128 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



Rapids an almost incredible number of salmon are caught. They are 

 taken in the following manner : before the water rises on the approach 

 of summer, small channels are made among the stones and rocks, 2 feet 

 broad and running out into various branches, over which is placed a plat- 

 form for the person to stand. Several channels are made, some higher, 

 some lower, so as to suit the water as it falls or rises. A scoop net or 

 net fastened round a hoop at the end of a long pole, 12 to 15 feet, is all 

 that is used ; the person stands on the extremity of the stage or platform 

 and places his net at the top of the channel, which is always made to fit 

 it exactly, and it is carried down with the current. The poor salmon, 

 coming up his smooth and agreeable road as he conceives it to be, thrusts 

 himself in the net and is immediately thrown on the stage ; the handle 

 or pole of the net is tied to the platform by a rope lest the pressure of 

 water or strength of the fish should snatch it out of the hands of the fisher. 

 The hoop is made of Acer circinnatum of Pursh, which is very tough and 

 not unlike A. rubrum. The pole is balsam pine, which after drying is 

 light. The net is made from the bark of a species of Apocynum, which is 

 very durable. The fish are of good quality, much about the same size 

 as those caught in the rivers of Europe, 15 to 25 Ib. generally, some more. 

 I measured two, the one 3 feet 5 inches from the snout to the extremity of 

 the tail, 10 inches broad at the thickest part, weighing about 35 Ib. ; 

 another 3 feet, and 9 inches broad, a little lighter. Both were purchased 

 for 2 inches of tobacco (f oz.) value twopence, or one penny each. How 

 little the value from that in England, where the same quantity would 

 cost 3 or 4, and not crisped^- salmon as it is termed by those acquainted 

 with refinement of dishes, as I have it, cooked under the shade of a 

 lordly pine or rocky dell far removed from the abodes of civilised life. 

 It is very wonderful the comfort, at least the pleasant idea of being com- 

 fortable in such a place surrounded by multitudes of individuals who, 

 perhaps, had never seen a white person before, and were we to judge by 

 their appearance are very hostile, viewing us narrowly with surprise} 

 | The luxury of a night's sleep on a bed of pine branches can only be appre- 

 ciated by those who have experienced a route over a barren plain, scorched 

 by the sun, or fatigued by groping their way through a thick forest, 

 crossing gullies, dead wood, lakes, stones, &c.j 1 Indeed so much worn 

 out was I three times by fatigue and hunger that twice I crawled, for I 

 could hardly walk, to a small abandoned hut. I had in my knapsack one 

 biscuit ; the third and last time I was not so bad with hunger, but very 

 weak. I killed two partridges an hour before I camped, which I placed 

 in my little kettle to boil for supper. The Canadian and the two Indians 

 had eaten their dry salmon and were asleep. Before my birds were cooked 

 Morpheus seized me also ; I awoke at daybreak and beheld my supper 

 burned to ashes and three holes in the bottom of my kettle.) (Before 

 leaving my resting place I had to make a little tea, which is the monarch 

 of all food after fatiguing journeys. This I did by scouring out the lid 

 of my tinder-box and boiling the water in it ! I have oftentimes heard 

 that ' Necessity has many inventions,' which I now know and partly 

 1 Sic MS., but query ' crimped.' ED. 



