barhecl st(;cl. Iliram at once [)Ut a strain on ni)
s|)]it-l)aml)(){) that 1 did not fancy.
" RcnienilxT, iliram," I cxclainictl, "my rod isn't one
of those; ]i(;a\\' ^rccnhcarts that \()ii arc used to."
" Xo troulile," he ;ins\ver(;d, still lifting' st;\"erely, "tlie
sahnon's jii^'^erin^- and l)orinn', and 1 want to ^et lier lic;ad
out o' tliat ; til'- rod's good for lier any da)."
Tlu; tisli soon )ieided to tlie strain, and, comiuL,'' to
the surface. Ix'^an to circle about in a confused way.
"She's most elone, already," 1 t;.\claimed.
"Yes," replietl the guide, "the females, as a gineral
thing, ha\en't got the tight in them that the males have;
they gi\'e up ([uicker."
.\nother tierce rush down the pool, followcnl \)y two
or three leaps, licnvexcr, showed that she was still dis-
posed to continue the contest, hut her strength was not
sufficient to cope with the lift of the pliant l)ut persist-
ent rod. Shorter grew her struggles, nearer and nearer
she drew as the reed wound in the line, and soon she
la\ upon her side in mute defeat. Hantling me the rod
Hiram took the; galT, and as I ste[)ped ui)on tlu; heach,
drawing the salmon after mc;, with a (juick dart the gaff
lifted her from tlu; river, and slu; was concjuered.
"'Tis a purly fish, and a fresh run," said Hiram,
liftiu''- the silvery beautv from the b(;ach.
I rail I'ly-Kod and Cuiiicra. 323
"\'('s," 1 replied, '.incl she was huulctl in i^^ood style,
to
two
dis-
iiot
rsist-
tariT
shc
rod
nun,
too.
"Mitldlin', sir, niiddlin'," he answered, huiiiL;' tin; iish
upon some brakes and leax'es, "and now what shall wc;
do?"
"\\\''ll rest the pool for a few minutes," 1 replietl,
"and then I'll try for a few sea trout."
Aft(;r a few minutes' ])aus(; 1 chaUL^ccl m\' ily for a
lar^e ;L;Ta)' hackle, and then takin;^' my stand on tlu; heach
began castini;-. Across tlu; pool, hov(;rin!4' over a patch
of sandy bottoiri, was a bunch of sea trout, and drop[)inL;'
my Ily abox'e them, I was soon fast to a hantlsomc; fish
of oood two pounds' weight. After a short l>lay it was
landed, and in a few moments another and another of
equal size were brought to the landiuL;- net.
"That's a prett\' trio, Iliram," I said, as he killed the
last of the three; and laid them side; by side.
"Yes, sir," add(;d the euide, "many's the man would
QfO far to taki; them in a whole daw"
"You're riL^ht," 1 replied, removiuL;- my hackU; and af-
fixinc^ to my line a siKci' doctor, "and now for a salmon!"
As I spoke I made a careless throw into the old spot,
without the c:.\pectation of ^'ettin^' a rise after all th(; dis-
turbance that had been made; in the; pool; but who can
say what th(; caprice of tin; scab' beauties will be; hardly
324
llltli I'lv-Rod (iiiif Cdiiicni.
liail iiu ll>- tourhcil the walcr when il was seized and
IxiriK; lo tlie l)()tt()ni.
"Ah, ha," (■xclainied the ^iiitle. "llial's ([uiek work."
Iveehni;- in, and seciirinL;' a *uil hne, 1 lilled on Uu;
rod. I'or a secoml or two the fish seenu'il untlecideil,
l)ui il w.is onl\- for tlial leni^lh of time, for ,ui\'ini;' u half
do/en jumps in as many directions, it started up the jxx)!
with a rush.
"It's nothing- hut a grilse," I cxclaimtHl, t;i\in.u it the:
hull; "we'll not waste an\- time unneeessaril\- on him."
The L;'rilse is a li\'el\- fellow, hut easiK" con(|Uered.
When lirst hooked lie is apparently all o\er the jjooI at
once, darting;- ami l(;apin,L;' in all directions, hut, il the \\\\v.
tloes not foul, and the fish is watched and not handled
too roughly for its mouth is \ei-y tender antl the hook
often tears out he is soon confjuered on a salmon rod.
I ha\(' often thou^'ht it would he i^reat s|M)ri playing- one
on a lii^'ht rod, hut have never had the op[)ortunit\- ol
trj'ine' il.
In a few minutes m_\- i;rilse was in the landini^- net.
and soon it was laid hy the side ot the rest of our lish.
At that moment the canoe appeared in sii^hl, ascending-
the (juick \vater at the foot of the pool; and as he passed
lh(; crown of ih" rapids, William held up a single linn-cr
as a si"nal that one salmon had been taken.
.11(1
th
en,
Kllf
lOol
the
reel.
at
inc
led
ook
rod.
oiu:
ol
net.
"ish.
iiii^'
ist'd
iL!'("r
/
Y.
^26 With riv-Roii ami Canicra.
"Us ;i nice lish, 1'i\:ih'," I s.iid, .is llic c.inor loiu'licd
the Ix'acli ; "wlial's ihc \vciL;ht?"
' rhirtt'rn pouiuls," he replied. "W'liat lliriv lia\e you
luui:-"
1 poinied 1(1 \\\v _L;liilei-iii;_; [)n/('s on liie hraki's and
terns.
"(iood, L^oodl" exclainieci in\' TiMeiid, \\\\\\ the U'r\()i'
of tile ti'iu' sporlsinaii. " I :iin ^!ad \-ou had such hue
'>l)ort."
"Thanks," I rephedi, "liui 1 do iioL i:huin all; llirani
killed ihe salmon."
"ll's a i)reti\' calch, an\\va\-," said William, "Inil we
liad heller he LifUin.L;" !■•> camp, il's .i^oin^- lo jtour."
llurrNint; inlo the canoe; wc S))(jtl lo llu; u|)per pool,
and harely reached ihu shelter of tlu- caiuas, ere the
downpour ht'i^an. I tlo not rememher ol e\t:r seeiti^ a
hea\ier slorm ; it was simpK" lerritic. W'hik: the- tempest
was ra^in.i;" wc; kept siiul;1\' enscoiucd in ihe lenl. hrere
occupied ihc; lime in t\inL;- Ihes, while I with a cii^ar ami a
no\t'l hiid no dilticulU' in t'nlertainin;,;- myselk The guides
seated lU'ar l-'rere watched with keen interest his manipu-
lations of the lloss and h:alhers and tinsel which he used
in the manufacture of his winged lures.
"Thal'll he a neat ll) in the water, cUul a killm^-
one, too,' said William, as he took a ll) that V wxv. had
lyitii I^ly-Roii and Caiiicm.
327
\()ii
ram
had
linishcd, and cxainincd it. •• I .lon'i. know why, huL aii)-
lly that lias in it jun-lc cock an<l -olden pheasant feath-
ers is sun^ to take."
"Ncs." replied I'rere. "tlui-i: s(,-enis t(. l,e sornelhin-'
peculiarly attractive in the jun-le cock hackle; and almost
any comhination of it with the- feath(;rs of ilu; ruff and
crest of the plu'asant is succt:ssful."
"Always rememherin-. howe\cr," 1 exclaimed, ••that
;i -ood deal depends on the man who offers it to tin:
lish."
"Of course," he replied, "the best lly, if cast hy a
novice, is ^cMierall) no hetter than the poorest."
"It's not th(; nice: Hies, only, that kill, though." said
Ilu-ani, "I've seen man\- a salmon taken with a few feath-
ers pickt'd up in a harnyard antl tied to a hook in a loose
way."
"\es," adtled William "and with onl\- a hush p()K;.='=
too, he\-, Hi ram?"
"Ifow was that.^" I asked, "j don't see how the lish
could he ])la)cd on such a rod."
"Oh, the country- hoy does not pla\ his salmon." said
Frere; "as soon as the lish is hooked tlie hoy throws
his pole into^ the water, and lets the Jish do its own play-
AllLT.
■■■•■ Sapiino- i-()u.
328 l^l/'itk I'ly-Rod and Caincni.
V
"Oh, I s(jc," 1 unswci'rd, "ami ihc pole .il\va\'s hangs
to him."
" \'fs," sail! Ilirain, "and il's surprising how soon tlu:
salmon is done; for; it keeps liim nio\ing, hut acts like
a clog to a I)ear trap; it hokls the lish just enougli to
hother it mill wear it out."
"And il's not otten the sahnon gets awa\-, eitlier,"
adtk.'d William.
"With sucli ;i sure method ol taking a hsh," I said,
"\<)ur countr)' peoiije ought to he satished ; it's a fair
kind ol I'lshing, hut using tlu: s[)ear and net is murder-
ous."
"That's so," exclaimed Iliram, ".md no one would
begrudge them a few lish taken this wa)', either. I've
caught them so m)sell."
"Speaking ol rough llies heing successlul," 1 said,
after a short pause, " I shall ne\'er forget how we took
the sea trout two \e;n's ago, Iliram."
"Mow was that?" in(|uired k'rere.
"With a piece of s(|uirrel skin tietl on a halt hook,"
I answered. "We were up to Kettle Mole Pool on the
Jaccpiet, and fount] it packi-d full of sea trout; but the)'
paid no more attention to my llies antl I offeretl them
some nice ones, too than the\ ^\•ould to so man)' sticks;
we tried ever\thinLJ, but tlu:\' would not stu". At length
y.
y.
330
II' i til Fly- Rod (U/i/ ('(J num.
Ilirain took out of his pocket the skin of a ll\'ii\L,^ scjuir-
rcl. and cuttiniL;' olf a pine coxcrcd with ,^i*a)' and while
hair, he fastened it to ni\' hook. It was my In'st e.\-
perienct; with siuli a bait, hut I cast, and on the instant
hooked a hi:^" t'ish. We had a 1i\cl\' time ol it lor an
hour or tw'o, in fact Iliram had all the weii^ht of fish
Ik; wanted to carr\- out, oxer the h\c miles of rouL;h
road throuL;h the woods, u[) hill and dcnvn, that \\r. had
to tra\el."
"\'es," said Iliram, "'twas a ^ood c.itih. and I was
■jjad to \ivX it, for it's (hscoin'a^in''- to take such a Ion'--
tramp lor nothing."
" The jaccpiet is a fme trout ri\er," said William,
after a sliort pause-.
" N'es, and for salmon, too," I r.dded, "lhe\- are not
as l)iL;' as the Resti'^ouche or Cascapcxlia salmon, hut the)'
arc nice fish, and it's a beautiful stream."
" 'I'ell me ahout it," said I'rere, "I ha\H: often tic-
sired to fish it, Init was not ac(|uainted with either of
the lessees."
" I wish I had known it," 1 replied, " I had an in-
terest in it for h\e years, hut it is now owneil 1)\' a
jjarty who is ver)' close of it. I'Ortunatel)' there arc a
few [\-vx\ pools on it still."
"Yes," 1 continued, lightinL;- a fresh cigar, 'I have
(IC-
ol
ii
^
y.
2
332
//'//// //v-Zkoi/ (111 J ('(Hiicni.
li.iil 111. Ill)' .111 ciiit)) .ilili' oiitiiii^' on the Ja((|ii(i. ( )n ar-
i'i\ 111:4 ''^ ^'^'" ^'•i'"'^ ' ,^'* •''• t'lit^^' I" l>arcla)'s 1 lold, ami
make tli.il house my Iica(l(|iiartcfs. It is near ihc sta-
tion, ami on!) alxxit h.ilt a mile trom the mouth of the
ri\er. It is a snll^•, co/)' httic house-, ami its location
on the soulhcrn shore ol tlu; hcautilul li.iic; dcs Chalctirs
is (lcliu;htlul. M.in\, m.iii) lia|)|)\' d.iss h.i\c I s|»(nt ho-
ncath its lioNpitalih' I'ool, lis |iro|)ri(toi' knows how to
entertain tin: tifeil and huiii^ry, lor he j)ro\ides as yood
a lahlc as one can \\ish to see, and the serxice is tirst-
class in e\'ei'\' waw At Barclays the sea h.'ithing is un-
surpassed, the house standiiiL;' hut a lew rods from the
shore. The heach extends for miles, and alon^" it are
to l)e found scenic heauties that would deliL^lu the e)'(^
of the .artist.
"The hesL WAX to L^ct to the ri\ci- is to dri\-e from
Barclax's to the farms ol the Milk-rs at Sumnsiile. I hex-
are splendid guides and canoemen, and know e\('i')' inch
of the; ri\-er. The)- are emploxcd hy the k'ssee of the
ri\"er as ''uardians, and t!ierc;f<;re know which i)ools are
free and which are co\eri'tl hy lease;. En^a^e the Millers
to carr\' \()U in their canoe down the tweKc or thirteen
miles of th<; ri\-er from their farms to the mouth, and
let )'ou fish such pools as )()u can without inlriny;ing" on
tlie ri-'hts of the lessee.
li 1 1' SB
oni
lU'll
Ihr
arc
llcrs
tccn
and
on
334 //'//// Fly-Roif and Camera.
V I
■'Close lo ihcir licnisc is ihc iiii^ Mole IW'ook Pool,
aiul here \()ii will i;ikc ihc canoe on Nonr Irip down the
river. It is a lar^e basin, ai^ 1 thei-e is almosi, al\\a\s a
salmon or two I\iii^ in ii. jnsi lielow that pool is the
l.onL;' Pool, and you slide down lo it (hi'oii^h the rapids
in a lew seconds. ! hi-, is a iM.i'^nilicent pool, one of
the best on tile ri\'er. 1 counied o\cr toriN salmon in
it on oik; ot-casion, and ha\' killed a t^ood man\' tish in
it tlrst antl last. It is on. of the easiest lished pools
on tht; i'i\t'r, a heai-h on one shore L;"i\in^' the angler
tme castinL;' stands, Irom which he ma) cov'er the entin;
basin.
' ilelow this are a mnnbei' of beautiful pools, the best
ol whic-h are the I'pper and Lower Morse .Shoe; pools,
the Jar\is Pool, W'nrd's Pool, Rock Pool, b'ranker's (or
P'rancois) Pool, the Wdiite l\apids, jlell ('.ate. Red Cliff
and Windmill Rock |)ools, and Idat Rock Pool. .Some
ol these ai'e Iree, ai^l you will hnd the run down the
ri\-er deli^htlul e\-en il you d(. not lish. foi- the sccner\
the whole length is picturesi|ue and beautiful.
"J;u'\is Pool is one ol the linest on the ri\'(;r. I do
not remember the lime 1 ha\e cast in it when I did not
L;'et fast to a salmon. It seems a la\oi-ite also with lari^'c
sea ti-oul, and many is the time my tent has been pitched
on its shores. it is pictures([ue in its surrtnindiiit^s, and
M
ll^ith Fly-Roii cmd Cauiem. 335
l)cst
do
not
tchcd
and
is a (Icli^lutul s|)oL lor ciLlu-r an artisi or lislicrnian Lo
visit.
"lUil, Ilirain," I cxclaiincd, "ilic storm Is ^onc 1)\-,
and the sky is hrii^litcnin^' I Come, it's past one o'clock,
and I'm famished; let's liave dinner."
It tUd not take the (;.\i)(,'ricnced _L;uides Ioiil;' to start
a rousing" lire, and in a xcry few minntes tlie prepara-
tions for dinner were in Inll operation.
'riu; clonds were opening" ;ind ch-iltiiiL;' awa\ toward
the e;ist, and the rays ol the snn e\'er and anon poured
down upon us. The prospect was Li'ood for lair weather,
and as tlie rain had \<'r\" perceptil)l\' raisecl and (Lirkenetl
the ri\'er, we felt sui'e ol !_;()od sport.
With moi-e than sijortsmen's appetites we attacked the
dinner that the L^uides ser\-ed for us. It was ahuntlant
in \ariety and (piantit), and we, did lull justice to it.
After dinner hail been disposed of, krere and W il-
liani started for some ol th.e ])ools al)o\c our camp, while
Hiram and I husied ourseKcs in drNiuL^- our wet clothes,
airing" the blankets b\ spreadiiiL;' them on low buslu^s, ami
in tid\inL;' the camp Li'enm'ally.
After this was done, I took a stroll into the woods
a short distance, where, lindin^- a lemptinn' nook, I s|)read
m\ laibber blanket on the ground, and, l\in,L; upon it, in-
iluh,;('d in a delightful rest.
3?/^ //'//// lly-Rihf ami (
(inii'ni .
Il was a hcaiititui atlcniooii, a r.;)il, (Uiu-.niis hrcc/c
was hlowiiiL^- Iroiii tlic sdiiihw csi. !)i-iii:_;in^' \\\\\\\ ilic lor-
csls ilic (Iclicalc odo!" whicli a'v\a\s tollows a rain in the
woods. I he tloiiils. wliicli h;u! ln'okcn inln small |)alchfs
(il ^ra\' and ;;<ild and ci'iinson, lloalcd la/il\ aci'oss ilic
\allc\. Ni) sonnd was heard sa\c the laisilini,;' ol ihc toli-
a^c, the L^ur^lc and I'altlc ol llu- wa.lcr in the r;i|iids, and
the occasional soii!^- ol sonic Icathci'cd denizen ol the lor-
esi, or ihe (|nernloiis chatter ol the s(|niri'e!. I lo\-e snch
sni'ronndiiiLis 1 ailoi'e tile woods and the L^i'and old hills.
I liad passed an hour or more m the seclusion ot mv
(|uiei nook, when 1 was startled |i\- a shout Irom Ilii'am,
whom I had leti at camp. llurrxni^ <>ul ol ilu' woods,
1 lound him standin-j' <mi the heach neai' the head ol the
"Come here, sir," \\v said, "and I will show \ou a
pretl\- si^iu."
"What is il?" I askeil, as I aj>j)i"()ached him.
"C Onie eas\ , ' he said, "and look."
r.mtiously di'awiuL;' near, and examining; the waler
carelullw I desci'ied the objects that had attracted his at-
tention, I lu'ee salmon wci'e Kin.L; in the ed^c ol the
r(\(\\ lielow the IMpids, tWo o! lllem small llsll, each, ])er-
haps, ol ahout ei'j,hl )iounds' wciidit. Ihe others were
consideraliK l.ir''er, .Sitle l)\ side the\ ki\, and, sasc an
■/(•
lor-
ihc
lies
Ihc
Idll-
;in(i
lor
,iich
nils.
nu'
am,
he
>ui a
alcr
il-
ihc
i)cr
were
an
33S
Ji'ltli I'ly-Roc/ (iiiii Camcm,
occasional lliri ol ihc lail, and the regular motion of llu;
L'ills, th('\- were almost motionless.
■■ I think we'll ^ct one of those chaps soon," said
lliram, as lu; I'etreated from the pool.
"We'll wait a while, for the)'\c; seen ns ; hut 1)\- wad
'\w^ into the rapids ahox'e, and making' a lon^' cast down
o\-er them, we'll lift one, sure."
"They must \\\\\v. run in sinc<' mornin_L;-," I repli(;d,
takiui^- m)- I'od Irom its supports, and examiniiiL;- my cast-
iuL;" line ami \\\\ " I cast all o\cr the pool hefore din-
ner and saw noihin^."
" \'es, the}' may haxc comi; up from the pool Ixdow
us," saiil lliram. "'Tis but a few rods, and the)- may
ha\e run up when we went oxci- the |)ool with tlu! canoe,
after killiiiL;' thi' other llsh,"
Alter m\- castim^- line had had a few minutes' soak-
in!4', 1 n.Miio^-ed \\\\ old lly, and put on a i^ood-si/ed I)ur-
ham rammer th.at had ne\ci* been wet. W'adinL;- into the
ri\('r al)o\(' the rapids, and keeping- out of sii^ht of the
fish, I l)eL;'an casting- across thi.- i-i\-er, lengthening' m)' line
at e\cry cast, until 1 had enough out to enable me to
reach the spot where the salmon were KiuL;'. Then, with
a loni;' reach, I softly put my ll\-, as neai-l\- as I could
judi^c, ujion the ri^ht spot; and that 1 had c;ilculated cor-
rectU' was shown b\' an exclamation from lliram, and the.
H'itli /■7y-/\()(i/ auii Caiiicm.
()(.:
Hir-
lu-
mc
to
ith
|)UU1
•or
lh(
swirl of one of ihc lish thai I'osc and jiisi missed \\\v lure.
1 drew in ni_\- line for a niinulc or Iwo, lor a salmon
\\\\\ not ollcn rise immcdiatd)' a second time, althouL;h
it sometimes does.
1 ha\c time and a^ain watched them when rising" to
another's ll)-, and if the\- miss the\- settle hack irito their
resting' place, and il the lly then immediately passed oxer
them, th. uaitl no attention to it.
Of course, there are eXi-eplions to e\-ei-\- rule, hut 1
am s])eakin,L;' of the t^cneral li;il)it of the fish. It is, there-
fore, well to wail a short tinae alter a salmon h;',s heen
liftetl before castiii^;' for it ai^ain, althoiiL;!i the loni;' rest
that some wriiei's advocate is LjcneralK i:iinei-essar\-.
()f course, a ''reat deal depends on the depth and
f^
orce ol the water
a salmon nsin;
fr
om a ileep pool
m a strong" n\'er, refjun'm^' more ol a rest than one n
shoaler wate
he xaLjanes and cai)i'K-es o
f th,e hsh
are
such tliat the angler lias to use his own lud^ment m e\cr\-
mstance
a\'e m\ lish li\c minutes rest, and then runnm;
o
Ut the li
ne
n the air until the ri'jht leivjth was out, 1
droppetl the tl\' in th(; edd)" where the lish rose, and, al-
lowing' it to sink two or three inches, Lia\e it a drat;' in
short jerks across the current. In an instant 1 saw a
•^'ravish form arise from the de[)ths, and simultaneousl)-
340
ll'itli I'lv-Rod (Hh/ i'oiiici'a.
with its seizing- the ll)- I struck. " Whir-r-r " went tlu;
reel, as tlu; salmon settled in tlu- niicKlle ol the pool, and
I (juickl)- left ni)' position in the rushing' waters al)o\-e
the rajjitls for a more secure footing- on the beach.
Tlu,' pool was a glorious one in which to tiL;ht a sal-
nuin. It was hroatl aiul deep, ami frei; from driltwootl
and those other obstructions which the angler dreads. It
was a pool that n'a\(' "a fair field aiul no favor," and
the sahnon that could effect h.is escape in it deserx'ed his
freedom. My tish for a few secoiuls remained nu)tionless
at tlu; bottom of the pool ; but when the tension of the
liiu' was put upon it. it L;ave three or four ;in^r\- shakes
of the head, and a short run, aiul then, instead of dart-
ini;' about and leapini;", after tlu; usual mamu'r of its kind,
it Ix'ijar to root and thrust its nose anu>n!_;- tlu; rocks in
the nu)st pii^dik(; manner.
"Ah, ha I" exclainu'd [liram, "that cha[) has Ijeen
hooked before this )-ear ; he's up to a dodij^e (!r two!"
1 was tletermined that the sahnon should not carry
on this system of tactics il I coukl pre\-ent it, aiul, thert;-
fore, reeliiu'' in tlu; liiu; all 1 could, 1 beean to atbance
the; butt of tlu; rod, liftiiiL;" all that tlu; casting' line wouUl
bear. Tlu; lish, fc;elin<4' the increased strain, bore down
heaxier and heavier, until it seeiued to be actually stand-
ing- on its lu;a(.l on tlu; bottom of tlu; ri\-er. M)' rod,
If I
the:
;uh1
ovc
sal-
OOll
It
his
ilcss
the
akc'S
dart-
iiul,
s in
)(jc:n
ivo!"
an"\'
(■ ref-
ill cc
ouKl
own
and-
rod,
-> 1 '■>
/l^//// /7v-/k()(/ (!//(/ Caiucni.
slroiiL;' as it was, 'ould not owrcoiiic the I'csistancc, ami
lor at least \\\v. niinulcs we remained in that posilioii, the
salmon jiy.U't:rinL;- Lo ils heart's deli^lu, and 1 tryini;- to
brin-;' it to the surface. At lenL;th, with a niii^iit)- rush,
the lish chanu;c'd its j)lan of action, and he^an a series
of runs and leaps that caused m\- heart to throb and my
iierxcs to tingle. The salmon seeuK'd to be all o\(.m- the
pool at once, and mo\ in^' with the speed of electricil\-.
Leaping;' into the air within ten \artls of m\' standinL;'
place, it seemed hardly to ha\{' struck the water before
it was aL;'ain in the air awa\' down the pool one hundred
\"ards distant. ilien, bc'fore I could recover half of my
line, \\t)rkin_L;" as rapidly as possible, tlu: hsh was "jum[)-
in:_;" three wa)s at once," as Iliram alterward saitl in ile-
scribin^;' ii, at the head of the pool just below the falls,
llardl)" could I [)ack upon the reel twent\' \ards of line,
before "whi-z-/-/I" out went ihirt)' more, and I l)eL;'an to
watch with apprehension the scant supply lelt upon the
barrel of the reel.
"It's a Ii\el\' lish, altoi^ether." exclaimed the L;uide ;
"it jumps like a grilse. I think it must be hooked foul
to show such endurance."
"Xo, it's hooked all ri^ht," 1 replied, _!^^ettin<^- in a
word here ami there, as I worked with all possible s[)eetl
at the reel, "but it's one of the pluckiest lighters I ever
Ill til Fix- Rod and ( 'anicni.
O I -I
to
Struck. ("icl the canoe ri'iul)," I cxciainicd a niomcnt
later, "if the lish ,l;'o('s tlown the rapids wc must follow
it iustantl)'."
Hiram soon h.ul the hirch 1)\- m\- side and held it
ready for me to st(,'i) into, if necessarx'. Dut now tlu;
salmon ([uieted down and scuttled into tlu; pool aw;iy o\'er
on th(; other side. I lost no time; in packing- the line
ai^ain on the reel as e\'enly and solidl\' as possible. It
was now apparent that the hsh was tired and was will-
ini;' to lake a rc;st ; but that was something" I did wot
propose to L;i\e it, and as soon as possibh; 1 L;aN'(' it the
full strain of the rod. "W'hir-r" went th(; reel a'^ain in
a wiKl scream, as the salmon started down the [)ool full
speed foi' the rapids.
"|um|) into the canoe, ([uickl" shouted Iliram; "the
salmon will take; dowii the rapids I"
Into the canoe I scrambled as <|uickly as I could,
antl harclK' was I in before tlu; ^uide, with .i mighty
[)ush, sent the birch spinniuL;' down the pool toward the
cjuick water below. The salmon had taken out all of
scventy-fixc; \ards of line before we started, and was l;o-
im^" at a fearlul s|)eed down to the lower pool, and it
was onl\- by the most hercuk;an effort that Hiriun could
speetl the canoe through the rom^h water fast enough to
reach the pool, to which wt: were rushiuL;, before th(; line
344
//'//// /'7v-/\(n/ ami Catncra.
V I'
was c'xhauslcd. In tact, wlicn wt; reached llu; sliil water
where the sahiion had settleil. tliere were hanll)- a ch)/en
yards K'fi of in\- i^ood one liiimh-ed and lift)' on the reel.
JumpinL;' out of the canoe as soon as shi; touched thi;
l)cach, I hei^an takinu;' ia the hue as last as I couUl, hut
it seemed an a_L;(' helore I had it aL^ain on the spool,
rile nionunt 1 j^ot \\\\ line shortened I L;a\e the lish
the butt, for ni\' hlood was up, and there w;\s to be no
trillini^-. ("iraciousi how the fish responded, (lixinu;' three
leaps inside a radius ol ten yards, it seemed as fresh as
e\(.,'r.
"I'pon m_\ word," I exclaimed, ''it is cerlainl)' a hard
nut."
"Indeed it is," replied llirani. "It's another male
lish, and a dandy to h^hl."
After an additional lialf do/en leaps and rushes the
salmon settled down into the pool ai^ain, and, appareiuK",
from tlu; \ibration of the line, adopted its original tactics
of trxinn' to rub out the hook, althouL;h we could not
see it in the deep water where it was now hin.L;". I
beijan to be ner\(>us. The hard usa>'i' m\' tackle had
received in the half hour's li^ht must have weakened it,
and 1 now be^an to fear that at the last moment the
cast would part or something else ^ive way and my tish
would depart. "do out with the canoe, Hiram," I e.x-
IE i
//"//// l-ly-Rod and Camera.
345
llu'
Illy,
:tics
not
I
had
. it.
the
fish
chiiinctl, "and stir him u|>. W'l' imisi k<'c|) liim nui\inLi'
now or he is h)st,"
The i^uidc took the caiioc out o\ el" t-lic s.ihuoii, and,
thruslin;^ the sctlinL;' |)oh' down its full h'ni^th, nio\cd it
about so as to startle the lish. And startle it he did most
em|)haticall\' ; for, with a Irantic rush, it darteil up ihc
pool and into the rapids al)o\c. How the reel screamed
as the line; ran out! I started up the heach on a run,
^ixini;' the lish the hutt, ami holding' m\' tlumih on the
reel all 1 dared, hut to no avail. I could not seem to
hold or check the speed ot the salmon at iill, and I was
about to |L:;ive up in despair, when, just as the line was
nearh' exhausted, I h-lt a cessation ol the strain, the rod
straightened and the; line fell hack with a loost: sa^-.
"He's L;()ne, lliram!" I e\t:laimed in dis^aist. drop-
pin^' the butt of t!ie rod; "he's L;-ot away!"
"Reel in, (juickl" shouted the ^uide. e\t:itedly ; "he's
still on, l)ut played out! Reel in as fast as you can!"
I never took in a line beh)re as rapidU' as I did
that one. .\t the same time I bei^^an retreatiiiL;' down the
Ijcach as fast as I could moxc. and I soon found that
lliram was ri<;ht. The fish, just before surmouiUinL;' the
crown of tlu' rapids, had lound the current and the strain
of m\' rod too much lo o\t;rcome at that late period of
the fiulu. 1 reeled in the line as the salmon came tlown
34<') lyith I^ly-Roii and Caincni.
llu: sli'c.un, .111(1 when il [lissccI hiick iiUo the pnol il
])liiiiil)' showed thill the li,L;Iu. \v;is ox'cr. W illi ;i stc.idy
slrain nn \\v rod I |)i'('\('iUcd the lish Iroin j^rliinj^- its
lie. id down, and n .i \i'i")' shofl liiiu: it turned on its
side and |)c|-initlcd inc to ih'.iw il to the shore, where
ihe -alt' soon j^a\i: the finish to the strui^i^le.
" ' I'is a nice lish, alloi^clher," said tlie miith', laving
the sahnoi. upon th<' |)el)i)les; " iiol so \-er) l.ir^c, hul
deep and strong;. '
" \'es, he was slroni^ enou_L;h, and a ^ood lii^hler," \
re|)Ii(Hl, as I wipi'd the perspiration Iroin ni\' laee; "I'm
ahoiil as pla\cd out as the f'lsli was."
"' lis a nice h^ll, altogether!' repealed lliram, as lie
adjusted the scales to ascertain the \V(.'i<;hi of the hsh. "A
little ()\'er hfleen pounds,' he said in a few inoinents, "It
did not ^ive up nui !i loo soon, lor see, llu; casliiiL;" line
hai'eh' holds toL^clherl"
I examined llie line, and found that the salmon had
so chafed il near the lly aiL^.iiiisi the stones in the rixcr.
tluiL il had almost parted, and the woiuler was il held as
lon:^" as it did.
"lupiterl' 1 exclaiim'd, "that was a narrow sha\c ;
wt'll, we'll l;() up to cann) an<l la_\' oil, \'\v had (.■n()u«;'h
for lo-da\'. "
lliram put the lish into the canoe, and poled up the
IS he
"A
••It
liiu;
luul
ixcr,
(1 as
■x
the
L^-
34B
// Vy// I'ly-Rod 'ind Ca/ncm.
rapids, and soon we \vt;rc on the Ixiacli in IroiU d our
tent.
Tile altcrnoon was now drawini;' to a close, and the
_L;iiidc; soon hc^^an to l)us\ iiiinscil in ^ctlin'^ i"cady a pile
of lire wood lor the ni^s^ht, and in jjrepariniL;' suppc-r.
llax'inL;" notliiiii^ l)etter to ilo, I jjoled the canoe across
the pool and ])icke(-l raspberries, whiK; I waited for I'rert;
and William, whoni I e.\[)ected would soon return, and I
did not ]ia\"e lons^r to wait, for their forms soon appearetl
tiiroujdi the hushes and trees which skirted the carr\- road
that followed the 1)anks of tin; river u[) into the moun-
tains for miles.
" .\ handsome string' of sea trout," I exclaimed, as
William tlepositt'd his load in the canoe with a sii^h of
relief.
'1 hirt\-li\(' hi'auties the)- were, all hut two or three
of them as siK'ery white as il they had just run in from
the sea.
" \ (.;s, they're a handsome lot," replied krere.
"And there are hundreds as ^^ood lelt," added William.
" \'es, llu; [)ools art: full," said krere, "and the rain
has stirred them up so that the\' will rise to almost an\'-
thinj^' that olfers."
"What luck?" intpiired kliram, as the canoe touclu'd
the shore iri front ol the camp, and we ste()ped out.
IVifli Fly- Rod and C<nncnj.
349
our
"♦)h, \.\\v\ i;()t ;l ht-aulifiil striiiL; of sea iroul, 1 t:.\-
claimiHl, l)iit no salmon."
" W'haL ha\(; you done?" asked I'rcrc. "I ihoui^iu
\'ou intrinlcd lo la)' off ihis aflcrnoon."
"I did," I readied, "hut a salmon oul in tlu; pool
here insistctl that I should take him in out of tin: wet,
and of course I could not he so impolitt; as to refuse."
"Certain!)- not," assentetl I-'rere, cordiallw "and ditl
)'ou take him in '■'"
"lie did so," exclaimed Iliram, "and here's the fish,"
lifting; the salmon as lie spoke from its l)t:d of hrakcis and
leavers n(,'ar 1))-.
".V nice fish," said l'"r(;re ; "and was it in this pool
that )()u found it?"
"\'es," I re[)lied, "I hooked him here, hut killetl him
in the pool helow."
" 'Idiere's more left here." said Iliram, "we saw two
others, sure,"
"All riL;-ht," exclaimed my friend, "we will L^i\c th(;m
a trial h)- ai^.d hy,"
" l)Ut you hrokc; off \o\w tly," exclaimed William, open-
ino- the mouth of the fish. "Why didn't you take it out,
Iliram? It's too ^ood a li)- to waste."
.Vs \\r. spok(; he remoscd from the palat(^ of the lish
a ll\' that was fastened lirml\- in the tou''h skin.
350
ll^ifli h'lv-Rod (I ltd Camera.
V s
" \(), 1 lost no lly," I rcplicil.
" \\Mi\\ tli;it's llu; lly I lost ilown in one; of th(; pools
below," cxclaiiiicil I'rcrc, tiikin^' it in his haiul and ex-
amining- it.
"Sun; it is," ^ai(l William; "it's not oltcn that \'ou
hook a salmon that (|uic-k ai^ain after it has lelt the steel
in its mouth."
And he was ri^ht ; it is rarely, imleeil, that a sal-
mon is killetl with a lost hook in its mouth, hut it oc-
casionally happens."
" ( "iracious I " I exclaimed, as we sat tlown hetore the;
sjjread that IkuI heen laid lor us, "nou'xc enout;h for an
arm\-, Hiram."
".\ small army, sir," he i-eplit'd ; "hut we'll wait till
\V(; see what's left."
Canned oysters, stewed; hroiled trout, hoiled trout,
fried potatoes, biscuits and butter, canned pears, ami a
bi»^' dipper ot tea, made a ro\'al meal, and we lin^creil
" I ,c;ii(j i'. >ci41 ill hi", rli'i^anl work "U " t i--liinu;' in AiiuTUMu W. iters," sa\N :
".\j;ain it is said, ll you lunik ,i -..iliiiMii .mil In- parts \i.iir tacklr, t,ikin;4 \(iiir
ho.ik ami a ]iir(0 nf tlu- ;^ilt snrli to wliirh it was atlaclii-d, lie will nnt ri-,i' Id
ail artihiial lly ;!;,;. lin thai -r.i--iiii.' 'tliis is .al-n .i nil-iakc ; fur tlio '.^rntU-niall
will) iiwiis till,' N'iiik River, ( .,i .iic, lislu-il with a frinid wlup I.i--t a liuiik ;ind p.irt
(jf a li-adi'r liy a salniciu mir iiiMi-niii;,;- I,; I JiiU, and mi tin.' cwiiinu;' nf that day
louk the >..ilniipii with tin- li..iik and '^iil -liil in Ids nioiitli: ;iiiil, wliat appiMis iiicist
siui^iilar, i■^ that he hiinkid tlir s.dni.m w il'h the --amr kind nf lU' llial was thuli
fastened til the j.iw nf tlie lish."
352
lyitli I'l\-I\od ami Camera.
ox'cr it a ^'ood lialf hour. Tluirc is a limit, howcvor,
to tlu; eating" capacit)' ot a tishcnnan cNcn, and we were
at lcniL;th ohlii^cd to exclaim "enough."
"Now, I'l'crc," I said, as \vc arose from the tahlc,
and he took his rod and saiintrrcd over to the rapids
at the head of tlu; pool, "it's Nour turn now; We. taken
my salmon here, nou strike one now and I'll he ^affc-r."
"All riLiht," hi; answin'ed, "hut 1 fear \()u'll not he
called upon to-ni^'ht."
"Who can tell?" 1 rej)lied. "Let us hoj)e that the
fish will l)it(; as saxai^d)' as those plaguy punkies do."
idle midi^fs had hei^un their e\enini^'s work, and sa\-
aL;(' the)' were, too. I ha\"e noticed that the\' are aKva\s
sharper set after a rain storm than at an\' other time.
" \'es, the mi(.li,u:s are sa\-a_ne enough." he exclaimeil,
rubbing' and scratchinin" his hands and wrists and face as
he j)repared his line for castini^'.
" It's w>.'> use," I said, " I cannot stand the pests any
loii^'er; tar it is!" ,ind hurrying- to the tent for the tar
bottle I smeared on the antidote prett\' freely.
hrere was L;kul to a\ail himself also o| the tar, antl
it was onK' after he had loxcred .ill the exposed ])ortions
of his sl^in that he could cast in peace. The sun had
sunk below the forest-clad hills in t!ie west, and the shad-
ows on the [jool were: s^rowinL; blacker and blacker. ()\cr-
mmttmmmlttmd
With riy-Rihi a lid Canicrci. 353
hcatl a few L,M)lclcn ami purple cloiuls were sailing;' lii.Lih in
the lu-ax'cns, and their forms, mirrdred on tlie surlaee oi
the pool, h-nt a color and brightness to the ])i('ture Avhich
was \(i\-\ beautiful.
T'i'ere stood on ihe rocks on the lower etlu;c' ot the
rapids and east a Ioul;' line across the stream into the
(piick water on the further side. It was a lon^;' cast, and
one that re(iuires a master hand to ^ixe ii : for the (|uick
current, and then the ('(\(\\ below, uiade a sai^' in the line
that was dithcult to lilt cleanl_\" so thai a hii^h back cast
— which was necessitated by the jx'bhles and stones on
the beach behind —could be secured.
I'rere, howe\'ei handlecl his line with his usual skill,
but after luakiui^' a sc-ore ot fruitless casts, he chan^ccl
Ills ])osition, wadin^' up into the (juic-k watei' al)o\c, s
tlial his back cast mi^ht be up the stream and his line
could lall sirai^lu into the edd\.
'■ That's better," I exclaimed, "I don't like to lish
across a streani when \\\\ line is sun- to drill into an
{ )
etkl\-
Nor 1," he replied, pult
wvj out a Ime that reat'hed
all ()\'er th<' best o( the pool, "it is diltlcult to strike a
fish under such conditions, oi- if the tish is hooked the
lip is almost sui'e to be smashed."
"it's a miL;ht\' lu-at tl)- that Mi-, b'rere puts out,"
U i
354
7/7/// /7v-/\(>(/ (!//(/ Cauicni.
said lliraiii, who had joined nic; "ii's not cxx;!')' lisher-
|t !
man wlio can (■(lual linn.
I<iu;ht \<>u arc," I rcplit-d, "Mr. I""rcr'' has served
his time at casting-. I!) Jo\e, I'Verc-," 1 exclaimed, "y
ou
J
list now had a ns(.'
thou'-ht so, he answered
l)Lit there is so much
I
oam )\\
the water that I could not set; at this distance.
What Avas it?'
'A salmc
)n, su', re[)lUH
II
\\-.\\w
rest him a little
1 li
anti lu
con
le a''ain. no troublt
re re, \v
ith tl
le niii'crs o
f liis left lianil, di-ew the
me m throui^h the rin^s on the rod, ami caimh' wai
ted
for ll
le tish to settle auam.
1 cannot explain wli)' it is, but I al\va}s \\\x\(t a bit
of somethinij akin to buck fe\(;r after a salmon has b(;en
raised and niiss(;d.
and the |)ool is beiuL;" rested |)re[jar
ator\' to another cas
t. \Vh<'th(
er it is from the siisi^ense
or the excitement ol anticipation
that
causes it, or per-
haps a tombination ol these teelin^s with a dread of los-
iii'i" tin; fish b\' and b\ , 1 know not; but 1 cannot a\'oid
it, no matt( r A\liether
or some one (Mse noiiis tne roi
th
After the lapse ot a c-ouple of minutes b'rere a^aii
be^an puttiiiu;' out his line, and soon the lly was drop
piuL^' here and there; ui)on the \
[)()()
1. !•
lere waitetl unti
sLilticient line was out to enable him to make a cleai
556
With I'lv-Ro'J and CiUiici
'a.
cast ()\(T the spol where the salllloll
had
com'.' up Ix;-
forc, and then wilh a erand succ'i) he (h"()[)[)ed the ll\'
in tile vkV^v. of tlu; vA(^\' (.'xacll) where the sahnon had
missed ii. In an instanl a swirl in the water, a splash,
and then the whir of tlie r,-ei <^-avc sure token that the
lish was hooked.
(
lood
1 exclaimcil
:r lisli,
re re, am.
I th
en
the 1
lonors w
l)e eas\- auam.
do 1
ny Ix'st," lie replied, jjackiuL;- awa\' on the
reel all t'
Ime that would rome to hmi,
tl
lere s a sjooil
hour ot
du left \-et.
It'll not takct that 1
om
saa
1 W
illiam, with <!ait \\\
IkukI antl read)- foi- actit)n ; "'tis only a smallish tish, and
unless it i^cts away, Mr. k'rere's hea\'y rod will make ([uick
\V()I
ot It.
The salmon, as soon as the pressure ol the rod was
put upon it, L;a\(; a tremendous run tlown th(^ pool, almost
to the foot, and then, returning- to the middle, instead of
jumping, it settled to the kottom. hrere ([uickK^ reeled
in the line that had keen carried out, ami soon had it
as s
hort
and taut as he couK
1 wind il ; he then trieil to
lift tlu; tish into action, straining' hea\il\' upon th(; rod,
but to no a\ail.
"What is the iish al)out?"'l asketl, " ji!J^LJ(ii'in<;'?"
" Xo," re[died k'rere, "it is on the bottom ^•ery still,
//'//// J'/v-jKOif (li/i/ Camera.
357
I'lil 1 don't I)clii!\c ii will siiinil the strain of this rod a
,L;'rcal while
slill,
111 f;ii't, the words liad hanlK' lucn spoken when the
salmon started down the pool aL;aiii, this lime, ho\\e\t-r,
Ic-apini; wildly and endeavorinL; al e\c;ry jum]) to free it-
self. I )arlinL;- up the pool once more, and hack to the
foot, jumi)in- al ever)- few yards, it seemed as li\-el\- as
a ^^n-jlse, and it reipiired the greatest acli\il\- n 'le part
of I re re to keep enough line on the reel o meet the
rushes ol the sil\cr_\- pi-ize. Another time the salmon re-
turnetl to ihe middle of the pool, and settled to the ])ot-
tom. I'rere reeletl in, and a-ain, when ne lift of the
rod was |)ut on, the lish reijcated its (iei-ce leaps and wild
runs down and across the pool; Imt now it was plaiid\-
wcakeninj;-; its runs he^an to ^row shorter and shorter
and its leaps less fre(|uent. 'The hea\)- rod was e\-i(lentlv
too mucdi foi- it, and at K'H^th it rolled oxer on ii^ side
ami came; to the sm-face.
I'rere. with a strong lift, ende.ivored to lead the tish
towarti the -aide, who stood with -alf in hantl on the
beach, a short distance awa}-, hut the effort was |)rema-
ture, lor the instant that the salmon saw its eneni}- it re-
covered its strength, and, darling- hack, settletl at the: bot-
tom of the pool aL;ain.
"'lis a little rest the tish wants," shouted I liram
,^r>^ II I tit I'/x-Rod iiiit/ C \iNicnt.
will) had hccii u.iuhm^ ihf lii^lii trom llic licacli near
the c.mii), "L;i\<' il ii litllc l)rralhin,L; sijcll, aiul 'luill be
as fi'csh ai^aiii as a daisy."
"A rcsi is sDincihiiiL; I dnn'i propose lo L;i\'c it now,"
said I'rcrc. "1 laii lake im liiaiucs." And he was ri^iht ;
in, uu a salmon has Ixcn lost !i\ dawdhn^' with ii, and
thr hshci'nian has in despair seen his liook lonu: home lo
liim when lie mi^hl ha\c saved his pi-i/e if lie had liad
the (durai_;e .uid .ell-denial lo h)r(.e ihe li,u;hl.
'I he salmon responded a^^ain, Iml this lime the rush
was a shoil one and the leaps h'W and teehle. Il hc'L^.m
circhii''' ahoul aimlessK, anil soon its sil\'er\- side was ex-
posed a^ain at the surhiee.
"Sweep him in this lime, Mr. j-'rere," said William,
and I'll L;alT him sure."
l""rere made no '"'■pi). l>nl with a swin^;' o| the he.i\\-
rod he h>ri-ed the lish toward the :_;uide. and in an instant
the l:<iH had done its work, ami the salmon la)' upon lh{>
beai h.
"Indeed, it came to L;all nom loo soon," exrlaimed
William, "the hook dropped out as I touchecl it."
"KiL^hl \ou are." said iliram, " il was a close call."
( )n examination ol the salmon's mouth, we found that
the hook liad lorn a Iohil;' orilice in the lip, and ihe won-
der was thai il had held as Ioul:' as it did.
//>'/// /■7y-k\)i/ ,u/i/ ('(fi/icni.
359
"A miss is as -ood as a mile," cM-laiintd Ircrc, as
lie deposited his r-id on the |)r()|.cr sii|)|)<.ris al the rain|):
"'tw.is a ])i-cliy tish, and I should ha\c UM badly to have
h)sL it."
"Well. Ilirani,' I exclaimed. "Ui- ha\i' four or ti\c
nice salmon and more trout than we can u>e. .uid we
oii.^ht to scikI them a\\a\- to our frientls. wiio wotdd he
L;lad to L^ct them."
" N'es." added h'rere. "_\ou had hetier make your ar-
ran- ■ments to send out the salmon and most of tin: trout
the lu'st ihiiiL^- t()-mori-ow moriiim^."
".\ll ri-hl. -ciitlemen," said the -uide, "I'll o,, |,,,^-
to the farn. foi- a team to haul ihem out. "I'll put them
in the snow" lo-niL;lu, and maki' two ho.xrs and pack and
s(;nd them otf to-morrow hriL^ht and (■arl\-."
"(iood." said I. "pack ihcm solidl)- with snow and
swamp moss, and the\- will l^o .ill riL;lu."
"Never fear." answered Jlir.mi. "mam's the hox I'\-(.
packed for tishermen. and ne\cr a one lost \ct."
We L;a\c him our ta,L;s to affix lo our hoxcs and
tlirections as to how the iish were to i)c tli\ided, and soon
he was beini;- ferried across the ri\(.'r with his hea\-)' load.
LandiuL;" :it the mouth of the 1)rook he put the fish in a
larL;x; l-a^', which he ai"u:hored in the; cold water that canu;
••■Sniiu, insUMil of ice, is tiiWn sun\\\ jiv C.itKiiii.ins.
36o
//'//// /''/v-/\(>(/ (I Hi/ ('(inici'd.
timiMmu; dnwii Imm the rocks, and staricil (oi- ihc u-ixm
tli.il u.is ncccss.if) III i.arr\ ihciii lo ilu; farm.
"Next to the ;.'!"aMirc ol t.ikiiiL^ llic tisli," saiil I'i'crc,
as we aL!aiii scitlcd doun li\ ihc Uw, "is thai of sciid-
in«' a nit'c. l)o\ |o Ifnnd
.•^
)\v and ilicii as a present.
"NCs," I I'eplied, "hill 1 .nil ah'aid thai the reeipieiUs
do not .d\v.i}s apju'eciate how nuuh ti"oiihh' .ind i^xpeiise
\\v incur in seiuhnt; our |>resents lo ihein. In fact, I
ha\(' sonietinies ahnosl \()ucd thai I would ne\<'i" .iL;ain
send .i\v.i\ .1 tish. \oi \ry\- Ioul; a^o, at a ^ood deal
ol li"oul)le. I packed a nice hox ot trout and sent it to
a friend. ( )n iiieelini^ him a feu weeks after, he thanked
me in a ci\il enough way, hut idolly staled that, allhoui^h
the lish were nice and all that, he would rather ha\'e a
fresh mackerel an) time."
" lla. ha," lauL^hed ni\ li'iend, "you proh.ihl)' ne\cr
sent him another hox altei" that."
"No, you may depend on it," 1 answerech "and in
fact I n()wa(hi\s seldom send awa\' any lish unless I know
the\' an; .!.;')inL;- where they will he lull)- appreciated ; if I
LM't more than m\- partx can eat.
'IXC them <iwa\ cUiion'''
tiu: settlers around. 1 iie\cr waste a lish an)-wa)."
" No, wicked waste ih.il would ])(■,' said I'fere.
" I used to see wit ked waste at the Raiigele)- Lakes,
in Maine," said I, alter a short j)ause. "awlul waste, in-
-i
V*-' - ■— mJfcJU-,
?62
//'//// riv-Roif and i'anicr
'a.
dc'd. Tx'forc the present lish law was enacted, no limit
was |)laeed on the size of the cateh of anglers, and the)-
could kill at their own sweet will as nian\- trout. lar<'-e
or snial
as th( \' wislied
lia\(; seen a man come mto
cam[) at night with two lunulrt:«l aiul htty trout, sonic of
them so small as to ht; too insii^nihcant for cooking', and
I once ^aw on the shore o( a famous trout l)rook a pile;
of over a thousand lingeriings, which had heen caught and
left to rot. It was outrageous. I'ortunatei)' now the law
restricts the fisherman in the si/.e of his catch and num-
ber of pounds in his possession, and prohibits him from
sending them awa}, although, he ma)- caxxx \\\\\ pounds
with him when he leaxcs, and this j)ro\ision should s.it-
Isf)- an\- reasonable sportsman, 1 his law will sta)' tlu;
great (K'slruction that has been goirig on."
"1 sho:ld think," said b'rere, "judging b\- the ac-
counts of the fishing at )-our famous lakes, that the law-
has come too late; 1 should imagine the stock might be
exhausted. '
"<)n the conirar)-," 1 replit;d, "there is still good lish-
Iul:' tb.ere, and the \v\-\ elticient .Maine Commissioners luit
nto the water m.uu, man\' more
fr\- tl
i,m there are taken
out, and the stoc
Ol
ai'i'-e
fish still holds out. 1'
\-ear thei'e are
tak
en ''reat numbe'"s ol trout runniu;
\-er\-
rom
five to se\en pounds, and w-e occasionall)" hear of a ten,
IniiiL
L they
(• iiitci
iiiic of
0-, ;uul
a pile
ht and
he law
I miin-
n from
|)oiimls
iia sal-
lax- llu'
llu; ac-
llic law
ii!j,hL I'e
ooil t'lsll-
iticrs j)ut
Lfc t.ikcn
Mvcry
iiiL;- from
of a Ifii,
«!
64
IVitli riv-Roii and Camera.
eleven, oi' even tucKi- jioiindcr. All tlu-sc; arc taken with
lit^du, single-handed rods.
"My friend. Mr. W. 11. l-'ullertoii, of Windsoi", \'cr-
monl, writes me that with some of his hea\y fish last
season, such as six ami three-(iuarler pounds, he iisetl a
four and a half ounee rod I It reijuires a careful and
scientific angler to do such woi'k, hut Mr. r'ullerton is
all of thai; in fact, he is the most sportsmanlike and
conscientious angler with whom I e\cr tished."'^"
(II
* Ml. Inllrrliiii \\rit(.-s me a-- f"ilii«-- " I a'-l Au:;ii-t .iml Srpu ni|pi-i' I went tri
the tpiHr I >.mi I .it the K.in;.;i hv I .iki-- | ;i;i(| li.id Nni.' s|>i>M, all ci mdiliinis liriny
fiivoralilc fur il. i \\ ill j;i\i- >'iu my rcim.l, knipwiiij; umi will I'lijny it;
.\u^. -J I .. 1. 'i ll'--.. wilh d-i'/. incl. Alt';. y> .. i, 'j'^lh--., with S.i./. ii.,l.
" 21 . . I. 'iN
" -M ■ ■ I. .>
I ,
25 I . -
2 5 , . I . 5
27 . r. ;,
2> . . I . 2 '4
2- .. e I',
2M .. I, 2',
2.) . . I. I ',
2q . . I, (i'+
2., .. I. V,
.1" ■ • 1
J '+
30 . , I
.1 *
Si
I>1.
31 1
3 . . 1
3 . . 1
'S ■
3 . . I
7 '4
.> . . I
(,i. •
•l , . 1
'•'4 •
■t . 1
.| . . 1
.j , . 1
3 '4 ■
S _ 1
1 1 . . I
1 J . . I
3
1'.
.\ '_.-<-)/.
^-Ii/C.
" 2() . . I. ''-,
"M\ IWi-lvc i.ii',;;('--l ui-i^'hii| 73'4 lb--, as y,\\ \\\\\ s, c l.y ihe Si"ic\ Tlio f)'.
au'l <!'! r.in|.^lu (Mi 4'j-o/. I.c-ciiianl |('alskill| md i lullcil aloiu- in ^tnm;^ w.itir
;iii(l friiin .i IkmI, which I lall a yimil test of a md, in f.ul I cm hamilcj a l.ir-^i'
iriiut nil it iuMi-i\- .IS i|iiiikl\ as 1 c .ni uiih iiiv ?-()/. Icnnaid. Ilnpin^ mhi and
I ni.i) ilK c I ayain and 'cast i.ui linrs ri jjIc as.mt pl.ici'S,'
I .ini \0'\ Inilv \ciurs, \\ m. II. I i i i i i; l' i.n."
ith
^.^
366 // 'it/i J';\-R(Hi aiu-l C \i)iu'i
•ni.
i! !
i
■ riiat must 1)(: LircaL sport," said I'"rcr(', "killing;- so
lari^c a tish on so small a rod, it is the (|iiintcsscn(:c of
delicate an-'ImL!'.
"Nes," 1 answered, "and many ot m\ tiiends are.
adoptini^- just such li^lu tackle."
" \ ou sa\- that the Maine waters an; 1)einL;- restocked
artiliciall)-," said l-'rere. "I suppose thai the artificial method
is a complete success."
"\es," I replietl, "and we put out now annually an
immense numher of not only trout fr\-, hut also those of
other species, particularly tlu! sea salmon and landdoi'ked
salmon. \'ou Canadians set us the e.\am|)le, and for a
time 1<'(1 us in the; ^ood work, hut we arc; now ahreast
of, even il we are not reall)' outstripping-, xou."
" \ cs, you Yankees alwaxs ^o into e\-er\thim;- with
a rush," said hrere, lauL^hin^K-.
" \\ <' do," I replied, "and \\i' ai-e • '^'iil;' the arti-
licial j)ropaL;ation of fish. I ha'.e \isit( ,. numher of
the hatcheries, hoth in the .Stales and Nour Provinces,
and 1 inspec:ted the opei'ations closeK."
"it must he \cr_\- interesiiuL;." said hrere, "I wish
\()U woidd descrihe th(; diiTerent manipulations hy whiidi
th(; fr\- art; i)roduced. ( )iir hatcheries are \cr\' success-
ful, an;', they tarn out miliions of fry annualK, hut 1 ha\(;
ne\'er s-i-ii th(; ac'ual (ax-i'ation."
Willi
wisli
which
ICCTSS-
h;i\ li
1 AKiNi; imiSl'AWN AND Mil. I SlMl 1. IAM.oLmI.V AI (iKAMi 1 . AKl. S i Ul \M , Ml. (Ill-l)
368
//'//// hlv-Rod and Canicra.
" \ I'S," I rc])lic(l, "ilic whole process is intensel)' in-
terestiiiL;' '^\\'\'\ a woiulerfiil seieiititic li-iunii)li. 1 will de-
scribe il as well as I can. ( )|" course llu- first step to
be taken is the erection of a hatchery, ami this must be
done; on scientilic |)rim-i|)les, no matter how pretentious
or otherwise the building' ma)' be. It is essential that
there shall be an milaiiin^" suppl_\' of |)U!'e water. ih'i^ht
sparklim;' brook water, fre(; from sediment, is the most
desiral)le. TIk; houst; is placed so that the water can
be coiuhicted into it b\' [)ipes or sluices, and then it is
caused to i)ass throuidi a series of lon^- taid-.s or trouiL;hs.
In these trouLil s are iilaced tra\s containiuL!' tin; esJiiS.
and ther<; they remain in the moxin^' water until the fry
are haitched.
"'Ihe house creeled ami excrythiuL;' I'eacK tor oper-
Titin^' -and this should Ix; accomplished early in the sum-
mer, or at ;m)" rate belort' the li.-^h are. ready to spawn
— a sup|)l\' ol bfecdin:^ tlsh should be secured.
"The nuth.od ot obtainiuL;' this suppl)' \aries at dif-
ferent hatcherii's." At some, as on the i'enobscot ki\('r
* 111 the C.madi.iii i i--ln'i ics I'^purl (iSSd^ 1 lniil the rollnwiiv.; ; "I'liiTr are
several im-tlnnN aiiopti.'! ai tlu- jui--,, i.; tiiuf fur dhtahiiii^' supplies nl parent lish in
proviile the li.iliiieries ui;!i ei;>;v I'.\ far the least e\peii>i\e one is tu eiuiee tile
salmon uii their [i.issaL^e Uj) ii\er ''.o , ^afelv ci in-tnuleil traplilve iiulnsure, wiiero
the\ can lie relaini-cl until lipo ("r spa.\uin,i;, ami then ^rt fiee ai^aiii. 1 his sys-
tem is not iif e.isy appliralinn, uuli-ss the stre.im is nn pchi alely small, auil easily
Cuntrulled. 'I'lie iMink i<i\ei II. r lur\ , I'. (J, I'.., is prii\ i.Uil with this nielhud I'nr
frv
. .lit"-
I'll' arc
li-h t,j
iiL' I he
wluTC
t'M'.ily
md lor
n ir I litliiii
370 IVitli I'ly-Rod ami Camera
ill Miiiiu., tlic weirs arc depended upon to procure tlie
siippl)', and ihe lisli are kept |)risoners in small ponds
until the\- are read\- to snaun. At the Sclioodlc liatch-
ery on drand Lake Stream the lish are caught and de-
tained in \-ards in the rix'cr. Ihis is done \'er\' im-cni-
ously, and the fish are kept on their natural H[ja\vning
i^rounds until tlui <'^l;s are ready to come away. 'IIk-
nets are set in the stream so that after the I'lsh enter
them at the upper I'lul, the outlet of (iraud Lake, and
i;il)tui ini;- tlir pjriiil ^l(l(■k <if saliiKiii, .■md .L;i\rs tin- ininiiiiiim msl df aliinil 45 cuiils
liii" cull li-.h, uilli ;i trill'j (jut <) re ills per llKJiisaiul l^r t'j^.^s.
"Aiiullur iiu:lici(l is ailn|)tril al llu- Kis|i;^(iii(lH', ( ias|iL' alul 'radinissac lialcluTii'S,
whi-ri" tlic early n;:is df saliiimi in Jimr, jiil\ anil Aii;;iisl arc iui;cil liv iiiipltiyi'i's
iJ llic iiati'li^TRs, or j.r.rc Iia- 1(1 linm li-.lurnK'ii nwniiii;' slaliims nn ilic ri\XTs, at
Lunt-'ri'. niavki't priirs. ■|'lu-sc I'lsli art- carrfull)' hamlkil IVniu tlic luts, ami Iralis-
puruci ill vimws s|K(ially inaiic fur tlir purpnst', td pens (ir irtalnii'.j;' piuic!-^ irmv In',
llir(jUL;li wlilili tlu' liili-' 111" I'lirrirt uf the slnain fn-ily runs | imu tiilal uaUi' uf
the MM is ])iHfi.ralik' fu'' iheir heallhy keepiiii;- | ; here ihi' sahiiuii are ke[)t lill spjun-
ini;" lime anises ni Oiii.Iier :'.ni! NuvenilM.T. After liein;;' iiiaiiipulatiil llie\' are set
at iilierlv aL;ain, ulllidiit air.' loss wdrlhv cf mention. At these Uine t ■.tahlishiiieiils
the eo't of each lisli, iiicliulinj;' their j^uardianship in the pens throii^^hoiil the seasons,
averai^eil !j2.7~, and the t'^K'S ran;;ed at about ^\ cents per thousand. This system,
after several years of praelieal applieali< r , has pn.ved to I ,• the most salislaetory
from ever\- point of view in whi.li il ma\ lie idusidered, ami oll;^l',t to lie eoniieeled
with llie v.drkin;;' of everv ha'cherv in the I lominion where eireiinislaiues wul t.iirl\
admit of iis applieatioii.
■rile svsteni iiiirsiled at the Sydney, iledford, St. John .ami Miramiehi hatch-
eries to secure parent s.dnii>n for lireedini; purposes, is |o take them willl nets at
the s])a\\iiinjj time or just previous to it. While this method proved --atisfactiir)',
lioth .is rci;ai\is the niiniiier of lish captured and the ijiioia of eL;L;s olil. tilled lor
the Svdiiev and Miramiehi halclurics, the result for the liedford and St. jiJiii River
hatcheries was very uiisatisfaclors ."
mMtm
(IC
lialch-
ifl-^ at
ai'ldi'V,
for
I Rivur
i . \4M
.">/
//'/'/// I'lv-Roii (Hfi/ ( (f ///(■/'/ f.
pass down 1(1 thr sp.iwninL; I'cds. tiny (Miiiuit pass out.
Thc\' arc as scciirtl\ <'iica^c(l a^ a rat in a wire iraj),
and tlurc ihcy rcinaiii iiniil ihc spawn is lakcn.
" I'lic Sihoddic liauhcry is the nio'.t faxorahly If)-
eaU'd of an\' I lia\«' seen, and \\\f lisl. m''- 1i» perfect
condition when liie (•'''•'s are taken/''
'I ':
■•* i'iu' fiiUiiw in;^' iiitcrcstiii;; arcounl nf llir upcialiniis al thr ?vhip(i(iic lialilicrv
ii fiirni>.l.i li i:u' li\ \li. \\ . I. IliK k, iIh- iiMnial Villi" •iipfrv ivfil ilic wurk when
I \i-ilril il .
"Silio.ulii -.ilinmi .lie (a]iiurcil at liiaiiil I alM' Mnam, \li.. in ml lra|i- ^I't
(III tlic ^|iavvniii;' liciU. I In- sia'^nii diiiiii;; uliuli liii- li inaU-' lav lliiir (';;i;s, ili'-
iniiiliii^' i»ri)lialil\ nil U-mptial UH'. vaiii'^ in ilillciiiil mm-., Imii iiia\ in- ispii liil lii--
twcin llii' 'Jolll I'l' ( lildin-r aiul tile Jnlil 'pf \i •\<iiilni . I he liiali •> n'nu' InM In
'.111' s]ia>\riii!'^ j^naiiiil^, tlif iiiii|)i,ilinn '■! fiiiiali-- ;;iailiiall\ iiii'rca'.in;^ iiiilil llii'\ far
uutr.niiilii-!' llic iiiaics in lliu lalir (allium hI liic sia--,in,
" riu' yaliuiiii mil in'.ii l!.i' liaps iiKi^lly ihiriiiy llu- iii^jtit. I'arli liKjriiiiii; lliosi*
taki'll arc liu-asilr<'l aiul »Mi;;lu>l. .iimI whin a li-m.ili' i-. fniiiiil ripe, a- nianv o| Ikt
(.•yys an- lakin a> --lie uill \ ii-KI "ii iniMlriali- pii-suif. >lii- i-> llun put in a pmiiul
uitli iilluTs I'i I.ii' cl.i-'-- t" 111' ii.inillcil IJK' iif\I ila\, u lu II -lu' will \ aid tin' n.'>.l
of lici- »'^j;-. Al llu- ln»l liaiulliii;^ a iipi- fiiiiali- \ irliK alioiil Iwn-liiiril- nl lu-r
f.fiis. sa\ I, -•nil jri.ni an aM ra^i- li^li. Ihf li-ii llial ai- liiiind initipi- aic placi'd
liV till lli-chrs 1.1 In- <■ \alliiliiil a ila\ I'l lun lalii. Si'liii- nl' llu ii:ali-> ale pul ii;lc>
cai li IX'iiliil in onU-r thai llicv iiia\ In- si-ini-il np uilh cai 1: liM nl li-inah - .iiul al
hainl l.>r ii-r.
"la 1. 11- njnTation >>i ^pawnili;.;, llic I'u;;- ''i"! "'i'' •'■'■ " iiM'i in a pan u itli-
imt walcr and iiii\i-d li\ wa\in'^ llir pan in a i in I.-. 'I'la-y a;>- ,.un \M-i;;hiHl alul
ua'^hi-il in ( haii'^fs >'l waUr iiiilil tlu' ual>r i> lU) 1imi;^it cluiidv. \llcr standing
ill I li-ar wahr I'nr al.niit luinl) iiiiliiitf-i, "f ir.lil l!u-\ arc svMiUd and hardened,
thr\' arc laki-n In tlu- ii\cr lialclury and placed mi wire l:a\> almiu (.nc Inol si|iiare.
Ihc liav-' arc jilaccd niu- alpn\i- annllicr in slacks nr fraincs nf iwciily eaeli, with
■•paees lictwi-cn Inr pa-'-ai^c nl water, hut Inn n.iirnw ln|- p.i^',i),;c lil c;;:,;^, and the
^taclss (.nilnlK Inwi-red i:.ln trniiL;li-> supplied with rniiniii- w,,ili-r ,ind nl such si/e
th.il tile slai Iss iu-,irU III! the w hnle width ami cK-plli. Ihc llnw nl' u.iK-r is liuis
Ijctwccii the ti,i>-, and li:e e^;,;s are supplied Imth almve and lielnw. This arr.iii:,;e-
^^
t>
v<r^>
<>,
cu\^
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
//
•%^
:/
1.0
I.I
1.25
■ 50 =
1.4
M
112.0
1.6
V
<^
/^
"el
■em J^i ^^^
c^l
Photographic
Sdences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, NY. 14580
(716) 872-4503
V
iV
\\
<t;
%
%
9)
^7
.0
374
With I'lv-Rod (11 ui Camcm.
\\ !
II i
" Tlic nu.'thotl of extract ill' I- the cltl^s and milt is a
.sini[jlc oiu^ \('X it must l)c tlomj l)\' an t;.\[jcrt. The lish
is lickl !))• tlu: operator witli his ri^ht liand (encased in
a woolen mitten) clasjMn^" the: salmon n(,'ar tlu; tail. The
left hand is then passed with a moderate pressure along
the body of the fish, and the eggs exudt- ; an accomplished
ment, \\iii(,h was iincnU'il lure by Mr. Atkins, has since hi'in largely ailiiptcd clse-
wliLTC. 'I'v, icu I'ath week llu' slacks air lifted frnni the watiT ami cacli tray of
t'j,'j;"s cxainincii, and any wiiilc mics rciwivcil, as such cgi^s arc dead and would soon
burst an(i destmy (itiieis.
" 'I'he water (if the ri\er lialcllerv lieiiiL,^ \erv ccild, an\' e,u;i;s wlncli arc nut to
l)e niatiu-cd carlv are l-e;il tlicre as hin^' as llie ccmditiim of llie riser will admit.
The hatclicr)' bein;.; in the lied of tl'.c ri\er, it is necc-sai'v to reniii\c the e,i;,i^s be-
fore the sprin.i;' frfii', ts, which uverlhiw the tniUL;hs to the dcplh of several feet.
.\11 arc reni()\ed lief:ire paikin:;' or hatchiii;; tn the c(i\ e h.itcher\', where the water
si'pply is friini sprinL;s and is \\ arn\er than the ri\er water. !'.)■ dalin.;;- the remuxal
from the cold ri .r water, tl;e period of hatchiiiL; can be regulated to a consitlerable
extent.
"After the appearam e of the i'\e dots the e^f;.;s which are to be packed are
lirst jarred by ponrin^' from one p,.u to another scleral times, which causes the un-
fertilised to turn whit' 'Ihcsr h,;\in,u;' been picked out, the remaindi r are plaicd on
mosquito netting;' and between !a\irs of damp mo:s in boxes of thin wood. I hese
bo.xes are about three inches dcip a;;d contain foiu" layers of e;4gs. C'oveis are then
tacked on anil the boxes packed one upon another in cases of dry moss. The outer
cases are of such si/e as to allow a layer of nioss three inches thick on all sides
of the inner boxes.
"Care is taken to sucine a temperaturj 1 ul little abo\e freexinj^; in the moss
of the inner boxes at the time ol placin;; thcin in tlie outer cases. The latter are
then stnffeil lightly with the drv moss and n.iiled U|). I'acked in this wa\', e.ni^s
will bear hmj^ exposiu'e to heal or cold anci ,i j^nod deal of rough handling, the
moss deadeidng the force of a jar. Tluy are, however, sent at once to their
destination, and every effort is made to secr.ic careful trc'atment on the way. l'"ggs
packed in this manner ha\e been sent from lure to man_\' parts of the Inited Stales,
and even across the ocean, aiul ha\e alniosl aluaxs aiii\ed in excellent O'der. Last
nuiss
luv arc
, llK'
tlnir
Stales,
Last
376
JVitli /''/v-/\0(i and Caiiicm.
oiocralor can tell in an instant if the c^'s^s arc ach'anccd
(:n()iiL;h to he taken, and lu: wiil not use an\' force; or
unnecessary ])ressure in remo\'inL;' them. Iliey ou^lu tf)
come a\\a\' with tlie exercise of ahnost the hi^luest touch
(}[ the hand.
"Idle nude salmon is hancUed in e\attl\' tlie same \va\",
and his mik is mixed with the eiii's in a nan without an\'
water heinj^' acKled. After tlie spawn and mik are well
mixed, the\' are allowed to stand a tew minutes in clear
water, and ai-e then placed in traxs in the hatchery.
'■ These trays lia\-e bottoms couiposetl of wire netting,
season a sliu;lit niiHliricalion ol ilii>. paikinL;- \v as made for ri^;;^ vent alirciail. I'hc
call's wiTc ^ci in.ak' ihal wv cnnlil I <■ p!a<t'il mi li'p il the imur cl;.!.;' Imxrs which
■WLTf arranL,ail In .illcw the uatrr from llu- i;nltiii;^^ iix- In llnu mcr ami anmnil
but net iiitn l!ur.i, >ii that ihc nn'-s in (ruilact with the c;^:;-- iiii:;ht in.t I'vidini'
too wet. .\ri'a!V,^L'nicnt was thru iiiaiSi' 'with ihr sli-waril ol ihi- slcamiT on wl-.icii
the i-'^i^s rrosT(l thi- Athiulii.', li kLx-p ice in '.he ca^i's (hiriaj; the \"ii\a;.;e. Taiketl
in tills \\a\' till' t;^.i;s reached ijij;lanil ami ( it'rniany in t;"iMl (uder,
" Coniii.irison "I rt'cords sliuws a i^railual iiK reasi.- ia ^i.a' nl' tile >chocitlic sal-
mon liamlled at the spaw. niiii.; --ea-un, and a marked imrea--e in the _\ ield nf e^j;s
per tish :
Tims -J'l^ males, wei.i^lied and measured in IS77, a\era;.;eil li'.S in., i.s llis.
" 247 •■ ■• ■■ ■' •■ l-S(,, ■• 'j(i.:l •• ;,,4(i ••
343 fen'ales, " " " " IS77. " id. I " l.i) "
■;o5 " " " " " issd, •• :;(i, 1 •■ ',.1;^ "
while the a\era;4e numlK,' m| t;4.L;s per Icmale has advanced finiii alnnit 1)00 to
about I ,^1111.
"Attempts .It (rossin;^ the dilferent \arielies of lisli taken here, scch as Scliondic
salmon :nul lirook trout, or t<i'4iie .ind Schooilic s.dntoii, ha\e not residled in vit^or-
ous lisli, allhou^jh such lulilids liaM. Inen halcheil, but sea salmon e;.;^s lertili/i'd
with milt from Schoodic saimon produce slron;.; Ir\ not in he disiin^^uished from
the ordinarx Schoodic s.dmoii lr\. "
: sal-
i
4
1
1
\
( ■
ifc " ' ^^^^^Wm
1... n|>-
.-)/
78
IVith /'7v-/\(n/ ami Caiucm.
ami when pi, iced in the ii-()iiL;hs, the niniiinL;' water passi's
()\"cr and a.roimd ihcin conslanll)'. <M course, 'he tr.tys
are t;\ainiiied olleii, and tli<; inlerlile eii.i^s reinoxcd. At
one hatchery that I \isited last Xox-einher there; was a
\'er)' hirL,^c pcrceiUai^e of loss, more than half the ci^'.i^s
in tlu; tra\s heiuLi' white and spoiled Irom Irosi, 1 think,
I)iit <'"enerall\' the i)er(H'nta''(: <'l loss is \'er\' small.
"The artificial is a \ast inipro\-ement on tlie natural
method, the percenta_L;c of loss in the former heiuL;- ahout
the same as the pei'centai^c ol successlul hatchiuL;" in the
latter, for the milt diffused in the water (piickl)' loses its
[)o\ver ot im[)reL;"natinL;" the o\a, and this, together with
the de[jredations ol trout ;md other tish, which dart in
and sc;i/.e th(; (;,l;,l;s almost as fast as they are exuded,
makes the percentaL;(' ahsurdK' small."
"Yes, the trout hother the salmon some when ihey
are spawning;'," said William, "hut not such ;i i.;real deal,
h)r the; olil salmon di'ixcs them oil ; the sheldrake does
most misc
es,
hi(;f.
I answered, "and the wonder to me i:^ that
there IS a salmon U
ft. (
ne thill','' IS i)rett\' certain
ami
on ol this hsh is in the lu-
that is that artiticial propa^ati
ture to be tlu; main reliance for the continuance o
f tl
ic
species; for the ilemand is now so immensi', and tlu: mar-
ket so !4"rcat, the natural method could nexcr suppl)' it.
(leal,
(Iocs
ihat
aiul
\v. fu-
f the
mar-
)1\- iL
A I'liK I S-l',|i,ll i I'lilNDI-.K."
38o
IVitli riy-Rod ami C'^'ucra.
The Avork that is now hcin^;' done, ihcrcforc, 1)\- the Com-
missioners of ihc States and I'roxinces, is of e.xceedinsj^
value, an'! is dest-rxiiiL;' ol the greatest eiu'om'aL;cment and
support, not onl\' from sportsmen, l)ut li"om the; wiioU' peo-
ple, rile appropriations ])y the diherent ^ov-ernments ha\'e
been aiism'dK' mea,L,n-e, wiien wc take into eonsideration the;
importance o( the woi'k undertaken and its restilts aiu' it
seems to me that as a mone\ -making' in\-estment aloh •
the; \ ai'ious Commissioners siuniKl Ije unstinted in tlieir re-
sources. "
" rile \"ounL;' fr\-, just hatched, are de\-oured 1)\- small
.'"Otit and the little sahiKMi," said \\'illian\
"' \ es," I rei_)li(;d, "and here also the artilicial method
is an imi)ro\"ement on the na.tural : for 1)\' it the nouuli'
fr\', instt;ad of l)(;inL;- in their helpless condition turned
adrift in tin; mitlst of enemies, arc; retained at the hatch-
cries until the\- ar(; lari;-e enouL^li to tak<; i are o( them-
s(;l\-es, when tl"ic\ arc; distrilnited in the; \arif)us streams
to \\hich the\- arc; allottc;d."
"It is \vx\ inter(;stin^-," said k'rc; •, after I had fin-
ished. "Who wotild hax'c; thought of hi'cediiiL;' sahnoii like
so man}' chic-kens tliirt\' yeai's ai^o ; hy and \)\ they will
breed cod and othei' sea hsh."
" I he y do now," I 1-epIied ; "in tin; States our Com-
missioners lia\c' hatched mihions of xouii''' cod; shad cul-
5^^^
jjte^^
m^
^: ■
W^,'»
sap^
W->
■^':^.r//^J»>m:i :j^ i^. />
*' •; ^
^''vi- '
:3
i^^ii^^
>>»<■ *'•'
!^^'«1^--' 1
'^«iMBy ^
■■/■•>:.■
< ■
n-3'^jn
\
^^^1
1'
1
]
Vj? • .■•. ■ -J,
1
'
'tf'IfBI^H ^^^^^^B/
L^^
' i'^^-^J^^S -!^$
V ^ ^
K^,
t
• ' 4if '' ^
%.. :f
rW' -
i\ 'i?''»X '
' '/^-^v^-
1 . S>W : '
^ r.;
S-M-'iv':'^'
'> . >
■ ■ \ f
-. ._..JJU.JBfI
382 //'//// riy-Roii (iiiii CiHi/i'm.
turc is ;in old storw and now \\c arc hauhiiii; lohstcrs,
sciip and striped or sea l)ass in i^rcal niunlxrs."
"Wonderful," said I'rere, "the ])ro;.>l*ess of science is
sonicihinLi' astouiulin"."
"\'<'S," I replied, ■•the ri\crs are hein]^ restocked in
the most liheral niannei-, and if the tlsh are ^i\cn a fair
chance, and not wasted, th<' prospect is ^ood for a stead)'
iinpro\(iiient in an_L;lin!4. '
"1 ha\c often," said hrere, "when 1 had ;i perma-
nent canip ol a week or ten da\s, in order that in\ tish
niii^ht not he wasted, sniokecl all spare grilse and salmon,
aiul the)' pro\(' delicious on the winter hreakhist talde."
"\'es," added William, "ami salted sea trout are also
\vx\ line in winter. Soak them a few hours and hroil
them, and the\- are nice."
"I nexcr tasteil any salt trout," 1 replied, "hut ha\c
lieard that the sea trout is \-ery l^oihI alter such a pickl-
ing'; l)ut 1 should not fanc\ it; nothint; like the fi-esh-
caught lihh lor me.'
" ^('S, the sea ti'out is at its hest when just lroni the
water, althout^'h it is fairl\' i^ood \vhen pickled like the
mackerel; the spotted or hrook ti'out. ho\v'e\'er, is worth
less when salted."
"It is," said William, "perfectly worthless, toiin'h, hard
and without an) taste but th(; salt; but I'xc been think-
^icrs,
•(' 1^
■(I 11)
air
lca(l\-
•niia-
lisli
iiion,
also
i)r()i
ha\ I,'
|)1CK1
trcsli-
■()
the
ihc.
rth
hard
uni
384 //'//// /'7y-/\i>(/ (iN(/ Canni'ii.
inj;' ;il)<)ui what \<iii said ol tlu' work nt thr lisli liatch-
crics ; wi' pay a L;t»<'(l l)it of iiioncN In ilic I )()niiiii()ii foi'
fish-breeding- now, and the netters on liie shore iL,''et most
of the Ixni'lii."
"Ndii are rii^lu," I rephed. "there is a \cr\ i^ood dis-
l)ursenieiU in the interests of rishcuiture in Canada, and
it is Pior.ey well inNcsled. I av;ree with you tliat the
shore netters ai"<- i^cttin^' a hit^' hon's share ot ilie results.
In plain siniph' justice, in addition to the cost o| license,
which is a niei'e ha^atelle, and the small tax the\' now
pa\' on the nets, an additional tax should he le\i('d on
e\'er\ salmon taken in weirs, iL^ill-nels, or othei" traps in
titlal waters, either in the 1 )ominion or \ew l''n^land
shores. Take foi" instance the Penobscot l\i\-er in Maine,
and the MarL;"aree in ("ape Ureton, a few weir owners ai'e
reaping;' a rich harvest from the work done |)\- the Com-
missioners, and the State pa\s the hills. It is preposter-
ous tliat a crop sown 1)\' the ])eople ol the State should
f
)eoi)|( ■
not he har\-ested m .-,ome way hy the whole |
believe that, since the\' reap the chiet oortion of the 1
lar-
gest, the; weir owners should \VA\ a j^ood libei'al share ot
the expense of planting;' it, or else their pri\ileL;cs shoulil
l)e ijrf'atK' curtailed
ou are rii
dit," said I-'rere, "the netters and weir
f;
owners are haxMiiij' an iinlau" a(l\anta''(
f liar-
art' ot
weir
386
H'itli lUv-Rod and Camera.
"liKk'ctl tb('\- arc,' fxclainu'd Ilirani, "sonic; of them
ai'v.' i^cltin^' rich ndtiiiL;' the lish the ("joxcrnnicnt raises,
while we poor (le\ils, who ha\(; hard work to yc;! a hv-
iiiL;', hartU}' see a sahiioii to call it our own."
■"Well," I re[nieil, "you must a^ntatc; the matter. See
to it that wise ami tlisinterestetl law-makers are s(.:nt to
your Parliament, men who will ri^ht the tiling;". I'nless
something' is dont; sahnon will j^row scarcer, no matter how
man\' ari; planted. '\\\(i. lisher)' othctirs ha\'e alreatl)' per-
ceix'ed the e\il and r- portetl upc^i it.'"
"' In tint Annual Krpint i.l ilu' I )L'])annu'iu (if l-'ishcrios of ' 'anaihi Idr I3S6, [
fiiul ll.c liilluw iuL;: "In .\r\\' llnm--\\irL iIk' inip'-uscniciU in llic lalch nf salniim,
wl'irli !narks lasl yi.i s rrlinn, was nut MiNlaiiU'il ; llic li;;urcs standnij; I /Jcjl ,255 lbs.
in I'-Sii, against 1 ,4,;7 3 1 (> 111--. in l>.-^5. 'I his unsar .laiidry rL-sult is attrilnitalilc to
i'>avssi\r nc'.tin;^' in I'li,- iul il (.■^luarirs, whii'li i)i\'\ cnls liie salnicin ironi rcai'liin;^' tiiuir
spawnin;^ IkiN in t!ie uppi r |)iiri!i.n nl lliu riwrs. 'I'Iu.tl- is aNo a niaiiu-ci !'.;llinij
1,11' in the i.at(h III' lia'---, altrilnilalilu to the' same cause."
\\ . II. \\nnin;_;. l---ii., s.i\--; " I he ineica^e in the oateh of salmon, wiiiell
It 1
t M-.irs I'l -U ns, ]ias not liren siislameil. KejeetniL;' thrones, and con-
rir.in" ni\--ell to t.ie oji^erwlion
if faei^, I ha\e f
e lor sevt-ral years I'xpiesseil mv
eonvietion, ih.it inuler exislin;;' ( i:c unislanc js no permanent inipfovcnier.l in (, sal-
mon ji'-herii'S (.m rea-onalily !»■ expeeled. I hi.-se faels are, ih.iL in l"'74 the salmon
eateli in Ni-w Ihini'-wiek \\.is 3,j 14, 1 ■^j llis. Since railways liavc cnahletl fresh salmon
to I'eac
h ilistant markets, ti.v nnmliei' of n-h
ermen has nicreased, and unproved app
ances
have been employed, not on'y alon^' the coast, hut fi'om the estuaries to the
headwaters of all our ri\ers to which salmon re^or
I. With th
IS nicrease ni the
numlier of men li^-hini.;-. .'ind with these impio\id appliances for catchin:;' llsh, the
Uch last Near w
IS onlv l,4<
7,?'r
an I this \rar onlv
Iv 1,268,3;; II)
( U erseer \ er.H'
nsw ick side of th
'f the l\i\er D
i\ i-li m sa\ '
the catch niiule on the New
■-tiLiouche was Irss than that of List \ear. This de
is attributed to unlavmable winds in the earl\- jiart of the seasoi. and tu excessivt
nettnu
at the month of the river.
.illing
iiiil con-
sscil mv
alniiiii
.alniiiM
|(.h1 appli-
, tl) lIlL'
c in tlic
lish, the
Itlu- New
excessive
388
ll/'itli I'ly-Rod and Cainem.
"Every salmon that is netted should hear its fair
share of the expense of the artihcial propagation of the
species, and what that share is can l)e easil)' fiL;-ured, for
the percentage and cost of development are well known.
If, for instance, five hunth'ed salmc
)n are m one season
taken in tlie nets and weirs about tlie moiitli of a river,
there sliouiil Ix^ a tax levied upon those; fish which
wou
Id
pay tlie expense ot planting and maturing
hundred others."
"Wouldn't there he a (''ood deal of
at least five
machinery and
red ta[)c; n(!ed(Hl in such a method?" askeil h'rere.
"Not necessarily," 1 re[)lied ; "a \ery simple, plain
law could be enacted that wou.ld meet all the re(|uire-
ments ; perhaps a stated tax on the number of salmon
taken in the nets and weirs — the tax being based on the
ascertained statistics of cost ot production —to bt; usetl in
developing fishculture w(,)uid be enough."
Tl
lere is no doubt \(ui are ris^ht, said
]•
re re
the
remarkable growth of the lobster-canning iiulustrx' on our
shores is an illustration m p(Mnt.
All
aloiiLi' our
C
ana-
dian sc;aboard lol)Ster tr
app
in;
has jjcen pushed to sue!
an
extent that in many localities where the fisli was form-
erly abundant, it is now almost extinct.
\'
es,
I
d t
replii'tl, and trapping and netting will do
d<
the same for the; salmon. It is for us anglers to check
plain
umon
n the
cd in
' the
m our
Cana-
;) such
form-
will do
check
390 With Fly-Rod and Camera.
\\ i
the evil all we can, tor it is to us that the great work
of restocking our rixcrs is due."
"llow is that?" asked krere.
"Why, llic idea origiualed with that prince of sports-
men, Henr\' W. ilerhcrt, Ixltcr known as k'rank korres-
ter, and it A\as adx'ocated hy othcir sportsmen, and pushed
and pushed until the (kiTerent goxcrnments took it up, and
it has now attained wonderful i)ropoi-tions. ''' ^'es, it is
* 111 the- I'.ilinl)ur,L;li Xrw l'hilosopli'iC<il /,'in-ii,ii' fnr July, l^f/i. tlu-vc is ;in nc-
(.■iiunl iif Kimc cxiKTinirnts made 1)\' Mr. Shaw. ( umiiu ntin;^' mi tliusc I'xpci imcnls
Mr. lliTbcrl, in his lumk "ii " Msh ami t'ishin^." says;
" Mr. Shau, it srenis. ciU'-nl three ])(imls 1m lie made, of tliffercnt si/:cs, at
about liltv yard^ distant frmn a s.dmnn ri\er, the I'.rilh, the pmids liein;^' sujipiicd
\i\ ;i sire. mi (if sprin;^' Avatt-r will furni-hi.(l uilli I,ir\a' of inseet>. The average
temper.iture of liie water in tlie ri\ulet w.is ratlier hi;.;her and less v.iri.ahle than of
tli.it in the rixer; ()lher\vi>e the einumstanees df the ma eunt.iined in the jionds,
;nid of the yi'Uiij;- fr\' pr'iduei.-d iherefnnii, «ere preeisel)' similar t^ tluise of the
sp.iwn aid fry in the ri\er.
" ( lliscrving two salninii, male and female, in the ii\er preparing' to deposit their
sjj.-iwn, Mr. Sli.au- prepared in the shiiv^le by the stream's ed.u;e, .a sm.ill liiiieh through
■A-llieh he liirected a stream ni water frimi the river, and at the lower eNtremity of
the trcneh plaeed a large earthenware ba--ii; to reeei\e the i>\a.
"This dune, b\' means iif .a liimji net he secured the two lisli whieli he had
observed, .and plaeing the female, while .alive, in the trench, fureed her b_\- gentle
pressure of lur Imdv to depo-it In r o\.a in the trench. The male lish w.as then
placed in the s.iine positinn, and a iinantity of the niilt being ])re^-.(_'d from his body,
pas
d down tlu' stream ;ind Ihoroughlv impregn.ited the o\.i, which were then tra
ferrcd to the basin, and thence to the up]>er stream which fed the upper pond, where
they were co\'ered up a.s U'-uai.
Mr. Herbert docs not gi\c the ])ercentagc of fi\- th.it resulted from this and
•at that time iio\el, and which wc would now call a cruile attempt at lishcnlture ; but
that it was a success hi- lant;nage cverywheie implies, as he gixe- the period of in-
cubation in ditferenl degrees of temperaliire of the water, and describes the \arioUs
■ i JH Wfi W P
he liad
icntle
IS then
body,
irans-
whcre
lis and
; Imt
1 .>r in-
variiius
392 IV nil lUy-Rod and Ca/neni.
V I
(hie lo anglers and their cfTorts tliaL nian_\- of our rivers
now teem wilh fish, which tlic i^rccd}- wasic liie sense-
less butchery h) others had rendered harren."
st;i;;i" I'f ^;ri)\vlli nf ilic mmi'i-- li-h lli;i! uoio lialilinl. Ni>\\- fiT an aijplicalinu nf
this huiIkkI, Mr. I l(il.(.-ri lii ilir ncci,! d' the il'lnris lir \va> inaUiiiL;- f'T tin; pro-
icclioii aril [)ni])ai,silii'n nl llic salniMii, sas^:
"1 ha\c statrd lliat llic Inu- ^alninn \\ a> wml in fcininT yars \,> run up into
Scni'ca, ea_\il;..;a, ami nlhrrs of llic small lakrs c.f crnlval Ncvv' \i'\\, and i.-xprcssi'il
a ilDubt wlu'llu'r it Ma> nut u^iw iir<\cnl.il I'n.m ildiii-- so l'\ the ulisirnclidns in the
()s\vcf,'<) Kiver. Iti the cnur-c- cf a xi^il l" t'lat inliia-scir,-- rr-ion durin-' thi- jiasl
antunin, 1 hail an oppurtnnily i>\ \ iiil\ in^;- this doiiht ; and I fcMind, as indL-rd I
I'.xpi'Ocd, that the true- salnmn has (•ascd \u rxist in lliMse ln-autilul wahis. h is
uilh ^r<al pleasure, li.iwexer, th.il 1 lay lielcre n,_\- readers an laiaitnuiU [■ -i' the
prcscrvatinn of thai nol.le llsh, jusl passnl hy the Supervisors of the ifUntx' ol
Oswf^M., in ecaifoiiuilv- with the aet ol' the State 1 e,L;islallire, eoimn'' ! in.:; the eare
(if "aiiie, and the passin;^- of -anie laws, to thosi.- Hoards ihrou-hout tli^ >ounl_\."
'Ihis act (entitled "An A. I for the I'restrval Jou of S.dmon in the Sahnon River
and Lake ( 'ntario eonti-uous thereto," passed Pve. IJ, is;(,i, Mr. ilerhert says is
precisely what it slionld be, and relleets the hi-hes; , iTdii on the liberality, wisdoni
and ener'.^y of the Hoard wiiieli en.ieted it. "I only re-ret that its provisions extend
onlv to a sinyle river; but I trust that this defeet will be amended and that the
(tswe^o Kiver, and the Seneca. e,iyii;,„'a and other ontKls will receive the same priv-
ik-.u^e, which would doid)lless le.id to the speedy re-establishnient of the .salmon iil
those lowly and limjiid w, iters."
The act referred to w.is so length)' tliat I will not i|uoie it here, suffice it to
snv tli.it It was a \er\' slron,;; one in the direction ol thorou,L;li protection of the
salmon from :,eiliing, slieariny an ! destruition b\- metliods now considered baleful in
the hi^diest degree. Mr. .Herbert further on sa.ys, and 1 ask your partieular atten-
tion to this:
"I earnestly reeonuuend the iiassage c' similar laws to this, by the Legislatures
of the various Eastern Stales, especiall)- b\- that of Maine, in reference to every river
eastward, ;it least, of the month of the Kenneliec, as the only method by which
the speedily approaching extinction of the salmon can be pre\enteil. I have no
doubt, however, tli.at if the same l.iws were passed by the Legislatures ol e,,nnec-
ticut and New York, with regard to the line river which -ives n.an, ; to that lirst
State, and to the noble Hudson, coupled with an absolute prohibition to take or
.:e it to
.f the
luful in
atten-
li'urcs
, rivi-r
■Aliich
.ivc no
(innce-
hal lii-Nl
tai<c or
*
394
JVith Fly- Rod iiiu Camera.
"So that \v'.' an,L,^lcrs .ire i^rood for something;' after
all," said I'rcrc.
"\^es," I r('|)lic(I, "and now that \vc liavc sr.ccccdeii
destroy tlu' salinnn, fm- llic spaci' (if live years, that this, the kiii;j of lishcs, mipht
fie rt'-iiitniduci'il iiili« thdsi. w.iUrs l'\- tlic ailnptinn of the siin()lc iiK'thod I have
describiil. Anil I takr Ihis ii|)|i(irlunily nf slating- that I have giidd hope of making
sui'li arrangenunts ,is will cnaMc iia' to procure in this coming spring, Mich supplies
of ;he sahnon fry, in the stale I'.hich .uhuits of their traiT^portation from N'ova
.Scotia, .'s will suftice to establish the possibility of the undertaking. It is my inten-
tion, shoiihl I Miccced in obtaining the support or cncour.igcment from the legislature
of New Jersey, to m.ikc tlic experiment in the tributaries of the Passaic; .and should
it lie suecessful, I can oidy aild that it uill give nu- but loo much jilcisure to assist
.any gentleman in procuring the me,iii< of re-stocking any w.iters on which thev mav
reside, with this most game ar. ! noblc-t of lishes."
The carne--t elforts of Mr. iler''crt bore good fruit, the r,ui\ement which was
Urst suggested b\' him and set on toot progressed wondertull)-. ()ther sportsmen
becaiiu' interc'-ted in and ad\oc,iled it in i\ery direction. i'he r,"ood uork went on ;
I
th
iliect was more and more discussed, .ind legislali\(' .'.ction more .ind more
stiv .asked for, um'l tin.ilU, ,is (hailc
diock,
itlu
;portsmau whose name
IS respi
cited
liy .anglers c\er\«lierc
vrilcs in jsT';, alter eommentnig o
n th
e almost
absolute extinction which h.ul threatened dur salmon:
N
everlheless, \
f
luck
pirscverance.
imbined with fortuitous circumstances,
ed our siroams from tot.il ilepopulation.
Th
subject w.is kt'pl in agitation b
itlemcn wiio were awake to the value of liu'se material interests; i; w.is constantiv
mipresse
(1 upon tlic attention of the .authorities of sevend .Sl.ati
■|-
len. one .alter
.another, the Mates .ippointed
maile aiiiiropriations
.ami now \\ c
■ish (
lissioners, delegated powiis to thei
■■land took the lead.
New \'ork
I omm
ha\e [I will adii in .addition to the Inited Stales I'ommission,
issioneis in thirty-seven .States and Territories!. lanada also took hold of the
matter in sober t-arnest, .and ap|)ointed a l''islu'ry ( oniinission which proved wondc
full
V ellieient iii workin'.j
Hit the most
It if-,
111"" result-
While
Mir Stat
es were
impeded in obtaining lueaiis of replenishing our ri\-ers, which tlie\' did
not posse-
ith
irogress m llie
th
■re.it win
I an
with superior natural facililie
recall 'cr.it 10:1, am
now m .1 lair wav
made rapid
if restoriu!/
to her rivers the salmon in all their former wonderful pient)'.
anccs,
m by
;inlly
after
ami
ission,
.f till-
)ncK-r-
WITC
I'V dill
rapid
itorinii
.V ■I'llKI-.l'. I'oi Ml Si:a iKdl I .
39^
//'//// I'lx-Roii mid Cdiiicrn.
ii >
in t;cttin_L,f the autlioritics ai work rcstoi > the depleted
ri\"i'rs, and ha\c also Mu-cccdcd ;n i^ctliiim wise laws lor
tlM' protection of the tish in the streams, it is lor us to
see to their cnhu'cenient.
"No amount of ll\ -lishing', or surtaei.'-tishin^', as it is
t(!rnied, can deplete a salmon stream, for, as you know,
though there ma)' he hundreds ol fish IxinL;- in the pools,
it is onK' a \'er\', \cr)' small ])ro|)ortion that will rise to
the lly, no matter how skillliil the anj^hr ma\- he, no
matter how patientl\-, how dili^cntK' lut ma)' lal.)or with
them. So well recoi^nized is this fait, that in )'our Cana-
dian l*"isheries Laws, which are careful!)' and wisel)' drawn,
while the use of nets, spears, and all manner of other de-
vices for the capture of salmon ami trout is ahsoluteiy
forbidden in the streams under heavy penalties, there are
no restrictions against ll\'-lishinj^- durinjj;' the entire open
season. In fact the law s[)ecially [)rescribes 'that it shall
be laii'fiil to fish for, catch and kill salmon with a rod
anc
d line in the manner known as ll\' surface tishm
11^
■k
an
d
the an^der ma\' get his lease ,uul take all the fish his
o-ood luck will bring- to gaff, safe in the confidence that
he is to be free; from all molestation whate\er
And it
is a wis(; law ; for where he cai)ture;i with the lly one
fish, scores of (.)thers escape his efforts, and live to per-
petu;
ite tl
leir sixxies.
H
ow won
Id It be if there were
pcr-
Averc
1 1 FADS OK Ska TRorr.
39^ //'//// /'7\'/\(h/ (till/ ('(fiiicnf
no laws lOrhiddiiiL; tli'' capiiin' <i| tlirsc lish li\ <illu:r
nnilidds, unwise and wasldiil inctliods as tli(\ have Itccii
proven lo lie? Mow would it lir il such rt'stricliv (• laws
wci'f not ciilOrccil ' I .el lui' ,L;i\i' \ou a single illusiraiion
ill reply.
"A i-i\ci- was leased l)\ ihree ol" I'our L;tMUleni<n lor
a term of \e.u's. I lies were eiiiluisiastic diligent anglers
and iK-lishernieii, who Iiad taken all the de^i-ees in iheir
art. 'Their whole season .L;a\i' a score ol onls e|e\fn sal-
mon. \ei the ri\cr sliowcd an .iliundance ol tish in e\cr\'
pool. In one ni^hi, alter the close season had hei^un.
si.\l\-li\(' salmon were netted hy poachers in oiH' pool,
anil later. e\cn when the lish were on their spawning-
Ijeds. the net plied its deadly work, so that unijueslion-
abl\' se\-eral lumdl'ed of the lish were killed, .md the ri\(r
was almost depletetl.
•' That ri\ci- is now so well L';narded that |)oac]i('rs
cannot do much mischief, hut if there were no laws lor-
biddin^;' such shameful waste, how loni:; would it he helore
the salmon woidd hecome extinct ,•'
Tl
le lish iinis/ \isit the fresh-watei' streams in tlu
jrc'eclimj' season.
he s|)awn can he \i\itied and the
nouul;' proiluced onl\- in the cool li\in^' wa.ters ol the
rix'ers. If the net and spear and seine were allowed to
do their work, if no restricti\e laws were made, how many
the
ilu-
the
U)
ryr
\
400
//'■//// /•/v-/\oii and Caiitcra.
\-cars would it rc(iiiirc for tlic species lo herome extinct?
Bui \'er\ , \e|-y tew indeed.
"Now. who anioui^ all ihe people, anioni,;- all the tish-
ermen. amoiiLi' all those who would laki' and use tlu; sal-
mon, would he most likel\- to eii<l;'avor to prevent its Av-
striiction in the rixcrs? AssunHJly almost no one hut the
angler, the tlN-fishernian. lie has studieil the habits of
the lish. he knows that the raee to he; pt'rpetuated must
visit the rivers, and he knows that cooiK-d uj) as they are
in the narrow limits of the • >ols, ])ackeil together, as they
sometimes are, as closeh as the\ can lie, th;it the\- would
be absolutcK- at the merc\- of the netter. Idierefore. to
preserve the race, he endeaxors to secure tlie enactment
of wise laws for its preservation, and tries to secure their
{■nforcemi-nt."
"'rh(; poachers ai e a hard lot." said William, when
I had emled. "and man)- of them would not st(M> at
almost any crime."
" N'ou are rii^hl." 1 replied, "they are a Iku'cI lot, and
thev are becoming more and more defiant. So reckless
have the)' become that wardens and o\ci-seers now lee'
as if their lives are in damper If the\ tr)- to eutorce the
laws. in fact murdei- of wardens has alread\- been done
in one of our New I'.n^land .States, aiul also ol a lad\-.
).-,
the wile ol a \isitmi;- sportsman, m xour own I'rovmce o
)f
I
402
IVitli Flv-Rihi and Camera.
New Brunswick, •■' and \()ur I'ishcrics Reports inipK' that
matters are _i;rowin_L;- worse; and worst', tlic li\i'S and prop-
erty of wardens beinj;- v;onstantly in jeopardy it they cn-
tleavor to enforce the hiws.
" IJut let's to beil," I continued, arising;' and enterint,^
the; tent, "we cannot sit up mucii loii^vr without niakini;'
a niLi'ht of it."
"\'es," answc;red I'"rere, "our talk was so engrossini;-
1 had no idea it was so lati;."
It elid not retjuire much time for us to L;('t uniler
* ( )n thn roliiiiuc- Kivcr; loiniiniiuinn upcii wliicli I liml in llii- kt-pon u\ tlit-
Maino Cc.mnli^-iolK•^^ of !■ i•^!K•I■iL■s :ui(l OaiiK-, l>.->. llic l.iil.pwin-' cxlract lr..ni /or-
C--.1 iiiui Straxin: " h lias k'^ww lo pas- imwadays that In clin uiiiK' all uvuiits ccii-
nectL'd Willi slKnUini;- aiul lisliin,!^' iiumiis i,, drMiti- sp.ux- lo ivports wliicli properly
beloiiji in ihc criminal thus df ilic daily prt-ss. ii was ..nly llu- <.llK-r day ihal we
recorded the murder on llie ■l'oi)i(pie, and llu- -ross miscarria.i^e of jnslice, by which
llie niiscreaiils escape<l ni^lileous punisliinenl. I'.ut ii' murderers of women -o unhim^'
in New I'.runswick, they si-i- l.i it ihat the hemp has its <.wn out in \\\nmin;^-.
'I'hal Territory has a law foibiddin-- the kiilin-' of -ame for market. In spile of
this, skin hunters and meat Imnlers have in years past in\adeil the I errUory and
plieil their trade. Iliis can be done no lon;^er with impmiily. I'ui)lic leelino is
on the side of the iau." Ipon which the Keport makes ihr followin-" comment:
"Where inlerb'renee with -ame la« break.vs has resulted in personal violence and
crime, the fact h.is stood cle.-irly revealed llial the offenders ai^^ainsi the -ame laws
are desperate characters, and when lliesr oheiists are re-arded with Kniency, the
tone of the com.nnnilv is .d.ased. It was s, , with the Maine Shacker incendiaries,
the do.trs^ers who killed ihe Maine w.irdens, ihe New lirnnswick salmon spearers,
and the Wyomin-' skin hunlers. i awlessness, with n spiel lo one class of statutes,
here means rel)ellion a;.rainsl nood order and the bonds of -ociely. I tesperate mis-
creants who break the ■^ame laws show themselves readv lo si., ml at nothini;, not
cNcii murder."
1 prop-
akiiv.
HK
rossinu;
Icr
t line
port of Uic
: from loi-
cvt-nts con-
,1, properly
y tluil we
bv whii'h
MO imhuiiiA'
W xoniinL;.
11 spite of
iritory ami
fee 11 111; i'^
eoninieiit :
ioleiiee anil
oaiiie law-
.nieiuy, ilie
lineeiuliarie--,
■arers,
if statutes,
lerate mis-
Inotliiiv^. not
404
/r//// /•7\'-/\(>(/ and i'diiirni.
the blankets, ami in a \cr\ few niinufs the hcax'v breath-
xw^ of in\ companions indicaletl thai the\ were
in U\v
ant
1 ot"
ilreanis.
(luicki
ollowed them, and was soon
in imai^ination hoUlin^' a poacher with one hand ami plas-
in:^- a twent)-pound salmon with the other, a feat whic-h
in m\- wakin"- moments 1 siionld he l<Jth to undertake.
If '
(■ii.\pti:r VI.
TiiK l.\^r Dw IN CsMi'. • SivwsiM, H\i!ri> nr nii: S\i,\iii\. < Salmon
l<i \^. ■ I 111. Si \ 'Ik'ii 1, II-, (iwiiNi^^, IIS liii-,rin. • Tiii-, Win-
MNISll. • l.\KI', I'.IiW \KI>. • I.NKI'. Si. jdllN AM) II- l'l-IIIN(;. • I'lll-.
ri.Rli;ii\(\ AM) Till: Asill'APMoli IliiTAN |-'l\i;RS, • 'rill.; I ,A.\D- J vUCKl'.P
Salmon.
'I'
17 < ) R a week ouf U'lii i-emaincd as licadquarters ; up
^ the stream aiul ilowii we \isite(l llie \arious pools
uithin three or four miles, and \vc had L;l<'rious success,
c;very pool yieldino' up its tribute to our prowess. TouLi'h
and ru_n'_L^ed aiul strom^- we became, and as brown as l;)'])-
sies. b'or ten da)s wc had now lixcd in the woods, and
they were te'U da\s of most intense enjo\'mt!nt.
The time A\as rapidly drawing- near when we must
return a,L;ain to the civilized world. 'Ihere had fallen
but little rain, and the ri\er was |)retly low, so that the
prospect for runnino" down the stream in the canoe to
the mouth of the ri\er was not of the best; and it was
therefore with no little satisfaction that on the mornmg^
i, cintl
must
fallen
at the
lOC to
it was
y.
4o8
U^itli I'l\-l\od ami Canicm.
of l!u; last (lay in caiii|) we hchcld i\\r clouds j^athcr-
\\v^ ill hcax)- masses in the west, and all the indications
pointin;^ to a heavy storm.
I'>arly in the afleiMioon the rain bei^an, and for six-
tetm solid hours poured as 1 ne\(;r l)c;forc nor since iiavc
seen it come down. It fell literall\- in sheets, and if we
had not heen well coxcred we should have had an iin-
comfortahh; time of it. Ihit our can\as roof L^^avc us
perfect protection, and aside from the; discomfort of be-
iuL;' ohliij^cHl to keep conlmed so closely \\c passed the
time \('r\' well.
\\\; "kilk:d time" tellini^" lishiiiL;- aiul huntiiiL^ stories,
antl from these wc; natural!)' drifted into discussim;- the
h.ihits of \arious i'lsh, p;irticularly the sea trout and sal-
mon. In re])ly to a (juestion concerninj^' the spawning-
habits of the salmon, Willi. un said : '''
"As \()u know, when the\' lu'st come into the ri\('r
they are sil\er\'- bright, and )()u cannot tell the males
from the females unless \-or, (-xamine Lhem \ery closely.
But after a while the male becomes wry dark and poor,
,md his lower jaw L;r()ws \-er)- long" and hooked at the
eml. Some thiid<; that this hook couk
s so
that the males
can iluht olf enemies l)ett(M-. but I believe that it arrows
oil
t so that he c;
\n m
o\e the. stones with it in the s
pawn-
itim fri'in m\ n(>l(.'^
gather-
cations
or six-
c. have
I if wc
an uii-
avc us
of be-
icd the
stories,
w^ tlu;
md sal-
)a\vning'
le riv(;r
males
closely.
(1 poor,
at the
e males
t i^rows
spawn-
vr.
4IO
// '//// /■7v-/\()(/ am/ ( aiiicnh
inj^r beds in the riven lie roots ihcin up, l;()0(1 sized
ones, too, and it is vcr\' curious watchinir him. I'lic fc-
jiiiilc seems to keep lier shape, hut the mah; becomes
\er\- j)()or, and he lias a dark, rchhsh color aloni^; his
belly. The)- i^eiierall}' spawn either in the tail of a jxx)!
or at the head of it, and s^eneralK' in from one to three
feet (jf nater, althoutj^h 1 ha\<' seen them spawning" in
six feet of water."
"\'es," added Hiram, "and it Is \vx\ interestiiiL: to
watch them niakini^ their nests; tlie)- cHl;' out a hole in
the stoii)- bottom, rooting" out the stones and j)ebl)les all
around, and when the hole is a few inches deep the fc;-
male drops her spawn in it and then th(; male. 1 have
seen thirt}' or fort)' of these nests in one j)0()l."
"I should like ver)- much to see the operation," said
Frere ; "when is the spawning' time on this river?"
" It bei^nns _L,''enerally about the middle of September,"
replied Hiram, "and the; fish run down to the salt water
about the last of October or first of November. luirly
in October is the best time to watch them; some spawn
early and some late."
"The spent salmon we call slinks," said William; "I
think that the\' mo to sea and r(_;turn about the first of
September ay^ain, for 1 ha\e at that time seen salmon
come uj) tlie river fat and plump, and these late salmon
A I'AiK Worth Wkkhiim;.
412
//■//// /•/y-/\(Hf luui Canicra.
\\\
spawn when ice is making; lattr in tin fall. \\v hav(!,
(;\cn when siaiuliiiL; on ihc ice oNcr lh<in, sci-n ilu; fish
spawning;, and tlic\ will take halt at that time; I don't
sa\' tliat tli(\ will .dl take bait, Itul I have known of
their beinn c;uijL;ht with tlu' llcsh of trout."
"I think \(>n .wr mistaken. William." said 1, "in i)e-
lie\ini^ that i'^<' salmon which l;-o down the ri\er in the
fall or \\ inter return in Septemlcr in the next \car; I
heliexc that the salmon spawns hut oiuc in two years,
as tlu; sei( ntists tell us, and therefore the lish that i;()
down to the sea, no matter how earl\' or how late, do
not come h.u'k until the next second year."
" Ma\' he," replied the ^uide, "1 couldn't say certainly."
"'I'here is no douht aliout it." I answered. "I lia\'e
often .isked the (juestion of the men who handle the sal-
mon at different hatcheries, and the\ a!L,n'ee that th(! fish
that lea\cs the rixcr after sheddiuL;' its spawn does not
return auain the next \car. In fact it ha:; I>een proved
!))■ at'hxiniL;- metal ta<;s '"' to the dorsiil I'm ol the lish. and
notin<'' Avhen the\ returned."
tat
* 'I'llf TlKulo of
liv means (if liiK'
marking nnw i'm|)li)\('il is the atlachim'nl nf a small .-ilumiiumi
iilaliiniin win' In the rear mar;;iii of lln.' lii'-l (hirsal lin. l''.aiii
Iii^ftluT with Ilu
jnu'lli am
Va'^ is stamped witli a miiiilier, wliuli is leemdi
weiglil <if the li'-h, the date when lilierated, an
of these lish is ean^lit a^^ain, a refereiiee to llie record will show the Icili^tli of timt;
ilher faet>
When, therefore,
tcn-cninu l)etwien the liberation and reeajilnre of the (ish, its rate of growth me;i
in
wniie.
md \arioii-
other fael^
-//,/;/,■
Af(ii',r.iiu
414
I rail I'ly-Rihi and Canicra.
"J ha\c .-.Mliccil that in sonic rixiTs ihc salmon conu-
in cariN' in the season, while in others not a lish is seen
till fall," said Hiram. "Mow lIo )-oii account h)r that,
I'octor ?"
"It is hard to accoiuu loi' it," 1 answereel, "in lact,
impossible. In sonu- ri\ers there is a sprni;^' run and no
otht;r, in some there is a tall run only, and in others the
salmon conn' in all throutjli the summer ami earl\' fidl,
and 1 ha\'e iieard that in some ri\'ers the salmon run ujj
in e\'ery month ot the )-eai. Some heliexc that the lish
return to the ri\'er to spawn, earl\- or late in the year,
according' to the j^reati'r or less distance it tra\els in the
ocean; btit this, I belie\e, is all piu'e conjecture, h)r noth-
in;^' is known ol the salt-water lib' o( tin- salmon. In
some ri\('rs it l)e^ins to lake the ll\' \'er\' earl\'. l""or
instance, in one or two o( the .\o\a Scotia ri\-ers fresh-
ruPi s;dmon have been killeil on the tly in the month of
I'ebruary."
"The idea of tishiuLi' in mid -winter s(>ems odd," said
Frere.
"\'es," I answered, "but it is the truth; e\er\' year
a record has been k(>pt of tlu: llrst hsh taken, and it is
surprisin*;' to note how earh' the)' come."
"The influence ot the Gull Stream is plainly seen
in this," .said bVere.
I
f
4t6
H'it/i l'ly-l\od and Cinncni.
" N c's, the (iiilt Stream conies wxy close to the Nova
Scotia shore, and no doiiht it explains the presence ol
their earl\- salmon," 1 replied.
"Some of the s<'a trout that we L;ct on the Casca-
pedia," said William, ■■L;i\(' almost as i^ood play as a sal-
mc^n, 1 ha\-e known of six and se\'en -pounders bein^;"
taken on the ll\-, arul a se\-en-pound sea trout will i;i\r
a man his hamls full."
" \()U are ri^ht," I replied, "hut, harrin^^' accielents, if
)()ur sea trout is hooketl, you do not ha\c any an.xiety
about killing' him, ultimatel), no matter how bi_n' lu- may
be, for his mouth is \er\' touL^h. and he has none of the
arts and tricks of which the salmon is such a master."
"No, the sea trout is a boUl tighter antl a strong
one," said Hiram, "but he is not trick)."
"What is \()ur oijinion concerninL"' ttie identit\ of the
sea trout, l)octor?" asked l^'rere. ".\ L;-ood man)' believe;
it is the brook or spotted trout with sea-L;<)ini;' hal^ts."
"Xow, l^rere, I confess )'ou ask me a poser," 1 an-
swered, "sometimes 1 feel conxinced that the sea trout is
a distinct \ariet)-, and a^ain 1 am almost certain it is our
old friend, ^S". foiitinalis, in disiaiise. Scientists affirm that
this is the case, but most of the experienced tishermen,
those who ha\^' for )-ears handled these fish, are as posi-
ti\c; that the fish are not identical."
4i8
//'//// lUy-lxod and Camera.
" W'c guides don't think tht;}' arc the same fish," ex-
claimed W'ilham.
"Xot l)y a L;('<)d deal," added lliram, "it is eas)- to
tell one from the otlu^-r."
" \'es," said 1, "I ha\(; tlious^ht so, and think so now;
it secmis to me that in a thousand specimens of the two
varic'ties 1 coulil separate the indi\i(-luals of oik; from the
other, unerrint;!)."
"And so could 1," exclaiuKHl both of the <4"uides sim-
ultaneously.
" \'(ui think you could," 1 continued, "hut \()U would
be pu/.zletl sometimes. 1 ha\e taken fish that I consid-
ered to be sea trout which had been Ioul;' in the riv(;r,
almost as dark as the ordinar)' spott(;d brook or river
trout; this, mind you, in pools awa\' u|) the river, man)'
miles from the sea, yet in the same pools, and at the
same; time, I haxc killed otlu^rs which were as silvery as
if th(;y h.al just run up.
"Ai^ain 1 haxc taken undoubted bright-spotted and
colored brook ti'out in ^reat numlxM's m a l)ranch of a
ri\'er or 'loL;an.' and amon^- th(,;m there would not be
a simple sil\(;ry fish ; but in the; ri\-(n" itself, e\'(;n at or
near the mouth of the 'lo^an,' not ten rotls from the
spot where 1 took the others, I caught numbers of the
sih'ery tish and not one ol tlu; spottetl trout. A_L;"ain I
ex-
'~]
and
of a
ot be
at or
n the
I" the
aiii I
420
// Itli /■/v-Roi/ and Cauicnu
l\
ha\(' taken llv iiiKloiihlcd spotted trout in th(; slack water
ol the ri\'er, in fact at tlie lieatl of tidewater, which were
as Iiii^hl)- colored as an\ 1 e\'er saw, and at th(; same
time have taken tile sil\-er)-l)riL;ht tish which had just left
the sea. It |)U//les me to decitle. Sci(Mitists insist that
the carmine spots which appear on tlie sides of the sea
trout after lIic) ha\(' been in tin; ri\('r a loni;' time;, to-
ijcther with t!ie same numher of ra\s or spines in the;
fins, prox'e their identit), hut 1 Ikuc seen man)- \c;r)' dark
colored sea trout that ditl not show tlu; carmine spots at
all. in all the rixcrs that I ha\e ever \isited \\v. sea
trout return to the salt water after the\' ha\c; spawned,
but the; ri\-er or sjjotted trout remain in tlu; fr(;sh water
all wmt{;r,
As an example, I xisiteel tlu; Jacepiet Rivc;r last N
o-
\(;ml)i'r for the purpose of ohtainiuL;' specimens of the sea
trout f(jr tlu; Mus(;um of Comparative Zoohi^y at C;
b
rulije
but
not a siniiie one; could
obtain, althou
im-
di I
visited pools which had teenu-d with them in the sum-
mer, but the spotted trout w(;rc: the;r(; in numbers; at
CamplK;llton, howex'er, at the nu)uth of tlu; J^estitj^ouclu;,
I had no ditliculty in L^e'ttiuL;- all I wanted, and they were
all silver) -white !"
"No, the sea trout and spott(;d trout are two dif-
ferent lish, altot;c;ther," (;,\claimed lliram, wlu;n 1 had fin-
2
422
l^Fith Fly- Rod and Canicm,
! (
ishccl ; "ilu; s|)()ttccl trout don't ^o down to the salt water
Lhe time, and the\- do not
at al
but
ve in the rivc:r al
chaniL,'-e their color \-ery much all the; )-ear; hut the st;a
trout become bri'-ht as soon as the\- ''ct into the salt
water.
"It's a difficult prol^lem to soKc," said l'"rere, "I con-
fess I ha\e been puzzled a L;'ood deal, and I am not sat-
istied in \VC)' own mind now."
" 1 lu! sea trout has been supjiosc^d by sonu' not very
acute observers to be a youiiL;' salmon," said 1 ; "what
IS \"our oDuiion
on tliat [)oint
"I don't l)elie\e it is tlie case.'" replied b'rere, "the
crrilsc:, which we know to be a )()un,L;- salmon, is entirely
different from the trout; 1 have taken sea trout of seven
pounds' weight, but a grilse of that weight would be a
salmon. Xo. the sc;a trout is either a distinct species or
it is the fontimxlis, with sea-^oin^- habits."
"Another tish has also ])othered me concerniiiL^^ its
identity," said I, "and that is the winninish or land-
locked salmon of Lake St. John, \\ (). [ matle a visit
to the lake last year for the [jurpose of obtaining- speci-
mens and estabiisiiiiiL;- its identit)-, and have now come
to the conclusion that it is identical with the landdocked
salmon of the .Schoodic lakes, and the)- are both varieties
of the sea salmon."
J.
424
I nth lUv-RiH^ aiu-l Camcm.
"Tell iiu; al)()iil L.ikc Si, John," s.iicl I'Vcrc "I Iui\c-
heard much of it and ha\c; Ioiil; l<'h a cU^sirc to \isil it."
" W'ilhii^l)-," I rc[jhL'd, "and if sou visit the lake you
will \\(A rcLj^ret it."
"To reach it," said I, "you take cars at Ouehi'C on
the Quebec (X: Lake St. Jolm Railroad. The joui'ue\
occuj)ies the entire ila\', the line heiiiL;- ahout two hun-
dred miles in leni'th, and is hu'LicK throu''h Ion-: tracts
of almost unbroken
lort;s
t. .Ml al
oUl; the hue .u^e nui!!-
nificcnt ri\'ers and lakes, ami the region that this road
has opened u[) to tlu; sportsman and tourist is .unoUL;"
the thiest. 'Idle principal of the lakes on the line, and
one hunilretl and thirteen miles Irom fjuebec, is Lake
Edward, anil if joii are inclined to tr\ the trout which
abound in this lake )'ou will st('p o\i'r here h)r ;i ihi)'
or two. \'ou will lind it a be.uitilul sheet ol water,
twenty-one miles in lem^th. and full of picturesciue islands
and boundeil b)' romantic shores.
"At the Cirand J )ischari^-e, at the head of jeannot
■ iver,
and
down Its coiu'se, \()u uil
Mm. I
m\ riacl
Is of
trout, all /ontinaiis, and the lake swarms with them of
all sizes \\\) to hve or six pounds' weight. 1 saw in the
ice house in one lot oxer twcnt)' that would ('xceetl three
pounds each. The hsh are \er)' hiidil)- coloreti and fairl)-
we
11 flavored, but not so nice as sea trout.
11."
you
oil
my
iim-
;icls
lai;-
oail
oiil;'
ami
,akt;
lich
(.la\
Iter.
uuls
mot
of
1 of
the
hrcc
aii'l)'
cy
■2
426
lyUh Fly- Rod auU Canicni,
" l-ca\ iiiL;' l.,ikc l^dw.ird \()ii rcsuinc youf jdiinicy to
Lake Si. John, llic Iioiiir of llic .i^am) winninisli. W'lun
I \isiif(I llic lake tile train connccic;! with the pioneer
sleamer, the reiihonea. and tjn this hoai I had a two or
thl'ee h.ours' sail to the ! lotel l\()l)er\ak one of the most
comforlahle a\\^\ hest kc'|)l hotels in Canada, and the \()\-
w^v. _L;ave me a pretty i^ootl idc.i ol the ca[)al)ihties of the
kike in u;( ttin;^ up he,-.\\- seas, some of them breaking'
clear o\er tile l)oaL. i do not I'ememlx'r ol e\cr helori;
l)ein'' out in such i'oii''h uiiler in so small a hoai, and
It almost seem(
at inn;
as n we wei'e hkel\ to he
swamix'd
ne cai's now ruii to die \-
a''C o
I' i\()l)er\al
and
a trn> \\\ the sleamer is not necessarx,
iL
truly
a \asl l)od\ ol water, uearK lilt\ miles in leiv'th, am
from tweni) to lorl\- in width. i'mplNin^; iiiti) it are, I
l)elie\-e, ekwen lari^'e I'iv'ei's, besides man) smaller streams.
1 hail l)ul little time to exploiv an\ ol these i"i\crs, au'd
\isile
l)ul three or lour,
"wo of these, the
cnhonca
anc
I A
sliuaumoiuhouan, .n'e e
crihonea
has I
leen,
a'eat si/e and lenL;lh.
I am informed, ascem
l(;d
I)_\- Indians ami lrapp<-rs somethin;^' like six hundred miles.
Al its mouth il is oi ahout the width and \'olume. of the
Connecticut l\i\er at Si)i-in''lield. I'"or (luite a distance
It IS n
a\ iijablc I)\' sleamer, anil its intlow into the lake
IS somelhuv' enormous.
lake
Ol
lAICllDl AN I'Al.l.S, NiAK I.AKK M. Ji'lIN, I'. <J.
428
ll'^ifli ri\-l\Oi^ mui Canicm.
" I'hc .\shua])!Ti!)iicli(>u;i!i Rivtir is also a \-cr)- larijj'c
stream. At St. I'rlificrinc, which is. I think, ai)()ul ten
miles al)()\\' ihe lake, I foiiml ihe, ri\er t;> he of about
tlu; si/,j ol the Mrrrimac at, \-.x\\ midwa}' between Law-
rence wv.C. . .a\'erhill, or ahoal the si/e ol the Resti^'otichc
at its iLir.ct!(;:i wilh the Matapedia, i)erha|)s a liule lari;"er.
\ow wita i\\\:: enorivious lake, and wilh all these rivers
emptxinL;' int;) it, there is pnicticall)' an unlimited watt;r
SNsttan, wiiicii umlouhled!; lurnishes the best oossible con-
ditions tor the preservation, growth, ami wide and _L;'en-
eral dittusion ot the S:-;/!)ioi/r.iu' that here Imd a home,
Ivstablishin^;' tiii.-i fact at onct' in my mind, I of coiu'sc
made in(iuiries ol e\-er\' one who could ,L;i\e me any in-
formation, and learne(l from ;ill sources that the winninish
ari' \-ery abundant in the lake in earl)- [une, and v.wn
t-arlier il tlie ice melts abi ut the shores, and the lish are
taken readily with bait, and e\'en with the ll\-, at that
early s-eason. .So \-ery abundant are they in fact, that,
as 1 wa.; iniormed, e\en l)o\s and ,L;irls, as well as olden*
fislHM'men, miL'ht be seen landine' the lish with all sorts
of tackle, from the most
nrmii
ti\'e to the most elaborate.
As rtji^ards the ^reat, the astonishiuL;' a.bundance of the
winninish in the earl\- part of the season, the statement
made by ,ill informants coincided, so that I haxc no cK)iil)t
that at the period I ha\e named, this magniticent <^aine
A Tkoi'IIY, This.''
k V 'T^.
430
111 til riv-Roii ami i'amcni.
fisli ina\- b(; obtained in L;-reat numbc;rs. Thi' llsh are so
abundant, and come to tlie lure so ^reedil)-, that the num-
ber one may kill is as .L;Te;il as his seltishness may limit.
Later in tin; season the winninish mo\'e into the dee[)
waters of the lake and into the cold streams.
"A huorite haunt of theirs seems to be tl"ie Cirand
Dischari^'e, the outlet of the lake into the head of the
SayutMiax' Ri\er, where, in tlu; rushing- waters ol the rapids
and wildest of all whirl])ools and eddies, the winninish are
taken with the ll_\' until late in .September.
"1 have called the winninish a land-locked salmon,
but it is not d(;l)arred from leax'ini;" the lake and descc;nd-
in_L;- the river Sa^'uenay to the .St. Lawrence, and is there-
fore not land-locked; and. as I said before. I can see no
difference whate\'c;r b(;tween this species and the so-calk^d
land-lockt;d salmon of the iSchoodic Lakes, calleil by sci-
entists .Schoodic or .Sebc)_n'o salmon, which is also not land-
lock(;d. "■
* Kc^ardini^' t!u- Sclinodic s.'iliiinn Mr. ( icnvjit' A. llo.ardiiKiii. nf ( ';il;iis, a i;cn-
tleniaii wi-ll kimwii as ^i i^ciod uh^iixaT, wriu's iiu-: " I iln imt ri'^.iid llu- lish a
land -loi'kcil salnmn, fur \\w \\.\Wx mn--t always liaxi' had an mitkl lu xVx si-a, ami
till' lish i-cjiiM i;(i il ihc-y chdnsr; and in lact. w hi-ii I \v,is :i Imy, sixty yc.irs a;.;o,
tl[c\ wtTi.- aliundant in the livi-r cvt-n to the s^ih water."
I'er cuntra, lion. I-'.. M. Stilwell, eonimissidper uf I'i-heries and (lame fcir the
State of Maine, writes nie: " 'rhere has been an increase in the si/e of the lisii
sinee 1SS3, aee(ir(hn;.,r to llie record kejit by diaries (',. Ali^iiis, the ( lo\crninenI -iiiier-
iiilendent of the iialchers' al Oraiu! Lake Stream:
\
y X
432
IVith Fly- Rod and Camera.
"I believe that th(; winninish and the; so-called land-
locked salmon recuperate; and change exacth' like tlu; sea
salmon ; l)iit instead of doin^' it in the sea tlu;y i)rohably
reco\'er their condition and color in the n'reat lakes, where
they reside. I sa\' |)rol)aI)ly, becaust; it is not absolutely
provetl that thev ilo not visit the salt water, althouL-'h- I
am of the firm Ixdief that they do not, and this belief
is founded on the L;reat amount of infcM'mation that I luuc;
been abh; to deri\-e from \arious sources. IJoth the win-
in 1SS3, C^i) male llsh :i\-i.'i:ij,a'(l 3. 20 11)-;. ainl iiu-asuri'il 2<j.(J() in.
" " 314 female " " 3.<J() " " " 19.10 "
" iSSf;, Kj.i male " " 3.S5 " " " 21.05 "
577 lemale " " 3. Si " " " 20. do "
" iSSd, 247 male " " 3.40 " " " 20.50 "
' " 503 female " " 3.79 " " " 20. 10 "
"An exiierieneecl i^uide ,L;ives me 2 'jibs, as the averaj^e weii^'lit of the lish caught
duriny the llv- lishini.;' seasdii. I ha\e heanl of lisli of 5 and even f) lbs. Iieini;' taken
thri)iii;h the ice. .\l SebaL;(i last wai we had at om" spawnini;' works one male land-
locked salnmn of 27 lbs.; several females iif 25 lbs. and 2(illis. down tn 5 lbs. [
once did not believe in land - lockini;-, I do now. I have never found tlie land-locked
salmon indi"eni i.s 10 am- of the waters of Maine without the smell. I have foiuul
the smelt f.u inland, st-parated by impassable barriers of rock from the ocean, where
it could lu-ver have asceiided, and which it must ha\e reached before some i;reat con-
Vldsicin of nature had i-olated anil land-locked it. I know of several ponds ',\here
tlie smelt exists in .abtmdance. I do not know of one sinji'le instance in which the
land-locked s.almon has been found without the smelt. If the salmon ever was land-
locked without the smelt it jH-rished. The salmon in (alifornia has lieeu ri'peatedly
land-locked bv mining;- operations, and they siu'vivi'd and bled. I'he land-lockeil sal-
mon of (Ir.and Lake is the same spei'ies precisel)' in si/e, weight, etc., as is to be
found in tiie chain of pijuds e'luptvim;' into the Sebec River, .\t Reed's j'oud, on
the I'.Ilsworth Road, .about Iwebe miles from llan,L;(ir, you will find the same land-
locked s.dnion that we ha\e at Sebayo, altainini; to 12 and 2olbs. The near \ icinity
of the ocean sei'iu^ '.o have effecte<l the 'i/e of these lisii,"
y.
434
JVitJi I' I V- Rod ami Cam era.
ninish and the Schoodic salmon nia_\' \isit ihc salt \>-ator
if the)' dcsirt', and 1 am not at al! certain but that in-
dix'iduals i^o up and dcnvn the Sa^ui-nay Ri\cr. It is a
vet")' important ])oint \vX to he solxed. '•'
"W'hUe at 1 lotel R()l)er\al }()U must not fail to visit
the camj) or xilla^'e of tin; celebrated Monta^'nais hulians,
at the Hudson's Ha)- C()mpan)'s station r.ear the hotel,
and )()u will be jjarticularl)- fortunate if )()u arc; present
at one of tlu.'ir ureat annual meetings or councils.
* I'nif. (iootk', ill llu- ri|)<irl uf llic l'. S. ( 'iimmissionL-rs, ])ul)lislK-cl in 1SS4,
sa\s ; "All iif till' fainii) | Siiliih>iiitln\ run iiiln \v\\ shual uaUr. and usuall}' lu the
sources ol' slr(.'aiiis, lo ik-pcisil lliuir i-,l;:-;s, and all (if llu-n; seek lUml and cool tuni-
pt-ralurjs in tin.' lari^csl and cUm pesl bodies of uaU-r ai ^i-ssil.ii'. I am inclinctl tu
the view ihat llie na'.ui'al liabilal'iif the salmon is in the liesli waters, the more
be) bini.e there are so niany instances — such as that of the Stortniontlield I'onds in
Enj^land — where it has been conlined for \eais in lakes witlmut apparent detriment,
The ' land - linkk'd ' salmon, or ' fresh - wati-r ' salmon, known also in the Saj,;iiena\' re-
gion as ' v\ nminish,' in the Slmln'nacadie and othi'r rivers of western No'a Scotia as
the ' '.navliiiL;',' and in different ]),irts (jf Maine as ' Schoodic trout,' ' Sel)a;^o troiit,'
or 'ilwarf salmon,' |)rolial)l\' never \i-it ^alt water, Imdini^- amjile food and exercise
in the lai- es and lai^^e rivers. In some rei^ion^ in Maine and New I'lrunswick their
access to salt water is cut off liy dams, .ami sonn' invent ii;"ators have claimed that
land-locked salmon did not cNi>-t until these oli^iructions were built, smne lift)' years
ai^ii. Tlii-. hypoliiesis, iiowever, i-^ not m'cessarx , lor in the Sayiiena)' the uinninisli
have easv, nnobstrin'ted access tn the se.i. '•■' ■■' ■•■ The liabits of successive ,i;cn-
erations bi'C<ime hereditary traits, and the dilTi'rence in their bfe histories seems t(j
justifx the tlaim of the land-locki'd salmcjn to be regarded as .a \arietv of Siibito
Sillily, ihouj^h it is hardlv tn be disiin;,.;iiished exiept by it^ lesser size and some slight
])eculiarities in coloration. ll i-^ to be desii^iiated at Saliiio salar, varietv Sil'iii;i'.
Althonirh both originated in the same primitive stock, it is not probable that one
chanji;es to the otlier, eNce])t after many generations, under the inlluence of lurced
changes ill their en\ iromneiil.''
y
436
WitJi Fly-Rod and Camcnx,
"There is in this rci^ion an immense variety of scen-
ery, and within a cla)'s ride from Roberval in all direc-
tions you will find marvels of the strand and picturesque.
"On some of the rivers which empty into Lake St.
John are majj^nificent \'iews. The Metabetchouan Falls, on
the river of the same nanK^ are particularly fine. The
Ouiatchouan h'alls, on the river of that name, are also
grand, and for height are among the foremost, these be-
ing of one hundred feet greater altitude than Niagara
Falls."
"I declare. Doctor,'' said Frere, when I had done,
" I believe I will try the land-locks next season, and I
am undecided which to visit, those at Lake St. John or
the Schoodics."
"Try both," I said, "and give me your opinion as
to their identity ; but," 1 continued, as I lighted a match
and looked at my watch, "we had better go to sleep;
it's past eleven o'clock, and we have had talk enough to
make us sleep soundly."
"Sleep it is," said I'rere, and pulling up our blankets
around our shoulders, we were soon accompanying the
guides in their nasal serenade.
T
' Mr:
' • ,* ' i\
:> ;. ;.•
V.
■7.
' i^
"• V ^ ' 'it <
^ -i.
citapti:k \'ii.
Till Mi>K\iN(; 111' Oi-K I,\s|- \)\\ ,,\ nil |<i\ii;. A kisi: i\ inr Rniu.
l.iiNC Cvsl-.. l'.\( I I.I.I Ni I (i| Mil Ml I I ■ |1 \M l;' " I Rllh. • .\KiMr |'|.\.
(.'.\>>11N^. I'l Ml;\ \MI N I S. ■ l',\ll I 1 Ml \ I 1\ KrSMNc. l<\riii>. A lsl>l .
.\\ Iai| I i\i. .'--rKn;i,i.;.. .\ Siir,i;iiu\ Smmhs. Lwnih is \ Nnvi.i,
.M\NMK. (il;l-.\l' Sl'il|;r. • (IIXKM^ .\|I1\|i|Ni, Mil .\Ni.1.I.K'> .'.111-:.
I'.l \i nil I. 'I'lh H (.11 I > (i\ .\m,I.1N(. l;\ IMIIIKINI .\inhi|;,, • Ki.|i;i 1-^i'i.c-
ii\i .\ni;i INC. • .\ I iiii: 'riiiKip I'ciMi. .\i;\iN. .\ N\i;Kn\\ |'.>( \ri. \Kn\\
\\ .\iilli|\l. • .\ SmxiMi;. • Ikii;i Ki^i- \ (iMdi' I'l^ll. • .\ (iKWD
ll\llll. TkHMI'II. • (il\l MM (.Mills \ ( ll,\S( I . • lllKWI l\isi:s \
Smmiin wii I. Whs n \i n K \ Siinin mkm. 1,1.1. • Ndnns.M. riiipi.i, .\ki',
(iiii>i>. Wiii.iwi 11 As nil IwiNi. .\isn. \ M.i.iiii i(ii;\.
w
7^!'. .\\\'()KIL at an carls' hour on the following"
niorniiv'', and found llial llu: rain had ceased,
and the clouds which were (h'iftin^' away to the east-
ward, were hlliiiL;' rapidl)' dUi] hrcakii^i; into fragments
of ])ui'|)lc and i^'old.
"It's to he a tair da)", sir," said W'iUiani, who was
busily enL;a,iL;'c:d in splitting- up an old pine lo^' for hre
wood; ''wc-'ll ha\e a i-ood time runninsj' to the mouth
of tlu; ri\er."
•*—>«*»
440
Witli /'"/}>' R()(/ ami Canieni.
l\
"Yes," acklctl I'Vcrc, who lijul now joined us, "it
rainc;il \cry hard all nij^ht, and the river must iuivc swol-
len a _L;(>od deal. "
"'IMu; river rose a foot ami a half last ni,L,du," ex-
claimed lliram. wlio had heen washing- potatoes in the
stream and cleanin::;- trout for our hri-akfast. "and the
water is ver\- dark and ril)-. We'll have a ^ajod day's
sport .L^oiuL;- tloun, sure."
"That's L;(>()d." 1 replied, as 1 toasleil nuself before
the fire, which was now l)lazin_LJ merrily; "our last day
on the stream ouL,dit to he a L;()()d one."
"It will, it will, no trouhle," saiti William, "we will
pack as soon as we can after breakfast."
"Well start it now," I exclaimi;d, "while we're wait-
iuLT for breakfast," and bVere and 1 be-'an at once to iret
our belonniuL^s tojj^ether for packinj^'.
Our blankets and extra clothes we luui!^ on jjoles
out on the beach, where the breeze, which was blowini^
down the stream, toii^ether with the warmth of the sun
whose rays now besj^an to j^listen throuL^di the trees, could
reach them, and all our other traps we stored away in
their other receptacles.
As fast as we packed we carried our thinij^s down to
the beach near the canoe, and in a short time the tent
was entirely emptied.
11
in
to
442
lyitli I^lv-Rod and Caincya.
"W'c h.ul better lca\c the tent stanilin-; until the last
moment before we start,' sai<l I'rcrc, "it will drx otf a
i^'-ood (leal, and will thus he lighter in the canoe."
A hall hnur (juickly passed awa_\', when breakfast was
.mnounced, an(l alter ,i hasty loilet we L;athered around
the table <uid .ite our last Ijreakfast on the ri\-er foi- that
outini;.
A ro\al i^ood meal it was, and we partook ol it with
robust appetites, and when we had done, the remnants
that we left would ha\ e, as lliram (;\|)ressed it, "hardl\-
made a meal tor a bo_\."
.\s soon as wi' had Imished. brere and 1 prepareil our
P
taekle lo
r the da\'
s WOl
while the ''Uides washed the
dishes and cookm^' utcMisils and packed e\-ei-\thmL; snui^ly
n tlu' canoe
W
hue the\- were thus emjapcd
re re l)C"-
"■an casting- below the rapids, but not ;i
ise (
li<l
he pet,
for the water i)oured down o\-er the rocks and shale a
rainn;
fo.unin*'' torrent.
\\ o\-e, said he
I 1
lope we ha\'en t iJl'ot too
much ot a l'ooc
1 thiiTj. there's a irtjmeiidous currtnt, and
the water is \-er\- dar
N
e\'er ii'ar
fc
answered
we H shde down stream
all the beller. and though there ma\ be too much wati-r
for the tishin'' t
O DC
ood in the \cr\ deen i)oo!s, we
ia\c' a
11 the sport we want in the others
loo
and
444
IVith Fly-Rod and Camera,
|i '
"I hope so, he answered, puttinjj; out a hne that
reached ahnost across the pool; "and, it we get no fish,
we'll ha\'e the air and exercise, an)ho\v." he atUled, with
a lauL;h.
"\'es," 1 replied, "and nou sec:in to hi: liavini^^ a
share ol the exercise now; how under the sun do )"ou
L;et out such a UMigth of line?" I continued, taking- my
rod and preparin:^' to cast, " I don't heliex'e 1 could reacii
half your distance," and 1 took a position near him and
tried, but without success to reacii the distance at which
his tly was droppin^i^.
"It wouUl he a wonder if you did," he reijlietl, "for
your tackle is not ri^ht for it. In the fn-st jdace, my
heavy j^rcenheart is lonj^er than your split -bamboo, and
is a much better rod every way for a lon;g cast: while
beiuL^ supple, it is astonishins^K- e\'en all through, and it
sweeps a line trementlousi)-. In the next place;, my line
is consitlerably heavier than yours, and that c:()unts. b'or
distance luy tackle would heat yours every time, 1 am
verv sure, hut for delicacy 1 like )our bamboo and light
outfit."
"Yes, 1 like the bamboo." saitl I, "and. taking it day
in and day out, it is a jewel. 1 don't think it would
kill a heavy tish in so short a time as )our big green-
heart, but it is a darling, all the same."
Ml l.\m l< llnl AN 1- \| I s, I'. ( .).
mm
iftn'Mft- •-• •[ ^wniigg^TiinfTT^t— "•^-
446
// 'ith riv-Rod mid Canicm.
I ■ '
"\('s," lie i-c|)lic(], •• I like ii, and when I o'ct a new-
rod, shall chan^ic for oiu: like )()urs."
"I'm L;lad lo hear ii." I answcM-cik "niosL of ni\- friends
gi) e{[uipped wilh split -bamboos, and ihe\- seem to <d\e
general satisfaction. I \isited a tl\ -casting tournament in
New \ ork recentl). '•' -dml all the competitors us( tl one."
"Ah. a tournament I" he cxclainu-d, ''we ha\e them
in Lngland, but I ha\(' ne\cr seen one on this side of
the water. J su])posc the comiJiititors did s(jmething hand-
SOUKs"
"Well." 1 replied, "to tell you the truth I cannot say
they made remarkable; scores, but the)- luul to conteuLl
against a strong (juartering breeze, which marred their
work. Again, the)- cast for distance principall)-, whih; we
on the ri\-er tr\- more for delicac)- than for an)thin"- else.
1 he twohandetl casting was made b\ all tin- competitors
with the same rod, a hea\ \- split-ljamboo salmon rod, and
that was against them. Imagine me going into such a
contest with a rod with which 1 was not ac(iuainted, \-our
greenheart, lor instance"
"In oiw sense it was fair," said I'"rere.
"\es," 1 answered, "it put all the i-ontestants on a
h.'vel, that is, if neither one of tlu;m was familiar with the
action ol that particular rod; how-e\-er, the castin;'- was,
■' Al (/ciural Talk, May 2} and 24, i,-)3(j.
li
y
^ssfKmtie/m^^
448
IVith riv-Rod and Ccviieni.
all thlni;s considennl, xcn- creditable, although it tlid not
beat the record ol prexious years. " '•'
All
rc;ac
ly
iti
L-XMitleiiK.-n, exclainiec
Will
lam, as lie and
Hiram stowi'd a\va\' tlu; rolled-iip tent on tin; box
es and
bas.
ITS in tin; canoe,
1 think we had Ijetter rnn ritiht
he si'orc \va-^ as lullow
/■'iist Da
e.\STlN(; Willi SlM'.l.l- II will
■ I.V
Ml ( AMAir.fUs ).
( oiitfstaitls.
v. ('. Hewitt
K. r>. I.aw iciKc.
W. K. liia.-kfunl.
Janus 1., I!r'.c/e.
(!(jnzalo I'ucv. . . .
Length
of ho<l.
Ft. hi.
II IK)
II III
Wi-igltt Distal.
of A\Ht.
(h.
11)1
( Vij7. .1(1 itrtit v. Total,
/■t.
73 -7 lOU
54 •• 54
71 I" Si
74 ^" <J4
',/ /).,
i Ofiti'staffts.
;tli ,'/ Juh/. ir,:-'g/it ,'/ A'o,/. I'ist. Cast
K. I'. Mavl
I', c. ir
\Ml'\\'
ewitt.
/■■/. In.
II I )i )
Archibald Mitclull
\V. 1;. lilackf
urd.
(ionzalo I'oey 11
U. C. 1,^
R. II. I,
I!
ID II
II no
II <>(>
■* On the c;isl-(ifl* IJrcLVc scored 1,6 ft.
*T. li. Mills
Ed. F-KKcrt..
Oz.
I 1*4
9'4
ID
V,
8)4
9'i
10
10
Yz
in'4
1.1 Mills
68
85
97'
90
go
79
CastiNi; Willi SiNci.i:- IIandi u I-m-K'Up (Mxitui-- ami AMATiirus).
( onti'stants.
;th 0/ K.hi. Weight of Roil. J'ist. Cast.
CWltt .
r. < . 1
R. e. Leonard . .
VA. l%Lc;j;ert
Archibald Mitchel
( ioii/alii r(ie\ . . . .
T. II. Mills
/■•/ /«.
I I D3
I I (J5
1 1 <j()
II im
Uz
104;
74
10^
lOU'
10
A
It.
S3
82 e
66
liYz
f
With Fly- Rod ami Caiiicni. 449
down, and noi fish the next two pools; ihey will In; too
full, and bco-in with the \<vx\ \a'(V'\- WmV
• "'■111 Ki'ii (iiNM.sr.
S,-i\iiiil Day.
(.oiitestaiiis.
Length of h\ij. Weight of A
/•/. J»
Os.
'<o,t Uist^ Cast.
Mills
k. ( . I,
r. CM
ewilt
In on
Oil the casl-dtl' Mills
s >rc.if(l 2\. 11. .ii.a Bri-e/t 80 ll.
SO
so
go
CASTINC Willi >Al,\Ii).\
/■'irst J),,v.
Kt'lj.
Conteslanis.
fonani.
R. C. I
T. I!. Mi
A. Miii'lKJl.
C. II
CWltl .
l.eiigl/i of Juh/. ll'eig/i
Ft. In.
t 0/ Kuii. Dn-t.
Uz.
/■/.
'J4
I -^ uo
37
32
101
Mr. C. I
iic-y. >i-i:Tlai\ ..i" \\\y .\at
fiirni^hcii nn- tlu' fcilh
'""•'I l<"'l -in,! ki'i-l AssiH-ialinn. Ii.i-, kiiulK
iini^ ali'-liait <>i
si-urus 111 pir\ uiiis \i
•■In r
Martin t
II. r. Tl
W. K. Ilend
C. A. k
nrnicr vca-. \m- h
-iM- ii.iil caslfrs u
111 liaM' |)a>--i.ii -11 ll,
I', ill.
Lllliam-
rix
l>-
ro U'ci.
• iinrii\ .
1.SS3
i>>?
W . II. C.iiiHlwi
I . ( i. 1 .c\ ison .
i>-4
■I kcl.
TO
Mtwart .
ariu-\ is,-
A. k
iihnsliin I ■
in>4
<■. A. I
r\an .
SanuiL'l rullienu;-<. . . . 1SS4
.\. I). I.c
M. 1;. II;
Mr. 1
iit\' ailiN :
l>.>4 ■■ 77'j "
ISS4 . . So
' Ironi liu' alii
I. Silwrn.iil.
I >>:
anii's KR'u.
i\l.' \ou \\\\
L-t.! thai llif A^-Micial
Ion coiiiil'
iiiR' l)relty lair casu-r-; .iinon,;; il^ nH-inl)i.'r>-.
:-lilal lishin;.:; will li.uc purfr. I cnntrnl of his !
ni.m who can ra^i -^o fi,^ \v||
mc .It Oi) ft.; ami if at
in at
n\ tiiiic he
wants to i.\l
(.•;i.| ll
r a riM- at 70 ft. h^ cm ,1,, it, while the aver;
sill
it^e ;in,i4ler who eoii-
ers 5U ft. ;ill needful eaiinot uei tliei
m
450
//-V//; IHy-Rod and Catncm.
LiL;litinn ni\- ncwly-tilK-d jjip^'. I look iii) scat in the
birch, ami hrcrr loUowt-tl nic ; iht- guides shoxH-d off, and
in a h'W nujnicnts wt- wire in the roar and boil of tlu.-
tirst rapids. What is ilu-n- niort- glorious!)- exciting" than
a run down a scries ol lun.ui'uous rapids?
The canoe;, i^uidcd t|i powcrtul arms ot a stal-
wart man in the bow and . ^othc ■ "n the stern, enters the
mass of seething' foam, and in an instant ilarts down tlu.*
steep inclini;; sharp rocks and massive boulders, thrusting
tlieir hea(!;, abo\c the water, or lurking hidden beneath it,
threaten the frail cralt on ever)' side.
In such a raging currt'nt, to strike one ol these is
almost certain tlestruction to the canoe, and to its occu-
pant almost certain death; for gootl fortune alone could
sa\e e\'en the stoutest swiminer it thrown into such a re-
sistless stream.
With skilled canoemen to manage the craft — anil none
others should for a moment be relietl on — ^then- is, how-
ever, but little danger. The steel-pointed setting pole is
handled delth, now warding the canoe oft from a thrc^at-
ening rock on one siile, ;uid in an instant, perhaps, from
one on the other, antl the canije passes with almost the
rapidit) ot thought through the roar, amitl all the dan-
i^ers se(.-n and unseen, into tlu; smoother water below.
fliram and William were masters in the art of canoe
i
452
//'//// /•/v-/\()(/ and i\imcni
I
lianilliiii;, and we ialcl\ passed ihc iwo scrit-, <i| rapiils
in a \cry tew inimiics.
"Ah. I )()cl()i"," cNclaiincil I'rcri', as lie stepped out of
the c.ilioe upon ihe Ixiull opposiu- Red Ledi^c, " llial was
a jL^^raiid run ihroiii^h iIiom' rapids. I al\\a\-. enjoN' sui:li
a spin. e\'en it it is as roii^li ,is we had it lo-das'."
■■ \ es," I 1-ephed, "it is somethini^ worth n\inL;' for to
take such a rush as that: hut. llirani," I said, turninL;
to the L;ui(h\ " I tiioui^iu we should sniasli on that l)iL;
NcHow rock in the ini(hlle ol the current, I saw it Iielore
ue reached it and ch-nc-heil in\ teeth, awailin;^- the shock."
"No ti'ouhle." he rephcd. as lie haiuled nie WW rod.
"there was ^ood six inciics of water o\cr it. thoui^h it
showeil phiin enouLjIi on account ot its color; the ri\er
is raised \cry hi,L;h."
" NCs." added William, "thi' rain must ha\e heen \cr\
heavy up countr), lor the water Is still rising;'.' ami he
pointetl to the heach, which was slowK' heini^' submerged.
I'rere waded out to a point near the head ol a pool
and hei^an castini^-.
1 took m\ position at the lower r\-\(\ ol the heach,
and coxcred all the water w ilhin m\ reach ; m\ tl\' was
a lari^e-si/ed silver doctor, antl a hriL^ht one at that; tor
an ordinar\ ll\ woidd ha\i' heen of little \alue in such
deep, dark wdter.
f
J4
■ji
•» -^MSA 1 •■ -^ ■
454
//*//// /■7y-/\(u/ and Camera.
rrci-c w.is usiiio- a lan^c lin^^ht ll\ aKo, and liis |)()si-
lioii ciiahlfd liiin l<i placi' il t)\<T all llir Ix-st spots in
the pool. liiii 111 laili'd lo oliiain a sini^^jc response to
his persisieni eltoris.
Ilirani. who hail i^one down in the lower end ol ihc
pool, attei- ixaniuiinL; ihe waiei- a tew seconds, heckoni'd
lo nie, and 1 inimedialeh joined hnn.
"lie \v\-\ easy," he said. "Imt I think if \ on can
L,'el your ll\' o\ er in the eiliK lieyant that hit.; roik near
the other shore, we'll ^.^et ,1 i-ise ; there's salmon there,
sure, and 1 don't l)elie\c there .u'e an)- at the head, lh(.:
water is too stron^^ there.'
I wach'ii in as lar as I could, .ind L^dtins^' out a lon^^'
line, soon \i\ i_;ood toriune drop|)ed ni\ tl\' e.\actl\ in the
s|)ot lliram had indicated, and in an instant was last to
a lar^c tish.
"(lood, hy all the jiowersi" exclaimed the ^uide. as
tile salmon darted to the upper vw(\ ol the |iool, takiniui'
out liltN \ards ol line with el(;ctric speed, "\ou"\c eol
sonu-'thiiiL; I" attend in now, sure," and liL^htinL; his in-
evitable pip<' h<' went to the canoe lor the u;ah-
I'rere look in his line at onc<'. and returned to. the
cunoe, and standiiiL; his w^kX ai^ainst a stumij near b)',
watched for the coming- li.^ht.
It began without dela). I he salmon, making a mag-
I
//'//// h'lv-Roii mid Caiiicnr
455
nificcnt lr;i|), throwing; hinist-ll ;ii Icasi loiif led in the
air, started as sodii as he sinick the water on a series
of turns and runs to e\cr\ corner ot the pool ; he was
siKcry-hriiuhl and e\i(h'ntl)' just u|> Ironi the sea. My
1)1^,^ reel saiiL; '1 merry tune as the lish darted li-oni out:
side to the other, and I had a husy lime reco\ criniL^f the;
line as rapidi) as I eould amid the lierce rushes of the
sahnon.
The pai-e the fish had ^one soon told u])on him, the
stroHLi' current and the strain ol m\ rod hrou'-hi him to
a soher mood, and he settled in the dee|)est water at the
base of the uppei' rapids, and indicated a desire to rest.
It was not m\ purpose, howcxcr, to allow him ,ni oppor-
tunit\' to reco\-er liis '•wind;" we had hehtre Us a Ioul;
run down to the mouth ol the ri\cr, ,uul (piite ,i numher
of tj^ood pools to fish, and time must not he wasted. j
reeled in iri\ line, therelore, as rapidly as possihle, .uul
soon had the i-od hearini; upon tlu lish. I he water was
uncomfortably cold, and 1 left m\ position tor a dr\ci-
one on the heach.
Tht- salmon, when the rod Ix-^an to lift, became un-
easy, and 'i soon showed himself above the surface. <.,''i\-
in_n" s( .(^ral fierce leaps, and th<'n dartim.; about in all
(Hrcxtion-^. b'ortunately the pool was clear ot drift stutt,
and the tii^hi, l)arrinj;' accicU-nts to tackle, promised me
456 If'itli /■/v-/\0(f aial Camera.
t
V
success. Alter anotlier series ol wild runs .ind |)liin(rc'S
■ It ll''' upper pari nl ilic pool, he .ii leiii^lh changed liis
(|uariers and i'Iuiil; more to the lower end.
I now Ix-j^an to leel anxious; lor in the e\''nt of
iiis running out ol the pool into the rapicU helow. no
tackle could sa\c hnn. loi- there wa> a clear run ol a
hall mile ol wild water helow us, ,iud oiu' he. i\ily - laden
canoe co'uld not lollow him salel\ and successl'uIK to ihe
next lower pool.
I hree times dill he appro. ich th<' \'er;^e .is if to darl
d.ow 11 the stream, .md as m.in\ times did he return lo
the deepei- water ai^ain ; e\ idenil\- he had no i-elish for
testing' the tumlilinL;. roaring' mass of water in the r.apids,
att.uhed A. he was to ,i cIol; that I'ould not he shaken off.
.\t length lie nioNcd mlo tln' v(\i.\\ on the opposite
side ol tile sti-eam where he had tn-st risen, .md sinkiiiL;
to the hotloiii. !ie liecame as iiiimo\al)le as .i rock. No
etiort ol mine could stu" him ; nothiuL;' I could do, no
possible strain ili.it I could put on the rod that the cast-
iiiL;' lin" would hear could |)Ui him ui motion .i^ain ; and
for .1 lull ;|uarter ol in hour 1 was ohli^cd to wait upon
his ro\.il pleasure. Hiram tm.ilK threw several stones mlo
ihe water al)o\e him, a\\i.\ e\cn the ilisturhance they made
did not mox'e him.
1 now l)e(.ime ner\()iis, for one i.m never idi what
I
lyUli Fly- Rod and ( 'a)ncva. 45'
mischief a salmon is stiuK'inL;, and tinall\- told the L^iiidch
they liad l)t;iUT l;'(' ()\-cr in llic canoe and stir him \\\)
with the selling jiolc, this hciii;^ always m) last i-(--.onrcc
when all other means tail to mo\<' a suikini^ lish.
In a lew seconds ihe lanoe w.is llcj.itini; onci' tiic
etld\ , <md, stanthnL^ in the how, Wihiam thrust his pole
down its tidl length into the watei-. With a wild rnsh
the salmon lelt his lurkinL; place and darted out to the
middle ol the jiool, where he L;a\c threi' leaps in as many
seconds; then rushinL; to the head he ga\c another leap
and s.udx to the Soitom a'jain.
I here, however, he did not lon^" remain, for the cur-
rent was too strong lor him, and down the pool he came
aL;ain, leapin- <ind dartini,;- ahout as if hut just hooked.
I'rere, who was siandini^" heside me, exclaimed, "Upon
m\- word, _\ou ha\f the i^cuniest lish in the river!"
" \'o\i are rii^ht," i i-epliet', as 1 handled the reel with
the inmost speed, "he is ^anie all through: it's liick\ he's
well hooked."
"It is," replied \\\\ triend, "hut \()U cannot he too
careful; it is nearly half an hour since we s'ruck him,
ami nine chances out ol ten the hook will drop out if
he ,U'ets a solt slack in the line."
"I know it," I answered, "and I lie-in to wish the
L:all wei-e in him."
I
458
IVitli 11 V- Rod ami Canicya.
The salmon now turned for the rapids al the foot
of the |)ool, .IS it he were determined to run down tlie
stream. I»ut tiie canoe was tortunateK Kin^ just in the
rit^du position to head him off. and the guides seeing- him
coming;, pouiKhd and sphislied the water with their poles
to turn him hack. The tumult the\ created had the de-
sired ertecl, and hack he went to ijie liead a^.iin.
( )nce more I reeled in my line an<l put the strain
upon the rod. rile tish res])onde(l at once, and darting'
down the pool aLiain, ended the ti^ht in a wa\' that was
to me most no\cl. and to tlie iish most summar\ : for,
as he passed down the pool, leaping; h»ur times in suc-
cession, he fell in his fourth leap />///;;//> into llic tauoi!
\s (|uick as a llash William dropped his setting' pol''
and seized u|)on the tisji, which had fortunately slid he-
neath one o( ih( cross hars, and ,il that instant the hook
dropped Irom its hold !
" I )octor. it's against al! rules of the ri\"er to land a
fish in such .1 manner," e.\claimed hrere, lautjj-hini^K', as
the canoe slid upon the lieach.
".\h, ha. Mr. hrere." said Hiram, "I know it's ai^ainst
the rules, liui did \(iu <'\cr sec the like of that hejore.''"
"No," replied m\ friend, "all m\ experience with sal-
mon has shown thai the\ are not at all anxious to \h-\.
into the canoe. '
With I'ly-Roci ami Camera. 459
"Sure, be )iini|)c(l in none too soon." said William,
who had killed the tish and laid il into the canoe, "he
l)arU:d lonipanx with the hook as soon as he j^ol aboard."
It was a handsoHK lish ol lull sixteen pounds' weight,
and was as liri^ht as hnrnished siKcr.
" W (■!!, <'cntlemen," said llirani, after the salmon had
been w;'i!^hed and then placed in the how ol the canoc
under some L;reen leaxes and brakes, "what shall it he,
tr\- here toi' another, or mo\c down to th<' next pool?"
"What do \()u sa\ , l'r<'re.''" I asked, lillim^ nn jjipc
for a tl\' smudL^c.
" I'erhaps we h-'d better move down," lie re|)iie(l, " we
have a nundx'i' ol :^o()d pools ahead, and the commotion
we have kicke(l u]) here will spoil this for an hour, at
least."
".All ri^hl," I answered, stepi)inL; into the canoe,
"liiram, we will tish all the ^cxxl water down to the
third pool where we will lake dinnei- and cast for a
couple ol hours, and then v\\\\ down to the mouth so as
to L;'el to i!ie hotel l)elor<' dark."
I'rere, lollowcd b\ du L'.indes, loilled me m the birch,
and soon we \\<i-e ai^ain in the rapids, rushing' down the.
steep incline with almost the speed ol the salmon. i^x'"
fore us tor a L;()od halt iviile the river, in nearl_\- a straight
direction, ])resented the ajjpearance ot .1 hillsicle co\ered
460
//'//// /''/\-/\oi/ ,///(/ ('(7 ///era.
I
s
';
more nr h-.s with ice and siidw, and it would ha\'c taken
l)iit a siiohi stretch <it the iniat^inalion to fancy we were;
l()l)()^^anin^. Rocks and trees on the shore seemed to
approach and then pass us with the speed o( tlioui^ht,
.ind in a \cr\ hriel lime we (h-scried the led^c and l)end
in the rixcr. which marked the position of the next pool,
lust helore reathin^ il I'rere pointed to a co\-e al)o\'e the
pool, into which the canoe was guided, and we stepped
out upon the rocks and prepared tor lastin:^.
[he water was \-ei-\ hii.di, and it co\( reil points which
were, when we asicnded the rixcr, hi^h and drx' ; hut the
pool was \ry\ wide, and consecpwutK' there were man\'
shoal ])laces, and, c.istin^ across these to their further
ed^cs, we soon h)und there were ,1 ^ood man\' fish Kim,;'
in the \-ellow water: lor hrere at hi-^ third cast hooked
a small eiL^ht-pound salmon, and I, at almost the same
moment, struck a grilse. Alter .1 short li du both our
lish were saved, and in a \(ry hne! time ,. uore grilse
fill to our rods, three ol them heiiiL; taken liy hrere. In
addition to these we look a lari^e numher ol fresh-run sea
trout, the handsomest we had seen, and for an hour at
least had liie lixcliest sport we had lound on the ri\er.
.\t leUL^th the lish ceased rising, and packiuL; our calch in
the can. ■ we re-emharked, and sped on our wa\ down to
the ihin' i)ool, tishin<' all the iuler\ cnini; j^ood water witii
i
/
'm sca
462
U^itli hi V- Rod and Cajiicni.
varyiiij;' success, and sliding- down ihc rapids wiih ilu: /.i-si
and cnjo^nicnt ot school l)o\s out on a coasiin^' trolic.
I'ishinn' would lo nic lose iis principal aUraclions, its
sweelcsi aroma- it such an expression nia\ he useil - it
it were divesli-d ot ihr acionipaninienis ol such e.\|)eri-
ences anil sui'rountlini^s as 1 Inul on ihv streams and lakes
of the wilderness.
I cannot i:oncei\c of enjoyment hein^ found \)\ the
fly-rtsherman awa\' trom tlu' toresi, the glorious mountains,
the roar ol tails anil rapids, the treedom ot camp life,
antl t!"ie \arious other concomitants ot the an^^ier's out-
in'^s. I a^ree with my t^ood triend A. \. Chene\- that
then- would he nothing attracli\e in it, "it it were all
of tishin!^' to t'lsh ; it tish were oiiK to he ol)taini;il in
pools in a desert wast- that ne\er retlected leal or twi^^' ;
from wailed-in reservoirs, where tish an- tatleiied like a
i)ullock for the shand)les; from slu^j^ish, muddy streams
within the heariuL; ot i^rei' towns, redoleni ot odors that
are hred and disseniinated where humanit\ is massifd Ix.--
tween walls ot hrick and mortar, or e\en from a perfe-ct
lish preser\i', where everNthim^ is artificial excep: the
water."
\o, under such iM.idit' ns the- L;entle art would have
no followers save the lji;ich:rs and market tisluirmen, and
all the charm, cdl the j>oeir\ ot an<^iing' would be ertaced.
// '//// I'ly-Rod and Camcm.
463
I
Mow l)(';uitifull\ Dr. Ht:iisliall says:''' "Ihc charms
of iK'-fishin^ ha\-c Ixm-ii suiil;' in soiii^ and story from
time imiiuMiiorial l>y the poi-iicall) gifted tlcNoiccs of the
jj^enJc art. who have cmhahiitHl the nicmor\ of its a-s-
tlu;lii' features in the hvinL; L^rccii ot L^racclul ferns, in
the sweet-sccMited llowers ot dell and dinL;le, and in the
licjiiid music of purlin^;' streams. The ll\-fisher is a lo\i'r
of Nature pure ami simple, anil has a true and just ap-
preciation of her poetic .side, thouiih he ma\ lack the
artist's skill to limn her heauties, or the poet's ^cnius t(j
describe them. To him \\\\o in the lo\'e ot Nature h(»lds
communion with her \isible form, she speaks a \arious
kuiLiua^e."
And what di'lij^htfid con\HTse she holds with the tly-
fisher, ;is with roil and reel he follows the hanks of the
meanderiiiL; stream, or wades its jjellucid waters, castin^^-
ever and anon the gossamer leader and. feather\' lure into
the shatlowN nooks, below sunnx rapids, o\-er to.un-tle'cked
eddies and on silent ])ools. She speaks to him through
the rustiiuL;' leaves, murmurs to him trom the tlowim^
strt;am, and si^hs to him in the sununer brei-ze. .She
is \()cal in a myriad <it Noices, and manitest ! innumer-
able ways. The tly-tisher. with (piickened senses, has an
ear for e\er\' sound, an eye for e\er\' object, and is
* 111 " I'i^liiiijj willi till' Kl)."
464
ll'itli J'/y-Roii/ and ('anicrd.
f
I
alive to ixcry motion. He hears the lunn of ihc l)cc,
liic chirp of the: cricket, the twilicr of the sparrow, the
tlip ot the swallow; !u; sees the: ^ay hulterll) in its un-
certain llis^ht, the shadow of thi: clriftin^' cloud, the mossy
rock, the mo(k:st \iolet, the o]»en-(^,ed dais\ ; he is con-
scious ot the passing hree/.i', ol the mellow sunlight, of
the odors ot the llowers, ot the fragrance of the fields •
nothing escapes his keen notice as he casts his llies hitlu-r
and \()n, in the ea^ci- e.xpec-tation of a rise. \'es, io the
true angler hetore all others —
'■ I'luM-c is ,L pli'asuii- 111 liu' |)athicNS woods.
riuTt- Is a raj)lurf l)y tlu' loiU'l\- sliori-."
Listen lo this poetic sj'em Iroin our sjenial friend
Chene\-. I le sa)s : "
'■ 1 o an angler the pleasures ot the rotl and reel
are tar-reac-hino-. and ha\'e no l)oundar\- sa\e when the
mind ceases to anticipate and the hraiii to reniemher.
1 ha\-e had the orande^t sport on a midwiiUei-'s ni^-ht
with the snow |)iled hii^h outside ,ind the nort'.i wind
roaring- down the chimney wnile 1 sat with m\- feet to
the l)kue on the hearth, hoMino- in m\ hand an oKl tly-
l)ook.
■■ rile smoke from m_\ lis^lued pijje, aided hy imae-
ination. contained rod, hsh, creel, odorous l)alsam, droop-
* In 1 isluua uilli ihi.- l-'iy."
I
I
//'//// hl\-Rod ami Caiiieni.
4^5
inii Henilf)ck and purliiv^- hrook nr rutllcd lake. I sc(;ni»(l
lo hear ihc tuiltcriiiL; liinls, leases riisilcd hy the wiiul,
and tlu; music of riinnint^' water, while the incenst; ot
uilil ll()\vi-rs saluted my nostrils. The heal of the tin-
was but the warm ra\s ol the sun, and the crackli- of
the hurnini^ wood the noise of tlu; forest. Thus streams
that I ha\'e tishetl once or twice ha\'e hecm tished a sct)re
of times.
"I had nothint; to show for the later tishiiiL^, hut I
could feel that (iod was i^rootl and m\' memor\- unim-
pairi'd. The hsh in the pipe smoke has heeii as active
as was tile hsh in the wat(.;r, ami attorded as tme play.
M\' reel clicked as merrily, and my rod hent to the j)la\'
ol the fish in the hall -dream as the\ ilid in the lom;
aj4'o.'*
\'(;s, tluM'e is no recreation that ministers to the po-
etic in our nature as tloes the art of an^iin!,; with the
fly-rod, anil there is nothiiii,;' that, to me, Li;i\-(.s such pure,
innocent and healthful enio\-ment.
It is over ihirtx' years since I killed \w\ f'lrst lariLi^e
fish on the fly. Hurinu;' the j)eriod that has elapsed since
then, anL^lin^' has been m\- chief recreation, \-et 1 haxc
never re^^retted one moment of th(- time 1 have devoted
to it.
Is there an\' other |jastime that could have gixt-ii me
466 ll/itli lly-l\oii mi J (\jiiifra.
suili unalluycd satislaclion r AssiircdK iioi; ami I repeal,
ihcri' i-^ alisoiuicl) iioilun^ iliai tan atltird siu:h ctjinplclc
ami piTliH'l ])lcasurc as can the tl\-r()<l. XoL m-ccssarilx'
'"roin llic l.ir^f miinlxM- ot lis'i ilial an: taken. NOnr iriic
s|)()rlsinaii n<\ci' kills iiuhi' lliaii i ,in lie used lo '^mmhI ad-
vanlam' tot" hiiniaii tood.
I )r. Ilciishall well s.i)> nl ihi-, irait : " The true l]\-
lislicr, who |)ractitts his an <>'// a)iioic. docs not dcliL^ht
ill l)iL^' c'.lclu'S, nor ri'\fl in inuhu- and i rud skui'^Iui'r.
lie Is c\'ci" salisticd with a niodcraic i red. and is t.-oii-
IciU with the scieiitilic and skillliil (aptnri- o| a fi:\v i^ood
lish. The !)t;uilies ot nalurc, as r<\c'aled in his surround-
iiiL^'s - the sparklini^' water, the shadow and simshim', the
rnstlin^' Icax'cs, tlir son^ ot hirds and hum ot iiisei'ts, the
heallh-^ixinu;' hree/e make up to hini .1 nuMsui-c ot irue
eiiioynient and peace and th.mkliilm'ss, that is toialK un-
known to llu: slau^luercr ot thr innocciUs, whose sole ani-
hition is to till his crcd and record his capLui'' s In' the
score. '
I"()r^i\e m\ diL^ression, it is almost an iinpardonahle
one; 1)UL the meinoi')' ot the forest and stream ()j)em'd
llu: llood i_;ales so widel\- that 1 could noL repress the
stream.
( )n reachiiiL; the thiril ])o()l, wt.: lar.ded on the point
of beach al)o\e the rapids al the head ul the pool, and,
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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Photographic
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Corporation
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
<Lr #p ^ ,>,
468
Ik'ith I'i\'-Rod and Ca/juni.
Ml
whili! th(t i^uidcs l)usi('(l thcmscKcs in prcparini^;' ilinner,
Frcn; and I l)C!^an casting. Ib.f watci- was \("r\- hii^h,
and tin; bt:ach was rc-duccd lo a narrow strip, l)ui some
of ihc best castinL;' stands were unco\t;rcd, ami our tlics
reached all tlu; choice; water of the pool. ( )ur success
was small, however, a siuL^le grilse and a few sea trout
only rewarding' our cdorts. I ' ndoul)tedl\- there w(M"e nian\'
fish in the basin, but we could not persuade- them to comt;
to our lures, and the annoumcment ■' dinner is ready"
trom Hiram met from us with a (|uick and ^lad rc^sponse.
The guides had lax'ished special ettort upon it, and,
although it was marred somi-what by the recollection that
a \ear, at least, must (;lapsc; before we could tmjo\' an-
other such repast, we did full justice to the \iands be-
tort; us.
.\fter tin- dinner came oiu" customar\- smoke, and then
the; \\)(\ was resumetl; but alas, our success was measured
b)' onl\' a few s.p.JI trout, which we returned to the water
without dela)-, and after a fruitless hour had been spent,
we entered the canoe for our Imal ^i)in down the ri\-er.
The water was so deep now that sind\eu rocks had no
terrors h)r us, and we passed down the rou^h ])laces with
a dash which under other circumstances would ha\e 'been
reckless. ( )n one (jccasion, howe\er, we came \ erj- near
hax'iiiu" a serious accident.
With Flv-Roii and Caniem.
469
Th(.' canoe had hccn tor a disiaiicc ot luciU)' rods
or more close lo lh<' sbore, in order that llie deepest water
niiij^ht \iv. avaiU'd of, and a niimWer oi jai^'i^ed, inicomtorta-
'i)le- looking' rocks and l)oulders which la\- in lli<- middh-
of the ri\-er mi^lu he avoided. As we swi'pl rapidl)- un-
(h'r a dead cedar, which hiini;' o\-er t!ie stream, \w\ Hne,
which had L^ot loose in some inexplicahle \\a\ , caught in
the limbs of the tree, and at that instant ihe tl), leap-
ing- backward, fastmied itself in the collar ot llirani's tlan-
nel shirt, within a half inch of his tnroat ; fortunateh the
hook did not touch his skin, but the line went out at a
fearful si)ced, the reel shriekiuL', discordant!)-.
Of course the canoe could lot be stopped in such a
current, and 1 expected to see the. rod smashed to pi(,;ces.
1 was pow(M"less, but Miram, standing tirmly in the stc^'rn
of the canoe, cool and collected as it nothing had hap-
pened, holdiii!^- the darting;- birch in her course in the
swift and treacherous watei-. seized the castim,^- I ne with
his teeth, and bit it through as easily as it it had been
a cotton thrc;ad. The line thus releast:d scjon came back
to me, and 1 i>ut it on the reel again without any lo.ss
of time.
"That was a close Ccdl, bliram," said 1; "if }"ou had
lost your balance we should have: been smashed on the
rocks."
470 IVitJi f'ly-Rod and Camera.
••No irouhlc." he replied, lauj^'-hinj^-, " William coulcl
have kept her ri^ht. I'll ;4i\c you your ll\- when we
reach the ])()()1 helow."
•' Xo. I answered, "keep it as ,i sonx'enir of our last
ilay on ihe rixcr."
•'And a i-enienil)raiK-e, also," added hrere, '•()(' a close
sha\'e to a had accident."
"All ri^htl" said llirani, as he guided the canoe to
the r(jcks at the head ol the tirst pool, " I'll keep it choice
till n(.\\t season."
".And now tor a salmon I" exclaimed William, as i""rere
pill out his line and hc'^an casting', "this is the last
chance."
•'\es, . it's \()ur last chance, h'rere," said I, takinc a
seat upon a I'ock and watchinL; him, "I will he 'a looker-
on in \ ienna. "
hrt're handled his rod with consimimate skill, and sent
his ily a\va_\ down the pool to the (juiet water initil it was
ahnost lost to sis^ht ; hut no response was receixed, and
it was not until he changed for a lari^cr and l)ri_<rhter \\\
that a rise; came. .\t the second cast a salmon accepted
the lure, and hrere's reel soon L;a\e such nuisic as the
an_L;ier loxcs to neai".
"Ah, ha I" exclaimed William, as Ik; seized the ^aff.
"1 thought the hii; yellow tly woidd stir him."
:
IVitli I'lv-Roi! ami Caiiicni.
47'
I
"\\;s," said Hiram, "in such hca\y and dark walcr
the l)i,i;,i;c:sl and ihc hriiilucsl tlics arc ihc l)cst."
l*"na't; stood ui)()n a tlal r()ck al the licad ot the pool,
its crown not two inches aliox'e the riishinLi" water. Mis
position was a perfect one, for he could control the line
all o\-er the |)ool, and the lish must alwa)s he helow him
and headed toward him, and it could not pass al)o\c him.
It was an i(U;al stand from which to hi^hl a salmon.
The fish sank to the bottom in the micUlle ol the pool,
and remained (piiet tor a short lime, hut soon leeliuL; the
restraint of the hook (and 1 h.ixc come to the helief that
the hsh resent the restraint the\- leel, hut do not siiffei'
from the prick ol the hook) it .L;a\-e two or three short
runs, and then settletl {|uietl_\ to the bottom a^aiii.
h'rerc;, when he had recoNcred all the line that he
could L^et i:i, raised the rotl and endeaxored to litt the
fish 'ito action, hut for a time it refused to hud^c. .\t
len_L(th, howex'er, the strain from the powerlul L^reenheart
pro\-(;tl t(>() much for its patience, and with a couple of
wild leaps hi:^h in the air, it darted down the pool as
if al>oiit to re'^urn to the ocean.
"Cree-e-el" how the hit^' reel san^" as the line; s|)iin
out with the speed ot ek:ctricit\\
When the lower part of the pool was reached, how-
ever, the salmon gaxc another wild lea[), tlashinj^' in the
472
JFitli f'ly-Rod and Camera.
air like a patch ot siKcr, aud ihcii rdurm-el to its first
])()siti()n.
I'Vcrc rcc()\crc(l his Hue aiLjain and then i^avc the;
siraiii <)l the rod lo the !ish. The sahnon repeated its
prcxious pcrtorniaiu'c, and \(i once more, then it chan_L((;(l
its tactics aiid l)c^an ji^'^crini^ that most hateful of all
p(;rft)rm<inccs. I'",\cn the lift ot I'rcrc's loiii^ rod proxcd
inctlcctua! toi- a •v\hilc in rcstrainin;,;- this nioxciiicnt, and
it was onl)- aftci' \\c pelted the water ahoxc it with hu^'c
stones that it moxcd ai;"ain. A hea\ \ rock falling" witli
a crash al)o\'e it at length turned the salmon, and then
l)eL;an one of the most exciting- struj^'^K's that I had e\-er
witnessed.
'Ihe fish seemed to he in a half dozen places at
once, and in the air almost as much as in the water.
l)artin<^' to the foot oi the pool it ^axc a wiKl U-ap, and
then returninL; to the head, daslu'd the water in our faces
as it leajx'd close to us as we stood upon the rocks.
Now it was hurrowin!^- in the shale and sand at the bar
in the outlet of the pool, and seemingly in an instant
was working' a devious passaj^^e amonL,*^ the rocks on the
further side.
hrere was cool and undemonstrative, handling his
long and heav\- rod and manipulating his ret;! w^ith all
the skill of wh.ich he was a master. For nearly a half
With Flv-Rod ami Caiiiem.
473
I
i
an hour did the stni^jj^lf continiK' before the hsh showed
any si^ns of exhaustion, and then it "broke up all at
once," as William afterward saitl, and in less than a niin-
tite after it had shown the first ssiiiptonis ot weariness,
the n'idf was in it and tiie salmon was killed. It is
rarel)- that so lariL^e a salmon will " force the pace" as
this had done, and it was a viL,a)rous t'lsh indeed to
carry such a stru^^le so lonj; in such h<'a\y water.
"What is the wt;iL;ht?" 1 asked, as Frere fastened
the scales to the fish.
"Twenty-two pounds," he replied.
"Ciood," I exclaimed; "for so lart^rc a fish it was
the most li\c;l\' sp(;cimen 1 ever saw; it setmied almost
tireless, and it was all over the pf>ol like a huij^e _L,^rilse."
"Won't you have a cast for one?" asked Miram, as
he handed me my rod. "'!>)• for the last one."
"Xo, Miram," I replied, selectino^ a fl\- and attach-
ing^ it to mv leader, " I ha\e had m\' full share of fish-
in^C this trip, thanks larL,ady to \-our efforts, but 1 want
you to hav(; another chance, and now you can take it."
"Thank \ou, sir." replied th(; o'uide, "I will rest the
pool a l)it and tluMi see what I can do."
" W.'s, and here is my rotl, William,' said b'rere, "you
have worked hard also, and 1 want )ou to ha'\e one more
chance before we sa)' good-by."
474
U'ltli l-lv-Rod and Cdincra.
"TlKinks," answered the euid*'. "its not always that
we see two L;'entlenien who are wiHint^ to ^i\c tlieir L-uides
a httle s|)ort on tlieir hist (hi\, he\, lliram?"
" l\iL,du you are," reph'ed his hrolher, "we'll ha\"e a
few casts anyway: who'll lish tn-st, \(>u oi- I .■'"
" N'oii take your (u'st chance," said William, "then I
will try ni\' luck."
"All rii^ht," responded the other, and as a preliini-
nar\" mo\-e he lighted his pipe, after which he soon pr
pared to cast.
I^eautifully he laid out a lon^ line all oNcr the pool.
Xot a splash indicated the fall ol the tl\, hut it dropped
like a feather, here and there, where\'ei- the miide sint
■ t. At len_Li;th a swirl was seen, and lliram, turnin<^- h;s
wrist, was in an instant fast to a tish. The salmon
dashed down the pool, endeaxorin*;' to I'scape from the
"icumbranc(^ that was fastened to him.
" Bra\'o, " I exclaimed, ''kill him if you can and take
him home or to-morrow's dinner."
"Thanks, sir," re|)lied the _L;uide, "I'll do my best."
It is not \w\ purpose to describe the struL,'',!^de that
enstied. for a further repetition of such details will make
a wearisome ending;' to m\" stor\'. Suthce it to say that
the hL,dit was fou_L!;ht, and the fish, a twelve -pountl fe-
male, was 'nall\- landed.
jj',.
%
HI til f'ly-Rod (n/(/ Camera.
475
"Now, William, it's your turn; shou- your m<'ttlc," vx-
claimed l-rcrc.
"All ri.LrJn, sir." sai.l th,. .uuk. "ur'H rrst th. ,,ool
'\ ^^■'^'''■' '^'^'l ^'^'''^ '■'! try a f.vv casts (mm ih. othor
side. u(. have made k.o much disturhancc Iktc."
In a short time William st.'i,,,,.,! int.. the ran.... uith
Hiram, and crossm,^ the river al.ov.- the r.-.pids rlimhed
alcn^: the ed<.e of th.- led^e for a !ew rods, and then
descendinu to th,. river, st<.od t,,>on a rock that ,uttc-d
out into the pool. It .av.. him harely a resting-place
for his feet, and the trees and hushes l.ehind him inter-
fered sadly with his hack cast. lint with care and pa-
tience he was at length able to put his lly in a little
nook hehi.ul two rocks that rose ahove the uatc'r. which
we. from our position, could not possihiy hav readied.
Notional pe(,pl,. are .guides. l,oth Indians and white
inen. Often have 1 seen them .<;,> to a -reat deal of
trouble .o ^-et a line into a particular s|)ot
ot" it is, tl
K'N' usuau\-
L^'et there
^^et there for
i)Ut tile loke
irul pro\c that the\-
a prize worth h,
ixini
William had made no mistake, for at his third ca.st
a .salmon took his I
ure
and
du
nierrih- the ree
sano"
out the-
uules truminl
Hi
th(
position was a bad one
point of rock upon which h
e was standiui/ offering-
hard!)-
a square foot of surfac,;, and I shouted to H
ram
476
IVith hl\-Rod ami Cameya.
to jTo down
w
ith tlv canoe arid takf his hidtluT off. This
was done, and W'iMiani now had a fair ( hancc tor work.
It was a hirL,M- hut actix'c lish, trcsh run. and he kept
in motion wiih ahiiosi untM-in'' cncrLTN-
lic canoe was
hrouj^ht o\cr to the ledi^'e upon which we were standin^f.
and the j^uides at once stepped aslion'.
iani. offering it to
Here, sir. take the rod
said
WilH
'rere
anc
1 k
the salmon.
Certaiid\- not," repheil lu) friend, "it's your f'ish, and
sa\'e hmi il \<)u can.
m.
".\ll riL^ht. sir," said the oui(h>, •• I'll saxc hi
The tish was lari^cr than Hiram's, hut the stru_L(i,de
was a short one, and in a few minutes the j^atl was used
and the salmon was killed.
"And now for the hotel!" I exclaimed, steppin_^; into
the canoe. "Our outing- is ended; we'll put by our rods
for another season, and don the habiliments of civilized
life.
\
es,
aid I'Vere, "we have had a ro\-al Ljood time,
have worked hard, yet have rested ourselves, and we are
stronc-er and better able to take up our labors again than
w
e have been for man\- a month.
*
I
//'//// J-ly-Rod mid Lamcra.
47
l<(:a(l.r. my story is loM. | |,a\,. .ndcavon il i,, ,|,..
scrihc I.. y,,u il„. ihaniis ..( .m ,in,ol,.,-'s lih-. I hav sue
t:<-<Hl.(l |.<.(.rl\. I an, ..nam, Imt I hav shown h,.u aiul
where y.)ii ma_\ enjoy them.
'" ;i|'I"'''^'i'i^'- Lhem in ih.- hi^hesi il.-rc,. \,„i must
,140 lo them.
I ><' '-o : take l1\-ro(l and
lamera, .amp .mtht m\(\ ca-
noe, and seek the h
.iiitiliik th.' ''raeeful, i
le Liann deni
/ens of the ri\-ers and kikes : foil
on them m their wildest
haimts. and m\ word t
or It, )-ou will ne\cr, 11
e\-e!- re-
•jrel It.
I
^
•/.
li^.j
pi,, u , .7,""' '» ■■; "VsJlv"
^vv
5A;>r!r^,.