74 Montreal to Lake Champlain 



skilful hand at the helm suddenly whirls you into a different 

 channel, and in an instant more it is passed in safety. Such 

 is "shooting the rapids;" but no words can convey a fitting 

 idea of the thrilling excitement that is felt during the few 

 moments of the passage. It is one of the sublime experiences 

 which can never be forgotten, and never adequately described. 

 It is in the highest degree creditable to the skill and care of 

 all connected with this branch of river navigation, that no 

 accident of any consequence has ever happened, nor has a 

 single life been lost in this beautiful but dangerous spot. 



FROM MONTREAL TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN 

 AND THE RIVER RICHELIEU. 



A trip from Montreal to Lake Champlain is a pleasant 

 change, and to the fisherman it always affords pleasing re- 

 miniscences. Taking the Grand Trunk Railway, the first 

 place worthy of note which we stop at, after passing through 

 the Victoria Bridge, is St. Johns, twenty-six miles distant, 

 situated at the foot of the navigable waters of Lake Cham- 

 plain, on the River Richelieu. As far as wood and water can 

 contribute to it, nothing can exceed the beauty of its banks 

 here. A splendid bridge spans the river to St. Athanase, 

 over which, at a distance of six miles, a capital road, through 

 a finely cultivated country, leads to Scotch Mountain, a re- 

 gular cone, from whence can be obtained a magnificent view 

 through the Townships and far into Vermont. For those 

 seeking either pleasure or health, St. Johns is one of the 

 nicest resorts. The fishing here is good ; pike, perch, bass, 

 chub, and dore" are abundant ; boats are plentiful and charges 



