400 THE ANGLER. 



pitch dark and he lay on the bottom like a log. My 

 Indians made a birch-bark torch and speared him. 



A canoe is essential to the angler in most Canadian 

 waters, and as canoe-men the Indians are unrivalled. The 

 lumberers, too, are good canoe-men, and force their pon- 

 derous dug-outs up most formidable rapids, but the Indian 

 does by consummate skill what the white man does by 

 sheer strength ; he knows that his bark is as fragile as a 

 lady's bonnet, that, buoyant and graceful as it is, a little 

 touch against a rock will rend its delicate skin. He must 

 therefore thread his way with the utmost caution. Running 

 the rapids in a bark canoe is exciting work ; as the canoe 

 bounds along at great speed, a rock seems to spring up 

 from the bottom of the river right ahead of the bow ; 

 instant destruction seems unavoidable, for in this head- 

 long torrent the strongest swimmer would have but little 

 chance. But the watchful Indian is perfect master of his 

 craft, and steers clear of every danger. Two or three safe 

 runs in a canoe beget confidence, but the novice carries 

 his heart in his mouth down the rapids. 



The Indian method of salmon fishing is with the torch 

 and spear, and the skill they display in this operation is 

 simply marvellous. Gliding rapidly down stream, through 

 shallows, whirlpools, eddies, and rapids, it requires a quick 

 and practised eye to detect a fish, and a quick and skilful 

 hand to strike it. A slight miscalculation as to the depth 

 of the water, and the unlucky spearman follows his spear 

 headlong into the deep. Dark, still nights are suitable 

 for salmon spearing, and the blazing birch-bark torch, 

 which throws a brilliant but fitful glare on the canoe and 

 on the water just around it, makes darkness more dark 



