Collingwood to Sarnia. 149 



trout, varying from 10 oz. to 40 oz. in weight, abound, and what 

 is remarkable, are in season all through the year — a matter 

 not yet fathomed by naturalists, though probably the constant 

 icy coldness of the waters has much to do with it. The best 

 places in which to fish are at the foot of the rapids, casting 

 anchor from a canoe where the water is about 10 or 15 feet 

 deep, though, owing to its marvellous clearness, seeming not 

 more than three, and where the bed of the river is covered 

 with snow-white rocks. A fly or an artificial minnow is the 

 best bait ; with such you need never be disappointed in 

 catching a fine assortment. To pass a few hours in a canoe 

 anchored midway between the American and Canadian 

 shores, now looking with wonder at the wall of foam between 

 you and the mighty lake ; now gazing upon the dreamy- 

 looking scenery stretching on either side, and far down the 

 river ; and anon peering into the clear water to watch the 

 movements of the trout as they dart from the shady side of 

 one rock to another, — to enjoy all this in a July or August 

 day, away from city life and cares, is a treat that can only be 

 realized, never described. In the village of Ste. Marie accom- 

 modations and boats can be had, and a stranger is hailed in 

 this lonely country with a welcome seldom evinced in a more 

 frequented resort. Two or three miles from the village are 

 two streams called Carp River and Dead River, which also 

 afford capital trout-fishing ; but the black flies and mosquitoes 

 are intolerable on both of them. The white fish, the ciscovct, 

 and the lake trout are an article of export from this region, 

 and there is no doubt that the fisheries here will eventually 

 become quite extensive. 



Some 36 miles below Ste. Marie, and opposite the lower 

 end of the island of St. Joseph, is the village of Bruce 

 Mines, the property of the Montreal Mining Company, and 

 a very thriving place ; this island is a frontier station for the 

 British, and Drummond Island, hard by, for the American 

 troops. Some of the ores obtained from the Bruce mines 



