342 Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope 



of a heavy sinker ; and the heavier the sinker the 

 worse the sport. We caught some leviathans in 

 Lake Cowichan, using immense spoons, but the fish 

 taken on the surface with grilse flies were always 

 small, — under two pounds. Fishing in the lake 

 we invariably caught twice the weight of fish taken 

 in the river, but we soon grew tired of the lake, 

 whereas the beauty and charm of the river never 

 palled. To those who are not prepared to camp 

 out, no better place than the Cowichan Hotel can 

 be found. It is within a few hours' travel of 

 Victoria, and situated upon the edge of the lake. 

 You can jump from your bed into eighteen feet of 

 pellucid water ! And the hotel is most comfortable. 

 You are provided with boats and luncheons, and 

 dinner is served when you return, no matter how 

 late the hour may be. In most American hotels, if 

 you miss the regular meals you must go without 

 proper food, but across the border the tavern- 

 keepers are more considerate. What man will 

 leave a river when trout are rising freely? But 

 it is hard indeed after a strenuous day with rod 

 and pole, to return home to cold meats and a 

 colder welcome. 



Trout-fishing in California, particularly in south- 

 ern California, and in smaller streams of Washing- 

 ton and Oregon, is tame sport. As a rule, the 

 fish are very small, averaging about a quarter of a 

 pound, and in many places may be caught by the 

 sackful ! 



It is almost impossible to get reliable information 

 about good trout-fishing in streams and rivers. 

 The lake-fishing is another matter. I have found 



