302 WINTER. 



every brook. Brook trout take the bait voraciously in 

 the fresli water ; and sea trout, sometimes attaining to the 

 weight of 8 Ibs., are taken in the mouths of the larger 

 rivers; so that there is no time of the year, winter or 

 summer, in which Canadians are not supplied with fresh 

 fish. Salmon (kelts) are sometimes caught by the trout- 

 fishers; but the most extraordinary feat in fishing that 

 has ever been heard of by me was performed by a youth, 

 at the foot of the river Eestigouche. Fishing for tommy- 

 cods through the ice, he felt a tremendous pull ; fortu- 

 nately his tackle was equal to the occasion, and, hand 

 over hand, the lucky fisherman hauled out a fresh-run 

 20-lb. salmon. Think of that, ye scientific anglers ! 

 What an ignoble end for such a noble fish ! But this is 

 an extremely interesting fact for- those interested in the 

 natural history of the salmon, as it goes far to prove that 

 a run of fish come into the mouths of the rivers along with 

 the sea trout, and long before the ice breaks up. 



About Christmas, perhaps a week earlier or a week 

 later, everything is covered with a soft mantle of snow. 

 At no time does the forest look more beautiful than after 

 the first fall of snow. Light as down and in the smallest 

 of flakes* the snow lodges in feathery masses on the foliage 

 of the spruce, the fir, and the pine. The beams of the 

 sun have no power to thaw it, they can only make it shine 

 and glisten. The roads are now beaten as smooth as a 

 croquet ground, and the driving becomes brisk. Of all 

 the institutions peculiar to the country there is none 

 pleasanter than the sleighing party. The horses are fast, 

 the roads smooth, the bells ring merrily, the air is sharp 

 and bracing, and nestled in warm furs, nowhere else do 



