34 



The Avicrican Ansrlcr 



beauties of the scenery of the upper 

 reaches of the Gatineau valley. 



This river and district has been, as 

 it were, a marc clansuDi to all, but the 

 trapper, the lumberman and the hardy 

 pioneer. To those men civilization is 

 indebted for increasing the area of her 

 domain. Now the people of Ottawa 

 and elsewhere can reach Wakefield or 

 adjacent places on the line of route, 

 spend the evening with their friends 

 and families, and return to their several 

 offices at 9 the next morning. 



At 7 130 we breakfasted, and then 

 jumped behind a span of horses well- 

 fitted for the road. Crossed a small 

 river that here falls into the Gatineau, 

 and then began our course up hill and 

 down dale with the valleys "ripe with 

 golden grain," wheat, barley, oats, 

 Indian corn and buckwheat, that gave 

 promise of a bountiful harvest, while 

 the cattle (of the primest) on the pas- 

 ture lands luxuriated knee-deep amid 

 the richest grasses. 



Then onward, mile after mile, amid 

 scenery that called forth expressions of 

 delight, and the song of " away, away 

 to the mountain brow " that brought 

 responsive echoes from the hills and 

 dales. 



After a most health-giving drive, 

 we caught a glimpse of the waters of 

 Mann's lake, where we were to try 

 conclusions with the fish that were 



Mann's Lake. 



said to be in its waters. On the brow 

 of the hill we perceived a substantial 

 looking farm-house, surrounded by 

 barns and out-houses that denoted 

 prosperity. The owner, Mr. Montcrief, 

 welcomed us as we drove up the hill, 

 and soon we were sitting on the veran- 

 da, making ourselves at home; the 

 members of the family showing their 

 good will by setting before us a sub- 

 stantial lunch, which was quite accep- 

 table after our drive. 



Soon after we were paddling up the 

 lake to the places where the fish were 

 said to resort. We first tried the fly, 

 (one scarlet ibis, and many others that 

 were favorites), but they were not to 

 be tempted, neither was the troll of any 

 avail. Seeing a commotion in the 

 water some distance off, with minnows 

 jumping out, we came to the conclu- 

 sion that the large fish were in pursuit 

 of the minnows. We very carefully 

 drew near the spot and came to an 

 anchor where the water shelved sud- 

 denly. Placing a live minnow on the 

 hook, the line was thrown carefully, 

 and soon after a sudden jerk caused 

 me to strike, and my fly-rod was al- 

 most doubled. It was a dead heavy 

 weight, from which I judged it was 

 not a bass, and after playing the fellow 

 a short time, I found I had captured a 

 good-sized pike, a fish that I abominated. 

 I landed him, however, and hoped it 

 would be the last we should be troubled 

 with of that species of fish. 



Soon after, my companion hooked a 

 very fine fish — a veritable black bass — 

 that gave him much good sport, splash- 

 ing and dashing out of the water in 

 good style. After about ten minutes he 

 was made to succumb; a fish of about 

 4'i lbs. 



In your journal, of some years since, 

 the capture of a black bass, of above 



